Within Licensing Expo, Licensing U, the Orientation Session, Sustainability and DEI Initiatives will see senior executives cover topics impacting licensing.
Licensing Expo 
has revealed speaker information for the seminar programme for the upcoming event, to be held May 24th-26th at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center. Registered guests will benefit from live content and educational offerings, including Licensing U, a returning programme produced in partnership with industry trade association Licensing International, a free Orientation Session designed for new and alumni attendees alike and free Sustainability Sessions presented through an expanded partnership with Products of Change (POC).
Senior-level executives from many of the industry’s most prominent companies will take the stage at Licensing Expo and impart insights spanning the most challenging and emergent topics impacting the licensing ecosystem, from NFTs and TikTok to the new rules of retail and international distribution law. Among the brands represented are License Global, Paramount, Lego, Hot Topic, WildBrain CPLG, Seltzer Licensing Group, Ferdinand IP Law Group, Formula E, Beanstalk, PhatMojo, Watermelon Creative, JS Product Design, Smiley, Licensing International and Products of Change (POC).
“This is a highly collaborative industry that thrives off one another’s successes and helps each other through challenges,” said Maura Regan, president of Licensing International. “Our mission with this year’s Licensing U content is to arm attendees, both new and established licensing professionals, with new ideas and ways of tackling today’s most pressing challenges, and we do so by tapping into the best talent the industry has to offer to create meaningful and highly anticipated educational sessions.”
Licensing U content will be available both live and on-demand, enhancing the value of the experience for all attendees and exhibitors. Passes for Licensing U are now available and start from $150 with a 10% discount for LI members; must be registered to attend Licensing Expo and LU, located here. The full agenda can be found below.
Tuesday, May 24th
Orientation Session, 9:30-10:00 a.m.
With Howard Gelb, VP of Sales, and Amanda Cioletti, VP of Content and Strategy, Global Licensing Group.
Licensing U – Back to Basics, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Speaker: Stu Seltzer, president of Seltzer Licensing Group
Licensing U – WTF is up with NFTs, 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
Speaker: Jed Ferdinand, senior managing partner at Ferdinand IP Law Group
Sustainability 101, 12:00 – 12:45 p.m.
Speakers: Helena Mansell-Stopher, CEO at Products of Change; Andrea Green, principle at Globally Green; Simon Gresswell, managing director at SGLP Ltd; Jakob Hamann, product Sustainability Manager at Lego; Charlotte Hughes, senior Licensing manager at Formula E; Maxine Lister, head of Licensing at Natural History Museum
Keynote 1, 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Details to be announced.
Licensing U – Press Play on YouTube and TikTok, 3:15 – 3:45 p.m.
Speaker: Deirdre Brennan, COO of WildBrain CPLG
Licensing U – The Upside of Licensing: Leading with Intention for Social Impact, 4:00 – 4:30 p.m.
Speakers: Ms. Opal Lee of The Grandmother of Juneteenth; Anita Castellar of FanGirl Consulting & Brand Management, LLC; Genna Rosenberg of GennComm ImaGennation.
Wednesday, May 25th
Licensing U – The New Rules of Retail, 9:30 – 10:00 a.m.
Speakers: Ed Labay, SVP GMM Merchandise, Marketing and Licensing at Hot Topic; Sarah Swindell, owner and designer at Watermelon Creative; Jennifer Sandberg, owner and designer at JS Product Design.
Brands with Purpose – Sustainable Manufacturing, 10:15 – 11:00 a.m.
Speakers: Amy Low, Brand and Marketing director at Piping Hot Australia; Stan Wan, CEO and managing director at Piping Hot Australia; Keith Loiselle, president at Greenr; Brenda Seto, ambassador at Products of Change; Helena Mansell-Stopher, CEO at Products of Change
Keynote 2 – From Dream to Reality: The Power of Brand Licensing for Location-Based Entertainment, 12:00 – 1.00 p.m.
Speakers: Cecil D. Magpuri, chief executive officer and co-founder, Falcon’s Beyond; Robert L. Ward, president and chief executive officer, Robert L. Ward, Inc.; Susan Vargo, head of Live Events and Location-based Experiences, Moonbug; George Wade, president, Bay Laurel Partners
Licensing U – Information Overload, 2:00 – 2:30 p.m.
Speakers: The Insights Family; Bill Graham, president of PhatMojo
Licensing U – The Lowdown on International Distribution Law, 2:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Speakers: Amadu Sowe, VP of Business & Legal Affairs at Paramount; Steve Manners, head of Global Marketing at Licensing International
Thursday, May 26th
Sustainability in Licensing, 10.30 – 11.30 a.m.
Speakers: Matt Winton, VP of Global Marketing Partnerships at Smiley Company; Linda Morgenstern, vice president, Brand Management at Beanstalk; Philippe Glorieux, head of Marketing and Communications at IMP The Smurfs; Helena Mansell-Stopher, CEO at Products of Change
All sessions will take place in the Licensing U Theatre. Sessions marked as part of Licensing U require a pass to access; all other sessions are free of charge and will be offered first-come-first-serve.
Anna Knight, SVP of the Global Licensing Group, commented: “The experts that are confirmed to speak at Licensing Expo are the very people that are spearheading advancement and spark curiosity. We could not be more excited to continue our educational programmes at Licensing Expo to facilitate important conversations.”
