Ugly Talk x Luminary: The ROI of Living Your Brand

Most founders treat visibility like a marketing tactic. It is not.

It is the hard call to be seen clearly. Clear enough that the right people get you, and the wrong people keep walking.

This room is about what it costs to live your brand in public. The no’s. The friction. The moments where being honest costs you something first, then pays you back.

Why you should be in this room.

• Hear founders break down how visibility actually turns into trust, reach, and revenue.
• Get the hard part. The tradeoffs. The no's. The rooms they skipped. The calls that cost them something.
• Learn what happens when your brand finally matches how you operate.
• Meet builders who are done pretending they have it all figured out.

Who's getting in.

• LGBTQIA+ founders, builders, and community leaders
• Luminary members and New York founders in the thick of it
• Service-based and product-based operators trying to earn attention the hard way
• Brand, marketing, and community people who know polish is not the same as proof
• People building something real, and tired of rooms that talk in circles

Featured speakers.

Kris Harvey - Founder & Creative Director

Kris Harvey is the Founder and Creative Director of Kris Averi, an inclusive fine jewelry brand specializing in bespoke engagement rings and heirloom-quality custom jewelry handcrafted in NYC. Inspired by nature, spirituality, storytelling, and human connection, Kris founded the brand in 2017 with a heart-centered approach focused on deeply understanding each client’s story and translating their vision into timeless, one-of-a-kind heirlooms. As a queer designer, Kris is passionate about creating celebrated spaces for all expressions of love, identity, and devotion. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, British Vogue, and worn by artists including Cyndi Lauper.

Glenn Johnson - Marketing Consultant/Fractional CMO

Glenn Johnson works with brands, startups, and founders to address their marketing and branding needs. “From 0-1, to pivot and growth, from idea to production, from packaging to sales strategies, key markets and comp set research and who to work with, I craft a plan and a strategy to get it done. I help brands build their business, for me, Ugly Talks is about the story and the lessons.”

A former VP/Creative Director at a Madison Avenue agency specializing in luxury and bespoke audiences, he brings expertise across multiple verticals. As a category-agnostic brand storyteller, he helps founders define their mission, vision and develop their brand business.

Who's hosting it.

Ayanna Dutton-Diaz - Founder @ AD Consulting

Ayanna Dutton-Diaz is a brand strategist, speaker, and Founder of AD Consulting. She works with founders and multi-hyphenate leaders ready to stop limiting themselves to one identity and build a brand that finally reflects who they actually are. Drawing on 15+ years inside global brands including LinkedIn, Meta, and Cadillac, she equips leaders with the clarity and language they need to find their through line and build presence that opens doors. Past stages include Goldman Sachs One Million Black Women x Brooklyn Public Library LevelUP, LinkedIn x Cannes Lions, The One Club for Creativity, Luminary, and The Female Quotient. She co-founded Non-Corporate Girls™ and writes The Aya Brand on Substack. Whether through keynotes, workshops, or panel moderation, she leaves every room with something they can use.

What's on the table.

• Visibility is not exposure for exposure's sake. It is being known for something, then living up to it.
• The right yes usually shows up after a few painful no's.
• If your brand says one thing and your decisions say another, people feel it fast.
• Being seen sounds good until the scrutiny hits. Then you find out if the brand was real or just pretty.