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Americas Conference Series

Americas Conference Series

The INSEAD Americas Conference is a flagship thought-leadership series that brings together INSEAD faculty, senior executives, alumni, entrepreneurs, and policymakers to examine the most pressing business, technology, and societal challenges shaping the Americas and the global economy. Hosted at the INSEAD San Francisco Hub for Business Innovation, the conference creates a platform for research-driven insight, high-level dialogue, and cross-sector collaboration. Each edition is anchored around a timely theme—ranging from innovation and sustainability to AI and responsible leadership—while deepening INSEAD’s engagement with the North American innovation ecosystem.

AI Forum Americas

AI Forum Americas served as a thematic extension of the INSEAD Americas Conference series, reinforcing the conversation around how artificial intelligence is reshaping business, leadership, and society and deepening INSEAD’s engagement with the Bay Area innovation ecosystem. Convened at the INSEAD San Francisco Hub, the forum brought together faculty, alumni, industry leaders, and innovators for research-driven sessions and dialogues on AI’s real-world impact, and featured the unveiling of the inaugural INSEAD AI50 — an alumni-led recognition of 50 members of the INSEAD community advancing AI in practice and at scale

For the full program and speaker list, click here

man on stage standing in front of a screen

INSEAD AI50

The forum marked the unveiling of the inaugural INSEAD AI50, an alumni-led recognition highlighting 50 members of the INSEAD community who are building and scaling impactful AI solutions across industries and geographies.
man in white shirt addressing crowd

Botipedia Launched

At AI Forum Americas, Phil Parker introduced Botipedia, a truth-seeking AI platform designed to create the world’s largest encyclopedic knowledge portal — vastly expanding accessible, verified knowledge and offering a new frontier for reliable AI-driven information.
man in purple shirt speaking into mic

Industry & Faculty Dialogues

The forum featured in-depth conversations between INSEAD faculty and industry leaders on the strategic, practical, and ethical implications of AI, with speakers including Geoff Ralston, former President of Y Combinator, sharing perspectives from the frontlines of building and scaling AI-driven companies.

2025: The Future is Now: Bridging Business, Technology, and Humanity

Americas Conference 2025 — The Future is Now: Bridging Business, Technology and Humanity was the second installment of the INSEAD Americas Conference series, bringing together INSEAD faculty, business leaders, alumni, and innovators at the INSEAD San Francisco Hub to explore how companies can responsibly leverage new technologies, including AI, while advancing resilience, purpose, and human-centered leadership through keynotes, panels, and workshops, and concluding with a casino royale soirée celebrating the INSEAD community

To see the program overview and speaker line-up click here

people walking in front of trees and futuristic looking building

Company Visits

Participants had the opportunity to take part in curated company visits, including sessions at NVIDIA and Genentech, where attendees heard directly from Genentech CEO Ashley Magargee. Select participants also visited swissnex, where they experienced a live robotics demonstration showcasing cutting-edge innovation at the intersection of technology and research.
two men standing holding a framed document

San Francisco Proclaims INSEAD Day

San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu proclaimed February 7 as INSEAD Day in recognition of the INSEAD San Francisco Hub’s five years of impact in North America, underscoring INSEAD’s strong ties to San Francisco and the Bay Area’s innovation ecosystem.
cupcakes with the number 5 on the tops

Five-Year Celebration

Americas Conference 2025 also marked the fifth anniversary of the INSEAD San Francisco Hub, celebrating its role as INSEAD’s home in the Americas and its deep connection to the Bay Area’s innovation ecosystem, made possible through a vibrant community of alumni, partners, and leaders across the region.

2023: Sustainable Resilience: Catalyzing Innovations

Americas Conference 2023 — Sustainable Resilience: Catalyzing Innovations was the first installment of the INSEAD Americas Conference series, bringing together INSEAD faculty, business leaders, alumni, and innovators at the INSEAD San Francisco Hub to explore sustainability-driven strategy, resilient business models, climate-focused investment, and emerging technologies through keynotes, panels, and workshops, and concluding with a gala celebrating the INSEAD community.

To learn more about the program and to see the speaker lineup, click here

two men in conversation sitting on a stage

Thought Leadership

The program featured dynamic keynotes, panels, and masterclasses on sustainability, innovation, and emerging technologies, with speakers including Brad Lightcap, Chief Operating Officer of OpenAI, offering perspectives on the evolving role of generative AI in business.
circus performer with green pants

Blooming Extravaganza Gala

The conference concluded with the Blooming Extravaganza gala at 25 Lusk, a vibrant evening that brought the community together for celebration and connection, featuring performances by local circus artists and a festive atmosphere reflecting the spirit of the Bay Area. 
man on stage opening an envelope

INSEAD Business Sustainability Awards

The conference included the INSEAD Business Sustainability Awards, presented by INSEAD Professor Karel Cool, recognizing alumni for their commitment to advancing sustainable business practices and driving positive impact across industries.