GIC’s annual Insights forum isn’t just a gathering—it’s where 300+ global leaders tackle the world’s biggest challenges. This year, marking 40 years in the U.S., GIC tapped Empire to elevate GIC Insights and a Gala Dinner at New York City’s Spring Studios into a standout celebration of vision and impact.

Themed Invested in a Global Future, the day kicked off with a power lunch overlooking the Hudson, flowing into a Forum led by Eric Wilmes (GIC Americas PE Head) and featuring Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong and GIC Chairman Lim Chow Kiat. A “Boardroom of Ideas” panel included Stephen Schwarzman (Blackstone), Ray Dalio (Bridgewater), Susan Li (Meta), Dave Ricks (Eli Lilly), and others. The night ended with a 40th Anniversary Gala, where Senior Minister Lee's heartfelt words and a medallion signing toasted GIC’s legacy.

Colin Cowie Lifestyle partnered with Empire to produce innovative and immersive experiences for the 2024 Fortune Global Forum held at Jazz at Lincoln Center. The forum served as a pivotal gathering for global CEOs to address emerging challenges and opportunities, from AI and climate change to geopolitical risks.

Reimagining the traditional conference format, Colin Cowie Lifestyle envisioned an event that combined luxury, entertainment, and business in a way never seen before. The event featured several standout elements including a luxury check-in experience, interactive art installations by BREAKFAST Studio, and sponsored activations for the AFEELA electric vehicle and the Wuliangye specialty baijiu bar. 

Day one culminated in a glamorous gala dinner where guests were greeted with Dom Pérignon, live oyster shucking and caviar, aerialists, buskers, magicians, and more. Highlights from the evening included remarks from Alyson Shontell, Editor-in-Chief, Fortune, a toast from Anastasia Nyrkovskaya, CEO, Fortune, and “Music Through the Ages”—a series of live performances transporting guests through time and music history.

We served as a key partner in executing this vision, offering expertise in project management, technical production, stage management, and logistical coordination. Empire Entertainment remains at the forefront of producing high-impact, immersive events that leave lasting impressions on clients, sponsors, and guests alike.

‍

Credits

Technical Direction, Logistical Coordination, Project & Stage Management: @empireproduced

Design & Production: @colincowie @colincowielifestyle

Producer: @arnelldesign

Florals: @jsperaltaevents

Photography: @judson_rappaport

Décor: @colincowielifestyle @taylorcreativeinc @luxeeventrentals

Lighting: @levynyc

Entertainment: @onthemoveevents

Stationery: @alexandmima

Scenic: @wearesbi

Technical production: @4wallCatering: @gpfood

Plenary session: @Fortunemag

Video production: @lerevefilms @arnelldesign

Kinetic Art: @breakfaststudio

At TRUNK(HOUSE) in Tokyo’s charming Kagurazaka district, Longchamp hosted an intimate dinner event to unveil its THINK PINK! Spring 2025 collection. The setting felt like Paris wrapped in a rosy filter, where shades of pink illuminated every corner of the venue.

Dressed in the collection’s vibrant pieces, guests embraced the arrival of spring with a celebration of individuality and joyful self-expression. Highlighting Longchamp’s cherished value of craftsmanship, the evening featured a wagashi-making workshop, where participants experienced the delicate art of traditional Japanese sweets, echoing the maison’s dedication to artisanal excellence.

Paired with exquisite cuisine and thoughtful décor that blended warmth and sophistication, the one-night-only event encapsulated Longchamp’s free-spirited elegance—a memorable prelude to a bright, optimistic season.

Delivering an atmosphere of warmth and artistry, we were privileged to work with Longchamp to bring this special evening to life. By weaving together refined details and cultural experiences, we helped shape an unforgettable moment that celebrated both the brand’s heritage and forward-looking spirit.

Empire partnered with Bravo to present a series of advanced screening events across the country for fans of Bravo’s popular unscripted TV shows. This multi-city event series throughout the summer and fall offered Bravo superfans exclusive and early access to screen their favorite shows, including Summer House, The Real Housewives of Orange County, The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, and The Real Housewives of New York City.  

At the heart of this partnership is Bravo's extraordinary relationship with its fans. The Watch Party by Bravo event series gave fans a chance to attend exclusive screenings of Bravo’s highly anticipated programming and interact with Bravo talent, all while being with those who share a like-minded love for Bravo. Empire Entertainment was responsible for the full scope of these events, including creative direction, event design & décor, venue coordination, technical production, and guest logistics. From Los Angeles to Salt Lake City and New York City, we ensured that every aspect, from venue selection to the fan engagement moments, created a captivating atmosphere that pulled attendees into the world of Bravo.  

We are proud to have been selected by Bravo to spearhead the launch of the Watch Party by Bravo event series, helping bring these interactive fan experiences to life and strengthening the connection between Bravo and the Bravoholics.

Colby College tapped Empire to produce an interactive event that brought over 350 alumni, supporters, and leaders together to showcase the liberal arts college's accomplishments emerging from their recent Dare Northward Campaign. The evening highlighted the impact of donors on campus with custom activations that brought the spirit of Colby in Maine to New York City.

We developed the creative vision from décor to catering and event flow. Guests enjoyed a fireside chat exploring Colby’s future, followed by a lively afterparty reception. Five immersive installations captured the college’s legacy, including a branded photo station, seasonal campus photo activation, lightbox installation, Miller Library-inspired bar, and a Harold Alfond Athletics and Recreation Center and Harold Alfond Athletics lounge. With LED/projection walls spotlighting the campus community and Arts at Colby, the evening brought the college’s identity to life.

In collaboration with Games for Change, Empire helped bring the Games & SDG Summit to life at the United Nations Delegates Dining Room. More than 170 guests came together to explore how games and immersive media can help support key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that impact society and the environment.

The event offered fireside chats, panels, and presentations from cross-sector leaders, along with an on-site arcade featuring games centered on SDG themes like climate change, sustainability, and emotional wellbeing. The day concluded with breakout workshops, where attendees discussed industry challenges, shared solutions, and explored concrete outcomes.

Empire collaborated closely with Games for Change and the United Nations to deliver a successful event, overseeing all aspects of production, including technical, creative, and logistical elements.

For the 4th consecutive year, New Heights, a non-profit dedicated to sports-based youth development and education, partnered with Empire to produce their signature GameChangers Ball. The event took place at the Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center in Crown Heights, Brooklyn—New Heights' own home base.

The GameChangers Ball raises crucial funds and celebrates the impact of New Heights’ programs on youth programs. This year's ball hosted 320 guests and raised a record breaking $1.5M through table tickets, donations, live auctions, and auctioneer appeals to support New Heights’ youth programs and initiatives. 

We transformed a basketball gym into an elegant ballroom, overseeing every aspect of the event from concept to execution. Our team handled overall creative and design, production, stage programming, and produced a live performance by Michael Cartwright and music by DJ Andre Oswald.

We are proud to work with non-profit organizations such as New Heights to help create moments with impact and moments that matter. 

Empire was thrilled to partner with Pioneer Works on O P E N—a celebration of the reopening of their space after months of capital improvements focused on accessibility and equity.

The evening honored Board Members Austin Hearst and David Belt for their enormous contributions to the “Pioneer Works for All” campaign and raised funds for cornerstone PW initiatives like their robust artist residencies and free public programs throughout the year. The event featured performances by Resistance Revival Chorus and DJ Black Helmet, installations by Rachel Stern, Alejandro García Contreras, and Ashcan Orchestra, as well as stunning food activations by PW Supper Club alumni Chefs Tara Thomas, Woldy Reyes, and Bad Taste by Jen Monroe.

Offering creative strategy, vision consultation, and program producing, we are proud to partner with Pioneer Works for this celebration.

To celebrate their 60th anniversary, Alger partnered with Empire to curate the perfect entertainment for their rooftop event in downtown NYC. 

Empire secured headliner St. Paul & The Broken Bones, whose dynamic performance brought a festival-level energy to the intimate gathering. DJ Natasha Diggs kept the atmosphere lively with her beats throughout the night. Alger CEO Dan Chung introduced the band with personal remarks and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to all the employees and guests for supporting Alger for 60 years. 

Tasked with the difficult challenge of producing a headline performance on the 28th floor of a Manhattan skyscraper, we worked closely with our partners to design a layout and stage to accommodate the eight-piece band, rain or shine. As a result, a clear tent was installed over the course of two days to cover the rooftop while keeping the breathtaking views unobstructed. 

Some of the guests were invited to the 29th floor for a meet & greet with the band, where they had the chance to hear directly from the artists about the set list and the stories behind their music.

Empire managed all aspects of talent sourcing, booking, and coordination, ensuring the evening's entertainment flowed seamlessly. 

As NBCUniversal geared up for the highly anticipated Season 2 premiere of E!’s House of Villains, they aimed to create an immersive stunt that put digital content and show talent front and center.

Enter the “Secret Snake Society”—an exclusive, one-night-only members' club for 165 influencers and cast members to rub shoulders and test their villainous skills. As they navigated five completely unique, custom activations, influencers were invited to embrace their inner villain for the evening.

Empire transformed the Bowery Hotel into a content creation hub, beginning with a villain portrait gallery and culminating in an exclusive 15-minute sneak peek of the first episode—complete with cheeky villainous moments and devious behavior throughout.

The Activations

Snark Attack
Carnival games allowed guests to spin a giant wheel and drop a Plinko puck to generate the ultimate clapback. Winning results, like “Saber-Toothed Ninny-Bits” and “Feral Peasant,” were turned into frenemy bracelets.

Villainous Allies
Guests chose a cast member to ally with, receiving a custom cocktail handed to them through a curtained cocktail window.

Make A Scene
Guests were encouraged to unleash their inner villain by wreaking havoc in a fine dining setting—flipping tables and creating controlled chaos.

Out-Villain a Villain
Influencers went head-to-head with cast members, competing to see who could outwit the best of the best. Those who failed were showered in confetti.

Sinister Style
A villain needs glam and a killer wardrobe. We gave guests the opportunity to dress to the nines and strike a pose in a portrait session.

Social sharing skyrocketed, with potential total online reach of over 18M and YoY growth on all key metrics for event-generated House of Villains content, making the event a major success for E! Entertainment. From concept and ideation to final production, creative direction, and every detail in between, Empire worked hand-in-hand with NBCUniversal every step of the way.