2025 was a year unlike any other for the industry. With AI reshaping workflows, tighter budgets, and teams stretched thin, the pressure to perform at every major event was intense. Yet, amid this chaos, something shifted. Connection became more than a buzzword—it turned into a competitive advantage. And nowhere was that shift more visible than through Unplugged, which grew from a newcomer to an essential presence at the industry’s biggest stages. In 2025, Unplugged sparked a

This article was originally published in The Contextual Clipper, our on-site newspaper for Unplugged State of Mind, a three-day activation during Advertising Week 2025. It highlights the debut of the Unplugged Studio, built inside the Pavilion at the Virgin Hotel as a hub for live podcasts, thought-leadership recordings, and industry storytelling.