The Room

A few weeks ago I had the honor of attending The Room‘s 2nd Annual Women’s Leadership Summit with other marketing leaders from diverse industries in Ojai Valley, CA. The Room has a special superpower of creating safe spaces where real, unfiltered conversations can happen without fear or judgement. Though I went into this summit with 100 “strangers”, I left with countless new friends, cheerleaders and allies. From the first evening together, everyone’s walls were down and genuine connections were being created. Topics we delved into were both personal and professional: defining your core values, leading the next generation, silencing your inner critic, how to connect consumers in an ever-evolving landscape, how to truly champion diversity and inclusion, etc. When we weren’t in breakout sessions, we had the opportunity to explore Ojai, do yoga, and enjoy some great food and good wine while continuing to get to know each other beyond our professional titles. I left this summit feeling energized, inspired and most importantly, reminded of how transformational in-person moments for genuine connection are. We have to continue to make time for these moments both inside and outside of the office- they are invaluable beyond measure. My biggest takeaway, which feels especially fitting this year: When women support, empower and lift one another up, there is no limit to what we can accomplish. ✨ A huge thank you to Aaron Cohen Josh Messinger Beth Mach Allie Meagher Katie Burke Lindsay Scoggins Anthony Jabbour Georgia Cohen Ivy Kirby and all of the underwriters for bringing us together! And finally a special shout out to Rachel Goldman for introducing me to this amazing org and being the most supportive colleague and friend. #womenintheroom #womensleadership

In our session, 'Making Hard Decisions,' Hilary Cook from Marriott International and Cathy Collette from PadSquad led this workshop about navigating tough choices and explored how objective decision-making, respect, and clarity are crucial when managing change. We also discussed the importance of seeking guidance and prioritizing effectively to align decisions with both personal and professional goals. Thank you to our speakers for providing insights into facing challenges with transparency and integrity!

BIG NEWS: We're thrilled to announce that The Room Yacht will be returning to Cannes in 2025! It feels like we just got back from the south of France, but we're already looking forward to being back in our home away from home on yacht row. Whether it's for happy hour, after hours, or just a respite from the chaos (and the walking), your "living room in Cannes" will be on the water next summer. We can't wait. Sponsorship availability is limited and includes meeting space, a dinner, access to private events, branding, and much more. DM us for inquiries!

In this next session, "The Older I Get, The More I Learn" Lisa Collings from Mindshare and Molly Bechert from Zeta Global discussed how to unlock the wisdom that comes from diverse experiences and generations. We focused on fostering intergenerational dialogue, building connections, and evolving leadership techniques to embrace the insights of both seasoned and younger professionals. Thank you both for guiding us on how to learn from each other and create a more inclusive and collaborative workplace!

Finishing out this week's Women's Summit recaps, we're reflecting on our session "Intentional Career Pathing" with co-leads Beth Woodruff at Ally and Jessica Stacy at Seedtag where we explored the power of taking control of your career trajectory through mentorship, networking, skill development, and self-promotion. We discussed the importance of continuous learning, advocating for yourself, and being open to new opportunities to shape a more intentional career path. Special thanks to our speakers for helping us reflect, plan, and prepare for our next professional steps!

Our next session, "From Company to Community," featured leaders Amy Tunick at National CineMedia (NCM) and Madelyn Sheldon at UTR Sports and explored how accomplished professionals can channel their talents and energy beyond their careers. We discussed the importance of staying true to your values in advocacy, using your resources to drive social change authentically, and recognizing that volunteering can take many forms, from time and expertise to donations. Thank you, both! #WomenInTheRoom

Our next workshop, "Workplace Diversity for Real" dove into the steps we can take to create environments where diverse perspectives are empowered to thrive, with our amazing leaders Vanessa Santana from Maesa and julie berger from Giant Spoon. This session focused on the power of modeling inclusive behavior, supporting underrepresented groups, and fostering an environment of respect and curiosity. Special thanks to our speakers for leading this important conversation. #WomenInTheRoom

Next up, we were lucky to have Johanna Wahlroos at DoubleVerify and Angela Gruszka lead the “Managing the AI Moment” workshop at our Women's Leadership Summit. In this session, we explored how AI can transform workplace dynamics by automating repetitive tasks and freeing up employees for more strategic roles. We also discussed the importance of addressing skepticism and the legal implications of AI. Thank you both for leading this session! #WomenInTheRoom

We're back this week to talk more about the awesome workshop leaders at our Women's Summit. Next up: shoutout to Michelle Brintnall Chester from General Mills and Katherine Bugbee from Silverpush for their teamwork on "Taking Care of Parents, Kids, and Partners." We discussed the challenges women face in balancing the many caretaking responsibilities and shared practical strategies for navigating these demands, offering advice, tools, and renewed confidence. Thank you for leading this important conversation! #WomenInTheRoom

A few weeks ago, Sage Edson had the opportunity to lead a workshop at The Room's annual Women's Leadership Summit in Ojai, CA. Nexxen was thrilled to sponsor this invite-only event, and we're already looking forward to next year!