IBPA Publishing University 2025: Full Schedule

Brooke Warner, Publisher of She Writes Press, in conversation with Jonathan Merkh (President and Publisher of Forefront Books), Angela Engel (Publisher and Founder of The Collective Book Studio), and Dr. Ayo Sekai (Founder, CEO, and Publisher of Universal Write Publications) about rethinking business models, what to do with business models that straddle more than one category, and issues like co-opting business model terms to the point of dilution. The panelists will talk about how they think about their own models, how they're changing with the times, and how they position themselves relative to traditional publishing and other models.

Speakers

Brooke Warner

Publisher, She Writes Press

**Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 1A - Fri 5/16, 1:20-1:35pm, 1B - Fri 5/16, 1:40-1:55pm, 1C - Fri 5/16, 2:00-2:15pm, 3B - Sat 5/17, 11:05-11:20am, 3C - Sat 5/17, 11:25-11:40am, 3D - Sat 5/17, 11:45am-12noonAreas of Expertise: Distribution, Editorial, General... Read More →

Angela Engel

Publisher & Founder, The Collective Book Studio

** Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 2A - Fri 5/16, 3:05-3:20pm, 2B - Fri 5/16, 3:25-3:40pm, 3A - Sat 5/17, 10:45-11:00am, 3B - Sat 5/17, 11:05-11:20am, 3C - Sat 5/17, 11:25-11:40amAreas of Expertise: Children's/YA Publishing, Distribution, General Publishing... Read More →

Jonathan Merkh

President & Publisher, Forefront Books

**Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 3A - Sat 5/17, 10:45-11:00am, 3B - Sat 5/17, 11:05-11:20am, 3C - Sat 5/17, 11:25-11:40am, 3D - Sat 5/17, 11:45am-12noon, 4A - Sat 5/17, 1:45-2:00pm, 4B - Sat 5/17, 2:05-2:20pm, 4C - Sat 5/17, 2:25-2:40pm, 5A - group - Sat 5/17... Read More →

Dr. Ayo Sekai

Founder, CEO & Publisher, Universal Write Publications

**Participating in “Ask the Experts” at these times: 2A - Fri 5/16, 3:05-3:20pm, 2B - Fri 5/16, 3:25-3:40pm, 1C - Fri 5/16, 2:00-2:15pmAreas of Expertise: Marketing, Academic Publishing, Strategic Partnerships in PublishingRegistered attendees can sign up for “Ask the Expert... Read More →

Saturday May 17, 2025 9:15am - 10:30am CDT
Intercontinental - Great River Ballroom (first level, above lobby)

Plenary

Audience For This Session Everyone, Author Publishers (A.K.A. Self-Published Authors), Start Strong Independent Publishers, Established Independent Publishers

10:40am CDT

Main Ballroom (During Breakout Session 3) - Ask the Experts and Meet our Sponsors!

Saturday May 17, 2025 10:40am - 12:10pm CDT

Intercontinental - Great River Ballroom (first level, above lobby)

Ask-the-Experts consults (both one expert-with-one attendee and one expert-with-five attendees) will be happening in the main Colorado ballroom during Breakout 3, and you can chat with our sponsors as well.

Sign ups will be on-site, and will open on Friday May 16th at 10am by Registration.

Saturday May 17, 2025 10:40am - 12:10pm CDT
Intercontinental - Great River Ballroom (first level, above lobby)

Breakout Sessions + Ask the Experts

Audience For This Session Everyone

12:15pm CDT

Lunch and Meet Our Sponsors!

Saturday May 17, 2025 12:15pm - 1:30pm CDT

Intercontinental - Great River Court (first level, above lobby)

Grab some food, meet a few sponsors, and connect with your community!

Saturday May 17, 2025 12:15pm - 1:30pm CDT
Intercontinental - Great River Court (first level, above lobby)

Community Building

Audience For This Session Everyone, Start Strong Independent Publishers, Established Independent Publishers, Author Publishers (A.K.A. Self-Published Authors)

12:30pm CDT

Diversity in Publishing Roundtable Discussion

Saturday May 17, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT

Intercontinental - Kellogg I (lobby level)

Grab your food and join this candid discussion with room for everyone to contribute. We'll talk and share about how we are all impacted in an industry and culture that is pulling back from diversity commitments, and generate ideas for how we move forward by building trust, authenticity, and mutual learning within the publishing community to help diverse books reach the readers who need them.

Saturday May 17, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT
Intercontinental - Kellogg I (lobby level)

Community Building

Audience For This Session Everyone, Start Strong Independent Publishers, Established Independent Publishers, Author Publishers (A.K.A. Self-Published Authors)

1:40pm CDT

Main Ballroom (During Breakout Session 4) - Ask the Experts and Meet our Sponsors!

Saturday May 17, 2025 1:40pm - 2:40pm CDT

Intercontinental - Great River Ballroom (first level, above lobby)

Ask-the-Experts consults (both one expert-with-one attendee and one expert-with-five attendees) will be happening in the main Colorado ballroom during Breakout 4, and you can chat with our sponsors as well.

Sign ups will be on-site, and will open on Friday May 16th at 10am by Registration.

Saturday May 17, 2025 1:40pm - 2:40pm CDT
Intercontinental - Great River Ballroom (first level, above lobby)

Breakout Sessions + Ask the Experts

Audience For This Session Everyone

2:40pm CDT

Saturday Afternoon Snack and Meet Our Sponsors!

Saturday May 17, 2025 2:40pm - 3:20pm CDT

Intercontinental - Great River Court (first level, above lobby)

Grab a snack, chat with some of our conference sponsors, and connect with your community!

Saturday May 17, 2025 2:40pm - 3:20pm CDT
Intercontinental - Great River Court (first level, above lobby)

Community Building

Audience For This Session Everyone

3:30pm CDT

Main Ballroom (During Breakout Session 5) - Ask the Experts and Meet our Sponsors!

Saturday May 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT

Intercontinental - Great River Ballroom (first level, above lobby)

Ask-the-Experts consults (both one expert-with-one attendee and one expert-with-five attendees) will be happening in the main Colorado ballroom during Breakout 5, and you can chat with our sponsors as well.

Sign ups will be on-site, and will open on Friday May 16th at 10am by Registration.

Saturday May 17, 2025 3:30pm - 4:30pm CDT
Intercontinental - Great River Ballroom (first level, above lobby)

Breakout Sessions + Ask the Experts

Audience For This Session Everyone

4:40pm CDT

Closing Session and Raffle

Saturday May 17, 2025 4:40pm - 5:30pm CDT

Intercontinental - Great River Ballroom (first level, above lobby)

Don't miss our closing session of raffle prizes and rapid-fire takeaways!

Saturday May 17, 2025 4:40pm - 5:30pm CDT
Intercontinental - Great River Ballroom (first level, above lobby)

Community Building

Audience For This Session Everyone, Start Strong Independent Publishers, Established Independent Publishers, Author Publishers (A.K.A. Self-Published Authors)