In a noisy, metrics-driven world, brands that master storytelling will do more than convert – they’ll connect. And connection is what drives sales, repeat purchase, and long-term growth.
BRANDS + MARKETERS
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Brand marketers should explore how real-world influence networks and word-of-mouth hotspots enable more effective omnichannel strategies. Understanding group behaviour is the skeleton key to unlocking full-funnel growth.
We spoke with Michael Pavone, the CEO and Founder of Philadelphia-based food and beverage marketing agency quench, about what he’s seeing in 2025 so far and what that might portend for 2026.
AW SHORTS – BRANDS + MARKETERS
Products (and charismatic CEOs for that matter) alone won’t protect businesses from the inevitable moments when something goes wrong – when tech falls behind, when consumer preferences change, or when market conditions evolve.
In 2025, 80% of women still can’t correctly identify a vulva on a diagram. That is a mind-blowing stat, and it’s frankly dangerous that we know so little about ourselves.
Brands are more successful when they integrate naturally throughout the process, instead of just popping in and feeling like an ad drop.
Misinformation isn’t just a problem for users anymore — it’s a branding crisis. As media platforms scale back moderation, advertisers are being forced into the role of risk manager—whether they like it or not.
Before your brand ever said a word, it could have dropped a beat. Not just any beat — the beat.
We still call it social media, but the way people use these platforms today has nothing to do with being social.
From creative and strategy to experiential and digital, here’s how key voices from across the industry are interpreting the latest findings, and what they believe marketers must prioritise to navigate the road ahead.
Whether it’s a last-second game winner, a viral TikTok trend, or a breakout Twitch stream, the path to relevance is no longer about reach alone. It’s about resonance.
During Converge @ Cannes, a group of brand, media, and advocacy leaders broke down why abandoning the LGBTQ+ community is not just a moral failure—it’s a catastrophic business decision.
What role do brands play in shaping those emotions to begin with?
The content arms race isn’t going away. But if brands want to thrive—not just survive—it’s time to rethink the systems behind the stories.
Whether it’s through purpose-aligned storytelling, wellness-infused activations, or simply giving people permission to breathe, the most resonant brand experiences this year felt human.
