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About the Panels

We’re thrilled to present an inspiring lineup of sessions designed to provide you with innovative strategies and insights on reaching multicultural audiences.

Monday, May 12

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.

Register for the Virtual Session.

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.

Register for the Virtual Session.

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.

Register for the Virtual Session.

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.

Register for the Virtual Session.

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.

Register for the Virtual Session.

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.

Tuesday, May 13

The Story Behind the Imprint: Storehouse Voices

Tuesday, May 13, 10:00–11:00am

Discussing how an innovative partnership and volunteer opportunity for PRH staff became a new publishing imprint celebrating readers as writers, join Tamira Chapman—the successful tech entrepreneur and publisher of Storehouse Voices—and her illustrious team, as they reflect on the creation of Storehouse Voices, what’s next, and what publishing teams can do to disrupt the status quo in search of new audiences and new opportunities for growth.

Featuring Tamira Chapman, Founder & Publisher; Porscha Burke, Associate Publisher; Jennifer Baker, Editorial Director; Chelcee Johns, Executive Editor. Moderated by Susette Brooks, Director of Inclusive Marketing, Creative Strategy.

Register for the Virtual Session.

Let’s Go Deep: Understanding the Hispanic Market with Culturati

Tuesday, May 13, 11:15am–12:00pm

In this deep dive session, Marissa Romero-Martin from Culturati Research will present key takeaways from their groundbreaking Hispanic/Latine audience report. In this 45-minute session, you’ll explore how culture, values, and identity influence media habits, shopper behavior, and brand engagement among Hispanic/Latine consumers. The presentation will highlight Culturati’s Hispanic/Latine market segmentation, which moves beyond language and demographics to reveal four distinct audience mindsets. This is a not-to-miss opportunity to gain a more nuanced, actionable understanding of this powerful and growing market.

Featuring Marissa Romero-Martin, Chief Insights Officer, Culturati. Moderated by Mina Park, Senior Director of Research & Insights, Consumer Marketing.

Register for the Virtual Session.

Marketing Across Bertelsmann: A Look Inside Fremantle

Tuesday, May 13, 12:00–12:45pm

Being a marketer for a media company poses a unique challenge: How do you tell the story behind the stories? In this insightful conversation, we will learn exactly how. Our colleague Liat, will share her unique approach — from following trends to tapping into cultural identities — for reaching multicultural consumers. You are sure to come away with inspiration and new tools for finding your target audiences.

Featuring Liat Abada, Director & Head of Global Platform Partnerships, Fremantle Television Conglomerate. Moderated by Christine Hung, Executive Marketing Director, Vintage Books.

Register for the Virtual Session.

More Than a Label: Understanding the Power of Latine Communities

Tuesday, May 13, 2:00–2:45pm

The Latine community is vast, diverse, and has an underestimated cultural impact despite their immense buying power. This panel will challenge the notion of Latine people as a monolith, highlighting the unique experiences, languages, and even slang that set them apart. Bringing together experts from a range of industries — from fashion to media to beauty— this discussion will explore how to authentically connect with Latine communities. Attendees will hear real-world success stories, gain valuable insights, and discover strategies for building meaningful connections that drive loyalty and growth.

Featuring Kenneth Dorosky, Global Marketing Manager, Nike; Raquel Yvette Reichard, Deputy Director of Somos, Refinery 29; Debbie Gonzales, Creative Director, Kids of Immigrants; Julissa Prado, CEO, Rizos Curls. Moderated by Daniela Ayuso, Senior Inclusive Marketing Manager, Creative Strategy.

Register for the Virtual Session.

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