Globe Summit 2023 will take The Boston Globe's journalism beyond the page during three days of thought-provoking panels, networking opportunities, fireside chats, book talks, and more led by our journalists and partners. Under this year's theme of "Today’s Innovators. Tomorrow’s Leaders.", we will shine a light on the people who will drive our industries forward tomorrow.
This year's Summit will take place in-person at WBUR CitySpace with the option to also tune in virtually via livestream.
Sign up now to attend for free.
Interested in sponsoring Globe Summit 2023? Learn more here, or contact Erika.Hale@globe.com
For speaking submissions, contact Lindsay.Gearheart@globe.com
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The higher education industry is at an inflection point. Amid accelerating technology, lagging enrollment, and cuts for the liberal arts, women at the helm of three of Greater Boston’s institutions come together to discuss the evolving landscape and how they are leading through the unknown. They’ll also consider how the transformation will undoubtedly alter our region and one of its greatest resources – our talent pool.
Over the years, Boston’s tech sector has persevered through periods of strong growth and decline, with booming demand often leading to overstaffing and resulting cuts. Leaders in tech and workforce development will share a look at the current state of the local tech scene, and consider how we adapt, recover, and push forward from the latest downturn.
Scientists, researchers, governments, and corporations are experimenting with quantum computers with an eye toward the future. Quantum computers and networks, while still in development and requiring care such as extremely low temperatures, offer powerful opportunities attractive to various industries once perfected. Reporter Aaron Pressman dives into what this potential looks like across finance, pharmaceuticals, and more, and what it will take to get there.
Actor Rainn Wilson, most-often known for his role as Dwight Schrute on NBC’s sitcom ‘The Office’, has made headlines for his commitment to climate action, including changing his name to Rainnfall Heat Wave Extreme Winter Wilson. He’s also authored a book, “Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution,” about rediscovering his spirituality. In a fireside chat with Globe reporter Sabrina Shankman, he’ll talk about the intersection of these topics – and fostering hope and joy in others as a key pillar to revolution.
Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionize the way we live and work, with a variety of use cases across industries. This discussion will take a broad look at how AI technology is being developed and leveraged in areas including healthcare, higher education, travel, and more, with insights from those driving the way forward.
With technology as powerful as artificial intelligence, it’s critical to consider how equity and inclusion will be prioritized as AI tools are widely adopted. Business columnist Shirley Leung leads a conversation examining how we can reduce and eliminate bias in AI and create a more responsible, equitable future by engaging a diverse group of creators.
News organizations across the world are grappling with how to integrate and create guidelines around AI, with the technology offering tools for research and content creation but lacking the ability to distinguish fact from fiction. Vanity Fair special correspondent Brian Stelter leads a conversation focused on how AI is poised to transform the media landscape, how organizations can safeguard journalism and their credibility, and what it all means for the future of democracy.
A special edition of the Boston.com Book Club features award-winning authors Celeste Ng and Jennifer De Leon as part of Globe Summit 2023. Each will discuss their new novels, Our Missing Hearts (Ng) and Borderless (De Leon), and how they tackle global issues like immigration, racism, adolescence, family, and so much more in their books.
The Boston media landscape has the unique distinction of being driven by an impressive group of women. This session, moderated by journalist Janet Wu, celebrates our strong community of women in leadership by bringing together local women CEOs and publishers to talk about serving at the helm of a media organization at this moment in history and the unique challenges the industry brings.
Following the pandemic and a shift to hybrid work for office-based employees, efforts to breathe life back into downtown Boston continue. Opportunity abounds in vacant storefronts and office spaces, but converting the space is no easy feat. Real estate reporter
Catherine Carlock leads a discussion around the current state of downtown and the efforts underway to breathe life and vitality back into the neighborhood.
With deep experience in technology, venture capital, and private equity, Yvonne Hao has already guided the local innovation economy through crisis, following the Silicon Valley Bank collapse early in her tenure as Secretary of Economic Development. In this fireside chat with reporter Jon Chesto, Secretary Hao will discuss how Boston is positioned to compete with other hot markets, particularly in tech, and how we can attract and retain top talent.
When he was first approached about the opportunity to serve as the NCAA president, former Massachusetts governor (and former Harvard basketball player) Charlie Baker knew he wasn’t a traditional candidate to lead the governing body of college sports – but he was up for the challenge. In this fireside chat, Christopher L. Gasper checks in with Baker as his first full athletic year begins.
A survivor of the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed, David Hogg helped start the largest youth movement in the country – March For Our Lives, and continues to advocate tirelessly to eliminate the epidemic of gun violence in our country. In a fireside chat with health editor Anna Kuchment, he’ll share insight into his experience and how the next generation is stepping up to the plate with political advocacy, seeking gun law reform and funding for gun violence research and mental health resources that can help create safer and healthier communities.
Numerous studies have reported poor mental health as a major challenge for Gen Z, with issues like gun violence, systemic racism, and climate change weighing heavily in addition to family and personal factors. Reporter Diti Kohli talks with experts about the complex ways in which mental health and technology intersect for Gen Z, including both the benefits of new technologies for providing access to care and the various drawbacks.
With innovations in patient care from telehealth to AI and beyond, hospitals and health systems are undergoing a digital transformation all the while battling a workforce crisis. This discussion brings together representatives from the hospital, health insurance, and patient advocate perspectives to consider what the future of healthcare operations looks like in Greater Boston and what the effect might be on patients.
In order to achieve Massachusetts’ ambitious goal to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, strong leadership on climate strategy from government is needed alongside cross-sector support. This session will put the spotlight on the pioneering women political leaders of Massachusetts for a comprehensive view of climate policy initiatives at various levels. The Globe’s Washington bureau chief Jackie Kucinich sits down with Mayor Michelle Wu.
Boston has long been a center of climate technology development, with research institutions and startups driving forward disruptive innovations from solid-state batteries to nuclear fusion. But which advances are likely to have the greatest impact on the climate? And which ones might governments and citizens actually embrace? This session will look at the most promising work in the pipeline and how it could alter our lives.
Massachusetts law mandates that 92 percent of the state’s electricity must be carbon free by the end of the decade, which would require large-scale projects such as offshore wind farms and other intrastate efforts to go off without a hitch. In this session, climate reporter Sabrina Shankman will discuss the path forward with a selection of industry experts and advocates.
Film buffs already recognize her costumes, and now cinephiles and the most casual of movie-goers will be able to put a face and a story to the award-winning work of Ruth E. Carter. The Springfield, Mass. native, who was the first Black woman to win an Oscar for costume design, joins the Globe’s Jenee Osterheldt for an intimate conversation about following her lifelong passion, her work on “Black Panther,” and more.
Aligning with his passion for justice reform and racial equity, former New England Patriots star Devin McCourty recently joined the Board of Directors for the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund. This session will feature Devin in conversation with fund president Dr. Makeeba McCreary to talk about the rise of Black athletes speaking out against systemic racism and the power they hold to create social change, particularly by partnering with nonprofits and local organizations to amplify a cause.
How can we claim art as a living link to eras that should not be forgotten? Jeremy Eichler, the Globe’s chief classical music critic, explores this topic through the lens of classical music in his new book Time’s Echo, which has been hailed as “masterful” (Publishers Weekly) and “profoundly moving” (Library Journal). He will share his perspective in an exclusive, one-on-one conversation with former Harvard president Lawrence Bacow, who has been at the forefront of encouraging universities’ civic engagement and service to society.
As an independent filmmaker, writer-director of ‘CODA’ Siân Heder knows how difficult it is to make your voice heard. In this fireside chat led by Meredith Goldstein, Siân will share her storytelling journey, from theater kid growing up in Cambridge, Massachusetts to Oscar winner. She’ll also discuss overcoming barriers in the film industry and how her work has sought to bring authenticity to movies and TV.
Let’s be honest – Boston isn’t exactly renowned for its nighttime culture, and those who live here know the struggle of finding late-night options all too well. But could this soon be changing? In this session, Jeneé Osterheldt is joined by individuals revitalizing Boston’s nightlife scene through their work in local government and the industry.
Artificial intelligence is poised to have a tremendous impact on all facets of healthcare, from back-end operations to patient care delivery via improved diagnostic and treatment decision-making. At Mass General Brigham, this work is under way across various medical arenas including radiology, cancer and mental health. Mass General Brigham Chief Medical Information Officer, Rebecca Mishurish, MD, MPH, will moderate a discussion from leaders of such projects that addresses the vast potential AI has on the conditions they treat and what risks and inequities may arise that need to be addressed in their fields before such novel innovations can be delivered to physicians and their patients.
Boston is known for being a well-connected city. So how do we harness the power of connection to drive business and innovation in the hub? Jon Bernstein of PNC Bank moderates this panel featuring master networkers Collette Phillips of Get Konnected and Brooke Thomson of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM), who will share best practices on how to create, grow, and foster professional networks. Join us to discuss how business networks and your organizations are shaping the future of our region.
Join other business and community leaders from across Greater Boston to kick off Day 2 of Globe Summit 2023 during a Bold Types launch event and exclusive breakfast presented by PNC Bank. Globe business reporters Jon Chesto and Janelle Nanos will introduce the next season of the Bold Types series, which covers the movers and shakers in Boston’s business scene.
New research commissioned by Flywire reveals an impactful 81% of students surveyed say they need help affording education expenses. Join us for an insightful breakfast networking chat that will highlight research findings and discuss ways the University of Rhode Island is leveraging technology to better attract, engage and retain more students. Discover tips and tools to ease billing, payments and collection management by unifying the student financial journey.
Executive leaders across industries in Greater Boston will gather at Globe Summit 2023 for a networking event and exclusive breakfast presented by Cross Insurance. The invitation-only event offers the opportunity to meet and mingle with local leaders ahead of the third and final day of the Globe’s flagship annual conference. This will begin a morning of discussions focused on Climate Change & Sustainability.
In a time when scientific advancements and healthcare breakthroughs are extending life expectancy, Boston is well positioned to serve as a hub of longevity as a result of its renowned research capabilities, entrepreneurial ecosystem, and reputation for healthcare excellence. In this session, representatives for Point32Health, John Hancock, and GRAIL will share how they are contributing to this growing area of focus for our region by partnering to expand access to a first-of-its-kind multi-cancer early detection screening test, ultimately helping people live longer, healthier, and better lives.
Host of Boston Globe Today Segun Oduolowu sits down with Michael L. Bivins, CEO of SportyRich Enterprises, as he celebrates the 40th Anniversary of New Edition and continues to serve as an ambassador for the community of Roxbury and the City of Boston. They'll also talk about the process of creating his recent docufilm, "The Hustle of @617MikeBiv," which details his life as a kid from Roxbury's Orchard Park Projects who dreamed of playing in the NBA, but due to his popularity, was redirected into becoming an entertainment and business heavyweight.
It takes more than on-field talent to construct the sort of successful sports empires that have become synonymous with Boston and New England. Representatives from the Boston Celtics, Bruins, Red Sox, Patriots, and Revolution will come together for a forward-looking discussion examining business strategies that do and don't work in a sports-obsessed town, how the franchises interact and compete with each other, and the next big innovations in sports tech, fan hospitality, and more.
Renowned director Diane Paulus worked to determine how to safely return to the theater amid a public health crisis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Years later, Paulus, the artistic director of the American Repertory Theater at Harvard University, is again charged with evaluating the future of theater and the arts as advancements in artificial intelligence threaten to bring sweeping changes to the industry. Moderated by The Boston Globe's Arts Reporter, Malcolm Gay.
Special collaboration with STAT News
For the first time, we have obesity drugs that can lead to substantial weight loss, approaching levels seen with bariatric surgery. What do we know and still don't know about how the drugs work, and what implications could they have on medicine and society?
As consumers become increasingly aware of their environmental impact, transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) is a critical step in utilizing transportation solutions to ensure a sustainable future. Globe reporter Hiawatha Bray moderates a discussion with local leaders who are innovating around and encouraging adoption of EVs about what is needed for a significant transition to these vehicles to be successful.
Orchestras and baseball teams may look different on the surface, but at their core, professionals in these groups share a common goal: to combine their individual talents to produce something spectacular. Linda Henry moderates a conversation with Keith Lockhart, conductor of the Boston Pops, and Alex Cora, manager of the Boston Red Sox, about what it takes to lead groups of individuals who are the best in the world at their craft, and how to encourage collaboration among these elite performers.
