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MediaLink Beach returns to Cannes Lions
MediaLink, media and marketing’s most trusted advisor, returns to Cannes Lions this year with the latest iteration of our iconic MediaLink Beach. Bringing together the industry’s most compelling leaders and storytellers, MediaLink Beach is the hub at the festival for the industry’s C-suite to grow and transform their businesses. Join us June 16-20 for five days of practical conversation, inspired programming, and connections to culture in a convenient new location across from the main security checkpoint on the Croisette.
Agenda
The stage is set, the spotlight is on and the future is waiting. Join us at Cannes Lions for inspired content and conversations. Check out our agenda for all the can’t-miss details, and be sure to check back as we’ll be announcing more in the coming weeks. See you at the beach!
Links By MediaLink:
AI’s ImpactMediaLink Live:
Algorithms & AlchemyMediaLink Live:
Power MovesLinks by MediaLink:
Cart Meets ContentFireside Chat with United Talent Agency's New CEO David Kramer
MediaLink Live:
Game OnMediaLink Live:
Inside the Transformation of XMediaLink Live:
The Power of Inclusive InnovationMediaLink Live:
Shoppable StoriesMediaLink Live:
Attention WarsMediaLink Live:
The Modern Leaders PlaybookHappy Hour
Executive Evening at Hotel du Cap
Morning Yoga Flow & Meditation with Peloton
MediaLink Beach
Join Peloton Instructor Aditi Shah on the shores of MediaLink Beach for a 30-minute Morning Yoga Flow followed by a 5-minute Meditation. Open to all levels, you'll move through a series of poses designed to awaken your body, cultivate presence, and leave you feeling centered and ready for the day!
MediaLink Live:
Business ReinventedMediaLink Live:
The Madness of MeasurementCannes Keynote:
Reigniting IP: How Gap Inc. Got Its Vibe BackLinks by MediaLink:
Culture as CapitalMediaLink Live:
Fame, Film & FoundersMediaLink Live:
Creative IntelligenceHappy Hour
MediaLink Live:
Talk Z to MeMediaLink Live:
Level UpZCANNES Happy Hour & Fireside Chat
Happy Hour:
ZCANNES ZMO Dinner
Featured Speakers
Patrick Schwarzenegger
Entrepreneur & Actor
Jessica Ling
American Express
Draymond Green
Golden State Warriors
Dara Treseder
Autodesk
Renaldo Chapman
DoorDash
Alexis Ohanian
Seven Seven Six
Antonia Farquhar
Nestlé
Allegra Krishnan
McDonald's
Virgil van Dijk
Liverpool FC
Aaron Gordon
Denver Nuggets
Najoh Tita-Reid
Mars Petcare
Peggy Roe
Marriott International
Linda Yaccarino
X
Paul Toms
Wayfair
MediaLink Live
MediaLink Live is MediaLink’s series of provocative and action-oriented conversations featuring leading brands, agencies, media companies and top talent discussing topics from the impact of AI in marketing; how marketers are connecting against the consumer divide; hard earned lessons in leadership; the unique benefits and challenges of commerce media and much more.
Algorithms & Alchemy:
The Magic (and Myths) of AI in Marketing
AI won't kill creativity—but it is rewriting the rules. This conversation dismantles common myths, from the illusion that AI alone can generate meaningful originality to the idea that being correct is the same as making a real connection. The truth? Both humans and machines are messy, and that's a good thing. The edge belongs to brands that know how to harness both to elevate human insight, enhance experiences, and unlock performance.
Power Moves:
How Chelsea FC Women Is Changing the Game
Join Alexis Ohanian and Aki Mandhar for a timely conversation on why women's sports represent one of the most underleveraged—and high-potential—growth markets in the world. Fresh off Seven Seven Six's landmark investment in Chelsea FC Women, the two will unpack why this move goes far beyond equity and inclusion—it's a calculated business bet on global fandom, elite performance, and digital scale. Learn about the massive opportunity for brands to jump into women's sports (hiding in plain sight for decades), as well as Chelsea's plans for winning the domestic treble
Fireside Chat with United Talent Agency's New CEO David Kramer
In a world where culture moves at lightning speed and the lines between entertainment, sports, music, creators, and brands are increasingly blurred, staying relevant requires new strategies. Join United Talent Agency CEO David Kramer and Financial Times Global Media Editor Daniel Thomas for a candid chat about how UTA is helping brands navigate this evolving landscape. They'll explore the shifting definition of "talent," the power of original and bold storytelling, and how brands can authentically connect with audiences by embedding themselves in culture. From creator partnerships to content strategies, this session will reveal how CMOs can drive long-term brand equity by collaborating with talent in smarter, more meaningful ways.
Game On
The Power Play Combo of Sports + Brands
What happens when elite athletes and visionary marketers team up? In this dynamic conversation, Draymond Green (Golden State Warriors), Aaron Gordon (Denver Nuggets), and Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool FC) join Paulie Dery, CMO of AG1, for a conversation moderated by Fara Leff, COO of Klutch Sports Group. Together, they'll explore the evolving intersection of global sport, personal branding, and business—on and off the field. From building influence to navigating partnerships, these leaders share how they're creating lasting impact beyond the game. With AG1's role in the wellness space as a backdrop, the session offers a candid look at how athletes maintain performance, build their brands, and expand their reach across industries. Whether it's a product, a platform, or a personal mission—this is where sports and brand strategy collide.
Inside the Transformation of X
As the media landscape evolves at unprecedented speed, few platforms are disrupting the industry while undergoing strategic reinvention more than X. Led by CEO Linda Yaccarino, X – the global town square - is charting a bold path to become an “everything app” blending content, commerce, community, and AI-powered innovation under a new vision, brand, and operational model.
In this exclusive fireside chat, MediaLink's Chris Vollmer sits down with Yaccarino to explore what it takes to reshape a platform of global scale and influence in real time. From trust and content to monetization and growth, this conversation examines how X is navigating today's most complex challenges – and what senior leaders across media, marketing, and technology can learn from Linda's transition from advertising leadership to the CEO suite.
Expect a candid, behind-the-scenes look at one of the boldest transformations in business today – and the CEO driving it forward.
The Power of Inclusive Innovation
Inclusion and diversity are key drivers of business growth and innovation. This bold, insight-driven marketing campaign showcases how embracing diverse perspectives can lead to market expansion, revenue growth, and enhanced brand loyalty. By leveraging emerging trends and innovative strategies, brands can engage diverse audiences authentically, turning inclusion into a competitive advantage. Discover how inclusion can transform a business and fuel unprecedented growth.
Shoppable Stories:
Creative Commerce
Creativity is reshaping commerce - transforming shopping into stories that captivate consumers. As media channels multiply and retail experiences evolve, brand storytelling must adapt. This session explores how today's marketers can harness innovative storytelling to forge deeper connections, spark cultural relevance, and redefine success in a dynamic, data-driven landscape.
Attention Wars:
The Clout & Currency of Influencers
Who's in charge, the brand or the influencer? In this no-filter conversation, marketers and their attention-grabbing creators explore the wild world of influence, from playing it safe to letting things get really real. When clout becomes currency and creators become brands, the battle for eyeballs gets especially interesting.
The Modern Leaders Playbook:
Mindset Reset
Leadership today isn't defined by certainty—it's shaped by resilience, reinvention, and the courage to lead with purpose. These are the hard-earned lessons, drawn from personal inflection points—brand transformations, cultural pivots, tech revolutions, and career-defining risks. The mindset resets. The recalibrations. The bold choices that reveal what it really takes to lead in a world that won't sit still.
Business Reinvented:
The Art of Transformation
In an age of relentless disruption, legacy brands must reinvent themselves as emerging players boldly shape the future. Hear from brand decision makers who are navigating chaos, weighing cost-cutting vs. growth investment, and unlocking innovation through unexpected collabs. Walk away with actionable strategies and fresh thinking to help your brand thrive in uncertainty.
The Madness of Measurement
The internet promised a fully measurable customer journey—so why is attribution still such a mess? This candid panel brings together voices from entertainment, CPG, retail, tech, and publishing to unpack the chaos of modern measurement. From fractured data to shifting privacy norms, we'll explore what's broken, what's fixable, and how the experts are mastering the possibilities.
Fame, Film & Founders:
A Fireside Conversation with Patrick Schwarzenegger & Paul Wachter
What happens when two generations of Hollywood and hustle sit down for a candid conversation? Join legendary advisor and investor Paul Wachter and actor-entrepreneur Patrick Schwarzenegger for a dynamic fireside chat that bridges experience and ambition. From Paul's behind-the-scenes role guiding icons like Arnold Schwarzenegger and LeBron James, to Patrick's path growing up in a famous family while carving his own identity in entertainment and entrepreneurship, this session dives into the realities of legacy, leadership, and launching bold ideas.
Creative Intelligence:
Where Culture, Tech, and Media Collide
Can brands stay human in a tech-enabled, AI-dominant world? Can creative content be scaled without losing soul? Hear from media artisans who reside at the intersection of creativity, culture, and technology, and learn how they enable media to contribute to the magic of a message.
Talk Z to Me
As digital natives, Gen Z has already reshaped how brands approach marketing. Now, Gen Alpha - born into a world of constant connectivity and competing content - has entered the chat. Learn how marketers are rising to the challenge of keeping their brands relevant and authentic by aligning with the pastimes and fan favorites of the younger generation.
Entrepreneur, Writer,
Actor, and Host
Level Up:
How Marketers Are Winning with Gaming
Gaming is rewriting the rules of culture—and the next chapter is being written by marketers who understand the power of the game to spark brand affinity. This dynamic panel brings together the leaders shaping the future of the industry, from building inclusive communities to launching boundary-breaking brand experiences. Join us for a no-holds-barred conversation as they share how they're leveling up gaming with authenticity, innovation, and unapologetic leadership.
Cannes Lions Keynote
Reigniting IP:
How Gap Inc. Got Its Vibe Back1:00 - 1:30 PM
Location: Rotonde Stage, Rotonde
After years of instability at Gap Inc., Richard Dickson's 2023 CEO appointment has prompted a steady improvement in sales, market share and customer sentiment by leveraging the brand reinvigoration playbook. Fresh from masterminding the Barbie phenomenon and IP reinvigoration, Dickson's made the Gap Inc. portfolio a case study in how investing in brand storytelling and customer-centric creativity, while relying on data, is the key to marketing and business success.
This co-presentation will exhibit the power of reinvesting in brand to reignite dormant IP and how to evaluate and unlock big ideas using data.
By drawing on their shared experiences, Dickson and MediaLink's Andrea Kerr Redniss will give practical insights for executing successful brand transformation that drives relevance, revenue and opportunity.
& Partner, UTA
Gap Inc.
Links By MediaLink
Links by MediaLink is an invite-only conversation series connecting industry leaders through collaborative dialogue and thoughtfully curated roundtable discussions. Explore topics ranging from Al's transformative impact and integrated commerce strategies to the rising influence of culture. Request an invite to join.
AI’s Impact
Transforming Process, People, and Agencies
A discussion exploring the real-world implications of AI. We'll delve into automating marketing processes, the evolving agency model, and the future of talent with virtual co-workers. Learn actionable strategies for change management and hear from industry leaders on navigating this transformative landscape. Be part of the conversation and shape the future of AI in business.
Cart Meets Content
Where Retail & Media Converge
In today’s fast-moving commerce ecosystem, real growth doesn’t come from isolated wins—it comes from integration. Join a dynamic mix of marketing, commerce media, agency, and retail tech leaders for a high-energy session on what it really takes to align across the full funnel. We’ll unpack the silos holding teams back and explore how brands and partners are working together to unify data, campaigns, and consumer experiences.
Culture as Capital
The Future of Influence and Impact
As consumers grow increasingly more difficult to captivate, culture has become a prized form of capital—a currency that brands, agencies, and media platforms are fiercely chasing to spark connection, loyalty, and dialogue. But leveraging culture isn’t about just jumping on trends or aligning with influencers. It requires a mastery of cultural fluency: understanding the communities, values, and movements that shape consumer behavior … and knowing how to authentically insert a brand into the zeitgeist.
Link Up Meetings
Join us at MediaLink Beach for Link Ups - exclusive, curated one-on-one conversations with top executives and thought leaders across media, marketing, tech, and entertainment. These high-impact, personalized sessions are crafted around your goals and designed to spark fresh ideas, meaningful connections, and new opportunities. Tell us what you're focused on, and we'll match you with the right people to help you get the most out of your Cannes experience.
Sample discussion topics include:
- The Future of Attention: Reaching Audiences in a Fragmented Media Landscape
- AI & Automation in Advertising: Smarter Targeting, Smarter Creative
- Community, Culture & Content: Building Meaningful Brand Relationships
- Data, Privacy & the New Rules of Consumer Targeting
- Monetization Models & Media Innovation
Available to Senior Marketers and Agency Executives
Happy Hours
Hosted Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at MediaLink Beach.
