The morning session will be moderated by Inside INdiana Business host Gerry A. Dick. It will present a highly interactive program focused on building effective individual and organizational strategies for proactively engaging the ever-more-dynamic, competitive environment faced by Indiana business executives and the firms they lead. Conference participants will take away a fresh perspective on the future and the art of innovation.

The day’s activities will open with a conversation between two distinguished Kelley School professors – Ash Soni (Associate Dean of Information Technology, Professor of Operations and Decision Technologies, and ArcelorMittal Faculty Fellow) and Anne P. Massey (IU Bloomington Associate Vice Provost for Faculty and Academic Affairs, and Professor of Information Systems) – that will set the boundaries for the exploration of the conference theme. Next, renowned futurist Ray Kurzweil will identify the key dimensions of the “Brave New World” American firms will soon face and describe how that future reality will impact the way we live and do business. Innovation maven John Kao will then speak to the creative thinking and innovation strategies that will be required of American firms and American business leaders if they are to successfully engage and adroitly adapt to the future milieu described by Mr. Kurzweil, seizing on the opportunities and coping with the challenges.

Following a short break, the audience will reconvene for a highly interactive, 90-minute brainstorming exercise facilitated by Messrs. Kao and Kurzweil and moderated by Mr. Dick. Conference participants will be seated in the round at ten-person tables, where Mr. Kao will task them with a problem-solving exercise built around the conference theme. Following a 25-minute brainstorming session at the tables, the remaining 60 minutes of the morning session will be devoted to an unchoreographed, interactive conversation in which Messrs. Kao and Kurzweil will interact with the audience, challenging ideas and identifying synergies and disconnects. They will be joined in that conversation from the platform by Sharon Orlopp, Global Chief Diversity Officer and Senior Vice President of Walmart Stores, Inc., and Marvin L. White, System Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of St. Vincent Health.

Conference participants will be provided with audience response system (ARS) devices they will use to answer numerous questions posited by Mr. Dick. In addition, attendees will be able to offer their opinions regarding the conference subject matter and submit questions to Kao, Kurzweil, White, and Orlopp electronically, in real time.

Donald R. Knauss
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
The Clorox Company

Mr. Knauss will speak to his experience leading The Clorox Company’s evolution from an old-line chemical company to the forefront of the “Green Movement” in corporate America.

A brief awards ceremony will precede Mr. Knauss’ remarks.