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Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez shared thisThe best ideas are the ones that connect consumers, product and culture. That’s what we set out to do at Fanatics Fest: create a moment with the relevance and resonance to scale. The Disney Fan Draft brought the Disney x Champion NFL Collection to life in front of 125,000 fans, with Roger Goodell and Taylor Rooks revealing the first eight team pairings with all the theater of Draft night. Across the weekend, the Fan Zone brought the collection directly to fans as they shopped, showed their team pride and celebrated the Disney characters they love. Beyond the building, the community took it from there. Fans debated the pairings. Creators shared their hauls. Team communities began claiming their characters. My favorite moment in any campaign is when the community takes the narrative and makes it their own. That's when you know the work has connected. What made this different wasn't the stage or the star power. It was the discipline underneath it. Storytelling earned by all team communities, not applied to them. Insight that treated apparel as identity before we designed a single piece. An experience built to create demand ahead of the full launch. Product, story, and experience, all working together. A huge thank you to the cross-functional teams across The Walt Disney Company that helped bring this work to life, and to our partners at Fanatics, OBB, the NFL and Champion for the incredible collaboration. 🤝 I could not be prouder of what we built together. And we are only getting started.
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Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez posted thisI didn’t make it to Cannes this year, but some of my favorite people did, and they came back saying the same thing from very different rooms. That is usually the signal worth paying attention to. A few observations that kept surfacing: 1. Creators are moving from the sidelines to the center: At Cannes, a lot of the energy was no longer just inside the Palais. It was on the beach, in the cabanas, and across the Croisette, where creators, platforms, and brands were driving the conversation. That shift matters. U.S. creator ad spend is expected to hit $44 billion this year. Creators are no longer just a media buy at the end of a campaign. They are becoming core to how brands build culture, launch products, and drive demand. What it means: The brands getting this right are bringing creators in earlier - into the idea, the product, the campaign, and the retail moment. The relationship is the strategy. 2. AI's credibility problem became the real headline. Word from the week: one major agency CEO opened the week with a satirical film about agencies overpromising on AI. Cannes Lions' own CEO warned from the main stage that the industry is producing "mediocrity at scale." That same week, a major platform shipped an AI creative tool on by default for every advertiser account. What it means: Build a specific, reviewable internal bar for what AI work has to clear before it goes out. Without it, you're ceding quality control to a platform that has no stake in your brand equity. 3. Taste and ideas are the entire game. AI produces competent execution almost instantly, making execution table stakes. What remains is the part only a person can do: Leading with ideas. Deciding which idea is worth making. The technology isn't replacing creative thinking, it's relocating the value onto judgment. What it means: Teams need the space, standards, and accountability to make ideas better. This is not about volume. It is about quality. And quality does not happen by accident. 4. Fandom is infrastructure now. For Gen Z, it shapes identity, belonging, and how they make sense of the world. What it means: Marketing to a fandom is not the same as earning a place in one. The window between noticing a shift and acting on it keeps getting shorter. That's the real Cannes story this year. For those who were there - what are your key takeaways?
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Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez shared thisIncredibly proud to be part of this important movement alongside such brilliant fellow leaders led. Watch this space: Project Healthy Minds CC: Phillip SchermerLauren Gallo-Rodriguez shared thisAnnouncement! 📣 Project Healthy Minds welcomes 19 leading voices in the business world as advisors to our organization, helping us scale the number of people we serve each year. The brilliant marketers behind brands like PepsiCo, Disney, NFL, IBM, Marc Jacobs, Bose, UGG, Supergoop! and more are joining us to serve the 65 million Americans living with a mental health condition. They're putting their craft, networks, and voices toward breaking stigma, building awareness, opening doors, and helping us meet people where they are. To our 19, thank you for lending your time, your craft, and your belief that marketing can do this. We're better with you. Now we take it to Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. If you're on the ground and want to talk about how marketing can move mental health forward, find us! projecthealthyminds.com #CannesLions #MentalHealth Allison Robl Stransky Carole Diarra Charisse Hughes Drew Panayiotou Geoff Seeley Jack Daley Jonathan Adashek Kristin Patrick Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez Lauren Weinberg Lisa Licht Mark Kirkham Melissa (Grady) Dias Michael Kassan Rebecca Messina Tammy Henault Tim Ellis TJ Abrams Vanessa Wallace
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Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez shared thisThere are very few brands that genuinely shift culture and consumer expectations. Everlane was one of them. What this team built helped redefine modern retail marketing, brand storytelling, transparency, and direct-to-consumer commerce for an entire generation of brands that followed. But more than anything, it was a reminder that conviction matters. That building something different requires taste, courage, resilience, and a willingness to challenge the status quo long before it’s popular or proven. A lot of people learned from, were inspired by, and forged their own paths because of what was built here. Legacy isn’t only defined by ownership. It’s defined by impact. And Everlane undeniably left one. Michael Preysman inspired by you my friend! Onwards.Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez shared thisTo all of those who’ve been a part of the Everlane journey: This weekend it was announced that Everlane is being acquired by SHEIN. I found out at the same time as everyone. While I'm not involved with the company anymore, and like many, am still digesting the news, this moment made me reflect on the past 15 years and the collective impact we made. Everlane was Radical. We stood up as something different. A brand with guts, run by people with guts. We did many things counter to the way others had. From our single product drops, to our Radical Transparency, to our iconic flagship stores and even our “choose what you pay” events. We were crazy. And probably stupid. It was worth it. I still remember the opening of Prince Street, and the hour-long line, like it was yesterday. Or the launch of Damn Good Denim made in the world’s cleanest factory, Saitex. Even our first Black Friday Fund. And 100% Human. Who could forget that? So much of what we did resonated. And while it didn't always work along the way, millions of customers chose us and millions more watched. We set a new standard for consumers and the industry that many followed. No one can ever take that away. And the people. Everyone working together knew there was magic in the air. The dedication and collective spirit brought something out in everyone involved. There was a certain energy we captured and it came to life in the work we did and the friendships we formed. There were a million memories made, and in some ways, that’s the most powerful part of what we built. I want to thank everyone who made Everlane flourish. The customers who bought. The fans who cheered. The investors who chipped in. The team members who dedicated their life. And, of course, every factory who partnered with us. We had a hell of a ride. Our defining trait was that we actually gave a damn. I hope you all never lose that. I’m still rooting for Everlane. M
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Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez shared thisJoin a true movement with Phillip Schermer and team.Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez shared thisEver feel like you have to choose between mission-driven work and something that’s actually innovative and tech-forward? (You don’t.) Enter: Project Healthy Minds — a tech-driven mental health nonprofit changing how people find and access care. Our team is growing quickly, and we’re looking for thoughtful, driven people to grow with us and shape the future of mental health. If that sounds like you, apply at https://lnkd.in/eTS-qxQq
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Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez shared thisExcited to share that we’re hiring a VP, Creative – Americas at The Walt Disney Company based in Los Angeles, CA for Disney Consumer Products. This is a critical creative leadership role within Disney Consumer Products, shaping the vision and execution across our portfolio in the Americas. Define and drive the creative vision and brand standards across Disney’s incredible IP / portfolio spanning apparel and home, toys and collectibles, and consumables including food and beverage. Ensure creative excellence and consistency across every touchpoint. We’re looking for a a creative leader who has operated at the highest level of brand and design. Creative Director caliber from culturally relevant brands with strong product storytelling and a distinct point of view. This role leads a large, multi market team and partners closely across commercial, franchise, retail, and global creative to build both brand heat and long term scale. If you know exceptional creative leaders who combine taste, storytelling, and commercial instinct, please share. Referrals, ideas, or direct outreach are greatly appreciated. Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/g5jm2ghP CC: Marcus Rosie
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Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez shared thisSo proud of our team on this milestone announcement. Representing the most significant evolution of the LEGO Group System-in-Play since the Lego Minifigure debuted in 1978, this moment marks a bold step forward for the future of play. We’re especially thrilled that Star Wars will serve as the inaugural franchise for this next generation of connected, interactive play—bringing storytelling, creativity, and innovation together in entirely new ways. Onward 🚀Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez shared thisThis morning, I had the privilege of joining Dave Filoni, @JuliaGoldin and our friends at the LEGO Group, plus a few special guests, to unveil LEGO SMART Play™, a groundbreaking platform that brings LEGO creations to life in ways never seen before. It’s an exciting step forward in interactive play, powered by imagination and innovation. The first wave of LEGO SMART Play™ sets will transport fans to a galaxy far, far away… with LEGO® Star Wars™ experiences that combine storytelling and technology like never before. Congratulations to our colleagues at @DisneyExperiences on another great collaboration with the LEGO Group. #LEGOSMARTPlay #SMARTPlay #LEGOStarWars #CES2026 #DisneyConsumerProducts
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Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez shared thisLearn from one of the best leaders in the industry. Maggie Gauger and her team are building a true movement ✨Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez shared thisAt Athleta, we’re building something special. Since joining the brand, I’ve been energized by the opportunity to reimagine what it means to lead a purpose-driven business—one that blends performance and possibility, creativity and commerce, purpose and profit. To accelerate Athleta's reinvigoration journey, we’re opening a search for bold leaders that will shape the brand's future and drive this next chapter of growth, including Head of Stores, Head of Merchandising, Head of Creative and Head of Digital. We’re seeking visionary builders and storytellers who can connect strategy with execution, lead with empathy and edge, and inspire teams to deliver on our mission every day. If you’re a curious, innovative, and purpose-driven leader, please visit gapinc.com/careers to apply. #TeamAthleta
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Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez posted this2026 is shaping up to be a big year for marketers. The playbook is evolving, the consumer expects more, and the upside is real for teams willing to build differently. It’s also a really fun time in marketing right now because, in many ways, anything goes. The old rules don’t hold the way they used to. The “perfect” channel mix changes weekly. Culture is fragmented. Attention is rented in some places and earned in others. And consumers have more control than ever over what they engage with, buy, and share. What’s making it even more interesting is how unexpected the landscape has become. Categories are converging in real time. Sport is fashion. Entertainment is commerce. Retail is media. Collabs are product strategy. Experiences are distribution. The lines are blurry, and that’s where the opportunity is. In parallel, the consumer expects more. More relevance. More value. More originality. More INTENT. Not volume. They want brands to show up with a point of view and deliver something worth their time, not just their spend. That is exciting for a few reasons: • The advantage has shifted from scale to judgment When there’s no single playbook, the winners aren’t the loudest. They’re the clearest. POV, taste, and decision quality become competitive advantages. • Marketing is back at the center of growth It’s no longer just “make the campaign.” It’s strategy, product storytelling, partnerships, distribution, retail, creators, community. One integrated modular system driving demand and loyalty. • Differentiation is wide open When everyone can produce content, the moat becomes meaning. Brand clarity, cultural relevance, and experiences people actually want to be part of. • You can prototype your way to the answer The best teams are running smart bets, learning fast, and scaling what works without waiting for a once-a-year “big launch” moment. • The best work is more human Community, creators, and real-world moments are outperforming overly controlled brand theater. Authenticity isn’t a buzzword. It’s a performance driver. Net net: the brands that will win aren’t chasing channels. They’re building modular systems. What are you focused on heading into 2026? What are you doubling down on, and what are you letting go of?
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Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez reacted on thisLauren Gallo-Rodriguez reacted on thisWe are beyond excited to partner with Fidji Simo, Rohit Gupta, Rishi N. Reddy, and the ChronicleBio team as they build a new model for understanding and treating complex, chronic disease. Biological heterogeneity hidden within common chronic conditions is one of the grand challenges in medicine. Many conditions remain syndromic rather than mechanistically resolved. Patients may share a diagnosis while harboring meaningfully different underlying biology, often without validated biomarkers to distinguish those states. That ambiguity complicates diagnosis, therapeutic selection, and clinical development. The best undiagnosed disease programs solve a version of this problem through deep synthesis across phenotype, molecular data, and clinical expertise. ChronicleBio is bringing a similar level of synthesis to a much broader population and to diseases that affect millions of people. By integrating deep clinical phenotyping, advanced molecular measurement, and AI, the team is working to identify biologically coherent patient subgroups and construct a more granular map of disease. Their early work has already surfaced distinct subtypes across complex chronic illness and begun linking those subtypes to potentially relevant therapies. Huge thanks to Forbes for sharing the story. Jim Breyer Daniel Breyer Bret Bostwick, MD, FAAP, FACMG Breyer Capital
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Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez reacted on thisLauren Gallo-Rodriguez reacted on thisI finally did what I said I’d do 3 years ago...I published a book! My dad passed away nearly 7 years ago. Afterward, I rediscovered e-mails he sent me almost every morning while I was in college, during a time when I was struggling mentally. Some were just a sentence. Others were a few paragraphs. All of them reminded me to believe in myself, keep going, and stay present. When I started sharing his e-mails on Instagram every now and then, people would tell me they would screenshot them and that his words really helped them. That stuck with me. So, I turned them into a book to honor him. “Love, Dad” is a collection of his messages, and my hope is that his wisdom reaches anyone who needs it, whenever they need it. Huge thank you to Walker Aspinwall for working with me on the design and layout. You helped me bring this to life in a way I’m truly proud of. Love ya, Pops! ❤️ Available now: https://lnkd.in/gwMG2W2GLove, Dad by Adam Beard and Kenneth Beard | Blurb BooksLove, Dad by Adam Beard and Kenneth Beard | Blurb Books
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Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez reacted on thisLauren Gallo-Rodriguez reacted on thisI’ve had the privilege of working for Rita for 14 years. She’s my friend, knows my family deeply, and is someone I continue to learn from and be inspired by every day. Which makes her recognition and induction into the Broadcasting+Cable Hall of Fame especially meaningful to celebrate. It was an outstanding night and I’m grateful to have had a front-row seat in your journey.
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Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez reacted on thisLauren Gallo-Rodriguez reacted on this“We are not trying to do what our competitors are trying to do. We’re building out what that fandom is and a new type of content.” The Walt Disney Company’s Dana Walden breaks down how Disney is leveraging the creator economy to redefine entertainment. #BloombergScreentime ⏯️ https://bloom.bg/3VhT46R
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Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez reacted on thisLauren Gallo-Rodriguez reacted on thisI'm excited to share that I’m stepping into a new role as Director, Creator Partnerships at Snap Inc.!
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Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez reacted on thisLauren Gallo-Rodriguez reacted on thisA few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to join Mazda’s marketing leaders at the Mazda Marketing Summit to talk about something that has been a through line throughout my career: fandom. I shared some of what I’ve learned about turning customers into fans, and fans into advocates. About fandom as a sense of belonging. About making people feel like insiders, even when they’re on the outside. And about why the transaction isn’t the end goal. It’s the beginning of an always-on relationship with your fans. At the heart of my presentation was a simple idea about brand love. It isn’t something you own. It’s something you continually earn. You earn it by seeing the person, not just the customer. By understanding what matters to them. By creating value that feels meaningful. And by giving them reasons to participate, belong and come back. Thank you to the Mazda team and Bridgett Silva-Judd for the invitation a such a thoughtful conversation and to Disney Advertising Wendell Scott Andréa Logsdon and team for the opportunity to connect with such a thoughtful group of leaders.
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Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez reacted on thisLauren Gallo-Rodriguez reacted on thisAfter seven incredible years, my time as Head of HR at Athleta is coming to an end and I am taking on a new role as Head of HR at Old Navy here at Gap Inc. While it's hard to say goodbye to a brand and team I love dearly, I am thrilled about what's ahead. Leading HR at Athleta has been the privilege of my career, and the people are why. To my HR team, you have been the heart of this chapter. Your trust, candor and care for the business and for each other made leading alongside you a true joy. To the Athleta leadership team, thank you for the courage to always push us forward in service of this very special brand. Getting to do this work with you has been an honor, and just so much fun. And to the broader Athleta community, you made me better every day and showed me what shared purpose can really do. I'm proud of what we built together and can't wait to celebrate all that's to come for you. I'm already energized by the Old Navy team and a brand that shows up for millions of families every day with style and fun. Many thanks to my leader Amy, the Old Navy HR team and the Old Navy leadership team for trusting me with this role. I'm honored to help lead this talented team and iconic brand into the next chapter. 🚀💫
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Lauren Gallo-Rodriguez reacted on thisLauren Gallo-Rodriguez reacted on thisFirst OpenAI DevDay 2026. The pace and ambition of this brand is unlike anything I’ve experienced. We launched 28 products, something for everyone; whether you’re just getting started or building the next big thing. There’s a lot of noise right now and it feels good to work with kind humans and collaborate on projects that felt impossible a few weeks ago. ✨Dani Bauer Ben McConaghy Abby Landers Marika Shaub Liz Corsi Sanjna Parulekar ✨
Honors & Awards
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2018 Cannes Lion || Brand Experience & Activation for Today at Apple
Cannes
2018 Cannes Lion Awarded for Brand Experience & Activation Grand Prix for Today at Apple.
Awards: Grand Prix for Brand Experience and the Titanium Lion for Apple’s global retail program, Today at Apple, invites customers worldwide to participate in interactive learning Sessions such as Live Art, Photo Walks and Kids Hour. Within one year of launch, it drove massive engagement with consumers globally — with 65,000 weekly Sessions in over 500 stores. -
One Young World Ambassador
Apple
Selected to represent Apple at One Young World's annual Summit where the most valuable young talent from global and national companies, NGO's, universities and other forward-thinking organizations are joined by world leaders, acting as the One Young World Counselors.
At the Summit, delegates debate, formulate and share innovative solutions for the pressing issues the world faces. http://www.oneyoungworld.com/about-us -
Nike Global Maxim Award - "Nike is a Brand"
Nike
Awarded for dominating close collaboration and cross functional partnership to build the women's brand internally and externally.
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The Nike Maxim Awards are often referred to as Nike's version of the Oscars. Each year a cross section of projects are nominated that highlight the breakthrough achievements from that fiscal year. This event is tailored to tell the Nike story and to celebrate the achievements that best embody each of Nike’s eleven maxims as well as the people that…Awarded for dominating close collaboration and cross functional partnership to build the women's brand internally and externally.
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The Nike Maxim Awards are often referred to as Nike's version of the Oscars. Each year a cross section of projects are nominated that highlight the breakthrough achievements from that fiscal year. This event is tailored to tell the Nike story and to celebrate the achievements that best embody each of Nike’s eleven maxims as well as the people that brought those groundbreaking efforts to life. -
Nike Global Maxim Award - "The Consumer Decides"
Nike
Awarded for setting the bar on strategizing around building a community that consumers want to be a part of and feel connected to - digitally, virtually and physically.
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The Nike Maxim Awards are often referred to as Nike's version of the Oscars. Each year a cross section of projects are nominated that highlight the breakthrough achievements from that fiscal year. This event is tailored to tell the Nike story and to celebrate the achievements that best embody each of Nike’s…Awarded for setting the bar on strategizing around building a community that consumers want to be a part of and feel connected to - digitally, virtually and physically.
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The Nike Maxim Awards are often referred to as Nike's version of the Oscars. Each year a cross section of projects are nominated that highlight the breakthrough achievements from that fiscal year. This event is tailored to tell the Nike story and to celebrate the achievements that best embody each of Nike’s eleven maxims as well as the people that brought those groundbreaking efforts to life.
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Dan Weinstein
We’re thrilled to officially launch the Genevieve’s Playhouse toy line today in Wal-mart and other retailers across the US... an exciting milestone and a clear example of Underscore Talent Management and Shorthand Studios’ mission in action. Samantha Schoenberg recognized early on that this beloved YouTube channel had the potential to become far more than a digital success story, it could evolve into a household name, both on shelves and beyond the screen. Building toward that vision takes more than momentum. It requires a long-term strategy rooted in creator ownership, brand integrity, and diversified revenue streams. This launch is a testament to intentional, thoughtful growth. Genevieve’s Playhouse has already become a trusted destination for families, encouraging imaginative, low-stimulation play. Now, that same experience extends into the physical world, meeting audiences where they already are. This isn’t just a product or new series launch; it’s what happens when creator-led IP earns its place as a true entertainment brand. Proud of the role we’ve played in helping transform Genevieve’s Playhouse into a cross-platform franchise grounded in creativity and inclusivity. The toy line is now available at major retailers including Walmart, Target, Amazon, Walgreens, Five Below, Kohl’s, and Smyths Toys Superstores. The animated series currently lives on YouTube. Huge congratulations to the entire team for proving that, with the right roadmap and partners, creator-led IP can scale into enduring entertainment brands. Special thanks to Bonkers Toys our partner on this journey who believed in the brand early one and helped it bring it to life!! #UnderscoreTalent #ShortHandStudios #CreatorEconomy #TalentManagement #IPStrategy
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