Session 7: Building the Backbone of Purpose and Identity Through Thought Leadership

Pashmeena serves as a Research Manager and Thought Leadership Lead for the Retail Sector in Large Customer Sales in the US, where she manages custom research, external thought leadership programming and scaled narratives across consumer and B2B verticals understanding consumer behaviors, digital journey’s and effectiveness across the e-commerce space.

She joined Google 10 years ago in the Tech B2B practice. Prior to Google, Pashmeena was MAC Cosmetics Manager of Digital Analytics and has spent several years at both research firms and agencies working on brands like Wells Fargo, Reebok and Dunkin’ Donuts.

Pashmeena earned a degree in Advertising from Penn State University and holds a Master’s Degree in Integrated Marketing Communications with an emphasis on Statistics from Emerson College in Boston.

While she feels like a native New Yorker after 11 years, she grew up south of Buffalo, New York, and spent several years in Boston, MA where she met her husband. Pashmeena enjoys reading, the NYC food and nightlife scene, fashion, traveling and spending time with her 3 sisters and friends.

As the leader of the Future of Work thought leadership and marketing at Microsoft, Matthew is at the forefront of shaping global perceptions on the evolving nature of work. Matthew’s role is pivotal in demonstrating how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing productivity, creativity, and innovation across individuals, organizations, and the global economy. With an exceptional blend of skills in storytelling, category creation, and media production, he spearheads WorkLab, an award-nominated editorial platform that delves into the future of work with captivating stories and insights. Additionally, Matthew oversee the Work Trend Index, a comprehensive global survey research report that has become a benchmark for measuring and influencing work trends worldwide. By collaborating with distinguished researchers, market influencers, and an elite customer council, Matthew plays a crucial role in forecasting and shaping the dynamics of work in the forthcoming year and envisioning the possibilities for the next decade.

As editor in chief of BCG, Paul leads the firm’s global thought leadership content strategy and serves as co-host of the popular podcast Imagine This, alongside BCG’s conversational AI agent, GENE. Previously, he served as editor in chief of MIT Sloan Management Review and executive editor and director of new editorial products at Harvard Business Review.

Artemis Vallianatos is the Head of Brand and Thought Leadership at Amazon Business. With over 25 years of B2B marketing and consulting leadership, she has driven revenue growth at top consultancies, IT services firms, and digital transformation companies. Artemis excels in transforming flagship thought leadership and strategic content into comprehensive, multi-channel engagement strategies. She has a reputation for creative business development across consulting services and technology integrators, including PwC, Deloitte, E&Y, and Cognizant. Known for launching digital sub-brands and robust, integrated programs that drive revenue growth, Artemis now focuses on thought leadership, advertising, executive and portfolio content, and analyst relations, orchestrating activities designed to substantially elevate a company’s market reputation.

Tomas is a brand content pioneer with a long and successful track record in journalism, communications, and corporate storytelling. He has been named among the top brand editors in the world. Tomas serves as chief storyteller at Bentley Systems, which builds digital twins of entire cities, including roads, bridges, power and water systems, and other critical infrastructure. Before Bentley, he built the owned storytelling function for Amazon’s cross-company AI communications team focusing on generative AI. He also established and led owned storytelling at Amazon Devices & Services, the Amazon business unit responsible for Alexa, Kindle and other global brands and products. Before Amazon, Tomas spent a decade leading GE Reports and the GE Brief newsletter, GE’s flagship news publications. He built GE Reports into one of the top brand journalism sites. The Financial Times, Inc. magazine and the Brunswick Review listed it as a leading example of content published by businesses. Tomas is originally from Prague, Czech Republic, where he trained as a mechanical engineer. He worked as a journalist in Europe and the U.S., including eight years as a reporter and staff writer at Forbes.

Michael Nevski has been working in marketing, market research and client insights for global financial, consumer products, manufacturing, and data companies for over three decades. Presently, working directly with Visa’s Chief Economist, Michael oversees all consumer research initiatives to support global economic team to add a layer of consumer research, strategy, and analysis to Visa economic output and forecasts. Guiding global research to provide cutting-edge insights into consumer spending and the payments industry to better inform business planning and management decisions and managing multiple research vendors including primary, secondary, syndicated, quantitative and qualitative research.

Most recently, he led development of Spending Momentum Index Premium by identifying business needs, building a solution, partnering with 3rd party data providers, conducting research including soliciting feedback from Visa business clients, planning, and executing product development and product launch worldwide.

Michael holds an MBA with a concentration in marketing and advertising from the University of Arizona and a BS in Economics and Finance from Saint Petersburg State University of Finance and Economics.

Richard McGill Murphy is a senior marketing leader with deep strategic and operational experience across multiple industries. He currently serves as the editor in chief and director of brand thought leadership at ServiceNow, a Silicon Valley software company. He was named Content Marketer of the Year by the Content Marketing Institute in 2023. In previous lives, Murphy worked as a magazine editor, foreign correspondent and press freedom advocate. His journalism and commentary have been featured in many media outlets, including Fortune, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, CNN, NPR and VH1. Murphy studied literature at Harvard College. He earned a doctorate in social anthropology from Oxford University based on ethnographic fieldwork in Pakistan, where he was a Fulbright Scholar.

Ophelie is the global head of Thought Leadership at Siemens, leveraging 17 years of experience in public relations, marketing, and business development. Renowned for strategic foresighting, Ophelie’s leadership extends to envisioning the transformative potential of the industrial metaverse, industrial AI, and digital pathways to net-zero emissions. She navigates high-impact partnerships with industry influencers, academia, media outlets, think tanks, and research institutions, cementing Siemens’ position at the forefront of technological innovation and societal progress.

Throughout her career, Ophelie has cultivated award-winning programs. She is a trailblazer in employee advocacy and has spearheaded initiatives to merge sales and marketing efforts through innovative demand generation campaigns and social selling trainings.

Beyond Siemens, Ophelie serves on the board of Dunoyer Construction SA, advocating for sustainable and innovative construction practices aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. Her commitment to sustainability earned her recognition as the 3rd most influential personality in climate change and environmental sustainability topics within the corporate world by Onalytica in 2021.

She has lived and worked in 18 different countries, which makes her great at packing a suitcase. Ophelie thrives in multi-cultural environments. Currently based in Zurich, during her free time she enjoys skiing, swimming in the lake, and trail running while listening to tech podcasts. She is passionate about biohacking. She is a graduate from HEC Lausanne.

Cristene Gonzalez-Wertz is the Director and Managing Editor at Schneider Electric’s Energy Management Research Center. Schneider is a global leader in energy management and automation, sustainability and data centers. With over 20 years of experience in marketing, strategy, and product design, she leads the Energy Management Research Center, where she develops and delivers thought leadership that helps clients understand and leverage the latest technologies and trends in the industry.

Cristene is also a co-creator and co-host of the Retail Done Right podcast, where she explores the changing nature of retail in the era of the Customer Channel. She is passionate about creating stories that make the “new” understandable and actionable for diverse audiences. She has a proven track record of driving innovation and excellence in her previous roles, including as the Editor in Chief of DXC Technology’s think tank, Leading Edge, and as an Executive Strategist at IBM’s Watson Group. She has received multiple awards and recognitions for her contributions and results, such as the IBM IBV Global Excellence Award and the IBM 100% Club.

Ty Heath is on a mission to build famous brands in B2B. As Director of Market Engagement at LinkedIn’s B2B Institute think tank, Ty shapes the future of B2B marketing through thought leadership and industry collaboration. Ty leads research initiatives and partners with top clients to implement cutting-edge B2B strategies through the think tank’s B2B Edge program. An award-winning marketer, international speaker, and B2B influencer, Ty has honed her experience at Google, IBM, Nestle, and LinkedIn. Ty’s influence extends beyond marketing as a leader in equity initiatives, including her role as President of LinkedIn’s Black Inclusion Group and as CoFounder of TransformHer, LinkedIn’s premier event for women of color and active allies. Today, she serves on the American Advertising Federation board and as an Adobe Insider. A sought-after speaker, Ty has shared her knowledge at prestigious events globally, impacting thousands with marketing education.

Francis is the Global Managing Director of Accenture Research. Accenture Research identifies and anticipates game-changing business, market, and technology trends through provocative thought leadership. Their 300 researchers based in 20 countries partner with world-class organizations and Academia to discover innovative solutions for their clients.

Francis’ current role also includes the management of special projects for Accenture Global Leadership such as the preparation of G20/B20 Summits.

Francis has 25 years of experience in Strategic Research and Consulting. Prior to joining Accenture, he worked in a Research Consulting boutique in Paris.

Serge is a global B2B marketing executive and thought leadership expert with deep experience in consulting, technology, market research and retail companies like Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Forrester, Ryder, Nike and HP. His role often involves acting as a thought leadership evangelist. This means engaging and educating stakeholders about the value and profitability of thought leadership marketing – beyond driving awareness. His pragmatic approach to building thought leadership programs is collaborative and inclusionary, involving all stakeholders and sponsors across the organization and partner ecosystems.

At TCS, Serge established the firm’s flagship management journal Perspectives in 2009. He has been the editor-in-chief ever since. Since 2011 he has led more than a dozen major global research studies on digital business issues. And, in 2017, he launched TCS’ Thought Leadership Institute. Their focus has been on conducting primary research on the biggest challenges for the C suite, as well as key technologies and innovations in today’s complex digital ecosystems (e.g., TCS Cloud Study 2023, TCS Risk & Cybersecurity Study 2022, TCS 2021 Global Leadership Study, TCS 2021 Global Financial Study, TCS 2020 CIO Study, TCS 2019 CMO Study).

Tom is an editorial director at PwC and editor of strategy+business. Previously, Tom spent a total of two decades at McKinsey & Company, including serving as deputy editor-in-chief of McKinsey Quarterly. Between Tom’s two stints at McKinsey, he helped start a content development function at Heidrick & Struggles, an executive recruiting firm. Tom’s writing and editing portfolio spans diverse sectors, functions, geographies, and content formats. In his work, Tom has a deep respect for storytelling, data, and design—rooted in his background in fiction writing and data visualization.

Lucia is the Global Editorial Director and Deputy Publisher of McKinsey global publishing, a team of more than 100 editors, visual storytellers, multimedia producers, and audience development experts spanning locations worldwide. She attended Columbia University and after a brief post-collegiate in her native Massachusetts returned to pursue a master’s in cinema studies from New York University. For nearly the last two decades at McKinsey, Lucia has led the full complement of the firm’s research-driven publishing including McKinsey’s multi-award-winning response to the COVID-19 pandemic thousands of articles, interviews, videos, interactives, and data visualizations that have attracted millions of readers. Lucia also co-hosts the firm’s flagship audio franchise the McKinsey Podcast and launched and co-moderates its largest public-facing webinar series, McKinsey Live.

As the Founder and Head of KPMG’s Advisory Insights program, Jeff leads the production of high-quality thought leadership, research and market insights that help drive demand in what is the growth engine for the firm. With over 15 years of experience in strategy and business consulting, he runs a dynamic team of 75+ members dedicated to developing enterprise-wide go-to-market campaigns aligned to firm strategy, client needs and KPMG’s core capabilities.

Jeff has played a central role in driving KPMG’s perspective related to our firm’s key themes and hot topic GTM response teams.

Cindy has been the IBM Institute for Business Values’ top marketing officer for nearly three years, overseeing editorial, design, and user engagement. Prior to that, she had seven years as Chief Marketing & Brand Officer for the Project Management Institute, a global association that built a profession. While there, she developed a thought leadership competency for the organization, founded a strategy coalition, and was a frequent author and speaker. Earlier in her career, she worked as a marketing and communications executive in healthcare, food manufacturing, medical devices, and philanthropy.

Anna Bernasek is global head of thought leadership at State Street where she has produced innovative and award-winning content such as The Future of ESG and Digital Digest. Prior to State Street she was at the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) where she worked with the partners of McKinsey & Co. to develop the most respected thought leadership in the world. At MGI Anna led high impact projects including McKinsey’s 2020 flagship report Climate Risk and Response and created and hosted MGI’s signature podcast Forward Thinking. Anna is the author of two big idea books relating to the fundamentals of trust in our economy and the economic impact of artificial intelligence. She has written about some of the most important topics of the day in her roles as columnist for The New York Times, Fortune, Newsweek, and The Australian Financial Review. Anna has state of the art knowledge about ESG, climate change, data systems, artificial intelligence, finance, and economics and has spoken to audiences around the world about her research and writing. She holds a degree in economics from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in public policy from Princeton University.

Jonathan serves as the Chief Content Officer at Korn Ferry, the world’s largest recruitment and management consulting firm. Formerly the Editor in Chief at WSJ magazine, he is on a mission to redefine modern storytelling in a way that cost-effectively promotes brands, underscores thought leadership, and generates substantial audiences and revenues. Currently, he is transforming the approach to business podcasts at Korn Ferry, evolving from traditional dry interviews to entertaining yet informative skits and clips, achieving near-viral results. He also pioneered the internal podcast “Korn Ferry Katch Up.”

Previously, Jonathan revolutionized content strategy by shifting from “evergreen” content to newsy, trend pieces that address the immediate issues facing CEOs, which resulted in a 650 percent increase in traffic over five years. He oversees a diverse team across eight different multimedia platforms, including a B2C career advice site, a boardroom email, a national magazine, and a LinkedIn newsletter with over 500,000 subscribers.

His core competencies include web content, editorial management, new media, podcast scriptwriting, executive producing, and immersive storytelling. Jonathan is also a hands-on leader, known for inspiring and developing a talented team of writers and editors, particularly those transitioning or aspiring to advance in the corporate ranks.

Emily Janoch is the Associate Vice President for Thought Leadership and Design at CARE, focusing on ways to leverage evidence and learning to improve impact, build dignity, and eradicate poverty. With 18 years of experience, she is an expert in designing systems to capture and share information. She loves facilitating conversations with practitioners and decision makers. She has a BA in International Studies from the University of Chicago, and a Masters’ in Public Policy in Internationals and Global Affairs from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Yogesh is an established business professional with an extensive background in consulting, market research, data analytics, and business leadership. Throughout his career, he has leveraged his skillset in advanced research methodologies and project management to provide business professionals with trend-setting insights.

As a CEO, Yogesh has helped iResearch grow into a marketing-first agency helping Fortune 500 brands to build digital-trust with their modern consumer through thought leadership. He provides guidance & strategic direction to all cross-functional teams at iResearch Services and is keenly involved in developing new initiatives that help in improving customer experience. He is committed to creating a sustainable future for iResearch by staying on cutting-edge of emerging tech.

He initiated Giving for Good Foundation, a charity supporting disadvantaged children for education & sports, and having a sustainable environmental mission. He actively steers several campaigns through this award-winning social venture which has underpinned & enriched lives of more than 10,000 children since 2019.

Yogesh is an active investor, a tech optimist, mentor to young entrepreneurs and a future enthusiast – always looking for more comfortable, better and more efficient ways to solve problems. He holds an MBA, and also undergone leadership training at London Business school and actively shares his insights on Forbes, Linkedin and Medium. Before working with iResearch, Yogesh worked in senior leadership roles into sales and marketing with technology firms and banks.

Josselyn is Vice President and Global Editorial Director at Heidrick & Struggles, where she heads the firm’s thought leadership research and publishing globally. She began her career at The New Yorker, and then discovered thought leadership at McKinsey & Company, where she was a Senior Editor. She has also worked at Booz & Company and as the Americas Editorial Director, Thought Leadership, at The Economist Intelligence Unit.

Stuart Feil leads ADWEEK’s award-winning Adweek Branded content studio, a team of editors, designers and strategists that works with clients to craft compelling narratives and eye-catching assets that engage marketing and advertising professionals. A long-time editor and writer, Stuart previously was editorial director of Forbes Insights, the publisher’s sponsored research organization, and editorial director of Bredin, Inc., a boutique agency that helps F500 companies reach the small business market.

Madelaine is a highly experienced SVP Global Marketing with 19 years of industry expertise, offering a global perspective and unwavering dedication to marketing. Her career showcases a consistent trail of pioneering strategies across print, TV, and digital platforms, excelling in propelling market impact, steering successful product launches, and refining brand positioning. With a distinct understanding of spearheading B2B thought leadership initiatives, Madelaine demonstrates expertise in market trends, competitive landscapes, and precise campaign direction. Madelaine’s reputation is marked by her commitment and competence in driving success across the marketing cycle.

Yogesh is an established business professional with an extensive background in consulting, market research, data analytics, and business leadership. Throughout his career, he has leveraged his skillset in advanced research methodologies and project management to provide business professionals with trend-setting insights.

As a CEO, Yogesh has helped iResearch grow into a marketing-first agency helping Fortune 500 brands to build digital-trust with their modern consumer through thought leadership. He provides guidance & strategic direction to all cross-functional teams at iResearch and is keenly involved in developing new initiatives that help in improving customer experience. He is committed to creating a sustainable future for iResearch by staying on cutting-edge of emerging tech.

Andrew is a seasoned Operations Director with over 23 years of leadership experience, specializing in research planning. He’s worked with industry titans including the Economist Intelligence Unit, Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC, and Thomson Reuters, with notable achievements including annual reviews of foreign exchange, cash management, private banking, and the enduring Economist and Financial Times Global Business Confidence barometers.

Madelaine is a highly experienced SVP Global Marketing with 19 years of industry expertise, offering a global perspective and unwavering dedication to marketing. Her career showcases a consistent trail of pioneering strategies across print, TV, and digital platforms, excelling in propelling market impact, steering successful product launches, and refining brand positioning. With a distinct understanding of spearheading B2B thought leadership initiatives, Madelaine demonstrates expertise in market trends, competitive landscapes, and precise campaign direction. Madelaine’s reputation is marked by her commitment and competence in driving success across the marketing cycle.

Newell is a seasoned sales and marketing leader with a proven track record of driving revenue, forging strategic partnerships, and spearheading innovative product development. With senior sales leadership roles at Conde Nast, Time Inc., Gannett, and other prominent organizations, he has excelled in leading high-performing teams and mastering consultative selling in competitive, commoditized markets.

At Time Inc., Newell played a pivotal role in establishing and managing Fortune Knowledge Group, Fortune’s thought leadership brand. Collaborating with editors, subject matter experts, designers, and production teams, he directed business development for enterprise clients and delivered impactful content solutions, including white papers, executive briefings, dynamic infographics, webinars, and more.

In recent years, Newell has leveraged his expertise as a consultant, advising early-stage ad tech firms, legacy media companies, and marketing organizations. His focus on building meaningful, growth-oriented relationships has positioned him as a trusted advisor across industries.

Based in Princeton, NJ, Newell now leads global sales for iResearch Services Thought Leadership, where he is committed to driving innovative strategies and measurable results for clients worldwide.

Brittany is an accomplished editorial leader with two decades of experience crafting compelling stories across diverse formats, from investigative journalism to memoir to thought leadership. With a reporter’s instinct honed at Northwestern University’s prestigious Medill School of Journalism, she takes joy in blending data-driven journalism tactics into the marketing function. She also holds an MA in Writing & Publishing from DePaul University, where she studied the intricacies of syntax, grammar, and nonfiction writing.

Brittany’s expertise lies at the intersection of coaching executives on effective communication, managing client-facing writers and editors, and cultivating a start-up culture with incredibly high retention. As an editor, she has deep expertise in developing reports, articles, and other forms of thought leadership for executives across industries, from financial services to energy to technology.

Prior to joining iResearch, Brittany built and managed the editorial team at US-based Leff Communications. She also held roles in marketing and administration. She is currently working toward an executive MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (graduating June 2025). She’s the proud mom of a rambunctious daughter and two cats.

A dedicated business development specialist with 13+ years of experience, Gurpreet empowers global organizations by harmonizing marketing strategies with business objectives. He led the tech practice at Longitude and innovated marketing services at Future plc, focusing on client success through campaign strategy, media planning, research, thought leadership, and events.

Natalie is an experienced writer and researcher, with over a decade of experience content creation across various platforms. She has diverse experience with data-driven storytelling and content development, as well as research project management and editorial leadership. ​

For over a decade, Kirsteen has been blending her sharp analytical thinking and zeal for language to craft engaging brand stories, compelling campaigns, and seamless user experiences across marketing, branding, and thought leadership.

As a seasoned content strategist and copywriter, Kirsteen’s work includes data-driven white papers, brand messaging, campaign positioning, think pieces, and digital content for global B2B brands and industry leaders. She draws on a broad sector portfolio—spanning professional services, industrial and tech manufacturing, logistics, automotive, education, and real estate—to bring versatility, strategic problem-solving, and (sometimes surprising) cross-sector connections to every project.

Karen Feldman is the Chief Marketing Officer at Iron Mountain, where she leads global marketing and communications strategy, bringing together creativity, data, and technology to drive growth and deepen customer engagement. A business and marketing leader with a passion for data-driven storytelling, Karen is known for building high-performing teams and delivering impactful brand and demand strategies that scale.

Prior to joining Iron Mountain, Karen served as CMO of IBM Consulting, the management consulting arm of IBM. In this role, she oversaw the global repositioning and rebranding of the business following the Kyndryl spin-off and led all marketing and communications functions. Over her career at IBM, she held leadership roles across media, demand generation, product marketing, and thought leadership—applying analytics and insight to shape compelling narratives and go-to-market strategies across industries.

Karen brings over 25 years of experience spanning technology, media, entertainment, telecommunications, retail, and financial services. Before IBM, she held marketing and consulting roles at American Express and PwC Consulting, partnering with brands such as The New York Times, Showtime, Verizon, and Disney.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from Emory University and an MBA from NYU Stern School of Business. Based in New York City, Karen enjoys running, skiing, and reading, and is energized by mentoring teams to deliver innovation through the fusion of strategy, storytelling, and smart data.

Craig O’Boyle is a bold, globally-minded marketing leader whose career has spanned the world’s most recognized brands and some of its most disruptive innovators. With senior roles at Google, Meta, Apple (via agency partnerships), and as Regional CMO at Activision Blizzard King, Craig has shaped and scaled marketing strategies across tech, entertainment, gaming, and the ever-evolving landscape of youth culture.

A dual Executive MBA graduate from Columbia Business School and London Business School, Craig combines commercial acumen with creative ambition—translating data, consumer insights, and cultural trends into powerful brand stories and market-shaping campaigns. He has led global go-to-market strategies, orchestrated cross-functional teams across continents, and delivered integrated marketing experiences that transcend traditional channels—anchored in brand, media, events, and digital innovation.

Craig is equally known for his people-first leadership. A relentless coach and inclusive team builder, he is passionate about unlocking the potential in others, fostering diverse environments, and leading with authenticity. His work with Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and advocacy for equity and belonging demonstrates his belief that inclusive teams are the foundation of innovation and long-term business success.

Whether driving commercial growth for startups or redefining strategy for global giants, Craig is energised by the opportunity to explore uncharted territory—where creative possibility, consumer behavior, and business ambition meet. His career isn’t just a journey—it’s a mission to help the world connect, engage, and evolve.

Sonja Jacob is a seasoned B2B content and performance marketing leader with more than 16 years of experience driving growth at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and measurable impact. With a career spanning top-tier companies like Meta, Cisco, and HubSpot—as well as high-growth startups—Sonja has built and scaled content and marketing functions that fuel demand, accelerate pipeline, and drive meaningful business outcomes.

Known for her growth mindset and operational rigor, Sonja brings a data-informed approach to every stage of the marketing funnel. She thrives in organizations that value curiosity, iteration, and continuous learning, using both qualitative insight and quantitative performance metrics to optimize content strategy at scale.

An accomplished people leader, Sonja is equally passionate about building inclusive, high-performing teams. She champions a culture rooted in respect, autonomy, and accountability—believing that people do their best work when they feel trusted and empowered.

Sonja holds a double M.A. in Sociology and Women’s & Gender Studies and is a sought-after speaker and podcast guest. Her work and insights have been featured across leading industry platforms, including The Growth Hub Podcast, Career HQ by Superpath, and GrowthHackers. She’s delivered talks and moderated panels at institutions and events such as Stanford University, Boston University, the Growth Marketing Conference, and General Catalyst.

Whether she’s architecting content strategy, mentoring the next generation of marketers, or helping teams discover the work they love, Sonja brings clarity, creativity, and purpose to everything she does.

Melissa Catelli is a seasoned marketing and communications professional with a distinguished track record across the public, private, and non-profit sectors. With expertise in writing, editing, and strategic storytelling, Melissa has crafted high-impact content and messaging for a diverse portfolio of clients—including United States and Hong Kong SAR government officials, high-profile individuals, and Fortune 500 companies.

Currently at AECOM, a global leader in infrastructure consulting, Melissa brings a nuanced understanding of cross-cultural communication and stakeholder engagement. Her ability to navigate complex subject matter and deliver compelling narratives has made her a trusted advisor to executives and teams operating on a global scale.

Melissa is known for her clarity of thought, editorial precision, and ability to translate sophisticated ideas into accessible, action-oriented messaging. Whether shaping external communications, refining internal narratives, or elevating brand storytelling, she consistently delivers work that meets the highest standards of excellence.

Josh Rosenfield is an accomplished editorial and content strategy leader with over two decades of experience at the intersection of thought leadership, sustainability, and global business insights. He currently serves as Editorial Director of Global Thought Leadership at PwC, where he leads the creation of high-impact content that informs and inspires decision-makers worldwide.

Prior to joining PwC, Josh spent nearly seven years as Executive Editor at McKinsey & Company, shaping global research and editorial initiatives on critical topics ranging from economic development to digital transformation. His earlier roles include serving as Director of Content Strategy for the Asia Society Policy Institute, where he oversaw communications on U.S.-Asia relations, and holding multiple senior leadership positions at Deloitte, including Senior Manager of Global CEO Communications and Global Sustainability Services.

Josh holds an M.S. in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and an A.B. in Romance Languages and Literatures from Princeton University, where he was a member of the University Press Club. With a career spanning consulting, policy, and journalism, he brings a unique ability to translate complex ideas into compelling narratives that drive strategic impact.

Lauren is a results-driven marketing and business strategist with a background in management consulting and CPG brand management. She brings a unique blend of analytical rigor and creative vision to her work, consistently delivering high-impact outcomes across brand, marketing, and digital transformation initiatives.

Known for turning bold ideas into actionable strategies, Lauren has led change-oriented launches that enhance client and prospect experiences, elevate differentiation, and strengthen internal culture. She thrives in dynamic, team-oriented environments where she can build, scale, and innovate from the ground up.

Her expertise lies in developing integrated marketing strategies rooted in data and customer insight. With Series 7 and 24 licenses, Lauren combines financial acumen with marketing leadership to drive measurable business growth.

She operates with a core set of values—ownership, collaboration, curiosity, and integrity—always bringing a test-and-learn mindset and a deep focus on executional excellence.

Monica Rowe’s successful marketing and communications career has been fueled by her ability to lead and motivate teams with vision, cultivate new ideas, and drive organizational strategies that engage diverse audiences and enhance society.

As CARE’s Chief Marketing Officer, Monica has oversight of media relations, creative, content strategy, events, social media, digital, internal communications, and entertainment relations, with an overall focus on propelling CARE’s reputation as a trusted global INGO.

Prior to CARE, Monica was Chief Marketing Officer for the One Love Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating young people about the importance of relationship health to prevent domestic violence. A majority of her career was spent leading some of the world’s top global consumer brands, where she was credited for building the first functional communication departments for six international companies including Sephora, Bath & Body Works, and Eileen Fisher. Her proven track record as an expert brand and message developer with tremendous vision around content and voice has led to numerous marketing campaign awards and internal accolades.

Monica has dedicated her spare time to serving on various boards (One Love Foundation Advisory Board, New Jersey City University Marketing & Communications School, and Living Wage For Us), championing young female leaders by providing mentorship, and consulting start-ups on brand voice.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Seton Hall University and resides in New Jersey.

Rosa Rita is the Global Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Business Intelligence at J.P. Morgan Asset & Wealth Management. In this role, she leads the firm’s global marketing strategy and oversees the development of advanced data-driven tools that empower advisors and enhance client engagement. Her leadership has been instrumental in the creation of PB-IQ, a suite of innovative business intelligence tools designed to identify and target prospective clients, deepen existing relationships, and drive digital acquisition at scale.

With a background in both marketing and business intelligence, Rosa has spearheaded initiatives that personalize client experiences through data integration and targeted outreach. Her work focuses on leveraging technology to deliver actionable insights, streamline advisor workflows, and foster meaningful client interactions.
Rosa’s commitment to innovation and excellence in marketing has positioned her as a thought leader in the financial services industry, where she continues to drive growth and transformation through strategic vision and data-centric approaches.

Lucas Rivers is the VP, Thought Leadership, Content, & Communications for Morgan Stanley’s Global Sustainability Office, delivering key insights to investors and corporates on trends in sustainable finance and issues like climate change, biodiversity, circular economy, and inclusive growth. Prior, he was on the Sustainability & ESG team at Citigroup, consulted Fortune 500 companies on embedding social impact into business strategies, managed due diligence and impact measurement for a small social venture incubator, and spent a year in Vietnam on a Fulbright Scholarship. He holds a Master of Public Administration from Columbia University and a BA in Political Science and Chinese from Union College.

Brenna Sniderman leads Deloitte’s Center for Integrated Research, where she heads a global team investigating the most critical cross-sector shifts transforming organizations—from digital disruption and workforce transformation to mobility and advanced technologies.

Her research explores the intersection of digital and physical innovation, with a particular focus on Industry 4.0 and how advanced, connected, and autonomous technologies are redefining operations, supply networks, and organizational strategy. Brenna helps senior leaders understand and anticipate how technological change impacts how businesses think, operate, and compete.

With a background in both qualitative and quantitative research, Brenna has shaped strategic narratives for global audiences, delivering insights that help organizations not just keep up—but lead—in times of change. She is a sought-after speaker, writer, and thought leader, passionate about uncovering the next big idea that will shape how we live, work, and build the future.

Nick is a growth-focused marketing executive with more than 15 years of experience driving brand authority, demand generation, and audience engagement for Fortune 500 companies and B2B startups. He specializes in content-driven growth, AI-powered marketing, and editorial strategy, helping brands cut through the noise with high-impact storytelling and data-driven execution.

Currently, Nick leads Salesforce’s global communications editorial strategy, repositioning the company as an AI and platform leader through strategic storytelling, paid media, and multi-channel content distribution. His expertise spans growth marketing, go-to-market (GTM) strategy, and AI automation, with a proven track record of scaling teams, launching high-ROI marketing programs, and aligning content strategy with business objectives.

In addition to his corporate leadership roles, Nick has built and led media brands, designed high-performance newsroom strategies, and developed innovative marketing frameworks that drive measurable impact. Whether advancing thought leadership, optimizing digital campaigns, or transforming audience engagement, Nick thrives at the intersection of storytelling, growth, and technology.

He holds an MBA from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and is the author of The Future of Marketing (Financial Times Press, 2015).

Ty Heath is on a mission to build famous brands in B2B. As Director of Market Engagement at LinkedIn’s B2B Institute think tank, Ty shapes the future of B2B marketing through thought leadership and industry collaboration. Ty leads research initiatives and partners with top clients to implement cutting-edge B2B strategies through the think tank’s B2B Edge program. An award-winning marketer, international speaker, and B2B influencer, Ty has honed her experience at Google, IBM, Nestle, and LinkedIn. Ty’s influence extends beyond marketing as a leader in equity initiatives, including her role as President of LinkedIn’s Black Inclusion Group and as CoFounder of TransformHer, LinkedIn’s premier event for women of color and active allies. Today, she serves on the American Advertising Federation board and as an Adobe Insider. A sought-after speaker, Ty has shared her knowledge at prestigious events globally, impacting thousands with marketing education.

Francis is the Global Managing Director of Accenture Research. Accenture Research identifies and anticipates game-changing business, market, and technology trends through provocative thought leadership. Their 300 researchers based in 20 countries partner with world-class organizations and Academia to discover innovative solutions for their clients.

Francis’ current role also includes the management of special projects for Accenture Global Leadership such as the preparation of G20/B20 Summits.

Francis has 25 years of experience in Strategic Research and Consulting. Prior to joining Accenture, he worked in a Research Consulting boutique in Paris.

Peter Linder is the Head of Thought Leadership, North America at Ericsson, where he helps enterprises, industries, and customers understand and harness the full potential of 5G and mobile G force technologies.

A recognized 5G evangelist and expert content creator, Peter brings a unique blend of deep telecom industry knowledge and digital marketing expertise to his role. With decades of experience at the intersection of technology and business, he is passionate about demystifying the complexities of next-generation connectivity and making the benefits of 5G accessible to all.

In 2020, Peter was ranked the #1 expert technology influencer on LinkedIn by Onalytica. He is a leading voice on how 5G is transforming enterprise innovation, Industry 4.0, and even live sports experiences — both in stadiums and at home. He is also a strong advocate for digital inclusion and believes that access to connectivity and technology should be a universal right.

A longtime spokesperson for Ericsson since 2003, Peter is a sought-after keynote speaker and regularly appears on industry panels, fireside chats, webinars, and podcasts.

Outside of his corporate role, Peter is the creator of TweeterLinder.com, a digital mentoring platform where he shares practical guidance on digital topics such as virtual speaking and digital marketing.

A Formula 1 enthusiast who grew up just a mile from a racetrack, Peter is also a seasoned traveler, having visited 209 airports across 73 countries.

Lucia is the Global Editorial Director and Deputy Publisher of McKinsey global publishing, a team of more than 100 editors, visual storytellers, multimedia producers, and audience development experts spanning locations worldwide. She attended Columbia University and after a brief post-collegiate in her native Massachusetts returned to pursue a master’s in cinema studies from New York University. For nearly the last two decades at McKinsey, Lucia has led the full complement of the firm’s research-driven publishing including McKinsey’s multi-award-winning response to the COVID-19 pandemic thousands of articles, interviews, videos, interactives, and data visualizations that have attracted millions of readers. Lucia also co-hosts the firm’s flagship audio franchise the McKinsey Podcast and launched and co-moderates its largest public-facing webinar series, McKinsey Live.

As the Founder and Head of KPMG’s Advisory Insights program, Jeff leads the production of high-quality thought leadership, research and market insights that help drive demand in what is the growth engine for the firm. With over 15 years of experience in strategy and business consulting, he runs a dynamic team of 75+ members dedicated to developing enterprise-wide go-to-market campaigns aligned to firm strategy, client needs and KPMG’s core capabilities.

Jeff has played a central role in driving KPMG’s perspective related to our firm’s key themes and hot topic GTM response teams.

Cindy has been the IBM Institute for Business Values’ top marketing officer for nearly three years, overseeing editorial, design, and user engagement. Prior to that, she had seven years as Chief Marketing & Brand Officer for the Project Management Institute, a global association that built a profession. While there, she developed a thought leadership competency for the organization, founded a strategy coalition, and was a frequent author and speaker. Earlier in her career, she worked as a marketing and communications executive in healthcare, food manufacturing, medical devices, and philanthropy.

Joe lazer is a leading voice in B2B storytelling, blending research, marketing, and narrative strategy to help brands forge deeper connections with their audiences. He is the best-selling author of The Storytelling Edge and the creator of a widely followed newsletter of the same name, with over 150,000 subscribers.

As a fractional CMO and keynote speaker, Joel has worked with hundreds of companies to harness storytelling as a growth driver—delivering workshops, talks, and consulting engagements that turn complex ideas into compelling brand narratives. He’s led marketing at high-growth startups including Contently and A.Team, where he launched award-winning programs recognized by The Drum and Digiday.

A seasoned researcher, Joel has conducted pioneering political neuroscience research and has been awarded journalism grants from CUNY. His insights have been featured at global events including Web Summit, Collision, SXSW, and Content Marketing World.

At TLFT 2025, Joel will explore how AI is reshaping the storytelling landscape—and what it takes to stand out when everyone is a content creator.

Aijaz is a seasoned thought leader and researcher with over 20 years of experience, providing deep insights into pivotal business and disruptive trends for executive leaders, thereby enhancing brand eminence and strategic positioning in the marketplace.

Aijaz’s key skills include developing and executing a comprehensive thought leadership strategy, creating impactful content for thought leadership initiatives, designing and conducting research studies, analyzing and interpreting study results, collaborating effectively with subject matter experts to capture and refine their insights, and crafting compelling, high-quality written content.

Aijaz’s research work encompasses a rich portfolio of published writings and influential research studies, significantly enhancing organizational credibility and client engagement. His expertise covers various industries, supported by strong capabilities in both quantitative and qualitative research methods.

Aijaz’s original research and insights have been featured in top-tier media such as The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, CNBC, Reuters, and Axios.

Anna Bernasek is global head of thought leadership at State Street where she has produced innovative and award-winning content such as The Future of ESG and Digital Digest. Prior to State Street she was at the McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) where she worked with the partners of McKinsey & Co. to develop the most respected thought leadership in the world. At MGI Anna led high impact projects including McKinsey’s 2020 flagship report Climate Risk and Response and created and hosted MGI’s signature podcast Forward Thinking. Anna is the author of two big idea books relating to the fundamentals of trust in our economy and the economic impact of artificial intelligence. She has written about some of the most important topics of the day in her roles as columnist for The New York Times, Fortune, Newsweek, and The Australian Financial Review. Anna has state of the art knowledge about ESG, climate change, data systems, artificial intelligence, finance, and economics and has spoken to audiences around the world about her research and writing. She holds a degree in economics from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in public policy from Princeton University.

Jonathan serves as the Chief Content Officer at Korn Ferry, the world’s largest recruitment and management consulting firm. Formerly the Editor in Chief at WSJ magazine, he is on a mission to redefine modern storytelling in a way that cost-effectively promotes brands, underscores thought leadership, and generates substantial audiences and revenues. Currently, he is transforming the approach to business podcasts at Korn Ferry, evolving from traditional dry interviews to entertaining yet informative skits and clips, achieving near-viral results. He also pioneered the internal podcast “Korn Ferry Katch Up.”

Previously, Jonathan revolutionized content strategy by shifting from “evergreen” content to newsy, trend pieces that address the immediate issues facing CEOs, which resulted in a 650 percent increase in traffic over five years. He oversees a diverse team across eight different multimedia platforms, including a B2C career advice site, a boardroom email, a national magazine, and a LinkedIn newsletter with over 500,000 subscribers.

His core competencies include web content, editorial management, new media, podcast scriptwriting, executive producing, and immersive storytelling. Jonathan is also a hands-on leader, known for inspiring and developing a talented team of writers and editors, particularly those transitioning or aspiring to advance in the corporate ranks.

President and CEO Lisa Higgins has led many departments and strategic initiatives in her 30-year career with APQC. Beyond ensuring the operations and financial success of the organization, Lisa is the chief caretaker and champion for APQC’s philosophy, values, and culture. She safeguards and embodies the Grayson GuaranteeSM so that the members APQC serves and the employees who join know of, live with, and carry on the legacy of APQC’s storied founder Jack Grayson.

Prior to being elevated to CEO in 2018 (the third CEO in APQC’s 40 year history), she was named as President in 2012, COO in 2000, and a member of APQC’s executive team since 1995. She joined the organization in 1993.

Lisa headed APQC’s Benchmarking Services and Custom Solutions Group, which used APQC methodologies to provide support and apply proven practices to solve clients’ business problems. She oversaw the delivery of more than 500 benchmarking and best-practice research studies for clients throughout the world.

Lisa led APQC’s work in the formation of the Open Standards Benchmarking CollaborativeSM (currently Open Standards Benchmarking), which established an open universal standard for processes—APQC’s Process Classification Framework (PCF)®—and performance metrics used to evaluate and understand those processes. With more than 9,000 participants, APQC’s Open Standards Benchmarking database is the world’s largest and most comprehensive database of performance analytics, benchmarks, and best practices.

Lisa’s primary focus throughout her career at APQC has been to assist organizations in building capabilities to support their objectives, including the integration of benchmarking and other continuous improvement tools. She has led numerous benchmarking and best-practice research projects in the area of shared services. She has also worked extensively with clients seeking to implement or improve existing shared service business structures and operating models.

Lisa has advised on the alignment of organizational objectives using measurement and process improvement strategies throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Pacific Rim. She has authored several APQC publications and articles including APQC’s By the Numbers series that includes topics such as accounting, finance, human resources, logistics, and procurement. She has also contributed to APQC’s Passport series that includes information on benchmarking, leadership, corporate training, and knowledge management.

Lisa is proud to have been a board member of the Epilepsy Foundation of Southeast Texas since 2004 and board president for two consecutive terms 2009–2010. In addition she serves on the foundation’s national strategic planning committee.

Robert stands at the forefront of marketing innovation, with over 15 years of experience in melding the art and science of marketing to empower business narratives. As a revered Fractional Marketing Leader and strategic advisor, he has significantly influenced the trajectories of over 500 companies, including collaborations with 15 Fortune 100 giants. His expertise shines in navigating the complexities of modern marketing and digital media, particularly within technology and digital media sectors. Notably, Robert’s strategic guidance has propelled The Content Marketing Institute to become the leading global authority on content marketing education since its launch in 2010.

Beyond his operational mastery, Robert is an esteemed author of four best-selling books on marketing and content strategy, and a pivotal educator whose courses have enlightened thousands. His Content Marketing Strategy course is the American Marketing Association’s certification course, epitomizing his influence on the marketing discipline. As the co-host of “This Old Marketing” podcast, Robert’s insights reach a global audience, further cementing his role as a visionary marketer dedicated to guiding business leaders toward achieving their visions of success.

Jodi Harris (she/her) is Director of Editorial Strategy & Content at Content Marketing Institute and Editor-in-Chief of Chief Content Officer. Prior to this role, Jodi spent over a decade developing and managing content initiatives for brand, media, and agency clients in the entertainment, CPG, healthcare, technology, and biotech industries. In addition to her passion for all things content-related, Jodi is an avid music fan, animal lover, aspiring voiceover artist, and one-time Jeopardy contestant.

Jonathan Knowles founded Type 2 Consulting in 2006 following a career that spanned Finance (Bank of England), Strategy Consulting (Marakon Associates), Creative Brand Strategy (Wolff Olins), Brand Equity Measurement (Stern Stewart/Y&R’s BrandEconomics) and Brand Valuation (Brand Finance).

T2’s mission is to help B2B companies evolve from “supplier” to “partner” status by shifting their focus from selling solutions to delivering the outcomes that customers and other stakeholders care about.

BusinessWeek has described Jonathan as “one of those rare financial guys who understands and appreciates marketing” while MarketingNPV asserted that he is actually “a brand strategist extraordinaire with an unusual fluency in Finance.” While Jonathan identifies with both Finance and Marketing, his true focus is on how companies combine customer value creation with a business model that delivers a superior return on capital.

The quality of Jonathan’s thinking is reflected in more than twenty articles in the Harvard Business Review, the MIT Sloan Management Review, the Wall Street Journal plus other lead articles for Marketing Management, Professional Investor, and Intellectual Asset Management.

Yogesh is an established business professional with an extensive background in consulting, market research, data analytics, and business leadership. Throughout his career, he has leveraged his skillset in advanced research methodologies and project management to provide business professionals with trend-setting insights.

As a CEO, Yogesh has helped iResearch grow into a marketing-first agency helping Fortune 500 brands to build digital-trust with their modern consumer through thought leadership. He provides guidance & strategic direction to all cross-functional teams at iResearch Services and is keenly involved in developing new initiatives that help in improving customer experience. He is committed to creating a sustainable future for iResearch by staying on cutting-edge of emerging tech.

He initiated Giving for Good Foundation, a charity supporting disadvantaged children for education & sports, and having a sustainable environmental mission. He actively steers several campaigns through this award-winning social venture which has underpinned & enriched lives of more than 10,000 children since 2019.

Yogesh is an active investor, a tech optimist, mentor to young entrepreneurs and a future enthusiast – always looking for more comfortable, better and more efficient ways to solve problems. He holds an MBA, and also undergone leadership training at London Business school and actively shares his insights on Forbes, Linkedin and Medium. Before working with iResearch, Yogesh worked in senior leadership roles into sales and marketing with technology firms and banks.

Brittany is an accomplished editorial leader with two decades of experience crafting compelling stories across diverse formats, from investigative journalism to memoir to thought leadership. With a reporter’s instinct honed at Northwestern University’s prestigious Medill School of Journalism, she takes joy in blending data-driven journalism tactics into the marketing function. She also holds an MA in Writing & Publishing from DePaul University, where she studied the intricacies of syntax, grammar, and nonfiction writing.

Brittany’s expertise lies at the intersection of coaching executives on effective communication, managing client-facing writers and editors, and cultivating a start-up culture with incredibly high retention. As an editor, she has deep expertise in developing reports, articles, and other forms of thought leadership for executives across industries, from financial services to energy to technology.

Prior to joining iResearch, Brittany built and managed the editorial team at US-based Leff Communications. She also held roles in marketing and administration. She is currently working toward an executive MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business (graduating June 2025). She’s the proud mom of a rambunctious daughter and two cats.