Erica Bonelli is the founder of Philo—a full-service event planning and art direction studio inspired by Philoxenia, the ancient Greek art of hospitality. With a background in tech and food media, Erica launched Philo to help brands tell their story through intentional, in-person experiences that create lasting emotional impact. Today, Philo specializes in brand launch events, experiential activations, and visual storytelling for emerging CPG, food, and beverage brands—blending aesthetic magic with strategic thinking to build connection and drive growth.

For the launch of Bread & Butter (a trademark law firm protecting CPG food & beverage brands), Erica curated a standout dinner that seamlessly wove together brand messaging, client offers, and meaningful partnerships—while sourcing the best local vendors to bring the vision to life. I recommend Erica to all my clients.

• How Erica’s upbringing in a first-generation Greek household—and her background in tech and food styling—shaped the ethos behind Philo

• Her approach to creating brand activations that go beyond aesthetics to spark genuine connection, loyalty, and emotional resonance

• Advice for founders planning their first event or launch experience, and what to prioritize to make it truly memorableListen here

Hummingbirds is a platform that connects everyday, smaller creators with brands to share in-store user-generated content, drive brand awareness in specific retailers, and capture competitive market share. They’re an awesome platform that I recommend to all my clients that you should absolutely check out. Go to hummingbirds.com for all the details.