38 • MAY 2026 • PPAI “It saves time, money and keeps branding consistent across regions. Being at Expo gives me the chance to meet our U.S. partners in person, discuss upcoming projects and spot new trends in the U.S. market,” she adds. “It’s also great for comparing what’s hot in the States versus Europe – they can be very different!” This is all work, but it reaps benefits and rewards. As Schooley suggests, it’s a decision. “You have to choose to have a global mindset,” Schooley says. “The moment someone makes that choice, you start to see that this is a very global industry. If you don’t make that choice, it’s hard to see, and you stay in that bubble.” ‘Align Around A Collective Voice’ But the burden isn’t all on the individual firms to create that international landscape. PPAI aims to help build those bridges. That’s where events like the International Leadership Summit come in, providing something the industry has historically lacked: a structured forum for cross-regional leadership dialogue. “The 2026 International Leadership Summit is both a showcase and a catalyst for elevating branded merchandise on the global stage,” says Drew Holmgreen, CAS, CEO and president of PPAI. “When we bring industry leaders together from across continents in this unique environment, the impact compounds. We don’t just share perspectives, we align around a collective voice that ensures merch has its rightful place within the brand ecosystem and every brand strategy.” Schneider points out that an event like this can rectify so much of what keeps the industry siloed regionally simply by putting people with shared focuses and slightly different perspectives in the same rooms. “The strategic significance is that it moves the industry toward shared standards, coordinated responses to regulation and stronger global partnerships,” he says. Baumgartner says that after just one year he has seen how it breaks the pattern of regional bubbles. “It brings leaders from North America, Europe and beyond into one room to challenge assumptions, exchange real insights and shape the future of the industry together,” he adds. There will be immediate dividends, but the hope is that seeds are planted and dominos begin to fall, making the world smaller for those interested in crossing borders through branded merch. The International Leadership Summit is less about generating business and more about long-term industry alignment. During last year’s inaugural event, for example, a network of European Young Professionals was created to encourage cross-border collaboration among emerging leaders. "The 2026 International Leadership Summit is both a showcase and a catalyst for elevating branded merchandise on the global stage." –Drew Holmgreen, CAS, CEO and president of PPAI DewiSari1894 / Shutterstock.com Must Read | Branding Without Borders
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