Cornell Keynotes

As artificial intelligence transforms the business landscape, the challenges facing startup leaders have intensified. While technology can automate many processes, the human elements of leadership — building trust, navigating ambiguity, and inspiring teams through uncertainty — have become more critical than ever. Today's founders must evolve beyond their technical expertise to become adaptive leaders who can guide organizations through rapid change. Join Cornell faculty expert Brad Treat as he explores the essential leadership competencies required for founders transitioning to CEO roles. Drawing from his experience as a serial entrepreneur and visiting lecturer at the SC Johnson Graduate School of Management, Brad will examine how emotional intelligence, strategic communication, and adaptive leadership have become fundamental capabilities for startup success. In this session, Brad will guide participants through the critical founder-to-CEO transition, sharing practical frameworks from his journey building and successfully exiting SightSpeed (acquired by Logitech) and his current work supporting more than 200 early-stage companies. He'll address the common pitfalls that derail promising startups and provide actionable strategies for stepping into effective company leadership. What You’ll Learn: A framework for transitioning from technical execution to strategic leadership while maintaining team confidence Strategies for clear communication that build interpersonal agility and enhance investor relationships Methods for strengthening professional presence and emotional intelligence to foster stakeholder trust Techniques for managing team dynamics and scaling leadership capabilities as organizations grow Approaches for balancing hands-on involvement with delegation through adaptive leadership principles Follow eCornell on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X. 

Find out more about Bruce Tracey’s General Managers Program: https://ecornell.short.gy/fKKWmj Howard’s Gift book: https://ecornell.short.gy/1OLdog Artificial intelligence is no longer just a tool; it’s starting to resemble an entirely new species. This raises a fundamental question: What remains distinctly human? In this Keynote, Bruce Tracey, Professor of Management at Cornell’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration, and Eric Sinoway ’96, CEO of Pravi, introduce Hospitality FluencyTM as a universal language of human interaction. When technology takes over more of the work, the differentiator becomes how we listen, respond, and connect. Professor Tracey and Mr. Sinoway bring this concept to life with vivid examples of when people, processes, and technology succeed or fail. The session challenges leaders to determine what can be delegated to AI and what must remain the province of human judgment. What You'll Learn How to leverage AI’s scalable intelligence while ensuring judgment, strategic decisions, and accountability remain human responsibilities How to apply the Humans Still Matter® operating lens to decide what to delegate to AI, what to monitor, and what must stay under human control How the loss of critical skills like listening, empathy, and presence in an AI‑enabled world undermines competitive advantage How Hospitality FluencyTM works as a measurable, teachable “language” of human interaction and why many organizations underinvest in it How to spot Service Winners and WhiffsTM in real time and what they reveal about breakdowns among people, process, and technology Follow eCornell on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X. 

Learn more about executive presence in Mark’s Media Strategy for Policy and PR Cornell Certificate Program: https://ecornell.short.gy/4SNezG Check out the Executive Master of Public Administration (EMPA) program at the Brooks School https://publicpolicy.cornell.edu/masters/mpa/empa/ Mark’s Newsletter “One for the Week” https://onefortheweek.com/ Is executive presence something you can learn or do you have to be born with it? And how can you build your personal brand and gain attention as a leader? In this Keynote, you will explore how to surface and strengthen your leadership traits so you can secure buy‑in for your ideas, attract funding to grow your business, or motivate your team — all without sacrificing your values or straying from your authentic self. Join us for a conversation between Tom O’Toole, Executive Director of Public Affairs Programming in the MPA Program at Cornell University’s Brooks School of Public Policy, and Mark Bayer, Visiting Lecturer at the Brooks School and former U.S. Senate chief of staff. Together, they bring deep, real-world expertise in leadership, influence, and navigating high‑stakes environments. You’ll discover powerful, proven, and practical ways to elevate your personal brand, expand your influence, and amplify your impact by transforming your executive presence. What You'll Learn How executive presence is not an innate gift but a set of specific, teachable skills that can be developed through intentional practice A proven framework that helps you strengthen your natural leadership abilities while staying true to your values and authentic self Specific strategies to leverage your enhanced executive presence to secure funding, gain buy-in for ideas, or motivate your team effectively Follow eCornell on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X. 

Servant Leadership Certificate program ecornell.short.gy/Eyh8A5 Communication Planning for Change course ecornell.short.gy/Eh9m8A ---- If you feel emotional or physical exhaustion, catch yourself disengaging from your job or coworkers, or notice a decrease in your productivity or creativity, you are not alone. A recent survey found 48% of employees in eight countries struggle with burnout. Or you may be experiencing boreout — underchallenged and lacking purpose, saddled with repetitive tasks. Join Amy Newman from Cornell’s SC Johnson College of Business and Chris Wofford from eCornell to learn strategies for managing burnout by pinpointing what you can and can’t control. We’ll describe ways to re-engage in the work and with your coworkers, approach your situation with compassion, and communicate with courage. For people managers, we’ll explore ways to improve working conditions, lead with humility, and communicate more in some ways and less in others to support your team, despite work demands. What You'll Learn A framework for analyzing the causes of burnout and identifying what you can and can’t control Practical communication strategies to advocate for yourself and others The value of re-engaging and connecting with others despite a difficult work situation Follow eCornell on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X. 

Check out eCornell’s AI in Hospitality Certificate Program  Starwood Hotels - starwoodhotels.com Tao Group Hospitality - taogroup.com With approximately 17.1 million employees, the hospitality and leisure industry remains one of the largest and, unfortunately, most volatile employment sectors. Front-line turnover rates continue to hover around 50% to 80%, and there are an estimated 986,000 current job openings in restaurants and hotels alone. The combined impact of turnover and vacancies threatens both operational stability and industry growth. This Keynote will examine current labor market conditions and explore innovative solutions reshaping hospitality workplaces. From leveraging new technologies to reimagining traditional workforce management approaches, our panel will analyze strategies to address these challenges. The discussion will highlight both immediate solutions and long-term initiatives that are creating more stable, adaptable work environments. What You'll Learn Easy-tech options for responding to the current dynamics, including demand forecasting, AI-enabled hiring, and auto-scheduling Proven no-tech initiatives, such as predictable scheduling, multi-skilling, shared labor pools, and educational pipelines Policies and practices that promote workplace flexibility and responsiveness Follow eCornell on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and X.