In an era where emerging technologies are reshaping the creative landscape, the age-old tension between art and science takes on new urgency. 

This provocative panel discussion explores how leaders are navigating the delicate balance between leveraging technological capabilities and preserving the human essence of creativity. As data-driven decision-making and AI-powered tools become increasingly central to Creative Operations, we'll examine both the transformative opportunities and potential pitfalls that lie ahead.

Every Creative Operations leader faces the same challenge: how to build processes that enable rather than inhibit creativity.

This panel discussion brings together diverse perspectives from across the creative industry to explore the sweet spot between chaos and control.

Explore how different organisations have successfully created frameworks that provide structure while preserving creative freedom and discuss practical approaches to building flexible processes that scale.

In this session, Thomas Walker, Sr. Global Production Manager at Spotify, shares how their team blends technology, process, and creative excellence to produce high-impact advertising at a truly global scale. From automation to localization, discover how Spotify stays creatively consistent while moving at the speed of streaming.

You’ll learn:

• How Spotify balances scale with brand excellence
• Where creative automation fits into their global workflow
• How to orchestrate creative alignment across teams, markets, and stakeholders
   

AI, Agility, and the Next Era of In-House Partnerships

• Exploring the shift from traditional content production to embracing AI-powered automation for enhanced efficiency
• Discussing the tangible benefits and insights gained from implementing creative automation, including productivity improvements and strategic advantages
• Envisioning the future of creative operations and the role of innovation and automation in sustaining competitive agility

Time to have some lunch and visit the exhibition. See you back at 2:15 PM for the afternoon sessions!
 

At the New York Philharmonic, the Archives isn’t just preserving history, it’s helping fill seats. By leading the rollout of a powerful Digital Asset Management System (DAMS), the Archives has made over 3 million digitized and born-digital assets instantly accessible to teams across the organization. That access fuels campaigns tied to anniversaries, supports content for upcoming performances, and helps the marketing team surface timely, relevant stories that connect with audiences.

Let’s be honest: your calendar’s a disaster. Your inbox is a landfill. And half your meetings are performative.

You’re not here because you’re broken. But some days, you know you’re leading on fumes.

Wayne Barringer led an in-house team at Boeing — much like yours. Today, he works with leaders at Peacock, Expedia, Synchrony and more who’ve tried everything: new tools, new hires, new org charts. He helps them reset — starting with how they are showing up.

Chris Butler from Uber, will discuss the evolving dynamics between in-house creative teams and agency partnerships, examining how organizational structure impacts stakeholder relationships and creative output. 

This session will address critical questions facing Creative Operations leaders today, including team resourcing strategies, stakeholder negotiation leverage, and the changing agency landscape amid industry consolidation.

Know the System, Break the Rules 

Facts:

• AI is redefining creative processes and organizational systems.
• There is always tension between established frameworks and innovation.

The Response: