AGENDA
Agenda is subject to change. Please check back for updates.
Tuesday, December 3, 2024 | 1:30 - 7:00 PM ET
Join us at ANGLES 2024 to explore the art and science of strategic communication, emerging technologies and the evolving dynamics between journalism and PR. The conference will highlight the role of comms in business growth and uncover approaches to influencing agency profitability whether it’s through generating leads, managing and elevating brand reputation or cultivating influential partnerships across trades and the multimedia landscape to tell nuanced, masterfully crafted stories.
1:00 - 1:30 PM
REGISTRATION & CHECK-IN
Light refreshments will be served
1:30 – 1:35 PM
OPENING REMARKS
Marla Kaplowitz, CEO, 4A’s
Suzanne McGee, Director, Marketing & Communications, EP+Co., 4A's Communications Committee
Rebecca Sullivan, Director of Public Relations, North America, VML & Co-Chair, 4A's Communications Committee
1:35 – 2:00 PM
KEYNOTE
Communications in the Age of AI and Leadership Insight from the Top
Jon Iwata, with his transformative leadership at IBM and deep expertise in brand and communications strategy, will offer a compelling keynote at ANGLES 2024. In a world reshaped by AI and business transformation, agency communications professionals face unique opportunities and challenges.
Drawing on his exclusive interviews with the top 50 CEOs, Jon will share:
What’s on the Minds of Top CEOs: Hear firsthand the most pressing business issues from the leaders shaping global industries. Jon will explore how communications professionals can leverage these insights to advise their agency CEOs and clients, aligning business strategy with effective narratives.
The Future of Communications and PR in the Era of AI: AI is revolutionizing how brands communicate and engage with audiences. Jon will discuss the pivotal role AI will play in shaping the future of strategic communications, from predictive analytics to real-time content generation.
Building Trust in an AI-driven World: As Executive Chairman of the Data & Trust Alliance, Jon will delve into the importance of ethical AI practices, transparency and maintaining trust with stakeholders.
Attendees will walk away with strategies to enhance their agency’s reputation, foster deeper client relationships and harness the power of AI to drive business growth in an ever-changing landscape.
Anthony Ha, Weekend Editor, TechCrunch, Moderator
Jon Iwata, Executive Chair, Data & Trust Alliance; Former IBM Chief Brand Officer
2:00 – 2:15 PM
POV with the Press | Ad Age
Q&A sessions with industry journalists that will provide you actionable insights for pitching and positioning your next story. We'll ask them what gets their attention in a pitch, what their favorite PR people do right, what some of their top-performing stories of the year were and more.
Jeanine Poggi, Editor-in-Chief, Ad Age
Sabrina Sanchez, Senior Reporter, Ad Age
Rebecca Sullivan, Director of Public Relations, North America, VML & Co-Chair, 4A's Communications Committee, Moderator
2:15 – 2:40 PM
Events: What’s In, What’s Out, What’s Next
Events have always been integral to our industry and are now coming back even better and stronger. What was once a tentpole event may have given way to another see-and-be-seen conference that isn’t even on our radar. This session will explore some of the strategies and programming behind successful, must-attend events, dig into what’s missing and take a look at the sleepers, the comebacks and the new slew of events. Learn how to land the best speaking opportunities for your executives and clients, in front of the right people with the best content.
Adrienne Lucas, Head of DEI & Strategic Partnerships, The One Club for Creativity
Ann Rubin, EVP, Marketing, Communications and Events, 4A’s, Moderator
Leah Steinhardt, VP of Marketing, POSSIBLE
Julie Thompson, Founder & C-Suite Advisor, juliethompsoninc
2:40 – 3:00 PM
How to Be Famous, in 6 Easy Steps
What's your agency's secret weapon? You are — when you apply what you know about PR to the work and the culture. Here's how to do it.
Jeff Sweat, Founder, Sweat + Co
SPONSORED PRESENTATION BY
3:00 – 3:15 PM
POV with the Press | Adweek
We’ll ask Adweek journalists about effective pitching, what gets their attention, their top-performing stories of the year and more.
Suzanne McGee, Director, Marketing & Communications, EP+Co., 4A's Communications Committee- Moderator
Kyle O’Brien, Agencies Reporter and AgencySpy Editor, Adweek
Alison Weissbrot, Executive Editor, Adweek
3:15 – 3:40 PM
How Small Agencies Tell Big Stories and How Big Agencies Tell Small Stories
When it comes to shaping narratives that resonate with audiences, substance tops agency size. This session will examine how both small and large agencies can leverage storytelling to achieve business objectives by leaning into authenticity and emotional connection, regardless of agency size.
Tanya Dua, Senior Technology Editor, LinkedIn, Moderator
Anaka Kobzev, Chief Communications Officer, McCann Worldgroup
Toni Lee, Principal, TL Communications
3:40 – 4:00 PM
BREAK
4:05 – 4:30 PM
Bold Agency Marketing without the Bold Budget
In the era of lean budgets and leaner teams, explore how agencies, marketers and PR teams are adapting and innovating to create impactful campaigns with limited resources. These panelists will share how they are grabbing their own mic and leaning into communicating stories that didn’t start in a high-end studio. Discover practical tools and mindset shifts that will empower you to push boundaries and achieve strong results, even with fewer resources at your disposal.
Oliver McAteer, Partner & Head of Development, Mischief
Geno Schellenberger, CEO, Breaking and Entering Media
Rebecca Sullivan, Director of Public Relations, North America, VML & Co-Chair, 4A's Communications Committee, Moderator
4:30 – 4:45 PM
POV with the Press | Media Insights: 2025 Outlook
Jameson Fleming, Editor-in-Chief, MM+M
Jennifer Risi, Founder and President, The Sway Effect, Moderator
4:45 – 5:10 PM
Shaping the Story Amidst Adland’s Changing Landscape
Join 4A’s CEO Marla Kaplowitz as she sits down with The Wall Street Journal’s Suzanne Vranica for a fireside chat about adland’s rapidly changing landscape.
From AI, M&A and creativity to purpose driven marketing, automation and DEI, what do the next 12-18 months hold? How can comms professionals navigate this shifting world as they promote their agency’s news? What context do they need to share when speaking with the press? How can they create compelling stories that will resonate with business editors?
Our expert journalist will provide candid perspectives on the changes that communications professionals must embrace to stay ahead of the curve including the critical need for more compelling, in-depth brand storytelling that goes beyond traditional campaign coverage.
Marla Kaplowitz, CEO, 4A’s
Suzanne Vranica, Advertising Editor, The Wall Street Journal
5:10 – 5:35 PM
Positioning for Success: How Comms Influences New Business
Effective PR campaigns with strategic and impactful storytelling position agencies as thought leaders and industry experts, showcasing their unique value propositions in addition to building a positive brand image. This visibility not only helps generate leads but also nurtures relationships with prospects throughout the sales funnel.
Whether it’s securing media coverage, speaking opportunities or industry awards, PR teams bolster the agency's reputation and differentiation, but what are CMOs and search consultants really looking for? This session will explore the evolving structure and roles of PR and comms professionals in the agency’s business development process and will showcase two search consultants sharing their best practices for how they navigate through the communications clutter.
Steph Clements, Director of Public Relations, Innocean USA, Moderator
Simone Oppenheimer-Mandel, Co-Founder, NBZ
Matt Ryan, CEO, Roth Ryan Hayes
Courtney (Jones) Williams, VP, Head of Business Development, The Martin Agency
5:35 – 5:40 PM
CLOSING REMARKS
5:40 – 7:00 PM
NETWORKING RECEPTION
Network with colleagues and members of the press.