The AI revolution is reshaping our world, and nowhere is the impact more profound than at work. As intelligent systems take on more complex tasks, fundamental questions arise: Will automation replace workers or empower them? What does leadership look like when decisions are made by AI?
We’re entering a shift as profound as the industrial age, one that demands rethinking how teams function when they include more than humans. Increasingly, organizations are turning to frameworks that assign responsibility, autonomy, and decision rights not only to people but intelligent agents.
This panel explores new dynamics of leadership, productivity, and trust in a workplace shared by humans and AI.

Most people think of weather as just a forecast on their mobile phone—but it’s so much more. Weather impacts every industry, from logistics and operations to marketing and customer experience. Yet many organizations fail to leverage climate intelligence strategically.

This panel will explore how accurate weather forecasting, powered by cutting-edge technology and human expertise, can create competitive advantage for all kinds of companies—from finance to defense to infrastructure and health. We’ll break down how the world’s most accurate forecasts are built, why accuracy matters, and how forward-thinking leaders across industries are integrating weather intelligence to boost their bottom line.

Network with fellow honorees during a breakfast at Fast Company's headquarters.

Join Talea Beer Co. for a behind-the-scenes look at one of its breweries. Talea is revolutionizing craft beer through a female-focused brick-and-mortar strategy. As a woman-founded and operated brewery in NYC, Talea connects with a broad group of previously under-targeted customers through playful packaging, tasty beers, and award-winning, hospitality-focused taprooms. Fast Track participants will learn about Talea's past six years of growth, including breaking into major retailers like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, reaching new audiences through of-the-moment collaborations, and opening five taprooms across NYC. After a fireside chat with Talea's cofounders, guests will break into groups to taste through a portfolio of Talea beers and go on a brewery tour of Talea's production facility.

Join Salt & Straw ice cream for a momentous morning. Founded by cousins Kim and Tyler Malek, Salt & Straw’s ice cream is more than just a nostalgic treat: It offers an opportunity to build community among like-minded culinary artisans, tell compelling stories about the world around us, and make bold flavor choices. In addition to the core menu, Salt & Straw is known for its monthly rotating flavors, each built around an original theme—whether it’s spotlighting local farmers and artisans, honoring cultural traditions, or exploring big ideas through unexpected ingredients.

Fast Track participants will receive a guided tasting of the brand’s classic flavors like Sea Salt with Caramel Ribbons and Double Fold Vanilla, as well as wildly inventive originals like Strawberry Honey Balsamic with Black Pepper. Following the tasting, guests will listen to and engage with Salt & Straw cofounder Kim Malek during a moderated Q&A session. 

In a crowded market, brand partnerships can be a powerful awareness tool—but when misaligned or poorly executed, they risk falling flat and draining valuable resources. In this session, you'll hear from two collaboration strategists who have seen it all. Melissa Conner and Charlotte Hohorst of JBC PR will break down why some collaborations make noise while others fall flat, pulling back the curtain on how smart partnerships come together. Drawing on their experience working alongside buzzy brands like Olipop, Parachute, and Loloi, they’ll unpack the anatomy of a successful collaboration: what makes a strong match, how to pitch the right partner, and why timing and values alignment are everything. Whether you’re a startup founder or a seasoned marketer, you’ll leave with a clear framework, pitch-ready strategies, and fresh ideas for partnering with purpose.

Join M.M.LaFleur’s leadership team for an intimate look at how thoughtful event design can transform customer relationships and drive business growth. From their signature Sip & Shop experiences to VIP collection previews, discover how this innovative fashion brand moved beyond traditional retail to create meaningful touchpoints that foster genuine community.
Attendees will explore the evolution from transactional retail to experiential community building, how to design events that align with your brand values while driving measurable results, practical frameworks for creating "white-glove" experiences that customers actually want to attend, and the intersection of physical and digital community building in today’s marketplace.
Following a 30-minute panel discussion, attendees will experience M.M.LaFleur’s beloved Sip & Shop format firsthand—complete with personalized styling, networking, and an exclusive discount for attendees. You'll leave with actionable insights on event strategy and perhaps a few new additions to your professional wardrobe. This session is perfect for founders, brand managers, and anyone interested in building deeper customer relationships through intentional experience design.

Join Ciarán McGuigan, founder and CEO of the Malin, alongside a Fast Company editor and forward-thinking leaders from both emerging startups and established brands, for a candid conversation on designing a return to office that people actually want. Together, they’ll explore how hospitality and workplace community can transform the office from an obligation into a magnet—and why that matters more than ever in today’s evolving work landscape.

Kick off the Innovation Festival in true New York style at the brand-new Tecovas flagship store in SoHo. Guests will enjoy complimentary drinks featuring Death & Co cocktails, in-store boot branding (including a Fast Company logo option), a custom hat bar, on-site shoe shines, and a 10% discount on purchases. Executives from Tecovas and WVN will walk attendees through how AI and spatial intelligence are powering the next generation of modern retail.

Join Mother Design for an exploration of the branding challenges in saturated, hyper-designed markets—where good design is the baseline, not the differentiator. Unpack what happens when the visual playing field is level, and discover why originality, a rebellious brand perspective, cultural relevance, and brand soul matter more than ever. Through the lens of carbonated beverages, Mother Design will uncover the strategies that break through the noise and make people care.

Join James Beard Award nominee chef Nasim Alikhani at her warm and welcoming Sofreh Cafe for an evening filled with delicious traditional Persian dishes and spreads, signature cocktails, and a conversation on the importance of placing culture at the core of her business. From the café’s architecture and cozy aesthetic to taking inspiration from Persian homes and the meaning of the restaurant’s name itself—Sofreh has come to refer to "gathering" and "sharing"—hear how Alikhani has infused her heritage into every aspect of her restaurant, and why she believes this approach will continue to feed the business's bottom line.

In a world of shrinking budgets and growing challenges, how do you create meaningful impact without unlimited resources? This panel brings together the worlds of architecture, design, and marketing to illustrate what’s possible when creativity meets constraint. You’ll gain insight into how to transform limited materials, tight timelines, and lean budgets into powerful tools for change.

The creator economy has revolutionized entertainment, unleashing a global star system that rivals Hollywood. Thanks to a steady flow of hits, creators aren’t just an alternative to Hollywood, they’re transforming it—opening new pathways to stardom and success. Big entertainment firms want to capitalize on the trend, seeking creators for fresh content and access to new audiences. One area of explosive growth has been webcomics, with smash hits on Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, and Crunchyroll. Join a conversation with top creative minds shaping the industry about the influence of webcomics on Hollywood, why traditional studios are racing to adapt creator-driven content, and how creators build global fandoms.

What if the next life-changing innovation isn’t born in a lab on Earth, but in orbit? From medicine to materials science to agriculture, space is becoming the new frontier for breakthrough research and development. Join this panel to understand how the unique conditions of space are accelerating discoveries that could transform industries here on Earth. You can also expect a live Zoom call from an astronaut currently on the International Space Station! 

The rising demands of work and stressors of life feel more intense than ever. So how can we not only be resilient but get ahead of the curve? Join Jamie Wood, founder and CEO of Autonomic, for this workshop on how to train your brain not just to survive but to thrive. Autonomic is a neuroscience-backed platform that aims to help people in high-pressure environments, such as executives, employees, and students, optimize their cognitive performance. Drawing from Wood’s personal journey of corporate burnout to entrepreneur, this session will equip you with actionable tools to manage stress, improve focus, and enhance your productivity.

Late last year, Myechia Minter-Jordan became the CEO of AARP. In addition to defining her leadership strategy at the helm of the world’s largest nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization, she’s come face-to-face with a world grappling with economic uncertainty and a rapidly changing workforce, which begs the question: Is retirement possible? In this candid conversation, Minter-Jordan shares her blueprint for how she’s merging business acumen with social impact, her vision for growth, and what the path to retirement really looks like. 

In 2025, great products aren’t enough. Between economic pressure and media fragmentation, the brands that break through are the ones that move at the speed of culture, tap into rapidly evolving consumer tastes, and build real relevance across platforms, industries, and audiences. Hosted by Red Antler, this conversation brings together Fizz, Daydream, and Obviously NYC to unpack what it really takes to grow right now and why building in New York offers a strategic edge. From tech and fashion to finance and media, NYC remains the cultural engine where talent, innovation, and influence converge.

For leaders, there is threat in chaos. And the world right now—it’s feeling pretty chaotic. It feels safer to retreat, hide, camouflage, and remain silent to feel a sense of stability. But acting out of fear is a bad business strategy. Join CEO Joey Camire, chief strategy officer Chris Konya, partner of strategy Aaron Powers, and chief design officer Michael Ian Kaye in this session as they discuss the impact of fear on businesses today—their teams, products, policies, messaging, and marketing. Learn how they’re advising clients and the consulting industry to navigate the chaos through quiet acts of hope, courage, and resistance—and how you can apply their learnings to your own work too. The session concludes with a Q&A, open conversation, and networking with the Sylvain team. Refreshments will be provided.

As decision-makers race to identify and implement the right AI solutions for their organizations, many have overlooked the energy demands required to sustain the technology at scale. With sustainability remaining a central concern for all, the breakneck adoption of AI among businesses and consumers alike raises urgent questions around how industries can sustainably power the servers and data centers behind it to ensure responsible innovation long-term. This panel will examine key findings and insights from companies aiming to balance their AI and sustainability goals.

After becoming a household name as a prime-time anchor on MSNBC, Joy Reid was laid off earlier this year in a shake-up at the network that surprised everyone, including Reid herself. But just a few months later, she turned a setback into a comeback with the launch of The Joy Reid Show, an independent podcast from her production company, Image Lab Media Group. In this one-on-one conversation, Reid shares what it means to bet on yourself and stay rooted in purpose, and she gives her perspective on where the media is headed.

Join Engine, the platform reshaping how groups and businesses book travel, for an afternoon of conversation, creativity, and connection at one of the city's favorite creative spaces: art café Happy Medium.

Attendees will start with a fireside chat featuring Sammi Cohen, host of the Social Currency podcast, and Elia Wallen, founder and CEO of Engine, to discuss how to build a billion-dollar business in an unsexy industry while staying grounded. After the conversation, guests will connect over light bites before diving into hands-on creative activities including painting, collaging, and more. This session is meant to reset attendees’ perspectives and spark new thinking. No pressure, no performance, just a chance to create something new and shift gears.

Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to sign up for Engine on the spot and get travel credits for future flights, hotels, and rental cars added directly to their account.

In the era of AI, we’re able to conjure ideas and build prototypes faster than ever. But in all that rush, we've lost something deeply personal: the time to sit and sketch. In this workshop, Fast Company’s creative director, Mike Schnaidt, will take you away from your computer and into the world of speculative design. You’ll be put into teams, given an outdated product, and tasked with rebranding it with only a pencil, paper, and your brilliant minds. From this workshop, you’ll pick up analog exercises to reconnect with your originality, equipping you with the creative tools for when the lights go out.

After years of remote-work limbo and prevailing thirst for meaningful human interaction, companies increasingly leverage untapped demand for fun in-person experiences to forge long-term bonds with their customers. Experiential events don’t just boost sales, they magnify the long-term value of a brand. Whether it’s immersive high-tech worlds for the entire family, fun gatherings on modern beauty trends or the future of cloud and AI, or simply a relaxed team off-site at a coworking space, experiential marketing drives customer loyalty.

Join us for a celebration of Fast Company's 12th annual Innovation by Design Awards honorees.

Every day there are literally millions of brand identities in the marketplace. And still, certain brands consistently stand out, rise above, and reshape our lives. This “brand magic” doesn’t happen by accident. There are ingenious strategies and actions that companies take to push their brands to the next level. 

This session will unite leaders from Disney, Verizon, CannonDesign, and more to break down the fundamental building blocks of brands and then share novel ideas about what it really means to push a brand leaps and bounds beyond its competitors. The session will inspire attendees to think more holistically about how a brand can reverberate in profound ways across the built world, the digital environment, and our lives. 

Following a presentation and discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to take part in a creative design session. Groups of participants will be given atypical brand clients and asked to conceive unique brand experiences. They’ll be able to think through how these unique brands can manifest themselves in the built and virtual worlds, in customer journeys, and more. 

Join Journey for a unique behind-the-scenes look into the preshow tech preset of Tony Award–winning Stranger Things: The First Shadow on Broadway. A high-energy moment that offers a rare BTS opportunity to experience the magic behind the production as technical, scenic, and sound and lighting teams set up for the evening showing that same day. Ben Pearcy, technical director at 59, a Journey studio, and associate project director of the show, will guide attendees through this viewing of the genre-defying production.
Of note: The theater has requested that there be no photos/recordings of the event.

Kick off the start to Fast Company's 11th annual Innovation Festival with our opening night party.

Union Square Hospitality Group attributes much of its success to its dedication to customer service, which should be a priority for any company. So how can you integrate more of a hospitality feel into your business operations? Join Patti Simpson, chief administrative officer and head of USHG's advisory firm, Hospitality Quotient, for an exclusive master class on how to have a customer-first mindset.

The Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC) was the last puzzle piece of a massive redevelopment and revitalization effort within Lower Manhattan's World Trade Center complex. And since opening its doors in 2023, PAC NYC's mission has been clear: to provide an innovative space for artists to flourish as well as be a hub for community building. That ethos certainly extends to Metropolis, PAC NYC's signature restaurant from celebrated chef Marcus Samuelsson that explores the vast culinary traditions of New York City through a modern lens. Join PAC NYC's executive director, Khady Kamara Nunez, for an illuminating conversation on how food, art, technology, and civic engagement intersect within an ever-evolving cultural landscape.

Join Life Time at Penn 1 for an energizing Fast Track experience blending sport and self-optimization. Come ready to listen and play in this interactive session starting with a motivating discussion with Life Time senior vice president Jessie Syfko and Life Time vice president and founder of HPLT Brian Mazza, on how to fuel peak potential through discipline, mindset, and movement. Then grab a paddle (Life Time’s got ’em for you) and hit the court for hands-on pickleball instruction and/or straight up play with Life Time’s elite pros. Come in your workout gear and change after. With full dressing rooms on-site, you’ll be ready to power into the rest of your Innovation Festival day.

As AI and economic concerns reshape the job landscape, Gen Z is building its own opportunities through freelancing. Fiverr will unveil its comprehensive “Next Gen of Work” research, revealing key insights into this generation’s attitudes toward work in the gig economy. Fiverr’s associate director of community and social impact, Michelle Baltrusitis, will offer an exclusive first look at this research, which explores motivations, expectations, and future plans that are reshaping how young professionals approach their careers.
Hear from some of the top Gen Z talent on Fiverr about how they built their businesses and scaled to six-figure and even million-dollar revenues during a conversation moderated by Fiverr’s chief human research officer, Sharon Steiner. These success stories will provide practical insights into strategies, challenges overcome, and lessons learned from building thriving freelance enterprises. 
Attendees will also receive a catered breakfast, along with playfully self-aware merchandise that channels Gen Z’s signature mix of irony, hustle, and existential humor.

Consumers are overwhelmed with everything competing for their attention. So experiential branding has become a powerful way to leave a lasting impression. But what's the right way to do it? Join this panel to understand how brands are maximizing engagement and connection with consumers across physical and digital spaces by employing immersive environments, interactive storytelling, and sensorial design.

Gen Z is entering the workforce in record numbers—and they’re bringing new expectations and anxieties with them. But are today’s leaders equipped to meet them where they are? Building off of professor and author Jonathan Haidt's main stage session, Alexa Arnold, managing director of the Anxious Generation Movement, will lead this workshop exploring how to lead, coach, and collaborate with Gen Z in ways that foster resilience and unlock their full potential. Designed for CEOs, senior leaders, parents, and anyone managing or mentoring young professionals, this workshop will give you new strategies to help Gen Z become more anti-fragile and thrive in dynamic work environments.

As political and cultural forces rail against DEI, it’s become critical to protect progress, unlock untapped potential, and ensure that the next wave of innovation reflects the world it’s meant to serve. Join this panel to understand how those affected by DEI rollbacks are finding their feet in a shifting landscape—and how they’re fighting back.

Disguise, the Engineering, Science, and Technology Emmy Award-winning technology platform and services company behind key location-based experiences at Illuminarium, the Burj Khalifa, and the NBA All-Star game, is at the forefront when it comes to driving a new era of immersive wonder for fans and visitors. Join Disguise at its Chelsea office to get an expert take on what the future holds for the location-based experience industry—from data-driven graphics and gamification supercharging in-stadium fan experiences to cinematic immersion taking theme park rides to new heights, and projection mapping and real-time content elevating the storytelling potential of museums, installations, architecture, and more. Experience some of this technology firsthand with a number of interactive demos, and meet the Disguise team to learn how these cutting-edge immersive experiences can be brought to life.

If you've got big ideas but hesitate to put yourself out there, this high-energy workshop is your antidote to awkward. Digital marketing expert Kim Rittberg will teach you how to boost your visibility and own your voice without sounding over-polished, self-promotional, or downright cringey. Through fun and interactive exercises, you'll sharpen your communication skills and unlock fresh content ideas to find your unique edge as a thought leader

Amid unparalleled uncertainty in today’s global supply chains, organizations may be exploring automation and new technology, such as AI, to create efficiency and reliability. A critical prerequisite to this adoption is to fully embrace global data standards. These universally accepted best practices create the collaboration needed to keep supply chains moving—even in light of disruption, unpredictability, and change. In this in-depth conversation featuring a variety of industry leaders, learn how corporations are seizing opportunity in any business climate. Businesses cannot control ever-changing markets or geopolitical tensions, but they can stay above the international fray by embracing agility, innovation, and sustainability via standardization of their supply chains.

As global supply chains stretch under shifting demands, the transportation and logistics sector is moving fast, quietly redefining how goods and services flow in real time. This panel explores how AI, digital intelligence, and scalable tools are powering sharper, faster decision-making across mobility ecosystems. From predictive analytics to real-time visibility and advanced technologies, today’s leading companies are finding smarter ways to adapt, even as legacy systems and integration gaps persist. Hear from the leaders driving what’s next and shaping how mobility keeps up with the speed of the modern economy.

With increasing concerns from consumers on data and privacy issues, tech brands must build trust against the “hacked and tracked” narratives. As they look to further integrate into the lives of their customers, tech needs to embrace trust as vital to purpose and experience, as well as a competitive advantage.
Explore the 10 key dimensions of purpose and experience critical to building trust with brand strategy company FutureBrand. Attendees will leave this session with a personalized score comparing themselves to the world’s leading brands and a blueprint to future-proof their own, inspiring confidence through their tech brand’s every interaction.

In today’s fast-moving markets, gut instinct isn’t enough—innovation needs to be grounded in real consumer insight. Learn how these companies are listening to their consumers in smarter ways, uncovering unmet needs, and making data-backed decisions that lead to new business models and category-defining innovation.

Experience awe-inspiring 360-degree views at One World Observatory, situated atop the iconic One World Trade Center. Since its opening in 2015, visitors have been able to take in the magnificent New York City skyline from a climate-controlled indoor space, located more than 100 stories above the bustling streets. It’s the highest point in the city, offering a truly unparalleled view. This event is come and go as you please and does not require attendees to be present for all 90 minutes.

Join us for a celebration of Fast Company's annual Best Workplaces for Innovators honorees.

The famed restaurant group is continually innovating on its core value: "Changing the world through the power of food." Hear how Sam Bakhshandehpour, CEO of José Andrés Group, thinks about growing a successful brand around "doing good." Across the group's 15 different restaurant concepts, Bakhshandehpour challenges each team to do just this through initiatives such as teaming with food surplus recovery service Copia and creating menu items geared to utilize as much of the ingredient as possible to reduce food waste. Join us at the Bazaar by José Andrés inside the Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad for an insightful evening and incredible cuisine.

Join Thursday Boots at its Flatiron headquarters for an overview of the details that distinguish quality footwear that is built to last. Presenters will cover materials, construction, and a quick history of shoemaking before demonstrating the easiest ways to care for your favorite pair of boots. Participants will get advice on everyday maintenance from expert cobblers and leave with a special gift.

Join the founders of bag brand Dagne Dover to learn more about how they differentiate innovation from product newness. This session will feature a conversation on how the founders pursue opportunities, approach financing, and evolve Dagne Dover’s brand, as well as how new ways of thinking guide the creation of systems, relationships, and human-centered solutions. Following the conversation, attendees will have the opportunity to shop at Dagne Dover’s flagship location with an exclusive Innovation Festival discount. 

Hypothetically, what if John Deere partnered with Manscaped to launch a new kind of “hedge” trimmer? Or if Scotch tape came together with Starface, the blemish-fighting sticker accessory, to make skincare accessible in a whole new kind of way?
One of the arguments against AI in the creative community is that it lacks serendipity. Not anymore. With the right frameworks and inputs, AI can bring form to one-of-a-kind partnerships that help brands break into new audiences, categories, and cultural contexts. At their NoMad clubhouse, the crew behind indie agency CBX will ideate unthinkable and yet undeniable brand mash-ups alongside attendees, short-listing two hypotheticals for design. During this exercise, every attendee will play a role, but they won’t find out what it is until we begin: (1) creator or (2) evaluator.

In a world overflowing with visual noise, it’s sound that cuts through. In this workshop, Joel Beckerman, founder of Made Music Studio, will guide you through the world of sonic branding to create deeper emotional connections, boost brand recognition, and transform customer experiences. Whether you’re a marketer, entrepreneur, or creative, this workshop will help you think beyond logos and taglines to develop a distinctive sonic identity that speaks directly to your audience.

As the global food system faces mounting pressure from climate change, resource scarcity, and waste, a new wave of innovators is stepping up to reimagine how food can nourish both people and the planet. In this panel, you’ll hear how technology, policy, and consumer behavior are shaping a new food economy—and what it takes to build scalable solutions.

Founded by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, the Modern is a two-Michelin-starred, contemporary American restaurant at the Museum of Modern Art. In celebration of its 20th anniversary, join the Modern’s executive chef, Tom Allan, in a fireside chat as he reflects on the restaurant’s legacy over the past two decades, sharing lessons on leadership, fostering team culture, and staying creative in today’s competitive restaurant landscape. Gain an inside look at how enduring excellence is built and sustained through innovation, collaboration, and vision. The conversation will be followed by a Q&A session, a behind-the-scenes kitchen tour, and a few light bites to close out the experience.

Step inside McCann Content Studios, McCann’s global social and influencer space, for an immersive look at how today’s most innovative brands are built in real time. Led by Monica Tailor, global chief social marketing officer and co-managing director of McCann Content Studios, this session offers a behind-the-scenes look into McCann’s unified creative, strategy, influencer, and production operating model that delivers the agency's “Truth Well Told” philosophy at the speed of the feed.
Attendees will dive into the process of building scroll-stopping content across clients like Aldi, Lysol, and L’Oréal. Fueling this work are insights from Truth Central, McCann’s creative intelligence group, which help ensure every idea is grounded in the truths shaping culture today.
Whether you’re a marketer, creator, or creative technologist, you’ll leave with insights on how to evolve your brand’s social voice, partner meaningfully with creators, and build enduring brand platforms in a social-first world.

Celebrate a week of innovative conversations and new connections during our closing night party. 

In Tagalog, naks is used as an exclamation of delight, surprise, or admiration—all descriptors that are apropos to the titular East Village restaurant. Naks, which is part of the Michelin-starred restaurant group Unapologetic Foods (Semma, Dhamaka, Adda), is a love letter to Filipino comfort food showcasing the bold and regionally diverse flavors from the country. Join Roni Mazumdar, CEO of Unapologetic Foods, as he explains the inspiration behind expanding the group's portfolio beyond Indian cuisine and how to find success in hypercompetitive industries like New York City's restaurant scene.