Building a New World, One Line at a Time: Keynote with Bruce Smith

Monday, May 12, 10:15–11:00am

Do The Proud Family, Space Jam, or Hair Love ring a bell? If so, then you also know Bruce Smith, the pioneering animator and producer behind some of the most beloved stories. We’re excited to host this keynote, where Bruce will share details about his storied career, the highs and lows of creating his most recognized characters, the ways in which he champions diversity in animation, and how he thinks about his audience. Bruce will also share his advice for creatives trying to build new paths for stories that are often overlooked.

Featuring Bruce Smith, Executive Producer & Director at Disney Television Animation. Moderated by Susette Brooks, Director of Inclusive Marketing, Creative Strategy.

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Seeing Between the Lines: Inclusive Design for Marketers

Monday, May 12, 11:15am–12:00pm

Conversations about inclusivity often start with editorial, but visual representations highlighting the diversity of our stories are equally important. In this discussion, Yannick Lowery and Dominique Jones will share some of their work—from installations to paperworks and book covers. Together, they will share their inspirations, how they prepare for projects, and what tips they have for marketers and designers. This session will help us reconsider how we center diverse stories (education v. celebration), how to execute a creative vision with multiple stakeholders, and how to create within the boundaries of a brand’s guidelines.

Featuring Yannick Lowery, multi-disciplinary artist and educator; Dominique Jones, Senior Designer, Penguin Art, and Founder, Blk + Brwn Book Designers Inc. Moderated by Sierra Espinoza Figueroa, Senior Marketing Manager, Knopf Doubleday.

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Making a Book a Hit: The Changing Landscape of Publicity

Monday, May 12, 12:00–12:45pm

Gone are the days when a New York Times book review or an author interview on Fresh Air guarantees a spot on the bestseller list. So then how are teams getting their books to break through? During this conversation, we’ll talk about the current media landscape—how it’s fragmented and consolidated, the growing importance of social media platforms, and what marketers and publicists are experiencing. We’ll see case studies showcasing media campaigns that have successfully attracted diverse audiences using nontraditional media channels, and we’ll share a few resources to support you.

Featuring Minda Honey, author of The Heartbreak Years and editor of the Black Joy newsletter; Traci Thomas, Host and Founder of  The Stacks; Kayla Simmons, Content Creator & Founder, Black Girl Book Fest; Tom Beer, Editor in Chief, Kirkus Reviews. Moderated by Madhulika Sikka, Vice President & Executive Editor, Crown.

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A Big Bang for Your Buck: Creatively Using Your Resources

Monday, May 12, 2:00–2:45pm

Discover inspiring campaigns that didn’t break the bank and learn from case studies that highlight  how paid and unpaid efforts led to a significant increase in sales and audience engagement for NEVER WHISTLE AT NIGHT; the success of inclusive advertising, influencer outreach, and brand collaborations for WHERE I BELONG; and how tailored advertising, author support, and cross-divisional partnerships drove awareness for and sales of BLOOD AT THE ROOT. We’ll also share how some teams measure success while using realistic (smaller) budgets.

Featuring Neda Dallal, Senior Marketing Manager, Avery and Tarcher; Maylin Lehmann Hobaica, Associate Director of Marketing, Vintage Books; and Stephania Villar, Marketing Manager, Random House Children’s Books. Moderated by Carolina Meurkens, Multicultural Marketing Manager, Penguin Publishing Group.

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An Inclusive Sales Marketing Approach: Supporting Educators, Librarians, and Booksellers

Monday, May 12, 2:45–3:30pm

Now more than ever, readers need books in which they can see themselves—from students to library patrons to customers browsing the shelves in their local bookstore. During this panel, we’ll spotlight the different ways we work with the educators, librarians, and booksellers working on the frontlines to ensure that everyone in their community has access to the books they want to read. We’ll also share examples of collaborations with partner organizations that recognize, support, and uplift multicultural voices and audiences.

Featuring Lara Phan, Vice President, Account Marketing & Event Strategy; Kaiulani Williams, Senior Director, Pre K-12 Education Marketing; Miriam Tuliao, Senior Manager, Library Marketing. Moderated by Talisa Ramos, Multicultural Marketing Manager, Penguin Young Readers.

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All Ways Black, Always On

Monday, May 12, 4:00–4:45pm

Four years after its launch, award-winning All Ways Black is still the envy of our competitors and the curiosity of our many fans. For the first time ever, the creators who launched All Ways Black will share an inside look at how a seed of an idea bloomed into a cultural phenomenon. Learn more about the team, the biggest activations (ahem, the cypher), what’s next for the brand, and how your books and authors can get involved.

Featuring Cree Myles,  curator of All Ways Black; Anthony Key, Vice President of Media Planning Strategy & Marketing Analytics, BET Media Group; Daniela Ayuso, Senior Inclusive Marketing Manager, Creative Strategy. Moderated by Megan Tripp, Associate Director of Social Media, Creative Strategy.

Register for the Virtual Session.