Brand LA is set to launch L.A.'s Outlook Annual Bulletin on May 18 during a virtual gathering featuring elite speakers and panelists. The study examines the current Marketing and Communications landscape in Southern California, highlighting data and key takeaways covering operational and educational trends, professional and workforce development opportunities, career match-making and effective messaging to deliver on more equitable and inclusive best practices.
The research combines quantitative and qualitative methods to shed light on economic implications, and business and talent specialization needs that could propel more collaborative ecosystems for economic sustainability.
In the midst of a global pandemic, many companies pivoted their strategy to address the evolving needs of their customers; investing into adaptive marketing tactics to sustain business models for opportunity and growth. Marketing in the “Age of COVID” forced organizations to rethink ways to relearn consumer behavior and client expectations. It became more important than ever to exercise more functional storytelling.
The launch of Brand LA's 2022 Annual Bulletin will showcase how Marketing and effective communications contribute to an organization’s growth, solid presence in SoCal, and increased collaborations. Thus, the virtual gathering has invited world-class speakers and panelists to offer their perspectives and solutions to a wide audience of decision-makers.
MICHAEL MARGOLIS
CEO and Founder, Storied
Storied is a leading authority on how to craft a narrative for category disruption. As a trusted advisor, Michael helps teams to convey a world-changing future, create alignment and deliver on the promise of transformation. For 20 years, he’s solved complex riddles at the biggest scale imaginable -- by helping people bring their best stories to life. Michael has advised and trained hundreds of organizations on some of the most strategic priorities inside Facebook, Google, Shopify, Uber, Dolby, Walmart, Roche, Visa, and NASA. Michael is a two-time TEDx speaker, a #1 Amazon bestselling author, and a member of Fast Company’s executive board.
SARAH SCHULER
Sr. Director of Game Presentation and Brand Experience for the Los Angeles Rams
As the Sr. Director of Game Presentation and Brand Experience for the Los Angeles Rams, Sarah and team are dedicated to capitalizing on the most technologically innovative stadium in the world to deliver the best home field advantage for our football players and fans. In partnership with Ram Studios, Sarah and team collaborate to develop an extensive graphics package in excess of 5,000 elements as well as unique video content, interactive fan engagement moments, rituals and traditions, as well as a custom sonic identity. Prior to joining the Rams, Sarah was hired by the New York Yankees in 2009 ahead of their World Series Championship season and spent seven incredible years developing new programs, fan experiences and revenue opportunities for the historic franchise.
MOURAD RATBI
Innovation, Technology & Diversity, Public Sector Partnerships Specialist
Mourad is a results-driven professional with a passion for innovation and inclusive initiatives. He started his career in finance and has worked in foreign investment, corporate strategy, and technology. Mourad has most recently worked as Canada’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Trade Commissioner in the southwest region. In this role he built disruptive programs such as Canada’s first Black Tech Accelerator in the U.S. and the first Canadian Space Payload Acceleration Academy, focusing on Lunar Surface Exploration. His programs assisted entrepreneurs accessing institutional funding and commercial opportunities to develop their groundbreaking technologies internationally.
OLIVER WALKER-JONES
Head of Marketing, Communications & Brand for Joby Aviation
Oliver leads Marketing and Communications at Joby, a company developing all-electric air taxis for commercial passenger service. Joby recently listed on the NYSE and employs around 1100 people at its base in California and around the world. Before introducing Joby's revolutionary vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to the world earlier this year, Oliver worked at Lilium, a German company developing similar technology and Rolls-Royce where he also introduced an air taxi vehicle as part of his role leading global aerospace communications. He has also worked at Walmart, Blackstone and the CBI, the U.K.'s largest trade association. Oliver has a degree from Cambridge University and a background in political campaigning, having worked for politicians on both sides of the Atlantic.
ABIGAIL WEINTRAUB
VP Brand Strategy & Management, for LA28 Olympic Games
Abigail is a leader in brand strategy and has served as steward for some of the world’s biggest sport, entertainment and consumer product brands. In her current role, she leads LA28’s foundational brand strategy, design and management processes. With her expertise in consumer behaviors, she explores how to generate meaningful audience connection and increase brand awareness to amplify LA28’s values. She played a pivotal role in crafting the vision and strategy for the official launch of the LA28 brand in 2020, which has led to the expansion of the brand’s dynamic and story-driven identity. In addition to her cross-functional work with LA28 and Team USA, she works closely with external partners to ensure creativity and consistency in how the LA28 Games are shared.
"This will be a great opportunity for our region's business, education, government and creative leadership to evaluate how we could leverage data and effective storytelling to create more collaborative platforms. It's important to learn how to tell our stories from an angle that also helps us solve pre- and post-pandemic, persistent challenges. We also ought to be more innovative when it comes to creating opportunities and skillsets that benefit underrepresented communities, supporting civic engagement, fostering inclusive and diverse workforce development, and building new, cross-industry communication ecosystems," said Ivy Arias, Brand LA's founder and chief Marketing officer.
Brand LA already partners with educational institutions, community-based organizations, foreign companies, and small businesses in Southern California for projects that include market and user research, branding, and marketing communications strategies. Through Brand LA programs, many small businesses can also find invaluable resources by accessing no-cost strategic and tactical consulting sessions delivered by Brand LA's team in partnership with industry professionals and under the mentorship of international organizations.
Register to attend Brand LA's Annual Bulletin Launch.
To sponsor Brand LA's Annual Bulletin Launch please email events@brandla.org
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