Unshakable.
Defining.
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Inclusion, Belonging and Culture Leaders
Marketing and Business Leaders
Inclusion Leader + Marketing or Business Leader from the Same Company
Two Marketing or Business Leaders from the Same Company
If you’re interested in pricing for 3+ people or a different combination from the same company, please email [email protected].
BRIDGE26: Beyond the Line
Relentless. Unshakable. Defining.
Every generation reaches a moment that tests its clarity — and its conviction. This is ours.
BRIDGE26: BEYOND THE LINE is where leadership takes hold. Where we don't wait — we begin. Because the future won't be shaped by the loudest; it will be shaped by the bravest.
To go beyond the line is where inclusion transforms from philosophy to capability — from intention to performance — driving innovation, resilience, and growth across every corner of business.
It's where we aren't one voice, but a chorus. It's how we build winning cultures — cultures where people don't just show up, they thrive; where creativity flourishes, trust grows, and teams move with unity and urgency.
It's where workplace culture and marketplace impact collide into one integrated strategy for sustainable growth.
To go beyond the line isn't about preserving what was — it's about building what must exist next. It's about knowing what you stand for when it costs you something, and standing up before it's safe to do so.
With an NPS above 90 for three consecutive years, BRIDGE26 equips leaders to compete harder, lead smarter, and grow faster in the face of rising volatility. We show you how to move inclusion out of the margins and into the mechanics of the business — where it becomes measurable, scalable, and transformational.
Now in its fourth year, BRIDGE convenes the most visionary Chief Diversity Officers, CMOs, CEOs, and senior executives for 2½ days designed to go beyond the line — because power doesn't just sit at the top; it lies within all of us. The question isn't if we have it, but how we choose to use it. And using power with purpose isn't just courageous — it's consequential.
The stakes are high. The opportunity is higher.
Relentless in our pursuit.
Unshakable in our purpose.
Defining the future of growth.
This is BRIDGE26: BEYOND THE LINE.

In Honor of Wiley Davi
Wiley Davi was a bright light — curious, true, intuitive, grounded, and endlessly fascinated by how people think, feel, and become. A brilliant warrior with gentle humor. A calm in the hard moments. A bringer of balance and a force for empathy.
Wiley moved through the world with humility leaving a lasting impact on everyone who knew her. A care-giver, dog lover and most loyal friend, Wiley thought beyond the lines, saw wonder everywhere, and leaves us with a profound legacy shaped by generosity, humanity, and care.
BRIDGE26 is dedicated to her — she loved this retreat and the community it created. It was a space where she saw possibility come alive. We will continue her work with gratitude for all she gave, and the courage to carry forward the wisdom she shared.
View the 2026 Agenda
Sunday, May 3
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PMBRIDGE Board of Directors Lunch
- 1:00 PM - 4:00 PMBRIDGE Board of Directors Meeting
- 6:00 PM - 7:00 PMCocktails and Connections
- 7:30 PM - 7:50 PMWelcome
Sheryl Daija
CEO & Founder

- 8:00 PMCultural Immersion Dinner
- 8:45 PM - 9:00 PMBRIDGE STORIES
Apolla Echino
Award-winning Filmmaker, Member, Métis Nation of Alberta
- 9:30 PMFirepits and Friendships
-
Monday, May 4
- Run in Honor of Wiley Davi
- 7:45 AM - 8:45 AMBreakfast
- All DayQuiet RoomRetreat, relax and recharge away from everything!
- 9:00 AM - 9:15 AMMorning WelcomeBRIDGE Chair Welcome Remarks BRIDGE CEO Welcome Remarks
Sandra Sims-Williams
Chief Business Inclusion, Impact and Belonging Officer

Sheryl Daija
CEO & Founder

- 9:15 AM - 9:45 AMFireside Chat
How Brands Win with InclusionFor the first time, BRIDGE will present proprietary research from Dr. Omar Rodríguez-Vilá demonstrating how inclusion drives measurable business performance.
The findings challenge conventional thinking. Brands generate growth when inclusion is proactive, credible, and embedded into product fit and marketing strategy. Reactive efforts erode trust. Symbolism without value creates skepticism. Sustained investment builds advantage. Brands that win treat inclusion as a disciplined business capability, not a campaign. This session examines how aligning representation, product design, and message with real consumer value drives profitability and long-term brand strength.
Omar Rodríguez-Vilá
Professor in the Practice of Marketing, Director of Education / Business & Society Institute
Moderator:
Lori Goode
Chief Marketing Officer

- 9:45 AM - 10:30 AMSession 2
- 10:30 AM - 10:45 AMBRIDGE STORIES
- 10:45 AM - 11:15 AMMix and Mingle
- 11:15 AM - 11:45 AMThe CDO Role ReimaginedTalent. Marketing. Operations. Culture. Risk. Brand. Growth. Few roles in the organization have the breadth of visibility or influence of the Chief Diversity Officer. Yet the role has often been reduced to a culture steward instead of recognized as an enterprise-wide operator.
Reimagining this critical role requires courage of conviction and alignment between responsibility and authority. When inclusion is treated as a rigorous business capability rather than a philosophy, the CDO becomes a driver of growth across workplace culture and marketplace strategy. This session explores how positioning CDOs to lead at this level will future-proof the business, increase profitability, and fully realize the mandate the role was always intended to hold.
Alicin Williamson
Chief Diversity & Culture Officer

- 11:45 AM - 12:15 PMThe Real Work of Inclusive Marketing: Growth, Risk, AccountabilityInclusive marketing is an intentional strategic process that belongs at the center of the organization, not at the margins. As diverse communities continue to drive disproportionate economic growth, brands face a choice: perform inclusion in creative assets or operationalize it across the marketing life cycle. This session frames inclusive marketing through three executive levers: growth, risk, and accountability. We will examine how organizations that align strategy, authority, and execution around the markets they serve are turning inclusive marketing into growth, competitive advantage, and measurable performance.
Donna Dozier Gordon
Head of Inclusion & Diversity, Americas
Moderator:
Jessica Ricaurte
Chief Revenue Officer

- 12:15 PM - 12:45 PMSession 5
- 12:45 PM - 2:15 PMLunch
- 2:30 PM - 3:45 PMBRIDGE Academy Pilots
- BRIDGE Academy Pilot 1
- BRIDGE Academy Pilot 2
- BRIDGE Academy Pilot 3
-
- 3:45 PM - 4:15 PMMix and Mingle
- 4:15 PM - 5:00 PMExecutive Sessions
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PMYour Time
- 6:00 PM - 7:00 PMCocktails and Connections
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PMCultural Immersion Dinner
- 9:00 PMFirepits and Friendships
-
Tuesday, May 5
- 7:45 AM - 8:45 AMBreakfast
- All DayQuiet RoomRetreat, relax and recharge away from everything!
- 9:00 AM - 9:10 AMBRIDGE Welcome Remarks
Sheryl Daija
CEO & Founder

- 9:10 AM - 9:30 AMBRIDGE STORIES
- 9:30 AM - 10:00 AMThe Legal State of the UnionThe legal landscape surrounding diversity, equity, and inclusion is shifting rapidly. Regulatory scrutiny is increasing. Litigation strategies are evolving. Corporate commitments are being tested.
This session brings together Professor Stacy Hawkins and former EEOC Chair Jenny Yang to provide a clear-eyed assessment of the current legal environment and what it means for business leaders.
Grounded in policy, precedent, and enforcement realities, this conversation will cut through speculation and clarify where risk truly lies, where organizations remain on solid footing, and how leaders can move forward with confidence and conviction.
Stacy Hawkins
Diversity & Employment Practices Consultant and Professor of Law

Jenny Yang
Former Chair, EEOC, Partner
Moderator:
Danyelle Wright
VP, Government Affairs & Social Impact, Employment & Labor Counsel

- 10:00 AM - 10:30 AMSession 2
- 10:30 AM - 11:00 AMAI and Inclusion: The Human ImperativeArtificial intelligence is reshaping how decisions are made, how products are built, and how work gets done. Without intentional design, it can become a force multiplier for inequity.
As organizations accelerate adoption, inclusion must be embedded at the point of creation across data, design, governance, and accountability. This session will examine how organizations that get this right build trust and competitive advantage. Those that do not will inherit avoidable risk.Moderator:
Morgan Gregory
CEO and Co-founder

- 11:00 AM - 11:30 AMMix and Mingle
- 11:30 AM - 12:00 PMSession 4
- 12:00 PM - 12:30 PMSession 5
- 12:30 PM - 12:50 PMRising Stars
Where Emerging Leaders Step Beyond the LineThe next generation of enterprise leaders is already here. The BRIDGE Rising Stars Program brings forward a select cohort of emerging leaders who are shaping what is possible within their organizations and communities. Each Rising Star joins BRIDGE26 as an invited guest with board-level sponsorship, executive access, and a platform to contribute their perspective to the full community. This session is our opportunity to hear from them. To understand how they see the future of leadership, inclusion, growth, and impact. Their vantage point is different. Their expectations are higher. Their leadership is already in motion. Beyond the Line belongs to them as much as it does to us.
Brook Dennard Rosser
Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives

Chloé Howard
VP, Strategy Director

Uchechi Iroha
Associate Creative Director

Claudene Roye
Senior Marketing Analyst

Christien Russell
Director, Strategy & Innovation - DEI

- 12:50 PM - 1:00 PMClosing Remarks
Sheryl Daija
CEO & Founder

- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PMGrab and Go Picnic Lunch
- 2:30 PM - 4:30 PMNetworking Activities
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2026 Speakers
The Voices who Lead the Conversation
BRIDGE26 brings together the most influential voices in business, marketing, and culture — leaders who don't just discuss inclusion, they define it. Our speakers include executives, changemakers, and innovators who've shaped how the industry thinks about leadership, creativity, and growth.

Award-winning Filmmaker, Member, Métis Nation of Alberta

Former Chair, EEOC, Partner


CEO & Founder


Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives


Head of Inclusion & Diversity, Americas


Chief Marketing Officer


CEO and Co-founder


Diversity & Employment Practices Consultant and Professor of Law


VP, Strategy Director


Associate Creative Director


Chief Revenue Officer


Professor in the Practice of Marketing, Director of Education / Business & Society Institute


Senior Marketing Analyst


Director, Strategy & Innovation - DEI


Chief Business Inclusion, Impact and Belonging Officer


Chief Diversity & Culture Officer


VP, Government Affairs & Social Impact, Employment & Labor Counsel

Who should attend BRIDGE26
BRIDGE26 convenes the leaders driving inclusion as performance across marketing, business, and culture. It's where decision-makers, innovators, and rising talent come together to connect strategy with action — and turn insight into measurable impact.
You'll be in good company.
- Inclusion, Belonging and Culture Leaders leading systemic transformation
- Chief Marketing Officers and Brand Leaders redefining growth through inclusion
- CEOs, Presidents, and Senior Business Leaders aligning culture with performance
These global brands, agencies, media companies, and platforms share one belief: inclusion isn't separate from business — it is the business.
Partnering with Purpose
Designed to Deliver Impact That Lasts
Every BRIDGE partnership is built around three principles: authenticity, alignment, and action. We create collaborations that move business and culture forward together.
Your Partnership Delivers:
- Visibility across pre-, during-, and post-event marketing, social, and press channels.
- Thought Leadership through main-stage participation, content integration, and co-branded publications.
- Authentic Cultural Activation that celebrates diversity and connects your brand to lived experiences.
- Purpose-Driven Alignment — every giveaway, product, and experience supports underrepresented communities or causes.
- Community Impact that extends beyond the event through measurable initiatives and collaborations.
For more information on BRIDGE26 Partnership Opportunities:
"We design every partnership to be more than exposure — it's a shared opportunity to lead the change we all want to see."
— BRIDGE Partnerships Team
Our 2026 Steering Committee

Chief Marketing Officer


Former Chief Marketing Officer


Responsible Media Lead


President, Black Information Network


Managing Director, Creative


Former VP Strategy, Insights and Analytics,


Managing Director, Inclusion & Sustainability Strategy Leader


VP, Global Brand Marketing and Communications


Founder and CEO

Where inspiration meets purpose.
Set along the Pacific coastline, VEA offers a modern, immersive environment for connection and creativity. The venue was designed to support reflection and collaboration — from ocean-view meeting spaces to wellness sanctuaries and thoughtfully designed gathering areas.
But VEA's physical beauty is just part of the story. Marriott International is deeply committed to making inclusion foundational — not optional. As CEO Anthony Capuano has said:
We welcome all to our hotels, and we create opportunities for all — and fundamentally those will never change. The words might change, but that's who we are as a company.
Within 24 hours of reaffirming that stance publicly, Capuano received over 40,000 messages of gratitude from associates worldwide — proof that when values are lived, they resonate.
VEA Newport Beach | A Marriott Resort & Spa is more than a space — it's a venue operated by a company that aligns with the BRIDGE ethos of inclusion, trust, and long-term legacy.
Hotel Reservations
BRIDGE has secured a special group rate so don't wait to reserve your room using our special room block or call (877) 622-3056 and mention BRIDGE26. To qualify for the special rate, you must book by April 8th!
Or call (877) 622-3056
Travel Information
- John Wayne Airport (SNA): ~10 minutes to VEA (no hotel shuttle)
- Long Beach Airport (LGB): ~25 minutes
- LAX: ~45 minutes
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