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

A Community backing INSEAD Entrepreneurs

Join INSEAD alumni investors and advisors as they share insights on fostering entrepreneurial success within the INSEAD community and beyond. Discover how this network provides crucial support, mentorship, and funding to nurture the next generation of INSEAD-led ventures.

• Michael Korsic, Founder and Managing Partner at Loyal VC
• Kamal Hassan, Managing Partner at Loyal VC

Silicon Valley Tour: Feel The Future

Explore Silicon Valley's innovation ecosystem and discover how Genentech is transforming healthcare through AI, data, and sustainability.

• Gopi Rangan Founding Partner at Sure Ventures 
• Ashley Magargee, CEO at Genentech

Midas' Touch: The Next Robot Astronaut in the Golden Age of Space and Robotics 

Sign up here

Just as Midas’ touch turned everything into gold, robotics has the power to transform space exploration - expanding our reach, increasing our capabilities, and reshaping the way we imagine the future.

• Chwee Foon Lim, Board Member of INSEAD
• Other Speakers TBC

Angel Investing in 2025

The INSEAD Angel Club and Loyal VC offer an introduction to angel investing, followed by a discussion of recent AI trends and their impact on startups and investors.

• James So, Investor/Mentor at HealthTech Capital
• Florian Bertele, Angel Investor / Investment Fellow at Xoogler.co
• Michael Korsic, Founder and Managing Partner at Loyal VC
• Kamal Hassan, Managing Partner at Loyal VC

LoyalVC Startup Roundup 

Sponsored by LoyalVC, Eight dynamic startups will pitch, followed by engaging Q&A sessions to explore innovative ideas and entrepreneurial insights.

• Michael Korsic, Founder and Managing Partner at Loyal VC
• Kamal Hassan, Managing Partner at Loyal VC
• Geoff Ralston, President Emeritus of YCombinator

The Opening Ceremony

Celebrate INSEAD's 5th anniversary with a vibrant opening ceremony setting the stage for next day’s discussions on how companies can responsibly leverage new technologies for a just and resilient world.

• Vic Woo, Senior Director of INSEAD SF Hub
• Amit Akhelikar, President of US NAA
• David Chiu, San Francisco City Attorney at Office of City Attorney
• Francisco Veloso, Dean of INSEAD
• Kristin Skogen Lund (KSL), Chairman of the Board at INSEAD

Welcome Address

• Vic Woo, Senior Director of INSEAD SF Hub
• Amit Akhelikar, President of US NAA
• Francisco Veloso, Dean of INSEAD

The Age of Intelligence: Questions That Shape a New World

An interactive session: Using AI-driven clustering of survey responses, we'll reveal key themes and discuss what we're prioritizing - and missing - in our conversations.

• SoYeon Chun Associate Professor of Technology and Operations Management at INSEAD
• Robert Maciejko, Co-founder at INSEAD AI (alumni led) and Florida Metro Leader
• Marylene Delborg-Delphis, CEO at Cilantro Management
• Francisco Veloso, Dean of INSEAD
• Lily Fang, Dean of Research at INSEAD

AI on the Edge: Exploring the Fine Line Between Benefit and Harm

Should AI innovation be guided by guardrails or left unfettered? This session explores the tension between responsible AI and unfettered innovation, aiming to provide a nuanced understanding of both sides.

• Gerard de Graaf, Sr Envoy for Digital to the US and head of the EU office in San Francisco
• Theos Evgeniou, Professor of Technology and Business at INSEAD
• Lutz Finger, Founder at R2Decide
• Other Speakers TBC

The Space Playbook: Strategies for Growth Amid Privacy and Data Dynamics

Beyond Rockets: The Power and Perils of Space-Based Data. How satellite imagery, combined with AI, can provide actionable insights for addressing global challenges like wildfires and natural disasters while also navigating the complex landscape of privacy and data security in an increasingly interconnected world.

• Simone D’Amico, Associate Professor of Aeronautics and Astronautics at Stanford
• Karan Kunjar, Co-Founder and CEO at K2 Space Corporation
• Zach Brown, Co-Founder and Board of Director at Creattura
• Ashley Fieglein, Johnson President and CFO at Planet
• Moderator TBC

Lunch: Anniversary Celebration

Celebrate the INSEAD San Francisco Hub's 5th anniversary with a special lunch featuring its origin story, a showcase of achievements, future initiatives in the Americas, and the unveiling of a special NAA gift.

• Vic Woo, Senior Director of INSEAD SF Hub
• Peter Zemsky, Eli Lilly Chaired Professor of Strategy and Innovation
• Mika Salmi  Entrepreneur and Investor at Lakestar
• Adam Goldsterin Executive Chairman of KNNX Corp, Board Member of INSEAD
• Francisco Veloso Dean of INSEAD
• Amit Akhelikar , President of US NAA

The AI-Ready Leader: Harnessing AI for Sustainable Growth

• Kristin Skogen Lund, INSEAD Board Chair
• Dean Carignan Partner Program Manager, Office of the Chief Scientist at Microsoft
• Mark Stabile, Dean of Degree Programme and Dean of the Europe Campus at INSEAD

Building Bridges in the Digital Age: Tech Diplomacy on a Global Scale 

Explore how nations are shaping AI policy and regulation as international diplomatic representatives discuss strategies on data governance, ethics, economic impacts, and global cooperation to foster a responsible and inclusive AI future.

• Mariana Ferreira Cardoso Thiele BR, Deputy-consul Brazil in San Francisco
• Joanna Smolinska, Deputy Head of EU Office in San Francisco
• Christina Steinbrecher-Pfandt CEO at Tech Diplomacy Network

AI and Organization: From Roadblocks to Ramps

Scaling AI: Discover how leaders can address organizational challenges in scaling AI, from initiating adoption to evolving management roles, with key questions and frameworks to build capacity for effective AI integration.

• Vibha Gaba, Board Member of INSEAD
• Chwee Foon Lim, Board Member of INSEAD

Beyond Disruption: Innovate and Achieve Growth without Disruption

Renée Mauborgne offers a practical framework for "non-disruptive creation," she reveals how to generate new markets and growth by unlocking new demand and making competition irrelevant, through identifying noncustomers and creating new value without displacing existing businesses.

• Renee Mauborgne (Thinkers50)

Navigating the Investment Frontier: A Focus on Emerging Trends

A discussion navigating the investment frontier in humanity's future. Focusing on emerging investment trends and how to align financial goals with a commitment to positive global impact.

• Mara Larson-Richards, Head of Venture Capital Team at Salesforce
• Mika Salmi, Entrepreneur and Investor at Lakestar
• Kamal Hassan, Managing Partner at Loyal VC
• Jing Liao, Chairwoman of Executive Sustainability Committee, CAO at Solera, Inc.
• Peter Zemsky, Eli Lilly Chaired Professor of Strategy and Innovation

Sustainability at Scale: Transforming Data Centres with AI Chip Technology and Renewable Energy

Explore "Green AI" initiatives across Canada and the Americas, showcasing energy-efficient hardware, sustainable energy use, and collaborative projects reducing AI's carbon footprint for a more sustainable future.

• Karen Bozynski, Director of Partnership at Canada’s Semiconductor Council
• Kevin Conley, CEO at Applied Brain Research 
• Karel Cool, Strategy Professor at INSEAD

Change Leadership Today: Examining Organizational Behavior and Human Dynamics

An opportunity to reflect and learn about how leaders are currently navigating the strong anxieties and emotional challenges of leading change. Gain insights from applied practices in organizations that empower leading through change anxiety.

• Jonathan Yeo, Founder at The Potential Place
• Brett McFarlane, Founder at Innovation Leadership

Business Sustainability Award Ceremony

Learn more about sustainability at INSEAD, followed by the announcement of the four winners of the 2nd annual INSEAD Business Sustainability Awards, recognizing innovative approaches to creating a better world through business. The session includes a panel discussion with all four winners. 

• Karel Cool, Strategy Professor at INSEAD 
• Peter Joos, Deputy Dean, Dean of Faculty  at INSEAD
• Winners of the 2025 INSEAD Business Sustainability Award

Closing Remarks

Reflecting on the valuable insights shared by our 30+ speakers and emphasizing the importance of continued collaboration within the INSEAD community and beyond, to navigate the complexities and opportunities of the AI-powered world.

• Vic Woo, Senior Director of INSEAD SF Hub
• Amit Akhelikar, President of US NAA
• Francisco Veloso, Dean of INSEAD

Wine Experience: California’s Finest Wines & Future Trends

Join industry luminaries Mark Bright, Tor Kenward, and Todd Ruppert for a panel on an evolving wine industry, exploring the challenges and future trends shaping wine in California. Paired with an exclusive wine tasting and light lunch at Saison Wine Bar and Cellar.

• Tor Kenward, INSEAD Advisory Council member and producer of A Year in Burgundy, A Year in Champagne, and A Year in Port
• Todd Ruppert, founder of TOR Wines
• Mark Bright, co-founder of Michelin-starred Saison
• Federico Pumpin, VP of Sanitary, Food and Beverage at BioFiltro

Global Perspectives Through Art: A Leadership Journey

Join a guided tour of SFMOMA, using Visual Thinking Strategies (VTS) to engage deeply with contemporary and modern art. Designed for future business leaders, this dynamic experience explores how art connects culture, leadership, and global perspectives. 

• Lucie Charkin, Art Historian and Founder of the Artful Method