Gilead Sciences’ Public Affairs team asked Fifth & Hardy to produce its signature Leadership Dinner at the 2026 United States Conference on HIV/AIDS. The brief was to honor the trailblazers who built the movement and to connect Gilead leaders directly with the community partners carrying it forward.

We took over House of Blues Anaheim for Mobilizing the Trailblazing Voices: Stories That Shaped Us. Leaders Who Inspire Us. Rather than staging a traditional program, we produced the evening like live television. Presenters spoke live to camera from within the audience, then threw to the stage and back again. The energy kept moving and the community stayed at the center of every moment.

Nearly 230 advocates, emerging voices and established leaders filled the room for a night that was equal parts tribute and celebration. It ended on a packed dance floor, proof that the movement is still very much alive.