Letter from the Director

And while I’m here, I want to extend a huge thank you to my AD team and incredible staffers, who poured their hearts into creating this experience. To our speakers and sponsors, I cannot thank you enough for donating your time and, most importantly, your insights. And to you, our attendees, thank you for showing up, for bringing your stories, and for daring to think bigger.

Here’s to a weekend that leaves us not just with answers, but with better, bolder questions. I’m so excited to get to know each and every one of you.

Welcome to the International Conference.

Samiksha Gaherwar
Director of the 49th & 50th International Conference

There’s this one moment I always look forward to at the IC. It’s late, the night before the conference, and I’m the last one left in the hall. It’s quiet, just rows of empty chairs waiting to be filled by hundreds of people who, by this time tomorrow, will be debating, laughing, and connecting like they’ve known each other forever. There’s an electricity in the stillness, a reminder that every person here—each of you—is bringing your unique story, ideas, and questions.

When we chose Renaissance as this year’s theme, we envisioned a modern metamorphosis—a reawakening, a shake-up of norms, a chance to turn established ideas on their heads. From the President of Microsoft to the Chairman of Disney, from the CEO of Blackstone to the President of the USA, our patrons have always represented the world’s disruptors in all industries. The IC has always been a space where big, bold ideas don’t just exist; rather, those ideas are challenged, reshaped, and pushed forward by people who aren’t afraid to ask questions like What if? How so? Why now? Who else?

So, to make the most of this weekend, here are a few suggestions I hope you’ll consider:

• Be provocative. Resist the urge to nod along. Stir it up. Add your ideas that might make people pause, maybe squirm a bit, and think twice. This is the heart of a renaissance—not just a renewal, but a real disruption of the familiar.

• Write down ridiculous ideas. Find a spare moment, grab a napkin, and scribble down the most radical, improbable ideas you can think of—ideas that would change the game if they worked.

• Explain it to the rando. It’s always easy to gravitate toward the familiar. Escape the echo chamber—find someone here for a completely different reason, and explain yourself or your ideas to them.

• Call out a “safe” answer. When you hear a response that sounds too polished, too diplomatic, or like it’s playing it safe, question it. Ask for the real answer—the messy one.

• Extend your stay. I’m always happy to grab a coffee, hop on FaceTime, or brainstorm ideas, and so is everyone else. With over 500 attendees worldwide, let’s make this experience and its impact last much longer than just three days.

• Absorb as many un-Googleable insights as possible. How might we design AI to challenge human biases instead of amplifying them—and should we? Is it realistic to create a business model where environmental impact is as transparent as profit margins? What does leadership mean when the future feels more divided and less certain than ever? These are the questions that matter, and we believe that business can be the force that drives answers that matter.