AI isn’t here to replace agencies but to challenge them to evolve. The 4As Elevate AI conference explores how the fusion of human talent and intelligent technology can push agencies past productivity and into possibility. Because when craft meets computation, and people learn to think with, not just about, machines, the result isn’t just efficiency. It’s transcendence. The future won’t belong to those who automate faster, but to those who elevate smarter, blending art and algorithm, instinct and insight, to build something only humans, powered by AI, can.
From rethinking roles and talent paths to transforming how we define value, Elevate AI will explore how leading agencies are evolving at the intersection of People, Craft and Tech.
Join us from 12:00 PM – 4:30 PM ET. Expect real talk and discussions on:
- Upskilling your teams beyond prompts and platforms
- Rethinking the 80/20 rule in an AI-enhanced workflow
- Blending human strategy with machine precision in media
- Designing AI systems that amplify your team
- Managing your first autonomous teammates (yes, really!)
You’ll hear from creative, media and strategy leaders on how they’re orchestrating a new kind of creative collaboration between human vision and AI power.
Agenda
Please note: The agenda is subject to change.
Times noted are ET.
12:00 PM – Opening Remarks
Jeremy Lockhorn – SVP, Creative Technologies & Innovation @ 4As
12:05 PM – Keynote: The AI Reckoning: Rewriting the Rules for Resourcing, Workflow, and Technology
AI isn’t coming for the industry—it’s already here, rewriting the rules of creativity, talent, and value. In this candid and catalytic keynote, Albert Thompson calls on agencies to stop experimenting at the edges and start integrating AI at the core—across people, craft, and technology. He’ll demystify the new AI stack, spotlight real-world agency innovations, the future of work, and tackle the messy realities of governance, IP, and ethics. Equal parts reality check and rallying cry, this session challenges agencies to move past fear, own the transformation, and transcend into what’s next.
Albert Thompson – Co-Founder & Director, Brand Strategy @ Transient Identiti
Track 1: People
12:35 PM – Your People, Not Your Prompts: AI-Powered Agencies
AI doesn’t make an agency great—people do. This session looks at how talent, culture, and curiosity shape how AI shows up in the work. It’s about building teams that think with machines, not like them. You’ll hear how leaders are reimagining roles, retraining skills, and rebalancing what matters most. Because the real power of AI isn’t in the prompts—it’s in the people using them.
Sylvia Banderas – EVP, People, Talent & Upskilling @ 4As (Moderator)
Gianmarco Giunti, Executive Vice President, AI @ Edelman
Laura Small – Executive Vice President, People Director @ RPA
1:05 PM – Flipping the 80/20 Rule: Rethinking Work, Worth and Identity with AI
This session goes beyond “efficiency” to show how flipping the 80/20 turns time saved into a growth flywheel, reinvesting capacity into deeper client insight, stronger brand strategy, and creative breakthroughs. Whether you’re an agency leader or team member, you’ll walk away with practical recommendations for integrating AI in ways that stick. Drawing on real-world case studies (from governance that scales consistency to efficiency gains reinvested into new offerings) we’ll share guidance on navigating the human side of change, managing adoption across teams, and evolving positioning in the market. The goal: helping you chart a resilient path forward in an AI-enabled marketplace.
Drew Mathias – Co-Founder & CEO @ Heartfelt Strategy
Erin Dress – Co-Founder @ Heartfelt Strategy
1:35 PM – BREAK
Track 2: Craft
1:45 PM – The Conductor and the Code: Directing the New Creative Orchestra
AI isn’t stealing creativity—it’s changing how it happens. This session looks at how creative leaders are bringing AI into their process: what’s working, what’s not, and what still needs a human hand. It’s a clear-eyed take on how technology is reshaping the craft without replacing its soul. And how creative direction now means guiding both people and machines toward the big idea.
Philip Stelter – SVP of Holding Company Memberships @ 4As (Moderator)
Jaime Robinson – Co-Founder & CCO @ JOAN
Jason Sperling – CCO @ INNOCEAN
Anthony Yell – Chief Creative Officer
2:15 PM – Media, Evolved: Pairing Human Strategy with Machine Precision
Media has always balanced art and science. Now the science thinks back. This session explores how AI is reshaping media strategy, planning, and buying—where automation helps, where it hurts, and where human judgment still makes the difference. It’s about smarter tools, sharper instincts, and using both to create real advantage.
Kevin Freemore – SVP, Media Technology & Data @ 4As (Moderator)
Jeff Larson – CEO @ Mediassociates
Domenic Venuto – EVP, Chief Product & Data Officer @ Horizon
2:45 PM – The Next Evolution of Marketing Analytics
See how analytics moves beyond dashboards to action. In this session, VML and NinjaCat show how teams can pair human judgment with AI agents that analyze, decide, and do. You’ll see real examples of agents that track performance automatically, optimize paid media, and suggest smarter creative and channel moves. They’ll even build a keyword optimization agent live—in under five minutes. The takeaway: a practical framework for bringing agentic intelligence to your analytics so data doesn’t just inform decisions—it drives them.
Erick McNett – Managing Director, Marketing Effectiveness Analytics @ VML
Paul Dereval – Co-Founder & CEO @ NinjaCat
3:15 PM – BREAK
Track 3: Technology
3:30 PM – Inside the Engine Room: Powering Your Agency with the Right AI Components
There’s no single path to building an AI-ready agency. Some buy, some build, all experiment. This session pulls back the curtain on how two agencies took very different routes to arrive at similar outcomes—each finding its own way to make AI work. It’s a look at the choices, tradeoffs, and lessons behind the tech stacks that power modern agencies, and what those stories reveal about where the industry is headed next.
Mitch Hislop – VP, AI and Technological Innovation @ Broadhead
Elijah Kleinsmith – Innovation & Technology Director @ Signal Theory
4:00 PM – Closing Keynote: The Living Brief: Scaling What Makes Your Agency You
