THIS CONNECT CITY TOURS

Accelerate CX: AI, innovation and the next era of experiences

Join UserTesting for an invite-only in-person event filled with expert insights, real-world strategies, and interactive experiences—uniting industry leaders to shape the future of AI, innovation, and customer experience.

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What is THiS Connect?

THiS Connect is a dynamic, one-day industry event designed for product, design, digital, UX research, CX, and marketing leaders who are shaping the future of customer experience, building emerging technologies, and pushing the boundaries of innovation.

2 females at a UserTesting conference

What you'll learn

  • Marketing How AI and innovation are reshaping audience connection and campaign strategy.
  • Product Ways to reduce risk and accelerate product development without sacrificing impact.
  • CX How leading brands balance automation and human connection at scale.
  • Design How design teams are building faster, smarter, and more inclusive experiences.
  • Digital Strategies to unify digital touchpoints and lead in an AI-powered world.
  • UX Research How insights teams are scaling impact and guiding innovation across the org.
THiS 2024 - Pricing

Redefine what’s next

Audience at one of UserTestings THiS event

Innovate

Gain exclusive insights from industry pioneers on how leading brands leverage AI, human insight, and emerging technologies to accelerate CX, optimize decision-making, and stay ahead of evolving customer expectations.

Female speaker with blue background and smiling at the crowd

Connect

Engage with product, digital, CX, and marketing leaders who are driving transformation. Build relationships with visionaries, peers, and experts shaping the future of customer experience and innovation.

speaker on the stage

Experience

Be part of thought-provoking keynotes, fireside chats, and dynamic discussions designed to inspire bold thinking and fuel customer-centric innovation that delivers measurable business impact.

Here's where we're accelerating CX

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REQUEST YOUR SEAT

San Francisco

May 1, 2025

Apply today
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REQUEST YOUR SEAT

New York

May 29, 2025

Apply today
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REQUEST YOUR SEAT

London
June 5, 2025

Apply today

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Voices accelerating the future of CX

Brian Solis
Brian Solis
Digital Anthropologist, Futurist, and Bestselling Author
R "Ray" Wang
R "Ray" Wang
Constellation Research
Founder and Principal Analyst
Joe Megibow, former CEO of Casper and Purple
Joe Megibow
Casper and Purple
Former CEO
Nikkia Reveillac
Nikkia Reveillac
Former Insights Exec, Keynote Speaker, Host
Connie Guglielmo
Connie Guglielmo
Veteran technology and business reporter
and editor based in Silicon Valley
Elijah Woolery
Elijah Woolery
Design Better
Co-host, Co-founder
Amy Parnell Lokey
Amy Lokey
ServiceNow
Chief Experience Officer
Raeling Kirk
Raeling Kirk
Collectors
Sr Director, Customer Insights
Leanne Waldal
Leanne Waldal
Customer Experience Research Leader
Samantha Warren
Samantha Warren
Adobe
Senior Director Design
Amy Stillman's headshot
Amy Stillman
Cedar
Vice President of Design
Brian Solis
Brian Solis
Digital Anthropologist, Futurist, and Bestselling Author
Dan Van Tran's Headshot
Dan Van Tran
Collectors
Chief Technology Officer
Danny Blatt
Danny Blatt
Pfizer
Sr. Director CX Research & Behavioral Science
Nikkia Reveillac
Nikkia Reveillac
Former Insights Exec, Keynote Speaker, Host
Ron Miller
Ron Miller
Enterprise Tech Reporter, Ex TechCrunch
Seth Godin
Seth Godin
Best-Selling Author, Entrepreneur, & Agent of Change
Aarron Walter
Aarron Walter
Design Better
Co-host, Co-founder
Shani Sandy
Shani Sandy
IBM
VP, Experience Design
Elijah Woolery
Elijah Woolery
Design Better
Co-host, Co-founder
Bernard Marr
Bernard Marr
Futurist and International Best-Selling Author
Mary MacPherson
Mary Macpherson
Group Director, Customer
Bank of Ireland
Nancy Rademan
Nancy Rademaker
Drawify
Co-Founder
Stratis Valachis
Stratis Valachis
Gousto
Senior Product Design Manager

Agenda

10:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

Registration and breakfast

10:30 a.m.–10:35 a.m

Welcome Address

Eric Johnson, CEO, UserTesting 

10:35 a.m.–11:15 a.m.

Keynote: The Experience Gap: What Brands Miss—and Why It Matters Now More Than Ever

Jamie Anderson, President, UserTesting | Joe Megibow former CEO of Casper and Purple

Details:
As inflation, tariffs, and economic pressure reshape buying behaviors, customers are becoming more selective—and less forgiving. In this environment, price alone won’t win. In this keynote, UserTesting President Jamie Anderson, joined by former Casper and Purple CEO Joe Megibow, explores the growing gap between what companies think they deliver and what customers actually experience. Together, they’ll unpack why traditional feedback methods fall short, how expectations have outpaced CX investments, and why closing the experience gap with real human insight has become a business imperative.

11:15 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Presentation followed by fireside chat: Insights are the Heart & Soul of Innovation 

Guest Speaker: Nikkia Reveillac, keynote speaker and former Global Insights Executive at Netflix, Twitter, and Colgate-Palmolive
Fireside Chat Moderated by Connie Guglielmo, ex editor in chief, CNET, Forbes, Bloomberg, and Wired

Details:
What’s the key to true innovation? While brilliant minds, and great ideas are essential, real breakthroughs happen when you deeply understand your customers’ needs. The joy that comes from creating something that truly makes a difference in people’s lives is unmatched. By keeping these fundamental human truths at the heart of your strategies—whether in product development, design, branding, or marketing—you can make your offerings stand out in an increasingly competitive marketplace.

In this talk, Nikkia Reveillac delves into how you can unlock the power of data and insights to drive innovation. Unlocking consumer insights isn't just for big businesses; it's a journey anyone can embark on with curiosity, empathy, and a willingness to listen.

12:00 p.m.–12:10 p.m.

Connection Break

12:10 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

Mass Personalization at Scale for CX in an Age of AI

Guest Speaker: R “Ray” Wang, Principal Analyst of Constellation Research

Details:
AI powered experiences now provide the foundation for elevated CX. Learn how the end game of AI is better decisions and how leading teams are adapting, designing, and scaling AI. See how CX use cases come to life with AI and learn when and where to insert a human.

1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m.

Lunch

After you grab a bite, step into a one-of-a-kind aura photo experience—see your energy visualized in vibrant color and reflect on how emotion, mindset, and human behavior shape the experiences we create and share

1:45 p.m.–2:30 p.m.

Panel Discussion: Delivering on Brand Promises Through Human Insight and Design

Guest panelists: 
Raeling Kirk Sr Director, Customer Insights at Collectors  |  Samantha Warren, Senior Director Design, Adobe  |  Leanne Waldal, Customer Experience Research Leader

Moderated by: Baran Erkel, Chief Strategy Officer, UserTesting 

Details: 
As organizations scale, staying connected to the customer—and consistently delivering on brand promises—becomes increasingly complex. In this panel discussion, leaders from Adobe, Collectors, and a seasoned CX research leader from a global technology company will share how they’re driving smarter decision-making, fueling innovation, and ensuring every product, service, and experience stays true to the brand. Join this conversation to learn how top enterprises are operationalizing customer centricity through insight-led design and collaboration. 

2:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m.

Live Podcast: Fearless by Design: Driving Innovation with Confidence 

Design Better Podcast w/ host Elijah Woolery
Guest: Amy Lokey, CXO, ServiceNow

Details:
Innovation moves fast—but failure is costly. In this live recording of the Design Better Podcast, hosts Aarron Walter and Eli Woolery sit down with Amy Lokey, Chief Experience Officer at ServiceNow, to discuss how experience-led organizations are reducing risk, testing early, and accelerating innovation across product, design, and CX. Hear how Amy brings together cross-functional teams to stay ahead of evolving customer expectations—by building with confidence and designing for impact.

3:00 p.m.–3:10 p.m.

Connection Break 

3:10 p.m.–4:00 p.m.

Closing Keynote: AI Business Transformation: Innovation Starts with Experience Design

Guest Speaker: Brian Solis, Futurist, Author, Anthropologist 

Details: 
AI Business Transformation: Innovation Starts with Experience DesignBrian Solis is not only Head of Global Innovation at ServiceNow, he’s also one of the world’s foremost authorities on customer experience innovation. He literally wrote the book on it. In this special session, Brian will explore how AI creates exponential opportunities to drive business transformation and growth through human-centered experience design.

4:00 p.m.–5 p.m.

Happy hour, networking, and an aura photo experience

 

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10:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

Registration and breakfast

10:30 a.m.–10:35 a.m

Welcome Address

Baran Erkel, Chief Strategy Officer, UserTesting 

10:35 a.m.–11:05 a.m.

Keynote: The Experience Gap: What Brands Miss—and Why It Matters Now More Than Ever

Johann Wrede, Chief Marketing Officer, UserTesting 

Details:
As inflation, tariffs, and economic pressure reshape buying behaviors, customers are becoming more selective—and less forgiving. In this environment, price alone won’t win. In this keynote, UserTesting Chief Marketing Officer Johann Wrede, explores the growing gap between what companies think they deliver and what customers actually experience. He’ll unpack why traditional feedback methods fall short, how expectations have outpaced CX investments, and why closing the experience gap with real human insight has become a business imperative.

11:05 a.m.–11:50 p.m.

Presentation followed by fireside chat: Insights are the Heart & Soul of Innovation 

Guest Speaker: Nikkia Reveillac, keynote speaker and former Global Insights Executive at Netflix, Twitter, and Colgate-Palmolive
Fireside chat moderated by Ron Miller, Operating Partner and Editorial Director at boldstart ventures and ex-TechCrunch Enterprise Technology Reporter 

11:50 a.m.–12:05 p.m.

Connection Break

12:05 p.m.–12:45 p.m.

AI Business Transformation: Innovation Starts with Experience Design

Guest speaker: Brian Solis, Futurist, Author, Anthropologist 

Details:
Brian Solis is not only Head of Global Innovation at ServiceNow, he’s also one of the world’s foremost authorities on customer experience innovation. He literally wrote the book on it. In this special session, Brian will explore how AI creates exponential opportunities to drive business transformation and growth through human-centered experience design.

1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m.

Lunch

After you grab a bite, step into a one-of-a-kind aura photo experience—see your energy visualized in vibrant color and reflect on how emotion, mindset, and human behavior shape the experiences we create and share

1:45 p.m.–2:30 p.m.

Panel Discussion: Delivering on Brand Promises Through Human Insight and Design

Guest panelists: 
Amy Stillman, VP, Product, Cedar Systems  |  Dan Van Tran, CTO, Collectors |  Danny Blatt, Sr. Director CX Research & Behavioral Science, Pfizer

Moderated by: Michelle Engle, Chief Product Officer, UserTesting 

Details:
As organizations scale, staying connected to the customer—and consistently delivering on brand promises—becomes increasingly complex. In this panel discussion, leaders from Collectors, Cedar Systems, and Pfizer will share how they’re driving smarter decision-making, fueling innovation, and ensuring every product, service, and experience stays true to the brand. Join this conversation to learn how top enterprises are operationalizing customer centricity through insight-led design and collaboration. 

2:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m.

Live Podcast: Fearless by Design: Driving Innovation with Confidence 

Design Better Podcast w/ hosts Aarron Walter & Eli Woolery 
Guest: Guest: Shani Sandy, Vice President, Experience Design, IBM

3:00 p.m.–3:10 p.m.

Connection Break 

3:10 p.m.–4:00 p.m.

Closing Keynote: Making it to the finish line

Seth Godin, Best-Selling Author, Entrepreneur, & Agent of Change

Details:

In his talk, the bestselling author and entrepreneur explains to the audience that the hardest part of an idea, a startup, a new strategy or a business proposal is the getting started part of the equation. Godin stresses in his creative innovation keynote that coming up with simple ideas is not the hard part, but really embracing them and making sure that they are finished is. The entrepreneur knows how hard it is to share projects or ideas with the world; however, he thinks getting over these doubts—which come out for our 'lizard brain'—is the most important part because that “thrash at the beginning” is normal, we just need to keep going.

4:00 p.m.–5 p.m.

Happy hour, networking, and an aura photo experience

 

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10:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

Registration and breakfast

10:30 a.m.–10:35 a.m

Welcome Address

Jamie Anderson, President, UserTesting 

10:35 a.m.–11:05 a.m.

Keynote: The Experience Gap: What Brands Miss—and Why It Matters Now More Than Ever

Johann Wrede, Chief Marketing Officer, UserTesting 

Details:

As inflation, tariffs, and economic pressure reshape buying behaviors, customers are becoming more selective—and less forgiving. In this environment, price alone won’t win. In this keynote, UserTesting Chief Marketing Officer Johann Wrede, explores the growing gap between what companies think they deliver and what customers actually experience. He’ll unpack why traditional feedback methods fall short, how expectations have outpaced CX investments, and why closing the experience gap with real human insight has become a business imperative.

11:05 a.m.–11:50 p.m.

Fireside Chat

With Bernard Marr, Futurist and International Best-Selling Author

11:50 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Connection Break

12:05 p.m.–12:45 p.m.

Main stage presentation

12:45 p.m.–1:45 p.m.

Lunch

Enjoy a curated lunch and take this time to connect with fellow thought leaders and industry peers. Share insights, spark new ideas, and get ready for an inspiring afternoon of sessions.

1:45 p.m.–2:30 p.m.

Fulfilling Brand Promises Through Human Insight and Design

Guest panelists: 
Mary MacPherson, Group Director, Chief Customer Office, Bank of Ireland  |  Remya Ramesh, Design Leader at a Global Tech I Stratis Valachis, Sr. Product Design Manager at Gousto

Moderated by: Michelle Engle, Chief Product Officer, UserTesting 

Details:

As organisations grow, maintaining a strong connection with the customer—and consistently delivering on brand promises—becomes increasingly complex. In this panel discussion, cross-functional leaders will share how they are enabling more informed decision-making, driving innovation, and ensuring every product, service, and experience remains true to the brand. Join this conversation to learn how top enterprises are operationalizing customer centricity through insight-led design and collaboration. 

2:30 p.m.–3:00 p.m.

Live taping of the Braw Tech Podcast

With host Amy Kelly

3:00 p.m.–3:10 p.m.

Connection Break 

3:10 p.m.–4:00 p.m.

Closing Keynote: The X factor of Customer Centricity

Nancy Rademaker, International Keynote Speaker & Co-Founder at Drawify and Speakers Club

4:00 p.m.–5 p.m.

Happy hour, networking and turn your selfie into latte art

 

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Agenda

10:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

Registration and breakfast

10:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Welcome, presentations and fireside chat

1:00 p.m.–1:45 p.m.

Lunch

1:45 p.m.–4:00 p.m.

Panel, podcast, and closing keynote

4:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m.

Happy hour and experiential activations

 

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FAQs