Marketing Collaboration Lab, Fall 2026

The Lab creates a collaborative space where expertise meets real-world challenges.

Get fresh insights and peer-to-peer learning at the second Marketing Collaboration Lab! The Lab is an immersive, ideas-driven experience that brings brand-side marketers and small marketing agencies together for structured, themed roundtable conversations. (If you’re a small agency or consultant, find out how to become a table host; applications are due September 15.)

Hosted at Catalyst Ranch, Chicago’s vibrant creative hub, the Lab offers a high-energy setting that inspires fresh thinking and authentic connections.

Whether you’re a marketer actively seeking a new agency partner or simply looking for fresh insights and peer-to-peer learning, you’ll engage in meaningful conversations that tackle real marketing challenges, without the pressure of pitches.

With multiple rotation sessions and plenty of informal mingling, the format blends expert facilitation with collaborative problem-solving to spark ideas, build relationships and elevate your marketing strategy.

Key Takeaways

1. A stronger professional network: Engage with specialists and peers in a relaxed, creative atmosphere that sparks collaboration.
2. Insights and tools for managing your current challenges: You’ll choose from multiple hot topics aligned to your pain points, rotating among the tables that pertain to you.
3. Practical strategies that you can implement immediately.
   

What will Marketing Collaboration Lab attendees walk away with? Watch this brief video (1 min., 47 sec.) to find out!

Agenda

6 p.m. Networking Mixer
6:30 p.m. Welcome: Opening remarks from AMA Chicago leadership
6:40 p.m. Begin Roundtable Collaboration Sessions: Rotate among three 15-minute, facilitated roundtables; each will feature brief “spark” insights and peer-driven discussion around real-world marketing challenges.
7:45 p.m. Wrap-Up & Key Takeaways: Recap highlighting key insights and ideas that surfaced during the roundtable sessions.

Roundtable Discussion Topics & Hosts

Sponsor