EDUCATION | ACCESS | GROWTH
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Pitch Your Product or Idea
Build Your Brand
Learn All About Licensing
Empower your business, your career, your product — It's bigger than you think.​
Thursday, May 23, 2024
7:30 AM - 4:00 PM
@ Licensing Expo | Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas | South Seas Ballroom
WiT Empowerment Day is your exclusive ticket to unrivaled education, access and growth. We'll connect you with the companies and industry experts who have the knowledge and resources to help solve your challenges -- and work with you to propel your product onto store shelves. Not ready to pitch, but just want to learn more about the industry from expert mentors? This once-a-year event is your ticket to success.
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Get All of This and More
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Product / Concept Pitches to over 10 top Toy and Game Companies and Walmart Buying Team.
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Priceless education and industry trends from our Keynote and Panel Speakers.
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Your industry "MBA-in-a-Day" at Mentor Roundtables in over a dozen areas of specialty.
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"Walk with WiT" Show Floor Tours: Explore Licensing Expo with your very own WiT ambassador by your side. Get insider insights, access to hidden gems, and tons of new discoveries at every turn.
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Licensing 101 Session: Get the lowdown on licensing basics. Kickstart your journey with expert guidance.
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Phenomenal Networking with other creators, industry executives, and Licensing Expo attendees.
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April 30, 2024 | Pitch Registration Closes
May 10, 2024 | Event Registration Closes
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PRE-CONDITIONS
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Active WiT Membership - Click here to join
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$50 Empowerment Day Registration Fee (proceeds benefit the WiT Foundation Scholarship Program)
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$50 Licensing Expo Attendee Pass (10% discount code provided to Empowerment Day Registrants)
STEP 1:
COMPLETE PITCH APPLICATION FORM
STEP 2:
REGISTER FOR EVENT AND PAY
ABOUT THE EVENT
PRODUCT PITCHES
Get ready to shine! Pitch your products or concepts to over a dozen leading toy and game companies and a team of Walmart buyers. These private 15-minute sessions are more than just a pitch opportunity; it's your chance to receive valuable feedback, industry insights, and guidance from key industry players.
PITCH-PREP
SERIES
We’ll get you ready for your pitch meetings with our exclusive Empowerment Dy Pitch Prep program, led by Azhelle Wade, a.k.a. The Toy Coach. This program includes everything you'll need to get pitch-perfect ready, including on-demand video lessons, digital workbook and a virtual Prep Session.
MENTOR ROUNDTABLES
Learn from the best! Meet with industry experts on Business & Brand Beginnings, Digital Ads, Ecommerce, Entertainment IP, Intellectual Property & AI, Licensing, PR, Marketing, Market Research, Product/Packaging Design, Publishing, Sales & Distribution, Testing & Safety, and more.
WiT BREAKFAST @LICENSING EXPO!
Join us the day before Empowerment Day for our annual WiT Breakfast @Licensing Expo, at Border Grill in Mandalay Bay on Wednesday, May 22! Get your networking head-start here, and connect with over 200 Licensing Expo attendees and exhibitors.
AGENDA
MORNING
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7:30 - Registration Opens
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7:45 - Light Breakfast and Networking
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8:15 - Welcome
Ehi Oviasu-Kahn, Gena Lavallee, Leila Nosrati
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8:20 - Keynote | Licensing Unlocked! Keys to Success in the Licensing Business by Leveraging Trends in Toys and Entertainment
Lisa Whitaker
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8:55 - Fireside Chat | Licensing In & Out: Key Legal Insights
Michele Martell & Stephanie Pottick
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9:30 - Break + Networking
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10:00 - Product Pitches & Mentor Roundtables
AFTERNOON
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12:00 - Lunch
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12:30 - Masterclass | Commercializing Creativity
Sharon Weisman
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1:00 - Inventor-tainment | Sparking Ideas, Powering Up Pitches, and Having Fun with Failure
Barry & Jason
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1:30 - Product Pitches & Mentor Roundtables
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3:30 - Wrap up
SPEAKERS
Lisa Whitaker
Co-Founder,
Kidfinity
Sharon Weisman
CEO
​PowerStation Studios LLC
Michele Martell
Media, Tech & IP Attorney - Martell Media House PLLC
Barry McLaughlin
Jason Lautenschleger
Owners - Barry & Jason Games & Entertainment
Stephanie Pottick
Licensing, TM & Copyright Attorney - Pottick Law, PC
INVENTOR RELATIONS
Arielle Egoian
Coord., Inventor Relations
Spin Master
Deirdre Cross
Senior Vice President, Games - Moose Toys
Jay Foreman
CEO
BasicFun!
Magdalena Eichhorn
Inventor Relations Manager -
Jazwares
Nick Tourville
Product Designer - Ravensburger/ThinkFun
Sarah Franco
Inventor Relations Manager -
Mattel
Brian Weiss
Global Head of Toys - Goliath Games
Fraser Paterson
Head of Design & Product
Development - Moose Toys
Josh West
Product Designer - Ravensburger/ThinkFun
Mark Garcia
Inventor Relations Associate Manager – Hasbro
Nikole Murphy
Product Designer (Blue J) -
Jazwares
David Winter
VP, BlueJ - Innovation & Design
Jazwares
Janene Russell
Sr. Product Dev. Mgr, - Educational Insights​
Julien Sharp
Country Manager / GM
Asmodee US
Naomi Brugnatelli
Inventor Relations Manager – Hasbro
Sara Furay​
Inventor Relations - Goliath Games​
MENTORS
Ali
Mierzejewski
Editor in Chief - The Toy Insider
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Toy Awards
Bart Lipski
CEO​
TOYMAK3RS
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E-commerce
Chris Byrne
President -
Byrne Communications, Inc.
Market Research
Iris Solomon
Owner/Partner
Hahn Solo Consulting
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Business & Brand Beginnings
Josslynne Welch Johnson
President - Litzky PR
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Public Relations​
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Kim Criscuolo
Director of Sales & Business Dev - Unitec Laboratory Svcs.
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Testing & Safety​
Lisa Whitaker
Founder - Kidfinity​
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Marketing
Max Wunderle
Chief Commercial Officer -
Toysmith
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Sales & Distribution
Patti Becker
CEO & Founder
Becker Associates LLC
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Licensing & Negotiations
Stephanie Pottick
Licensing, TM & Copyright Attorney - Pottick Law, PC
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IP, AI & Data Privacy​
Aneesah R. K. Williams
Founder/CEO
MONARK
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Brand Marketing Consulting
Billy
Langsworthy
Co-Founder
MojoNation & Brands Untapped
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Invention, Design & Communities
David Katzner
Founder/President
The National Parenting Center
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Toy Awards
Janice Lam
Head of Hardlines & Publishing, North America Moonbug
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Entertainment & IP​
Karen Kilpatrick
Founder & CEO - Kayppin Media / Genius of Cat Books
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Entertainment & IP
Linda Morgenstern
VP, Brand Management -
Beanstalk
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Licensing & Negotiations
Lizzy Ellis
Strategic Brand Success Manager - Faire.com
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Sales & Distribution
Michele Martell​
Media, Tech & IP Attorney - Martell Media House PLLC
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Business & Brand Beginnings​
Rachel Murray Meyer​
Principal - Toy Safety & Quality, Inc.
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Testing & Safety
Anthony
Verna
Managing Partner​
Verna Law, PC
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IP, AI & Data Privacy
Cassie Slane Guglielmo
Licensing & Content Development
Crazy Aaron's Enterprises
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Business & Brand Beginnings
Hollie Holmes
VP Global Licensing - Moose Toys
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Licensing/Negotiations
Joan Grasso
Head of Consumer Products - The Americas - Moonbug
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Entertainment & IP
Kelli Schmitz
Brand Development Director - Asmodee/CATAN Studio
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Marketing
Lisa Orman
President -
KidStuff Public
Relations
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Public Relations
Matt Nuccio​
President - Design Edge Inc.
Invention, Design & Communities
Natalie Rebot
Chief Brand Officer
TOYMAK3RS
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Invention, Design & Communities
Stephanie Bailey
Global Consumer Products and Retail Executive
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Licensing & Negotiations
WiT Empowerment Day
is held in partnership with Licensing Expo.
WHAT PAST ATTENDEES SAY...
"Thank you for organizing the event. My trip was pretty surreal. Not only did I have the opportunity to present and learn at the WIT Empowerment Day (possible opportunities there), but I also met some amazing connections at Fall Toy Preview. I probably should have stayed another day - first lesson learned! The industry was so kind and I was introduced to quite a few people that can help me bring my product to market. Feeling pretty excited."
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Joan Colvin
"Empowerment Day was a wonderful & insightful experience. I have already been contacted by one of the companies I pitched! Thank you for all the support"
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Chantel Calloway
"First, I wanted to let you know how FANTASTIC Empowerment Day was!! I can’t imagine anywhere else that would offer the pitching opportunities, information sharing, ane more. I can’t wait to move forward with our project AND partake next year"
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Jackie Khoenle
"It is not easy to take a few days away from the office to go to an industry event, even if the event is designed to help improve and grow ones business. The WIT Empowerment day was very valuable not only because I took away so many new bits of information, it was very inspiring and provided a needed energy boost going into the 4th quarter."
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Christy Kaskey CEO Kaskey Kids, Inc.
"Empowerment Day was so valuable! I got interest from two toy companies and now I'm working hard and fast to provide them the additional information they requested. I'm learning a lot in this process so that even if nothing comes of it, I could attend next year, more professionally prepared.I really benefited from the mentoring sessions too and found it wonderful to get helpful advice from women more experienced."
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Maxine Schur
"It was totally worth coming all the way (from India) to attend the event. I got an opportunity to meet and learn from many experts in the toy industry."
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Rohini Natti
"Wow! The WIT Team really nailed it with this event. As a toy inventor, this was such a fantastic opportunity for me to network with peers and customers, make industry connections, and get feedback on our products. I personally appreciated the WIT team's cohesiveness and professionalism, and their dedication to supporting female founders. Thanks WIT!"
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Jessica Cohen
"Empowerment Day was my first WIT experience, and I found it to be a very comfortable space to ask questions and get to know other talented women and men in the industry. I'm incredibly happy with my decisions to join WIT."
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Jenna Harlander Marketing Director Blip Toys
"I appreciate the education, experience, and exposure I received at WIT Empowerment Day as I began my journey 2 years ago. I was able to share my Lumi-Niter products with major players in the field such as WalMart, Hasbro, Spin Master, and Jazwares, to name a few, and am excited that Lumi-Niter is now on WalMart.com. I have attended two Empowerment Day events, and both had a huge impact on the direction of my company and brand."
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Angel Trichak, Xtraordin Air Toys
"Empowerment Day was a phenomenal event! It is amazing what WIT has done in one day that can help inspire, motivate, and change the course for so many (both female and male)."
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Jennifer Kosmo
"I have delayed launching our craft kits for years using my lack of “know how” as an excuse. In one day, every question was answered. I no longer have an excuse and I was completely energized by the conversations. I will be in a very different place next year when I return."
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Laura Kelly, Owner, The Handwork Studio
"Being green to the toy industry and event like empowerment day gives me great encouragement and insight. Thank you WIT for this fantastic opportunity"
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Maggie Held, Scribfolio