Strategic Creativity: Future Forward Media Strategies That Exceed Client Expectations

In an attention economy where priorities shift faster than project timelines, creatives and strategists are expected to do more than just deliver, they’re expected to anticipate. This talk dives into what clients are actually looking for right now (even if they don’t always know how to articulate it), and how to position yourself or your team to stay relevant, flexible, and indispensable. Drawing from experience across national campaigns, media room environments, and future-forward media strategies, Kareem Hassanien shares real-world insights on navigating indecision, re-scoping on the fly, and building trust in the face of ambiguity. If you’ve ever rewritten a deck five times only to pitch to a different priority altogether, this one’s for you. Takeaways: 

• How to identify what clients actually need versus what they say they want
• Positioning strategies that work when priorities shift mid-project
• Tools and frameworks to stay agile without burning out
• Building trust and credibility when outcomes are uncertain
• How to pitch and present ideas when the goalposts keep moving
• Staying creatively grounded in fast-changing environments