Leading with Authenticity

The most powerful thing you can bring to a room is exactly who you are.

Join sfBIG for an intimate Pride month celebration honoring executives and entrepreneurs in media, marketing, and advertising who have built careers and companies by being unapologetically themselves — and by deliberately making space for others to do the same.

From building a media brand with a genuine civic voice, to using data as a tool for inclusion, to marketing healthcare for a community that’s been historically underserved — these leaders know that authenticity is a competitive advantage.

We’ll get into how they built it, and what it actually takes to sustain it.

On the table:

How do you find and build the right partnerships — and know when shared values are real?

How do you build a brand — and a culture — that attracts diverse talent without making it feel performative?

What does it look like to use data not just to measure performance, but to protect and amplify underrepresented voices?

When authenticity is personal, not just strategic, how do you navigate the tension between advocacy and business outcomes?

Confirmed Speakers

Griffin Gaffney,  | CEO, The SF Standard

Griffin co-founded The San Francisco Standard in 2021 and built it into one of the fastest-growing news outlets in the country — millions of readers, zero algorithmic shortcuts. His formula: serious journalism with real personality, and a newsroom that earns its audience. A former founding member of Stripe’s sales team who’s lived and worked across Asia, Africa, and Europe — and an Ironman triathlete — Griffin brings the same drive to The Standard that he brings to everything else. He lives in Noe Valley with his husband and dog, and he’ll speak to what it means to build a media brand with a genuine point of view in a diverse city that demands one.

Sneha Ghosh | EVP of Data, Monks

A twenty-year force in global media analytics, Sneha has architected the data infrastructure behind some of the world’s most recognized brands — driving 5x campaign efficiency and measurable growth across Levi’s, Microsoft, American Express, and beyond. As a staunch ally and agency leader, she’ll bring a rare and honest perspective: how do you use data not just to measure performance, but to protect and scale diverse voices? What does it look like to architect space for inclusion — not just advocate for it?

Haley Everheart | CMO, FOLX Health

As a queer executive, marketer, and parent, Haley has spent 15+ years building brands rooted in trust, storytelling, and cultural relevance — most recently as CMO of FOLX Health, an LGBTQIA+-focused healthcare company serving people across the US. Their work has been covered by CNN, Forbes, Teen Vogue, and Fast Company. Haley will speak to what it means to build audience trust when the stakes are personal — and how authenticity stops being a brand strategy and becomes a form of advocacy.

Moderated by Christie James

Host of Morning Drive with Christie Live on 80s + 103.7FM and On-Air Host on PRIDE Radio, Christie brings a career arc unlike anyone else in the room. She began as a US Navy journalist — stationed in Italy, then Washington D.C. as a member of the Presidential Honor Guard under President Clinton — before the world of radio pulled her in. She arrived in the Bay Area in 2003 as an intern and built her way up through stations across the region into one of the most recognized voices in the market. A sought-after DJ and a natural connector, Christie doesn’t just moderate conversations — she shapes them.

Kim Tran | Co-Founder, Desai Tran

Kim Tran, PhD is an award-winning organizational changemaker who helps leading media organizations to create teams with the highest possible reach. Using a combination of qualitative research and best practices Kim has supported Adroll, Google, Meta, and Paramount Global in their efforts to ensure that LGBTQIA+ people are seen, heard, and celebrated. For her contributions to the community, the California Legislature’s LGBT Caucus selected Kim as Pride Honoree in 2021. She has been on NPR’s “It’s Been a Minute,” PBS NewHour, Red Table Talk, MSNBC and profiled for Politico magazine. 

Thank you to our Culture partner iHeartMedia

Reach out to [email protected] for Sponsorship Opportunities

Refund Policy
We understand that plans can change. However, all ticket purchases are final and non-refundable. As a small nonprofit, we plan and commit resources ahead of each event based on attendance, so we’re unable to accommodate refund requests. We appreciate your understanding and support.