BrandersFest | Branders Magazine

November 5-6, 2025 New York City

Before the brand,therE Is
a story.

Welcome to Branders Fest

Welcome to BrandersFest 2025, a premier event designed for Brand managers, Brand strategists, Entrepreneurs, and serious founders eager to elevate their brand strategy. Immerse yourself in master classes led by industry titans, interactive Q&A sessions, and a dynamic panel discussion—all tailored to address the unique branding challenges you face. I’m glad you’re here.

Luis Vergara

Founder & CEO at Branders Magazine

I WANT TO BE PART OF BRANDERSFEST 2025

BrandersFest 2025: ORIGIN is more than a conference — it’s a call to the originals. Join 100+ brand-driven founders, creative leaders, and strategic thinkers for two powerful days of keynotes, panels, masterclasses, and curated networking.
Whether you’re scaling your startup, repositioning your brand, or launching your next big idea — this is your origin point.

Who should attend?

FOUNDERS

ENTREPRENEURS

C-SUITE(CEOs, CSOs, CMOs)

BRAND STRATEGISTS

WHY TO ATTEND?

Focused Content:

Each session addresses the specific needs and challenges of entrepreneurs and founders.

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SPEAKERS

Debbie Millman

Designer, Author, Illustrator, Educator, Brand Consultant, Host of the Webby-winning podcast 'Design Matters

Wendy Gerber

Award-winning Global Brand Strategist

Wendy Gerber is an award-winning global brand strategist and CEO of the International Consulting Group, a strategy, marketing, and branding consulting firm. She has over 25 years experience building and executing top-tier brands resulting in double digit growth. This includes Kantar, Siegel+Gale, Ralph Lauren, Kenneth Cole, Citigroup, The Rockefeller Foundation, and more. Wendy is a trusted advisor to CEOs and C-suite on both the agency and client sides and reported directly to founders and C-level. She has led Brand Strategy, Marketing, and Communications projects for global clients including Warner Bros Discovery, HBO Max, Cigna, KPMG, The Rockefeller Foundation, Kraft Heinz, and Google. Wendy has also built strategic partnerships for Bank of America, Bloomingdale’s, AT&T, Verizon, NBA, Lady Gaga, Virgin, and others.

As a thought leader, Wendy has written for numerous publications including Branders Magazine, New York Daily News, and Newsday. She has interviewed business leaders, sustainability innovators, politicians, and influencers as host of “Future Forward” and is a frequent speaker at conferences on Brand Strategy, Innovation, and ESG/Sustainability, including BrandersFest, the Wall Street Journal Sustainable Business Forum, and the French-American Chamber of Commerce. Wendy is author of the bestselling children’s book “My Mommy, the Octopus” and is currently developing a children’s animated series.

Terri Goldstein

Founder & CEO at Goldstein Group Branding

With the power of her all-star network of industry experts and select agencies, Terri Goldstein helps FMCG companies to position, identify and develop ownable brand core identifiers that can be fiercely protected. Her guiding design principle is based on a proven scientific methodology that understands consumers’ sequence of cognition—both in-store and online.

Over the course of her 30-year career, executives in the FMCG and DTC industry have turned to Terri for her expertise in consumer branding and creative leadership. In 1995, she co-founded I.Q. Design Group, and in 2010 founded Goldstein Group Branding, which has since helped strengthen the brand identity and business health of some of the world’s most enduring brands including Carmex, Heinz Ketchup, Bayer Aspirin, Luden’s Cough Drops, Panasonic Razors, Crystal Deodorant, Chock Full O' Nuts, Aqua Net, Moon Pie, Icy Hot, TruSkin, and One-A-Day. Terri and her network also specialize in Rx-to-OTC switch having created the brand identity for Plan B, Allegra, Nasacort, RiVive, Nasonex and Aleric of Poland during all brands’ hugely successful switches.

Terri was profiled in Advertising Age “Packaging Guru Proves What’s On Outside Counts – And Sells,” Branders Magazine Cover "Brand Way-finding - Never Decorate, Always Navigate" and was named by GDUSA as one of 2013’s People to Watch.

Terri is the author of breakthrough research on consumer behavior, recall, and sensory motivation within both in-store and online environments with her Shelf Sight Sequence™ and E-Sight Sequence™ processes. Terri is a proud TEDx speaker “My Dyslexia Became the Secret to MY Clients’ Success” and is a passionate advocate for the neurodivergent community. Terri serves on the Editorial Committee of Branders Magazine and writes a bi-monthly column, “Branding. By Design.”

Specialties: Brand Strategy, Package Design, Industrial Design, Shopper Marketing, Corporate Identity, Brand Brokerage, IP Protection and Creative & Strategic Leadership.

Marshall Thompson

Executive Director, Experiences at Hyperquake.

Thompson leads business strategy and relationship development with one goal in mind: to help clients realize their boldest ambitions. With a career shaped by the pace of Silicon Valley startups and the complexity of global technology firms, Marshall brings a rare mix of urgency, clarity, and strategic foresight. He thrives on asking the tough questions, navigating ambiguity, and inspiring confidence in the face of change. His talent lies in helping visionary leaders find new ways forward — unlocking opportunities that others might overlook. Outside of work, Marshall is an avid mountain sports athlete, a familiar face at Alta Ski Area, and a relentless explorer of New York City’s best restaurants and bars.