The Lineup

• Connection
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

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. Be sure to scan your badge, you can earn points once every hour!

• Connection
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

• Inspiration
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

Explore how leading affiliate marketers from around the world are shifting from traditional advertising to performance-driven partnerships by leveraging full funnel partner types and creator relationships for authentic, high-converting global campaigns. This session provides a new, future-forward playbook for scaling revenue, building trust-based partnerships, and integrating AI into creator-led affiliate strategies for 2026 and beyond.

Julia Schwartz

Senior Manager, Affilaites

Free People

Nick Fletcher

SVP, Global Retail & EMEA

Rakuten

Kyndal Shewmake

VP, Digital Marketing & Finance

JD Sports

• Inspiration
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

Generative and agentic AI are redefining the consumer journey, making shopping frictionless from discovery to purchase. This session reveals how AI search engines decide which brands and publishers to recommend and what that means for how you create content and build your partner network. We'll show you how to turn AEO intelligence into a smarter strategy, and what the brands already winning in AI search are doing differently. Walk away with actionable strategies to optimize for AI and cultivate lasting success in this new era of commerce.

Seth Besmertnik

CEO and Co-Founder

Conductor

• Inspiration
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

Maximize your Rakuten Optimism experience and get rewarded along the way! Scan your badge at key event moments to earn points. Whether you are attending sessions or exploring interactive spots like the Kobo Corner, you can unlock reward tiers and redeem for items and experiences. Simply look for the purple star icon on your event map to identify all eligible locations for redemption. Full details on how to earn, redeem, and monitor your standing on the live leaderboard will be available on the Get Rewarded page within the app.

Amit Patel

CEO & President

Rakuten International

• Inspiration
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

• Connection
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

• Inspiration
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

1:00 PM  - 1:10 PM: Affinity Global
1:10 PM  - 1:20 PM: Audiohook
1:20 PM - 1:30 PM: tvScientific

• Connection
• Inspiration
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

Media & Marketing Mix Modeling (MMM) often underrepresents affiliate marketing's true contribution, leading to misperceptions and tighter budgets. This session will dissect why affiliate's impact is obscured in current MMM frameworks, particularly against impression-based channels. We will explore solutions and best practices for better integration and alternative solutions, ensuring affiliate marketing's strategic value is recognized by key stakeholders.
 

Ameet Shah

Partner, Global SVP Publisher Operations and Tech Strategy

Prohaska Consulting

Sumair Seth

Vice President, EMEA

Ipsos

• Inspiration
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

Step back in time with us and join the Secret Society of Optimists at the Golden Age Gala. Think Great Gatsby as we delve into the Arizona Biltmore’s rich history, inspiring a color palette of black, gold, ivory, and emerald, paired with a semi-formal dress code. Throughout the evening, you’ll be delighted by strolling and stationary entertainment.

Dinner will begin at 5:30 pm in the Frank Lloyd Wright foyer, the Golden Link Awards at 6:45 pm in the adjoining ballroom, followed by celebrations at 8 pm in the Gold Room. All attendees are welcome to attend the event. Seating is open. 

Adam Mamawala

Comedian & Emcee

• Celebration
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

• Connection
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

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. Be sure to scan your badge, you can earn points once every hour!

• Connection
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

In today's competitive market, dynamic personalization driven by offers and incentives is crucial for cultivating lasting loyalty. As consumers use AI shopping tools, brands gain unprecedented access to real-time intent data. This session explores how leveraging these high-intent moments with AI empowers brands to deploy dynamic personalization strategies, driving deeper engagement and ensuring success in the new era of commerce.
 

Carl Lurie Kalapesi

CCO

Rakuten

Venice Gell

Director, Global Affiliate & Referral Marketing

iHerb

• Inspiration
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

Maximize your Rakuten Optimism experience and get rewarded along the way! Scan your badge at key event moments to earn points. Whether you are attending sessions or exploring interactive spots like the Kobo Corner, you can unlock reward tiers and redeem for items and experiences. Simply look for the purple star icon on your event map to identify all eligible locations for redemption. Full details on how to earn, redeem, and monitor your standing on the live leaderboard will be available on the Get Rewarded page within the app.

Guy Raz

Host & Founder

"How I Built This" & Built-It Productions

Zack Kass

Former Head of GTM

OpenAI

Eric Seufert

Analyst

Hercules Media

Clayton Nelson

VP of Enterprise Alliances and AI

Expedia Group

• Inspiration
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

• Connection
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

• Inspiration
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

We are hosting our fourth annual pickleball tournament! Sign-ups will take place on the court. The court is about a 10 - 15 minute walk from the conference center.

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 pm. Winners will receive Vessel pickleball paddle bags - an all-in-one pickleball game day essential!

New players and spectators are also welcome!

• Connection
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers

As AI-powered search and financial tools reshape how consumers discover and compare products, the role of trust, from editorial authority to regulated guidance, is being redefined. Join us as these industry leaders explore emerging consumer trends alongside the growth of compliance and what it means for performance and affiliate marketers in the FinServe industry.

Erin Warren

SVP, Commercial Strategy & GTM

Rakuten

Casey McNulty

camcnulty@thepointsguy.com

The Points Guy

• Connection
• For Advertisers
• For Publishers

Join us as we explore how today’s travel consumer is evolving, from search and discovery, to booking behavior and what those shifts mean for advertisers and publishers navigating an increasingly complex path to purchase. Featuring new insights from travel consumer data, we will highlight how affiliate is uniquely positioned to build trust and drive growth across the modern travel journey.

Missy Goldberg

Marketing - Director, Marketing

Rakuten

Megan Gaffey

Sr. Director, Publisher Partnerships NA

Rakuten

Carissa Flinders

Director, Affiliate

ShopMy

Adrian Fagerlund

Co-Founder

Linkby

Unwind under the desert sky as we close the week with a tranquil, wellness-first evening infused with a subtle sparkle and thoughtful nods to our heritage. Set on the Spire Lawn, the natural beauty of the resort takes center stage, complemented by ample lounge seating where the sounds of desert house meet disco edits. 

Explore immersive activations like scent blending, candle pouring, Japanese wellness rituals, and more. A serene yet celebratory farewell designed to restore, reflect, and shine. 

• Connection
• For Advertisers
• For Agencies
• For Publishers