Variety has announced first speakers for its annual Entertainment and Technology Summit in Los Angeles on Sept. 25, 2025, including producer Jerry Bruckheimer, “Stranger Things” creators Matt and Ross Duffer, actress and podcaster Nicole Byer, Sony Pictures Television’s Katherine Pope and Warner Bros. Television’s Brett Paul.
Paul, president of Warner Bros. Television and Pope, president of Sony Pictures Television will be featured in a conversation alongside Lisa Katz, president of scripted content, NBCUniversal, about where the streaming content industry will head next, given new pressures to connect with audiences who are more fragmented than ever across entertainment options.
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The day’s events will dive into the evolving entertainment landscape, featuring discussions on the future of streaming, the rise of live experiences, creator-driven marketing, and the creative potential of AI.
Matt and Ross Duffer, creators, showrunners and executive producers of “Stranger Things,” will take us behind the scenes of the fan favorite series as it enters its final season, launching over three parts this November.
In other event highlights, the “Storytelling Entrepreneurs” panel, which examines the movers and shakers redefining storytelling across various platforms, including gaming, podcasts, digital content, and more. Headlining the panel is Nicole Byer, host of “Why Won’t You Date Me?”; Jake Shane, host of “Therapuss,” Benito Skinner, creator, star and executive producer of “Overcompensating”; and Matt Rogers, host of “Las Culturistas.”
Josh Simon, VP, Consumer Products and Experiences at Netflix, Rahul Gautam, Global TMT Consulting Leader and Americas Media and Entertainment Consulting Leader for EY, Simon Robinson, COO of Warner Bros Discovery Studios, and Judy Lee, Global Head of Experiences, Pinterest, headline the “Booming Live Experience Economy” panel. This session highlights leaders who are successfully developing live strategies that deepen fan engagement and unlock new revenue streams.
Jody Gerson, Chairman and CEO of Universal Music Publishing Group, Phil Schermer, Founder and CEO of Project Healthy Minds, and others come together to discuss how the entertainment industry is utilizing new technologies to raise awareness about mental health.
Karen Kovacs, President of Advertising and Partnerships, NBCUniversal, Julian Franco, President of Operations & Strategy, FOX Entertainment, Amy Reinhard, President of Advertising, Netflix and Lisa Siskind Bilgrei, Global Head of GTM & Content Programming, Google TV join the “TV Industry Transformed” panel to examine how innovation is expanding opportunities for viewers and brand partners alike.
Shahrzad Rafati, founder and CEO, RHEI; Jenn Lockhart, SVP of sales, Midwest & West Coast, Teads; Pouya Shahbazian, producer, (“Love, Victor”; “Shadow and Bone”; “Divergent”) and CEO, Staircase Studios, AI, among others will be featured in the conversation ‘AI to Unlock New Creative Frontiers,’ exploring how AI is being put into action across the entertainment industry.
Additionally, the “Groundbreakers of Creator Marketing” panel discussion will feature Spencer Collantes, VP of creative marketing, Neon; Margaret Walker, EVP, entertainment marketing, NBCUniversal; and Dustin Sandoval, VP digital marketing, The Walt Disney Studios.
“Champions of Sports Culture Across Platform” will include Pamela Duckworth, head of Fubo Studios, Fubo; Carlos ‘Olek‘ Loewenstein, global president, Sports TelevisaUnivision; and Robert Gottlieb, president of marketing, Fox Sports.
“From streaming and AI, to live experiences and creator-led content, the conversations happening at this year’s summit highlight innovation, creativity, and adaptability within the art of storytelling,” said Variety’s chief operations and marketing officer Dea Lawrence. “We’re honored to give a platform to some of the brightest minds at the forefront of the intersection of entertainment and technology.”
Additional speakers and sessions to be announced. Ernst & Young is a premier partner of the event. Wells Fargo is an official partner. RHEI & Teads are supporting partners of the summit. Reserve your ticket here.
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