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A Spooky Power Hour

Creep into our monthly Power Hours, where marketing's most terrifying tales come to life through the trembling voices of Central Texas' haunted professionals. These spine-chilling sessions feature a panel of brave survivors sharing their most nightmarish marketing disasters that will make your blood run cold. Dare to learn from their grave mistakes before your campaign meets a similar fate!

 

Marketing Horror Stories: When Campaigns Go Bump in the Night

Austin AMA Power Hour | Oct 23, 2025

Let’s face it—marketing can be a nightmare. That brilliant campaign that flopped. The typo nobody caught. The social post that went viral for all the wrong reasons. Yikes!

But here’s the thing: how you handle these disasters often says more about your brand than the mess-up itself.

This Halloween season, join Austin AMA for some therapy-by-storytelling with our marketing survivors: Mubaraka Malbari, Katy Ward, and Martín Martinez. They’ve been through it all and lived to tell the tales!

You’ll hear about:

  • Epic fails that somehow turned into wins

  • Quick thinking that saved the day

  • Lessons learned (so you don’t have to learn them the hard way)

Whether you’re a marketing newbie or a battle-scarred veteran, come laugh, cringe, and pick up some crisis-management tips along the way.

Grab a seat (and maybe a drink). These stories are too good to miss!

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October 23, 2025 @ 5:30pm

Cabana Club | 5012 E 7th St., Austin, TX 78702

Tickets: $10 Members | $25 Non-Members

Schedule:

5:30 PM — Doors open & mingling/happy hour

6:10 PM — Panel discussion begins

7:10 PM — Q&A / audience interaction

7:40 PM — Post-panel networking & wrap

Why Attend?

Don't miss out on this opportunity to learn from marketing professionals about the latest strategies for dealing with event-related mishaps.

  • Unfiltered stories of marketing “haunts” and how pros handled the fallout
  • Themes of resilience, recovery, and reputation management
  • Time to connect with Austin’s marketers, strategists, and creatives
  • Food courts available + one complimentary drink for guests and members

Meet Our Panel

Headshot _ Carla Solis

Carla Solis

President-elect, Austin AMA
mubaraka

Mubaraka Malbari

Head of Marketing,
Escapia, Expedia Group

Creative, resourceful and analytical brand marketer with experience in sales, brand management, and brand strategy. Love to zero in on crucial details in a sea of information to formulate and clearly communicate big picture strategy. Passionate about discovering and building purpose driven, powerful brands through both storytelling and action.

Martín Martinez Headshot

Martin Martinez

Founding & Executive Director, Founder Institute

Martín Martinez is a powerhouse executive producer, startup ecosystem builder, and sought-after public speaker with 20 years of experience across live events, tech, and culture. As the Founding & Executive Director of Founder Institute Texas, he’s launched 160+ companies and raised over $2M in sponsorships. From SXSW to FounderX, Martín blends business savvy with soul, crafting unforgettable experiences that elevate people, platforms, and possibilities.

Katy Ward Headshot

Katy Ward

Founder, New Story Marketing

Katy Ward is an Austin-based brand building consultant and visual artist focused on helping people feel more human.


Katy works with wellness businesses to build a relational and consistent customer journey, optimizing the entire funnel for brand consistency and human messaging.
With a background in copywriting and nearly 8 years as a StoryBrand Guide, Katy brings personalization, CRO, and retention marketing into brands that are losing their soul to automation and AI efficiency.

Katy is also a painter, and hosts interactive art events to help individuals return to a sense of aliveness. In the midst of increasing technology in our lives, Katy brings the voice, strategy, and experiences to connect emotionally and feel more human.

Our Sponsors

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SINC USA

Driving Value Through
Industry Insights.
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Cabana Club

 Your East Austin oasis offering coffee, dining options, and poolside cocktails.

Interested in Sponsoring or Speaking at this Power Hour?

We are currently looking for organizations and individuals to partner with for any of our upcoming events! If you're interested in sponsoring, we'd be delighted to work with you.

Please reach out to AMA Austin VP of Strategic Partnerships, Dallas Richard, and he'll get back to you with our current options and opportunities for this event!

Ready to Become a Member?
We'd love to have you join our Austin AMA crew!