John Maeda
Author and President, Rhode Island School of Design (RISD)

Wednesday, March 21, 8:30am

In the first part of his candid, entertaining, and instructive talk, John Maeda uses perspectives from his various backgrounds – as an artist and designer, a technologist, and a professor – to discuss new leadership lessons. What are the opportunities and the limits of using social media in the new networked organization? What does leadership even look like today? And how can we adapt and move forward in our ever-changing innovation economy? In the second part of his presentation, Maeda argues that the critical thinking, critical decision-making, and creative leadership embodied at RISD can lead us to an enlightened form of innovation – one where art, design, technology, and business meet. The role of designers and artists is changing and expanding; what we learn from how they work, how they process, and how they think will help drive innovation – the engine of our economy – in the critical years ahead.

Erik Wahl
Artist and Change Agent, The Wahl Group

Thursday, March 22, 8:30am

As the landscape for business continues to change, a clear vision is the key to successfully navigating tomorrow’s uncharted waters. The Art of Vision is a program specifically designed to help companies utilize unconventional wisdom and build a vision for their future. No matter what kind of organization – from small companies to large corporations – employees at all levels can better embrace the future by becoming more innovative. By breaking apart traditional thinking, Erik challenges and inspires his audiences to redefine commonly held assumptions and misconceptions about “creativity," "goals," "success,” and "vision.” Discover how you can sharpen your creative skills and identify a personal style for inspiring yourself and others to rethink vision and purpose.

Sheena S. Iyengar
Author and Professor of Business, Columbia University

Friday, March 23, 11:00am

In our world of shifting political and cultural forces, technological revolution, and interconnected commerce, our decisions have far-reaching consequences. Whether mundane or life altering, our choices define us and shape our lives. In this closing keynote presentation, Dr. Sheena Iyengar asks the difficult questions about how and why we choose: Is the desire for choice innate or bound by culture? Why do we sometimes choose against our best interests? How much control do we really have over what we choose? Dr. Iyengar's award-winning research reveals that the answers are surprising and profound. Join her as she explores three main aspects of choice –  Overload, Culture, and Creativity – combining them in different and unexpected ways to show you how your choices impact your organization, your learners, and yourself.