Few of us have ever experienced a period in our lifetimes as intense as the past 12 months.
A deadly pandemic has upended our daily lives around the entire globe. Issues of social justice are driving cultural and political shifts in the U.S. and worldwide faster than they have in generations. And climate change continues to bring a powerful and unpredictable influence to our physical environment. Even for those who haven’t suffered personal loss, the speed and depth of this change is hard to deny.
The same concerns and questions that reach our personal lives are accelerating the unprecedented transformation of business. In every sector, in every region, organizations are changing technology, workplaces, and missions to better serve their employees, partners, and audiences to deliver growth through mindfulness and purpose.
In this spirit, Harvard Business Review on April 8 will convene HBR Live, a one-day virtual conference to address the power of “leaders who make a difference” on such urgent issues as diversity, equity, and inclusion; sustainability; and the post-pandemic future of work.
“We’re thinking of HBR Live as a special interactive issue of Harvard Business Review—plugged in, turned on, and speaking out,” says Adi Ignatius, HBR’s editor-in-chief. “It’s a rare chance for all of us to hear directly from some of the biggest trailblazers in the world, who are leading seismic changes at Pfizer, Mastercard, General Motors, and other industry innovators, exploring issues that touch all of our lives every day.”
The HBR Live program of interviews, interactive sessions, and master classes aims to inspire your efforts to drive positive change in your business. Along with Ignatius, HBR editor Amy Bernstein, and HBR senior editor Alison Beard conducting interviews, a growing speaker lineup includes prominent current and former CEOs including:
- Larry Fink, BlackRock
- Albert Bourla, Pfizer
- Ajay Banga, Mastercard
- Mary Barra, General Motors
- Marvin Ellison, Lowe’s
- Joey Wat, Yum China
- Anne Wojcicki, 23andMe
HBR Live also features several interactive master classes. “One positive change we’ve seen since the pandemic has been how effective the virtual format can be for learning skills and practical applications that can happen literally at that moment,” Bernstein says. “The master class takes us beyond inspiration and gets us directly to activation.”
Several HBR authors will conduct these live master classes, including:
- Marcus Buckingham from the ADP Research Institute on building resilient teams
- Vernā Myers of Netflix on workplace inclusivity
- Nick Craig of Core Leadership Institute on finding your purpose
- Rebecca Henderson of Harvard Business School on protecting the climate and democracy
- Rasmus Hougaard of Potential Project on meditation for executives
- Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas of the Stanford Graduate School of Business on how (and why) to be funnier at work
Just as HBR.org and Harvard Business Review bring you important insights every day, HBR Live offers the top advantages of immediacy, informality, and practicality many of us have come to appreciate in the virtual workplace.
We’re looking forward to April 8, and to meeting with you, learning with you, and changing the world of business—not to mention the world—with you.
Claim your spot at HBR Live and learn more about the program here.