To celebrate our 10th annual Innovation Festival this Sept. 16-19 in New York City, we created a special series of main stage, one-on-one conversations featuring our list of the 10 Most Innovative People of the Last 10 Years—but we have far more than 10 panels you should mark your calendars for.
From exploring how online retail and programming have pioneered a new, immersive shopping experience with Busy This Week host Busy Philipps to how artists are navigating evolving industries with SoundExchange CEO Michael Huppe and producer and singer-songwriter Shaboozey, there’s no shortage of dynamic and compelling programming.
Check out just some of the highlights from this year’s panel line-up and be sure to stay tuned to our Innovation Festival events as we add more on a weekly basis:
Rethinking Retail and Late Night with Busy Philipps and QVC
Busy Philipps is no stranger to late night TV—but this time she has something to sell you. QVC+, the shopping network’s free streaming service, premiered Busy This Week earlier this year, a shoppable late night show aimed at blurring the line between organic programming and video commerce. Join Busy and David Rawlinson II, president and CEO of Qurate Retail, as they discuss the future of stoppable streaming.
Preparing for a Quantum Leap
With all the buzz around AI, one has to wonder what’s next in tech. Many would argue it’s quantum computing, a multidisciplinary field that, at its core, uses quantum mechanics to solve problems too complex for standard computers. Understand why tech giants, researchers, and investors see quantum computing as the next big leap—and where you should lean in.
FEATURING: Darío Gil, SVP of Research, IBM; Martin A. Schmidt, President, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Margaret Arakawa, Chief Marketing Officer, IonQ
Creative Control: How Artists Are Navigating Evolving Industries
Last year’s SAG-AFTRA strike exposed the deep concerns writers and actors have toward fair pay and emerging technology infringing on their work. And Hollywood is far from the only industry grappling with the same issues. Through the lens of the music business, this panel will explore how artists are navigating everything from promotion and distribution to equity in pay and representation.
FEATURING: Michael Huppe, CEO, SoundExchange; Shaboozey, producer and singer-songwriter
How First-Time Founders Are Finding Their Way
In 2023, 5.5 million new small-business applications were filed, making it the highest year on record. There’s been a clear surge in entrepreneurship since 2020—and in the wave are first-time founders learning, adapting, and growing as business leaders. In this panel, you’ll hear how these first-time founders made their career switches and are finding success in entrepreneurship—not without some trials and errors you can learn from.
FEATURING: Sophie Bai, Founder and CEO, B.A.I. Biosciences; Mika Shino, Founder and CEO, Issei; Emily Hikade, Founder and CEO, Petite Plume
Your Company’s Guide to AI Regulation and Safety
As businesses across industries continue to implement AI into their operations, understanding AI governance and threats to cybersecurity has become even more paramount. Join this panel to hear from experts who will guide you through what you need to know to ensure your business is compliant and secure.
FEATURING: Ron De Jesus, Field Chief Privacy Officer, Transcend; Wendi Whitmore, SVP and Head of Unit 42, Palo Alto Networks; Raffi Krikorian, Chief Technology Officer and Managing Director, Emerson Collective
From Z to A: What You Need to Know About Gen Alpha
Understanding what new generations want from brands can be dicey—and Gen Alpha (those born between 2010 and 2024) is no different. Knowing that you can’t copy and paste your marketing and business strategy from Gen Z to Gen A, what can you do? This panel of execs and experts have the answers.
FEATURING: Joe Ferencz, Founder and CEO, Gamefam; Matt Traub, Chief Operating Officer, DKC; Fiona Simmonds, Cofounder, Pinkie; Brian Bordainick, Cofounder, Starface
For the full list of programming, visit our events page. And be sure to get your tickets to experience these illuminating panels, Fast Tracks, Taste of Innovation, and so much more.