Creating The Perfect Experience

What I Learned at Cannes Lions 2026  [00:00:00] Welcome back to Creating the Perfect Experience. I'm your host, Mark Testa, founder and creative director of Mark Steven Agency, and today there's no guest, just me. I wanna talk about Cannes, Cannes Lions, that I went to for the first time this year. And I wanna talk about what I actually saw, not the highlight reels or the TikTok, but the...

Alicia Richardson is the co-founder and managing partner of Crowd Access, the first independent measurement company creating a standard for experiential marketing. With 18 years of experience across advertising, media, sales, and measurement, Alicia has held roles at Undertone, OpenSlate, DoubleVerify, and Essence Ventures, where she helped lead sales across a powerful portfolio including Essence,...

In this episode, Mark Testa explores why the renewed excitement around live events is both an opportunity and a challenge for brands. Budgets are coming back, audiences are gathering again, and the energy around experiential marketing is real—but popularity alone does not make an event effective. In this SoloCast, Mark breaks down six key considerations every event marketer should keep in mind whe...

Erica Boeke is the founder and creator of XP Land, a platform dedicated to connecting, elevating, and defining the experiential industry. With a background spanning journalism and brand strategy at Condé Nast and Fast Company, Erica has built some of the most influential experience-driven platforms, including the Fast Company Innovation Festival, Wired Store, and Teen Vogue Summit. She sits at the...

Lash Fary is the founder of Distinctive Assets and the visionary behind celebrity gifting as a global marketing platform. Known as the “Gift Guru,” Lash has spent decades creating high-impact brand moments tied to the biggest stages in entertainment — from the Grammys to the Emmys and beyond. By transforming product placement into a cultural strategy, he has redefined how brands connect with talen...

The Experiential Exchange is a special speaker series within Creating the Perfect Experience , designed for marketing professionals building experiential programs and brand activations. Each session brings together industry leaders, strategists, creative directors, producers, and brand innovators, for practical insights, real-world lessons, and behind-the-scenes perspectives on what it takes to de...

Yvonne McNair is a veteran event producer and behind-the-scenes leader shaping high-stakes live experiences across entertainment and culture. As Founder and Executive Producer of Captivate Productions, she brings over 20 years of experience navigating complex productions, high-pressure environments, and the realities that live behind the curtain. A two-time Emmy-nominated producer, Yvonne is known...

Allie Galloway is a global event leader shaping how major brands show up in culture. As Senior Director of Global Events at Yahoo, she oversees the strategy and execution behind high-impact brand moments—from Cannes Lions to international tentpoles—bringing together storytelling, innovation, and operational precision. With experience across agencies and in-house teams, Allie is known for transform...

Stephen Seidel is a multi-hyphenate creative redefining how brands, leaders, and communities connect. A former engineer turned actor and storyteller, he blends precision, empathy, and strategy to build platforms where purpose meets performance. As founder of his namesake agency and coaching practice, he’s partnered with Fortune 500s, startups, and cultural innovators—from Coca-Cola and Allergan to...

With a career spanning over 25 years, Mark Testa has defined himself as a leader in experiential design and production. As Founder and Creative Director of Mark Stephen Experiential Agency, he has built a reputation for crafting culturally relevant, immersive experiences that connect with audiences across the globe. From producing international events during his early career at Condé Nast Traveler...

With a career defined by cultural connection and creative leadership, Carlos Benjamin is a dynamic force in the experiential marketing industry. As the founder of High Profile Lifestyle , he builds elite, culturally aligned teams that bring brand stories to life through authentic, high-energy experiences. His work spans collaborations with Oprah Winfrey, Disney, the NBA, Pepsi, and the Essence Fes...

With over 20 years of experience, Staci Hallmon is a respected business development strategist known for transforming brands through innovative experiential and live event strategies that connect business lines, talent, and consumers. As founder of SHB Enterprises, she leads a firm that builds scalable, revenue-generating platforms for Fortune 500 companies, media brands, and nonprofits. Her leade...

James Aguiar is a celebrated fashion director, creative consultant, and television host with a dynamic career spanning over 25 years. From his early days dressing mannequins in Macy’s windows to becoming fashion director at Bergdorf Goodman and creative director of Isaac Mizrahi Live, James has helped shape the voice of fashion across print, television, and retail. He has worked with some of the w...

In this episode, Mark speaks with Richelle Carey. Richelle Carey is an award-winning international journalist and moderator, known for her work with CNN and Al Jazeera America. With over two decades in journalism, Richelle has anchored major broadcasts, reported internationally, and now facilitates real conversations with global changemakers at leadership forums, summits, and events such as the Do...

In this episode, Mark speaks with Pamela Kupper. Pamela Kupper, Founder of Thesan, is a theatrical lighting designer with over 25 years of experience across theater, opera, events, architecture, and fashion. She brings a holistic approach to every project, balancing function and beauty. Pamela also has a background in project management and has worked on landmark façade lighting. She continues to...

In this episode, Mark speaks with Luciana Pampalone.  Luciana is an award-winning photographer and artist with over 30 years of global experience. Her work has been featured at top galleries in New York and Miami, as well as magazines and books, including Perfect Entertaining. Based on her contributions to the creative arts, she has been named George Wayne's Top 100 Creative Influencers.  Thi...

In this episode, Mark speaks with Adrianne Mellen. Adrianne Owner and Lead Planner of Propeller US . She began her career in publishing from Vogue to Real Simple. In 2009 she launched her own successful event planning business that has evolved to a more purposeful driven company that empowers women in business and life. Adrianne recently launched a new venture that creates bespoke experiences at N...

In this episode, Mark speaks with Ty Yorio. Ty a leader in event security. His company keeps high profile events safe and secure with a degree in criminal justice. He became a New York city police officer, then detective. After he retired, he founded Citadel security, providing services to New York fashion week to freeze art fair.  This episode we discuss:  Ty’s background in Law Enforcement to ho...

In this episode, Mark speaks with Cate Lochead. Cate is CMO for Snorkel AI, that enables enterprises to develop AI that works for their unique workloads. Cate is a master in marketing and building world class teams. With over 25 years of experience building high growth organizations, Cate is now a leader in AI space.  In this episode we discuss:  How Cate got started in Tech, her background, Marke...

In this episode, Mark speaks with Jarrad Clark. Jarrad is a passionate and experienced producer with over 30 years of experience producing events in more than 20 countries. Jarrad has worked with prestigious and creative brands to deliver unforgettable experiences. Jarrad is also an advocate for sustainability, eco-friendly practices and the future of technology in the events industry.  This episo...

In this episode, Mark speaks with Stephanie NoNe Dunivan. Stephanie is an energetic Essence on-air personality whose hosted multiple shows and various events. She is also a professional singer, co-host of Best Friends with Benefits podcast and the VP of Video and Branded Content at Essence.  This episode we discuss: Stephanie’s background and the power of persistence. Share real world experiences...

In this episode, Mark speaks with Marty Tennant. Marty is an award-winning sales and marketing veteran with over two decades experience in the wine experience industry. She has been named the portfolio manager of the year and is currently the Experiential Development Manager of Moet Hennessey.  This episode we have a Q&A panel discussion with Marty Tennant and Carmen Jones.  We discuss:  Diver...

In this episode, Mark speaks with Courtney Brown Warren. Courtney is the Chief Marketing Officer at Kickstarter. She's been the creative force behind some of the top brands including Audible, Madison Square Garden Company and Time Inc. Courtney has over two decades of experience working with global brands across diverse industries.  In this episode we discuss:  Courtney’s background and how s...

In this episode, Mark speaks with Ric Spencer. Ric is a top costumer for film and television. His work has been seen in King Richard boys in the band and the spider man franchise He's also a producer and director and is currently in production on the documentary called charivari the fashion uproar.  In this episode we discuss:   Ric’s background and how he turned a Help Wanted sign into a suc...

In this episode, Mark speaks with Ariel Foxman. Ariel is the Vice President Brand Experience of Boston Seaport, formerly the Editor in Chief of InStyle Magazine. Ariel has also been named Out Magazine's Out 100, the Business of Fashion's Top 500, and Crain's 40 Under 40, a contributing editor of Vanity Fair and a writer for Architectural Digest. In this episode we discuss:  ·       ...