Agenda - 2026 GSB Asian Leadership Conference

Conference Agenda

GSB Faculty Keynote

The Friction Project: How Smart Leaders Make the Right Things Easier and Wrong Things Harder

Professor Huggy Rao, The Atholl McBean Professor of Organizational Behavior and Human Resources

Every organization is plagued by destructive friction. Drawing from seven years of hands-on research, you will learn how to become “friction fixers.” This session will help you identify where to avert and repair bad organizational friction and where to maintain and inject good friction. You will learn how friction fixers do their work, from reframing friction troubles they can’t fix right now, so they feel less threatening, to designing and repairing organizations. Finally, we will discuss the causes and solutions for five of the most common and damaging friction troubles: oblivious leaders, addition sickness, broken connections, jargon monoxide, and fast and frenzied people and teams.

Morning Breakout Sessions

Session 1: AI as a “Layered Cake” - Breaking Down the AI Value Chain

Kelash Kumar, MBA '05, Richard Wang, MBA '04, Davis Wu, MBA '23

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang has described AI as a "five-layer cake": an interconnected ecosystem of companies that form the computing infrastructure and foundation models to the applications we use everyday. In this panel, leaders from across this AI value chain will unpack how these layers work together, where innovation and competitive advantage are emerging, and ultimately, where business and economic value will be created and captured as the ecosystem continues to evolve.

Session 2: GSB Asian Circles - Connecting with Your Community

Zerlina Hayes, MBA '97, Deepak Sarpangal, MA/MBA '06

Asian Circles provides an opportunity during the conference to connect with fellow attendees in a deeper and more meaningful way in small breakouts, then with the larger group. This workshop offers a unique chance to get a glimpse into the power of the “circles” format both in an intimate setting and as part of the broader community.

Session 3: Philanthropy for Impact in Asian Communities

Norman Chen, MBA '91, April Chou, MBA '01, Mubarik Imam, MBA '12, Jennifer Wei, MBA '01

Philanthropy allows people to give back to their communities, turning charitable giving into lasting legacy and impact. This panel will share the needs facing Asian communities, and offer practical guidance and different philanthropic approaches for supporting these communities.

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

Session 1: Charismatic Communication

Suzanne Taylor, MBA '90

Learn a set of Charismatic Leadership Tactics to elevate your presence, inspire your team, and amplify your communication impact through active practice and self-reflection.

Session 2: Cross-Border Leadership

Galym Imanbayev, MBA '20, Atsuko Jenks, MBA '85, Darsh Mann, MSM '19, Mary Yang, BA '90, MS '92, JD/MBA, '97

This panel brings together global leaders to explore the challenges and opportunities of working across cultures—from navigating different communication styles and decision-making norms to building trust across borders. Through candid stories and practical insights, the discussion will inspire leaders to embrace cultural differences as a source of stronger collaboration, innovation, and shared success.

Session 3: High-Beta Careers - Risk-Taking and Asian Culture

Hannah Cho, MSM '21, Purvi Mody, MA '99, MBA '04, Divyanka Sharma, MBA '19, Ben Tsen, MBA '98

For many GSB alumni exploring high-risk career paths, the risk isn't just financial, it's also cultural. There's the risk of disappointing people, including yourself, who hold you to expectations you didn't choose. This panel explores what happens when the pull toward high-variance, high-reward paths (startups, entrepreneurship-through-acquisition, non-conventional industries like the arts and food) collides with expectations around stability, prestige, and family. Panelists share how they evaluated the trade-offs, navigated pushback, and made peace with uncertainty.

Closing Keynote

Student Perspective: What's Changing At Work

Tyson Fenay, MBA '27, Minseok Kim, MBA '27, Yash Maheshwari, MBA '27, Lauren Place, MBA '27

Think you understand what today’s young professionals want? Hear directly from members of the GSB’s Asian Business Student Association (ABSA) and South Asian Business Student Association (SABSA) about how the next generation is redefining careers, ambition, workplace culture, and leadership. What drives their choices? What do they expect from employers, and what makes them walk away? How is AI changing the work they pursue and where they see their futures?

For alumni who hire, lead, mentor, or invest in young talent, this candid closing conversation offers a chance to question assumptions and learn from emerging leaders. We’ll close by exploring what we can learn from one another, and how this community can work together across generations.