The Believability Advantage Panel Discussion

The Believability Advantage: Brand thinking, credibility and the future of competitive advantage

In an era flooded with brand noise, trust has become the ultimate differentiator. This Spring Forum reframes brand not as messaging or marketing, but as belief. Who earns it. Who loses it. And why it now determines long-term relevance, growth and legitimacy. Led by Dr. Allison Steinke, lead author of Brand Thinking: Building Brands You Can Believe In, the evening brings brand thinking out of theory and into practice through a candid leadership conversation with senior brand executives operating at scale. Dr. Steinke will moderate a panel exploring how belief is built, protected and repaired when credibility is on the line and expectations are high.

Featured Brand Leaders:

• Katie Alvino, Chief Marketing Officer, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving)
• Andrew Farrant, Chief Marketing Officer, Global Jet Capital
• Jaime Hunt, Chief Marketing Officer, Solve Higher Ed Marketing

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Event Details

Thursday, March 26

5:30 P.M. Check In*

*Cash bar and heavy hors d'oeuvres available during this time

6 P.M. Program Begins

McNamara Alumni Center | University Hall

Presented by the Strategic Communication Hub in the Hubbard School of Journalism & Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Many thanks to our 2025-26 partners for their support of this event:

Hubbard Broadcasting • The Star Tribune • KNOCK • Padilla • Brew: Creative • Fast Horse • Target • Tunheim

Photographs taken at the event may be used in University of Minnesota print and online publications, promotions, or shared with the Hubbard School community.

Questions? Email hubbardevents@umn.edu.

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