Coffee in one hand, discovery in the other. The Pet Connect Pop-Up Shop is open—your first look at the freshest ideas in pet care. From smart tech to bold treats see what everyone will be talking about before it hits the shelves.
With 52% of pet products bought online and 48% in-store, the future isn’t digital or physical—it’s both.
In this fireside chat, discover how leaders are redesigning the pet retail experience to meet evolving consumer expectations.
Candise Goodwin is a recognized leader in the pet industry, with over 15 years of experience helping companies navigate market complexity, scale solutions, and deliver measurable impact. Her background spans pivotal roles at industry leaders including Merck Animal Health, Vets First Choice, VIP Petcare/PETIQ, and Petco, where she led major digital transformations and launched numerous high-profile, industry-changing growth initiatives.
Candise has dedicated her career to understanding the challenges and opportunities within the pet industry. She has worked closely with retailers, veterinary groups, pet technology companies, product and service providers, and pharmacies - developing a holistic, customer-centric viewpoint of the industry's unique ecosystem along the way.
Today, Candise extends her expertise to clients seeking to navigate the complexities of the market. Her firm, Outlier Advisors, provides strategic consulting services that reflect her distinctive blend of innovative thinking, deep industry knowledge, and ability to spot emerging trends. Outlier Advisors partners with industry leaders, investors, and startups to develop actionable strategies that meet the demands of an evolving pet landscape.
Candise is also a sought-after speaker, advisor, author, and mentor, known for sharing rare and multifaceted insights and practical strategies with fellow Outliers.
In her role as Managing Director, Katy is focused on guiding brand strategy and uncovering consumer insights that lead to big ideas. Katy's career has been driven by developing a keen understanding of the human behavior that drives purchasing decisions. She has worked with world-class brands like Hallmark, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Helzberg Diamonds and Kohl’s. At her core, Katy is a problem solver and a storyteller. As a strong collaborator and thoughtful writer, Katy leads teams through the strategic process to simplify the complex and deliver succinct brand systems.
In a world of smart feeders, personalized health plans, and AI-driven recommendations—who really owns the pet parent relationship?
This panel explores the shifting balance of trust, data, and influence between clinics, platforms, and brands—and what it takes to stay essential in an AI-shaped pet care ecosystem.
Kicking off, a strategic look at the next 20 years of pet business evolution. Not crystal-ball futurism, a data-backed vision of pet care as lifestyle.
As wellness, tech, and retail merge into emotional ecosystems, discover how future brands will shape how pet parents live, feel, and connect. Unlock key growth vectors—and why today’s choices matter.
Morning Plenary: Provoking Vision and Urgency
Structured for pet execs keen to anticipate the pet parent of tomorrow and recalibrate around next-gen expectations.
Selected by the insights team at Pet Connect the Next 25 is comprised of the start and scale up founders to know and watch as they begin to put their print on the pet industry.
This high-promise group poised to disrupt have that special something that breaks through the noise and gains commercial traction.
We celebrate them on the eve of the summit.
Open to all pre-day attendees — kick off Pet Connect in style with drinks, connections, and stunning views of the LA skyline.