Interview: T1 Founder Mark Harrison, The Brainchild Of SponsorshipX

SPX Paris 2024, an international edition of T1’s partnership marketing forum, kicks off next week on August 7, with three days focused on ‘The Future of Global Partnerships’ during the 2024 Olympic Games.

Asia Sponsorship News (ASN), SPX Paris 2024 Official Media Partner, had the chance to speak with Mark Harrison – founder of T1, the agency behind SponsorshipX (SPX) – about the upcoming event. 

ASN: What is SponsorshipX?

Mark Harrison (MH3): Founded in 2005, SponsorshipX has been at the forefront of evolving the sponsorship marketing landscape for over a decade and a half. As the industry accelerates into a future shaped by digital innovation and global connectivity, we continue to be the pivotal nexus for sponsorship professionals worldwide.

SponsorshipX is more than a conference or a hub; it’s a movement towards a more interconnected and digitally savvy sponsorship ecosystem. We are the architects of a community where the fusion of technology, creativity and strategic partnerships redefine the possibilities of sponsorship marketing.

ASN: What makes SponsorshipX stand out from the crowd in the sponsorship arena?

MH3: At SponsorshipX, we recognize that the sponsorship marketing world is constantly transforming, driven by emerging technologies, shifting consumer behaviours and the global expansion of digital platforms. We aim to navigate these changes by offering cutting-edge insights, curating dynamic content and facilitating informative and predictive sessions on future trends.

We pride ourselves on gathering some of the most forward-thinking industry leaders, launching groundbreaking research studies that offer a glimpse into the future of sponsorships and forming alliances with significant event properties globally. Our platform is a melting pot of ideas where live and virtual sponsorship marketers come together to exchange relevant strategies for today and shape tomorrow’s sponsorship narrative.

ASN: Tell us something about SPX Paris 2024?

MH3: How much time do you have? 

SponsorshipX Paris, set against the backdrop of the eagerly anticipated Paris 2024 Olympics, will be at Canada Olympic House, our official session venue at the Paris Science Centre. Spanning three forum days from August 7, 8 and 9, the event ensures a seamless experience for participants and promises insights from major international and national Olympic partners and brand sponsors.

Participants will explore the intricacies of local and global partnerships, delving into each collaboration’s inherent strengths and challenges. The dynamic world of sponsorship takes center stage, with discussions revolving around the latest trends and potential conflicts. The conference emphasizes the significant impact brands can achieve by leveraging the Olympics and Paralympics for marketing and social initiatives.

As the world unites through sport, SPX Paris 2024 invites participants to shape the future of global partnerships and the role of sponsorships in this extraordinary journey. Explore the future of sponsorship marketing amidst the excitement of the Olympics in the heart of Paris.

ASN: Does the event follow an overall theme?

MH3: Innovation is a central theme, offering a glimpse into cutting-edge sponsorship marketing strategies, including technology-driven approaches and creative branding. Furthermore, the evolving landscape of sports broadcasting takes the spotlight, providing insights into its influence on sponsorship strategies.

Under the overarching theme, ‘The Future of Global Partnerships’, this event sets the stage for exploring and shaping the future of sponsorship marketing. Participation in SPX Paris 2024 is not just about witnessing the magic of the Games in the City of Light, but about actively contributing to the future of our industry amidst 2024.

ASN: Tell us about your plans for Paris. What will the conference look like?

MH3: Every morning, SPX Paris delegates will attend incredible networking and plenary sessions at Canada Olympic House and hear about real-time global partnerships in the market. 

Then, in the afternoons, delegates will get behind the scenes with a fantastic fan experience (August 7), activation tours hosted by Allianz & Visa (August 8), and a bike tour of Paris venues (August 9). 

Each evening will feature a different immersive global networking dinner, starting with the Jackalope Block Party on the Seine (August 7), a private dining experience at Bofinger Paris (August 8), and the Coca-Cola Food Festival (August 9). 

ASN: Who are the main speakers?

MH3: Can I give you my entire list?! I’m serious! Here you go:

• Sarah Vickers, Head of Olympic and Paralympic Program at Intel
• Danny Koblin, Chief Operating Officer, United States Olympic and Paralympic Properties
• Jacquie Ryan, CEO, Canadian Olympic Foundation | Chief Brand and Commercial Officer, Canadian Olympic Committee
• Danny Koblin, Chief Operating Officer, United States Olympic and Paralympic Properties
• Claus-Peter Mayer, SVP & General Manager – South Europe at Adidas
• Andy Shibata, Vice President, Brand at Air Canada
• Ana Shapiro Queenan, Global Market Account Management – Olympic and Paralympic Games Partnership at Allianz
• Phil Cook, CMO at Women’s National Basketball Association at WNBA
• Jennifer DelVecchio, Senior Director, Global Brand, Content & Culture at McDonald’s
• Brad Ross, VP of Global Sports & Entertainment Marketing and Partnerships at Coca-Cola
• Ricardo Fort, Founder of Sport by Fort Consulting
• Lauren Kipp, Senior Manager Global Partnership – lululemon
• Paul Samuels, EVP of Global Partnerships at AEG
• Sally Moore, Senior Director at Sage
• Stuart Waremen, Global SVP of Sponsorships, Events & Experiences at Accor
• Denis Steffens, Head of Partnerships & Marketing at Germany SailGP Team
• Neill Duffy, CEO of 17 Sport
• Joseph Polossifakis, Olympian and Marketing Advisor, Petro-Canada Sponsorship Programs.
• Lauren Kipp, Senior Manager, Global Partnerships & Special Projects, lululemon
• Felix Vo, Government Affairs Lead at Airbnb
• James Watts, Head of Brand Sponsorship & Experiential at OVO
• Nicolas Macé, Paris 2024 Program at Visa
• Kelly Cranston, Director of Sponsorship Marketing at Visa
• Julie Morris, SVP, Head of Commercial Development & Media at NBA
• Thomas Hirsch, Head of Sponsorships at Capgemini
• Bjorn Poels, CCO, Bundeling Group
• Chris Renner, President at Stellar Partners
• Greg Nugent, Founder, Harder Than You Think

ASN: Can people still register? The event is coming up soon.

MH3: The event is next week, and while we have sold out of most day passes, you can still get a complete event pass and morning plenary session passes for August 7 or 8. Go to https://www.sponsorshipx.com/paris2024 to register!

ASN: T1 is part of the MH3 Collective. Tell us more about that.

MH3: The MH3 Collective is a group of ventures whose purpose is to connect people and ideas to create social impact. The Collective includes:

– Humanity, specializing in brand revitalization.

– Sidekick, purpose-driven strategists.

– T1, a full stack sponsorship agency.

• SponsorshipX, a global community of marketing practitioners
• ‘Black Talent Initiative’ to empower black leaders of today & tomorrow
• ‘Park Street Education’ is a charity that removes barriers to education

ASN: Where to next?

MH3: That’s exciting; we’re working on a five-year roadmap and looking for the right partners who want to incorporate a B2B event into a consumer or delegate-facing event. 

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T1 founder’s Bio

Mark Harrison is the founder of T1, an award-winning Full Stack Sponsorship agency launched in 1994, and SponsorshipX, a global community of marketing practitioners. Both are now part of the MH3 Collective, a group of ventures whose purpose is to connect people and ideas to create social impact. 

The Collective also has a brand transformation agency, Humanity, and Realization Consultancy – Sidekick. In addition, Mark co-founded the Black Talent Initiative to empower the black leaders of today and tomorrow as well as Park Street Education, a charity to remove all barriers to children’s education.

His community involvement includes being Board Chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Toronto and a Board Member of several organizations, including the CAMH Foundation, the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences/The JUNO Awards and Ontario University Athletics.

Mark is a recipient of the Black Business and Professional Association’s Harry Jerome Award and the Association of Canadian Advertisers’ 2022 Gold Medal Award winner.

He is also CBC Radio Metro Morning’s business columnist, where you can hear his regular takes on corporate and societal matters.

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Asia Sponsorship News (ASN) is pleased to join SPX Paris 2024, 7 – 9 August 2024 as an Official Media Partner and we extend to ASN premium subscribers a 20% discount off any pass, using promo code ASN.

ASN is also pleased to extend to all SPX Paris 2024 delegates a 20% discount off ASN premium subscriptions https://asiasponsorshipnews.com/pricing, using promo code SPX Paris 2024.