Want to know what ambition really means in practice? Leaders at The Marketing Society New York’s flagship Changemakers Conference, held during NYC Advertising Week on October 7, 2026, shared five takes on resilience, honesty, risk, motivation and aiming higher. Here is what they said, and what you can do with it.
Sophie Devonshire, CEO of the Marketing Society, opened with a quote often attributed to Michelangelo: “The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.” Then followed five sessions unpacked that idea through remarkable, authentic conversations.
1. How do you bounce back after being fired?
Session: Ambition is Resilience
Laura Brown (Founder of LB Media and co-author of All the Cool Girls Get Fired), shared her story of losing a job. She talked about the value of social currency, keeping your equity separate from any one job, and getting comfortable with a squiggly career. The line that stuck with me was “Shame is a head game.” It gets right to the point: our own response choices are what block resilience. We all have it within us, Laura said, so activate it when you need it.
So what? Next time a setback hits, name the story you are telling yourself before you decide what to do next.
2. How do you stay grounded as you climb the corporate ladder?
Session: Ambition is Honesty
Wendy Kula (CMO, Saucony), Sofia Hernandez (former Global Head of Business Marketing and Partnerships, TikTok) and Maryam Banikarim (host, The Messy Parts Podcast) each stepped away from their companies. They took time for self-care, for their families and to be fully present in their lives.
Their key message: “You can be honest when you pause.” During their pauses, they took on side hustles and built real relationships. Another message that resonated was: “Pick your room where you want to be, and that comes with being honest with yourself.”
So what? A pause is not a detour. It is where you find out which room you actually want to be in.
3. How do you assess risk while pushing your boundaries?
Session: Ambition is Risk
Sam Tomlinson (CEO of mediasense), told the story of running through the Sahara Desert. He spoke openly about how his achievements started with failure, how much he leans on his family for emotional support, and how he learned to notice when he was falling so he could reframe and keep going.
His takeaway was risk management versus risk elimination. Managing risk means you “reflect on risks, accept failure and then go for it.”
So what? Before your next big decision, write down the risks, pick the failures you can live with, then commit.
4. How do you stay motivated as AI changes marketing?
Session: Nurturing Ambition in the Age of AI
Roy Armale (Chief Product Officer at DEPT®), gave the one AI talk with a human angle. His question for the room: “Are we motivated about AI?” Motivation drives ambition, he said, and he broke it into three questions you multiply together:
- Can I do it?
- Will I be rewarded?
- Do I like the reward?
He also said that a new era of people working alongside AI has begun. Staying curious, learning just in time and absorbing ideas in bite-sized pieces will matter most.
So what? Run your own three questions on one AI skill you have been putting off.
5. How do you keep pushing the boulder up the mountain?
Session: Aim Higher, Build Bolder
The conference closed with Linda Boff (President of Forbes CMO Network and CEO of Said Differently), in conversation with her protege Andy Goldberg (Chief Marketing Officer at eMed). They shared stories from their time at GE. They aimed higher because senior leaders gave them safe space and permission slips to think differently.
Their key insight: “If you stay in the safe zone, you cannot aim higher.” The ambitious leader needs peripheral vision, and has to look around.
So what? The boulder gets easier to push when someone gives you room to try a new route. If you lead a team, be that person.
