Leah Sand
Chief Engagement Officer
VML, North America
Braze Forge 2025
Forge 2025 Torchie Awards
VML Wins Campaign of the Year at the 2025 Torchie Awards
We’re proud to share that VML took home Campaign of the Year at this year’s Braze Forge Torchie Awards for our work with The Wendy’s Company on the “Fresh Picks” campaign.
As a dedicated Braze Forge partner, VML empowers global brands to integrate Braze and VML’s enterprise solutions expertise into their operations to deepen customer engagement and drive growth. Our “Fresh Picks” campaign turned the frenzy of March Madness into a powerful, multi-channel activation—resulting in over 10 million in-app impressions, 550,000 new digital accounts, and 1.12 million national offer redemptions.
In addition to this win, we’re honored to have been recognized as finalists in two other categories:
🏆 Partner Campaign of the Year – VML for Pizza Hut
🏆 Service Partner of the Year – VML
Every year, Braze celebrates the brands and partners redefining what’s possible in customer engagement. We’re thrilled to be among this year’s standout innovators.
Explore the full list of winners here.
VML Sessions at Forge
Mainstage Moment: AI Innovation Panel
Tuesday, Sept 30 | 9:30–11:30 a.m. keynote window (10-min discussion)
Speakers:
- Celine Kristensen, Client Partner & Global Head of Growth, VML MAP
- Astha Malik, Chief Business & Marketing Officer, Braze (Moderator)
- Ricardo Ortegon, Head of MarTech, Data & AI, Audible
- Ekta Chopra, Chief Digital Officer, e.l.f. Beauty
A powerful panel of leaders on how AI is reshaping marketing innovation—from intelligent personalization to operational transformation.
From Churn to Earn: Reinventing Subscriptions with AI
Wednesday, Oct 1 | 11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Speakers:
- Varsha Baliga, Senior Manager of Customer Success, Braze
- Leah Sand, Chief Engagment Officer, VML
- Raphael Daste, Global Head of Media, Stripe
- David Sealey, Director of Growth and Partnerships, VMP MAP
The subscription economy promised predictable revenue and lasting customer relationships. But as consumers face economic uncertainty and are overwhelmed with choices, are subscriptions losing their appeal? This panel brings together experts from VML, Stripe, and AWS to dissect the current state of subscriptions. We'll explore the data behind the trends (as featured in VML’s report, Is the Subscription Economy Dead?), uncover the challenges facing subscription businesses, and identify the innovative strategies needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape.
From personalization and value-added services to flexible pricing models and enhanced customer experiences, discover how to reinvent your subscription model with AI for long-term success. Join us as we navigate the future of recurring revenue and unlock the secrets to building lasting customer loyalty
Breakout Session: Unleashing full potential of agentic AI across your whole marketing ecosystem: Lesson from Google & VML
Wednesday, Oct 1 | 2:00 – 2:45 p.m.
Speakers:
- Celine Kristensen, Client Partner, Global Head of Growth, VML MAP
- Jim Fairweather, Head of AI GTM, Strategic AI & ISVs in North America, Google
Discover how agentic AI can transform your entire marketing ecosystem, far beyond content creation. Learn VML’s proven framework for scaling intelligent personalization, integrating data, and driving operational efficiency, with real-world insights from Google’s SMB Ads team. Walk away with practical steps to implement agentic AI and elevate customer experiences at scale.
Featured Report: Connecting the Commerce Cosmos
Braze + VML: The 10 Best Practices for Ace Brands
Customer-centricity separates leaders from laggards in today’s retail landscape. This new report, created in partnership with Braze, reveals the 10 critical behaviors of Ace brands that consistently drive loyalty and growth.
Inside, you’ll learn how to:
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Evolve with shifting customer needs
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Engage across omnichannel touchpoints
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Personalize through data-powered experiences
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Transform with AI and empowered teams
Note: When you download this report, your personal data will be shared with Braze. Learn more at Braze.com.
David Sealey
Director of Growth & Partnerships
VML MAP, EMEA
Grazi Sbardelotto
Partner & VP
Pmweb, LATAM
Celine Kristensen
Client Partner, Global Head of Growth
VML MAP, EMEA
Justin Kramp
Managing Director - MarTech
VML, North America
Cynthia Lopes
Senior Sales Executive
Pmweb, LATAM
Filip von Reiche
SVP, MarTech Enablement
VML, North America
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