Frontline employees keep organizations running, yet many remain disconnected from leadership, culture, and opportunity. In this Culturati: LIVE session, Gideon Pridor, CMO & Chief Storyteller at Workvivo by Zoom, walks through insights from the Frontline Gap Report, a global survey of 7,500 frontline workers. The conversation examines the five gaps shaping frontline experience—culture, communication, recognition, technology, and career growth—and highlights practical ways leaders can close them to improve engagement, retention, and operational performance.

Dr. Katie Pritchett explores why transformation often fails under pressure, introducing the Organizational Nervous System lens to show how stress, identity threat, and uncertainty shape culture, decision-making, and change durability—especially as AI reshapes work.

As AI spreads, speed and scale stop being advantages on their own. What replaces them is judgment. Watch Gwen Hammes and Al Dea challenge the assumptions leaders still hold about efficiency, expertise, and accountability in AI-enabled organizations.

In this Culturati: LIVE session, Douglas Ferguson and Erik Skogsberg of Voltage Control demonstrate how AI is reshaping collaboration by acting as an active thinking partner rather than a solo productivity tool. Through a live Miro walkthrough, they show how teams can use AI to surface assumptions, visualize complexity, and move from scattered inputs to shared understanding. The session explores the “personal efficiency trap,” highlights where coordination breaks down inside organizations, and offers practical ways to bring AI into workshops, retros, and strategy work. Leaders will walk away with new language, tools, and mindsets for treating AI as a collaborative teammate—one that accelerates clarity, alignment, and collective problem-solving.

In this interactive session, Geoff Woods, author of The AI Driven Leader, shared a transformative approach to using AI as a strategic partner rather than a tactical tool. He reintroduced the CRIT framework (Context, Role, Interview, Task) as a powerful method for prompting AI to ask the right questions, enabling leaders to think more clearly, creatively, and effectively. Through real-world examples, including resolving board tensions and reimagining impossible revenue goals, Geoff demonstrated how AI can unlock growth, accelerate execution, and align strategy across organizations. The session challenged common assumptions, urging leaders to stop delegating AI adoption to IT and instead lead from the top focusing on enterprise value. Participants left with tangible tools, a shift in mindset, and a renewed sense of how to harness AI not to replace human insight, but to enhance it.

In this Culturati: LIVE session, Chris Jensen, Chief People Officer & EVP of NXP, and Dana Larsen, VP of Global Talent & Organization Development, shared how NXP is transforming its culture to meet the demands of AI at the edge—where speed, safety, and independence from the cloud are critical. They described setting a North Star of becoming “unstoppable,” aligning senior leaders through immersive development, and engaging 120 VPs to shape personal leadership visions across siloes. To guide change, NXP analyzed more than 14,000 employee comments with generative AI and paired survey results with informal feedback to uncover cultural patterns and priorities. The conversation highlighted that courageous leadership today requires linking purpose, clarity, and agency with the execution speed needed to compete in the AI era.

LaToya Collins-Jones suggests we don’t need more rules or another corporate playbook - that leading with clarity and audacity is the way. In this session, LaToya is calling in leaders ready to trust their gut, and create cultures that reflect who they truly are. She'll explore how to build high-performance environments without burning out or selling out—and why the boldest move you can make is to lead from alignment. This conversation assumes leaders are here to shake things up—and ready to start with one powerful, unapologetic step.

In high-stakes environments, leaders often default to control, speed, or detachment—instinctive responses that can erode trust and performance. This session explored the science and practice of Cognitive Hospitality: a leadership approach that helps teams stay grounded, open, and creative under pressure. Rev. Steven Tomlinson, PhD and Dr. Gregory Wallingford shared research and real-world insights on how to shift from reactivity to reflection, creating conditions for emotional safety and clear thinking in crisis moments. Together with the audience, they unpacked the human signals of “code blue” culture, offered language to navigate ambiguity, and outlined actionable strategies to lead with presence, empathy, and steadiness, no matter the situtation.

Description: Learn why strategies to enhance collaboration, connectivity, innovation, mentorship, and skill development are the key to ensure your working model works for your organization and your people. Whether teams are in person, remote, or hybrid, these practices are essential to create a healthy organization with sustained productivity.

Christie Smith PhD, founder of The Humanity Studio, a human leadership company, and Jeremy Tucker, founder of Major Futures, a strategic brand growth firm, discuss the new ways that business leaders can craft strong personal brands built to foster purpose, agency and trust in the workplace, and in the world.

Description: Join us in discussing how gen AI is further accelerating the need for strategic workforce planning. Predicting go-forward talent demand has never been harder – or more important – for organizations to plan for (and realize) the impact of gen AI. Discover how other organizations are leveraging data & automation to plan for their future talent needs, including how McKinsey itself is transitioning to skill-first talent planning,

Embracing a human-centric approach to leadership—one that prioritizes the needs and well-being of employees, fosters inspiration and gives them a sense of purpose—is now more important than ever. Those who invest first in their own inward journey find they can more effectively inspire and empower others. Join a discussion on the qualities that redefine leadership as outlined in McKinsey’s new book, The Journey of Leadership, assess your personal leadership style, and learn practical strategies used by top CEOs.

How can AI transform both employee experience and customer engagement? In this dynamic workshop hosted by Microsoft’s Karan Nigam, trailblazing organizations shared real-world strategies for embedding AI into operations and culture—from self-service agents that empower teams to tools that qualify leads with precision. A must-watch for anyone reimagining the workplace through intelligent design.

Description: Discover insights on organizational culture, leadership, and transformation as Tiffanie Boyd, McDonald's Global Chief People Officer, and Brooke Weddle, a Senior Partner at McKinsey & Company, delve into the challenges and opportunities of building a resilient, continuously transforming workplace culture in a rapidly changing environment.

The world is heating up and change is accelerating – with extreme volatility and low visibility. Dean Carter, Chief Experience Officer for Modern Executive Solutions, and former head of people and culture for Sears, Fossil and Patagonia, will take us through how even in extraordinarily different companies and cultures you can leverage meaningful purpose and powerful tools to drive sustainable productivity and extraordinary results – even in turbulent times.

In an era defined by unprecedented technological innovation, the rise of distributed teams, and seismic global shifts, traditional leadership models are no longer sufficient. Christie Smith, PhD, founder of The Humanity Studio and co-author of Essential: How Distributed Teams, Generative AI, and Global Shifts Are Creating a New Human-Powered Leadership, offers a bold and transformative roadmap for leaders to meet these challenges head-on. With over 35 years of experience advising Fortune 500 companies and spearheading transformative talent strategies at Accenture, Apple, and Deloitte, Dr. Smith presents a vision of leadership that puts humanity at the center—delivering results that benefit both business and society. Drawing on insights from her groundbreaking book, she offers actionable strategies to help leaders align people, purpose, and technology. Attendees will leave equipped to lead with confidence, clarity, and courage in a rapidly evolving business landscape.

How is your commitment to purpose, values, and vision being challenged? What should bend, break, and stand tall in turbulent times.

The 2025 Culturati Summit marked a decade of gathering bold, curious leaders committed to changing the world through the workplace. Held at Campus on Lake Austin, it brought together 150 executives, scholars, and changemakers for two days of real-time benchmarking, candid exchange, and deep inquiry into how we build **purpose, agency, and trust** in an age of institutional breakdown and accelerating AI. The result: a rare space for unfiltered insight and strategic clarity among those shaping the future of work.

Brace yourselves: AI is set to revolutionize the workplace like never before. The integration of AI into business isn’t just an upgrade—it’s a seismic shift that will challenge every norm. No aspect of work, from organizational structures to productivity metrics, will be left untouched. In this workshop you will learn about Microsoft’s latest research and insights from cutting-edge AI-native companies reveal a bold new blueprint for how businesses can thrive, and employees can excel in this AI-driven era. Get ready to confront the future head-on and redefine success.

Learn why strategies to enhance collaboration, connectivity, innovation, mentorship, and skill development are the key to ensure your working model works for your organization and your people. Whether teams are in person, remote, or hybrid, these practices are essential to create a healthy organization with sustained productivity.

Description: Brett, Julia and Omair discuss pioneering strategies and insights as a panel of leading entrepreneurs, sharing their unique experiences and approaches to cultivating a vibrant and innovative organizational culture. Takeaway: We’re reinventing the workplace. It’s not just who we hire but also who we allow to stay. The talent dynamic is shifting.

Description: People are our competitive advantage. There is a high ROI on human capital investment. It also allows us to reach peak productivity and prosperity. Takeaways: - Why is establishing a strong organizational culture critical to performance? - How is culture created and sustained at the organizational level? - How should an organization decide what should be part of its DNA? - What roles should the CHRO, CEO and top leadership team play in establishing, changing, or cementing culture? How about middle managers and first line managers? - What visible actions are you taking to create the climate for your team members to contribute to your organization’s success?

Description: Walter Isaacson, one of the world’s most prolific authors on genius, leadership & entrepreneurship as well as the former editor of Time Magazine, the CEO & Chairman of CNN, and the CEO of the Aspen Institute, discusses the creativity of genius, leadership & culture in our 2C24 opening keynote. Interviewed by our co-founder & CEO, Eugene Sepulveda. Key Takeaways: - Do you have to be a jerk* to be a disruptor? Distinguishing between disobedience and inititative. - How important is the role of risk-taking? - Innovation and technology as a team sport that can transcend generations. - Should cultures blur the lines between disobedience and initiative?

Description: A fireside chat with Michelle Gethers and Brooke Weddle exploring the link between inclusion and performance, as well as ways to foster belonging. Takeaways: - Why should inclusion matter to leaders? - How should leaders design inclusion efforts to reach all employees? - What are the biggest barriers, related to inclusion, that organizations need to address?

Description: The workplace of the future will be remote-first, but not place-less. This means reimagining both our ways of working and the places we work. Organizations that strike the right balance between workplace flexibility and reimagined purpose of the office can achieve speed, sustainable performance, and a distinctive employee experience. No mandates required. Takeaways: - The workplace of the future will be virtual-first, but not place-less - Your organization’s workplace needs a clearly defined and authentic purpose - Purposeful presence and reimagined offices can be used to improve organizational health and employee experience

Description: Generative AI promises to transform work for every role and function. Becoming an AI-Powered Organization will take new leadership, talent and a reimagination of how work gets done. Join Matthew Duncan as he shares an AI-powered approach to unlock productivity, unleash creativity, and uplevel skills for everyone. Takeaways: - AI is not just a tool – it is a new dimension of work - Employees are suffering from a time and energy deficiency and digital debt - Broken work patterns are causing this deficiency – but AI is already showing signs of fixing them - Only businesses that re-allocate refunded time and energy wisely will truly benefit from the new dimension of work

Description: How to create a values-focused culture which aligns with P&L ambitions: strengthening behavior alignment with corporate and individual success metrics. Takeaways: - The senior most leaders must create the culture through values and behaviors. What measures would you put in place to hold management accountable? Review your incentive plans and business goals to see how to embed culture work within those programs. - When creating culture initiatives, know the strategic initiatives that will carry the organization forward and build from there. - It’s true, sustainable change in culture will take several years. - Communicate the values and culture goals in an immersive framework: language, visuals, behavior.

Description: Organizational health, driven by decisive leadership, data-driven innovation, and dynamic deployment of talent, remains the best predictor of value creation and a sustainable source of competitive advantage in today’s global marketplace. Takeaways: - ‘How you run the place’ is both a source and driver of competitive advantage. If it’s not intentional – you’re getting it wrong! - Behaviors are measurable. If you aren't measuring it, you can't manage it! - Great leadership should drive sustainable performance and energy in your people. It's not about happy, it's about healthy!

Description: Managers play a key role in driving organizational value, particularly when it comes to scaling and capturing value from GenAI, making it crucial to accurately define their responsibilities and ensure they receive support. Takeaways: - Managers are more critical than ever before. Organizations need to set the role up for success, by cutting unnecessary administrivia and supporting and empowering their managers - The path is not one size fits all. Organizations need to set up optionality so that being a manager isn’t perceived as the only way to advance, and organizations need to get clear on what they expect of their managers and assess accordingly - Organizations must continuously develop their managers so they are building new skills to deliver in a rapidly evolving world of work.

Description: Mark McClain, CEO & founder of SailPoint, the leading identity security company, discusses the potential benefits and harm of AI technology and its implications on company culture in the workplace. Takeaways: - What history has taught us about technology advancements in the workplace - The potential benefits and harm of AI in today’s workplace - How to proceed aggressively, with caution

Description: Join us for a hands-on workshop designed to guide your journey towards becoming a High Performance Organization. In this interactive session, we'll explore proven strategies and practical steps to elevate organizational performance. You'll learn how to identify key areas for improvement, implement effective processes, and cultivate a culture of excellence and innovation. Through expert insights and collaborative exercises, participants will gain valuable tools and insights to drive sustainable growth, enhance team dynamics, and achieve outstanding results. Whether you're leading a small team or a large corporation, this workshop will empower you with the knowledge and skills to take your organization to the next level. Takeaways: - High Performing Organizations excel in employee engagement, productivity, and business resilience. What are actions you can incrementally take to positively impact employee engagement, employee productivity, and business resilience in the next week, next month, and in the next six months?

Description: Generative AI is a field that offers opportunities for creating novel and valuable content, products, and services. However, it also requires a shift in mindset and culture, and overcoming challenges and risks. How can business leaders embrace the now and foster a culture of generative A.I. innovation? Takeaways: - Understand strategies for building a culture of generative A.I. innovation - Learn about examples and case studies of organizations that have successfully applied generative A.I. in their organizations - Discover best practices and resources for learning and staying updated on generative A.I. trends and developments

Description: It’s time to pull apart decades of leadership and management “best practices” and get to what actually works. A truly modern organization is one that is capable of evolving and taking people and business into the future Takeaways: - The outdated leadership principles you should leave behind + the introduction of the Modern Leadership Framework - Why putting humans at the center of management and leadership is good for business - Insights into navigating the complexity of today's leadership requirements in the context of social and geo-political headwinds

Description: Connective Tissue: What Truly Binds and Bonds a Team offers a deep dive into the art and science of building robust, unified teams in the digital era. Hosted by industry leaders Darren Murph (Ford) and Molly Sands, PhD (Atlassian), this session unravels the complexities of nurturing team productivity, connection, and engagement across the digital divide. Through a focused exploration of the Meeting on Purpose Pillar, our speakers will guide attendees through the transformative approaches needed to maintain and strengthen bonds in a modern work environment. Takeaways: - Distributed work should be treated as a product, not a policy. - Why understanding human psychology is key to creating workplace systems that people are drawn to. - How managers can build connections with their teams across time zones and virtual spaces.

Description: Creative conflict drives innovation and inclusion and differentiates your organization. What does it look like, how do you encourage it and make it safe for your people, and what difference can it make? Qussai Patrick Naiyf and Steven Tomlinson find lessons in the experience of Royal Bank of Canada for companies that want to foster creative conflict at work. Takeaways: - Frameworks and tools to encourage and guide creative conflict. - Practical examples of how creative complemented is implemented and drives business results and engagement. - How senior leaders can set the tone for a culture of creative conflict.

Description: New McKinsey research shows the value at stake from increasing the productivity of your most valuable resource – your people. One of the most critical levers to drive productivity is to ensure your people have the right skills and capabilities to deliver. This session will focus on how to put the right talent (with the right skills) in the highest value roles – while also thinking about how those highest value roles and talent pools are changing. Takeaways: - Top organizations are able to maximize their ‘return’ on talent by closing the skill, will, and time gaps for their best employees - Getting the right talent, with the right skills, in the most important roles is a key place to start. Companies who do this right first think critically about which roles drive the highest value for the organization (and not just the C-Suite) - Especially with GenAI, now is more important than ever to identify the most critical talent pools – and hire and reskill existing employees to close supply & demand gaps. Having a robust strategic workforce plan at the talent pool level helps organizations rapidly identify where the gaps are today – and tomorrow

Culturati Summit 2024 convened executives, scholars, and investors from around the world to examine how culture, purpose, and performance intersect in an era defined by rapid technological and organizational change. Guided by three programming pillars—A.I. at Work, Meeting on Purpose, and Cognitive Hospitality—the Summit explored how leaders can design systems that balance innovation with empathy, clarity with connection, and growth with human flourishing.

Description: As we begin to find our rhythm in flexible work, AI is poised to fundamentally shift how we work every day. Explore what is next-generation AI and how it will accelerate human creativity, productivity and uplevel skills across your organization. Join us for an interactive workshop, where we will discuss our latest research, innovations, and future impact, as well as invite you to learn from each other. Key Takeaways: - Dive into the latest AI capabilities and what it means for employees and an organization - See how AI can show up in our everyday work life - Gain best practice in how to support and unlock employees in the new work world