PlayCon Speaker Spotlight: Stephanie Wissink, Senior Research Analyst at Jefferies

March 26, 2018 | Stephanie Wissink, a managing director and senior research analyst at Jefferies who specializes in trend-oriented consumer products, will lead one of several “TED Talk”-like sessions at the new PlayCon, The Toy Association’s International Conference of Play Professionals, taking place May 8 to 9 in San Francisco, CA.

Wissink will bring fresh insight into the world of toys, play, and youth entertainment, by focusing on her areas of expertise: demographics, distribution evolution, and demand dynamics. Her trend-driven discussion will help conference attendees tap into the latest global trends as they consider developing new product lines and new avenues for distribution.

“We’re excited to add Stephanie Wissink to our line-up of remarkable speakers at this not-to-be-missed event,” said Marian Bossard, executive vice president of global market events at The Toy Association. “Year after year, PlayCon attendees leave the conference more motivated and more informed about the evolving nature of play.”

PlayCon’s speaker roster includes more than 20 thought-leaders, industry analysts, toy influencers, consumer product executives, and other motivational speakers who will lead short “TED Talk”-like sessions during the conference’s new format. Confirmed speakers include: Facebook’s Eva Press; Google’s Victoria Fang; alternative reality game designer Jane McGonigal; Dale Dougherty, “father” of the Maker Movement; Activision Blizzard’s Tim Kilpin; Trend Hunter’s Armida Ascano and Courtney Scharf; Ted Curtin of ProdigyWorks; and many more.

Stephanie Wissink has 16 years of equity research experience, having worked with Piper Jaffray before joining Jefferies in May 2017 as managing director and senior research analyst. She collaborates with a global team on key themes in beauty and other trend-oriented consumer product categories. Wissink graduated from St. Olaf College in 2002 with degrees in marketing and finance.

Each week, Toy News Tuesday features a new and noteworthy name from the impressive roster of PlayCon speakers. The last spotlight highlighted NPD Group’s Frédérique Tutt.