McDonald’s Sheila Hamilton Announced As BrandSmart 2024 Keynote Speaker

BrandSmart 2024, the distinguished conference for the brand marketing community, is set to welcome Sheila Hamilton, Marketing and Menu Lead – New Business Ventures at McDonald’s, as its keynote speaker. This year, the conference will unfold in the AON Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier in Chicago on Thursday, April 25, 2024, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CDT. As the longest-running event of its kind now in its 22nd year, BrandSmart aims to explore the latest marketing trends and the future of branding within an experience-driven economy.

The theme for BrandSmart 2024, "The Future of Brand in an Experience-Driven Economy," underscores the importance of creating memorable experiences in enhancing customer engagement and loyalty. The conference is produced by the American Marketing Association Chicago (AMA Chicago), the largest AMA chapter in North America. Chris McGuire, President of AMA Chicago, expressed enthusiasm about Hamilton’s participation, highlighting her expertise in marketing innovation and branding wisdom.

Hamilton’s keynote address titled "Staying Grounded While Launching an Out-of-this-World Brand" is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. She will also host a LinkedIn Live on the AMA Chicago channel on April 17th at 12:00 CDT. BrandSmart will also feature sessions on embracing AI while maintaining a human touch, innovation as creativity, branding in the narrative economy, and architecting your future. These sessions will be led by industry experts including Jennifer Polk from Feeding America, Dan Moriarty from Chicago Fire, Meghan Hurley from Claire’s, and Kristian A. Alomá, Ph.D., from Threadline.

Networking plays a vital role at BrandSmart, offering attendees numerous opportunities to connect with marketing professionals from across the country. McGuire emphasized that beyond being a platform for knowledge sharing, BrandSmart serves as a significant source of connection and community for marketing leaders.

For those interested in attending BrandSmart 2024 or seeking more information about the event and ticketing, visit https://brandsmart.amachicago.org. AMA Chicago continues to provide development opportunities for marketers in Chicagoland to expand their knowledge, improve skills, and grow their networks and careers through access to innovative marketing thought leaders and programming. More details can be found at amachicago.org.