Feb 22–24, 2027
Caesars Palace
Las Vegas, NV
CMA | SIMA Elevate Conference
Board Director · Executive & AI Growth Advisor
Helping boards and business leaders turn change into growth.
I bring an operator’s perspective to the boardroom, the strategy, and the stage—connecting experience across consumer brands, digital commerce, and enterprise transformation with the opportunities ahead.
- EnterpriseLeadership & transformation
- Board serviceGovernance & stewardship
- Agentic AICommerce & growth
Leadership experience across
Consumer brands · Digital commerce · Enterprise transformation
- PepsiCo
- Johnson & Johnson
- The Boston Beer Company
- Unilever
- Procter & Gamble
Keynote & conversation
Upcoming Speaking
Engagements
Conversations with business leaders and industry peers on AI-mediated discovery, modern commerce, and the next chapter of growth.
View event details
March 1–2, 2027
The Whitley Hotel
Atlanta, GA
Commerce Media Brand Summit
Win on AI Search and GEO: How Brands Audit and Improve Assistant Visibility
Executive perspective
An operator’s perspective.
A boardroom view.
I’m a marketing, digital commerce, and growth executive, board director, advisor, and educator. My experience spans brand building, retail media, marketplaces, direct-to-consumer commerce, CRM, social commerce, and emerging AI-enabled shopping experiences.
I bring experience across commerce ecosystems including Amazon, Walmart, Target, Kroger, Instacart, DoorDash, and Uber—connecting strategic foresight with the realities of running a business.
Education & connection
Northwestern University Medill alumnus and educator, connecting industry experience with the next generation of marketing leaders.
Current board appointments
Standards & public health
NSF International
Board Director
Chair of the Human Resources & Compensation Committee, bringing an executive perspective to governance, people, and organizational change.
Arts & culture
Third Coast Percussion
Board President
Supporting strategy, governance, and growth for the Grammy Award-winning ensemble.
Areas of focus
Thoughtful decisions.
Practical progress.
Perspective shaped by operating businesses, guiding organizations, and staying curious about what comes next.
01 / Governance
Boards & governance
Connecting enterprise strategy with talent, organizational change, and responsible governance. Bringing transformation experience to decisions that shape long-term value.
Strategy · Talent · Transformation
02 / Modern commerce
AI, commerce & growth
Making sense of AI-mediated discovery, agentic commerce, and evolving retail media. Helping executives and emerging companies connect innovation with practical growth opportunities.
Retail media · Marketplaces · Agentic AI
03 / Speaking & learning
Speaking & education
Opening up thoughtful conversations about the future of marketing and omnichannel commerce—with the context, questions, and operator’s perspective to make change tangible.
Marketing · Commerce · The future of growth
Stage & forum
Speaking & Stage Presence
Ideas are better when we explore them together. Conversations on commerce, technology, and transformation.
Direct engagement
What’s next for your organization?
For board opportunities, executive advisory, and speaking engagements, I’d welcome a conversation.
ethelbert@gmail.com