GConferenceGridThe Conference Catalogue · Vol. 2026Folio № 70494F
Of the Field

Simmons Leadership Conference 2026

T

he Simmons Leadership Conference (SLC47) returns on March 17, 2026, in Boston, MA and online with the theme 'The Connected Leader.' This one-day leadership event is designed to explore authentic relationships, dynamic networks, and smart collaboration to foster belonging, trust, and impact. Featuring world-class speakers, keynotes, and panel discussions, SL…

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20Voices
21Underwriters
0Exhibitors
15On the bill · sessions
35Companies · in total
§I

The Voices

Programmed at Simmons, in alphabetical order.
Amina Bulman
Chief Revenue Officer · Boston Legacy FC
Andrés Tapia
Bold Transformation Strategist
Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva
Founder and Chief Reinvention Officer · The Reinvention Academy
Greg Morley
Senior Business and Human Resources Leader
Hoda Kotb
New York Times Bestselling Author, Award-Winning Journalist, Founder & CEO Of Joy 101 and former co-anchor of TODAY · Joy 101
Joyce Kulhawik
Emmy-award winning Broadcast Journalist, CBS NEWS, GBH News 'The Culture Show', President Boston Theater Critics Association · CBS NEWS, GBH News
Juliet Funt
Founder and CEO · JFG
Justine Pouravelis
Professor of Practice & Former Director of Original Content · Simmons University & NESN
Kerry Seitz
Vice President, Women’s Leadership · Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership
Kimberly B. Davis
Sr. Exec VP, Social Impact, Growth Initiatives & Legislative Affairs · National Hockey League and President of the NHL Foundation
Kip Hollister
Founder & CEO; Mental Fitness Executive Coach · The Hollister Group
Kristen Palson
COO, Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership and Executive Producer, Simmons Leadership Conference · Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership
Leslie C. Smith
66th Inspector General, Vice President of the Association of the United States Army, Visiting Professor · Georgia Southern
Mary Shapiro
Professor of Practice, School of Business · Simmons University
Misty Copeland
Ballerina and Founder · The Misty Copeland Foundation
Rick Sacchetti
Area VP | US Commercial East Sales · Cisco
Samantha Tan
Consultant & Executive Coach
Stuart D. Kliman
Founder & Partner Emeritus, Vantage Partners; Head of Business Development, PrescriberPoint; Chief Strategy Officer, Breez AI · Vantage Partners, PrescriberPoint, Breez AI
Susan MacKenty Brady
CEO · Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership
Susie Piotrkowski
Vice President, Women’s Sports Programming & espnW · espnW
§II

Underwritten By

The houses behind the program. Tiers as disclosed.
CiscoPlatinum
Blue Cross MALeadership
Boston Business JournalMedia & Non-Profit
Cambridge Savings BankLeadership
CDWLeadership
FortinetLeadership
GBHMedia & Non-Profit
Great Lakes CheeseLeadership
HutchinsonLeadership
Loomis Sayles & CompanyLeadership
Manulife John HancockLeadership
MFSLeadership
NatixisLeadership
Novo NordiskLeadership
Point32HealthLeadership
Sensata TechnologiesLeadership
Sun LifeLeadership
TJXElevate
VertexLeadership
Westfield Capital ManagementLeadership
ZoetisSupporter
§III

The Programme

Selected from 15 sessions on the bill.
  • 10:00am ET

    Helen G. Drinan Visionary Leader Award

    The Simmons University Institute for Inclusive Leadership is proud to present the 2026 Visionary Leader Award to Kimberly Davis, Senior Executive Vice President of the National Hoc…

    TRACK FEATURE
  • 10:15am ET

    Misty Copeland Strength in Motion: Leading with Discipline, Courage, and Care

    In this powerful keynote, Misty Copeland shares her journey as a groundbreaking artist, athlete, and advocate, and the daily practices that have sustained her through challenge, vi…

    TRACK FEATURE
  • 11:00 am ET

    Networking Break: Connect and Explore!

    Connected Conversations: Facilitated by Samanatha Tan, this optional gathering is designed to help you make meaning of what you’re hearing and seeing throughout the day. Join fello…

  • 1:30 pm ET

    Less Is the New More: How Reductive Leadership Unlocks Clarity, Capacity, and Command

    In this high-impact session, Juliet Funt introduces the Reductive Mindset: a transformative and tactical approach that challenges everything you think you know about leadership eff…

  • 2:00pm ET

    Game Changers: What the Rise of Women’s Sports Teaches Us About Leadership and Business

    In this dynamic mainstage conversation, senior leaders from media, technology, professional sports, and investment come together to explore what the rapid rise of women’s sports re…

    TRACK FEATURE
  • 4:00 pm ET

    Networking Break: Connect and Explore!

    Connected Conversations: Facilitated by Samanatha Tan, this optional gathering is designed to help you make meaning of what you’re hearing and seeing throughout the day. Join fello…

  • 4:30 pm ET

    The Connected Leader: Leading with Joy, Presence, and Purpose

    In this uplifting and deeply resonant session, Hoda Kotb brings her signature warmth, authenticity, and insight to the idea of the Connected Leader. Drawing from a career spent lis…

  • 9:00 am ET

    Welcoming Remarks

    Joyce Kulhawik and Kristen Palson open SLC47 by setting the tone for a day grounded in connection, courage, and possibility. Together, they invite participants to be fully present,…

  • 9:15 am ET

    The Reinvention Advantage: Leading Humans in an AI-Driven World

    In this bold and thought-provoking keynote, Nadya Zhexembayeva introduces reinvention as a core leadership advantage in an AI-driven world. Drawing on decades of research and real-…

Intermission
Part the Second · For the Buyer

What does it mean when 35 companies show up — and 1 bet on three roles at once?

35 companies. one are betting more than once.

The numbers below are derived from the speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors on this page — cross-referenced into one ledger. They are the only thing here that 10times.com cannot tell you.

01Fig. 01 — Composition of the House
1All threespeak · spons · exh
20Sponsoringsponsor only
0Exhibitingexhibitor only
14Speakingspeaker only

The Triple-Threat

Cisco

02Fig. 02 — The Voices, by Seniority

75% of the speakers carry senior titles — C-suite, Founder, VP, or Director-level.

  • C-suite840%
  • Founder / Owner15%
  • VP-level525%
  • Director / Head of15%
  • Engineer · IC15%
  • Other roles420%

Of 20 on the bill · classified by free-text title

03Fig. 03 — The Heaviest in the Room
  1. 01CiscoSp·P1V
  2. 02Blue Cross MASp·L
  3. 03Boston Business JournalSp·M
  4. 04Cambridge Savings BankSp·L
  5. 05CDWSp·L
  6. 06FortinetSp·L
  7. 07GBHSp·M
  8. 08Great Lakes CheeseSp·L
  9. 09HutchinsonSp·L
  10. 10Loomis Sayles & CompanySp·L
  11. 11Manulife John HancockSp·L
  12. 12MFSSp·L
  13. 13NatixisSp·L
  14. 14Novo NordiskSp·L
04Fig. 04 — By Tier
platinum1
5% of 21
elevate1
5% of 21
leadership16
76% of 21
media & non-profit2
10% of 21
supporter1
5% of 21
05Fig. 05 — The Missing · who's at peer events but not here

These companies sponsored two or more peer events recently, but aren't on this program. For an organizer, that's a list of warm prospects.