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We’re Colin and Samir - creators, storytellers, and deeply curious about the business of creativity. We’re hosting and guiding this event from start to finish. You’ll find us on stage asking the questions we think every creator wants answered, sitting in the audience taking notes, and recording a live episode of The Colin and Samir Show during the day. Our goal is to make sure every session leaves you with something useful, whether it’s a new idea, a new connection, or a new way of thinking about your work.

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Max Joseph is a filmmaker who has played in many sandboxes. Starting off as an editor, he gained attention collaborating with Casey Neistat on Make It Count, a short that went viral on YouTube and helped set the tone for much of his work to come—videos like Follow the Frog for Rainforest Alliance, Do What You Can’t (also with Casey), and Persistence of Vision.

He's also known for his personal video essays, including BOOKSTORES, DICKS, HAPPINESS, and A Brief History of John Baldessari, which have inspired a generation of online creators. His work has screened at TED and festivals like Sundance, Telluride, and SXSW.

Max co-hosted MTV’s Catfish for seven years, directed the Warner Bros. feature film We Are Your Friends starring Zac Efron and directed the HBO Max documentary 15 Minutes of Shame.

But no matter how big the screen or how different the platform, Max brings the same creative spirit he honed on YouTube.

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Cleo Abram is the video journalist behind Huge If True, an optimistic show about science and technology. Huge If True is an antidote to the doom and gloom, helping 10 million subscribers across platforms see better futures they can help build.

In each episode, Cleo dives into one innovation that could shape our future. She has explored new humanoid robots, particle colliders, space suits, supersonic planes, deep Earth exploration, dinosaur discovery, and much more. For her interview series, Huge Conversations, she has interviewed leaders like NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and CRISPR pioneer Jennifer Doudna.

Previously, Cleo was a producer at Vox and director for Explained on Netflix.

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Mustafa Suleyman is the CEO of Microsoft AI; a division of Microsoft focused on advancing consumer AI products safely and responsibly. Before joining Microsoft, Mustafa was co-founder and CEO of the start-up Inflection AI, where he worked on building a personal AI for everyone. Prior to that he was co-founder of the pioneering AI company DeepMind, and VP AI Products and Policy at Google. He is the author of the international bestseller, The Coming Wave.

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Born in Upstate New York, Ashley Alexander is a social media content creator and influencer who gained fame on YouTube with her channel Ur Mom Ashley. Initially launched in 2018, Ashley joined the platform, intending to build her channel as a space to share her favorite things and freely be herself.

Ashley quickly went on to amass her now over 1.8M subscribers after her initial “Huge Try-On Thrift Haul” video went viral. She has gone on to build a tight-knit community of followers who tag along for her everyday relatable content, which centers around everything from her daily vlogs and travel, to her favorite things, such as beauty tips, try-on hauls, morning matcha recipes and challenges.

In summer 2024, Ashley launched her matcha brand, Nami Matcha, which sold out within just 24 hours—a testament to her growing influence and the connectivity of her online community. Alongside her entrepreneurial pursuits, she co-hosts the Beautiful Twin Sisters podcast with her sister Amber, where they candidly discuss family life, body image, and the ups and downs of being young creatives.

Ashley has collaborated with prestigious brands like Dior and Adidas, launched her own merchandise and swimwear line, and continues to connect authentically with her audience while pursuing her passions for fitness, art, and travel. Bringing her audience along her journey with her daily vlogs, beauty tips, and travel adventures, she is dedicated to inspiring others and sharing her journey with creativity and heart.

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Kevin has spent over a decade tracking popular video phenomena and managing trending content initiatives. The lead of YouTube's international Culture & Trends team, he is YouTube's expert on the intersection of web video and global culture.

His TED Talk on "Why Videos Go Viral" has been watched over 3 million times and he has been a popular keynote speaker at festivals and industry events all over the world. His book “VIDEOCRACY” an entertaining exploration of YouTube's most interesting trends and the impact of video in our culture, was published by Bloomsbury in 2018.

Kevin knows more about internet culture than anyone we know. He came on the show 2 years ago, and it’s still one of our favorite episodes.

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Billy Parks has built his career at the intersection of creator, media, and consumer. He is currently a Venture Partner at Slow Ventures’ Creator Fund, backing innovative creator‑led businesses. Previously, he was an Operational Partner at The Chernin Group (Barstool Sports, Epic Gardening, Headspace, Exploding Kittens, MeatEater, PLL), where he led content and creative strategy, sourcing, and served on boards including Cars & Bids, Hodinkee, and Chinatown Market.

He has also served as Chief Brand Officer at CONAN, guiding brand strategy and digital expansion, EVP of Creative and Content Strategy at Otter Media (Hello Sunshine, CrunchyRoll), and SVP at Fullscreen, developing IP and content with top creators for leading brands and emerging platforms.

Parks has been recognized in Variety’s Impact Report and Ad Age’s 40 Under 40. He began his career producing TV commercials for brands such as Chrysler, Honda, P&G, NFL, and Microsoft, as well as music videos for artists including Jay‑Z, Rihanna, Beyoncé, Eminem, 50 Cent, Clipse, and Prince.

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Jared Carneson has spent nearly two decades as a creative strategist for some of the world’s most exciting brands—operating at the intersection of content, culture, community, and the intelligence that makes them thrive.

As Global Head of Social at Adobe, he leads a global, cross-functional team that manages Adobe’s influencer and creator partnerships, social-first creative, real-time intelligence, and brand engagement across the entire product portfolio.

Previously, Jared spent over a decade at FleishmanHillard, where—as Senior Partner and SVP of Global Platforms & Innovation—he built high-performing social, intelligence, and creative teams on three continents for clients spanning enterprise technology, consumer brands, and corporate communications.

Named to PRWeek’s Dashboard 25 (2023) and PRovoke Media’s Innovator 25 (2019), Jared fuses creative vision with data-driven insight to deliver integrated communications programs that move culture—and business—forward.

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Valerie Zhang is a creative marketing leader, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and NYC-based entrepreneur. She is the cofounder and creative director of VX Media, where she leads innovative campaigns and brand storytelling for clients around the world.

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Mai Pham is a 22-year-old entrepreneur, designer, and YouTuber. As the founder of Alchemai, a sustainable fashion brand, Mai blends creativity and inclusivity, empowering others—especially young girls and the Asian community—to embrace their true selves and pursue their dreams with self-belief. Her achievements have been recognized in Fast Company, Teen Vogue, and on the cover of Harper’s Bazaar, where her entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to empowering others have been celebrated. Always driven by her belief that anyone, no matter where they start, can manifest their dreams through hard work and perseverance, Mai continues to break industry molds, creating products that foster connection, growth, and authenticity.