2022 FESTIVAL SESSIONS

Check out the past festival sessions below. 2023 sessions to be announced in summer 2023.

Monday, September 19, 2022
9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Creative Impact Lab: A Unique Model for Social Impact Storytelling
Hosted by NBCUniversal
Featuring Stephanie Ruhle, Host of The 11th Hour, MSNBC; Senior Business Analyst, NBC News

Social GoodFast Track

What makes a successful corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy, and how can it be used to enact positive change in your organization? NBCUniversal’s new social impact initiative, called “Creative Impact Lab,” was designed to encourage more equity and access in the creative economy by sharing stories on how nonprofits are tackling social issues and making a difference in their communities. Learn how you can use the power of storytelling and create your own CSR strategy to engage employees and build authentic connections with your customers. Attendees will also get a behind-the-scenes tour of the NBCU studios at the company’s 30 Rock headquarters.

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Creativity’s Inflection Point: Bringing Stories to Life That Enrich and Engage
Hosted by Warner Bros. Discovery 

 Fast Track

Join Warner Bros. Discovery at Hudson Yards for an interactive session that dissects what it means to create in today’s world at the intersection of innovation, purpose, and culture. The very notion of creativity is at an undeniable inflection point as lifestyle, consumption, and technology habits continue to evolve, and subsequently, the target of where fans, creators, consumers, viewers, and brands intersect is in constant motion. This session will teach you how to cultivate experiences that speak to cross-platform audiences in meaningful ways to bring stories to life.

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Walking the Sustainability Talk: A Green Roof Garden Tour
Hosted by The Nest Summit Campus x Javits Center
Featuring Britton Jones, Founder and CEO, The Nest Summit Campus, and Alan Steel, CEO, Javits Center

Design, Social Good, TechFast Track

Take a morning stroll along NYC's eco-roof at the Javits Center's Nest Summit Campus. Home to 35 bird species, five bat breeds, and thousands of honeybees, the Nest Summit Campus, in partnership with Climate Week NYC, mobilizes climate-committed doers and thinkers from leading companies, NGOs, government, academia, and the community at large.

Connect with other climate action leaders for an educational and inspirational session to discuss ways we can collaborate to advance climate action and build a sustainable future. Visiting the 6.75-acre green roof will empower you to further advance sustainability in your business or organization as well as your personal life.

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Creatively Making Change: What we Learned from Iceland, America, Ukraine, and Lebron James
Hosted by SS+K
Featuring Stevie Archer, Executive Creative Director, SS+K; Sveinn Birkir Björnsson, Director, Marketing Communications, Business Iceland; Elena Claró, Senior Strategist, SS+K; Rob Shepardson, Cofounder, SS+K; Lenny Stern, Cofounder, SS+K; and Michael Tyler, Group Director, Public Affairs, SS+K

Social GoodFast Track

You may have heard of the metaverse, but have you heard of Icelandverse? Why scroll through a virtual world connected to a headset or glasses when you can enjoy experiences in real life, right? That’s the message the parody ad "Icelandverse" touted to boost tourism in Iceland and poke fun at the Facebook founder’s metaverse advertisement.

In this session, SS+K, a creative agency that has served presidents and created the “Look What We Did” voting rights campaign with LeBron James, will share lessons on how to think creatively, act politically, drive culture, and build better agency-client relationships along the way.

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Racing into the Future: Tour the Only Drone Lab in NYC
Hosted by the Drone Racing League
Featuring Nicholas Horbaczewski, Founder and CEO, the Drone Racing League

 Fast Track

Experience the power of controlling a drone and fly like the pros on the Drone Racing League’s (DRL) SIM video game. Tour DRL's lab, the only drone manufacturing studio in NYC (and one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies), for a behind-the-scenes look into how its world-class engineers hand-develop high-performance racing drones that can accelerate from 0 to 90 mph in less than a second. Attendees will learn how DRL combines groundbreaking technology and immersive high-speed competition to bring drone racing IRL, in esports, and in the metaverse.

10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Orangetheory Fitness x Gympass Workout

WellnessFast Track

Orangetheory is a heart-rate based HIIT total-body group workout that combines science, coaching, and technology to guarantee maximum results from the inside out. It’s designed to charge your metabolism for MORE caloric afterburn, MORE results, and MORE confidence, all to deliver you MORE LIFE. Orangetheory is more than a gym because the work you do here in our studio will make all the difference out there in your world.

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Evolving How Companies Approach, Value, and Invest in the Modern Workforce
Hosted by Chief, Multiverse, and General Catalyst
Featuring Ken Chenault, Chairman and Managing Director, General Catalyst; Former Chairman and CEO, American Express; Lindsay Kaplan, Cofounder and Chief Brand Officer, Chief; and Sophie Ruddock, VP, GM North America, Multiverse

 Fast Track

Imagine a world without systemic barriers to economic participation—where all people had equal opportunities to advance in the workplace and companies challenged traditional college degree prerequisites by investing in meaningful job training and development for their employees.

Hosted at Chief's flagship clubhouse in Flatiron, NYC, this session will challenge the status quo and discuss how organizations can invest in their workforce to create greater access, participation, and retention; foster an inclusive culture; and enable equitable economic participation.

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Explore the Future of 5G Technology    
Hosted by Slalom Element Lab212
Featuring Sam Andrews, Managing Director, Global Strategy, Slalom; John Tomik, Founder, Slalom Element and Managing Director, Global Strategy, Slalom; and Gilbert Wong, General Manager, Global Strategy, Slalom

TechFast Track

Unleash your creativity and accelerate your business growth at innovation hub Slalom Element’s NYC Lab212. Discover breakthroughs harnessing the power of 5G and collaborate with futurists and technologists who will motivate you to explore the questions, themes, and technology to shape the future of business and culture. Are you ready to innovate, challenge convention, reach, and realize your vision? Meet Slalom in its innovation lab. You’ll be inspired to dream bigger, move faster, and build better tomorrows.

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Visit Little Island on the Hudson River
Hosted by Little Island
Featuring Michael Wiggins, Director of Education and Community Relations, Little Island, and Signe Nielsen, Principal and Landscape Architect, MNLA

 Fast Track

Little Island, a new public park in NYC that opened in May 2021, invites you on a tour to learn about its visionary design and thought process behind every plant, leaf, and rock placement on the 2.4-acre oasis. Hear from the park’s landscape designer and executive director on how they created a space to get visitors to play, relax, imagine, or feel restored.

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Protecting Your Identity in the Digital Age
Hosted by the Markup

TechFast Track

Big tech is watching you but the more you know, the faster you can take action. Through data-driven investigation, The Markup, a nonprofit newsroom, demystifies the rapidly changing world and gives communities the tools they need to understand—and improve—it. Learn the impact of new technologies on society, equity, and justice. Join us to experience how your digital identity is formed (and sold) and what that means for your privacy and your safety. We’ll reveal the hidden costs of tech innovations—and how we can meaningfully and ethically use new innovations to fight for a more equitable digital world.

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Unlock Your Entrepreneurial Mindset
Hosted by Luminary x Zambezi
Featuring Jean Freeman, Founder and CEO, Zambezi; Rachel Francois St. Fleur, Head of Brand, The Uncovery, LLC, Unilever; Van Adams, Principal and Owner, VanAdams Sports Group; and Cate Luzio, Founder and CEO, Luminary

Personal Development and Career, EntrepreneurshipFast Track

Whether you want to scale your business or take the lead on new innovative ventures at your job, having an entrepreneurial mindset can help you power through challenging times, embrace new opportunities, and create the business and life you want. Join two successful founders for a conversation and Q&A on how leveraging creativity, current skill sets, and emotional intelligence can positively impact analytical decisions and spearhead new ideas, no matter your industry.

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM

Inside Spotify's Audio Ad Center
Hosted by Spotify
Featuring Rochelle Sanchirico, Global Director, SMB Marketing, Spotify

TechFast Track

How can businesses get their message out to the right audience? What makes one ad stand out among the clutter of other ads? How do you create content that converts? For the first time, Spotify will open its doors to host a one-of-a-kind guided tour of its office and answer these questions. You will participate in a hands-on workshop led by Spotify’s Ad Studio where you’ll learn how to create effective ads, set budgets, identify your target audience, and develop high-impact creative audio and video ads that resonate.

1:15 PM - 2:00 PM

F45 x Gympass Workout

WellnessFast Track

F45 is the right choice if you’re looking for a 45-minute high-intensity, circuit training workout class. The workouts are created by the F45 Athletics and Peak Performance Department from a database of over 3,000 different exercises, so our members never get the same workout twice. We have developed 27 different 45-minute workouts, with more currently in development. Our studios offer the same class at different times throughout the day.
 

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Innovation and Integration: What it Takes to Create High-Impact ESG Initiatives
Hosted by Mastercard
Featuring Christina Paslar, EVP, ESG Products, Mastercard, and Mike Elliott, SVP, Product Development, Mastercard

 Fast Track

The business community has become increasingly involved in tackling some of the world’s most pressing societal and economic challenges, from climate change to racial inequality. Ambitious goals, new products and initiatives, and significant investments are all part of a growing corporate commitment to ESG. What began as an investor-led imperative is now a baseline expectation from a range of stakeholders, including customers and policymakers — some of whom are skeptical about whether companies are as dedicated or as effective as they say. What does it take for a company to make a real difference?

This conversation will shed light on Mastercard’s differentiated approach to ESG, exploring how innovation and integration enable companies to make an authentic and positive impact on the world. Learn how these approaches can help companies develop and effectively implement an ESG strategy in their businesses.

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Artist Collabs Are the Future of Advertising
Hosted by Critical Mass x Shantell Martin Fast Track
Featuring Shantell Martin, Artist, and Val Carlson, Global Chief Creative Officer, Critical Mass

Design, Social GoodFast Track

Throughout history, artists and businesses have collaborated to fund and create world-renowned works of art and culture. It’s a tale as old as time (or at least the Renaissance). But too often, businesses see artists as resources to leverage, not partners in co-creation. What does it take for brands to get it right? How can they support and champion artists, rather than exploit them? Panelists will discuss the artist-brand power imbalance, share examples of how brands are crafting new norms for creative collaboration, and provide tips on how businesses and artists can work equitably to create culture-changing work.

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Explore the Future of 5G Technology
Hosted by Slalom Element lab212
Featuring Sam Andrews, Managing Director, Global Strategy, Slalom; John Tomik, Founder, Slalom Element and Managing Director, Global Strategy, Slalom; and Gilbert Wong, General Manager, Global Strategy, Slalom

TechFast Track

Unleash your creativity and accelerate your business growth at innovation hub Slalom Element’s NYC Lab212. Discover breakthroughs harnessing the power of 5G and collaborate with futurists and technologists who will motivate you to explore the questions, themes, and technology to shape the future of business and culture. Are you ready to innovate, challenge convention, reach, and realize your vision? Meet Slalom in its innovation lab. You’ll be inspired to dream bigger, move faster, and build better tomorrows.

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Experience the Ritz-Carlton’s Gold Standard of Service
Hosted by Marriott (The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad) 
Featuring Antonia Hock, Global Head of The Ritz-Carlton Leadership Center, The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad

DesignFast Track

For many businesses, customer experience is everything. Customers expect hotels to make their lives easier, deliver cutting-edge service, and create authentic connections that support meaningful, memorable moments.

Learn how the Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad delivers award-winning services that improve customer and employee engagement, fosters positive culture, and differentiates itself from competitors. Its systems will give you ideas on how to create experiences customers remember, better understand your customer needs, and recruit and hire the right team members.

End your visit with a tour led by the hotel’s GM and team. Newly built from the ground up and designed by architect Rafael Viñoly, enjoy spectacular views of Manhattan’s most iconic sights, visit two restaurants designed by globally renowned chef and humanitarian, José Andrés, and relax at the rooftop bar or private outdoor terrace.

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Racing into the Future: Tour the Only Drone Lab in NYC
Hosted by the Drone Racing League
Featuring Nicholas Horbaczewski, Founder and CEO, the Drone Racing League

 Fast Track

Experience the power of controlling a drone and fly like the pros on the Drone Racing League’s (DRL) SIM video game. Tour DRL's lab, the only drone manufacturing studio in NYC (and one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies), for a behind-the-scenes look into how its world-class engineers hand-develop high-performance racing drones that can accelerate from 0 to 90 mph in less than a second. Attendees will learn how DRL combines groundbreaking technology and immersive high-speed competition to bring drone racing IRL, in esports, and in the metaverse.

2:30 PM - 4:00 PM

Protecting Your Identity in the Digital Age
Hosted by the Markup

Social GoodFast Track

Big tech is watching you but the more you know, the faster you can take action. Through data-driven investigation, The Markup, a nonprofit newsroom, demystifies the rapidly changing world and gives communities the tools they need to understand—and improve—it. Learn the impact of new technologies on society, equity, and justice. Join us to experience how your digital identity is formed (and sold) and what that means for your privacy and your safety. We’ll reveal the hidden costs of tech innovations—and how we can meaningfully and ethically use new innovations to fight for a more equitable digital world.

3:00 PM - 3:50 PM

[Solidcore] x Gympass Workout

WellnessFast Track

[Solidcore] is a 50-minute, full body workout that uses slow, controlled movements to work your muscle fibers to failure—yep, failure. This low-impact process forces your muscles to rebuild a more sculpted, stronger, and [solid] you. The workout is different each time, so it's impossible for your body to plateau or stop responding. Each class has a certified [solidcore] coach who motivates you to push yourself further than you would on your own. The studios are raw, inspiring, and welcoming. You will be amazed by this workout and the results, guaranteed.

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Designing an Icon: The Bob Dylan Center
Hosted by Olson Kundig x Bob Dylan Center
Featuring Alan Maskin, Design Principal, Olson Kundig; Benjamin Pearcy, Director, 59 Productions; and Parker Fishel, Curator; Archival Consultant, Americana Music Productions

 Fast Track

Take a virtual tour inside the 29,000-square-foot, permanent exhibit celebrating the life and work of American icon Bob Dylan. The exhibit will motivate and inspire you to engage your own capacity as a creator and explore the role of creativity in our lives. Meet the center's design team and hear how they brought Dylan’s vision and legacy to life in America’s heartland and celebrated his role in our nation’s history.

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Experiencing Humanity in the Digital Age
Hosted by Skylight
Featuring John Mack, Author and Lecturer, Life Calling Initiative; Artist of A Species Between Worlds

DesignFast Track

What might our digital environments be telling us about our inner environments?

In this interactive photography experience, A Species Between Worlds: Our Nature, Our Screens, visual artist John Mack taps into the power of visual art to enhance awareness and open this all-important conversation to everyone.

The experience will guide you through a gamified psychological exploration of more than 65 U.S. National Parks and the Seven Wonders of the Natural World. Through the lens of your digital device you’ll learn how technology is reshaping our lives, our environments, and our world.

After you explore and interact with the exhibit, join Mack for a lively discussion to learn what inspired the thought-provoking artwork and what we all can do to foster balance and awareness between technology and ourselves. Light refreshments will be served.

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Designing Healthcare to Hear Patients Better—Because It’s Not All in Your Head
Hosted by Parsley Health
Featuring Robin Berzin, Founder and CEO, Parsley Health, and Rupa Mehta, Author and Founder, Nalini Method; Parsley Health patient

Social GoodFast Track

Today’s medical system is designed to keep us alive—but is it designed to help us thrive? Six in ten Americans live with a chronic condition (70% of whom are women)—and many more are undiagnosed, left behind by a system that relies predominantly on a revolving door of referrals to specialists and prescription drugs. This leads to what New York Times best-selling author Meghan O’Rourke calls an “Invisible Kingdom” of the chronically ill.

Join Parsley Health to learn how it is flipping the script using technology and design to reimagine the patient-doctor conversation, create better health outcomes, and define a future of healthcare that helps women feel more empowered in their bodies and connected to their health.

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM

Lessons from the Ball Aluminum Cup and Its “Make a Statement” Campaign
Hosted by Quigley x Ball Aluminum Cup
Featuring Jawad Bisbis, Global VP, Marketing and Partnerships, Ball Corp.; Katie Kempner, Founder, Kempner Communications; Kaminine Ramkishun, Circularity Manager, Ball Aluminum Cup; and Sariah Dorbin, Executive Creative Director, Quigley

Social GoodFast Track

The demand for sustainable products is growing as more consumers are adopting an eco-minded lifestyle to protect the planet. Using social influencer marketing, social media, and connected TV, Quigley launched the “Make a Statement” campaign to raise awareness for Ball Corp.’s Ball Aluminum Cup.

The cup was designed to address the billions of plastic cups disposed of in landfills every year, and encourages people to live more sustainably since aluminum is infinitely recyclable.

Join Ball’s in-house team and learn how you can make a statement in your own organization. Each attendee will receive two cups and a Sharpie to write their own sustainability statement. Add one cup to Ball’s “Great Wall” of statements activation display, and use the other to enjoy your favorite beverage at their cocktail party.

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Fast Lane to American Chinese Cuisine
Celebrate the rich heritage and future of Panda Express
Featuring Jimmy Wang, Executive Director, Panda Express, and Jessica Chao, Public Relations, Corporate Communications and Partnerships, Panda Restaurant Group

CreativityTaste of Innovation

Celebrate 35 years of Panda Express's fan favorite, the boldly marinated orange chicken, with executive director, chef Jimmy Wang. Take a seat inside their kitchen for a special meal, drinks, and an intimate conversation on how they continue to innovate, attract new customers, and reimagine the brand.

Tuesday, September 20, 2022
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

How to Design a Parent- and Caregiver-Friendly Workplace
Hosted by Maven Clinic
Featuring Julie Binder, SVP, Communications, Maven Clinic; Becca Goland-Van Ryn, Interim Head of People, Maven; and Blessing Adesiyan, Founder and CEO, Mother Honestly

 Fast Track

Many employees are looking forward to a modern workforce that challenges the 9-to-5 workday. Working parents want flexible arrangements, accommodations for childcare, paid parental leave, and more. Join Maven Clinic to learn about strategies that are working for the leading employers across the globe. You’ll leave with ideas on how you can create a supportive workplace culture for your team that boosts productivity, innovation, and competitive advantage.

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Not Just Another Metaverse Session: Creating Branded Experiences that Work
Hosted by Infillion
Featuring Christa Carone, President, Infillion Media; Rob Emrich, Founder and Executive Chairman, Infillion; Charles Adelman, Chief Innovation Officer, Infillion; Marcos Escalante, Chief Product Officer, Infillion; Laurel Rossi, Chief Marketing Officer, Infillion; Michael Colella, SVP, Creative Studio, Infillion; and Simon Asselin, Chief Technology Officer, Infillion

Creativity, TechFast Track

With so many new channels available to marketers to reach their target consumers, some are struggling to embrace new ad practices and formats effectively. Brands can no longer repurpose creative from one medium to another, the clearest example being traditional TV advertising versus streaming platforms. As a connector between technology and creativity, Infillion is leading the way in creating new experiences within these emerging platforms that reward the viewer for their time and attention.

Join Infillion at their HQ and step into a stimulating hub of pop-up experiences such as a branded metaverse. Learn how to activate in the CTV space and explore the power of gamification. You’ll hear from the creators behind these experiences and they’ll share tips on ways brands can facilitate creative experiences that reward their consumers and the value of engagement and interactivity as we move toward a more equitable future.

9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

In Defense of Stakeholder Capitalism
Featuring Dan Schulman, President and CEO, PayPal, and Lynn Forester de Rothschild, Founding and Managing Partner, Inclusive Capital Partners

Leadership and Inclusion, Entrepreneurship, Social GoodPanel

The world has changed dramatically in the three years since the Business Roundtable’s new Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation popularized the term “stakeholder capitalism.” Some stakeholders (workers, customers) have become emboldened to demand more of companies, but so, too, have stockholders and traditionalists who deride this more inclusive view of corporate purpose as “woke capitalism.” What does stakeholder capitalism mean today, and can the movement weather economic headwinds and vocal naysayers?

9:45 AM - 11:15 AM

AR Skill Builder: How to Enhance Customer Experiences with Augmented Reality
Presented by Meta
Led by Piper ZY, Artist and CEO, Piper ZY; Gabe Reilly, Creative Product Lead, Meta Creative Shop; and Thomas Bourret, AR Product Specialist, Meta

TechWorkshop

Join Meta’s Creative Shop and dive into an augmented reality workshop where you will be able to engage with creators building in the technology today. Learn about AR’s creative potential and how it can lead to deeper customer connections. After this workshop, you should have an understanding of where your business can integrate AR into your customer journey to drive business outcomes and how to get started.

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Funding the Future: Investing in the Next Great Breakthrough
Featuring Josh Wolfe, Cofounder, Lux Capital, and Kiersten Stead, Managing Partner, DCVC Bio

TechPanel

The venture capital industry was built on risky bets in deep tech that ushered in the digital age and biotech revolution. What's next on the horizon? These big-time investors discuss finding and funding the future of tech and how it could remake society.

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

What the Midterms Mean for Business
Featuring María Teresa Kumar, President and CEO, Voto Latino; Susan Molinari, Former VP, Public Policy for the Americas, Google; Former U.S. Congresswoman; Fred P. Hochberg, Principal, Heyday; and Jen Stark, Codirector, Center for Business and Social Justice

Leadership and Inclusion, TechPanel

Amid a heated political environment, our expert panel will look at how the 2022 midterm elections are trending and what they might mean for the issues that affect growing companies.

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

Second Life: How Technology and Social Norms Are Remaking Fashion
Featuring Maxine Bédat, Executive Director, New Standard Institute; Shilla Kim-Parker, Cofounder and CEO, Thrilling; and Amanda Parkes, Chief Innovation Officer, Pangaia

Creativity, Design, TechPanel

Conspicuous consumption is out, the circular economy and high-tech materials are in. These innovators are leading the way to a more sustainable apparel industry.

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Making History, Again: Reinventing the Iconic Lever House
Hosted by Brookfield Properties
Featuring Ric Clark, Cofounder and Managing Partner, WatermanCLARK, and Frank Mahan, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM)

DesignFast Track

In 1952, world-renowned architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) unveiled a brand-new concept in New York City: the first all-glass office building. An icon in the history of architecture and urbanism, Lever House set a new standard for the modern workplace. Today, development firms Brookfield Properties and WatermanCLARK, alongside SOM, are reimagining the building for the 21st century through a $100 million redevelopment and renovation project. Join the team for a private hard hat tour of this iconic landmark.

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Empower Your Employees to Prioritize a Healthy Lifestyle (Indoor Cycling Class)
Hosted by Gympass x Soulcycle
Featuring Cesar Carvalho, Cofounder and CEO, Gympass, and Evelyn Webster, CEO, SoulCycle

WellnessFast Track

Take a ride with Gympass and SoulCycle as we discuss how investing in employee wellness can drive productivity, togetherness, and overall satisfaction in a hybrid workplace. Active employees make for happy employees, and companies that provide access to wellness programs may see higher retention and costs savings for the company. Wear your workout gear and ride to the beat of the music at SoulCycle’s epic cardio party on a bike.

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Persuasive Intelligence: Using Data to Mobilize Against Climate Change
Featuring Sara Menker, Founder and CEO, Gro Intelligence

Social Good, TechOne-on-One Conversation

Sara Menker, founder and CEO of Gro Intelligence and a recent presenter to the UN Security Council, uses agricultural data to illuminate how climate change and other man-made disasters are affecting global food supplies. Hear how she and her company turn data into life-saving insights.

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Innovation and Sustainability In Fashion and Food
Featuring Gabriela Hearst, Founder and Creative Director, Gabriela Hearst; Creative Director, Chloé; and Daniel Humm, Chef and Owner, Make It Nice

Social GoodPanel

Gabriela Hearst and Daniel Humm discuss their forward-thinking approaches to sustainability, the role of innovation in their work, and the ways they are seeking to elevate the conversation around climate change.

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Transformation Nation: A Look at the Next Generation of Innovations That Could Shape What’s Next (Lunch Included)
Presented by Lenovo
Featuring Kevin Beck, Senior Technologist, Intelligent Devices Group, Lenovo, and Chris Cui, IDG ESG Lead, PCOO PCSD Strategy, Lenovo

TechLunch Panel

Mobility, AI, blockchain . . . these are among the current wave of smarter technologies that are upending the status quo and transitioning from leading edge to mature innovations. Yet there’s no time to rest because the next wave of future-forward technologies are already starting to emerge from research labs and startups. Which of these is likely to become the next disruptive global trend? Find out firsthand as leading futurists and business leaders provide a look ahead at the transformative innovations that could define the next decade.

12:30 PM - 1:15 PM

One-on-One with U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh
Featuring Marty Walsh, Secretary of Labor, U.S. Department of Labor

Leadership and InclusionOne-on-One Conversation

The Great Resignation. Hybrid work. Union drives. Work—and the workplace of tomorrow—has never been this interesting. U.S. Secretary of Labor Martin Walsh will share his perspectives on the changing dynamics between workers and employers, technology and employment trends, and the future of work.

1:00 PM - 1:45 PM

Monetizing Your Brand in the Creator Economy
Featuring Tracy Chan, SVP of Creator, SoundCloud; Amrapali Gan, CEO, OnlyFans; Jackie Aina, Content Creator, Beauty Maven; Founder, FORVR Mood; and Ritu Khanna, Managing Director, North America, Shopify

Creativity, EntrepreneurshipPanel

Building an online following isn't enough—making it in the creator economy is about building a business that lasts. Platform executives and creators explain what it takes to monetize and grow an enduring digital brand.

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

What Makes a Great Story and Why Should We Tell Them at Work?
Hosted by The Moth
 

CreativityFast Track

The Moth, a nonprofit organization that teaches the art and craft of personal storytelling, invites you to participate in a uniquely connective experience with their artistic team. Get an exclusive tour of the organization’s HQ (aka the Moffice) and a behind-the-scenes look at how and why storytelling is vital in life and belongs at work. One attendee will win a signed copy of their new best-selling book, How to Tell a Story: The Essential Guide to Memorable Storytelling from The Moth.

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Intentionally Building Inclusion and Equity into Product Design
Hosted by McKinsey Design
Featuring Sara Cinnamon, Design Director, Health and Medical, McKinsey Design; Mehdi Bilgrami, Digital Strategy, Associate Partner, McKinsey Design; Tinley Melvin, Research Lead, McKinsey Design; and Ruth Tupe, Design Director, McKinsey Design

DesignFast Track

How can you infuse your organization with an inclusive ethos and empower yourself to fully understand context, constraints, environments, and user needs as a holistic approach to design?

In this interactive session, McKinsey Design will teach you how to acknowledge bias and practice tactical empathy by creating opportunities for dialogue within your organization and your greater community. You’ll evaluate different scenarios, identify ways internal and external influences affect your daily interactions, and explore how unbalanced perspectives emerge in each phase of the product development lifecycle. You’ll leave this session with a better understanding of how to identify sources of bias, analyze situational traits, and master how to define and prioritize interventions.

1:15 PM - 2:00 PM

How to Be an Empathic Boss
Led by David Rock, Cofounder and CEO, NeuroLeadership Institute

Leadership and InclusionWorkshop

In the war for talent, it’s more important than ever to lead with compassion and purpose. This fun and provocative workshop led by David Rock, cofounder and CEO of the NeuroLeadership Institute, will give leaders at every level useful, science-backed information and tangible actions to take back and transform their workplaces.

1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Rethinking Representation: The Future of Inclusive Storytelling
Featuring Ebro Darden, Global Editorial Head of Hip-Hop and R&B, Apple Music; Alana Mayo, President, Orion Pictures; and Tracy Sherrod, VP and Executive Editor, Little, Brown Publishers

Leadership and InclusionPanel

A new wave of leaders is disrupting inequality in the arts and entertainment by pushing the media industry beyond inclusion riders and cross-cultural casting with narratives that embrace the full range of racial, ethnic, and cultural experiences.

1:45 PM - 2:15 PM

Accelerate Digital Business Value in a Hybrid World
Presented by IBM and Intel
Featuring Jason McGee, GM and CTO, IBM Cloud

TechOne-on-One Conversation

Digital transformation is not a one-time event. It’s a journey that is critically important for every organization as they adopt modern, secure platforms and capabilities to facilitate smarter ideas, faster executions, and greater innovation at every stage. That’s why it’s critical for business and technology leaders to have the right strategy and talent in place so that transformation can happen quickly, securely, and at scale.

In this engaging discussion, learn about some of the cutting-edge technologies being applied to unleash value now and be prepared for the future.

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

One-On-One with Marriott’s Tony Capuano
Featuring Anthony Capuano, CEO, Marriott International

 One-on-One Conversation

With vacations surging, business travel evolving, and labor markets still in flux, the hospitality industry has never been more dynamic. Tony Capuano, CEO of Marriott International, talks about what’s in store for the $14 billion-a-year hotel behemoth, and why your work trips may never be the same.

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Game Changers: Rewriting the Rules in the Sports Industry
Featuring Rich Kleiman, Cofounder, 35V and Boardroom; Kara Nortman, Founder, Angel City FC; Managing Partner, Upfront Ventures; and Laura Miele, Chief Operating Officer, Electronic Arts

Leadership and Inclusion, Creativity, TechPanel

Sitting at the crossroads of entertainment, tech, gaming, and more, the world of professional sports has become fertile ground for experimentation. Here’s how players, teams, and leagues are finding new ways to distribute content, engage viewers, and develop passionate fandoms.

3:00 PM - 3:45 PM

Making Sh#t Up: Improvisation and the Art of Making Something Out of Nothing
Featuring Wayne Brady, Producer, Actor, and Musician, Makin’ It Up Productions

CreativityOne-on-One Conversation

Multi-hyphenate powerhouse Wayne Brady shares insights about how he’s centering improv and inclusion in his growing media empire. Immediately following a quick one-on-one conversation, Brady will put his words into action. He’ll lead an interactive workshop in the same room (The Forum) to teach you to use improv skills to cultivate a more creative and efficient workplace.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Get a First Look at the Iconic Lincoln Center’s New State-of-the-Art Theater
Hosted by Diamond Schmitt x Lincoln Center
Featuring Sybil Wa and Gary McCluskie, Principal Architects, Diamond Schmitt

DesignFast Track

Learn how architects at Diamond Schmitt are leading a $550 million transformation of Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall, set to reopen to the public in October 2022. Principals Gary McCluskie and Sybil Wa will use physical and digital models, mock-ups, and sketches to immerse you in the process of building a contemporary performance venue for the future. Step behind the scenes into the Hall’s design and construction phases, and discover how tools and technology are being leveraged to transform how we experience the performing arts.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

When to Quit Your Day Job: Taking Your Idea to Launch
Hosted by IACHosted by IAC
Featuring Marissa Wilson-Gibbons, Cohead of Incubation, IAC; Casey Gibbons, Cohead of Incubation, IAC; Parth Bhakta, Founder and CEO, Vivian Health; Jonathan Hunt-Glassman, Founder and CEO, Oar Health; James McNiece, COO, Stakes; and Kathleen Barrett, CEO, Mosaic Group

 Fast Track

There are tens of millions of startups in the United States and 65% will fail within the first five years. How do you know if—or when—to go all in? This is one of the most popular questions founders pose to the incubation group at tech conglomerate IAC.

Join entrepreneurs at IAC’s emerging businesses, founders and CEOs of startups at varying stages of growth to debunk myths surrounding tech entrepreneurism and break down what it takes to build a successful business in today’s environment, from ideation to product to financing to recruiting. 
 
IAC will host a discussion at their iconic Chelsea headquarters followed by a live Q&A session offering attendees a chance to get raw feedback from the panel on their own business ideas.

3:15 PM - 4:00 PM

Optimize Your Focus to Boost Your Productivity
Led by Nora Tobin, CEO, Nora’s Naturals; Wellness Partner, United Airlines, EY, Marriott International and The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

Leadership and InclusionWorkshop

Join executive performance coach and CEO of Nora's Naturals for an immersive health and wellness workshop designed to shift neural patterns and optimize focus. The session delivers practical and time-efficient strategies to increase alpha brain waves for sustained concentration, rejuvenate sleep to increase natural fat burning, and set a five-minute morning routine to accelerate daily productivity.

3:30 PM - 4:15 PM

Belonging as a Strategy for Innovation
Featuring Lisa Coleman, SVP, Global Inclusion and Strategic Innovation, New York University, and Lisa Sherman, President and CEO, The Ad Council

Leadership and Inclusion, TechPanel

How can companies achieve true "belonging"—embracing differences and even dissension—as a tool for stoking innovation and building organizational resilience?

4:15 PM - 4:45 PM

Designing the Future of Experiences
Presented by Capital One
Featuring Jason Ferrell, Head of Card and Bank Experience Design, Capital One; Heather Boesch, Executive Director of Consumer Products and Retail, IDEO; and Francois Nguyen, Chief Design Officer, North America and Asia, Frog

Design, TechPanel

In a world where advanced technology has become largely democratized, delivering exceptional customer experiences is now tablestakes. But experience design can also be a unique differentiator in how companies signal their brand values, communicate their identity and core value proposition, and win customers with increasingly evolving expectations. This discussion will touch on the skills designers and their partners in business, tech, and product need today to deliver more meaningful customer experiences that win in the market and where the future of collaborative, human-centered business strategy is headed.

4:30 PM - 5:15 PM

Stop Managing and Start Leading: A Guide for Engaging Hybrid Teams
Led by Susan Vroman, Lecturer, Management, Bentley University

Leadership and InclusionWorkshop

As we continue to experiment with hybrid and remote work, we crave leaders who can show us where to go, then get out of the way. This interactive workshop will tap the expertise of Susan R. Vroman, a lecturer of management at Bentley University and an organizational and leadership effectiveness consultant, to reveal best practices for leaders to align teams and communicate vision and goals that will allow them to do their best work, regardless of location.

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

How to Reverse-Engineer a Brand into Culture
Hosted by Wieden+Kennedy
Featuring Jade Smith, Community Manager, Wieden+Kennedy New York; Chris Martin, Brand Director, Bodega WKNY, Wieden+Kennedy New York; and Mike Vitiello, Head of Content, Bodega Wieden+Kennedy New York

CreativityFast Track

Have you ever wondered how some of the most memorable tweets, memes, or trending topics end up striking a chord with people? It’s all based on one simple thing: identifying the truth.

Resonating with an internet audience requires flexibility, trial and error, humor, and a healthy dose of the truth. As brands desire more cultural relevance and virality, how do they create content that connects with fans online?

Get a peek into a social-first writers’ room where you’ll learn how brands speak the language of their fans by reverse-engineering the often-overlooked role people play in creating ideas, and ensuring fans can see themselves in them.

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Get a First Look at the Iconic Lincoln Center’s New State-of-the-Art Theater
Hosted by Diamond Schmitt x Lincoln Center
Featuring Sybil Wa and Gary McCluskie, Principal Architects, Diamond Schmitt

DesignFast Track

Learn how architects at Diamond Schmitt are leading a $550 million transformation of Lincoln Center's David Geffen Hall, set to reopen to the public in October 2022. Principals Gary McCluskie and Sybil Wa will use physical and digital models, mock-ups, and sketches to immerse you in the process of building a contemporary performance venue for the future. Step behind the scenes into the Hall’s design and construction phases, and discover how tools and technology are being leveraged to transform how we experience the performing arts.

5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Opening Party
Presented by Capital One

 Party

Join Fast Company and Capital One to kick off this year's in-person Fast Company Innovation Festival.

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

Plant-Based Pivot
Eleven Madison Park
Featuring Daniel Humm, Chef, Eleven Madison Park, and Dominique Roy, Chef De Cuisine, Eleven Madison Park

CreativityTaste of Innovation

Eleven Madison Park pairs delicious plant-based dishes with an amazing view of Madison Square Park with the ambition to reconfigure the restaurant model to combat food insecurity and create a sustainable and equitable food system. Feast on a variety of innovative meals created by chef Daniel Humm, and join Dominique Roy, chef de cuisine, for an exclusive presentation and discussion about the restaurant's pivot to a plant-based menu.

Wednesday, September 21, 2022
8:45 AM - 9:30 AM

Compound Returns: Why Investing in Individual Talent Can Uplift Communities (Breakfast Included)
Presented by Skillsoft
Featuring Jeff Tarr, CEO, Skillsoft; Ariela Safira, Founder and CEO, Real; and Bob Parr, Chief Data Officer and Partner, KPMG US Advisory and Global ESG

Personal Development and Career, Leadership and InclusionBreakfast Panel

When communities are strong, communities thrive. And building up a community starts with building up its people, which starts with nurturing talent at the individual level. As more people tap into their unique strengths, develop their unique skills, and then bring their unique potential to life through work and contribution, their growth becomes the growth of the community—and the returns compound from there. In this panel discussion, learn how investing in talent and developing leaders pays dividends in communities and beyond.

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Unlocking Opportunity for Gen Z
Hosted by General Catalyst
Featuring Niko Bonatsos, Managing Director, General Catalyst

 Fast Track

The next generation is building new ways to communicate with one another, make financial transactions, exchange ideas, and more. Today’s innovators are also in the midst of an economic downturn and face immense pressure to solve problems for the world Gen Z will live in. This panel, led by General Catalyst, will shed light on how some of the best ideas are built during times of uncertainty and explore how young founders and investors can find opportunities to innovate for generations to come.

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

Data and Science Strategies for Creative Marketers: Inspire New Ways of Thinking
Hosted by Known x Rock Center
Featuring Stephen Schutzman, Partner, Known, and Brad Deutsch, VP, Data Science, Known

 Fast Track

Ready, set, test! In this interactive and educational session, Known, one of the fastest growing marketing agencies, will show you how it blends science and art to create successful marketing strategies.

Attendees will learn how marketers can use data to find the right audiences and the most effective creative solutions—powered by the right tools and talent. You’ll walk away with new ideas to uplevel your advertising know-how and some exclusive swag.

9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

The Painless Way to Network
Led by Dorie Clark, WSJ Best-Selling Author and Professor, Duke University's Fuqua School of Business

Personal Development and CareerWorkshop

Whether you are the type of person who hangs out by the bar and leaves as soon as possible or if you just want to brush up on your in-person networking skills after the past two years of Zoom calls, this fun, interactive workshop will give you the tools to make meaningful connections. Led by author and speaker Dorie Clark, you’ll learn how to network in a way that is mutually beneficial and enjoyable.

9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

A View on the World: One-on-One with Airbnb’s Brian Chesky
Featuring Brian Chesky, Cofounder and CEO, Airbnb
Moderated by James Vincent, Founder and CEO, FNDR

Leadership and Inclusion, TechPanel

After leading his company through a successful, mid-pandemic IPO, Airbnb CEO and cofounder Brian Chesky is positioning his company to remake travel once again. Here’s how Airbnb is tapping into flexible work and our renewed sense of wanderlust to inspire new ways to explore the world.

9:45 AM - 10:30 AM

Advertising Is Dead. Long Live Advertising: David Droga Shares His Vision for Its Future
Featuring David Droga, CEO and Creative Chairman, Accenture Song

 One-on-One Conversation

Accenture Song's CEO and creative chairman, David Droga, talks about creative leadership, brands' increasing challenge for growth and relevance, and scaling creative thinking beyond advertising to transform entire businesses.

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

The New Business of Beauty
Featuring Carolyn Aronson, Founder and CEO, It's A 10 Haircare; Sarah Chung, Founder and CEO, Landing International; Abigail Jacobs, SVP, Brand and Integrated Marketing, Sephora; and Diarrha N’Diaye-Mbaye, Founder and CEO, Ami Colé

Creativity, Entrepreneurship, TechPanel

Established and emerging beauty innovators take the stage to share their vision for a more inclusive beauty industry and the role shrewd retail partners are playing in bringing indie brands to the mainstream.

10:20 AM - 10:30 AM

AI and the Customer Experience
Featuring Lo Li, MVP, Customer Digital Experience and Payments, Capital One

Leadership and Inclusion, TechOne-on-One Conversation

Artificial Intelligence–from predictive insights to personalization—is transforming the way companies interact with and serve their customers.

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

The Outlook for 2023 with Ken Chenault and Penny Pritzker
Featuring Ken Chenault, Chairman and Managing Director, General Catalyst; Former Chairman and CEO, American Express; and Penny Pritzker, Founder and Chairman, PSP Partners; Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce

Leadership and Inclusion, TechPanel

Two seasoned business leaders share their insights on the economic and business outlook for 2023, and share where they’re placing bets now.

10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

Above and Beyond: The New Business of Space
Featuring Stephane Germain, President, GHGSat; Jane Poynter, Founder and Co-CEO, Space Perspective; and Caryn Schenewerk, VP, Regulatory and Government Affairs, Relativity Space

 Panel

The space economy is booming as businesses push technology to new frontiers, from luxury tours of the stratosphere to 3D printed rockets and satellites that battle climate change. A trip to the outer limits of the space industry.

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Discover New York City’s Newest Neighborhood: Manhattan West
Hosted by Brookfield Properties
Featuring Henry Caso, SVP, Brookfield; Kim Van Holsbeke, Principal, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM); Josh Cohen, Restaurateur, Hidden Leaf; and Matt Jozwiak, Founder and CEO, Rethink Food

DesignFast Track

Sign up for a tour of Manhattan West led by key project partners from Brookfield Properties, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Rethink Food, and Hidden Leaf restaurant.

Manhattan West is one of the largest and most complex real estate developments underway in New York City. You’ll get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the 7-million-square-feet of office, retail, residential, and hospitality space in the city’s Far West Side. Learn how the neighborhood was built almost entirely above the railroad tracks leading into Moynihan Train Hall at Penn Station.

This project is not only revitalizing the city’s once remote industrial frontier but leading it into the future through innovative sustainability initiatives. Here’s how commitments to renewable energy and a first-of-its-kind partnership with nonprofit Rethink Food lead to creating an equitable and sustainable food system that provides meals to food-insecure New Yorkers.

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Prepare for 2023: Strategic Foresight in an Era of Uncertainty
Hosted by Sparks & Honey
Featuring Camilo La Cruz, Chief Strategy Officer, Sparks & Honey; Judy Samuelson, Executive Director, Aspen Institute Business & Society Program; Nathan Walworth, Climate Scientist and Futurist; Alisa Miller, Cofounder and CEO, Pluralytics AI; and Kathleen Doherty, Chief Strategy Officer, Former US Ambassador

Personal Development and Career, Social GoodFast Track

Rapid change and disruption are the new norm. While some circumstances are outside of your control, there are steps you can take to stabilize the effects of massive cultural shifts for your business, employees, and consumers.

Join experts from the Sparks & Honey advisory board at its NYC studio for a rapid-fire debate. Panelists will examine key trends such as global conflicts, economic fluctuations, decreased trust in institutions, and the constant creep of climate change. This session will help business leaders and executives learn how to practice foresight amid unprecedented volatility and change, discuss the types of uncertainty you need to consider, the role of polarization in fueling cultural distrust, and what organizations can do to become part of the solution.

11:15 AM - 11:45 AM

Supply Chains for Good: A Sustainable Path to a Better Future
Presented by GS1 US
Featuring Bob Carpenter, President and CEO, GS1 US; Julie Vargas, VP and GM, Identification Solutions North America, Avery Dennison; and Shannon Bouton, President and CEO, Delterra

Social Good, TechPanel

While the global disruption of the past two years has raised fresh challenges for businesses in search of a new normal, it has also presented an opportunity to redefine normal in a way that breaks the inertia of the status quo and contributes to a better world. Visible shortages, consumer shifts, and environmental concerns have generated unique pressures on supply chains. Still, for the supply chains that have endured them, these pressures have also created an opportunity to reimagine their role as a powerful force for positive social change. In this thought-provoking discussion, learn how innovation is meeting with collective action to build supply chains that better serve businesses, consumers, and our planet as a whole.

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Standing the Test of Time: How Heritage Brands Stay Relevant
Featuring Ethiopia Habtemariam, Chairwoman and CEO, Motown Records; Jamal Watkins, SVP of Strategy and Advancement, NAACP; and Mark Smucker, President and CEO, The J.M. Smucker Company

Leadership and Inclusion, Creativity, TechPanel

The average tenure of a company on the S&P 500 is about 20 years, yet these organizations have endured for far longer, thanks to creativity, innovation, entrepreneurial thinking and a willingness to disrupt themselves.

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

How to Reclaim Time for Creativity in Your Too-Busy Life 
Led by Eve Rodsky, NYT Best-Selling Author, Fair Play and Find Your Unicorn Space

Personal Development and CareerWorkshop

Making time for creative self-expression is essential for happiness in both your personal and professional lives.
 

In this interactive workshop, best-selling author Eve Rodsky will guide attendees in figuring out how to find what she calls their “unicorn space,” and fit time in their busy lives to have fun and unleash their special gifts and undiscovered talents into the world.

11:45 AM - 12:30 PM

10 Secrets Every Founder Should Know
Featuring by Luke Saunders, Founder and CEO, Farmer's Fridge

Entrepreneurship, WellnessOne-on-One Conversation

In this interactive session, Luke Saunders, founder and CEO of Farmer’s Fridge and a Fast Company contributor, shares his hard-earned advice and tips that every entrepreneur, would-be founder, and investor should know about taking the leap.

12:15 PM - 1:00 PM

You, Me, and the Metaverse: How Consumers and Businesses Can Meet on the Internet of Tomorrow (Lunch Included)
Presented by Meta
Featuring Nada Stirratt, VP, Americas, Meta; James Witte, Professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, George Mason University; and Vriti Saraf, CEO and Founder, k20 Educators; Cofounder, Ed3 DAO

TechLunch Panel

Business leaders can look out at the expansive future of the metaverse and sense the opportunity. The challenge is that most have little context for why the metaverse is gaining steam after all these years adjusting to its predecessor, the World Wide Web. What changes and developments in technology, culture, and commerce are defining and propelling this innovation? Without this context, even our most creative business strategies are shots in the dark. With it, we equip ourselves with focus and foresight.
 

Join thought leaders and tinkerers for this dynamic discussion about why the metaverse is here, what you can do right now to get a foothold in this exciting new realm, and why it’s here to stay.

12:45 PM - 1:30 PM

Unlock the Secrets to Speaking to Anyone with Ease
Led by Eileen Smith, Public Speaking Coach, Spokesmith, and Donna Marino, Psychologist and Executive Coach

Leadership and InclusionWorkshop

Learn a range of tools to manage the sweaty palms and butterflies that arise when you're speaking up in a meeting, networking, or giving a presentation. In this highly interactive session, Eileen Smith, public speaking coach at Spokesmith, and Donna Marino, psychologist and executive coach, will take attendees through a discussion and exercises designed to pinpoint the pain spots and develop a more confident approach, whether you have a small case of nerves or a career-hindering challenge. The session includes an optional guided hypnosis designed to instill a positive affirmation led by Marino.

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Inside Spotify's Audio Ad Center
Hosted by Spotify
Featuring Rochelle Sanchirico, Global Director, SMB Marketing, Spotify

TechFast Track

How can businesses get their message out to the right audience? What makes one ad stand out among the clutter of other ads? How do you create content that converts?

For the first time, Spotify will open its doors to host a one-of-a-kind guided tour of its office and answer these questions. You will participate in a hands-on workshop led by Spotify’s Ad Studio where you’ll learn how to create effective ads, set budgets, identify your target audience, and develop high-impact creative audio and video ads that resonate.

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Journey into the Deep Sea: A Social VR Experience
Hosted by Unity 
Featuring Marina Psaros, Global Sustainability Lead, Unity, and Author, The Atlas of Disappearing Places: Our Coasts and Oceans in the Climate Crisis; and Adam May, Producer, Drop in the Ocean

Social GoodFast Track

Hitch a ride on a jellyfish and float through the ocean to experience the microplastic pollution crisis plaguing the world’s oceans. Using real-time 3D technology participants will put on Quest2 headsets and be transformed into a two-inch tall version of themselves—about the size of plankton. You’ll learn why the need to protect the ocean is so urgent and how content producers are using technology to create engaging innovative experiences to inspire change.

1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Reinventing the Rom-Com (and Making Audiences Fall Back in Love with the Big Screen) 
Featuring Judd Apatow, Director, Writer, Producer, and Author, Apatow Productions; Donna Langley, Chairman, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group; and Billy Eichner, Actor, Writer, and Producer, Bros film

 Panel

The team behind the forthcoming gay rom-com BROS talk about the power of representation, inclusive storytelling, the state of cinema, and the future of media and entertainment.

1:45 PM - 2:15 PM

Winning Through Rewards: The Future of Customer Loyalty
Presented by Loop Media
Featuring Jon Niermann, CEO, Loop Media, and Chris Signore, VP, Head of Sales, SpringServe

TechPanel

The COVID-19 pandemic put companies and consumers on new terms, with each relying on the other in new ways. As small and medium-size businesses struggled, many received key support from their B2B ecosystems in addition to the patronage of loyal consumers/customers. Some truly transformational B2B programs born during COVID were so helpful that they’re now here to stay year-round. In this thought-provoking discussion, hear from companies utilizing new, future-forward rewards initiatives to drive business and loyalty, and the customer/workforce experiences from those on the receiving end.

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

Move Fast and Don't Break Things: Innovation at Speed and Scale
Featuring Andy Bird, CEO, Pearson; Barbara Humpton, President and CEO, Siemens Corporation; Jeff Jones, President and CEO, H&R Block; and Ather Williams III, Senior Executive VP and Head of Strategy, Digital and Innovation, Wells Fargo

 Panel

When these large companies disrupt their industries—or themselves—they often must be mindful of regulators, client sensitivities, brand equity, and other complexities. But when they succeed, they can affect major change.

2:30 PM - 3:00 PM

Collaboration Confidential: How Innovation Thrives When Companies Unite
Presented by Altair
Featuring Tejasvi Chugh, VP, Corporate Strategy and M&A, IBM, and Stephanie Buckner, Chief Operating Officer, Altair

Leadership and InclusionPanel

The landscape of tech is more competitive than ever before as the challenges and opportunities fostered by digital transformation are separating the leaders from the rest of the pack. Companies must look beyond the innovations they develop in-house and seek external best-in-class solutions to accelerate their pace of innovation. In this custom panel, Fast Company and Altair will lead a discussion around how to bring disparate technologies and teams together in a functional and forward-thinking way.

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Best Interviewing Practices from Both Sides of the Table
Led by Amanda Augustine, Career Expert, TopResume

Personal Development and Career, Leadership and InclusionWorkshop

With the job market cooling off, it's more important than ever to understand what to ask and how to answer questions during job interviews. This interactive workshop led by Amanda Augustine, career expert at TopResume, will give attendees the opportunity to learn best practices for interviewing as a hiring manager and as a candidate. You'll be able to ace those behavioral questions and understand which ones are most useful for determining future success.

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Employees Strike Back: A Look at the New Worker Moment
Featuring Sara Nelson, President, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA; Christian Smalls, President, Amazon Labor Union; and Saket Soni, Founder, Resilience Force

Leadership and Inclusion, Social GoodPanel

COVID-19 has roiled labor markets and workplaces and forever changed the dynamic between employees and management. Labor leaders explain the forces that led up to this new worker moment and share their insights on what’s permanently changed for businesses and the economy.

3:00 PM - 3:45 PM

Serving Disruption: What's Next in Food Innovation?
Featuring Joe Ariel, Founder and CEO, Goldbelly; Ethan Brown, Founder and CEO, Beyond Meat; and Pinky Cole, Entrepreneur, Author, Activist; Founder and CEO, Slutty Vegan

Creativity, Entrepreneurship, TechPanel

These forward-thinking founders are reshaping the food experience. From delivery and curation to the ingredients themselves, hear what’s next in food innovation.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Experiencing Humanity in the Digital Age
Hosted by Skylight
Featuring John Mack, Author and Lecturer, Life Calling Initiative; Artist of A Species Between Worlds

DesignFast Track

What might our digital environments be telling us about our inner environments?

In this interactive photography experience, A Species Between Worlds: Our Nature, Our Screens, visual artist John Mack taps into the power of visual art to enhance awareness and open this all-important conversation to everyone.

The experience will guide you through a gamified psychological exploration of more than 65 U.S. National Parks and the Seven Wonders of the Natural World. Through the lens of your digital device you’ll learn how technology is reshaping our lives, our environments, and our world.

After you explore and interact with the exhibit, join Mack for a lively discussion to learn what inspired the thought-provoking artwork and what we all can do to foster balance and awareness between technology and ourselves. Light refreshments will be served.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Data and Science Strategies for Creative Marketers: Inspire New Ways of Thinking
Hosted by Known x Rock Center
Featuring Stephen Schutzman, Partner, Known, and Brad Deutsch, VP, Data Science, Known

 Fast Track

Ready, set, test! Come along and play with Known, one of the fastest growing marketing agencies, as we demystify data and marketing jargon in this live, interactive session.

Get ready to ignite your curiosity and embark on fun, educational challenges to create a (humorous and fake) brand campaign that will prove art and science are the best of friends.

Attendees will learn how marketers can use data to find the right audiences and the most effective creative solutions—powered by the right tools and talent. You’ll walk away with new tools to uplevel your advertising know-how and some exclusive swag themed to our imaginary product.

3:15 PM - 3:45 PM

The Authenticity Challenge: How to Build Meaningful Connections with Consumers
Presented by Interpublic (IPG)
Featuring Arun Kumar, Chief Data and Marketing Technology Officer, IPG, and Walker Jacobs, Chief Revenue Officer, Twitch

Creativity, TechPanel

The modern consumer has seen it all—ads across every platform, content across every format, marketing across every vertical. Often, it can feel more like noise than a customer experience. After years of exposure to brand messaging everywhere, digital shoppers have grown weary of brands that don’t represent their genuine interests and values. With this disconnected marketing conflicting with greater consumer expectations, there are new challenges for brands, but also a real opportunity for companies to reinvent their marketing through innovative, connected data and technology. Learn how brands can make the shift from marketing “at” and “to” people to marketing “with” and “for” them—leveraging data and technology more intelligently to drive purposeful brand messaging and sustainable brand loyalty.

3:45 PM - 4:30 PM

Leveraging Design Thinking to Create Powerful Ecosystems of Engagement
Led by Klaus Heesch, Design Lead, Meta, and Edson Soares, UX Design and Research Lead, IBM

Leadership and Inclusion, DesignWorkshop

Design thinking can be a foundational practice for improving collaboration, resolving conflict, and improving your leadership skills. Join veteran experience design leader Klaus Heesch and UX design/research lead Edson Soares for an interactive workshop that leverages design-thinking tools and tactics that will help you navigate, define, build, and optimize ecosystems of engagement inside and outside your organization.

4:15 PM - 4:45 PM

Unfolding the Work-from-Anywhere Future: What Tech Innovations Are Next
Presented by Lenovo
Featuring Carly Okerfelt, Global Category Leader, Future Computing, Lenovo

TechPanel

The expectations for productivity and collaboration are rapidly evolving due to the dramatic shift to hybrid work environments. Flexibility is paramount as every organization is adapting its own version of how, when, and where to work and testing to see what works best for their teams and their business. This also requires changes in the digital and physical technology that are needed to make these shifts successful.

Learn what productivity and collaboration best practices are empowering a transformed workforce right now, and what tech innovations are just around the corner that will level-up the way we work in the future.

4:30 PM - 5:15 PM

"I" is for Impact: How Sesame Workshop Innovates on Children’s Education
Featuring Steve Youngwood, CEO, Sesame Workshop

 One-on-One Conversation

The nonprofit behind Sesame Street has been working for over 50 years to amplify the impact of everyone’s favorite children’s show. In this one-on-one chat, CEO Steve Youngwood explains how Sesame Workshop keeps Sesame Street at the forefront of educational content.

4:30 PM - 5:15 PM

Halloween Reboot: How a Hollywood Legend and a Horror Hitmaker Continue to Slay
Featuring Jamie Lee Curtis, Actor, Producer, Author, and Activist, Comet Pictures, and Jason Blum, Founder and CEO, Blumhouse

Leadership and Inclusion, Creativity, EntrepreneurshipPanel

Actress Jamie Lee Curtis and producer Jason Blum talk about the enduring power of the Halloween franchise and their unconventional approaches to success in the entertainment industry.

5:00 PM - 5:30 PM

Energizing Innovation: Collaborating Toward the Future of Clean Energy
Presented by the Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC)
Featuring David Roberts, EVP, Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Indiana Economic Development Corporation; Nick Cohen, CEO, Doral Renewables LLC; and Wan Si Tang, Advanced Battery Manufacturing Team Leader, The Battery Innovation Center

TechPanel

Sustainability innovation starts on the ground. With thousands of acres of land available to generate solar power, regional commitments to innovate and collaborate in this space go a long way toward providing clean energy for all. With one of the nation’s largest solar farm projects under construction, Indiana is doing its part to innovate the solutions we need today, reinvent the economies we’ll need tomorrow, and bring energy transition to life across the state. In this panel, we’ll discuss how and why Indiana became fertile ground (and fourth in the nation) for solar growth, examining the impact this growth is having on energy consumption, the environment, businesses, and people.

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Celebrate the Everyday Moments
Hosted by Moët Hennessy North America
Featuring Michael Traynor, Senior Brand Director, Hennessy Rare Editions; Kathy Bradham, Commercial Marketing Director, Armand de Brignac, Moët Hennessy; and Luis Freitas, Senior Director, Strategy and Transformation, Moët Hennessy USA

Social GoodFast Track

Reserve your spot for a finely crafted food and tasting experience at Moët Hennessy. Enjoy champagne and a variety of cocktails while culinary experts share the art and science of flavor pairing ingredients and how to select the correct glassware.

A panel with the global wine and spirits team will discuss why it’s important to honor your wins and how they’re creating top-shelf, emotional experiences for consumers in a more sustainable and inclusive way. Step into a night of luxury and take this time to celebrate the everyday moments—big and small.

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

How Culture Amp and Squarespace Foster a Culture of Innovation to Build a Durable Competitive Advantage
Hosted by Squarespace x Culture Amp
Featuring Edweena Stratton, Chief People Officer, Culture Amp; Mary Good, Chief People Officer, Squarespace; Andrea Alexander, Chief People Officer, Rent The Runway; and Ed Cowan, Investment Team, TDM Growth Partners

 Fast Track

While it is easy to appreciate the important role culture plays in making innovation successful, it is difficult to pin down the elements that go into forming and sustaining a culture of innovation.

What does it take to create a world-class culture of innovation? Why is a sustainable competitive advantage so important?

This session will break down the elements of an innovative culture and provide best-in-class examples from companies that got it right. Drawing from their wealth of experience, this panel of C-suite executives will share their personal wins, key challenges, metrics that matter, and their predictions for the future.

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Mix & Mingle Networking
In Partnership with Indiana Economic Development Corporation

 Mix and Mingle Happy Hour

Join Fast Company and the festival community for conversation and time to connect with fellow attendees.

Thursday, September 22, 2022
8:45 AM - 9:30 AM

The Future of Fintech: How Embedded Finance Is Transforming the Businesses of Tomorrow (Breakfast Included)
Presented by FIS
Featuring Taira Hall, SVP of B2B and Strategic Innovation, FIS, and Stephane Wyper, SVP and Global Head of Venture Investment, FIS

TechBreakfast Panel

As businesses evolve to become digital enterprises, a new lane has opened for aspiring business leaders of every station. For the entrepreneur who never thought they could sell their art, there’s Etsy. For the solopreneur who never thought they could own their time, there’s Uber. For the real estate visionary who never got their license, there’s Airbnb. For the corporate executive who never operationalized their funnel, there’s Salesforce. Embedded finance is the technology movement that is paving this new lane for businesses of every scale, offering platforms that enable innovators to start where they are and grow their niche within the experiences they’re already offering today. In this panel discussion, Fast Company and FIS will explore this space through the people who are creating it in real time, revealing how embedded finance platforms are creating new opportunities for SMBs, established enterprises, and everyone in between.

9:00 AM - 9:45 AM

Creating a Workplace that Supports Mental Health
Led by Bhavik Shah, Principal, Mind Share Partners
 

Leadership and Inclusion, WellnessWorkshop

This interactive workshop led by Bhavik Shah from Mind Share Partners will discuss key fundamentals around mental health at work and strategies to create a mentally healthy culture. It will discuss how to move past offering only benefits for your team, focusing on tangible and proactive ways to create an inclusive workplace for all communities. Topics will include importance of mental health at the workplace, how stigma plays a role, case studies to practice unique scenarios at the workplace, and your specific role when being an ally to support workplace mental health.

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

MoMA Design Store as Launchpad
Hosted by MoMA Design Store 
Featuring Emmanuel Plat, Director of Merchandising, MoMA, and Chay Costello, Associate Director of Merchandising, MoMA

DesignFast Track

What does it take to get a product carried by MoMA Design Store? As the first to introduce international design brands like Muji and HAY to the U.S., MoMA has long been considered a career-defining achievement for designers. Join one of the most highly coveted and world-renowned museum retailers for an inside look at a product discovery and selection process like no other, hearing firsthand how landing an exclusive place within MoMA Design Store’s assortment has changed the game for some of the most innovative products on the market.

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

How to Practice Everyday Sustainability
Hosted by Samsung 837

TechFast Track

Eco-friendly or brand name? For Gen Z, the environment is a top concern and they expect businesses to do their part to save the environment. In the heart of the Meatpacking District, take a look behind the scenes of Samsung’s 837 flagship interactive experience store powered by 100% renewable energy. Hear from experts in the field, tour the interactive playground, get hands-on with product demos and interactive installations, and learn how we can all do our part to live more sustainably and leave the world a better place.

9:30 AM - 10:15 AM

Inside TV’s Next Big Bet
Featuring Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Actor, Producer, Philanthropist, and Anthony Russo, Director, Producer; Cofounder, AGBO

Leadership and Inclusion, Creativity, TechPanel

The streaming wars have pushed television to new heights with blockbuster budgets and bolder swings in storytelling. Amazon Prime’s upcoming spy thriller Citadel is the studio’s contribution to the genre. Hear from the star and executive producer on what it takes to break through in a crowded TV landscape and what’s in store for the future of streaming.

9:45 AM - 10:15 AM

Meeting People Where They Are: Building Resiliency Through Innovation
Presented by Convene
Featuring Ryan Simonetti, Cofounder and CEO, Convene, and Amir Ashkenazi, Founder and CEO, Switchboard

Personal Development and Career, Leadership and InclusionPanel

What if the future of work isn’t about work at all? With the current debate around “future of work” (remote vs. hybrid vs. IRL) taking most of the airspace, perhaps we’ve overlooked the real foundation of the solution: people. As business leaders continue to combat today's issues and prepare for the unforeseeable challenges that lie ahead, their ability to be agile and resilient hinges on their strategies and philosophies around how to build culture and support their teams. In this thought-provoking discussion, learn the innovative strategies that are helping them not just to survive the disruption, but to truly thrive in today’s world.

10:00 AM - 10:45 AM

Another Way In: Redefining (and Redesigning) Accessibility
Featuring Terri Bryant, Founder, Guide Beauty; Jenny Lay-Flurrie, Chief Accessibility Officer, Microsoft; and Rob Van Varick, Chief Design Officer, Michael Graves Design

Leadership and Inclusion, Creativity, DesignPanel

More than 15% of the world’s population–or one billion people–experience disability, yet much of the corporate world is just starting to design with accessibility in mind. Those leading the way show how serving excluded users can lead to better products and services for all.

10:15 AM - 11:00 AM

Learning from the Edge: Leverage Extremes to Inspire Innovation
Presented by Capital One
Led by Jason Ferrell, Head of Card and Bank Experience Design, Capital One

Creativity, DesignWorkshop

Designers, technologists, product managers, and social scientists have long used extremes as a frame for innovation, studying how the furthest ends of abundance and scarcity shape the way we think about solutions. Over the past three years of extreme disruption, these thought exercises became a real-life experiment on an unprecedented scale. Extremes in physical deprivation and digital overload have forced us to rethink the balance of physical and virtual innovation. In this interactive discussion, framed through Capital One’s efforts to reimagine innovation through integrated experiences (e.g., cafés, digital products), come explore and engage with creative prompts around the design and creation of these experiences for your business.

10:30 AM - 11:15 AM

Session To Be Announced

 Panel 
10:45 AM - 11:30 AM

Web3 According to the Original Futurist and the Godmother of the Metaverse
Featuring Cathy Hackl, Founder and Chief Metaverse Officer, Journey, and Faith Popcorn, Founder and CEO, Faith Popcorn’s BrainReserve

TechPanel

Trendspotter Faith Popcorn and metaverse strategist Cathy Hackl team up for a conversation about the future of the internet and the way we’ll create and connect in the virtual world.

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM

Messaging the Medium: Tech Marketers Speak Out
Featuring Vivian Odior, Head of Marketing, WhatsApp, and Diego Scotti, Chief Marketing Officer, Verizon

Creativity, TechPanel

Technology can be a tough sell, especially when the product isn’t a gadget or gizmo but a platform. How do you create brand awareness and differentiation in the marketplace when the message is the medium?

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Innovating Through a Connection Crisis
Hosted by BetterUp x Pernod Ricard x Twilio
Featuring Jonathan Saw, VP, Diversity and Inclusion, Pernod Ricard; Lani Montoya, Chief Human Resources Officer, Pernod Ricard; Jacinta Jiménez, VP, Coach Innovation, BetterUp; Erin Eatough, Senior Behavioral Scientist, BetterUp; and Andrew Wilhelms, VP, Talent Management, Twilio

Leadership and InclusionFast Track

Wine and spirits giant Pernod Ricard, communications software company Twilio, and coaching platform BetterUp host an intimate and interactive panel on building a resilient workforce and the importance of prioritizing social connection and belonging in company culture. Attendees will learn the current state of workforce collaboration connection and discuss solutions for fostering community and belonging, which leads to higher performance, productivity, well-being, talent retention, and resilience during uncertainty.

11:00 AM - 12:30 PM

Walking the Talk: Equity for Women in Sports and Tech
Hosted by SeatGeek
Featuring Johnna Hayward, Strategy and Partnership Marketing Manager, NY Liberty; Lindsay Harris, Director of DE&I, SeatGeek; and Sarah Kettler, VP, Brand Marketing, SeatGeek

 Fast Track

While representation in sports and tech has improved, much of the critical work women do still remains unrecognized and unrewarded. Women are still far from gender parity and equitable opportunities.

Join SeatGeek for an important and thoughtful discussion with leaders from the sports and tech industries who will share initiatives they employ to support women and minorities. Learn ways you can advance positive change across your organization and support women at every stage of their career.

11:30 AM - 12:15 PM

Silence Is Not an Option: Leaders on When--and How--to Speak Out on Social Issues
Featuring Daniella Ballou-Aares, Cofounder and CEO, Leadership Now Project; Ashley Orgain, Chief Impact Officer, Seventh Generation; and Richard Edelman, CEO, Edelman

Leadership and Inclusion, Social GoodPanel

Employees, customers, investors, and other stakeholders increasingly expect business leaders to engage on social issues. Our panel explores the benefits and pitfalls of speaking out and the frameworks businesses and boards can use to smartly determine when and how to take a stand.

11:45 AM - 12:30 PM

Beyond Burnout: Why Are So Many People Unhappy at Work?
Featuring Ludmila Praslova, Professor of Psychology, and Founding Director of Organizational Psychology, Vanguard University of Southern California, and Phoebe Gavin, Career Coach, and Executive Director of Talent and Development, Vox.com

 Panel

Even before the pandemic and the Great Resignation, burnout was an issue. But in the past few years, even the most dedicated and promising employees across industries have suffered a remarkable decline in morale, and are quitting, retiring, changing jobs, or scaling back. Often the normal attempts to address dissatisfaction with bonuses or extra time off aren’t making a difference. So what’s really behind this crisis, and how can both managers and employees address job satisfaction in a more meaningful way?

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM

Innovation in Travel: Customer Experience and Loyalty in the Digital World (Lunch Included)
Presented by Capital One
Featuring Matt Knise, Managing VP, U.S. Card, Travel, and Cardholder Experiences, Capital One; Camiel Irving, GM, Uber Mobility; and Casey Lewis, Head of Cloud Travel, Hopper

TechLunch Panel

From dreaming up that next big adventure to finding the best deals and then navigating the myriad logistics along the way, the customer journey in travel is ever-evolving and a space that is ripe for innovation. Learn how top industry game changers are enhancing customer experiences, improving the end-to-end travel journey, and building customer loyalty by leveraging innovative digital capabilities, fintech, and travel products.

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Today, the Cloud Is the Bank
Presented by IBM and Intel
Featuring Briana Frank, VP, Product IBM Cloud, IBM, and Shirish Netke, President and CEO, Amberoon Inc.

TechPanel

The cloud is bringing as much transformation as the internet did a generation ago. Now, there's a new type of cloud—an industry cloud specific to the needs of the security and computing requirements of highly specific industries like banking, healthcare, and government. This session will explore how an emerging blend of technology advances—secure cloud, AI/ML, intelligent automation—is delivering economies of scale and, crucially, economies of skills to help banks experiment, launch services, and expand into new markets.

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

Let's Get to the Meat: How Kraft Heinz Is Adding New Flavor to its Brand Strategy
Hosted by Johannes Leonardo x Kraft
Featuring Anne Field, Head of North American Brand Comms, Oscar Mayer, Velveeta & Singles, and Julia Neumann, Chief Creative Officer, Johannes Leonardo

CreativityFast Track

Get a limited-edition hot dog flavored frozen pop from the beloved Oscar Mayer Wienermobile and experience how Kraft Heinz and advertising agency Johannes Leonardo are aiming to use the power of creativity to break through to a new generation of consumers. Visit interactive Kraft stations featuring bologna face masks, cheese-scented nail polish, and try a Veltini cocktail–Velveeta’s take on the classic martini. Sign up and play Oscar Mayer's Stupid or Genuis by voting on innovative creations focused on all the wonderfully odd ways to enjoy the iconic wiener beyond grilling.

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM

The Science Behind Luxury Fashion Authentication
Hosted by Fashionphile
Featuring Sarah Davis, Founder, President and CCO, Fashionphile 

Design, TechFast Track

Can you spot the real versus a fake? Counterfeit items are getting harder and harder to distinguish, but you can learn how to detect a replica like a pro. We’ll kick off this session with a fireside chat on the importance of authentication within the brand’s new NYC Showroom and Authentication Center. Then get a behind-the-scenes tutorial of FASHIONPHILE's authentication training process from trained FASHIONPHILE authenticators. Interact with items on the real versus fake display and put your training to the test to see if you can spot the difference.

1:15 PM - 2:00 PM

Disrupt Yourself for Greater Success in Changing Times
Led by Ayse Birsel, Industrial Designer, Author, Coach; Cofounder and Creative Director, Birsel + Seck

Leadership and Inclusion, DesignWorkshop

Use this opportunity to disrupt yourself and redesign your life and work! Join Ayse Birsel to discover and apply practical tools in this hands-on virtual workshop. Learn how to visualize the life and work you love, and take the first steps toward it.

1:30 PM - 2:15 PM

Seizing the Last, Best Chance to Slow Climate Change
Featuring Tiger Tyagarajan, CEO, Genpact; Andrew Dailey, Cofounder, Climate Vault; Greg Kahn, Documentary Photographer; Margaret Klein Salamon, Executive Director, Climate Emergency Fund; and Kimberly Evans, EVP, Head of Corporate Sustainability, Inclusion, and Impact, Northern Trust

Creativity, TechPanel

President Biden recently signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, widely hailed as the most significant climate legislation ever passed. Yet the climate crisis continues to worsen. Companies have been quick to make net-zero pledges, but what else can they do? And what comes next? This panel of global leaders will grapple with the sustainability challenges facing the private sector and outline some opportunities they present, starting with an innovative partnership between Genpact and Climate Vault.

1:45 PM - 2:30 PM

Trends and Tech That Are Radically Changing Health
Featuring Matthew Stoudt, Cofounder and CEO, AppliedVR; Marinna Madrid, Cofounder, Cellino; and Peter Yoo, Head of Neuroscience and Algorithms, Synchron

 Panel

Health innovations are coming—stat! From virtual reality therapeutics to stem-cell-based regenerative medicines to brain-computer interfaces, the future of medicine is emerging from labs and headed to a doctor’s office or hospital near you.

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM

Creative Control LIVE! Becoming More than a Meme with Brittany Broski
Featuring Brittany Broski, Influencer and Comedian

CreativityOne-on-One Conversation

Brittany "Broski" Tomlinson turned her 15 seconds of fame as "the Kombucha girl" meme into a full-fledged career. In this live episode of Fast Company's podcast Creative Control, Tomlinson gives her candid take on the creator economy and explains how she's building a name for herself offline.

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Uncovering Your Company's Hidden DEI Opportunities
Led by Amber Cabral, Founder and Principal Consultant, Cabral Co

Leadership and InclusionWorkshop

Employees, customers, and stakeholders are long past buying into performative exercises and empty promises that miss the mark on creating true diversity, equity, and inclusion. For everything from collaboration to innovation, authenticity is essential.

This dynamic interactive workshop led by powerhouse coach and consultant Amber Cabral will help you unlock the opportunities in your organization, using techniques honed from her work with leadership teams to inspire the behavior shifts necessary to create more sustainable inclusivity.

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

The New Era of Data Privacy, From Activism to Enforcement
Featuring Jay Edelson, Attorney and Founder, Edelson

Social Good, TechPanel

After years of operating with impunity, Big Tech is coming under scrutiny from lawmakers and regulators, both here and abroad. Hear what’s in store for companies that traffic in data—and the customers who want more control over theirs.

3:00 PM - 3:45 PM

Direct to Consumer 2.0: The Customer Relationship in 2022 and Beyond
Featuring Benjamin Nazarian, CEO, Therabody; Jason Bornstein, Principal, Forerunner Ventures; Jessica Rolph, Cofounder and CEO, Lovevery; and Katerina Schneider, CEO, Ritual

Entrepreneurship, TechPanel

In a new and increasingly complex era of retail, defining your brand and cultivating a community around it has never been more vital. Here’s how it’s done.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

We're Asking Gen Z the Wrong Questions: Reigniting Brands for the Next Generation
Hosted by Johannes Leonardo x Instagram
Featuring Amanda Goodspeed, VP, Head of Creative X, Meta, and Jeph Burton and Hunter Hampton, Group Creative Directors, Johannes Leonardo

Personal Development and Career, Social GoodFast Track

Gen Z is rewriting the playbook for engaging consumers. This cohort has changed the game, with connections and relationships to brands that are completely different from those that came before them. Get an inside look at how creative leaders at Instagram are connecting with this new generation of influencers and get ideas to level up your brand’s social strategy with intention, purpose, and authenticity.

3:00 PM - 4:30 PM

Journey into the Deep Sea: A Social VR Experience
Hosted by Unity 
Featuring Marina Psaros, Global Sustainability Lead, Unity, and Author, The Atlas of Disappearing Places: Our Coasts and Oceans in the Climate Crisis; and Adam May, Producer, Drop in the Ocean

Social GoodFast Track

Hitch a ride on a jellyfish and float through the ocean to experience the microplastic pollution crisis plaguing the world’s oceans. Using real-time 3D technology, participants put on Quest2 headsets and are transformed into a two-inch tall version of themselves—about the size of plankton. You’ll learn why the need to protect the ocean is so urgent and how content producers are using technology to create engaging innovative experiences to inspire change.

4:00 PM - 4:45 PM

Tiny Tastebuds: Delighting and Sustaining the Next Generation
Featuring John Foraker, Cofounder and CEO, Once Upon a Farm, and Jennifer Garner, Cofounder and Chief Brand Officer, Once Upon a Farm

 Panel

The team behind farm-to-fridge fresh kid snacks and baby food purveyor Once Upon a Farm discusses shaking up the retail landscape, brand positioning, food safety, and what it takes to get better nutrition into the hands of those who need it most.

4:15 PM - 5:00 PM

Fast Company Trivia!
Hosted by KC Ifeanyi, Multimedia Editor, Fast Company

 Trivia

Join us for a lively round of trivia that will test your knowledge on a range of business and technology topics. With the right answers (and fast fingers), you could walk away with some fabulous prizes.

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Innovation by Design Party — Open to All

DesignParty

Join Fast Company for a panel and celebration of the winners of Fast Company's 11th annual Innovation by Design Awards.

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

Happy Hour with Soho House
Hosted by Soho House

Design, TechFast Track

Network with fellow attendees, relax, or unwind with a cocktail in The Vinyl Room. Small bites will be served with gluten free and vegetarian options. Non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages will also be served.

Includes: Cocktails and Light Refreshments

5:00 PM - 6:30 PM

An Exclusive Look Inside NYC's Most Exciting New Arts Center
Hosted by Chelsea Factory
Featuring Donald Borror, Managing Director, Chelsea Factory, and Lauren Kiel, Executive Director, Chelsea Factory

Social GoodFast Track

Get a behind-the-scenes look at Chelsea Factory, a reimagined incubation and performance space created to respond to the needs of New York City's artists, cultural organizations, and community groups.

Learn how Chelsea Factory is supporting a more inclusive and sustainable arts sector to help artists navigate beyond COVID-19. Attendees will get a tour of the 14,000-square-foot cultural center, an opportunity to explore the artistic activity, and a chance to meet the Chelsea Factory leadership team.

*Tickets for Taste of Innovation are sold separately