Catalyst Conversations of Consequence: The Leadership Challenge

Artificial intelligence, climate change, geopolitical uncertainty, and economic transformation are reshaping the landscape in which organizations operate. Yet these forces are often addressed through separate strategies, teams, and conversations. Catalyst Conversations of Consequences: The Leadership Challenge invites participants to explore what becomes possible when we approach them as interconnected leadership challenges rather than isolated problems. Through a series of short video provocations, an interdisciplinary panel, and an extended audience dialogue, participants will explore the tensions and opportunities emerging at the intersection of AI, sustainable development, organizational transformation, and leadership education. Rather than presenting predetermined solutions, the majority of the floor time is reserved for attendees to question assumptions, share experiences, challenge perspectives, and learn from one another, creating a dynamic conversation across disciplines, sectors, and lived experiences. Together, we will explore three guiding questions: - Where are we now? What organizational, ethical, and operational tensions are leaders navigating at the intersection of AI, sustainability, and climate risk? - Where do we want to be? How can emerging technologies be integrated to drive innovation, regeneration, resilience, and human flourishing? - How do we move through networks of collaborative learning and action? What can we do together that we cannot do alone? Hosted by the Creative Enterprise Leadership (CEL) International Graduate Programs at Pratt Institute and the Catalyst Action Network (CAN), this event reflects CEL's mission of preparing emerging and established leaders to navigate complex transitions strategically and creatively. We believe that addressing the climate transition requires more than technological innovation—it requires new forms of leadership, systems thinking, and collaborative action that align enterprise aims with the aims of life.