Agenda

Great startups begin with great problems. But how do you train yourself to spot them? This session explores the art of problem sensitivity—the ability to recognize unmet needs, inefficiencies, and emerging opportunities before others do. Learn how to shift your mindset, ask the right questions, and uncover startup-worthy insights in everyday life. Whether you're an aspiring founder or an experienced entrepreneur looking for your next big idea, this talk will provide actionable frameworks and real-world examples to sharpen your problem-finding skills.

• How to validate and monetize a side hustle
• Choosing the right marketing model (inbound vs. outbound)
• Choosing the right pricing model (one-off, subscription, retainers)
• Scaling a side gig while working a full-time job
• Automating and delegating to free up time

In 60 minutes, this hands-on session will load you up with actionable insights to kickstart and level up your personal brand on social media.

Too many creatives move through their careers taking whatever the industry gives them—climbing corporate ladders, following expected paths, and losing sight of what truly makes them different. In this raw and insightful keynote, we’ll explore the power of betting on yourself, the fears that hold us back, and how to reconnect with your creative identity. Whether you’re questioning your next move, considering going solo, or simply seeking more fulfillment, this talk will challenge you to stop playing it safe and start building a career on your own terms.

Key Takeaways:

• The Real Roadblock: It’s not your logo, brand colors, or pitch deck—it’s you. Why self-doubt is the biggest challenge to launching your next big move.
• Defining What Makes You Different: How to stop blending in and start embracing what sets you apart.
• Breaking Free from Industry Expectations: Why waiting for the “perfect moment” is a myth and how to create your own opportunities.
• Reframing Fear & Failure: Lessons from making the leap—what I learned about risk, rejection, and real success.
• Taking Control of Your Career: Whether you’re starting your own thing or rethinking your next role, learn how to move with intention instead of just taking what’s given.

Often the hardest part for aspiring entrepreneurs is to just get started. So in this session, we'll design a brand, set-up a no-code website, and market it in less than 1hr. All live. No coding, no budget, no design or marketing skills required. Just very powerful and free tools.

Scaling a digital business from a one-person operation to a high-performing team is a challenge many solopreneurs face. Without the right strategies, growth can lead to inefficiencies, miscommunication, and burnout.

In this session, I will guide solopreneurs through the essential steps to prepare for team expansion while maintaining agility and focus. Attendees will learn:

• When and how to start building a team – Identifying the right moment to scale and the first roles to hire
• Delegation strategies that work – How to offload tasks effectively while maintaining quality and vision
• Systems and workflows for seamless collaboration – The must-have tools and processes to keep operations smooth
• Avoiding common scaling pitfalls – How to prevent growing pains that can slow down success

There’s no perfect playbook for turning creativity into a business. It’s really just a mix of instinct, strategy, and a lot of trial and error. In this session, I’ll share my messy, unpredictable journey of taking the leap, from marketing your personal brand to juggling life while running a solo creative business. Whether you’re on the edge or already mid-air, let’s navigate the uncertainty together.

Many UX designers dream of turning their expertise into a profitable side hustle but struggle with where to start. In this session, I’ll break down practical, actionable strategies for monetizing UX skills beyond a traditional job, whether through mentoring, consulting, cohort-based courses, workshops, or digital products.

In this session I will share real-life insights from my journey of scaling MarziUXD into a thriving UX education business.

Taking all about taking the first steps to building, overcoming that fear of starting, how to not overthink and just focusing on doing.

Building a side hustle or business is challenging! I'll share the roadmap to your first customer and then all the way to your first $10K. We'll cover everything from pricing, branding, sales and marketing.

Build a life you don't need a vacation from" is a popular phrase in the noisy world of entrepreneurship...but how do we define that it and know what it actually takes to achieve?

My name is Jesse Sieff. I'm a former engineering student, professional musician, U.S. Marine Veteran, ICF certified coach, father of twins, and now 6-figure media agency owner.

I'm excited be your coach to help you cut through the noise and design the life you want.

Let's start with the basics...

All humans are constantly battling to balance two powerful forces: external and internal.

The external is the most influential, which caters to our natural desire to be accepted and fit in to well defined groups. Historically, that is what our survival depended on and why evolution hardwired it into our psychology.

The internal, is your inner voice, your will, your moral compass, and your goals to grow in ways that are uniquely important to you...

This session is all about listening to that inner voice, training it to be louder, and allowing it to guide your habits.

As we grow up, we have no choice but to be completely immersed and programmed by a series of institutions: family, religion, school, community, career, social media, etc...

Ideas of what is "important" are defined and prescribed to us before we have the ability or experience to consciously question it.

Focus demands clarity on what is important, but if we don't address the root of the problem (you subconscious) then you will forever be stuck focused on solving the wrong problems.

The Secret Art of Lifestyle Design is for anyone preparing to or currently making a major pivot in their lives.

It's to honor the values of living up to your own ideals and not someone else's ideals. It's not about getting out of work, but rather setting up your lifestyle, so you can work on the right things on your terms.

I look forward to seeing you there and helping you "break on through to the other side.

I've taken my side hustle which helps entrepreneurs test their business ideas and create messaging that resonates with customers, to a full-time venture. In this talk, I will talk you through the early stages of developing an idea and how to validate this idea with potential customers, through to building on this by monetising and transitioning away from a side-hustle to a full-time venture.

Do you know that one of the most successful startup builders has worked a full-time corporate job? Many succeeded with their startups even before quitting their job. The secret sauce is to not waste your money and efforts on stuff that won't work. Let's talk about what to focus on if you want to launch your startup with any chances for success.

Shawn Johnson has built a career transforming ideas into global successes. As the founder of SocioPunk & Seichō Syndicate, he helps businesses scale through disruptive creativity and sustainable growth strategies. From leading product and design for Warner Bros. Discovery and NBCUniversal to working with brands like Nike, Disney, and Microsoft, Shawn knows what it takes to turn passion into profit.

In this session, Shawn will share his battle-tested strategies for scaling your side hustle while thriving in your career. Learn how to leverage your expertise, build high-value brands, and automate growth—all without burnout. Shawn’s blueprint blends product innovation, design thinking, and business strategy to help you create sustainable success.

Whether you're looking to launch, scale, or exit, this talk will equip you with the mindset and tactics to turn your side gig into a global powerhouse. Don't settle - join this session and supercharge your success.

Join me as I share my transformative journey with ADPList, showcasing how the platform enabled me to build a thriving coaching practice that transcends geographical boundaries. I'll detail my evolution from a traditional career path to becoming a location-independent solopreneur, highlighting how consistent personal branding and strategic side-hustle development led to a 5x return within two years.

Key takeaways:

• How to leverage digital platforms to democratize coaching access globally
• Building a personal brand while maintaining a full-time role
• Creating implicit revenue streams through coaching
• Strategies for scaling your impact across time zones
• The power of consistency in building a sustainable coaching practice

For years, product managers and other professionals have been conditioned to follow a linear career path—climbing the corporate ladder step by step, often constrained by company politics and rigid promotion cycles. But the landscape has changed. No longer do ambitious professionals have to wait for a title bump to advance their careers.

In this session, we introduce the "Career Lattice"—a dynamic and flexible approach to career growth that allows individuals to expand their skills, impact, and income beyond traditional promotions. We’ll share how product leaders, executives, and professionals can create new opportunities on their own terms—leveraging side projects, consulting, cross-functional collaborations, and strategic skill-building to shape fulfilling, financially rewarding careers without leaving the security of their full-time job.

Key Takeaways:

• Why career growth isn’t just about promotions—and how focusing solely on climbing the ladder can hold you back.
• The Career Lattice framework—how moving sideways, diagonally, or even taking a step back can open bigger doors.
• Real-life success stories—case studies of professionals who have successfully navigated non-linear career growth.
• Actionable strategies—three practical steps attendees can take to start applying the Career Lattice approach immediately.

Audience Engagement & Format:

Storytelling & Case Studies – Examples of individuals who have successfully built careers outside the traditional mold.Interactive Reflection – Guided prompts for attendees to assess their own career aspirations and opportunities.Actionable Framework – Attendees will walk away with a practical roadmap to implement the Career Lattice approach in their own careers.

This session is perfect for professionals looking to expand their career potential without sacrificing their current stability. Attendees will leave empowered with a fresh perspective, tangible next steps, and the confidence to take control of their career trajectory—whether through internal moves, side gigs, or passion projects.

In those crucial first seconds on your homepage, can prospects understand what you do and why they should care? Most B2B startups struggle to clearly communicate their value, leaving potential customers confused or unconvinced. In this practical session, marketing consultant Garrett Jestice will show you a proven framework to make your homepage message crystal clear. You'll learn:

• How to structure your homepage so prospects immediately understand your value
• A simple formula to articulate what makes your B2B solution different and worth caring about
• Techniques to transform technical features into benefits that resonate with business buyers
• Real examples of clear vs. confusing B2B homepage messaging

Perfect for founders and marketers at B2B startups, you'll walk away with actionable templates and frameworks to make your homepage message immediately clear to the right prospects. No marketing fluff––just practical guidance to help prospects 'get it' in seconds.

Let’s be real—being a little weird is the best thing you can do for your brand. In a world full of sameness, it’s the memorable quirks, the unexpected twists, and the “wait, who are you?” moments that make people pay attention.

I’ve taken an unconventional path to get here (think: almost failing design school, living in a van in Australia, running a wedding company in China—yeah, it’s a story), and along the way, I realized that the magic in branding isn’t about fitting in. It’s about helping people own what makes them different and turning that into a brand that feels like them.

We’ll talk about:

• Why your weirdness is your unfair advantage
• How to help clients find their real brand essence (aka their secret sauce)
• Creative confidence—showing up fully as yourself
• The unexpected paths that lead to success

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t quite fit the mold—good. That’s exactly why you’re going to thrive. Let’s talk about it.

The real behind-the-scenes story of launching and growing CareerInsighter, challenges faced, and key takeaways for aspiring entrepreneurs.

We'll explore how to uncover hidden opportunities through user research, use lean validation techniques to test ideas before scaling, and strategically position your business in a way that differentiates it from competitors. You’ll also learn how to break into niche markets effectively whether through emerging technologies like AI and VR, or cultural intelligence—can be your biggest advantage.

This talk will include real-world case studies, actionable frameworks, and lessons from startups that successfully turned niche ideas into thriving businesses. Whether you're an early-stage founder or looking to pivot your existing venture, this session will equip you with the tools to find your niche, innovate with confidence, and scale strategically.

In June 2023, Adam Nathan called his co-founder with four words that would change everything: "We need to pivot."

After years struggling with his previous product, Adam transformed a failing business into Blaze—one of the fastest-growing AI tools on the planet, reaching $10M in revenue just 15 months after launch.

In this no-BS session, Adam reveals the exact playbook he used to achieve explosive growth with a team of just 25 people. You'll learn:

- Why markets matter more than products (and how Adam identified the perfect target audience everyone else overlooked)

- The three counterintuitive decisions that unlocked Blaze's hypergrowth

- How Adam used brand as the ultimate growth lever to stand out in a crowded market

- The exact influencer marketing strategy that generated 18.6M impressions for just $75,000

- Why Adam's "Customer Engagement Ladder" creates exponential growth without requiring additional resources

Stop wasting time on strategies that don't work. Learn from someone who's already made the mistakes, found the shortcuts, and built the systems you need to scale your side hustle into something extraordinary—without quitting your day job.

Networking isn’t just about business cards or LinkedIn connections—it’s about building real relationships that open doors. Sure, it can feel awkward or even a little cringe, but with the right mindset, it doesn’t have to be.

Modern networking is about quality, not quantity. It’s not about meeting as many people as possible—it’s about connecting with intention, online or in person. In this session, we’ll cover practical strategies for building authentic relationships that can boost your career or business. We’ll discuss how to network with purpose, make a lasting impression, and turn connections into real opportunities.

If networking feels intimidating, you’re not alone. It’s tricky for most people! But when approached the right way, it can be one of the most valuable tools in your career. Let’s make it work for you.

Many creatives struggle with the balance between artistic passion and profitability. But what if your creative side project could become a thriving business? Dava Guthmiller shares her approach to launching A Dash Of, a brand born from a love of food, storytelling, and curation. Discover how to align your expertise into a niche, test market demand, and build something that brings profit to your passion.

Utilizing the theme of the conference, we will dive into capturing your idea, refining what problem you plan to solve with your idea, defining your customer base, discovering your niche in the market, and then developing simple pricing structures that are fair to you and your customers. All of this will be done by oversimplifying your ideas to then use as a framework for what will become your detailed business plans for investors, partners, or even just yourself! These principles are meant to be a guiding light for you to stay true to your goals, and how you can help the world be a better place to live.

Many new entrepreneurs (especially side hustlers) waste time on things that don’t actually get them clients. Based on 12+ years of experience building marketing systems that scale, I’ll break down exactly what works—and what’s just noise—when it comes to growing a B2B business.

This session will help you:

• Understand what really matters in early-stage marketing (so you don’t waste months spinning your wheels).
• Avoid common marketing mistakes that slow growth.
• Learn simple, repeatable strategies to attract clients and grow—without burning out.
• Decide where to focus your limited time, budget, and energy for maximum results.

Whether you’re a freelancer, consultant, or service-based entrepreneur, this session will help you build smarter, not harder.

Outlining the journey from freelancer to business owner and all the mistakes, problems, roadblocks and journey along the way. Intended as a way to normalize the conversation that business is a LONG journey full of bumps and problems. If you are persistent, resilient and open to critique, feedback and change, it is possible and SHOULD be pursued with the right mindset - the Entrepreneurial mindset.

Most see innovation as generating ideas that can change the world. But few think of innovation as the practical implementation of ideas.

As a business, innovation is paramount if you want to thrive. But if you define innovation as simply having ideas, I’ve got bad news for you – ideas without execution are worthless.

So how do you know how to focus your energies and where?

If you want to build a business with the capacity to ideate great ideas and introduce new innovations into the market, here’s a helpful way to look at it.

Why bother joining this session? Because I’ll take you through the practical “A to Z” steps for your very first sale to growing your business with new income streams.

Join me if you’re interested in any of these:

1. Generating profitable ideas from your existing assets
2. Developing and refining products from concept to MVP
3. Creating offers your customers actually want to buy
4. Pricing your products effectively
5. Crafting differentiated brand positioning that attracts your ideal buyers
6. Launching new products and optimizing marketing and sales processes
7. Scaling existing products and adding new income streams

No fluff, no B.S. Just what you need for the 7 points above.

You know you’re meant for more, but figuring out how to make it happen without second-guessing every step? That’s the real challenge.

If you're ready to stop settling for a career that feels just fine and start building something that truly excites you—without quitting your job overnight—this session will give you the strategy, insights, and confidence to make it happen.

You’ll walk away with a clear roadmap to turn your expertise into income, build momentum without overwhelm, and create a future where you call the shots.

Have you considered starting your own start-up but don't know how to get started? This is session is for you.

My company Path Unbound, a boutique UI/UX design school, is a challenger brand in a saturated market with many big named schools. We experienced a long slump in revenue in the first couple of years in business because we couldn’t find our product positioning. We offered products similar to our big competitors and tried to beat them with lower price only to have the opposite effect. People start doubting if we are bad because we were so much cheaper.

Last year, we discovered the magic formula to growth for us as a small challenger brand without big budget for advertising. We started to repackage our big product offerings into smaller ones that are ultra flexible serving mini segments of user personas. We started to see results within weeks of launching our new offerings, attracting more customers than we’ve ever have. In this talk, I’ll how we structured our product offerings according to customer personas and how other small businesses that are challenger brands to big competitors can thrive doing the same.