INBOUND Blog

When Brian Halligan walked on stage with Hot Ones host Sean Evans, he admitted he didn’t fully know what he was signing up for. But by the end of ten wings and ten questions, HubSpot’s co-founder was reflecting openly on the future of business, the lessons of music, and the vulnerability of leadership all while sweating through one of the INBOUND’s spiciest interviews ever. Here’s what we learned, wing by wing.

If you've ever felt like you need to have it all figured out before you can lead, Glennon Doyle has news for you. At INBOUND 2025, the bestselling author and activist sat down with leadership expert Anne Morriss to share that the strength to lead others doesn't come from perfection, but from the courage to be real about your own struggles while still getting the work done. With nearly 2 billion podcast downloads, millions of books sold, and a community that's raised $56 million for people in need, Doyle has built something extraordinary by doing one simple thing: showing up exactly as she is.

My first INBOUND as a HubSpotter didn’t disappoint. What stood out most wasn’t just the scale—13,000+ people—it was the authenticity. From Dharmesh’s keynote on what AI is and how to win with it, to a practical marketing playbook for the AI era, to product demos that spoke for themselves, INBOUND felt like a working session for the future of go-to-market.

At INBOUND this year, one theme was impossible to miss: AI is everywhere. It’s dominated every headline, boardroom, and conference stage. Expectations are sky-high. But when you look closer, the reality is complicated. At the event, I spoke with business leaders who were stuck between two extremes. Some are waiting to “see how it all pans out,” and others are exhausted from juggling dozens of disconnected AI tools. Different approaches, same result: not enough real progress. That’s the gap we need to close. AI isn’t just about POCs or slick demos. It’s about how humans and AI work together to help businesses grow.

If you spend any time on YouTube watching tech reviews, chances are you’ve stumbled across a video by Marques Brownlee—better known as MKBHD. With nearly 2,000 videos, millions of subscribers, and a reputation as one of the most trusted voices in tech, Marques has built an empire by doing one simple thing: telling the truth. At INBOUND 2025, HubSpot’s CMO Kipp Bodnar sat down with Marques to unpack exactly how he’s built that trust, what it takes to stand out in a crowded digital world, and why audience-first thinking always wins.

My first thought after INBOUND 2025? It’s easy to miss a product update or two… especially when there are more than 200! But if you’re focused on scaling support, driving efficiency, and putting AI to work in real customer conversations, the Service Hub updates were impossible to ignore. From the new Customer Agent that taps into your CRM to answer (and act on) customer questions, to a faster, smarter Help Desk experience, to AI that helps write your next Knowledge Base article—this was a big moment for Service teams. I’m sharing the highlights that stood out to me as GM and VP of Product for Service Hub, and why I think they’ll make a real difference in how your teams show up for customers.

If you’ve ever heard Dharmesh Shah (co-founder and CTO, HubSpot) speak, you know t o expect three things: sharp insights, dad jokes, and a whole lot of heart. His INBOUND 2025 session delivered all of that and more. From explaining large language models in plain English to offering a simple framework for bringing AI into our teams, Shah made one thing clear: working with AI is about unlocking the best version of ourselves.

In an industry where everyone is chasing certainty, Amy Poehler reminded us that some of the best decisions are made in the unknown. At INBOUND 2025, the actress and founder of Paper Kite Productions joined Dr. Maya Shankar (cognitive scientist and podcast creator) to explore how improv, collaboration, and creative risk-taking can lead to more resilient teams and more meaningful work.

This year, for the first time ever, INBOUND went West. We brought our full community of builders, marketers, founders, and creators to San Francisco where new zones, stages, and fresh energy created an event experience unlike any other INBOUND. If you were there, you know it was something special. If you weren’t? Don’t worry. We’ll see you back in Boston next September 16–18, 2026. Tickets go back on sale December 1; sign up below to be first in line:

In case your algorithm didn't serve up these gems (we see you, mysterious feed gods), here's your monthly roundup of INBOUND content that got our community double-tapping, sharing, and sparking conversations. Check out what made waves this month!

INBOUND 2025 is coming in hot and this year’s sponsor activations are all about unforgettable experiences and the perfect blend of fun with strategy. From courtside demos to breezy beach lounges, these custom activations are sure to add some delight and discovery to your week at INBOUND. Ready to dive in?

This year, INBOUND comes to San Francisco—the global epicenter of startups, AI, and venture capital. For founders and startup teams, that means more direct access to investors, operators, and partners who understand the startup journey and can help accelerate yours. As a founder, your time is your most valuable resource. To make the most of your three days in San Francisco, here’s your playbook for where to spend your time.