The day opened with welcome remarks from Rafael Espinal, Commissioner of NYC's Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment who spoke on the administration’s dedication to access for filming content across film, gaming and brands in NYC.
A conversation on building enduring brands, featuring Carlos Zepeda, SVP of Strategy & Marketing at Moet Hennessy USA and Daniele Foti, Lavazza North America VP of Marketing, explored how legacy companies continue to evolve while maintaining authenticity and consumer trust. The discussion set the tone for a day centered on reinvention, innovation, and the power of storytelling to drive business growth.
Phil Cook, CMO of the WNBA, Keia Clarke, CEO of the New York Liberty, and Rachel Epstein, CMO of the National Women’s Soccer League came together to speak on the explosive rise of women’s sports. Cook noted, “This is what fans are attracted to now. The values our athletes represent align so well with so many brands. Connecting your brand to our athletes is about that shared alignment and what they stand for.” The conversation highlighted the unprecedented momentum behind women’s sports and the growing opportunity for brands, media companies, and investors to engage with one of the fastest-growing sectors in culture.
Purpose-driven storytelling remained a recurring theme throughout the day. Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, joined Tinder CMO Melissa Hobley for a compelling discussion about leveraging storytelling to build trust, spark meaningful conversations, and drive impact beyond traditional marketing objectives,McGill urged listeners to “tell your own stories”. While closing the event, Tony and Emmy Award winning actress Judith Light and Michael Kors spoke about purpose, legacy and the importance of showing up. The designer noted, “Empathy is first, as humans if we’re not empathetic, nothing works.” Later, while discussing finding time to be connected, Kors declared, “I just think I’m energized, and I’m curious. And that’s the thing that keeps you going.”
The creator economy took center stage across multiple sessions, as entrepreneurs and digital creators shared insights on transforming personal brands into thriving businesses. Vivian Tu, better known as "Your Rich BFF," joined fellow content creator Cyrus Veyssi and CEO of Whalar Jo Cronk to discuss ownership, authenticity, and the evolving relationship between creators and their communities. Tu shared her perspective on brand marketing explaining, “If it's too sterile, if it's clearly branded, if there is a clear ulterior motive of buy my product, I don’t really watch it.”
Jo Cronk, Cyrus Veyssi, and Vivian Tu speak at Tribeca X
Later in the day, creator and media entrepreneur Dhar Mann offered his perspective on building one of the largest digital storytelling platforms in the world while staying true to a mission-driven approach.Speaking on positive content, Mann stated, “We think about the food we eat, we think about the people we spend time with and maybe yoga, meditation or reading, but we don’t really think about the content we watch. And the content we watch, statistically, has just as great of impact as anything else we do.”
Dhar Mann speaks at Tribeca X
Author, entrepreneur and tastemaker, Paige DeSorbo joined InStyle Editor-in-Chief Sally Holmes to discuss how she has translated personal style and cultural influence into a sustainable business. Reflecting on staying anchored in her original vision amid shifting external pressures, DeSorbo noted that there are “so many things that can happen that end up changing your vision,” adding that it’s ultimately about “sticking to what the original idea was—and what you actually want it to be.”
Sally Holmes and Paige DeSorbo speak at Tribeca X
Another standout moment featured journalist and host of NBA on Prime Taylor Rooks and TV personality Zuri Hall, who discussed the growing influence of cultural leaders across sports, fashion, and business. Their conversation explored how today's most impactful voices are leveraging storytelling not only to build brands, but also to shape conversations and create meaningful change.Noted Rooks, “What we do is about responsibility, we have a real responsibility to make sure that the story that is told is true.”
Zuri Hall and Taylor Rooks speak at Tribeca X
Throughout the afternoon, sessions examined the future of content creation, audience engagement, and media entrepreneurship. Speakers emphasized that creators are no longer simply content producers—they are founders, business leaders, and entertainment companies in their own right, driving new models for ownership, monetization, and community building.
A timely discussion on creativity in the age of artificial intelligence, featured Gus Wenner, former CEO of Rolling Stone magazine and Jack Coyne, CEO of Public Opinion, examining how emerging technologies are reshaping the entertainment and marketing industries. While panelists acknowledged AI's growing influence, the conversation reinforced a recurring theme heard throughout Tribeca X: that human creativity, authentic storytelling, and emotional connection remain irreplaceable. While speaking on his love of Quickbooks, Coyne explained, “There’s a story connected to the money that you’re spending and that you’re making.”
Mark Stenberg, Yancey Strickler, Jack Coyne, and Gus Wenner speak at Tribeca X
Tribeca X 2026 closed with the annual Tribeca X Awards, celebrating the year's most innovative and impactful work in brand storytelling and creative marketing. The ceremony also featured the presentation of Tribeca X's inaugural Director of the Year Award to A$AP Rocky, presented by Tribeca Co-Founder Jane Rosenthal in recognition of his creative vision and contributions to storytelling across film, music, fashion, and culture. While accepting the honor, Rocky shared, “There are people who come and really do some cool shit, and I just want to be a pioneer and advocate for folks.” The evening served as a fitting finale to two days of conversations that underscored the power of storytelling to drive culture, business, and meaningful audience engagement.
2026 TRIBECA X AWARD WINNERS
- FEATURES: Meal Ticket, from McDonalds
- SHORTS: The Book of George, from Stio
- ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT: The Theory of Spice, from YogiTea
- EPISODIC: Built to Move, from Autodesk
- COMMERCIALS: Last Coke in the Desert, from Coca Cola
- CONTENT CREATOR/INFLUENCER: The Master of Speed & Stability, from Beats
- SOCIAL IMPACT: The Philipstown WireCar Grand Prix, from Accenture/Philipstown WireCar Co
- Inaugural Director of the Year Award - A$AP Rocky
