2026 Conference

Innovation, Impact and the Courage to Think Bigger
Tom Ulbrich, President and CEO, Goodwill of Western New York
Goodwill has always been one of America’s most powerful innovation stories, turning donated goods into jobs, careers and hope long before the term ‘social enterprise’ ever existed. Explore how to position innovation as a leadership responsibility, not a department or committee. An innovation culture starts and must be led and fed by senior leadership.

Well-Being as Strategy: How Leadership and Human Resource Management Practices Build Resilient Organizations
Rachael Hansen-Garsgong, Postdoctoral Researcher
Yvonne Barnieh, Adjunct Faculty, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration
As organizations confront increasing uncertainty and disruption, resilience has become a central strategic priority. Yet resilience is often pursued through structural and operational solutions, while the well-being of organizational members, one of the most critical drivers of adaptive capacity, remains treated as a peripheral initiative rather than a strategic organizational resource.

United Nations Spotlight Conversation
Felipe Queipo, Program Management and Communications Officer, United Nations Jade Cochran, Program Specialist, Civil Society Division, UN Women
A candid conversation on what it takes to lead effectively in a rapidly changing world. This session explores how the UN can navigate global uncertainty, accelerate progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and strengthen multilateral cooperation. Participants will gain insight into the mindsets, lessons and innovations shaping the future of leadership across the UN system.

Understanding Different Facets of Inclusive Leadership
Daniela Goya-Tocchetto, Assistant Professor of Organization and Human Resources, University at Buffalo School of Management
In this session, you will gain a framework for understanding different aspects of inclusive leadership, helping participants figure out which aspects are most helpful for them and their organizations.

There’s a “We” in Well-Being
Danielle Tussing, Assistant Professor of Organization and Human Resources, University at Buffalo School of Management
Employee well-being has grown increasingly critical as a priority for organizations. This presentation describes a 30-day field experiment conducted at a large financial services organization assessing the effects of self-, leader- and group-driven approaches to supporting employee well-being.

From Connection to Co-Creation: Africa-Caribbean Partnership for Resilient and Inclusive Leadership
Indianna Minto-Coy, Deputy Executive Director, MBA and MSc, Programs, Mona School of Business and Management 
Augustina Akonnor, Dean of Students and Head of International Programs, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration
Leadership development programs often emphasize individual capacity-building, yet their potential to spark lasting global partnerships and institutional innovation is less explored. This presentation examines how two scholar-administrators from Africa and the Caribbean transformed participation in a global leadership initiative at the University at Buffalo into an enduring professional collaboration. By engaging in joint research, peer coaching and knowledge exchange, their partnership illustrates how leadership programs can foster relationships that endure well beyond the virtual classrooms. It also highlights the crucial role of academic institutions, such as the UB School of Management, in creating avenues for cross-continental collaboration and engagement to flourish. The case highlights the value of cross-regional academic collaboration in fostering resilient leadership and advancing sustainable, inclusive innovation within higher education. 

Afternoon Plenary – One Experience, Many Lenses: A Cross-Disciplinary Approach to Global Service
Led by Tiffany Hamilton, CEO, YWCA White Plains and Central Westchester
Panelists:

• John Hu, Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo
• Rose Hu, Clinical Assistant Professor, Accounting and Law, University at Buffalo
• Ron Hamilton, Senior Vice President - Head Risk and Compliance, BMS Group
• Hannah Clarke, Undergraduate Student, School of Management
• Sawyer Goerg, Undergraduate Student, School of Nursing

Through the lens of a shared global service experience, this moderated panel highlights how different academic disciplines contributed to collective success. Faculty and students will discuss how their distinct roles came together to support communities abroad, offering reflections on teamwork, systems thinking and the value of interdisciplinary learning.

Leading Through Disruption: Innovation, Technology and Organizational Resilience
Anand Nandkumar, Professor of Operations Management and Strategy, University at Buffalo School of Management
This presentation will examine how leaders can build organizations that are flexible, innovative and better able to respond to rapid change. In a business environment shaped by new technologies, shifting customer expectations and constant disruption, resilience depends on the ability to constantly adapt, learn and move quickly. The talk will explore how organizations can respond to technological change more effectively, encourage innovation across teams and manage the tension between delivering results in the present and preparing for the future. It will also consider how leaders can create structures and processes that support learning, better decision-making and sustained growth. The overall focus will be on practical ideas for helping organizations remain competitive, adaptable and strong in uncertain times.

How More Than 30 Coaches and Leaders Are Using AI and Where They’re Drawing the Line
Celine Krzan, Clinical Assistant Professor of Entrepreneurship, University at Buffalo School of Management
Bob Langewisch, Co-Instructor, Coaching Certification Program, University at Buffalo School of Management
AI is quickly showing up in coaching and leadership development, but the way professionals are actually using it is far more nuanced than the hype suggests. This session shares early insights from conversations with more than 30 coaches, coaching educators and organizational leaders about how they are experimenting with AI in real coaching and leadership development work. Participants discuss what’s working, what feels useful, where they feel uneasy and the boundaries they are actively setting around trust, confidentiality and professional judgment. Rather than focusing on tools or trends alone, the presentation surfaces patterns in how practitioners are making sense of AI in deeply human, relationship-driven work and what these early choices may mean for the future of coaching, leadership development and professional education.

AI in Action: A UB Case Study on AI-Powered Leadership Coaching
John Krzan, Founder, Orin Learning Intelligence
Marsha King, Director, Coaching Certification Program, University at Buffalo School of Management
Dive into UB’s Leadership Coaching program and learn how AI tools are actively helping develop future leaders. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at what we’ve integrated, how it’s changing coaching practices and what lessons we’re learning.

Ideology, Community and Language Modeling
Kenny Joseph, Associate Professor, Department of AI and Society, University at Buffalo
Large language models inherit the goals of their creators and the ideologies expressed in the data on which they are trained. These goals and ideologies are not necessarily conducive to using these or other machine learning tools to build global community. Kenny Joseph will provide some thoughts and examples of how to address these challenges with the end goal of building technologies that foster human-centered innovation and community.

Leading Through Disruption: Adaptation, Mindset and the Long Game
Led by Ryan McPherson, Chief Sustainability Officer, University at Buffalo
Panelists:

• Erin Komorowski, Chief of Staff to the CEO and Chairman, M&T Bank
• Jon Powers, President, CleanCapital
• Evan van Hook, Chief Sustainability Officer, Viridi

In a moment defined by volatility and rapid disruption — from shifting political landscapes to economic uncertainty to accelerating climate impacts — effective leadership demands more than reaction. It requires adaptability, grounded perspective and a willingness to see challenge as opportunity. Moderated by Ryan McPherson, this session brings together leaders from finance, clean energy and sustainability to explore how today’s changemakers are advancing climate and sustainability solutions amid unprecedented complexity. These leaders will share how institutions are sustaining momentum on decarbonization, resilience and equitable growth while navigating disruption, reframing obstacles and staying anchored. Panelists will also reflect on how adaptive leadership, disciplined optimism and playing the long game are essential to sustaining progress, mobilizing institutions and delivering the climate and resilience outcomes our communities and economies urgently need. This session will offer candid insights on leading with purpose when conditions are uncertain (and even hostile) — and why moments of disruption may be precisely where the greatest opportunities for impact lie.

Panel: Emerging Technologies Reshaping How We Learn, Work and Lead
Led by Carolyn Tomlinson, Vice President, Innovation, Speed to Market and Packaging, Rich Products
Panelists:

• Scott Madsen, Director of Risk Management, Citi
• Lauren Genovese (Chua), Global Senior Manager, Putting People First, Rich Products
• Greg Moscicki, Director of Finance, Global Head of Resource Management, Citi

A fast‑paced discussion on how AI and other emerging technologies are transforming learning, work and leadership. Panelists will explore the opportunities, disruptions and new capabilities defining the future, and what it takes to stay adaptive in a tech‑driven world.

Panel: AI for Good: Balancing Innovation and Environmental Impact (Track 2 and 3)
Panelists:

• John Ipe, Director of Digital Strategy and Execution, Moog
• Michelle Lund Philbin, Senior Global Sustainability Manager, Rich Products
• Martin Krebs, Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President, National Fuel

A conversation on how AI can be developed and deployed responsibly while still driving meaningful social impact. Panelists will explore the opportunities AI creates for solving global challenges, the trade‑offs that come with rapid innovation, and the principles needed to ensure AI advances serve the public good.