Agenda

Diana Finster is the Head of Partnerships at Walmart Connect. In her role, Diana oversees partnerships across Agencies, Tech and Media partners like The Trade Desk and NBCU. Her ability to identify market opportunities, execute product vision, whilst possessing a deep knowledge of measurement and analytics has been key to scaling Walmart’s Agency and Tech partnership strategy. With more than 20 years of experience in the media and advertising industry, Diana joined Walmart most recently from Amazon Ads, where she oversaw strategic solution provider partnerships. Prior to that, Diana held a variety of roles across product and sales at Microsoft focused on driving advertiser, partner and business growth on Microsoft Ads across search, display and Xbox.

Hermelinda Fernandez is a seasoned advertiser with experience across multiple categories such as auto, entertainment, QSR, CPG, tech and finance in her 15+ year career. Her expertise spans across digital investment, strategy and custom programs focused on general market and multicultural marketing. She is the SVP, Digital Investment at Canvas Worldwide, covering a majority of accounts within the agency.

Abbey Thomas is an industry recognized CTV/Video Expert and AI Enthusiast who works with early stage companies to accelerate adoption and drive rapid growth. As Chief Commercial Officer at Anoki AI, Abbey is helping usher in a new wave of FAST 2.0 aimed at PII compliant and personalization for experience and advertising harnessing multimodal contextual intelligence. Previously Abbey served as Chief Revenue Officer at OpenAP, the platform uniting the television ecosystem’s advanced advertising business across NBC Universal, Paramount, Warner Brothers Discovery, and others. Her responsibilities for driving the company’s Holding Company Enterprise MSA’s included oversight of Platform Sales, Client Strategy, and Client Success. As the first Enterprise Sales hire, Abbey built the company's revenue practice from the ground up by driving buy side adoption of TV’s advanced advertising platform, growing OpenAP’s portfolio of clients to hundreds of advertisers and scaling the company north of $1B in total platform sales. Under Abbey's leadership, OpenAP established strategic partnerships with leading holding companies.  Prior to OpenAP, Abbey served as Chief Marketing Officer at Tremor Video, overseeing creative, PR, product and sales marketing functions; and representing the company internationally across the industry’s largest stages at Cannes, Mobile World Congress, and Ad Week. She led various sales teams at Tremor Video including the Entertainment Vertical, as well as founding the Categorical practice at the organization, over her ten year tenure.  Previously, Abbey was responsible for the west coast digital ad sales business at Entertainment Weekly. Abbey began her career at MTV working alongside the industry’s brightest females in early digital advertising beginning in 2000. She has served on the Advisory Board at the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) and ThinkLA Entertainment organization. Abbey is a cum laude and early graduate from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Journalism specializing in Advertising, one of the most recognized programs in the country aimed at developing top tier ad talent. Abbey lives in Venice, CA where she resides with her two daughters.

Talia Arnold is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Exverus Media, a 3x Ad Age Small Agency of the Year. In her 20 years of advertising, media strategy and data analysis, Talia has secured long-term partnerships with growth-stage brands like Premier Protein & Dymatize, New Belgium & Bell's Brewery, and many more. As the result of her leadership and creativity, Talia is an Adweek Media All-Star of 2024 and CampaignUS Inspiring Women in Media of 2025.

Jeannine Shao Collins is Chief Client Officer at Kargo, the leading next-generation digital advertising platform, creating memorable experiences that capture users’ attention by meeting them where they are consuming content.

Prior to Kargo, Jeannine was the President of the SeeHer, the leading global coalition established by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) to increase accurate portrayals of women and girls in marketing, advertising, and entertainment. Jeannine was the Co-Founder/CEO of Girl Starter, a reality television series featuring female founders that aired on TLC Discovery Networks. She also served as EVP/Chief Innovation Officer at Meredith Corporation. Collins is an industry-recognized executive named “Publishing Executive of the Year” by Adweek, a “Woman to Watch” by Advertising Age, and she was inducted to both the MINS’ Hall of Fame and the AAF’s Hall of Achievement.

Athena Nestoras is Senior Manager, Brand Marketing Strategy at United Airlines.

Alex Loza is the Vice President of West Coast Digital Sales at TelevisaUnivision, the world’s leading Spanish-language media company. In his role, Loza is tasked with leading strategic digital planning and execution for TelevisaUnivision's extensive list of national clients on the West Coast, which spans entertainment, telecommunications, travel, auto and tech.

With over 15 years of experience building enterprise partnerships across the digital landscape, Loza is a strategic digital advertising leader who brings extensive expertise in omni-channel strategies that bridge traditional linear video to emerging platforms and channels, including long form, short form, vertical, CTV, social, programmatic and beyond.

Oliver Smith is an accomplished AdTech and media executive with over 20 years of experience driving video, CTV and programmatic media growth. He has held leadership roles at companies including Unruly, Pixability, Shopline and DAZN, where he scaled operations across the U.S. and EMEA —contributing to successful exits for both Unruly and DAZN. Oliver now advises early-stage AdTech firms and startup retail brands in the U.S. and UK, helping them navigate go-to-market strategy, product positioning and commercial expansion.

Suzanne Matarazzo serves as the SVP of Agency Partnerships at NBCUniversal. In this role, Matarazzo oversees NBCUniversal’s investment team for PMX and leads in partnerships that provide the agency’s portfolio of brands with innovative targeting and measurement tools and access to NBCUniversal’s broad portfolio of content to maximize their media effectiveness.  

Matarazzo has 15+ years of experience at NBCUniversal. Prior to her current role, she oversaw the automotive, tech, wireless and financial categories on NBCUniversal’s Client Partnerships team. She also worked in network partnerships for NBCUniversal and integrated sales and marketing at The CW Network and The WB Television Network. Outside of work, Matarazzo is a member of Let It Break, a community of women called to action through intentional personal growth and development. She also invests her time in the Madeline Fiadini LoRe Foundation for Cancer Prevention, serving as 2025’s Classic Golf Outing Chair.  

Matarazzo graduated from Lehigh University with a bachelor's degree in marketing, where she also played Division 1 field hockey. She resides in Manhasset, New York with her partner, Tom, and their son, Thomas.

Adam serves as the Group Vice President of Advertising & Data Sales at VIZIO, a frontrunner in the smart TV landscape. He spearheads both the VIZIO Ads and Inscape Data divisions, and he played a pivotal role in founding VIZIO's innovative Platform+ business unit. His strategic vision has been crucial in launching VIZIO's cross-platform Ads product suite, leveraging advanced targeting capabilities fueled by the company's currency-grade viewership data, Inscape. Under his leadership, the partnerships organization has expanded fivefold since 2019, significantly contributing to VIZIO's successful IPO in March 2021, and the subsequent acquisition by Walmart in 2024.

In 2022, Adam was recognized by Business Insider as one of 22 media execs furthering the streaming business. In 2023, was honored as a 40 under 40 selection by LA TV Week and Broadcasting & cable.

With a proven track record in building high-performing sales organizations and crafting cutting-edge media and data solutions, Adam is also a mentor to startups and emerging talent. His deep expertise in the streaming and OTT sectors is backed by senior roles at Samba TV, YuMe, and The Daily Beast. As an active member of the IAB Video Board, he champions the evolution of industry standards and best practices.

Brett Whelan spent over 20 years in leadership roles at media agencies Initiative, Canvas Worldwide and Publicis. He has overseen media strategy and driven integrated marketing solutions for major clients across verticals - including Amazon, Hulu, The Home Depot, Dr Pepper and others.

Currently, Brett is the co-founder of Forma Media, helping brands, agencies, publishers and startups navigate the modern media ecosystem. With an emphasis on applying AI to traditional workflows, Forma Media equips clients with cutting-edge technologies and strategies to drive innovation, unlock efficiencies and gain a competitive edge.

Having had a front-row seat to the evolution of measurement and the increased role of data in media, drawing from practical experience leading teams and guiding clients, he has an appreciation for the challenges and obstacles ahead. His reputation for building partnerships founded on trust and mutually beneficial outcomes also gives Brett a clear perspective on the need for cross-platform measurement solutions that work for all involved.

Stuart McLean is a prolific innovator and pioneer in the FAST channel space. As CEO of FAST Studios, Stuart is dedicated to influencing the next wave of streaming media and revolutionizing free streaming sports TV. He conceived and launched the WOMEN’S SPORTS NETWORK as the world’s first dedicated women’s sports channel, attracting 15+ leagues and numerous blue chip advertisers to the brand, delighting fans and marketers in the process. In motorsports, he launched RACING AMERICA, the official media partner of the Race Team Alliance consisting of 16 NASCAR CUP Series teams and featuring exclusive NASCAR CUP team content. And his latest effort - TEAM USA TV in partnership with the USOPC – celebrates our Olympians and Paralympians by delivering always on story, news, and tentpole moments "flame to flame" to the single biggest fandom in the USA.

Stuart is a sought out advisor helping both CTV and FAST distributors and studios design their FAST offering. A former advertising executive-turned-publisher with extensive media, marketing, and studio expertise, McLean is uniquely equipped to bring streaming platforms quality content channels, loyal audiences and premium content experiences.

Recently named to Media Play News 2024 FAST 30, McLean presently serves on the boards of thinkLA. OTT.X and the Sports Innovation Lab's Women's Sports Club supporting his enthusiasm and success in the sports and entertainment sector.

Terry City, an industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience building and leading sales and partnerships divisions, is the Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales at Cineverse. City has extensive experience in the ad landscape, with executive roles at Variety, Yahoo Entertainment, The Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, Tumblr and, most recently, Tastemade. In addition, City is the co-founder of Steel Titan Entertainment, producers of the Emmy Award winning ESPN: 30 for 30 film, Playing for the Mob. City is also an advisor to many startups and entrepreneurs, as well as being a mentor to college students and young industry professionals.

Adrian Chiu is Senior Vice President of Product at Paramount Streaming, where he oversees ad experience and monetization strategy. With over 20 years in media and technology, Adrian has led product innovation across streaming, gaming and digital advertising. His work spans dynamic ad insertion, in-stream ad experiences, signal acquisition and product strategy — all focused on optimizing the ad experience and driving revenue at global scale.

Shannon is a business outcomes and growth-oriented global marketing leader, with proven success in developing integrated marketing strategies and campaigns that drive ROI. Her expertise includes developing and implementing strategic marketing and content campaigns supporting some of the largest Fortune 500 brands, including tech, entertainment, sports, auto, CPG, financial services and retail. Additionally, she has a proven track record in leading commercialization of businesses including new revenue streams, strategic partnerships and innovation through bringing disruptive, new technologies to market for brands.

Having uniquely worked in both buying and selling capacities across brand, publisher, agency, and IP right's holder, she is skilled at stewarding and motivating high-performing cross-functional global teams. She specializes in leveraging brand's mission and values to develop and execute strategies and omni-channel platforms and campaigns against key business objectives that build brand awareness, create consideration, drive preference and create loyalty. As both an SME and practitioner she ensures seamless execution of integrated programs across channels and platforms, continually exceeding business goals. She's a recognized collaborator, resulting in the building of growth and ROI driven initiatives with both clients and internal teams.

In addition to her role at Stagwell, she is an active member and investor: including: a Public Board Member position with digital B2B gaming company Versus, Alpha, Zipline ai, Adomni Video Council, Snapchat AR Agenc Executive Council, BrandStory Architech Board Member, original member of The Brand Storytelling Advisory Board and Motley Bloom (Lifestyle platform and collective celebrating neurodiversity in all of its forms) and dating app, Duett.

As a mother of 3 children, she is a passionate neurodiversity and inclusivity activist including developing a nationally recognized fundraisers "Quinn's Cocoa $4 the Cure," and "Help Feed the Frontline LA."

She holds a MBA with a focus in Sports Business from the University of Oregon, and a BA in Japanese, which she still speaks proficiently.