Welcome to Pet Industry Rising 2025 Summit
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Dear Innovators, Visionaries, and Changemakers,
Welcome to Pet Industry Rising 2025 — a summit born from one simple belief: the future of the pet industry will be shaped by courageous leaders who pair innovation with integrity.
This is more than an event. It’s a movement — a space where founders, CEOs, and changemakers come together to share ideas, challenge norms, and collaborate toward building a more innovative, sustainable, and human-centered pet economy.
Over the next few days, you’ll hear from extraordinary leaders who are redefining what it means to lead with purpose — from digital transformation and pet health innovation to sustainability, investment, and beyond. Together, we’re not just discussing what’s next; we’re shaping it.
As the creator of Decide with Grace™, my mission has always been to help leaders make bold, high-stakes decisions with clarity, authenticity, and confidence. That same spirit guides this summit. Each session, conversation, and recognition is designed to celebrate the power of aligned decision-making — where growth meets grace, and vision meets impact.
And as part of this event, we also honor the Ladybird Digital Impact Honors 2025, recognizing trailblazers who are transforming the pet industry with authenticity, courage, and measurable impact.
Thank you for being part of this journey. Your voice matters. Your leadership matters.
Together, let’s rise — with clarity, impact, and grace.
–Peggy I. Pleines
Global Growth Strategist & Creator of Decide with Grace™
Founder & CEO, My Ladybird Enterprise AG
How Pet Tech and Predictive Health are Redefining Pet Care
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Meet Mark Donavon
Mark Donavon is a visionary leader and PetTech innovator with over 25 years of experience in the pet care industry, including two decades in global leadership roles at Nestlé Purina PetCare. Now serving as CEO of Launchpad Pet, Mark helps companies harness technology and AI to solve real-world pet care challenges and create breakthrough innovations.
During his tenure at Purina, Mark led both commercial and R&D teams across product categories such as pet food, cat litter, and connected pet products. He pioneered Purina’s Petivity brand, developing the Smart Litterbox Monitor — the world’s first AI-powered system to detect cats’ hidden health issues early. His work transformed Purina from a traditional food company into a technology and AI-driven brand.
A decorated former U.S. Air Force officer and award-winning graduate of the Air Force Institute of Technology, Mark embodies persistence, creativity, and purpose. From developing lightweight cat litter innovations to building IoT and AI ecosystems for pets, his career showcases how compassion and technology can meaningfully enhance pet and human lives.
Today, through Launchpad Pet, Mark partners with brands to reverse-engineer innovation — starting with meaningful problems and applying cutting-edge tech to solve them. His mission: to create game-changing pet products that improve well-being, strengthen brand equity, and push the boundaries of what’s possible in PetCare.
Meet Your Host
Peggy I. Pleines is a Global Growth Strategist, international speaker, and CEO of My Ladybird Enterprise AG. She has worked with CEOs, founders, and decision-makers worldwide, helping them scale their brands with bold clarity, grounded leadership, and strategic vision.
Peggy isn’t just about accolades and titles (though she has plenty). She is the creator of Decide with Grace™, a framework that empowers leaders to make courageous decisions that balance strategy with authenticity.
What truly sets Peggy apart is her collaborative approach — she thrives on bringing together visionaries from diverse industries, creating spaces where innovation, leadership, and impact intersect. Past participants in her events have expanded their reach, grown their influence, and built thriving global communities.
With her signature energy and insight, Peggy is curating Pet Industry Rising to spotlight leaders like you who embody innovation, influence, and impact.