AdFest 2025 Welcomes Christie Hefner as Keynote Speaker

AdFest is thrilled to announce our keynote speaker, Christie Hefner—one of the most accomplished and forward-thinking business leaders of our time! In her keynote, "Marketing as the Strategic Driver: A CEO’s Perspective on Reinventing a Brand and Building a Culture of Innovation", Christie will share how brands can evolve beyond products and profits to create lasting impact, stronger connections, and meaningful change. Drawing from her decades of experience leading transformative business strategies, Christie will offer insights into building brands that not only thrive in competitive markets but also drive cultural relevance and social responsibility.

A trailblazer in both the corporate and philanthropic worlds, Christie has consistently challenged conventional thinking and redefined what leadership looks like. Her unique perspective blends deep business acumen with a passion for innovation, equity, and purpose—making her an inspiring voice for leaders looking to future-proof their brands.

About Christie Hefner

Christie is an accomplished business leader with over 30 years of executive experience across public and private sectors.

For 20 years, Christie was Chairman and CEO of Playboy Enterprises, where she led the strategic transformation of the company from a domestic magazine business to a brand-driven international multimedia enterprise.

When she left, she was the longest-serving female CEO of a publicly traded company, over 40% of Playboy Enterprises executives were women, and she had been named to FORTUNE’s list of the “100 Most Powerful Women in the World.”

Subsequently, she formed and led Canyon Ranch Enterprises, leveraging their brand to build licensing and media partnerships in health and wellness. Today, she has a portfolio of boards and strategic advisory clients in industries that include fragrance, cannabis, and technology.

She also serves on the Council of National Advisors for Springboard Enterprises, which supports women-led growth ventures, including coaching and raising capital for women entrepreneurs; the steering committee of Press Forward Chicago, a new philanthropic initiative to support independent local journalism; the advisory committee of Leadership in Society, a program at the University of Chicago which supports accomplished leaders in envisioning purposeful next chapters; and the board of the Center for American Progress Action, the leading progressive public policy think tank.

She was a founding member of The Chicago Network, The Committee of 200, and the Chicago Chapter of Women Corporate Directors, and she was the first woman elected into the Chicago Chapter of the Young Presidents’ Organization.

She has spoken on brand building at numerous conferences such as HSM Brazil; Piper Jaffray Consumer Marketplace Conference; Choice Creative Solutions Conference; and the Association of University Technology.

She has won countless awards, including the National Association of Women Business Owners Voice Award, the Newseum Freedom of Expression Award, the YWCA Leadership Award, and the Vanguard Award for Distinguished Leadership from the National Cable & Telecommunications Association—the industry’s highest honor—for her strong advocacy of workplace diversity and her longstanding commitment to First Amendment rights. Christie was also inducted into the Women’s Business Development Center Hall of Fame for opening doors and building opportunities for all women entrepreneurs.