Digital technology – from artificial intelligence and robotics to blockchain and the Internet of Things – is rapidly reshaping business across all industries. This weekend IMD is hosting the IMD Annual International Alumni Event on how to navigate the choppy waters of technological change. The theme this year “Technologies and trends that are shaping your future.”
Participants will come to Lausanne from all over the world and they represent almost every business sector. Alumni registered for the event are based in 43 countries and are from 326 companies.
The two-day meetup in Lausanne, taking place on September 28 and 29, features a wide range of exhilarating and informative sessions.
To open the event IMD President Jean-François Manzoni will update IMD Alumni on the school’s evolving role in preparing tomorrow’s leaders.
The first day includes a session on digital disruption led by Michael Wade, IMD Professor of Innovation and Strategy, and the Cisco Chair in Digital Business Transformation.
On day two, Professor Howard Yu, author of Leap: How to Thrive in a World Where Everything Can Be Copied, will examine how successful organizations reinvent competitive landscapes.
Professor James Henderson will explore how to build digital ecosystems. Professor Stéphane J.G. Girod will shed light on how organizations can thrive in the age of complexity and Professor Ina Toegel will present core leadership skills that are relevant for the future.
Saturday morning attendees will be treated to a debate between Professor Arturo Bris and Professor Carlos Cordon on whether blockchain is the most important revolution since the dawn of the internet or just hype.
Professor Pierre Vandergheynst, an expert from the renowned technology-focused university EPFL, will discuss how participants can demystify artificial intelligence.
“This is our most important event of the year, and we work hard to make it extremely interesting for the participants. I like to think of it as an annual ‘operating system update,’” said Johan Govea, Director of Alumni at IMD. “People who come to IMD get a top-notch education but the world changes so fast, you have to keep on learning. Networking is an important part of the event, but it also provides learning that executives can use back in the office on Monday.”
The weekend includes various networking opportunities through coffee breaks, lunches, and dinners.
The agenda for the event was in part inspired by IMD’s TransformTECH program, which explores how to harness new technologies for new business opportunities.
Find out more about IMD’s Alumni Office.
