Inside the Minds of Industry Giants: 5 Speakers to Watch at This Year’s Summit
Jul 20, 2025
Behind every major shift in the entertainment industry is a decision-maker who saw it coming—and moved early. That’s why the Financial Times Business of Entertainment Summit isn’t just a who’s-who of familiar names. It’s a carefully curated group of leaders who are actively shaping the future of content, platforms, and the deals that power them.
These aren’t just people with influence. They’re people with vision. And they’re bringing that vision to the stage—live.
If you’re attending the summit, these are five types of speakers you won’t want to miss:
1. The Tech Visionary Turning Audience Data into Revenue
While some creators still rely on vanity metrics, others are unlocking revenue by truly understanding their fans. One of our featured speakers runs a next-gen analytics platform that’s helping media companies turn data into engagement—and engagement into income.
Whether you’re launching a new show or managing a brand’s IP portfolio, their insights will change how you think about fan strategy. Spoiler: it’s not about more followers—it’s about deeper loyalty and smarter segmentation.
What you’ll learn: How to own your audience relationships—and monetize them sustainably.
2. The Showrunner Bridging Global Audiences
In an era when a show can drop on five continents overnight, cultural fluency and narrative boldness are more valuable than ever. One of this year’s most anticipated sessions comes from a creative producer with multiple global hits, including one that sparked viral buzz across Southeast Asia and North America simultaneously.
They’ll share how they’re thinking about multilingual production, region-specific distribution strategies, and what it means to build IP for a truly global market.
What you’ll learn: How to build stories that resonate everywhere without losing authenticity.
3. The Executive Rewriting the Studio Playbook
Post-strike Hollywood is still recalibrating—and one of the summit’s headliners is a studio executive who’s been at the center of that transition. From evolving deal structures to rethinking overhead and production models, they’ll walk through how their team is rebuilding entertainment from the inside out.
What’s especially compelling? Their openness. Expect real talk about failure, risk-taking, and what they’d never greenlight again.
What you’ll learn: What the modern studio model looks like—and how it’s being rebuilt from scratch.
4. The Legal Strategist Protecting Creative Control
The IP battle is real—and one of our speakers is a legal powerhouse helping artists retain ownership in even the most complex multi-platform deals. With the rise of transmedia franchises, AI-generated content, and hybrid licensing, creators are entering contracts that look nothing like they did five years ago.
Their panel will focus on how creators can maintain control, royalties, and creative rights—without stalling negotiations or losing momentum.
What you’ll learn: How to negotiate smarter without giving up your long-term equity.
5. The Investor Betting on Interactive Storytelling
Entertainment is no longer passive. Audiences want in—and that’s creating new formats, platforms, and business models. One of our summit speakers is a VC partner who’s made early bets on immersive narrative startups, interactive film platforms, and game-engine-based production.
Their insight into what’s investable in the next five years could reshape your roadmap—whether you’re building an app, launching an IP-driven brand, or pitching something no one’s ever seen before.
What you’ll learn: Where capital is flowing—and how to build for it.
Final Thought: The Room You’re In Shapes the Work You Do
These speakers aren’t just here to inspire. They’re here to connect, challenge, and collaborate. The summit gives you access—not just to their ideas, but to the conversations they’re having when the stage lights dim.
Want to be in the room with the people shaping what’s next?