Relentless.
Unshakable.
Defining.
  • Registration Open
    May 3-5, 2026
    VEA Newport Beach, CA

    Request an Invite

    Registration is by invitation. Please request an invite below.
    Take Advantage of Early Bird Pricing Through February 6, 2026 - save up to $500.
    0 days
    0 hours
    0 minutes
    0 seconds

    BRIDGE in partnership with SmartBrief is bringing you a concise weekly digest of DEI principles, featuring news from reputable sources. Expert editors curate summaries that are tailored to your interests, saving you time and ensuring you stay up-to-date with your industry needs.

    Your data will be managed according to our Privacy Policy.


    This is an inclusive and welcoming event. If you have questions about accessibility or would like to request an accommodation, please include your requirements with your registration or contact Erica DeLorenzo at [email protected]. Requests should be made by March 15 to allow for coordination of services. You can read more about our Event Accessibility & Accommodation Policy here.

    EARLY BIRD PRICING

    Inclusion, Belonging and Culture Leaders

    $1,999 $1,699
    Save $300

    Marketing and Business Leaders

    $2,999 $2,699
    Save $300

    Inclusion Leader + Marketing or Business Leader from the Same Company

    Two Tickets Total
    $4,799 $4,299
    Save $500

    Two Marketing or Business Leaders from the Same Company

    Two Tickets Total
    $5,499 $5,299
    Save $200

    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

    Watch video highlights from BRIDGE25

    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.

    Request an Invite
    Wiley Davi

    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 PM
        BRIDGE Board of Directors Lunch
      • 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
        BRIDGE Board of Directors Meeting
      • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
        Cocktails and Connections
      • 7:30 PM - 7:50 PM
        Welcome
        Sheryl Daija
        Sheryl Daija
        CEO & Founder
      • 8:00 PM
        Cultural Immersion Dinner
      • 8:45 PM - 9:00 PM
        BRIDGE STORIES
        Apolla Echino
        Apolla Echino
        Award-winning Filmmaker, Member, Métis Nation of Alberta
      • 9:30 PM
        Firepits and Friendships
    • Monday, May 4

      • Run in Honor of Wiley Davi
      • 7:45 AM - 8:45 AM
        Breakfast
      • All Day
        Quiet Room
        Retreat, relax and recharge away from everything!
      • 9:00 AM - 9:15 AM
        Morning Welcome
        BRIDGE Chair Welcome Remarks BRIDGE CEO Welcome Remarks
        Sandra Sims-Williams
        Sandra Sims-Williams
        Chief Business Inclusion, Impact and Belonging Officer
        Sheryl Daija
        Sheryl Daija
        CEO & Founder
      • 9:15 AM - 9:45 AM
        Fireside Chat
        How Brands Win with Inclusion
        For 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
        Omar Rodríguez-Vilá
        Professor in the Practice of Marketing, Director of Education / Business & Society Institute
        Moderator:
        Lori Goode
        Lori Goode
        Chief Marketing Officer
      • 9:45 AM - 10:30 AM
        Session 2
      • 10:30 AM - 10:45 AM
        BRIDGE STORIES
      • 10:45 AM - 11:15 AM
        Mix and Mingle
      • 11:15 AM - 11:45 AM
        The CDO Role Reimagined
        Talent. 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
        Alicin Williamson
        Chief Diversity & Culture Officer
      • 11:45 AM - 12:15 PM
        The Real Work of Inclusive Marketing: Growth, Risk, Accountability
        Inclusive 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
        Donna Dozier Gordon
        Head of Inclusion & Diversity, Americas
        Moderator:
        Jessica Ricaurte
        Jessica Ricaurte
        Chief Revenue Officer
      • 12:15 PM - 12:45 PM
        Session 5
      • 12:45 PM - 2:15 PM
        Lunch
      • 2:30 PM - 3:45 PM
        BRIDGE Academy Pilots
        • BRIDGE Academy Pilot 1
        • BRIDGE Academy Pilot 2
        • BRIDGE Academy Pilot 3
      • 3:45 PM - 4:15 PM
        Mix and Mingle
      • 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM
        Executive Sessions
      • 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
        Your Time
      • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
        Cocktails and Connections
      • 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
        Cultural Immersion Dinner
      • 9:00 PM
        Firepits and Friendships
    • Tuesday, May 5

      • 7:45 AM - 8:45 AM
        Breakfast
      • All Day
        Quiet Room
        Retreat, relax and recharge away from everything!
      • 9:00 AM - 9:10 AM
        BRIDGE Welcome Remarks
        Sheryl Daija
        Sheryl Daija
        CEO & Founder
      • 9:10 AM - 9:30 AM
        BRIDGE STORIES
      • 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM
        The Legal State of the Union
        The 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
        Stacy Hawkins
        Diversity & Employment Practices Consultant and Professor of Law
        Jenny Yang
        Jenny Yang
        Former Chair, EEOC, Partner
        Moderator:
        Danyelle Wright
        Danyelle Wright
        VP, Government Affairs & Social Impact, Employment & Labor Counsel
      • 10:00 AM - 10:30 AM
        Session 2
      • 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
        AI and Inclusion: The Human Imperative
        Artificial 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
        Morgan Gregory
        CEO and Co-founder
      • 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
        Mix and Mingle
      • 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
        Session 4
      • 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
        Session 5
      • 12:30 PM - 12:50 PM
        Rising Stars
        Where Emerging Leaders Step Beyond the Line
        The 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
        Brook Dennard Rosser
        Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives
        Chloé Howard
        Chloé Howard
        VP, Strategy Director
        Uchechi Iroha
        Uchechi Iroha
        Associate Creative Director
        Claudene Roye
        Claudene Roye
        Senior Marketing Analyst
        Christien Russell
        Christien Russell
        Director, Strategy & Innovation - DEI
      • 12:50 PM - 1:00 PM
        Closing Remarks
        Sheryl Daija
        Sheryl Daija
        CEO & Founder
      • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
        Grab and Go Picnic Lunch
      • 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
        Networking Activities

    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.

    Apolla Echino
    Apolla Echino
    Award-winning Filmmaker, Member, Métis Nation of Alberta
    Jenny Yang
    Jenny Yang
    Former Chair, EEOC, Partner
    Sheryl Daija
    Sheryl Daija
    CEO & Founder
    Brook Dennard Rosser
    Brook Dennard Rosser
    Associate Director, Strategic Initiatives
    Donna Dozier Gordon
    Donna Dozier Gordon
    Head of Inclusion & Diversity, Americas
    Lori Goode
    Lori Goode
    Chief Marketing Officer
    Morgan Gregory
    Morgan Gregory
    CEO and Co-founder
    Stacy Hawkins
    Stacy Hawkins
    Diversity & Employment Practices Consultant and Professor of Law
    Chloé Howard
    Chloé Howard
    VP, Strategy Director
    Uchechi Iroha
    Uchechi Iroha
    Associate Creative Director
    Jessica Ricaurte
    Jessica Ricaurte
    Chief Revenue Officer
    Omar Rodríguez-Vilá
    Omar Rodríguez-Vilá
    Professor in the Practice of Marketing, Director of Education / Business & Society Institute
    Claudene Roye
    Claudene Roye
    Senior Marketing Analyst
    Christien Russell
    Christien Russell
    Director, Strategy & Innovation - DEI
    Sandra Sims-Williams
    Sandra Sims-Williams
    Chief Business Inclusion, Impact and Belonging Officer
    Alicin Williamson
    Alicin Williamson
    Chief Diversity & Culture Officer
    Danyelle Wright
    Danyelle Wright
    VP, Government Affairs & Social Impact, Employment & Labor Counsel

    Interested in Taking the Stage for BRIDGE26?

    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.

    Request an Invite

    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:

    Click here

    "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

    Co-Chair
    Lori Goode
    Lori Goode
    Chief Marketing Officer
    Co-Chair
    Randi Stipes
    Randi Stipes
    Former Chief Marketing Officer
    Brianne Boles-Marshall
    Brianne Boles-Marshall
    Responsible Media Lead
    Tony Coles
    Tony Coles
    President, Black Information Network
    Geoff Edwards
    Geoff Edwards
    Managing Director, Creative
    Emile Khader
    Emile Khader
    Former VP Strategy, Insights and Analytics,
    Victoria Russell
    Victoria Russell
    Managing Director, Inclusion & Sustainability Strategy Leader
    Jennifer Warren
    Jennifer Warren
    VP, Global Brand Marketing and Communications
    Geraldine White
    Geraldine White
    Founder and CEO
    VEA Newport Beach Logo
    900 Newport Center Drive
    Newport Beach, California 92660
    United States | marriott.com
    • Venue
    • Venue
    • Venue
    • Venue
    • Venue
    • Venue
    • Venue

      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!

      Travel Information

      BRIDGE25 At‌tendees

      BRIDGE26 Partners

      gale
      sephora
      develop-well
      davis-gilbert

      Copyright © 2026 BRIDGE. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy

      Site by Solidmark.