Blogs
The AI Adoption Gap: Organizations Don’t Have an AI Problem, They Have a Business Problem They Haven’t Pinned Down
Byline: Co-Authors Jean Marc Papin, Blue Wind Advisory & Pedro L. Rodriguez, PLR Group Inc. If there was one theme that emerged from conversations at Cannes Lions this year, it was this: organizations have moved beyond asking whether they should invest in AI. They’re now asking where AI actually creates value. At the Shelly Palmer Innovation Series breakfast, leaders from Taco Bell,…
Read MoreYoung Pro Corner: Florencia Luna, Senior Art Director, Burson New York
Florencia Luna Senior Art Director, Burson New York Florencia creates ideas and crafts visual narratives that help brands connect with people in meaningful ways across earned, social, and integrated campaigns, blending creativity and strategy to drive engagement and spark conversation. What first drew you to the advertising/marketing industry? Funnily enough, advertising got me into advertising.…
Read MoreYoung Pro Corner: Alana Meraz, Manager of Media Partner Promotions, NWSL
Alana Meraz Manager of Media Partner Promotions, NWSL What first drew you to the advertising/marketing industry? Once I got a taste of the sports business innerworkings, I knew that’s what I wanted to do in my career and decided to pursue a degree in business sports and media at Arizona State. I find the way sports companies and leagues…
Read MoreScreenverse Welcomes Jonathan LaConti as SVP of Sales to Accelerate Next Phase of Revenue Growth
Strategic hire signals Screenverse’s commitment to accelerating programmatic growth and expanding DOOH’s role within omnichannel advertising strategies NEW YORK, NY – June 4th, 2026 – Screenverse, the leading programmatic monetization partner for digital out-of-home (DOOH) media, today announced the appointment of Jonathan LaConti as Senior Vice President of Sales. The hire marks another significant addition…
Read MoreAAPI Heritage Month | Icon: Crystal Park
As Chief Marketing Officer of Horizon Media Holdings, Crystal Park is focused on differentiating Horizon as a fiercely independent growth partner for brands that deserve more from their agency. She is responsible for the Horizon brand, marketing, PR/Comms, trade partnerships, and ensuring the agency leads with human ingenuity, fosters open ecosystem innovation, and delivers…
Read MoreAAPI Heritage Month | Innovator: Sakib “Saks” Afridi
Saks Afridi is an award-winning Executive Creative Director and multidisciplinary artist who blends technology, culture, and storytelling across advertising and art. He currently leads creative for Mercedes-Benz, has led creative for brands like White Castle and Novartis, earning Cannes Gold Lions, D&ADs, One Show Pencils, and a UN Award for Peace and Understanding. His art…
Read MoreSound Thinking: Creative Effectiveness in an Age of AI
I’ve been watching the AI conversation in our industry with equal parts fascination and fatigue. The fascination comes from genuine curiosity. I’ve spent most of my career at the intersection of science and creativity, and AI is arguably the most disruptive force to arrive there in my lifetime. The fatigue comes from the noise. The…
Read MoreAAPI Heritage Month | Rockstar: Youna Kim
Youna Kim is a Senior Vice President of Investment at Zenith and a driving force behind modern media strategy for Fortune 100 brands. Based in Atlanta, she leads large‑scale digital investment across performance, commerce, and brand growth, translating complexity into clear, measurable impact. As an Asian American media leader, Youna is deeply committed to advancing…
Read MoreRetail Media’s Next Phase Depends on Buyer Confidence
Retail media has moved from a promising tactic to major media infrastructure. Circana projects global retail media ad spend will reach $280 billion by 2029, and the channel is already expanding well beyond retailer-owned digital properties: 20% of spend now goes to off-site channels, retail media CTV spend has reached $6.33 billion, up 41% year over year, and…
Read MoreAAPI Heritage Month | Innovator: Eric Toda
Eric Toda is an award-winning executive marketing leader who has directed groundbreaking digital strategies for iconic global brands including Meta, Snapchat, Airbnb, Gap, and Nike. A dedicated advocate for AAPI representation and equity, he is the founder and former executive director of Meta Prosper. Eric serves on the advisory board for The Asian American Foundation…
Read More