
Bozoma Saint John
Hall of Fame Marketing Executive
Netflix, Pepsi, Apple, Uber

Amit Patel
CEO & President
Rakuten International

Brittany Capalbo
Director, Performance Marketing & Analytics
Kendo Brands

Ben Cox
VP, AI Strategy & Operations
Rakuten

Louise Cotterill
Senior Director Insights and Intelligence
Kellanova

Zach Lain
Director, Global Data Partnerships
PepsiCo

Alex Adelman
CEO, Founder
Lolli

Andrew Landis
CEO
LuckyDiem

Chrissy Maitland
General Manager
Rakuten

Manjari Mehrotra
Vice President, Loyalty and Personalization
Albertsons

Jennie Peelle
VP, Head of Global Media
Hyatt

Sara Resnick
Global Lead Organic Marketing
Western Union

Clair Sidman
Marketing / VP
Collective Voice

Julie Van Ullen
Chief Revenue Officer
Rakuten Rewards

Brian Newell
Director
USAA

Jill Armstrong
Head of Partnerships
Rewards Network

Amanda Sears
Team Lead
Chase Media Solutions

David Ingraham
Associate
Delta Air Lines

Debby Lee
VP, Partnerships, Cartera
Rakuten

Daniel Kellogg
Sr. Director, Business and Data Solutions
Rakuten
Rakuten Optimism officially begins on Wednesday morning however the Connection Room will be open on Tuesday for any attendees that would like to get a headstart on networking.
The Agenda
Connection Room Open
The Connection Room is open for meetings booked in advance of the event. When booking through the app you have the ability, based on availability, to select a table for four to hold your meeting.
If you'd like a reserved table or a private meeting room for the entirety of the conference, please view our sponsorship offerings.
- Connection
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
New Attendee 101: Option 1
New to Rakuten Optimism or just looking to kick things off with a bang? This engaging and informative session is designed to set you up for success! Hosted by two seasoned Rakuten pros, we’ll share insider tips on navigating the venue, mastering the schedule, and making the most of your time at the event. Plus, you’ll have a chance to win exciting prizes (like for the attendee who traveled the farthest!) and discover our favorite must-attend sessions. Don’t miss this opportunity to start your Optimism experience on the right foot!
- Connection
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
Private Meeting Rooms & Pods
- Connection
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
Connection Room Open
The Connection Room is open for meetings booked in advance of the event. When booking through the app you have the ability, based on availability, to select a table for four to hold your meeting.
If you'd like a reserved table or a private meeting room for the entirety of the conference, please view our sponsorship offerings.
- Connection
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
New Attendee 101: Option 2
New to Rakuten Optimism or just looking to kick things off with a bang? This engaging and informative session is designed to set you up for success! Hosted by two seasoned Rakuten pros, we’ll share insider tips on navigating the venue, mastering the schedule, and making the most of your time at the event. Plus, you’ll have a chance to win exciting prizes (like for the attendee who traveled the farthest!) and discover our favorite must-attend sessions. Don’t miss this opportunity to start your Optimism experience on the right foot!
- Connection
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
Rewarding Experiences
Make the most of your Optimism experience and earn points to redeem for prizes
When you scan your bracelet and participate in specific event activities, you'll earn points for a variety of prize levels - to be announced! Collect your prizes at the Rewarding Experiences Pavilion in front of the Costa de Sol Ballroom.
Ahead of the event, more details and leaderboard will be listed in event app.
- Celebration
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
Powering Everyday Brand Engagement through Integrated Offers
Hosted by Rakuten Cartera: In today’s competitive loyalty landscape, brands must find innovative ways to engage members on a daily basis. This panel will showcase how leading loyalty programs and partners are integrating online, in-store, and app-based offers to create a cohesive and engaging member experience that influences customers to engage with their brand every single day. Panelists will share real-world examples, success metrics, and actionable strategies for driving incremental engagement and revenue.
- Inspiration
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
Global Affiliate, Local Intelligence
When it comes to going global, affiliate is leading the way. In this powerhouse session, industry legends share the strategies, partnerships, and playbooks behind successful performance marketing programs. From regional nuance to worldwide scale, learn what it really takes to build and optimize a best-in-class global affiliate engine.
- Inspiration
From Outdated to Cutting-Edge: The New Rules of Measurement
As consumer behavior evolves and media channels multiply, outdated measurement models no longer deliver the insights brands need. This session unpacks the future of analytics, from cookieless tracking and cross-channel attribution to AI-powered insights and first-party data strategies. Discover how leading brands are using predictive modeling and alternative identifiers to sharpen measurement, maximize performance, and stay ahead of rapid industry shifts. Hear from your marketing expert peers on the emerging technologies and transparency standards that will shape the next era of data-driven marketing.


- Inspiration
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
Social Commerce 2.0: Leveraging Creators and Emerging Trends to Drive Purchase Behavior


- Inspiration
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
A Night of Enchantment: The Golden Link Awards
Step into a world of mystery and allure at A Night of Enchantment: The Golden Link Awards. The evening will feature dazzling entertainment, mystical fortune tellers, in theme makeup artists, plus a captivating magician.
Dress to impress in semi-formal cocktail attire, and embrace the magic by wearing rich tones of deep red, burgundy, gold, black, ivory, or emerald green.
Get ready for a night of celebration, surprises, and old-world glamour — where elegance meets extraordinary!
- Celebration
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
Connection Room Open
The Connection Room is open for meetings booked in advance of the event. When booking through the app you have the ability, based on availability, to select a table for four to hold your meeting.
If you'd like a reserved table or a private meeting room for the entirety of the conference, please view our sponsorship offerings.
- Connection
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
Private Meeting Rooms & Pods
- Connection
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
AI in Action: Transforming Digital Marketing Tactics
AI is reshaping digital marketing strategies, enabling brands with advanced tools to enhance consumer engagement, optimize campaigns, and drive measurable growth. This session explores how industry leaders are integrating AI to refine search strategies, automate performance marketing, and deliver hyper-personalized experiences at scale. Gain actionable insights on leveraging AI to strengthen predictive analytics, maximize ROI, and navigate the complexities of brand safety, compliance, and ethical integrity.


- Inspiration
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
Rewarding Experiences
Make the most of your Optimism experience and earn points to redeem for prizes
When you scan your bracelet and participate in specific event activities, you'll earn points for a variety of prize levels - to be announced! Collect your prizes at the Rewarding Experiences Pavilion in front of the Costa de Sol Ballroom.
Ahead of the event, more details and leaderboard will be listed in event app.
- Celebration
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
A Conversation with Bozoma “Boz” Saint John
A trailblazing and genuine change-agent, “Boz” is a Hall of Fame inducted Marketing Executive. Her remarkable success at Netflix, Pepsi, Apple, Uber, and the Endeavor brands proves her to be one of the most effective marketers of any generation.
With almost 20 years of experience that spans multiple industries, including digital music and entertainment, consumer packaged goods, fashion, sports, and automotive, Bozoma is a leader heralded for her bold thinking and cutting-edge ideas. She was named Forbes' #1 Most Influential CMO in 2021.

- Inspiration
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
Personalization, Loyalty, and The Modern Customer Experience: The Digital Marketing Trifecta
AI is transforming personalization, giving brands powerful new ways to engage consumers. But how much is too much? This session explores how new technologies and strategies can enhance customer journeys, refine targeting, and balance real-time context with past behaviors while avoiding over-personalization that limits discovery. Leverage this session to explore how leading brands are using AI and other new tactics to deliver dynamic, relevant experiences at scale while setting new standards for data-sharing, transparency, and consumer trust in a rapidly evolving digital world.



- Inspiration
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
The Shifting CLO Landscape: What You Need to Know
Come listen to card-linked offer, network and agency experts as they discuss the changes they’re seeing in the CLO industry from both a publisher and merchant perspective. Leave understanding how to position yourself for success in this space.
Pickleball Tournament
We are hosting our third annual pickleball tournament! We will have one tournament on Thursday. Sign-ups will take place on the court. We'll host a Pickleball 101 for anyone looking to learn the game or refresh their skills ahead of the tournament play beginning at 3:30 pm. Additional details to be shared closer to the event. Spectators are welcome!
Money, Markets & Marketing: Affiliate Advantage in Finance & Networking Event
The financial landscape is evolving fast—and affiliate is playing a bigger role than ever. In this session, leaders from these top financial services brands unpack how partnerships are driving growth, building trust, and adapting to today’s dynamic economy. From compliance to conversion, discover what’s redefining affiliate success in finance.
This session is intended for advertisers, agencies, and publishers that work within the finance vertical.
- Connection
- Inspiration
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
Travel Trends Uncovered: The Priority Pass to Affiliate Success & Networking Event
Affiliate marketing is helping travel brands around the world take flight. Hear from these industry insiders reveal what’s trending now, what’s next, and how affiliate marketing is fueling smarter, more personalized travel experiences. From seasonality to spend, get your priority pass to performance-driven growth.
This session is intended for advertisers, agencies, and publishers that work within the travel vertical.
- Connection
- Inspiration
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
Closing Party: A Night of Zen
The Optimism Closing Party will bring everyone together for a festive farewell. Stay tuned for details!
- Celebration
- For Advertisers
- For Agencies
- For Publishers
Official sponsors
Give your brand the spotlight. All eyes will be on Optimism 2025, so maximize your exposure with one of our many sponsorship options. See how you can make a splash or reach out to our team for a bespoke opportunity.