Global Institute Agenda | WCD Global Institute

The Global Institute Agenda

7:00 - 8:30 am ET Continental Breakfast

8:30 - 8:45 am ET Welcome Remarks by Jennifer Reynolds, CEO, WCD

8:45 - 9:15 am ET Keynote - Envisioning a Strong, Inclusive and Sustainable World

As global leaders fight inflation and a looming recession, how can boards and the C-suite work effectively together to ensure resiliency and future growth for their organizations? With a green transition underway, Next Gen tech taking over, and a diverse and evolving workplace environment, what can business leaders do to find opportunities and bright spots to advance their strategic goals? How are the capital markets evolving to meet the capital raising needs of business in terms of ensuring efficient markets and investment options for companies and investors?

9:15 - 10:00 am ET Fireside Chat - Geopolitical & Economic Implications: Foreign Policy & Financial Risk

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, an increasingly competitive and aggressive China, inflationary times and many other challenges are causing the world to re-assess the path forward. How are these geopolitical, economic and societal pressures evolving and what are the implications for governments, businesses, the global economy, and humanity. What are the expected short- and long-term consequences and opportunities for the C-suite and board to consider?

10:00 - 10:30 am ET Networking Break

10:30 - 11:30 am ET Panel - Addressing the Environmental Challenge, Including the Net Zero Transition

Concerns about climate change risk are rising and the actions necessary to mitigate this threat and other environmental concerns may be falling short. Governments, business leaders and other stakeholders are racing to find new ways to aggressively reduce carbon emissions and plastic waste, encourage the development of alternate energy sources, and protect people and communities from disaster. What are the impediments to change and how can they be navigated to ensure targets and commitments are met?

11:30 am - 12:00 pm ET Fireside Chat - Envisioning the Future in Transformative Times

12:00 - 2:00 pm ET Lunch AND Peer Exchanges

2:00 - 2:45 pm ET Keynote - Inside the SEC: Ensuring Effective Capital Markets

What is on the agenda for the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission? What critical actions are being taken or planned as the SEC works to fulfill its mission “to protect investors, maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation”. What is on the SEC’s agenda as governments wrestle with these challenging times including global market volatility, calls for increased corporate disclosures, and new digital currencies going mainstream.

2:45 - 3:00 pm ET Networking Break

3:00 - 3:45 pm ET Fireside Chat – How Boards & C-suite Leaders can Lead through Transformative Times

How can boards and C-suite leaders navigate through today’s transformative times? Governments and businesses are facing significant geopolitical risk, a likely recession, calls for environmental and societal change, while at the same time adapting to major technology innovation. How can the board and C-suite work effectively together to ensure future growth and positive change for their organizations, employees and stakeholders? What is necessary to create an environment of trust, transparency and inclusiveness between the board and C-suite?

3:45 - 3:50 pm ET Closing Remarks by Jennifer Reynolds, CEO, WCD

3:50 - 4:30 pm ET Concurrent Industry Sessions & Networking Break

5:30 - 9:30 pm ET Keynote - Visionary Awards Dinner

Day 2 - Friday, June 9

7:00 - 8:30 am ET Continental Breakfast & Networking

8:30 - 8:45 am ET Welcome Remarks by Jennifer Reynolds, CEO, WCD

8:45 - 9:15 am ET Keynote - Innovation & Entrepreneurialism: Inspiring Business Performance & Purpose

Given today’s challenging economic and geopolitical environment, how can business leaders and board members inspire innovation in their organizations? What are the implications for health and humanity as pressure continues from the pandemic, an ongoing war in Ukraine, earthquake disaster in Turkey and Syria, and economic hardship across the globe. What is the role of business in society and what is necessary to operate in a responsible, sustainable and growth-oriented way?

9:15 – 10:00 am ET Panel - Optimizing New Tech Innovation to Accelerate Growth

Whether AI, VR, the metaverse, blockchain or digital currencies, technology is changing the very nature of business and creating a new path forward. While tech has typically been implemented as a distinct business initiative, today’s new tech is more complicated and intertwined with a need to consider a holistic view and approach or risk being left behind. As businesses seeks to enable innovation and experimentation, how can the C-suite and board truly understand these developing technologies and the opportunities and risks they represent? How is new tech shifting the strategic conversations and decisions being made in the boardroom?

10:00 – 10:45 am ET Panel - Engaging a Diverse & NextGen Workforce & Workplace

Pressures from the pandemic and calls for societal change have prompted a revolutionary transformation in our workforce and workplace. Business leaders and boards are closely evaluating their workplace needs and how to ensure a diverse, engaged and productive workforce is in place today and for the future. What is being done to re-engage employees including a NextGen workforce amidst evolving workforce expectations and a continued debate between work from home and/or a return to the office? What are good practices for boards to take to determine that a diverse and inclusive leadership pipeline is developed? What can the board do to influence a good corporate culture for their organization?

10:45 - 11:15 am ET Networking Break

11:15 am - 12:00 pm ET Panel - Private Equity Boards & the Path to a Board Seat

Private equity boards dig deep into their portfolio companies to search for value and returns. Strategy and performance are top issues for all boards, but are there lessons to be learned from PE boards who may spend more time and dig more deeply? At the same time, ensuring diverse views and experiences in PE boardrooms is an exciting opportunity for women leaders looking for a board seat. What lessons can be learned from PE board oversight and how can business leaders influence more diversity on PE boards?

12:00 pm – 2:00 pm ET Lunch and Peer Exchanges

2:00 - 2:45 pm ET Active Defense: Protecting Against Cyber & Ransomware Risk

Cyber risk and ransomware attacks represent significant threats for business, governments and individuals. In our rapidly changing world, how can resiliency, vibrancy and sustainability be built into business operations and the digital ecosystems to protect against increasingly sophisticated and aggressive hackers? What are the most persistent cyber security concerns including new risks from emerging tech such as AI, machine learning, ChapGPT, the Metaverse that might elevate future risk? How can board members encourage exploration, while also influencing appropriate risk management and mitigation to protect the company’s precious assets? What actions can be taken now to prepare for an increased threat level and additional regulatory mandates and disclosure requirements?

2:30 - 3:15 pm ET Closing Remarks by Jennifer Reynolds, CEO, WCD