October 27 Chicago gathering will bring agency leaders and marketers together for candid conversations on new business, agency selection, client expectations, and growth

NextBigWin today announced the inaugural Agency Growth Exchange (AGX), a curated half-day gathering bringing together agency owners, CEOs, presidents, growth leaders, CMOs, and select industry partners on October 27 at The Escape Pod in Chicago.

AGX was created in response to a growing challenge facing agencies: many of the approaches that drove growth in the past are becoming less dependable. Referrals are unpredictable, marketers have more ways to discover and evaluate agencies, AI is changing how work gets done, and agencies are under growing pressure to build more proactive and repeatable growth engines.

“Agency leaders are asking a very practical question right now: what is actually working?” said Christian Banach, Founder and Chief Growth Officer of NextBigWin. “We created AGX to bring the people dealing with these challenges into one room — agency leaders building new growth engines and marketers who can speak candidly about how agencies earn attention, get selected, and become more valuable partners.”

Kristin Woxland, SVP, Member Engagement & Development, Central Region at the 4As, will participate in the program and moderate a discussion featuring agency leaders sharing practical approaches that are working in today’s new business environment.

“We’re always looking for ways to help agencies learn from one another and grow in a changing market. AGX creates the kind of candid, practical conversation that can help agency leaders navigate what’s next,” said Woxland.

Confirmed speakers include CMOs and agency leaders from organizations such as Danone, Lurie Children’s Hospital, Freeosk, Everspring, BarkleyOKRP, Rise, Schafer Condon Carter, Fifty Thousand Feet, and AgencyEA, with more to be announced.

The attendee community is also taking shape, with agencies including USIM, Party Land, Quigley-Simpson, Cornett, Spinutech, Ars X Machina, THE 3RD EYE, and Tandem Theory.

The event is intentionally limited in size to encourage candid discussion and meaningful interaction between attendees, speakers, and partners.

Programming will focus on topics including:

  • How Agencies Earn Attention and Get Selected
  • What Marketers Need From Agency Partners Now
  • What’s Actually Working in Agency New Business
  • Building More Proactive and Predictable Growth
  • Capital and Alternative Paths to Agency Growth

The afternoon will conclude with a networking cocktail reception.

Preferred Registration for 4As Members

As a benefit to the 4As community, members can register for Agency Growth Exchange for $249 through September 30 using code 4AS, saving $100 off the general admission rate of $349.

Agency Growth Exchange takes place October 27, 2026, from 12:30–6:45 PM at The Escape Pod, 1713 W. Hubbard St., Chicago.

For event details, speakers, agenda updates, and registration, visit: https://thenextbigwin.com/agency-growth-exchange/

About NextBigWin

NextBigWin connects agencies, brand marketers, and technology providers through access and intelligence to accelerate growth. Its platform includes industry content and intelligence, events and experiences, NextBigWin Pro, and agency growth consulting.

Learn more at thenextbigwin.com.

Media Contact

Christian Banach
Founder & Chief Growth Officer
NextBigWin
[email protected]
thenextbigwin.com