Women ARE The C Suite: Stay Powerful 2026

03-18-2026 5:33 PM - 03-18-2026 9:00 PM

The ninth annual Women Are the C-Suite event didn’t just live up to its legacy. It blew past it. Held at Snap Inc.’s Santa Monica headquarters, the sold-out evening brought together hundreds of advertising, marketing, and media professionals for a night of honest conversation, real talk, and the kind of energy you don’t forget.

The theme: Stay Powerful. From the moment the lights dimmed, it set the tone for everything that followed, every story, every laugh, and every moment of truth shared on stage.

The audience was a mix of women and men at every stage of their careers, from recent graduates to CMOs, and the room was full of purpose.

Valerie Fiore, a programmatic specialist at Canvas Worldwide, called it the standout event of her entire career: "Out of all of the events I've attended throughout the years, this one stood out to me the most."

This year’s lineup was something else. Seven women who spoke not from polished talking points, but from lived experience, real setbacks, and wisdom that only comes with time.

Opening Presentation

Mandana Mellano | Founder & President, PEONY Talent

A two-decade veteran of media and creative agencies, Mandana opened the evening with a masterclass in executive readiness.

"Readiness is perception before it becomes promotion. You don't get the title before someone believes you're ready for it." — Mandana Mellano

The Panel: Future-Proofing Your Career

Moderated by Jennifer Wirth Symington, the panel brought together four leaders whose collective experience spans media, finance, marketing, and revenue. Their candor was extraordinary.

Jennifer Wirth Symington (Moderator) | AVP Marketing, Honda

Jennifer brought both sharpness and warmth to her role as moderator, guiding the panel with real precision. She didn’t just ask questions. She live-workshopped challenges from the audience, turning the stage into a real-time coaching session. “Her poise, humor, and intelligence was incredible to watch.”

Lauren Antonoff | CEO, Life360

Lauren brought real perspective on speaking up in rooms full of skeptics. Her advice on building psychological safety in teams while still driving performance was practical, specific, and something people could actually use the next day.

Patricia Linares | Co-Founder & Head of Finance, Mundial Media

Patricia’s insights cut to the core of visibility and self-advocacy. Her message was clear: the hard work you do must be socialized. Staying heads-down isn’t humility. It’s invisibility.

Alexandria Sumner | Senior Director of Americas Marketing, Snap Inc.

Alexandria brought the perspective of someone who has thrived inside one of tech’s most dynamic environments. Her takeaway on navigating change was direct: keep your head down in the chaos, because the one constant is change. Embrace it and find the opportunity in it.

Jackie Iovino Vignone | CRO, Genius

Jackie rounded out the panel with the kind of clarity that comes from running revenue at scale. On self-advocacy, she didn’t mince words: advocating for yourself teaches you how to advocate for others. If you don’t speak up for yourself, no one will do it for you.

What made this year’s Women Are the C-Suite so memorable wasn’t just what happened on stage. It was the connection between the speakers and the people in the room. The panel met every question with honesty, humor, and substance.

Closing Keynote

Jean Batthany | Creative Officer At Large

If Mandana opened minds, Jean Batthany got to the heart of things. Her keynote, delivered with humor, vulnerability, and real conviction, tackled the subject no one wants to admit: burnout. Drawing on 30 years in the business of creativity, Jean spoke about what happens when the spark goes out, and what it actually takes to get it back.

"It's okay if you fall down and lose your spark. Just make sure that when you get back up, you rise as the whole damn fire.”— Jean Batthany

This event exists because of a community that shows up, year after year, in greater numbers and with greater enthusiasm. Thank you to Snap Inc. for hosting a space where brave conversations can happen. Thank you to our sponsors, Life360, Mundial Media, PadSquad, Afternoon Culture, and Audacy, whose support makes programs like this possible. Thank you to the committee members who worked tirelessly to bring this evening to life.

And thank you, above all, to every person in that room who came ready to listen, to share, and to carry something home. This is what community looks like. This is what staying powerful feels like.

"Leadership isn't a future aspiration. It's an opportunity every day." — Jennifer Wirth Symington