Check in downstairs at The Refinery to get your badge, breakout session assignments, and join us upstairs in The Skylight Penthouse for lunch provided by Sweetgreen and additional refreshments from Chamberlain Coffee, Oatly, Voss Water, and more.

Welcome to ZCON!

Are you smarter than a Gen Zer?": Spotify’s CultureNext Report is one of the most illuminating thought leadership reports that exists on our generation – and we eagerly anticipate its arrival each year. This year, we are going to be embedding its findings into a trivia moment to kick off ZCON to ground us all in the reality of how much we really know about Gen Z – which will be the perfect prelude to the rest of the album that will unfold throughout ZCON.

Hosted by Clarke Peoples and Eric Sedeño.

Mean Girls Mid-Afternoon:  This will be a conversation between rising stars in Hollywood who all call NYC home. This will be a dialogue on creativity, community, and culture in New York City -- and how these artists are finding inspiration all around them. This will also be a reflection on some of the most iconic Gen Z franchises from The Summer I Turned Pretty and the new Mean Girls -- and on how these casts have turned into vibrant interconnected communities in the big apple that are only just getting started. So, get in losers, we're going chatting.

Featuring Avantika, Brian Altemus, and David Iacono. Moderated by Olivia Frary. 

A Panel Discussion on LinkedIn's Guide to Creating. The Creator Economy is evolving. Finding your stride and breaking through the noise as a content creator can be tough. On LinkedIn, you can engage with a community that you can grow and learn from, lean into your authenticity, and nurture your network so you can make connections and spark conversations that turn into real opportunities.

Featuring Tejas Hullur, Nadya Okamoto
Piper Phillips, Lauren Muniz. Moderated by Ziad Ahmed.

It's time for our signature ZCON recess! Join dating-app, Yuzu, part of the Match Media family, as we host a speed-meet-and-greet for attendees. This is the perfect time to make a new bestie and experience the iconic ZCON vibes. Hosted by Kennedy Daniel.

Boundary-Breaking Beauty:  This will be a vibrant conversation on what beauty means to Gen Z. How is our cohort redefining the word as well as transforming the entire landscape? You will hear from creators as well as brand leaders who are at the forefront of reshaping the personal care space. Why is it that personal care is such an integral part of the self-care journey for so many young people? How is that evolving as we continue to redefine the category to be more inclusive, more creative, and more reflective of the world we want to create?

Featuring Antoni Bumba, Phaith Montoya, Allen Ortega, and Emilyn Ropp. Moderated by Regina Harris,.

Ideas Changing the World: You will hear from young people who legitimately are responsible for ideas that are changing the world as we know it. In this TED-style format, you will hear from trailbreaking Gen Zers who are reimagining everything from supply chain to media to accessibility – with purpose, possibility, and poise at the core of everything that they do.

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Featuring Leila & Neeka Mashouf, Kiara Nighin, and Jessica Jordan Ping. 

Various breakout sessions on on industry-specific topics, check in with the registration desk to find your assignment! 

Panel: Quiet Quitting? No, Loud Leading:  This will be a conversation on the future of work, education, and achievement for Gen Z. Specifically, each panelist will be sharing about their incredible professional journeys – while also reflecting on the obstacles as well as opportunities that made those paths possible. The goal of the panel will be to really posit what steps Gen Zers can take to set themselves up for success – but also to assert what institutions ought to do to better empower our generation forward. 

Featuring Karyme Perez, Cami Tellez, Deja Foxx and Clarke Peoples. Moderated by Shaina Zafar. 

Reinventing the Runway:  This will be a conversation with some of the most iconic Gen Z voices who have really emerged as faces of fashion in 2024. We will dive into how folks are leaning into fashion as a tool of expression – but also into how the leaders on the panel are hoping to push the space – from craftsmanship to sustainability to inclusivity. And, if you don’t already, you will certainly leave understanding about how a fashion designer on TikTok stole the show at the DNC – and what “BA-BOP” means.

Featuring Joe Ando, Bailey Bass, Anna Sitar, and Samyra. Moderated by Annabel Iwegbue. 

Ziad Ahmed, head of NextGen at UTA, takes the stage for ZCONfrontation is a signature moment to hear from high-level leaders in the audience and share business insights. 

Co-hosted by Cosmopolitan Magazine to launch the first ever, Club Cosmo, an editorial review of the most iconic Gen Z talent, trends, and brands of 2024! Cosmo’s new Editor in Chief Willa Bennett will present the awards in partnership with UTA Next Gen. Passed plates and looks will be served. Drinks provided by Molson Coors highlighting Simply Spiked, Peroni, Happy Thursday, and Topo Chico Hard Seltzer. Hosted by Davis Burleson. Featuring Performances from Brynn Cartelli and Aliyah's Interlude.