The pressures shaping brand leadership aren’t one-time shifts—they’re ongoing tensions senior marketers are expected to navigate every quarter: growth vs. efficiency, brand vs. performance, speed vs. control.
Business of Brands is built for that reality.
This September, Ad Age convenes CMOs and senior marketing leaders in Chicago for a two-day leadership forum focused on how brands are actually competing and growing right now—and what that means for the decisions ahead.
More than a traditional conference, Business of Brands is a working session for executives responsible for brand growth and long-term competitiveness. Attendees will pressure-test approaches with peers, analyze real-world scenarios and hear directly from leaders operating at the highest levels of marketing.
The focus isn’t on what just changed—it’s on what’s proving effective among leading brands, which strategies are gaining traction and where marketers are seeing real returns.
You’ll leave with a clearer sense of where to place bets, how to navigate the tradeoffs shaping brand growth—and how to position your brand ahead of where the market is heading.
TICKETS
SUBSCRIBER LAST CALL RATE
$799
$499
Ends soon!
NON-SUBSCRIBER LAST CALL RATE
$799
$699
Ends soon!
Group Discount Rate:
SAVE $100 per ticket (off the current registration rate). Register three or more people within the same company, all under one registration, to receive the discount at checkout! All tickets must be the same admission item for the discount to apply. Valid for both, subscriber and non-subscriber tickets. For questions, please contact Ad Age Events.
Tickets are transferable, but not refundable.
MID SIZE BRAND LEADERS
CELEBRATE THE WINNERS
Ad Age Mid Size Brand Leaders recognizes senior in-house marketers at mid-market brands that are too large to operate like startups yet lack the deep resources of enterprise organizations. These executives work in complex, resource-constrained environments where every strategic decision carries weight
Honorees will be recognized as part of the 2026 Ad Age Business of Brands event on Sept. 15 - 16, 2026!
For any questions, please contact the Ad Age awards team.
Why you can’t miss Ad Age Business of Brands
See what’s actually working—and where to place your next bets
Go beyond case studies to understand which strategies are driving growth for brands gaining ground right now, where marketers are placing bets and how those decisions are translating into real business results—especially when resources, time and margin for error are limited.
Make better decisions, faster
Work through the same tensions you’re navigating—growth vs. efficiency, brand vs. performance—with leaders making those calls in real time. Walk away knowing where to focus, what to prioritize and which tradeoffs matter most.
Be in the room with peers facing the same pressures
Join CMOs and senior marketers responsible for delivering growth without enterprise-scale teams or budgets. Compare how they’re operating, adapting and competing—and take back ideas you can act on immediately.
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