KOL Connect Meetup: Abu Dhabi Edition Highlights the Rise of Creators as Changemakers in the Digital Economy

The event included an interesting panel titled “From Creators to Changemakers: The 2026 Creator Economy,” which analyzed the growth in the creator space with the emergence of Web3 and game-based creations in the digital world. The panel leaders mentioned the importance of focusing on lasting impact in light of authenticity, learning, and trust.

Atul Yadav, co-founder of OutSpark, gave some valuable input on the kind of platforms and revenue streams that are being developed for the next generation of ecosystems. Pekka Kelkka, the Chief Academic Advisor for LBank Labs, gave an academic take on the kind of role that structured learning and credibility need to play in these ecosystems. Coming from the creator side of the table with valuable hands-on expertise was Praveen Dilliwala, who is the founder and a content creator.

The conference and discussion were facilitated by Lara Varlamova, CEO of the Vision Voices Podcast. The moderator of the discussion effectively integrated a strong narrative element for the session.

After the panel discussion, there was an open networking session where speakers and participants connected. These people, who were creators, marketers, founders, or ecosystem enablers, engaged in idea-sharing, exploring potential collaborations, and discussing how creator communities can fuel powerful growth.

Being an official side event at the Global Games Show, the KOL Connect Meetup: Abu Dhabi Edition emphasized the increasing role of creators in the digital and gaming world. By integrating knowledge with engagement in a conversation and networking format at the event, the meetup was successful in emphasizing the increasing role of the creator economy in becoming a driving force in the coming years as the industry looks towards 2026.

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