Infusing Brand through the Organization

JIM LESSER
Chief Brand Officer, ServiceNow

While iconic campaigns like Intel Inside and The Best Run Businesses Run SAP demonstrate the impact of brand building for B2B organizations, the challenges of infusing brand thinking into engineering cultures isn’t easy. Jim will share his insights and principles on how he and the leadership team ServiceNow are getting this done. A challenge that is ever more important as AI development impacts service firms and how consumer’s research and evaluate brands.`

Talk to My Agent: How AI Is Already Changing Work

MARTIN KIHN ‘01
SVP of Strategy, Marketing Cloud, Salesforce

AI and the agent revolution is already under way, driven by fundamental shifts in data, CRM and autonomous technologies. How will the use of AI agents impact the way work is done for sales teams, customer service organizations, marketing and more? In this session, Salesforce SVP Martin Kihn reveals how innovative enterprises are already using data, AI and agents to dramatically improve efficiency and effectiveness, while expanding the power of humans through hybridized ways of working.

Myths and Realities of Quantum Computing

HENRY YUEN
Srivani Family Associate Professor of Computer Science, Columbia University

While one is either overwhelmed by or yet to be impressed by the impacts of AI on society, breakthroughs in the next advanced computing development are already making headlines. Henry will break down and share his insights on the pace of advancement of quantum computing and what it will likely impact in the future and what it won’t.

Immersive Experiences to Drive Wellness

POONACHA MACHAIAH
Chief Executive Officer, The Chopra Foundation;
Founder, Cyberhuman AI

Our world feels ever more turbulent, and the role of companies is in the spotlight. Most corporations feel an obligation to society, but their record on balancing profits and revenue and ethics is often spotty. Alison will offer a blueprint for how leaders should rethink and reshape their practices. How can CEOs cut through the noise to set robust environmental and social priorities? When should they speak out on contentious social and political issues—and how? What does it really take to build a healthy organizational culture?

Driving Purpose with Precision: How Data and Technology Amplify Mission-Driven Marketing

SARAH BENNETT ‘03
Head of Global Marketing, BioLife, Takeda

This session explores achieving differentiation through connecting consumers with a brand’s mission, leveraging data and technology to drive a personalized consumer experience. Examining this topic through the lens of BioLife, Takeda’s consumer-facing plasma donation brand, shows the power of successfully connecting an audience to a brand’s mission; in this case it means more life-saving therapies for patients in need.

Branding in the Arts

JAN POSTMA
Chief Financial Officer, Museum of Modern Art

LAURA IVES COLONY ‘23
Senior Vice President, Business Development & Innovation, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

Moderator: BERND SCHMITT
Robert D. Calkins Professor of International Business, Columbia Business School

The arts are heavily tied to emotion and thus have an advantage in brand building. At the same time, the battle for share of wallet and time in a competitive set that incorporates every form of entertainment makes it as challenging as any industry. Senior leaders in the arts will share both unique and universal insights on how arts have lessons for all brand builders.

The Path for Leading Yourself and Others

ADAM GALINSKY
Paul Calello Professor of Leadership and Ethics, Columbia Business School;
Author, INSPIRE: The Universal Path for Leading Yourself and Others

The science behind being inspiring illustrates how all of us—regardless of status or background—can motivate and elevate others. Adam will share insights from his latest book, INSPIRE, on the qualities that make leaders, and all of us, inspiring rather than infuriating, presenting research-based insights and actionable advice.

AI and Customer Experience

MOLLY VANNUCCI
Senior Partner, IBM Consulting Americas

We’ve all become accustomed to shifting expectations of customer experience through algorithms, and much more is on the horizon with the advancements of AI. Molly will share insights on how AI can be used on the backend to drive data analytics, consumer insights and predictions, as well as on the customer-facing side through personalization and deeper content interactions.

The Impact and Future of Gaming

SARAH GILARSKY ‘17
Global Business Development Lead, Pokémon GO, Niantic
SUSANNA POLLACK
President, Games for Change

MODERATOR: ABIGAIL POSNER
Director, Creative Works, Google

With 3.2 billion players globally, gaming is reshaping culture, commerce, and connection. Forward-thinking brands and creators are waking up to its potential to shape behavior, drive community, and unlock new business models. This session explores how the gaming ecosystem is driving real-world impact through creativity and community, and which strategies drive positive societal impact. 

Future of Retail

IMMA CALVO
Vice President of Sales, US Commerce, Google

ALEXANDRE CHOUEIRI
CEO & President, Kering Beauté Americas

Moderator: MATTHEW QUINT
Host, BRITE

A core element of societal and personal development, the principals of gaming have been more deeply incorporated into business efforts over the past decade. This panel session with dive into how gaming mechanics and games themselves can be used to drive positive behavioral change and help support business goals both with consumers and employees.