Andrew Solmssen is Executive Director for CourtAvenue, ADWEEK's #1 fastest growing agency and #58 on the Inc. 5000. He leads the firm's LA office with a focus on telecom, media, technology and automotive. Based in Los Angeles, Andrew has been leading and scaling digital transformation, marketing, and customer experience businesses for over two decades, with success at every level from start-ups to large public companies. He has worked across nearly every industry with a focus on digital marketing strategy, sales, operations, and delivery. In the process, he has led many of the most successful engagements across sites, apps, social, and campaigns. These include the first full episodes of TV on digital platforms for ABC, the first live and on-demand Olympics experience for NBC (both of which won Emmys), Comcast's Xfinity TV product, Sony's Playstation 4, and countless other campaigns and solutions across mobile, desktop, TV, experiential, outdoor, and every conceivable digital medium. After building some of the web's foundational digital properties, Andrew co-founded Schematic, and built it into the world's premier customer experience agency (CX) agency. He grew it from a 3-person unfunded startup into a global leader with over 200 staff before selling the company to WPP. Once he joined WPP, he helped create POSSIBLE, the first global digital agency network, where he led the user experience practice and ran the Los Angeles market. In the growth of POSSIBLE, he was a key part of acquiring and merging 14 different companies around the world into a single, thriving entity. As WPP continued to consolidate, Andrew was instrumental in the creation of Wunderman Thompson (now VML), the largest merger in the advertising industry. He had full P&L and operations responsibility for 5 offices and 300+ staff and reported to the global CEO. In addition, he led selected engagements for automotive, media & entertainment, healthcare, and technology clients focusing on CX, data, business transformation, and campaigns. Andrew’s work has received numerous awards, including Emmy, Cannes Lion, Peabody, Pencil, Webby, and JD Power.

Chelsea Freitas, VP Partner, Strategy & Innovation, IPG Media Lab: With thirteen years of experience in strategy and innovation, Chelsea leverages her background in research and forecasting to help brands identify opportunities for relevant and meaningful audience connections. Chelsea joined Mediabrands five years ago, leading strategy across global retail and lifestyle brands at UM before joining the IPG Media Lab as VP, Partner, Strategy & Innovation. At the Lab, Chelsea brings enthusiasm and curiosity to her work in understanding emerging technologies, behavioral shifts, and cultural trends. Today, she’s an integral and impactful leader, passionate about mentorship and the future of brands.

Bridget Fahrland, AI Strategic Consultant, DEPT®: Bridget has more than 20 years of technology innovation experience. Her passion is forging the right balance between the promise of innovation and the everyday needs of businesses and their customers. Bridget has led innovation initiatives that have driven real business results and grown customer love for top brands including Citi, Clorox, Disney, eBay, Godiva, Google, Levi Strauss, Microsoft, Mattress Firm, Samsung, Sephora, The North Face and World Market. In her current role at DEPT®, Bridget is working with global brands and retailers to determine how AI can best drive real business growth and customer value. With AI adoption rates at over 65%, the question is no longer whether to “do AI,” but how to do it. That roadmap includes rethinking “how to sell,” finally realizing the dream of hyper-personalization, and forging future possibilities with the conceptual web. A well-known leader in the digital and AI transformation space, Bridget has spoken at SXSW, IRCE, eTail, and former Shop.org events. Her thought leadership has been tapped for countless publications including Vogue Business, WSJ Interactive, Huffington Post, AdWeek, and Total Retail. Bridget holds an MA from Boston University, a BA from Mount Holyoke College, and AI certifications from Salesforce & Google. 

Carrie Sweeney, VP of Retail Partnerships, Pinterest: Carrie Sweeney is a well-rounded, outcome-driven sales leader with 20 years of experience in strategy consulting, marketing and media. She currently leads Pinterest teams responsible for partnerships with all US retailers. Together, they unlock the value of shared technology, advertising and media, including partnerships in the rapidly evolving retail media landscape. She serves as a trusted growth partner for high-performing teams, prominent brands, and purpose-driven organizations. Before Pinterest, Sweeney worked at Google, Bain & Company and Starcom. She graduated with a BA from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Elizabeth Angel consults as an Innovation Technology Advisor, where she combines her deep insights into technologies for transformation, and consumer experience. A social entrepreneur with a rich background in defence, wellness, and humanitarian initiatives, Elizabeth has an expansive portfolio, advising on investments in responsible and forward-thinking technologies. She champions causes related to women in leadership, acting as President of Women in Defence and Women on Board, and hosts a podcast, highlighting advancements and opportunities for women in key sectors. In addition to her advisory role to LVMH, Elizabeth co-founded the world’s first AI pop star interactive avatar and an AI-driven wellness solution aimed at making preventative health accessible for all, which is now utilized by Fortune 500 companies and government organizations worldwide. Her innovations in mental, social, and emotional health have made her a sought-after speaker at major global conferences on AI and health. Elizabeth’s career reflects a deep commitment to humanitarian impact, including years in Asia working in disaster response, trade mediation, and sustainable tech transfer. Her enterprises are rooted in principles of recycled resources and social entrepreneurship, focusing on education, conservation, and green technology. With headquarters in Finland and Singapore, her firm is registered as a NATO Commercial and Government Entity and works closely with the US Government’s Emergency Response Taskforce. Elizabeth’s work seamlessly integrates technology, advocacy, and responsible investment to inspire sustainable transformation in the retail sector and beyond.

Mark Kapczynski has a successful track record as a serial entrepreneur, chief executive, and cross-industry expert. He serves as an Executive Director of the UCLA Venture Capital Fund, helping to foster innovation connected to the university. Programs include early stage investing, mentoring, and access to Intellectual Property from university patents. Mr. Kapczynski advises startup businesses as part of the LA Chamber of Commerce’s Bixel Exchange. In this role, Mr. Kapczynski assists technology startups in Southern California to design their businesses, build out their teams and raise capital to fuel their growth. He also serves as a Venture Partner for Arrowroot Capital in Santa Monica, CA. At Arrowroot, Mr. Kapczynski focuses on investments in the SaaS market in need of growth capital to further develop their businesses. The areas that Mr. Kapczynski addresses are Big Data & Analytics, Financial Services, and Consumer Internet. Mr. Kapczynski last served as VP of Corporate Development and Strategy for Experian's consumer businesses which include leading consumer brands: Experian, FreeCreditReport.com, and ProtectMyID. Through executing on over 8 M&A transactions, Mr. Kapczynski helped to facilitate Experian’s under-lying growth and profitability. Mr. Kapczynski graduated from UCLA film school and continues to be active in multiple industry associations that span media, mobile telecom, technology, and consumer internet. He has 12 patents to his name and an additional 40 patents pending.