2026 Conference Agenda

8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
Welcome Breakfast & Registration

9:30 a.m.
Welcome Address

Barbara Porco, Ph.D., Managing Director, Responsible Business Center; Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Fordham University, Gabelli School of Business

9:45 a.m.
Keynote Address

Speaker to be Announced

10:15 a.m.
2025 American Innovation Index Results

Gina Woodall, Vice President, Radius

The American Innovation Index™ has tracked trends in customer-perceived innovation and social innovation since 2018. Hear the latest trends, learn which U.S. companies are ranked most innovative by their customers, understand why being an innovative and socially innovative company in the eyes of your customers matters, and learn how you can further your brand’s innovation journey.

10:30 a.m.
Changing Consumer Perceptions of AI

Jay Shutter, CTO, Radius

The rapid adoption of AI across all facets of business is changing the way companies operate and interact with their customers and prospects. How do consumers feel about the use of AI and how have perceptions changed over time? Jay Shutter will present the latest data on consumer perceptions of AI and the impact of AI on customer perceptions of firm innovativeness.

10:40 a.m.
The Impact of AI on the Customer Panel Discussion

AI is blurring the line between human and digital interactions. As organizations scale AI across the enterprise, they must navigate transparency, data privacy, cybersecurity, and the social implications of automation, all of which shape whether customers view AI as responsible, trustworthy, and valuable. This panel brings together leaders applying AI in deeply consumer-facing contexts to explore what drives successful adoption, when AI is embraced vs. rejected, and how to innovate ethically while balancing speed, ambition, and responsibility. They’ll also examine how AI is reshaping the customer buying journey itself - redefining how brands engage, influence, and build trust in a world where digital and human touchpoints increasingly converge.

  • Ji Woon Kim, Team Lead, Insights, North American Innovation, LG
  • Jun Jueong, LG
  • Tim Berendt, Director, Innovation – Discovery & Insights, Corporate Venture Capital, NRG
  • Additional Speakers to be Announced 

11:10 a.m. 
Coffee Break

11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
When Doing Good Drives Loyalty Panel Discussion

What does social responsibility actually look like today and what do customers expect? From supporting underserved communities to tackling sustainability and shaping brand purpose, companies are redefining what it means to “do good.” This session explores how leading consumer brands integrate social innovation into strategy, the challenges they confront, and how authentic communication translates good intentions into real impact and customer loyalty.

  • Mardi Ditze, Country Sustainability Manager, IKEA US
  • Kikke Riedel, SVP Strategy & Insights, MilkPep
  • Additional Speakers to be Announced 

12:00 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Innovation Personas: Who Drives the Future?

Three rapid, high-impact talks revealing how different innovation personas spark ideas, build momentum, and navigate an increasingly AI-shaped innovation landscape. Each perspective also touches on the growing expectation that innovation serves not just consumers but society overall, from wellbeing to sustainability to long-term responsible growth.

  • Stephan Gans, Chief Insights & Analytics Officer, PepsiCo
  • Rob Wengel, CEO, Radius Insights
  • Additional Speakers to be Announced

1:00 p.m. 
Lunch

2:00 p.m.
Keynote Address: From Innovation to Impact: Why Good Business is Smart Business

Speaker to be Announced

2:20 p.m.
Natural Asset Companies & Natural Capital Fireside Chat

This session examines the emerging field of natural asset companies and the role of natural capital in shaping business models that protect ecosystems while creating new forms of value. As a groundbreaking approach, natural asset companies represent an innovative way of rethinking how we value nature itself, unlocking new opportunities at the intersection of sustainability, finance, and corporate strategy.

  • Barbara Porco, Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Managing Director, Responsible Business Center, Gabelli School of Business
  • Additional Speakers to be Announced

2:55 p.m.
Responsible Reporting & Transparency Panel Discussion

Corporate leaders share cutting-edge approaches to measuring and communicating performance. The panel will highlight innovative reporting frameworks, new tools for data transparency, and creative ways organizations are building trust with stakeholders while avoiding greenwashing. Reporting out is essential because it not only holds companies accountable but also demonstrates progress, fosters credibility, and allows firms to lead by example in shaping industry standards.

  • Moderated by Marc Siegel, Executive in Residence, Responsible Business Center, Gabelli School of Business
  • Additional Speakers to be Announced

3:30 p.m. 
Coffee & Networking Break

3:50 p.m. 
Faculty Research Spotlight

Speaker to be Announced

4:20 p.m.
Sustainability Futures: The Next Frontier in Good Business

This panel looks ahead to what sustainability means for the future, weaving together some of the world’s most urgent and dynamic topics. It explores what investors are prioritizing as markets shift, where energy and climate technologies are headed, how communities are shaping more equitable and resilient systems, and the ways cities are leading with bold, innovative solutions. By bringing these perspectives together, the conversation reveals how interconnected forces will define the next era of sustainable progress and what it will take to meet that future with purpose and impact.

  • Peter Lupoff, Partner, Beatrice Advisors
  • Moderated by Leigh Anne Statuto, Executive Director, Responsible Business Center, Gabelli School of Business
  • Additional Speakers to be Announced

4:55 p.m.
Closing Reflections

Leigh Anne Statuto, Executive Director, Responsible Business Center

5:00 p.m.
Networking Reception