Fortune's Inaugural Workplace Innovation Summit in California: Shaping the Future of Work
On May 19 and 20, 2025, Dana Point, California will host the first-ever Workplace Innovation Summit organized by Fortune. This exclusive, invitation-only event is designed to bring together top executives, HR professionals, and thought leaders from various sectors such as Fortune 500 companies, innovative startups, investment firms, and academia. The summit aims to foster discussions on strategically reshaping the future of work, with a focus on topics that are becoming increasingly critical in today's world.
The two-day gathering will feature over 30 prominent speakers, including executives from powerhouse companies like Google, IBM, and Salesforce. These industry leaders will share their insights on the accelerating transformations within workplaces, especially considering the integration of artificial intelligence and evolving HR technologies.
CEO of Fortune, Anastasia Nyrkovskaya, emphasized the necessity of this summit by stating: "The workplace has undergone a transformation in recent years. Now more than ever, executives need a space to come together, anticipate what's next, and shape the future of work." This sentiment reflects the importance of dialogue in navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by rapid technological advancements.
The agenda for the summit is rich and diverse, featuring a range of discussions that include revitalizing company culture, the importance of upskilling and reskilling in a world dominated by AI, and fostering diversity and inclusion in business environments. One of the many highlights will be a session led by Kenji Yoshino, a legal scholar at New York University, who will delve into the future of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Moreover, participants can expect to engage in experiential labs aimed at enhancing leadership skills. One particularly intriguing workshop, ‘Leadership in the Dark: An Immersive Experience,’ will challenge attendees to navigate leadership challenges while blindfolded, promoting authentic conversations and creative problem-solving.
Another engaging session titled ‘What Poker Can Teach Us About Making Better Executive Hiring Decisions’ by Rosanna Trasatti will explore how poker strategies can correlate with better executive hiring practices, thus helping businesses reduce expensive hiring mistakes.
Among the notable guests is Jeremy Hindle, the production designer for the acclaimed TV series ‘Severance,’ who will discuss how the show’s innovative design influences storytelling and can be correlated with real workplace scenarios.
Accomplished speakers joining the lineup include leaders from various sectors, such as Kiersten Barnet from the New York Jobs CEO Council, Mahe Bayireddi of Phenom, and Chris Hyams, CEO of Indeed. Their collective wisdom will offer valuable perspectives on the transformative trends reshaping work.
The Workplace Innovation Summit is supported by founding partner Indeed and partners such as Calm, Guild, and McKinsey & Company, representing a collaborative effort to push the boundaries of traditional workplace models.
As part of Fortune’s mission as a leading global media company dedicated to improving business practices, this summit signifies a pivotal moment for stakeholders across industries to reimagine the future of work. With its focus on innovation, collaboration, and actionable insights, attendees will leave equipped not only to understand the impending changes faced by organizations but also to implement strategies that will keep them ahead in an increasingly competitive landscape.
For those fortunate enough to attend, the Workplace Innovation Summit represents an unparalleled opportunity to engage with the foremost thinkers in the field and to be part of shaping the future of work in a meaningful way.