2025 Brand Side - Home - Brand-Side Conference

BRAND-SIDE: A CONFERENCE FOR CREATIVES WITHIN

Brand-Side is our two-day conference aimed squarely at the inner dynamics of the very best in-house creative departments. With sessions from some of the most acclaimed brand and marketing leaders in the industry, Brand-Side is a one-of-a-kind experience that gives creatives in this space a behind-the-scenes look at the tactics and cultures behind the teams who build, maintain, and grow a brand’s presence in the market.

Whether being Brand-Side is a new experience for you or you are a seasoned in-house leader looking to invigorate your team, you will come away from the conference with inspiration, connections, and practical applications to up your creative game. Sessions will tackle topics like ‘How do you establish a strong creative culture if your brand isn’t considered ‘creative’? What is the best way to steward your brand internally and also work seamlessly with external agency partners?’ and much more.

SPEAKERS

Andy Pearson

VP of Creative

Liquid Death

Cat van der Werff

Executive Creative Director

Canva

Jo Shoesmith

VP, Global Chief Creative Officer

Amazon

Marlice Johnson

Chief Brand Officer

Sterns Bank

Peter Giorgi

SVP of Brand Marketing, Partnerships & Creative Excellence

Rocket Companies

Ricardo Aspiazu

SVP, Creative & Brand Design

Verizon

Roger Sho Gehrmann

VP of Integrated Partnerships

MassiveMusic

Sandro Corsaro

Global Head of Creative & Content

Wayfair

Xanthe Wells

VP, Global Creative

SCHEDULE

Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville

210 Molloy St.

Nashville, TN 37201

September 24-25, 2025

Schedule is subject to change

Wednesday, September 24th Thursday, September 25th

Wednesday, September 24th

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

Registration & Breakfast

10:00 AM - 10:10 AM

Welcome

10:10 AM - 11:00 AM

Jo Shoesmith – Amazon

Why did I say yes to presenting today?
How Amazon teaches you to question everything.

Join Jo Shoesmith as she dives into Amazon's culture of curiosity and how it fosters innovation, radical thinking, and big ideas.

11:05 AM - 11:55 AM

Speaker and session details to come

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Speaker and session details to come

12:45 PM - 1:45 PM

Lunch

1:45 PM - 2:35 PM

Sandro Corsaro – Wayfair

AI: Your Next Creative Leap

Sandro Corsaro shows in-house creative teams how to use AI as a creative multiplier to visualize ideas, align on vision, and scale production. With wins from Wayfair and a career spanning entertainment, publishing, and e-commerce, he shares proven ways to turn an imaginative spark into bold brand breakthroughs that connect emotionally and build lasting value.

2:40 PM - 3:25 PM

Round Table Sessions

A more intimate forum to discuss the day's sessions, providing a platform to exchange insights, share best practices and foster networking among attendees and speakers.

3:30 PM - 4:20 PM

Cat van der Werff – Canva

Is the democratization of design ruining the industry?

It’s the kind of question that shows up in Reddit threads or sparks debate on panels. As simple, easy-to-use design tools like Canva put creative powers in more hands, some worry it’s devaluing design itself. In this thought-provoking session, Canva’s Executive Creative Director, Cat van der Werff addresses the backlash head-on. She unpacks the identity tension within the industry, makes the case for why more design literacy doesn’t mean worse design, and argues that the future of design relies on those bold enough to scale it.

6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Group Dinner

Thursday, September 25th

10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

Andy Pearson – Liquid Death

The R Word: The Myth of Risk and Why It’s Holding Everything Back

A few years ago, putting healthy beverages into beer-style cans and calling it Liquid Death seemed like a dumb, risky move. But Andy would argue, it’s the safest thing they could have done. He’ll dissect why the binary choice between “risky” and “safe” is a myth we tell ourselves, and how we need to reframe our point of view to make breakthrough work.

10:55 AM - 11:45 AM

Marlice Johnson – Sterns Bank

No, seriously. Why not?

A three-part look at shifting how we see and do things. We’ll call out a few myths, show why small moves hit hardest, and swap comfort for curiosity. You’ll leave ready to charter new paths, poke a few holes, and start bending the rules that never made sense to begin with.

11:50 AM - 12:40 PM

Roger Sho Gehrmann – MassiveMusic

Listening to the Brand: How Sound Shapes Culture, Emotion, & Loyalty

Brand perception isn't just visual or verbal - it's deeply auditory.

This session dives into the neuroscience and commerce data behind why sound can boost brand recall by over 90%, heighten emotional engagement, and directly drive behaviour across everything from social to retail.

We'll reframe sonic branding and music strategy not as afterthoughts or jingles, but as architectural frameworks for emotional brand experiences. From IVR systems to retail soundscapes, social content to bespoke audio logos, every brand touchpoint is an opportunity to build loyalty through sound.

We'll explore how platforms like TikTok and cultural icons like the UEFA Champions League anthem demonstrate that strategic sound design can transcend logos and become cultural signals. And we'll walk through how leading brands are embedding sonic strategy into their creative ecosystems – and how in-house teams can take ownership of it.

12:40 PM - 1:30 PM

Lunch

1:30 PM - 2:20 PM

Ricardo Aspiazu – Verizon

The Heartbeat of the Brand: The Agency That Matters the Most

Let's stop pretending external agencies have the secret sauce. Verizon's SVP of Creative & Brand Design, Ricardo Aspiazu, is ready to pull back the curtain on a new creative paradigm. This session isn't just about the rise of in-house teams; it's about their dominance. Learn how Verizon is leveraging its unique insider advantage to drive innovation, accelerate sales, and build an unshakeable brand from within. It's time to take back control of your brand's destiny.

2:25 PM - 3:10 PM

Round Table Sessions

A more intimate forum to discuss the day's sessions, providing a platform to exchange insights, share best practices and foster networking among attendees and speakers.

3:10 PM - 4:00 PM

Xanthe Wells – Pinterest

The House Always Wins: Reinventing the Brand from the Inside Out

When you work brandside, you are the house and that’s your edge. This is a candid, real-talk session on how to use that advantage to pull off bold creative reinvention from within, despite (or maybe because of) the constraints. Learn how to accelerate progress, make a few high-leverage plays that earn trust quickly, and build lasting internal momentum, even within large, complex organizations.

4:00 PM - 4:05 PM

Closing Remarks

PURCHASE GROUP TICKETS

PRICING

GENERAL ADMISSION: $1,950

MEMBER PRICE: $1,750

Registration to the event includes all speakers and round table sessions, daily breakfast and lunch, and a group dinner on Wednesday, September 24th.

To access member pricing, please login to your One Club account. The discount will automatically apply at checkout if you have an active membership.

PURCHASE GROUP TICKETS

PURCHASE MEMBERSHIP

LODGING

Brand-Side will be held at the Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville, however, space is limited - see details below and book now!

ADDRESS:

210 Molloy St,

Nashville, TN 37201

ROOM RATE:

$309 per night

BOOK NOW

LOCATION

Set in the pulse of downtown Nashville, the Hyatt Centric blends modern edge with Music City soul—just steps from the neon glow of Broadway and the raw creativity that fuels the city.

Nashville's legendary music scene and thriving arts community make it the perfect backdrop for Brand-Side. As attendees explore the city's iconic honky-tonks, historic venues, and renowned restaurants, they'll be immersed in an atmosphere that celebrates creativity and innovation at every turn. The sights, sounds, and flavors of Music City will undoubtedly inspire and energize, setting the stage for two days of transformative insights.

PURCHASE GROUP TICKETS

ATTENDEES

Ames, Missy

Creative Director, Maverik

Aspiazu, Ricardo

SVP, Creative & Brand Design, Verizon

Barrett, Brandon

Senior Director, Brand Agency Relations, Capital One

Brand, Kim

Vice President of New Business Development, Whalar

Carlsen, Keith

Video Production Manager, Maverik

Carr-Rodriguez, Judith

Partner & CEO, FIG

Collins, Andrea

Director, Creative, Publix Super Markets, Inc

Cook, Lori

Director of Enterprise Brand Accounts, Catch+Release

Corsaro, Sandro

Head of Global Creative, Wayfair

Creed, Sarah

Director of Content Marketing, Truist

Crossin, Molly

Chief Growth Officer, The One Club for Creativity

Crouse, Chelsea

Senior Creative Manager, Houston Grand Opera

Crow, Sara

Creative Strategist, Intralox

DeWitt, Jordan

Vice President, Creative, Capital One

Erdman, Jessica

Team Leader, Graphic Design, Grande Cheese Company

Fandel, Lese

N/A, Capital One

Figliulo, Mark

Partner & CEO, FIG

Fuller, Erin

VP Creative Director, Studio, Fetch Rewards

Gordon, Joshua

Senior Marketing Writer, Sundt Construction

Grillo, Kate

Executive Creative Director, Capital One

Hale, Shana

VP, Gloobal Creative, The Trade Desk

Hatfield, Iza

Managing Director, Hook

Hixson, Will

Executive Creative Director, Cornbread Hemp

Knight, Stephen

Manager, Creative Writing, The Coca-Cola Company

Lopez-Travez, Lucy

Director of Events & Membership, The One Club for Creativity

Lynch, Kirkland

CEO, Barking Owl

Mann, Jason

VP - Creative Director, Marketing, Fetch

Mathews, Jeremy

Brand Strategist, Copywriter, & Video director, Maverik

Morffi, Jonathan

Creative Director, Clinique

Nielsen, Mark

Director, Creative, Publix Super Markets, Inc

Osborn, Madison

Art Director, Maverik

Ott, Alissa

Manager, Creative Marketing, Penske Transportation Solutions

Pearson, Andy

VP of Creative, Liquid Death

Perry, Gabrielle

Director, Creative, Publix Super Markets, Inc

Raub, Jenne

Creative Director, Varo Bank

Renfroe, Malinda

Director, Creative, Publix Super Markets, Inc

Roth, Elyse

Executive Producer, Sarofsky

Sho Gehrmann, Roger

VP of Integrated Partnerships, Massive Music

Shoesmith, Jo

Global CCO, Amazon

Skidgel, Jennifer

Global Director, Creative Development, The One Club for Creativity

Stoffers, Sacha

Director, Partnerships, Massive Music

Summers, Ryan

Creative Innovation Lead, Sarofsky

Topol, Jeff

Creative Strategy Director - TikTok Creative Lab, TikTok

van der Werff, Cat

Executive Creative Director, Canva

Vandette, Chris

Executive Creative Director, Capital One

Venezia, Louis

Owner/Chief Creative Officer, PILOT CONTENT

Wells, Xanthe

VP, Global Creative, Pinterest

Woodrow, Emily

Director, Creative, Publix Super Markets, Inc

Worley, Cassie

N/A, Capital One

PURCHASE GROUP TICKETS

BRAND-SIDE: A CONFERENCE FOR CREATIVES WITHIN

SPEAKERS

Andy Pearson

Cat van der Werff

Jo Shoesmith

Marlice Johnson

Peter Giorgi

Ricardo Aspiazu

Roger Sho Gehrmann

Sandro Corsaro

Xanthe Wells

SCHEDULE

Hyatt Centric Downtown Nashville

210 Molloy St.

Nashville, TN 37201

September 24-25, 2025

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM

10:00 AM - 10:10 AM

10:10 AM - 11:00 AM

11:05 AM - 11:55 AM

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

12:45 PM - 1:45 PM

1:45 PM - 2:35 PM

2:40 PM - 3:25 PM

3:30 PM - 4:20 PM

6:30 PM - 9:30 PM

10:00 AM - 10:50 AM

10:55 AM - 11:45 AM

11:50 AM - 12:40 PM

12:40 PM - 1:30 PM

1:30 PM - 2:20 PM

2:25 PM - 3:10 PM

3:10 PM - 4:00 PM

4:00 PM - 4:05 PM

PRICING

LODGING

LOCATION

ATTENDEES

The One Club for Creativity

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