Connections & Cocktails Presented by Kargo

02-26-2026 5:30 PM - 02-26-2026 8:30 PM

On Feb. 26, 2026, ThinkLA kicked off the networking season with Connections & Cocktails presented by Kargo at Kargo’s Santa Monica space, bringing together LA’s marketing, media, and advertising community for an evening of intentional conversation and connection. The room was filled with thoughtful operators, creative leaders, recruiters, and emerging talent who were all eager to build meaningful relationships over cocktails and light bites.

One attendee summed it up perfectly:

“ThinkLA’s Connections & Cocktails was a fantastic evening. The room was full of thoughtful operators and creative leaders, and the conversations felt intentional and high quality. Events like this are what make the LA ecosystem special. Thank you for hosting Kargo.”

Panel Speakers

The evening also featured an engaging panel and Q&A where industry pros shared actionable insights on networking, interviewing, and career growth:

Charlotte Cochrane — Consultant at Pfizer, bringing deep experience in media strategy, transformation, and leadership development.
Jess Trujillo — Senior Talent Acquisition Partner at Kargo, experienced in connecting top talent with opportunities across media and adtech.
Autumn White — CMO at Fina Financial, with a strong background in digital marketing, analytics, and media strategy.

Panel Takeaways

Speakers shared valuable advice for professionals at all stages:

Your network is your megaphone.
Ask others to advocate for you. When peers speak positively on your behalf, it amplifies your reputation.
Stand out in interviews with the 5 Cs:
- Curiosity: Treat interviews as a two-way conversation.
- Clarity: Know your values and how you show up.
- Charisma: Bring your authentic presence.
- Confidence: Own your experience and perspective.
- Concise: Be memorable and respectful of everyone’s time.

Connections & Cocktails continues to be a standout space for LA’s marketing community to forge real connections and share practical insights. A big thank you to Kargo for hosting, and to everyone who joined us.