Cornell Keynotes

Cornell Keynotes brings together Keith Cowing, executive coach and lecturer in Cornell’s MBA program, and Dan Van Tran, CTO of Collectors Holdings, to consider questions with huge consequences: What is AI doing to teams, talent, and labor? How can you leverage AI today to improve your product, your company, yourself, and your team? What happens if you don’t and your competitors do? In a fast-moving conversation, Keith and Dan share how today’s sharpest leaders are adopting AI-native workflows, collapsing the talent stack, stripping out middle management, and rewarding leaders and team members with multiple specialties. You’ll come away with a concrete playbook to sharpen uniquely human skills, pair them with AI superpowers, and deliver the kind of exponential impact today’s market demands. What You'll Learn * How AI is reshaping organizations, particularly in reducing middle management layers and favoring multi-skilled professionals who can work with AI tools * The strategic importance of adopting AI-native workflows and the potential competitive disadvantages of delayed AI implementation * How to combine uniquely human capabilities with AI capabilities to dramatically increase productivity and create exceptional value Follow eCornell [https://ecornell.cornell.edu/] on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ecornell/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ecornell_online/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecornell], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@ecornell], and X [https://twitter.com/ecornell_online].

Unlock the transformative potential of emotional intelligence (EI) and its role in shaping personal and professional success. How does developing EI help us build stronger relationships, improve decision making, and become more effective leaders in today’s interconnected world? Join Nicola Fabrizio from Cornell’s Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy as he explores the five fundamental components of emotional intelligence: self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, social skills, and motivation. This session will highlight how mastering these interconnected skills can empower individuals to understand and manage emotions effectively, fostering resilience and collaboration in both personal and professional spheres. Discover how practices like mindfulness, active listening, and seeking feedback can serve as powerful tools to enhance emotional intelligence and create lasting impacts in your relationships, career, and community. This engaging discussion will equip you with actionable insights to navigate challenges, build meaningful connections, and succeed in your journey while positively influencing those around you. What You’ll Learn: * How the five components of emotional intelligence can positively influence or  transform your approach to leadership * Practical techniques to stay composed and remain effective during tough challenges * How to better understand interpersonal dynamics and build stronger professional relationships within your team and throughout your organization * Strategies to get better at communication and become more influential in your position     Follow eCornell [https://ecornell.cornell.edu/] on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ecornell/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ecornell_online/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecornell], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@ecornell], and X [https://twitter.com/ecornell_online].

As the Trump administration rewrites U.S. trade policy and 2025 European Union rules banning goods made with forced labor go into effect, many questions about trade’s global impact have arisen. Some of what we buy worldwide is produced by an estimated 28 workers in forced-labor situations. New government leaders in Washington and Brussels will influence how forced labor is uncovered as well as how regulations to control it are developed, enforced, or even reversed. Join Jason Judd of the Global Labor Institute (GLI) at Cornell’s ILR School and two global labor governance experts, Samira Rafaela and Kelly Fay Rodríguez, as they discuss different approaches being taken by the U.S. and European countries and how those differences could unfold for individuals, companies, and consumers. Follow eCornell [https://ecornell.cornell.edu/] on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ecornell/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ecornell_online/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecornell], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@ecornell], and X [https://twitter.com/ecornell_online].

The European Commission launched its AI Continent Action Plan, signaling a commitment to a more proactive role in the global AI ecosystem. Join Cornell’s Lutz Finger and Lucilla Sioli, Director of the European Commission’s AI Office, as they explore the EU’s bold and optimistic vision of becoming the “AI Continent.” From cutting-edge AI factories and gigafactories to trusted data spaces and talent development, this Keynote highlights how Europe is building a uniquely powerful AI ecosystem rooted in collaboration, excellence, and democratic values. Follow eCornell [https://ecornell.cornell.edu/] on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ecornell/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ecornell_online/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecornell], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@ecornell], and X [https://twitter.com/ecornell_online].

Join Devon Proudfoot from Cornell’s ILR School as we discuss her groundbreaking research on this "diversity heuristic" — a lay belief that demographic diversity enhances creativity — and its profound implications for organizations, team dynamics, and the evaluation of creative work. Drawing on findings from studies involving over 5,500 participants, the discussion will cover key insights, including: * Observers consistently perceive demographically diverse teams (in terms of race and gender) as more creative than homogeneous ones. * Products attributed to diverse teams are judged as more creative, even if they may be identical to those of homogeneous teams. * Manipulating perceptions of cognitive diversity can shift judgments of team creativity. * There is evidence of a relationship between the proportion of racial minorities or women in a group and judgments of creativity. This webinar is ideal for organizational leaders, HR professionals, diversity and inclusion advocates, creativity researchers, and anyone interested in understanding how beliefs about diversity shape workplace outcomes. What You'll Learn: * The ways in which psychological mechanisms can drive the association between diversity and creativity * How the diversity heuristic influences real-world judgments, including in competitive organizational settings * Actionable strategies to align team composition with creativity assessments in professional contexts Follow eCornell [https://ecornell.cornell.edu/] on Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/ecornell/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ecornell_online/], LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecornell], TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@ecornell], and X [https://twitter.com/ecornell_online].