Speakers

1. 

   Gert Pauwels

   Creative Director at AdSomeNoise

   A lifelong advertising enthusiast, Gert Pauwels has worked in strategy, client service, creative direction, and management at BBDO, Leo Burnett, TBWA, Accenture Song, and his own digital startup, Atmosphere. Now at AdSomeNoise, he is on a mission to build the agency of the future—breaking silos and integrating strategy, creativity, development, and media under one roof. With a team of 40+ talents, the agency blends digital expertise with full-funnel marketing to tackle tomorrow’s challenges. For Gert, innovation happens where things are broken—and he’s ready to rethink the industry with those bold enough to join.

2. 

   Leon Jacobs

   Senior Experience Director at Empathy Lab by EPAM (formerly Emakina)

   Leon Jacobs is a seasoned creative leader and storyteller, currently serving as Senior Director of Experience Design at EPAM Continuum in Brussels. His career began in advertising, working globally as a copywriter and creative director before expanding into service design—a key component of brand expression. Today, he leads a multidisciplinary team of strategists, writers, designers, filmmakers, and innovation specialists, bringing brands to life through the latest technological advancements. Passionate about making complexity feel accessible and inspiring, Leon blends storytelling and design to craft human-centred solutions that drive meaningful change in an ever-evolving world.