Valerie Vacante is an award-winning global innovator, creative catalyst and visionary. She is the VP, Solutions Innovation for global experience and innovation agency dentsu, where she uncovers cultural trends, next generation product innovations and designs strategies impacting the way people connect and experience in the physical and digital world.
Valerie is the visionary behind ShopNXT™— Merkle’s collection of retail innovation products focused on helping brands create more personalized shopping experiences, increasing loyalty, sales and customer joy.
She is the co-creator of Merkle’s patent-pending app-free technologies, Scan & Go™, named top product pick by PCR Magazine and “top tools shaping the future of retail” by Adweek featured in The Drum, Click Z, DigiDay and PSFK. Additionally, she architected NXT Intelligence™, a platform focused on technology, innovation, and brand experiences designed to explore, evaluate and evolve business growth opportunities.
She is also the Founder of strategy and innovation firm Collabsco; in a connected world of entertainment, play, living and learning Valerie has pioneered award winning digital products and connected experiences across IoT, AR, VR, voice, robotics and beyond.
In 2018, Valerie launched the first-ever connected play landscape; her latest iteration maps over 260 connected experiences, emerging technologies and business growth opportunities featured in VentureBeat, The Drum, VRScout and more.
She is the Co-Founder of TechUp, a curated service showcasing innovative products on a global stage, featured at WIRED Live, WIRED Next Generation, CES and SXSW.
Her portfolio includes Hasbro, Mattel, Disney, Bandai Namco Entertainment, WowWee, AT&T, Vodafone, Mercedes-Benz, MINI, Honeywell, Sleep Number, Dell, HeadOffice.Space, MERGE, Virsix Games, Draw & Code, SubVRsive, Spree Interactive and Rocket Impact among others.
In between driving what’s next in technology, culture and design, Valerie has recently been named one of the Top 25 Women in Tech 2019 and 2020 by PCR magazine, 40 Over Forty and Top 10 Pioneering CEOs to Follow in 2021 by CIO Look.
She serves on the Fast Company Executive Board, SXSW Innovation Advisory Board, a Global Expert to MassChallenge, an international speaker and writer.
You can find her almost anywhere creators are designing the future.
Valerie's Articles, Blog Posts, Webinars and More
Star Wars-inspired tips for launching your career into hyperdrive
No matter your passion or industry, starting your career or making a change does not have to feel like journeying through a galaxy far, far away.
Fueling the future: Ignite innovation catalysts in your organization, part two
The most successful marketers stand out in their ability to continuously innovate the way they think, work, and approach challenges. But it’s not that simple. If it were, everyone would be doing it. So, how do you become one of those innovators that stand out?
The Consumer Mandate: Innovating for Next-Generation Experiences
We’re entering into a new age where shopping is always on and everywhere; consumers want the convenience and capabilities of your best channels no matter how they engage; and how a brand conducts itself is as important as the products it provides.
Top Tech Empowering Retailers in Our Contactless World
Valerie Vacante details the retail technologies that are changing the way we live and shop in a contactless world.
Fueling the future: How to ignite innovation catalysts in your organization, part one
Innovation is tough, but capturing and catalyzing opportunities is critical to the growth of organizations both big and small.
The Rise of Contactless Shopping: Merkle Debuts Products at CES 2022
For years, shoppers have had to make a choice. Decide to buy as you look at and touch a product or wait to read all there is to know about it online. Receive a box on your doorstep or get a full brand experience with a product in your hands at a store.
