Eight of the leaders, creators and artists taking the stage in New York on November 18th, and what they will be talking about.
The brand-creator economy has outgrown the campaign. Creators now carry their own budget lines, their own teams and a growth curve that outpaces nearly every other channel in a brand’s media mix. IAB projects that U.S. creator ad spend will reach $44 billion in 2026, and the people directing that money are now focused on how to do it well.
That is the conversation at the center of Authentic, the Brand-Creator Summit, on Wednesday, November 18th at the People Inc. Auditorium in New York City. It is a single-track, single-room day built as the premier destination for thought leadership on the relationship between brands and creators, with lunch and cocktails alongside the programming so the networking is as useful as the stage.
The day returns to four themes:
- Long-term partnerships. What changes when brands and creators build together over years instead of weeks.
- Creators as enterprises. How creators run teams, products and businesses of their own, and what that means for the brands that work with them.
- Brands as content engines. How brand teams are building the creative capability to publish, not just advertise.
- Deals, measurement and leadership buy-in. How partnerships get made, measured and approved at the top.
Below are eight of the people who will shape those conversations, with more to come.
Meet the Speakers
Shantell Martin
Multidisciplinary Artist
Shantell Martin is an artist known for exploring the possibilities of line drawing, working in ink across small sketches, large-scale murals and live drawing performances. Her collaborators include Kendrick Lamar, New York City Ballet, Tiffany & Co. and Puma, and her work has been exhibited at institutions including MoMA. At Authentic, she brings a presentation and fireside chat on what happens when a distinctive creative voice meets a brand.
Jo Cronk
Co-CEO, Whalar
Jo Cronk co-leads Whalar, the creator marketing agency that Accenture Song acquired in June. She has spent more than two decades in marketing and advertising, including 16 years on the media agency side before joining Whalar, and she co-led the creation of Moby Ventures, a venture studio that helps creators build direct-to-consumer brands. Her clients have included Spotify, IKEA and the NFL, and she is known for arguing that brands should build their own “Spice Girls” of creators, a portfolio of different personalities with different audiences. She closes the day at Authentic.
Jay Altschuler
SVP, Global Media & Agency Relations, Mastercard
Jay Altschuler oversees Mastercard’s paid media investment worldwide and manages its agency relationships. Before Mastercard, he led Samsung’s global media and partnerships division and Unilever’s global media innovation group, and he has more than 25 years of experience in marketing. He joins Rad Amplify CEO Rick Song’s panel.
Rachel Schlegel
Vice President, United Talent Agency
Since joining UTA in 2018, Rachel Schlegel has developed entertainment and culture marketing strategies that help brands connect with audiences through partnerships, talent and original digital content. She has led the launch of multiple digital series, negotiated seven- and eight-figure talent partnerships, and developed campaigns for global brands including Amazon, Coca-Cola, L’Oréal and Google. Before UTA, she held marketing roles at Observatory, a Stagwell company, and at Creative Artists Agency, where she created integrated brand campaigns, experiential activations and entertainment partnerships. She presents a solo session at Authentic.
Gary Hoffman
Creator Strategist, Google
Gary Hoffman is a creative and content executive with 25 years of experience. He leads long-term partnerships between YouTube’s biggest advertisers and top creators, and has worked at YouTube for more than a decade. In 2025, he launched content programs for Nike, Comcast and Lexus with YouTube stars Deestroying, Dude Perfect and Colin and Samir, respectively. Before Google, he was Vice President, Head of Branded Content for the digital arm of Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video, and he began his career at the media agency Starcom. At Authentic, he leads “Long Term Partnerships: A Look at How Brands and YouTube Creators Are Driving Impact” with Aditi Rajvanshi of Portal A.
Carley Caldas
SVP Marketing & Creative, eos Products
Carley Caldas has led marketing at eos since 2018, overseeing brand strategy, creative, social, paid and influencer marketing, and the brand’s Shea Better initiative in Ghana. Earlier in her career, she worked on the Redken brand at L’Oréal and in merchandising at Anthropologie and Bath & Body Works. She joins the Rad Amplify panel.
Jeremy Elias
Executive Creative Director, Oatly
Jeremy Elias is Executive Creative Director at Oatly. He recently joined a Clio Creative Summit panel, “Why Taste is Strategy: The Aesthetics of Influence,” on how influencer partnerships and a consistent aesthetic build brand loyalty. At Authentic, he joins the Brands as Media Companies conversation.
Nimay Ndolo
Content Creator
Nimay Ndolo is known for fast, front-facing comedy monologues on tech, politics, fashion and culture, and has interviewed public figures including Pete Buttigieg and Cory Booker. She taught herself web development after a pandemic layoff, became a full-time creator in 2023, and was named to TIME’s Time100 Creators list in 2025. She joins the Creator as Enterprise conversation.
And There Is More to Come
These eight are part of a larger lineup that includes leaders from IAB, Questus, Huckberry, Edgewell Personal Care and Consumable, with more names to be announced in the coming weeks. The full list is on the Authentic speakers page.
The Shantell Martin Experience
For attendees who want more time with Shantell, there is a special ticket: the Shantell Martin Experience. It includes a copy of her book, Lines, available for pickup at the event, plus an exclusive opportunity to meet Shantell in person and have your copy personally signed. The ticket also includes full access to Authentic, so you get the whole day alongside an up-close experience with one of today’s most distinctive visual artists. Select it at checkout.
Get Your Tickets
Tickets are on sale now. Get yours before they are gone.