CYNTHIA SLOWIK
Account Management| Strategic Partnerships | Experiential & Ecosystem Development
I bring people, technology, and ideas together to build ambitious programs, partnerships, experiences, and ecosystems that create real business value.
Over the past 16+ years, I've worked across emerging technology, creative agencies, startups, enterprise innovation, and culture, bringing together founders, creators, engineers, brands, investors, and executive leaders to take ideas from possibility to execution.
From building Verizon's 5G innovation ecosystem and producing 200+ technology and partner experiences, to launching startup programs, immersive XR demonstrations, integrated brand activations, and citywide cultural initiatives, my work sits at the intersection of strategy, relationships, creativity, technology, and execution.
I build the connective tissue that turns ambitious ideas into things people can experience, participate in, and grow.
At Verizon's 5G Labs, I helped build and scale a developer and innovation ecosystem connecting startups, creators, enterprise customers, strategic partners, and emerging technologies including AI, spatial computing, digital twins, robotics, mobility, computer vision, and edge computing. But my role went far beyond community building. I led complex programs from idea through execution, bringing together Product, Engineering, Sales, Marketing, agencies, startups, and executive stakeholders to develop pilots, technology demonstrations, immersive experiences, accelerator programs, and new partnership opportunities.
I became particularly good at operating where there wasn't a playbook yet: learning unfamiliar technologies quickly, bringing the right people into the room, creating structure around an idea, and helping multidisciplinary teams turn something experimental into something real.
About
From idea to execution
Some of my best work starts with an ambitious idea and no obvious roadmap.
I bring structure to those moments by defining the opportunity, assembling the right collaborators, translating strategy into actionable workstreams, and leading multidisciplinary teams from concept through delivery.
I've managed programs involving creative teams, engineers, product leaders, startups, agencies, vendors, executives, and strategic partners, overseeing scope, budgets, timelines, content production, technical integrations, live experiences, and stakeholder communications. I'm equally comfortable in an executive strategy session, creative review, product meeting, or on-site during production.
How I help
Innovation Programs & Ecosystem Development
I design and operate innovation programs that help organizations identify opportunities, test new ideas, and connect emerging technologies with the people and partners needed to move them forward. From accelerators and developer ecosystems to pilots and enterprise innovation programs, I create the structure that moves ideas from exploration toward adoption.
Services include:
Innovation program design and operations
Accelerator and pilot programs
Developer and startup ecosystems
Innovation workshops and executive programming
Partner and participant sourcing
Program frameworks, playbooks, and workflows
Strategic Partnerships & Community Building
I build relationships across startups, enterprise technology, brands, investors, creative industries, and cultural organizations, then turn those relationships into partnerships, programs, and communities that create lasting value.
Services include:
Partnership strategy and development
Partner sourcing and outreach
Founder, investor, and enterprise introductions
Community and ecosystem development
Executive roundtables and private communities
Strategic programming and collaborations
Experiential & Creative Production
I bring ambitious ideas to life through live experiences, immersive installations, brand activations, executive programs, cultural programming, and original content. I lead multidisciplinary teams across strategy, creative, production, technology, and client organizations from concept through launch.
Services include:
Experiential strategy and production
Brand activations and immersive experiences
Executive and customer experiences
Creative and content production
Agency and vendor management
Budgets, timelines, logistics, and live execution
Emerging Technology & Immersive Innovation
I help organizations explore emerging technologies and translate what's possible into experiences, pilots, partnerships, and business opportunities. My work has spanned AI, 5G and edge computing, XR, spatial computing, digital twins, computer vision, robotics, and mobility.
Services include:
Emerging technology programs and showcases
Innovation pilots and proofs of concept
XR and spatial experiences
Technology demonstrations
Partner and startup sourcing
Executive education and thought leadership
AI Operations & Knowledge Systems
I help teams move beyond AI experimentation and build practical systems that make everyday work faster, smarter, and more scalable. I design AI-powered workflows, knowledge systems, and tools that reduce repetitive work, capture institutional knowledge, and give teams more time for strategy, creativity, and relationships.
Services include:
Custom GPTs and Google Gems
AI workflow design and automation
Knowledge libraries and prompt systems
Content and marketing workflows
Research and executive briefing tools
AI playbooks and team enablement
Future Experiences & Placemaking
I help organizations rethink how people experience physical spaces across retail, mobility, workplace, and culture, bringing together technology, programming, partnerships, and experience design to create places people want to engage with.
Services include:
Future retail and customer experience
Innovation spaces and experience centers
Placemaking strategy and programming
Technology-enabled environments
Community and cultural programming
Partnership and ecosystem strategy
TRUSTED BY
Strategic Partnerships & Enterprise Innovation
Verizon • AWS • Microsoft • Mastercard • SAP • Airbnb Experiences • Amazon Music • NYCEDC • Unilever • Estée Lauder • Marc Jacobs
Creative & Transformation Partners
Ogilvy • Havas • Engine • Rosewood Creative • Belmondo • MCL • Reason2Be • Click3X
Startup & Founder Ecosystems
SkyHi • Stoke • Evercoast • VFILES • Phin For Good
Accelerators & Innovation Communities
Techstars • Barclays Accelerator • Futureworks • SOSA • Kaplak Ventures • Breakout • Verizon Forward for Good Accelerator
Creative & Cultural Communities
A24 • NYCxDESIGN • Made in NY • SHOWFIELDS • General Assembly
Emerging Platforms
Spatial • Mozilla Hubs • Rec Room • Twitch • Topia • PixelCanvas • AltspaceVR
Portfolio
Work that speaks for itself.
Videos
Agency: Ogilvy
Client: SAP “Run Like Never Before” 360 Global Creative Agency. Oversaw development and implementation of integrated global advertising campaigns for SAP across all mediums; campaign site, TV, video, radio, print, high impact, mobile & tablet banners.
Agency: Rosewood Creative
Client: Airbnb Experiences x Timothee Chalamet “Marty Supreme”
Project Social: Media Campaign (Instagram & TikTok)
Client: Verizon Innovation Labs
The labs boast state-of-the-art tools and infrastructure, 5G technology testing, and a team of top industry experts.
Agency: Rosewood Creative
Client: Airbnb Experiences x Timothee Chalamet “Marty Supreme”
Project:
Social Media Campaign (Instagram & TikTok)
Agency: Raison D'Être
Client: Estée Lauder’s Breast Cancer Awareness 360 Campaign which was shot documentary-style. Campaign created for all mediums; campaign site, TV, video, radio, print, digital media, and social.
Agency: Ogilvy
Client: SAP
Agency: Rosewood Creative
Client: Amazon Music
Role: Senior Project Manager
Workflow: Production/Post-production
Campaign Assets: Video :15 & :30, Radio, variety of display ad units, OOH Times Square 3D Video
Agency: Rosewood Creative
Client: Amazon Music
Role: Senior Project Manager
Workflow: Production/Post-production
Campaign Assets: Video :15 & :30, Radio, variety of display ad units, OOH Times Square 3D Video
Case Study
Verizon 5G Innovation Labs
Building an Innovation Ecosystem from the Ground Up
Helped build and scale Verizon's innovation ecosystem at a moment when 5G, edge computing, spatial technology, computer vision, robotics, and AI were still emerging enterprise opportunities.
My role connected Product, Engineering, Sales, Marketing, startups, developers, agencies, technology partners, and executive leadership to turn emerging technologies into programs people could understand, experience, test, and ultimately adopt.
6,000+ Developers and ecosystem members
200+ Programs, experiences & activations
$3M+ Annual innovation portfolio managed
30+ Production resources scaled for major programs
I helped build developer programs with AWS Wavelength, managed startup accelerators and innovation pilots, produced executive technology showcases, developed immersive XR and spatial experiences, and worked with emerging companies to move ideas from demonstration toward real-world application.
Case Study
New York City’s Design Week: NYCxDesign
WHERE TECHNOLOGY MEETS CULTURE
Some of the work I'm most proud of has happened where technology, art, design, entertainment, and culture collide.
Through NYCxDESIGN, I helped build programming and partnerships across New York City's five boroughs alongside hundreds of designers, artists, cultural organizations, and institutions, including MoMA, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum, the Brooklyn Museum, Museum of Arts and Design, and Frieze New York.
Across agency and innovation work, I've also collaborated with organizations including Amazon Music, Airbnb Experiences, Live Nation, Samsung, Mastercard, Estée Lauder, Marc Jacobs, and VFILES to develop original content, experiential activations, immersive installations, and technology-driven experiences.
Former D1 Student Athlete
Played as a goalkeeper for Northeastern University's Division 1 women's soccer team from 2001 to 2004.
Participated as a semi-professional soccer player for New York Athletic Club from 2007 to 2012.
Book me to speak
Creative Advertising, Brand Innovation, Storytelling, Retail, Mobility, The Future of Media, Events, Immersive Workspaces, Metaverse Platforms & Virtual Communities.
Get in Touch!
Always down to talk shop.