Reflecting on an Incredible Panel at Advertising Week New York!

We had an amazing time at Advertising Week New York exploring the power of authentic storytelling. Our panel, “Ignite Audiences and Elevate Brands,” brought together industry experts who shared valuable insights on how impactful storytelling can forge genuine connections between brands and audiences.

As our moderator, Al Roker perfectly captured the moment when he said,

"We are collectively navigating through a sea of unprecedented noise in search of authenticity."

It's clear that authenticity is no longer optional—it's essential for building real connections.

Dr. Michael L. Counter, Jr. , VP, Head of Branded Entertainment & Strategic Partnerships at ARE, emphasized that branded entertainment should be about “good content that actually does good.” He spoke about the importance of showcasing not just the work that organizations are doing but also legitimizing their efforts in a way that helps build credibility, reach, and resonance.

Global Head of Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Talent Development Ashlee Davis (she/her) from Ancestry brought the magic of storytelling to life, sharing, “The moment you hear someone say the phrase, ‘Let me tell you a story,’ it stops you in your tracks, right? It makes you pay attention.”

She highlighted how sharing family stories can connect us to our roots and make those connections feel deeply meaningful. She also touched on the timeless nature of storytelling:

“Storytelling is one of our longest traditions—from oral histories to cave drawings, we've always wanted to leave a story for someone else to pick up and carry.”

This sentiment really struck a chord, highlighting how storytelling is embedded in the human experience and transcends generations.

And Ancestry's VP, Global Brand Creative & Programming Paige Grossman Nelson added an important perspective on balancing brand storytelling with audience expectations:

“There are some critical universal themes that drive us—curiosity, belonging, identity. These are all things we share innately as humans. We want to know where we come from and who came before us.”

She emphasized the importance of creating diverse stories that are not only accurate but also told in an honest and culturally relevant way.

It was an insightful discussion filled with moments that underscored the importance of purposeful storytelling. A huge thank you to our panelists—Michael, Paige, and Ashlee —for sharing their knowledge and to the #awnewyork24 team—especially Michael Gewirtzman and Monica Arce.

And to everyone who joined us at the packed Great Minds stage, thank you for being part of the discussion. We hope that, if the message resonated with you, you got a chance to connect with our all-star ARE team, including Lisa Tucker , Denise Hurst Green , Susan Jin Davis and Rick Angeli . We look forward to collaborating with you soon!

If you missed out on the fun this week, stay tuned—we’ll be sharing more highlights soon!

#AdvertisingWeek #AuthenticStorytelling #StorytellingImpact #AlRokerEntertainment #BrandedContent