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AFP 2026 Executive Institute: A New Era for Finance Leaders

The AFP 2026 Executive Institute, taking place from November 8-11, 2026, at the renowned Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, represents a pivotal opportunity for treasury and finance executives. Sponsored by PNC Bank, this distinguished event aims to equip leaders with essential strategies to navigate a rapidly changing financial landscape, especially in light of advanced technological resources.

At the heart of the Executive Institute are expert keynote speakers, including David Blake, co-founder and executive chairman of Degreed, and Dr. Bailey Parnell, CEO of SkillsCamp. Their insights will focus on fostering a relationship between human skills and artificial intelligence (AI), ensuring that finance professionals are not only prepared for present challenges but also future-proofed for success.

Keynote Highlights

How to Compete in the Expertise Economy

David Blake will deliver his keynote address titled, How to Compete in the Expertise Economy. He will discuss frameworks for corporate leaders to audit their organizational capabilities, pinpoint skill gaps, and implement a continuous learning culture within finance departments. Blake emphasizes the importance of adaptability in creating 'change-ready cultures' to secure a competitive advantage.

Super Human Leadership

Dr. Parnell’s session, Super Human Leadership: How the Next Great Leaders Will Use AI to Become More Human, builds on her extensive research in leadership and AI. Her focus will be on creating a collaboration between AI's analytical strengths and the irreplaceable human characteristics of empathy, critical thinking, and ethics. This mixture aims to enhance decision-making processes, ensuring that the human element in leadership remains intact.

Program Themes and Discussions

The AFP 2026 Executive Institute will also feature a range of sessions and discussions revolving around core themes that resonate with the current state of finance:

• - Pricing and Quantifying AI Risk: Workshops designed to help CFOs evaluate and manage financial exposures linked to the deployment of AI technologies.
• - FX Execution and Transparency: A collaborative discussion among treasury and finance leaders aimed at uncovering hidden markups in foreign exchange and improving hedging strategies.
• - Measuring Tech ROI and Autonomous Operations: Roundtables will be dedicated to revisiting treasury management systems and the shift from legacy processes to more autonomous operations.

These sessions are not only informative but allow for peer interactions, enabling finance leaders to share challenges, solutions, and experiences in real-time.

The Importance of Peer Dialogue

As highlighted by Pat Culkin, president and CEO of AFP, the forum provides an invaluable platform for executives to engage in honest discussions about prevailing complexities and emerging opportunities in the finance sector. Understanding that the environment for treasury operations is ever-evolving, the Executive Institute facilitates dialogues that encourage innovation and practical solutions.

Emma Loftus, head of Treasury Management at PNC Bank, further emphasizes this objective, stating that today’s leaders are called upon to manage transformations amidst growing complexities. The discussions surrounding AI adoption, operational efficiency, and risk management will be of utmost importance at this year's program.

Registration Information

Prospective attendees are encouraged to register by October 2, 2026, to take advantage of early-bird pricing, which offers a discount of $274 off the on-site rate. However, the opportunity to connect at this event is directly tied to ensuring that finance professionals continue to build resilience in the face of a digital age.

Conclusion

The AFP 2026 Executive Institute is not simply an event but a vital collective effort towards shaping the future leaders in finance. As organizations delve deeper into integrating AI with strategic operational models, the insights gained here will prove essential for those ready to leave their mark on the financial world. By fostering a collaborative environment and harnessing the best of both human abilities and technological advancements, the industry can look forward to growth and innovation in the coming years.