April 23, 2026 | Toronto Design Exchange
CMDC’s Annual Media Summit is Canada’s marquee leadership gathering for the media industry bringing together leaders across media, marketing, technology, and business for a day of big ideas, candid conversation, and future-facing insight.
The Age of Intelligence marks a defining shift in leadership where human judgment and machine intelligence converge to reshape how we grow, compete, communicate, and build trust. This is a leadership-first forum designed to challenge thinking and help shape what comes next for Canada’s economy.
Key Themes
Leading in the Age of Intelligence
As algorithms move faster than ever, how do leaders balance speed, accountability, and human judgment?
Trust, Media and Influence
How brands, agencies, and media leaders build credibility, shape culture, stay innovative and earn influence in an intelligent world.
Canada’s Moment
Why Canadian talent, creativity, and innovation are strategic advantages in the Age of Intelligence.
The experience
Bold Ideas – High-impact keynotes, real conversations, and future-focused sessions.
Real Connections – Network with CMDC Board members and 300+ senior leaders across brands, media, agencies, and tech.
Premium All Day – Gourmet breakfast and lunch, and cocktail networking reception, immersive brand pop-ups, and interactive partner experiences.
YA Social – A high-energy closing reception uniting today’s leaders and tomorrow’s talent.
Who attends
Senior leaders to next generation professionals from media agencies, marketers, publishers, broadcasters, platforms, and tech, plus policymakers and innovators shaping Canada’s media future.
Keynote Speaker
Sarah Baldeo, AI Neuroscientist & Bestselling Author
The Intelligence Shift
As intelligent systems accelerate, leadership is being redefined. The Intelligence Shift examines how generative AI is reshaping executive judgment and what separates leaders who amplify intelligence from those who unknowingly outsource it.
Drawing from her work in media, technology, and neuroscience research, Sarah reveals how AI alters cognitive load, risk perception, and decision-making — with real implications for organizations, audiences, and competitive advantage.
In this session, leaders will explore:
The neuroscience of decision-making in an age of acceleration
How generative AI reshapes executive thinking and institutional trust
The tension between efficiency and discernment
What differentiates leaders who expand intelligence from those who dilute it
Practical mental models for navigating 2026 and beyond
CMDC Media Leaders Dinner
April 22, 2026 | The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
The night before the Summit, CMDC hosts its leadership gathering of the year, a high-impact evening for Canada’s media leaders. Join us for exceptional dining, meaningful connection, and a candid keynote conversation with Rudyard Griffiths, Senior Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Munk School of Global Affairs and Co-Founder & Moderator of the Munk Debates, on geopolitics, leadership, and the forces shaping Canada’s future.
What to expect
Curated room of senior decision-makers from across the industry, including the CMDC Board
Cocktail reception (6:00–7:00 PM) to connect and network
Thoughtful conversation and leadership perspective
A gourmet dinner at The Ritz-Carlton
Tables are limited.
For inquiries, contact medialeaders@cmdc.ca
PARTNER
Thank you to The Trade Desk for supporting the CMDC Media Leaders Dinner.
