This week was unique. I experienced Adobe—once simply the toolkit of my formative years as a designer—transforming into a seamlessly connected ecosystem.

Every brand I speak to wants to be different. They don’t want to blend in. They want to be bold, to break the mold, to rebel against the sameness that defines their category. They want to be punk in a world full of pop.

Jon Bond, Founder and CEO of Bond World, reflects on his decades of experience in advertising and reveals how equity-linked compensation models can transform the relationship between brands and agencies to align business goals for sustainable growth

Gurkan Sener is the Vice President of Global Marketing Analytics and Targeting at NBC Universal Destinations and Experiences, where he oversees an advanced analytics team that specializes in marketing data science, audience science, and measurement science.

Susan Riley, Head of Brand for Stylist, shares how brands can authentically tap into the shifting priorities of Millennial and Gen Z women to foster meaningful relationships and drive real value in a time of heightened consumer anxiety

I love observing people. I even wrote an entire book about them—The Slash Generation. These aren’t just creators; they are polymaths, culture architects who fluidly navigate multiple roles. They are not defined by age but by a mindset—a radical shift in behavior shaped by technology, culture, and an insatiable drive to experiment, create, and redefine. And yes, they hold immense influence.

Randi Stipes, CMO of The Weather Company, explores the far-reaching impact of weather intelligence across industries and shares how data and technology are key to fostering brand trust

"Good, fast, cheap — pick two."

I used to hear this every single time we pitched a new client when I was a young, emerging designer. The iron law of creativity, they said. Honestly, it kinda confused me! You couldn’t have it all. But now? AI promises to break that rule. It offers us a world where we can have all three—good, fast, and cheap. We get to have our cake and eat it too.With this year’s Big Game in the rearview mirror, we spoke with several industry leaders to get their take on the evolving Super Bowl landscape. Specifically, we asked whether they believe brands are getting their money’s worth, what factors make this high-profile investment truly valuable, and whether the steep cost of a Super Bowl ad is justified in today’s media environment. We also encouraged leaders to reflect on this year’s stand-out ads and why these spots resonated with them.

Each year, the Super Bowl presents an alluring opportunity for brands to engage with millions of viewers in a matter of minutes. As the excitement surrounding the game endures among dedicated sports fans, recent research suggests that the Super Bowl’s grip on advertising dominance may be waning. The likeability of advertisements has steadily decreased over recent years, and advertiser retention has dipped, with attrition rates surpassing 50%. Despite this, the cost to secure a spot hit record highs this year, with some brands investing up to $8 million for just 30 seconds of airtime.   

With this year’s Big Game in the rearview mirror, we spoke with several industry leaders to get their take on the evolving Super Bowl landscape. Specifically, we asked whether they believe brands are getting their money’s worth, what factors make this high-profile investment truly valuable, and whether the steep cost of a Super Bowl ad is justified in today’s media environment. We also encouraged leaders to reflect on this year’s stand-out ads and why these spots resonated with them.

Angelina Lawton, Founder of Sportsdigita, reflects on the transformative impact of purposeful storytelling and innovation, and shares valuable advice for aspiring female entrepreneurs

In 2024, we witnessed several trends define the marketing landscape, from the surge of generative AI and automation tools to growing concerns around data privacy and AI regulation. Industry leaders also grappled with finding the right balance between technological innovation and authentic storytelling, a central theme at major conferences throughout the year.

At the beginning of 2024, The Continuum interviewed David Shing to discuss the key market trends he anticipated would shape the year ahead.  For the first piece of the new year, we asked Shingy to look back at his predictions about major trends and how they would reshape the marketing landscape. We asked him to examine where his predictions came true and which ones might have missed the mark. We also asked him to share where he sees the industry heading in the year ahead.

Gurkan Sener is the Vice President of Global Marketing Analytics and Targeting at NBC Universal Destinations and Experiences, where he oversees an advanced analytics team that specializes in marketing data science, audience science, and measurement science.

Sheryl Daija, Founder of BRIDGE, reflects on her extensive marketing career and shares how the organization’s research-backed framework is helping companies reshape the narrative around DEI, foster meaningful change, and drive sustainable growth.

Eric Koehler, EVP of Research and Strategy, reflects on his extensive career in advertising and reveals how the innovative Brand Momentum tool empowers brands to better understand consumer behavior and deliver personalized messaging that resonates

Judy Jackson, Founder of JLC Ventures, draws from her dynamic career in Human Resources to highlight the long-lasting power of integrating DE&I into the core of an organization to foster connectivity, community, and opportunities for employees to thrive.

James Rhee, acclaimed CEO and Founder of red helicopter, explores the key elements of his operating system and reveals how individuals and organizations can harness this mental model to lead with intuition, steer their own path, and thrive amid complexity.