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Looking Forward to INBOUND 2025

What I’m Looking Forward to at INBOUND 2025

Author: Desiree Whitehead

Next month, I’ll be heading to San Francisco for INBOUND 2025, and I couldn’t be more excited. INBOUND has always been one of my favorite spaces — a place where strategy meets soul, and where digital connections turn into real hugs with people I consider family.

This year feels different though. Here’s what I’m most looking forward to:

The Spot Community

The Spot Community has always brought so much heart to INBOUND. From social events to creative activations, their energy has been unmatched. This year will be their final round of activations, and I already know I’ll be hugging my people a little tighter. It’s bittersweet, but I’m grateful we get one more chance to celebrate together.

BOHAP Retreat

Every year, the Black Owned HubSpot Agency Partners (BOHAP) gather during INBOUND for our own retreat. It isn’t just a meetup. It’s where we get real about challenges, explore opportunities, talk health and wellness, and mastermind around what it means to run Black-owned agencies shaping the future of marketing. It’s always one of the most meaningful parts of my trip, and I can’t wait to be in that space again.

AI in Action

AI will be everywhere at INBOUND this year — from the agenda assistant that helps you plan your schedule to brain dates that spark meaningful conversations. HubSpot has doubled down on integrating AI across its tools, and I’m eager to see how those changes will shape the future of marketing.

At Howl, we’ve already experienced the impact of AI in a deeply personal way. After 14 wonderful years, I lost my dog Maxwell. He was more than a pet — he was my protector, my companion, and part of my story. With the help of AI, we created a digital wolf pup avatar inspired by him.

That pup is now our newest pack member, and it allows Maxwell’s spirit to live on as part of our brand. For me, this is the power of AI: not just efficient or powerful, but warm and deeply human. AI can help us honor legacy, strengthen connection, and create brand stories that resonate on a personal level.

So yes, I’ll be taking notes in sessions and soaking up the big insights. But what I’m most excited for is the community, the retreat, the connections, and the reminder that technology can be both transformative and deeply human.

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