DAY 1 - Fall of 2026 (date not confirmed)
Worklife Meetings (at THE MART) (222 W Merchandise Mart Plaza #250, Chicago)
Keynote Day
Transforming Innovation Through AI
Transforming Innovation Through AI
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8:00 AMRegistration & Breakfast
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9:00 AMMorning Show
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9:15 AMHow to Innovate in the Era of AI Super Agents
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10:45 AMBreak
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11:00 AMInnovate Like a Rap Star
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11:30 AMA Conversation with ITONICS
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12:00 PMLunch
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1:00 PMSuper Future: Navigating Humanity’s Next Evolution
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2:00 PMNetworking Break
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2:30 PMPanel: Meet the 2027 Consumer
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3:00 PMMicrogenerations & The Adoption of AI
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4:00 PMHappy Hour Reception Sponsored by Itonics
Registration & Breakfast
Pick up your badge and fuel up alongside fellow innovators over coffee, tea or juice, and enjoy breakfast before the day kicks off. Note that vegetarian-friendly options will be provided. Vegan options can also be provided upon request prior to the event. A great chance to make early connections and set your intentions for the sessions ahead.
Morning Show
Start your day with energy as we spotlight emerging trends, highlight key themes, and set the stage for two days of AI-driven innovation and insights.
Jonathon Brown
Chief Sales Officer
As Trend Hunter's Chief Sales Officer, he drives strategy for business innovation research, development, and marketing. With experience interviewing 500+ business leaders, he uncovers innovation best practices, drawing insightful lessons from hip-hop history and applying them to internal innovation frameworks.
As Trend Hunter's Chief Sales Officer, he drives strategy for business innovation research, development, and marketing. With experience interviewing 500+ business leaders, he uncovers innovation best practices, drawing insightful lessons from hip-hop history and applying them to internal innovation frameworks.
How to Innovate in the Era of AI Super Agents
Drawing from a decade of AI-driven transformation at Trend Hunter, Jeremy explores how leaders can thrive as AI Super Agents reshape business, creativity, and decision-making. Jeremy will share strategies for navigating disruption, leveraging AI to foster innovation and sustain growth. Discover how to orchestrate human-AI collaboration and future-proof your innovation strategy in an era of exponential change.
Jeremy Gutsche
NYT Bestselling Author & CEO of Trend Hunter
Trend Hunter's CEO, New York Times bestselling author, and award-winning innovation keynote speaker and AI expert, will guide you through how to maximize your potential and innovate in times of change. As one of the world's most sought-after keynote speakers, he has helped over 800 brands, billionaires and CEOs make change happen.
Trend Hunter's CEO, New York Times bestselling author, and award-winning innovation keynote speaker and AI expert, will guide you through how to maximize your potential and innovate in times of change. As one of the world's most sought-after keynote speakers, he has helped over 800 brands, billionaires and CEOs make change happen.
"Jeremy Gutsche blew us away. He truly is an intellectual can of Red Bull. I couldn't feel better about the kind of thinking we are going to get." - CEO
Innovate Like a Rap Star
Discover how today’s AI tools can help you overcome your innovation blind spots. Using hip hop as a creative lens, we’ll explore how DJs, MCs, and graffiti artists embody the six hunter and farmer innovation traits, along with their pitfalls, and reveal the cutting-edge tools that can amplify your creative advantage and supercharge your innovation game.
Jonathon Brown
Chief Sales Officer
As Trend Hunter's Chief Sales Officer, he drives strategy for business innovation research, development, and marketing. With experience interviewing 500+ business leaders, he uncovers innovation best practices, drawing insightful lessons from hip-hop history and applying them to internal innovation frameworks.
As Trend Hunter's Chief Sales Officer, he drives strategy for business innovation research, development, and marketing. With experience interviewing 500+ business leaders, he uncovers innovation best practices, drawing insightful lessons from hip-hop history and applying them to internal innovation frameworks.
A Conversation with ITONICS
Join Trend Hunter in conversation with ITONICS Corp., as they unpack global innovation trends and the evolving strategies shaping success in the AI era. Together, they’ll explore how technology, foresight, and creativity are transforming innovation leadership and what it takes to stay ahead in an increasingly AI-driven world.
Mark Onufer
VP, Sales
As Trend Hunter’s VP of Sales, Mark is sought after by industry leaders like Google and Disney to inspire teams on future trends and innovation. Praised for his engaging presence and award-winning communication, he has helped major clients such as Constellation Brands, Diageo, and Panasonic navigate emerging trends and build cultures of innovation. Beyond his executive role, he keynotes at global Future Festivals, exploring topics including Innovation Tactics and Future Technology, offering insight into a world where change is the only constant.
As Trend Hunter’s VP of Sales, Mark is sought after by industry leaders like Google and Disney to inspire teams on future trends and innovation. Praised for his engaging presence and award-winning communication, he has helped major clients such as Constellation Brands, Diageo, and Panasonic navigate emerging trends and build cultures of innovation. Beyond his executive role, he keynotes at global Future Festivals, exploring topics including Innovation Tactics and Future Technology, offering insight into a world where change is the only constant.
Lunch
Enjoy a mid-day break with lunch provided for all attendees—an opportunity to relax, recharge, and connect over great food and conversation.
Super Future: Navigating Humanity’s Next Evolution
AI super agents are redefining what’s possible, blurring the boundaries between human and machine, thought and action. This keynote explores the technologies shaping our next era, from autonomous systems to generative creativity. As innovation accelerates, discover how the next wave of AI is transforming industries, challenging cultural norms, and ushering in a future where intelligence is embedded in everything we do.
Sean Watson
SVP of Sales Operations & Special Projects
As Trend Hunter's VP of Sales Operations & Special Projects, he leverages his tech expertise, AI knowledge, and unparalleled enthusiasm for TH's content. In strategic internal initiatives and as a keynote speaker, he unveils AI's impact on humanity's future and our evolving relationship with technology.
As Trend Hunter's VP of Sales Operations & Special Projects, he leverages his tech expertise, AI knowledge, and unparalleled enthusiasm for TH's content. In strategic internal initiatives and as a keynote speaker, he unveils AI's impact on humanity's future and our evolving relationship with technology.
Networking Break
Take a quick 15-minute pause to stretch, grab a quick coffee, or take a break before we dive into the next session
Panel: Meet the 2027 Consumer
Consumer behavior is rapidly shifting in the AI era, fueling new expectations around ethics, value, and identity. But what’s really driving these shifts beyond technology? In this panel, Thomas Ulbrich (Goodwill), Mimi Sherlock (IFF), and Mark Onufer (Trend Hunter) share a multi-angle read on what’s changing, why it’s happening, and what brands must understand now to stay relevant with the 2027 consumer.
Mark Onufer
VP, Sales
As Trend Hunter’s VP of Sales, Mark is sought after by industry leaders like Google and Disney to inspire teams on future trends and innovation. Praised for his engaging presence and award-winning communication, he has helped major clients such as Constellation Brands, Diageo, and Panasonic navigate emerging trends and build cultures of innovation. Beyond his executive role, he keynotes at global Future Festivals, exploring topics including Innovation Tactics and Future Technology, offering insight into a world where change is the only constant.
As Trend Hunter’s VP of Sales, Mark is sought after by industry leaders like Google and Disney to inspire teams on future trends and innovation. Praised for his engaging presence and award-winning communication, he has helped major clients such as Constellation Brands, Diageo, and Panasonic navigate emerging trends and build cultures of innovation. Beyond his executive role, he keynotes at global Future Festivals, exploring topics including Innovation Tactics and Future Technology, offering insight into a world where change is the only constant.
Microgenerations & The Adoption of AI
As AI Super Agents reshape how we live, work, and connect, we must consider how cultural values shift and transform alongside technology. Through a microsegmented cultural lens, Armida explores how Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z shape a culture accepting of these tools. Uncover the cultural tensions, generational gaps, and emerging opportunities for brands to design AI-powered experiences that resonate deeply across generational lines.
Armida Ascano
Chief Content Officer & Renowned Speaker
As Trend Hunter’s Chief Content Officer and the brain behind our trend sessions and workshops, she is our most requested Futurist for custom trend keynotes. With expertise in generations, she explores the evolving dynamics of Millennials, Boomers, Gen X and Gen Z, and their distinctive responses to the AI’s expanding influence.
As Trend Hunter’s Chief Content Officer and the brain behind our trend sessions and workshops, she is our most requested Futurist for custom trend keynotes. With expertise in generations, she explores the evolving dynamics of Millennials, Boomers, Gen X and Gen Z, and their distinctive responses to the AI’s expanding influence.
Happy Hour Reception Sponsored by Itonics
Unwind at the Itonics-sponsored Happy Hour Reception at City Winery at Ponce City Market, hosted in a private room. It’s the perfect way to relax, connect, and toast to an inspiring day at Future Festival.
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