In this episode of Spotlight, we sit down with Mandy Balak, President of The Gathering Summit, to explore one of the world’s most unique marketing events.

Hosted in the Canadian Rockies, The Gathering is more than a conference—it’s a three-day experience featuring 65+ sessions, four stages, and a lineup of global brand leaders.

Mandy shares the exciting roster of this year’s Brand Hall of Fame inductees, along with insights from the CMOs who will be revealing their brand-building playbooks.

We also talk about The Gathering’s new partnership with the Effies, its origin story from founders Ryan Gill and Chris Nealand, and how the event evolved from a business development idea into a global destination for connection, creativity, and celebration.

From Dana White’s unexpected three-day stay at the inaugural event to the magic that happens when marketing leaders drop their guard in the mountains, this conversation pulls back the curtain on what makes The Gathering so special.