Dane Vahey, Head of B2B Marketing at OpenAI, will deliver a keynote address at B2B Marketing Exchange (B2BMX) 2026, powered by Advertising Week. Vahey’s “You Can Just Build Things” presentation will challenge attendees to reimagine their professional capabilities in an era where artificial intelligence (AI) makes the impossible achievable.
Vahey was OpenAI’s first B2B marketer and now leads programs that help companies of all sizes adopt AI at scale. Before that, he built Stripe’s B2B marketing function and helped grow the company from a developer-first product into a global B2B organization. He began his career in Salesforce’s product marketing team, launching the company’s first vertical product lines.
This year’s conference is being held at Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, CA, from March 9-11.
OpenAI’s Vahey Focus
Vahey’s keynote comes at a pivotal moment for the industry, as marketing professionals navigate the transition from theoretical AI discussions to practical daily application. Vahey will address how motivated and curious individuals can now construct solutions that once required extensive resources. The core message focuses on a fundamental shift in the marketer’s identity, encouraging professionals to move beyond the role of operators and embrace their potential as builders.
Attendees can expect a deep dive into how broadening skill sets across research, analysis, automation, and creation can dramatically alter what a single person or team can accomplish. Vahey intends to demonstrate that daily engagement with AI tools yields superior results compared to theoretical planning. The session will feature live demos and real-world data to illustrate these concepts, ensuring the content is practical, achievable, and engaging.
Keynotes at B2BMX 2026
Vahey joins a keynote lineup that includes Benedict Evans, Ashley Faus and Elfried Samba. Evans, one of the most trusted and influential independent analysts in technology and with more than two decades spent analyzing the forces that truly move markets, he is known for cutting through noise to reveal what matters. Before this must-see session, we interviewed Evans on moving move beyond the hype to unpack how AI is fundamentally reshaping technology, media, and the way B2B teams go to market, giving you the macro perspective needed to make smarter decisions in 2026 and beyond.
Faus is a marketer, writer, and speaker whose keynote will be focused on how trust is the one thing you can’t outsource or automate As marketers think about how to adapt the journey, workflows, and metrics in the age of AI, Faus stressed they need to remember that it’s still about connecting with the humans behind the screen. In her session, attendees will explore frameworks, tactics, and real-world examples to help build trust to win the hearts, minds, and wallets of our audience.
In our exclusive Q&A, Faus previews the insights she will share on the B2BMX stage including how to leverage AI as a helpful tool rather than a crutch and discover why the future of B2B marketing belongs to those who prioritize community, authenticity, and human connection above all else.
The Co-Founder and CEO of Butterfly Effect, Samba’s session is titled Building a Sexy Brand in an Unsexy Industry, where he makes the case for human-to-human brand building as the most powerful growth lever in modern B2B. As paid media becomes more expensive and less reliable, the brands pulling ahead are those that turn attention into trust, trust into community, and community into revenue. Samba previewed his core principles from his keynote in an interview with Demand Gen Report, discover how lessons from consumer culture can be applied to B2B, and learn to measure the true success of community-driven marketing.
Sign Up Today
This yearly event is an essential opportunity to connect with top-tier leaders and discover the latest technology solutions necessary to future-proof your B2B revenue engine. The conference includes 50+ Breakout & Thought Leadership Sessions that are packed with actionable strategies, practical frameworks, and real-world case studies, all focused on delivering immediate, tangible results you can implement the moment you return to the office.
Connect with industry leaders, discover top solution providers, and network with peers in a fun and collaborative setting for three days of intensive learning and high-level strategy in a beautiful, inspiring environment. Other features of the conference include:
- The Marketplace Access:Explore a dynamic exhibition floor showcasing the future of MarTech and SalesTech. Discover innovative tools, cutting-edge platforms, and strategic partners that can instantly optimize your tech stack, enhance campaign performance, and accelerate your revenue engine.
- Exclusive Networking Receptions:Forge invaluable connections in a relaxed, collaborative setting. Mix and mingle with hundreds of top-tier marketers and sales leaders—your peers, potential partners, and future collaborators to exchange ideas, share challenges, and build a powerful professional network.
- Hands-On Workshops: Go beyond theory and engage in intensive, small-group skill-building sessions. Dedicated workshop slots each day offer opportunities for deep strategic growth, allowing you to master specific tactics in areas like RevOps, ABM execution, and AI integration.
The conference and Marketplace, hosted at the Omni La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, CA, is an experience is packed with unparalleled value, offering actionable sessions and visionary keynotes that deliver strategies you can implement immediately.
