HERE'S WHAT YOU MISSED AT ADVERTISING WEEK

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The annual gathering of powerati at the intersection of consumer brands, technology, and celebrity that is Advertising Week was a true frenzy of panel discussions, networking, exclusive satellite events, and more. This is where those who set the tone for a variety of consumer experiences gather for an exchange of thought leadership, best practices, cultural trends, and social impact for the coming year and beyond. Here's what you missed:

Nearly 20,000 attendees descended upon New York City's Penn Center in Midtown for a massive offering of panel discussions and fireside chats. Although the Monday kick-off was a bit of a sleepy one, the following days made up for it with wall-to-wall crowds spilling out onto four floors of near pandemonium across 550-plus sessions. Though a bit overwhelming, the conference left almost no stone unturned in terms of topics. The sessions were quick but ample, orderly, and well-produced. There was a nice mix of celebrity speakers and power players mixed with executives from major companies, though there seemed to be a missing mega name in notoriety this year for some reason.

Naturally, AI — suffice it to say that the tech was examined from every possible angle, from creative to predictive analytics — was a massive topic for panels, just behind a plethora of discussions about Gen Z, culture, and more. Celebrated names from Kevin Bacon to Flava Flav held court to discuss everything from brand authenticity to social climate. Reddit, Snap, and TikTok were definitely on-site, while media giants such as Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney offered case studies.

The Female Quotient Lounge is always a treat because it offers a conference within a conference, where executives gather to discuss such elements as women, sports, and branding — all amidst complimentary lattes, swag stations, book giveaways, and more.

However, there seems to be a growing trend of invitation-only satellite offerings that provide a more intimate setting for networking and panel discussions. This year, the standout was definitely AdWeek House. Held just a few blocks from Penn Center, the intimate fireside chats provided a much-needed break from the non-stop frenzy at Penn Center. A particularly notable one was held with Oscar-winning director (Wicked; Crazy Rich Asians) Jon M. Chu, whose affable personality treated listeners to powerful anecdotes and insights about storytelling, leadership, and strategic approach — providing an unexpected twist on branding and vision that was more than refreshing.

Some standout quote takeaways were:

"When it comes to partnering with women athletes, we want to be champions of creative self-expression. Women in sports want to express themselves both on and off the court, and young girls are watching them step up and step into their confidence."
– Kimberly Wallengren, Vice President, Marketing, North America, Coach

“When I say Flavor, you say Flav… when I say New York, you say City… when I say yeah, you say boy!”
– Flava Flav, award-winning recording artist

"At the core of a strong partnership are shared goals, values, and purpose. When you rely on each other's strengths and lean into them across the board, that’s the recipe for success."
– Rebekah McKinley, Head, Content Partnerships, The Weather Company

All in all, this year's head-spinning event contained a lot of deal-making, debate, and downing of lattes amidst the backdrop of New York City — a more than perfect setting for the high energy and power plays that make up Advertising Week.