Leading
New ERA
October 16, 320 Park Avenue, New York
October 16,
320 Park Avenue, New York
CEO Summit Agenda
7.45 AM - 8.30 AM > Registration & Breakfast
8.30 AM - 10.05 AM > Morning Sessions 1
Opening Remarks
Thomas Robertson, Joshua J. Harris Professor, Professor of Marketing, Academic Director, Jay H. Baker Retailing Center; Executive Director, Wharton INSEAD Alliance
Panos Linardos, Chairman, RLC Global Forum
The Long View on Leadership
As the retail world navigates increasing complexity, CEOs are being asked to act faster, louder, and with more visibility than ever. But what makes executive decisions endure? Terry Lundgren shares reflections from decades in the spotlight and brings a rare, long-view perspective on leadership, stakeholder trust, and values-based decision-making.
Speaker:
Terry Lundgren, Former Chairman & CEO, Macy’s, Inc.
Interviewer:
Gabrielle Fonrouge, Retail Reporter, CNBC
Global Growth Briefing: Markets to Watch
A new class of growth markets is quietly reshaping the global retail landscape—fueled by demographic shifts, policy moves, capital inflows, and rising consumer ambition. But not all momentum is visible on the surface—and not all growth is created equal. Expect a multidimensional view of the risks, returns, and recalibrations shaping new market entries.
Speaker:
Sam Kim, Vice Chairman & Group CEO, Lotte Retail
Interviewer:
Panos Linardos, Chairman, RLC Global Forum
The Future of Luxury: Reimagining Value, Experience & Expansion
Luxury leaders are navigating a moment of strategic tension—where legacy must coexist with reinvention, and where the rules are being rewritten under political and geopolitical complexity, cultural acceleration, and rising consumer demands. What does it mean to lead with discipline in a time of ambiguity? And how are the world’s most enduring luxury houses making decisions today that will still hold meaning a decade from now?
Speakers:
Kunal Bhatia, Managing Director & Partner—North America, Fashion and Luxury Lead, Boston Consulting Group
Filippo Bianchi, Managing Director & Senior Partner – Global Luxury Lead, Boston Consulting Group
Speaker:
Carlo Croso, President of the Americas, Prada
Interviewers:
Kunal Bhatia, Managing Director & Partner—North America, Fashion and Luxury Lead, Boston Consulting Group
Filippo Bianchi, Managing Director & Senior Partner – Global Luxury Lead, Boston Consulting Group
10.05 AM - 10.35 AM > Networking Break
10.35 AM - 12.05 PM > Morning Sessions 2
Beyond the Brand: How Luxury is Becoming a Way of Life
Is the future of luxury about lifestyle more than possession? And how are leading brands turning soft power into hard strategy? Luxury houses are extending their influence into every touchpoint of lifestyle—designing stays, shaping menus, and crafting experiences that align with values and mood. This session will navigate how experience-led strategies are being structured, scaled, and protected—offering a forward view on what it takes to grow without dilution in the next chapter of global luxury.
Speakers:
Abhay Bakaya, Chief Development Officer, Starwood Hotels
Michael Cochran, Deputy CEO, Fort Partners
Jonathan Wagmeister, Strategy, Investments, and New Ventures, Copper
Moderator:
Todd J. Fieldston, Of Counsel, Real Estate Department, Paul Hastings LLP
The AI Productivity Paradox: Why It’s Hard to Win—and How to Do It Anyway
AI’s power is undeniable—but capturing its value isn’t. We will explore the “AI productivity paradox,” showing why most organizations struggle to turn technological breakthroughs into real performance. Learn what it takes to move from hype to impact—bridging the gap between innovation and productivity in the age of intelligent machines.
Lynn Wu, Associate Professor, The Wharton School
12.05 PM - 1.35 PM > Lunch
1.35 PM - 4.10 PM > afternoon Sessions
Unbound Intelligence: A Live Provocation on the Future of AI
What happens when leadership meets exponential capacity? In this immersive opening, we explore the threshold where human instinct and algorithmic power begin to converge—and collide. This is not a theoretical exploration of AI, but a live encounter with its creative and operational force.
Ethan Mollick, Ralph J. Roberts Distinguished Faculty Scholar, The Wharton School
The CEO as Brand: Leading from the Inside Out
Retail CEOs need to see personal branding not as vanity, but as a vital leadership tool. A clear personal brand builds trust, strengthens team alignment, and sets the stage for organizational culture that resonates outward. Without it, companies miss critical opportunities to define meaning in the marketplace. In this session, we’ll show leaders how to authentically lead with who they are—turning identity into loyalty, and loyalty into competitive advantage.
Americus Reed, The Whitney M. Young Jr. Professor of Marketing, The Wharton School
AI, Workforce Power, and the Architecture of Decision-Making
“Buy it where?” The future of consumer search.
The massive diffusion of Large Language Models is rapidly changing how consumers learn about the marketplace. In this session, we’ll discuss the consequences for retailers of chatbot-powered search. We’ll also peak into the future of consumer search with topics like sponsored chatbots and agentic AI buyers.
The massive diffusion of Large Language Models is rapidly changing how consumers learn about the marketplace. In this session, we’ll discuss the consequences for retailers of chatbot-powered search. We’ll also peak into the future of consumer search with topics like sponsored chatbots and agentic AI buyers.
