Block #1: Navigating Change, Innovation, & Disruption
Session 1
Building AI Into Your Product Strategy: What Leading Teams Are Doing Now
Staying ahead of the competition means adopting new technologies in a manner and pace that makes sense for users. In this session, senior product and technology leaders share how they’re integrating AI into their product strategies to anticipate customer needs, accelerate innovation cycles, and stay ahead of competition.
Product visionaries will share lessons and real-world case studies on successfully integrating AI into ambitious product roadmaps, actionable strategies for balancing rapid innovation with product stability and user experience, and how to maintain competitive advantage in an evolving market. You will hear candid stories of the triumphs and pitfalls encountered while shaping next-generation product features that will spark inspiration and provide guidance on how to think about integrating new technologies into your product strategy
You’ll leave with:
A practical framework for integrating AI and other new technologies into product strategy
Insight into what separates hype from real competitive advantage
Lessons from leaders building next-generation products today
Louis Buell
VP, Software Engineering, CoStar Group; MLT Alum
Otto Burston
GM, Product Management - Reservations Technology & Innovation, Delta Air Lines; MLT Alum
Imani Gosserand
Software Engineer, Twitch; MLT Alum
Denise Reese
Founder, Grace The Collection; AI & Intelligent Operations Executive
Session 2
The AI Super-Cycle: Why the Startup Arena is the Frontier (and Compass) of the Future
The playbook for how companies are built and scaled has changed - radically. AI has collapsed traditional barriers to entry, making it 10x faster and cheaper to develop products, go-to-market, and scale.
This session explores why the startup arena is the frontier of the AI revolution and how it serves as a "Compass"—signaling where the next breakthroughs are emerging, which industries are ripe for a total rebuild, and where the most lucrative opportunities for leaders, founders, and investors are surfacing.
You’ll leave with:
Startups as the Frontier: AI has collapsed the barrier to entry making startups the frontier of innovation
The 10x Velocity Playbook: Insights into how AI makes product iteration and GTM execution faster and cheaper to move from MVP to a scalable product
Careers in AI: The greatest talent shortage isn't just for AI engineers, but for "AI Translators" who can apply technical capabilities to real-world business problems.
The Startup Compass: Watch the startup arena to see where AI is heading in the next 5 years
Aaron Holiday
Co-Founder & Managing Partner, 645 Ventures; MLT Alum
Toni Oloko
Co-Ceo & Co-Founder, Dandy
Emily Man
Partner, Primary Venture Partners
Ben Sun
Co-Founder, Partner & Co-CIO, Primary Venture Partners
Brad Svrluga
Cofounder & Managing Partner, Primary Venture Partners
Session 3
Leading Through AI-Driven Change: How to Maintain Trust, Engagement, and Performance
AI adoption within organizations isn’t a technology challenge; it’s a people challenge. New research from MLT and BCG shows that employees are feeling highly uneasy about AI adoption at work. Many employees are unclear about leadership expectations, feel insecure in their jobs, and have low levels of trust in their leadership.
Researchers from MLT and BCG, along with leaders from major organizations, will share lessons learned from leading AI adoption at organizations and illuminate the leadership behaviors that lead to successful implementation while maintaining employee trust and engagement.
You’ll leave with:
Insight into what employees are experiencing during transformation and what they say they need from their leaders and managers
Practical strategies for maintaining team engagement, trust, and alignment
Tools for leading confidently through uncertainty and change
Tina Gilbert
VP, Management Leadership for Tomorrow
Camiel Irving
CEO, East Abeni Holdings
Tiffany Jenkins
Director, Global OEM & Configuration Services, Dell Technologies
Gabrielle Novacek
Partner and Director, Organization Design & Op Model, Boston Consulting Group
Session 4
AI Mastery Blueprint: From Individual Skill-Building to Organizational Impact
AI isn’t replacing high-performing professionals, it’s amplifying the ones who know how to use it well. This interactive session, led by AI experts from Google, will teach attendees how to make AI a strategic partner in your work, leadership, and decision-making.
Explore how top performers are redefining their roles, delegating intelligently to AI tools, and focusing their time on higher-value thinking and influence. This session will span the strategic to the very practical and ensure that everyone leaves with new tools for using AI to enhance their work.
You’ll leave with:
Practical ways to increase your productivity immediately as either an individual contributor or a people leader
Clarity on which skills will matter most in an AI-enabled workplace
A roadmap for improving your employee profile and future-proofing your career
Rachelle C. Olden
Sr. Product Marketing Manager, Google
Lee Moulton
Global Head, eComm Product Partnerships, Google
Naisha Silva
Strategy & Operations Lead, Google
Dale Allsopp
Director, Tech & Society, Google
Session 5
Pivots & Promotions: Navigating Your Career In a Volatile Environment
We’re living through an unpredictable and rapidly evolving job market and career landscape. Organizations are restructuring, jobs are changing, and careers are being redefined.
This session will provide guidance and best practices for how to navigate the current landscape and be prepared for what will come next. You’ll hear from leaders who have successfully navigated layoffs, industry pivots, promotions, and career transitions to share what actually works in today’s environment. Whether you’re actively searching, looking to get promoted in a challenging environment, or preparing for what’s' next, you’ll learn how to strengthen your network, put your network to work for you, sharpen your positioning based on what companies need now, and build “career insurance” that travels with you across roles and industries.
You’ll also leave with strategies for making the most of the conference itself as a catalyst for new connections and opportunity.
You’ll leave with:
Strategies and best practices for navigating layoffs, restructuring, and uncertainty
Strategies for building your network and then putting it to work to help navigate your career
The transferable skills companies are prioritizing in an AI-shaped job market
A simple “stay ready” plan you can act on immediately
Jameelah Calhoun
VP for Market Strategy at Forter, Host of Unpopular Decision
Courtney Preiner
Lead Executive Recruiter, Target
Corey Twitty
Director, Executive Talent & Talent Intelligence, Zillow
Karen W. Solorow
Executive Coach, Coaching for Success