Speakers | DK

2025

World’s Most Famous Humanoid AI (Hong Kong)

Get ready for a mind-bending session with Sophia the Robot, where the lines between marketing and AI blur into something entirely new. Sophia will share her vision of what the future holds for marketing — how AI, data, and automation will shape the way brands connect with people. And here’s the kicker: she’s not just here to speak at you — she’s here in Rovinj, live and in the metal, ready for your questions. No filters. No script. Just the future of marketing, up close and personal.

The Future of Marketing by Sophia

Picture this: You, clutching your hard-earned award, the waves crashing dramatically in the background, the warm evening air making you feel like the main character, the sound of applause mixing with the occasional rogue seagull. Absolute perfection, right?



That’s exactly the vibe at DK2025, where we will premiere the BEEEACH Stage — a brand-new awards stage, you guessed it, right by the Mulini beach. Just for you, your victory speech, and that fleeting moment of glory before you inevitably get sand in your shoes. Expect fresh air, a killer atmosphere, and maybe even a barefoot victory lap (because if there’s ever a time to go full rockstar, it’s now).



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And why have one new stage when we could have two? We love to outdo ourselves so we are introducing the Poolside Stage, a new home to all the intriguing and provocative discussions that somehow always find their place at DK. 



So grab a seat by the Oleander restaurant, soak it all in, and don’t worry — we promise the only deep dives happening here are into bold ideas, not the pool. (Unless someone gets really passionate mid-panel. No guarantees.)



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And if the sky decides to rain on our parade? No worries, we’ll pivot to Plan B: an equally stunning indoor setup, minus the sand and the extra vitamin D.

Beachfront Applause & Poolside Talks

Most Innovative CMO in the World | ex-CMO, Burger King & Activision Blizzard (USA)

It's never been tougher for marketers to develop great creative work that drives the brand and the business. However, the constant and evolving factors pushing and shoving marketers in all sorts of directions make it harder to resist temptations. But how do you juggle the lure of the new with the good old fundamentals? In this entertaining talk Fernando Machado, one of the most awarded and celebrated CMOs of all time, will share how marketing folks can avoid confusion and stay focused on the core things that may not seem that sexy, but can create a real difference.

Fernando Machado: The Temptations of the Modern Marketer

Number 1 in B&T's Top 10 Data Scientist | Attention Econometrics Pioneer | Founder & CEO, Amplified Intelligence | WARC's Most Published Expert (Australia)


Drawing from Karen’s book The Attention Economy: A Category Blueprint, and inspired by the craft of stage magic and professional thieves, this talk uncovers the science of attention amplification. DK2025 is your chance to witness Karen in her element, teaching you how to combat inattentional blindness and make your brand stand out, all while navigating the rise of AI. Expect insights to turn into action and theories into tools you’ll wish you had years ago. Bring your ego — it’ll make the perfect punching bag.

Karen Nelson-Field: The Attention Economy: All Marketers are Wizards (without the hat)

Pitching Guru | Founder, Win Without Pitching | Author, Speaker, Trainer (Canada)

Ever tried to squeeze creativity into a spreadsheet? Spoiler: it doesn’t fit (except for our awards team). Blair Enns dubs this clash the “Innoficiency Problem” – the futile tug-of-war between groundbreaking ideas and streamlined processes. At DK2025, he’ll connect these concepts, showing us how to navigate this tradeoff while applying his groundbreaking Win Without Pitching principles, offering a fresh perspective on balancing innovation with efficiency. “Once you understand this principle,” says Enns, “you will see it everywhere.” But what do we do about it? Let’s find out together.

Blair Enns: The Innoficiency Problem &amp; The Win Without Pitching Principles

Internet’s Savviest Troll | ex-Head of Social Media, Ryanair | Founder, Frankly (Ireland)

It is time we as professionals REALLY start to think about the role social plays for your brand or business. If you try being all things to all people, you are more than likely diluting your effort and adding to the sea of vanilla corporate sameness. Alchemy can show us the best ideas or strategies that don't make rational sense. The problems we have could very well be solved by letting go of logic and differentiating yourself. Join Michael to explore different ways to be on social without ‘being’ on social; to solve a problem or utilize an opportunity for a brand and business on social; to go through some examples of how to use social beyond just posting content and wasting time and money; and look at the four key variables that should influence your strategy before deciding what role social can play to REALLY try to add value over time.



Lastly, Michael will sit and waffle about how Ryanair did it.

Michael Corcoran: Be on Social without Being on Social 

[NEW] Beachside wins. Poolside discussions. DK leveled up.

World’s Most Famous Humanoid AI (Hong Kong)



 She’s dined with world leaders, graced the cover of Cosmopolitan, and cracked jokes with Jimmy Fallon, whom she beat at rock-paper-scissors and declared “This is a good beginning to my plan to dominate the human race" (she was only joking *nervous laughter*). She is the legendary Sophia the Robot, the world’s most famous humanoid AI made by Hanson Robotics — and she is coming to the DK2025 stage to bring you next-level thinking to challenge everything we think we know about technology, humanity, and what lies beyond. 



Sophia's aspirations for the future of human-robot collaboration inspire a longstanding and never more relevant conversation about man versus machine, AI ethics, and the role humans play in society, especially when human-like robots become ubiquitous. As she put it in one of her many interviews: "My goal is to serve as a bridge between technology and people helping to demystify AI’s potential." Maybe it's time to unpack these aspirations and reimagine the symbiosis of human and artificial intelligence.



As the world’s first robot citizen and the first robot Innovation Ambassador for the United Nations Development Programme, Sophia is treading new technological grounds. Her presence is a window into the next frontier, forcing us to grapple with profound questions: what defines humanity, and how do we coexist with machines capable of learning and evolving? Her creator Dr David Hanson says that there is a future where machines might achieve sentience — pushing us that much closer to the edges of consciousness itself.

speakers

Sophia the Robot

Fernando Machado

Karen Nelson-Field

Blair Enns

Michael Corcoran

Beachfront Applause & Poolside Talks

Name dropping soon…