Marketing Collaboration Lab 2026
The Lab creates a collaborative space where expertise meets real-world challenges.
Get fresh insights and peer-to-peer learning at the first annual 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.
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
- A stronger professional network: Engage with specialists and peers in a relaxed, creative atmosphere that sparks collaboration.
- 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.
- Insights and practical strategies you can implement immediately.
Agenda
6 p.m. Networking Mixer
6:30 p.m. Welcome: Opening remarks from AMA Chicago leadership
6:35 p.m. Connector Talk: A short, insight-packed message from an agency leader about what brands value in agency partnerships and effective collaboration.
6:50 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
Strategic Deck Stack Alignment. Most marketing teams fight against their own software instead of being empowered by it. Join a discussion about moving beyond out-of-the-box limitations to build a custom, scalable architecture that evolves with your brand’s roadmap. Led by Fjorge.
SEO Foundations with AI Considerations. AI search is rapidly shaping how people use the internet, but it’s built on the foundations of SEO. Learn to complete a basic AI-SEO assessment to understand how your brand is being seen by AI-search. Led by Be Found Online.
Deciding What Stays Human in Your PR Strategy. AI can generate content quickly, but can it generate trust? How do you maintain an authentic voice that protects your brand’s credibility and reputation long-term? Led by Winger Marketing.
AI Readiness and Workflow Integration. What part of marketing work do you feel least comfortable letting AI influence? What word describes your team’s readiness to adopt the new technology? Led by Mighty Content.
Uniqueness As the Key to Branding. Your business DNA is yours alone, and it’s essential to developing an aligned identity. Get into a conversation about creating a credible brand by embracing who you are. Led by FiredUp Creative.
When to Trust Generative AI and When to Be Deeply Skeptical. LLMs (large language models) hallucinate and aren’t transparent or consistent in their processes. When should you provide oversight for better results? Led by Talisman Insights.
Storytelling That Drives Impact. The ability to articulate your organizational story makes the difference, whether you’re landing a new client or closing a sale. Led by Marc Zarefsky LLC.
How to Apply AI for Internal and Client Work. Identify and prioritize AI opportunities that work for you, no matter where you are in your AI journey. Led by Pragmatic Digital.
The Strategy Process to Make Your Creative Pop. Marketing without a brand strategy is destined to quickly fizzle or outright fail. Walk through our unfaltering brand strategy process, illustrated by real client examples, that leads to truly memorable creative.
Led by McGuffin Creative Group
Sponsor
- Registration
Free and open to all — members and non-members.
- In person at
Catalyst Ranch
656 W. Randolph, Ste. 4E
Chicago, IL 60661
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