More related content on the BRIDGE
- Marketing Keynote 9 December 12:50 - 1:05PM
Creating a Magnetic Brand
After shaping Duolingo’s global voice and redefining how brands connect with audiences, Zaria Parvez now brings her storytelling approach to DoorDash, applying lessons from one success story to a new frontier. In this 10-minute talk, she shares insights on the media and communication trends to expect for 2026, what it means to start over after success, and how creativity, adaptability, and team cultures sustain brand growth when the old playbook no longer applies.
Academy StageModerator
- Creator Economy Fireside 9 December 11:50AM - 12:10PM
Gen Z, Gen Give: Philanthropy Through Youth and Story
Generation Z is reshaping philanthropy, blending personal storytelling with the reach of digital platforms to drive meaningful change. Rather than relying solely on donations, they use tools like TikTok and Instagram to amplify causes, build communities, and spark grassroots action. How might this shift toward participatory and transparent giving redefine the future of social impact?
Impact Stage - Music Fireside 8 December 4:00 - 4:15PM
The Universal Language Connecting a Divided World
At a time when words divide and algorithms amplify differences, music remains one of the world’s last true bridges, uniting billions through shared rhythms and emotion. This session’s focus is on music’s enduring role as a global connector, exploring how sound becomes story, how emotion becomes economy, and how artists become ambassadors of something greater than entertainment. Audience members learn how data, digital platforms, and live experiences can bring us closer rather than further apart. Music may be an industry, but it is also a common language. It’s one that still has the power to rebuild trust, empathy, and belonging in a fractured age.
Explore by Instagram - Media Fireside 9 December 1:50 - 2:10PM
The End of Media's Philanthropic Whiplash
For decades, media funding has surged and collapsed in cycles, spiking around elections or crises, then evaporating when attention fades. The result is a fragile ecosystem where vital storytelling depends on the mood swings of philanthropy. In this session, H.R.H. Princess Lamia Bint Majed Saud AlSaud joins Matthew Bishop to explore how the media industry can break free from this pattern. Drawing from her leadership at the intersection of business, media, and philanthropy, Princess Lamia offers insights on building sustainable, purpose-driven media ecosystems, where long-term investment, inclusion, and impact take precedence over fleeting attention.
Forum StageModerator
- Technology Keynote 8 December 2:10 - 2:20PM
The AI Avatar Era with HeyGen
For knowledge-based creators, brands, and media leaders, presence has never mattered more or been harder to scale. In this session, Wayne Liang, Co-Founder of HeyGen, reveals how AI avatars are helping storytellers and public figures expand their reach across languages, platforms, and audiences. From on-camera creators localizing content overnight to news anchors and brand ambassadors multiplying their impact globally, HeyGen is redefining what it means to show up in the media age.
Forum Stage - Media Fireside 9 December 4:40 - 5:00PM
The Threshold of Truth
In a polarized media landscape, journalism is torn between objective reporting and rising demands for advocacy. A 2023 Knight Foundation/Gallup poll found that only 9% of Americans see little political bias in the news, with Edelman reporting that 59% believe journalists intentionally mislead to advance agendas. As audiences seek truth and impact, where should media draw the line, and how can it rebuild trust without losing relevance?
Forum Stage
