Trends 2025: The future belongs to the impatient
Explore what the future has in store and learn what opportunities AI is unlocking across business, technology, culture, and more. Because AI moves fast—and, now, the future moves faster. Learn more at this can’t-miss virtual event.
Trends 2025: The future belongs to the impatient
What to expect
If you thought 2024 was big—with global elections, the Paris Olympics, and AI stealing the spotlight—just wait for 2025. AI transformation will be the single biggest trend of 2025, and for good reason. AI is rewriting the playbook. From business to culture, it has the potential to change how brands connect, how we work, and how we experience the world.
Despite the huge potential AI offers, in boardrooms across the globe, executives are still talking about AI as just a tool for saving money or churning out content faster. That mindset only addresses 10% of the potential of AI. The other 90% lies in AI’s ability to reimagine how businesses operate, make decisions, and interact with customers.
You need to be ready to move fast and capitalize on a pivotal year in the evolution of AI. And we can help.
Join our annual Trends event where we bring our best experts along with insights from clients, partners and thought leaders to help you not just keep up, but lead the charge in an ever-evolving world.
- Discover how AI is reshaping creativity, brand strategies and media planning, creating more personalized and impactful campaigns.
- Learn how AI is supercharging commerce by enhancing customer journeys, driving sales, and delivering immersive experiences.
- Dive into the tech and data trends that are making AI transformation scalable and realistic.
- Explore how AI is driving cultural shifts and creating new possibilities in the workplace.
We’ll also discuss the strategic steps businesses need to take to become AI-ready, both culturally and in terms of technology. Plus, get insights into the role AI will play in 2030, and how companies can position themselves to stay ahead of the curve.
Whether you’re a brand, marketer, technologist, or creative, this event will help you rethink and refocus on what lies ahead in 2025.
Meet the speakers
Ali Mcclintock
SVP Growth & Head of UKI
A thought leader in topics including AI, creative tech, social, influencer, brand and media, Ali has spent over seven years pioneering digital innovation for clients including Just Eat, Meta, ASOS and Prime Video. Ali leads DEPT®’s UK and Ireland teams, supporting our portfolio of clients with strategic guidance to keep them one step ahead.
Bob Briski
Global SVP of AI
Bob brings 20+ years of experience in data strategy and engineering. Known for building dynamic teams and crafting strategies that drive success, he’s worked with everyone from Fortune 50 giants to innovative startups, including Meta, Google, eBay, Disney, and Moody’s. Bob has a knack for weaving AI and data into the core fabric of any company’s architecture. These days, Bob offers strategic advice and executive leadership on data engineering, analytics, and AI projects.
Jeff Bowerman
Executive Creative Director & VP, Creative UKI
Jeff is VP of Creative at DEPT® where he leads pioneering work for brands including eBay, Mammut, Just Eat, and The Gym Group. A Cannes Lions and D&AD award-wining creative director, he started his career in digital, and has worked the past 24 years in both through the line agencies and client side creative roles.
Negina Kargar
Sr. AI & Data Science Consultant
Negina is a passionate Senior Data Science & AI Consultant at DEPT® known for driving innovation. Her expertise lies in translating AI and tech into tangible business value for clients, guiding them through stakeholder management, organizational AI adoption, and crafting comprehensive roadmaps.
Henry Daubrez
Global VP of Design & Creative Innovation
Designer by trade, artist by ambition, storyteller by passion. With more than two decades in the industry, Henry is a pioneer of immersive experiences and cutting-edge AI innovation, working with clients including Virgin Galactic, The New York Times, Yuga Labs, BMW, Coca-Cola and many more. Henry is involved in building the 1% of experiences, products and platforms that people will remember among the noise. Thriving for the extraordinary and making people’s lives a little less boring, one story at a time.
Job Deibel
Data & AI Director
Job brings over nine years of experience in data science and machine learning. At DEPT®, he leads our data science proposition and team, focusing on translating complex business challenges into cutting-edge data and AI solutions across various industries and departments.
Bridget Fahrland
AI Consultant
Bridget has led successful projects for major brands like Citi, Clorox, Disney, and Google, enhancing customer loyalty and driving results. She helps global brands leverage AI for growth, emphasizing hyper-personalization and rethinking sales strategies. A recognized leader in digital transformation, Bridget has spoken at events like SXSW and has been featured in publications including Vogue Business and WSJ Interactive.
Jon Judah
SVP, Clients & Technology
For 20+ years, Jon has worked at the intersection of technology, business and design to help leaders at some of the world’s biggest brands define how their products and experiences can drive growth in a digital economy. At DEPT®, Jon leads the Americas technology market and is responsible for driving growth and outcomes for clients spanning commercial and nonprofit sectors. Past clients include The Home Depot, Mattel, Lyft, Epic Games, and Sotheby’s International Realty. He’s also worked with mission-based clients including Medicare and the US State Department.
Yash Mody
SVP, Experience & Engineering
Yash is the CTO for DEPT® in APAC and has over 20 years of experience conducting research, building products, and running companies. He has trained over 5,000 people in technologies including Adobe, big data, and blockchain, and has several patents to his name.
Sam Huston
SVP, Creative & Media
Sam has deep experience across media, creative, and entertainment, working with clients across a number of verticals including technology, retail, hospitality, and CPG. Sam has the unique ability to predict consumer and digital trends, and he believes the key to the future is in the strategic amplification of holistic digital performance marketing.
Nelleke van Grinsven
Media Director
Nelleke leads our media department in the Netherlands in terms of strategy, proposition and vision, ensuring our media teams are building the best integrated strategies and plans for our clients. Whether it’s connecting with Google, Meta and Amazon, or brainstorming on how to best engage with Gen Z or B2B audiences, she is here to drive business growth via best-in-class media strategies that include bringing together data, tech and creativity.
Marten Kuipers
Sr. Visual Designer & Art Director
Marten breathes design, and shares this love in the community as a speaker at events and judge at the biggest award shows in the industry. At DEPT®, he strives to create the best experiences on the internet for brands including the Van Gogh Museum, Flos Italia, Jonsson Workwear, and ARTIS Zoo. From strategy and content to design and tech, Marten creates stories that reflects the brand in a visually pleasing, user friendly and smart way, all while experimenting with AI.
The Program
Time
9:00 am CET
3:00 pm SGT
Speakers
Ali Mcclintock, SVP Growth & Head of UKI
Keynote
Welcome: The future is now
Ali kicks things off with a deep dive into the fast-evolving world of marketing, tech, and commerce. The future’s already here—are you ready to take it by the reins?
Time
9:05 am CET
3:05 pm SGT
Speakers
Job Deibel, Data & AI Director
Negina Kargar, Sr. AI & Data Science Consultant
Keynote
AI Unleashed: Moving Past Hype To Impact
AI isn’t just another tech trend—it’s rewriting the playbook. Join industry leaders as they reveal how brands are harnessing AI to solve problems, fuel growth, and unlock value. Sick of playing catch-up? This session will show you how and where to get the most value with AI today.
Time
9:15 am CET
3:15 pm SGT
Speakers
Marten Kuipers, Sr. Visual Designer & Art Director
Keynote
Creative alchemy: Igniting big ideas with AI
When creativity and AI collide, the results are explosive. Marten and Henry break down how AI is shattering creative limits and sparking ideas you didn’t think were possible. Hunting for that next big breakthrough? This session will light the fuse.
Time
9:25 am CET
3:25 pm SGT
Speakers
Jeff Bowerman, Executive Creative Director & VP, Creative UKI
Keynote
Culture Catalysts: Building brands that shape trends
Tired of chasing trends? We’re tired of seeing it. Jeff and Claire will share how you can carve out your own unique place on socials, and add value to your audience without chasing (and often killing) trends. Because brands don’t create culture, people do.
Time
9:35 am CET
3:35 pm SGT
Speakers
Nelleke van Grinsven, Media Director
Keynote
Media revolution and the new era of commerce
The future of retail? It’s already here, powered by AI. Nelleke and Sam will show you how the savviest brands are treating every customer like a VIP through personalized media and tech that knows what you want before you do. Ready to flip the retail game on its head? They’ve got the playbook.
Time
9:45 am CET
3:45 pm SGT
Speakers
Yash Mody, SVP, Experience & Engineering
Keynote
The speed of trust: Building agile, ethical organizations
Moving fast doesn’t mean cutting corners. Jon and Yash will show you how to build agile teams that move at the pace of innovation without losing sight of ethics, data integrity, or trust. Get your organization future-ready, without sacrificing what matters.
Time
9:55 am CET
3:55 pm SGT
Speakers
Keynote
Closing Words
Time
3:00 pm ET
Speakers
Ali Mcclintock, SVP Growth & Head of UKI
Keynote
Welcome: The Future is Now
Ali kicks things off with a deep dive into the fast-evolving world of marketing, tech, and commerce. The future’s already here—are you ready to take it by the reins?
Time
3:05 pm ET
Speakers
Bridget Fahrland, AI Consultant
Bob Briski, Global SVP of AI
Keynote
AI Unleashed: Moving Past Hype To Impact
AI isn’t just another tech trend—it’s rewriting the playbook. Join industry leaders as they reveal how brands are harnessing AI to solve problems, fuel growth, and unlock value. Sick of playing catch-up? This session will show you how and where to get the most value with AI today.
Time
3:15 pm ET
Speakers
Henry Daubrez, Head of Design at DOGSTUDIO/DEPT® / Global VP of Design and Creative Innovation at DEPT®
Keynote
Creative Alchemy: Igniting Big Ideas with AI
When creativity and AI collide, the results are explosive. Marten and Henry break down how AI is shattering creative limits and sparking ideas you didn’t think were possible. Hunting for that next big breakthrough? This session will light the fuse.
Time
3:25 pm ET
Speakers
Claire Shalbrack, VP, Growth, Creative & Media
Keynote
Culture Catalysts: Building Brands that Shape Trends
Tired of chasing trends? We’re tired of seeing it. Jeff and Claire will share how you can carve out your own unique place on socials, and add value to your audience without chasing (and often killing) trends. Because brands don’t create culture, people do.
Time
3:35 pm ET
Speakers
Sam Huston, SVP, Creative & Media
Keynote
Media Revolution and the New Era of Commerce
The future of retail? It’s already here, powered by AI. Nelleke and Sam will show you how the savviest brands are treating every customer like a VIP through personalized media and tech that knows what you want before you do. Ready to flip the retail game on its head? They’ve got the playbook.
Time
3:45 pm ET
Speakers
Jon Judah, SVP, Clients & Technology
Keynote
The Speed of Trust: Building Agile, Ethical Organizations
Moving fast doesn’t mean cutting corners. Jon and Yash will show you how to build agile teams that move at the pace of innovation without losing sight of ethics, data integrity, or trust. Get your organization future-ready, without sacrificing what matters.
Time
3:55 pm ET
Speakers
Keynote
Closing Words