
Find your focus
A one day virtual summit where creative operators share proven playbooks that will help you drive performance in 2026.
Creative strategists, growth marketers, and creative team members — join us Thursday, October 9. Doors open at 12pm ET.
Creative strategists, growth marketers, and creative team members — join us Thursday, October 9. Doors open at 12pm ET.
Get your free ticket
ALL
ABOUT
GROWTH
&
CREATIVE
ALL
ABOUT
GROWTH
&
CREATIVE
Turn complexity into clarity
The past year has forced marketers to react faster than ever — platform changes, tariff pressures, AI hype. This summit is your reset button. It’s a chance to step back, filter out the noise, and see what’s working in performance creative.

Meet the Speakers
Hear from the operators behind some of the most effective campaigns in DTC as they share hard-earned lessons about what actually moves the needle.
Dara Denney
Chief Evangelist, Motion
Sarah Levinger
Founder, Tether Insights
Mirella Crespi
Founder, Creative Milkshake
Evan Lee
Head of Partnerships and Business Development, Motion
Reza Khadjavi
CEO, Motion
Alysha Boehm
Context Engineer and Creative Strategist, Motion
Cody Plofker
CEO, Jones Road Beauty
Savannah Sanchez
Founder, The Social Savannah
Connor MacDonald
CMO, Ridge
Connor Rolain
Head of Growth, HexClad
Lee Joselowitz
Co-Founder, The Quality Edit & Quality Media
Matt Duckor
Head of Content, HexClad
Audrey Madden
Creative Strategy & AI Advisor, Motion
Ashley Rutstein
Founder, @StuffAboutAdvertising
Jacob Russo
AI Creative Director










Agenda
Every session brings you closer to the bleeding edge of performance marketing, with hands-on insights into evolving ad platforms, creative workflows, and the strategies teams are actually using to scale today.
October 9 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM ET
What makes a top 1% creative strategist in 2026
Creative strategy has become the cornerstone of paid advertising — and the expectations have never been higher. As the driver behind your paid media engine, it's your job to bring clarity to chaos and deliver value across the entire business.
In this session, three DTC leaders join Motion’s CEO to map the skills, team structures, and AI-driven workflows they expect from top-tier strategists.
In this session, three DTC leaders join Motion’s CEO to map the skills, team structures, and AI-driven workflows they expect from top-tier strategists.
60 minute session with Cody Plofker, Connor Rolain, Connor MacDonald, and Reza Khadjavi
October 9 @ 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM ET
The creative strategist's new playbook
The directive is no longer just "make ads that convert." Most strategists are expected to be trend analysts, project managers, client whisperers, and strategic masterminds all at once — while brands desperately need someone to bring strategic clarity to their creative chaos.
In this session, Dara Denney shares real scenarios from her work across dozens of brands, revealing the updated playbook that separates thriving strategists from those stuck in the content hamster wheel.
In this session, Dara Denney shares real scenarios from her work across dozens of brands, revealing the updated playbook that separates thriving strategists from those stuck in the content hamster wheel.
60 minute session with Dara Denney
October 9 @ 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM ET
Artisanal craft vs. AI engineered ad production
Creative teams are splitting into two camps. Some embrace AI-driven engines that churn out hundreds of variations at speed. Others use AI sparingly, preserving an organic approach rooted in storytelling and craft. Both models can work — but each comes with trade-offs.
In this session, you’ll see two opposing philosophies in practice. Learn the hidden costs and benefits of each approach, how to determine which strategy aligns with your resources, plus get a list of specific tools, prompts, and processes.
In this session, you’ll see two opposing philosophies in practice. Learn the hidden costs and benefits of each approach, how to determine which strategy aligns with your resources, plus get a list of specific tools, prompts, and processes.
60 minute session with Savannah Sanchez and Jacob Russo
October 9 @ 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM ET
Creating campaigns that move culture
Most brands chase metrics. The legendary ones build movements.
In this intimate conversation, we’ll sit down with an industry titan who has helped shape culturally influential campaigns. This isn’t about abandoning performance marketing. It’s about expanding ambition — aligning creative testing with brand vision, and building brands that matter beyond conversion.
In this intimate conversation, we’ll sit down with an industry titan who has helped shape culturally influential campaigns. This isn’t about abandoning performance marketing. It’s about expanding ambition — aligning creative testing with brand vision, and building brands that matter beyond conversion.
60 minute interview with Ashley Rutstein and Matt Duckor
October 9 @ 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM ET
Building your creative strategy for 2026
What will separate winning strategies from the rest in 2026? Is it sheer volume, creative diversity, or a smarter balance of both? How should creative teams adapt as platforms evolve and AI becomes embedded in every workflow?
In this session, seasoned operators who’ve weathered multiple waves of paid media change share the signals they’re watching most closely. You’ll hear how they’re structuring their teams, where they’re placing bets, and which old playbooks no longer apply.
By the end, you’ll leave with a distilled set of priorities — a framework to cut through uncertainty and start building your winning strategy for the year ahead.
In this session, seasoned operators who’ve weathered multiple waves of paid media change share the signals they’re watching most closely. You’ll hear how they’re structuring their teams, where they’re placing bets, and which old playbooks no longer apply.
By the end, you’ll leave with a distilled set of priorities — a framework to cut through uncertainty and start building your winning strategy for the year ahead.
60 minute panel with Mirella Crespi, Lee Joselowitz, and Sarah Levinger
October 9 @ 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
After party with Evan Lee
Hang with Mr. Creative Strategy, Evan Lee, after the show to recap the mic-drop moments, and brainstorm how to put your learnings into action alongside Motion’s active community of creative strategists.
We’ll compile all the tools, tips, and workflows from the day’s sessions and demonstrate exactly how to use them. Questions encouraged.
We’ll compile all the tools, tips, and workflows from the day’s sessions and demonstrate exactly how to use them. Questions encouraged.
Get your free ticket
The must-attend event for DTC brands & performance advertisers
Growth Teams
Media buyers
Heads of Growth
Creative strategists
Creative strategists:
Discover the latest trends and hone your skills for the future.
Media buyers:
Round out your skillset with a deeper understanding of creative strategy.
Heads of Growth:
Get scaling tips, management advice, and trend predictions.
Performance marketing teams:
Implement best practices for your creative workflow.

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