The Boston Globe Summit is set to convene a diverse group of leaders from the arts, science, and business sectors with the goal of encouraging ambitious thinking about the future and the efforts underway to strengthen institutions and communities. The event, organized by Boston Globe Media, will be held over two days and feature a series of discussions, panels, and interviews.
Linda Henry, chief executive of Boston Globe Media, said the summit aims to highlight how people and organizations are actively shaping a more resilient future. Among the event’s headliners are Democratic Congressman Jake Auchincloss of Newton; Nathan Blecharczyk, cofounder and chief strategy officer of Airbnb; Jujubee (also known as Airline Inthyrath), a Boston-based drag performer and actress; Kerry Kennedy, president of the Robert & Ethel Kennedy Human Rights Center; restaurateur Danny Meyer; and Nobel Peace Prize laureate and human rights activist Nadia Murad.
Day one will begin with a fireside chat between Congressman Auchincloss and event host Sarah Rahal, focusing on federal support for scientific research and its impact on universities and biotechnology firms. Rahal will then moderate a panel on investments in maternal care, featuring Massachusetts Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Kiame Mahaniah, Boston Public Health Commissioner Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, and Latham Thomas, founder of a maternal health education organization.
The afternoon session includes a conversation with Meyer, led by business reporter Alexa Gagosz, on the transformation of fine dining. Shirley Leung, a business columnist, will interview Blecharczyk during a live taping of the “Say More” podcast, discussing Airbnb’s expansion. A panel on the challenges facing universities amid calls for reinvention will be moderated by Globe opinion writer Hilary Burns, with contributions from Harvard Professor Danielle Allen, Roxbury Community College president Jonathan Jefferson, and Brandeis University president Arthur Levine. Business writer Katie Johnston will also engage business leaders in a discussion about healthy leadership models. The day will close with a fireside chat between senior staff writer Janelle Nanos and Nadia Murad, who will discuss her latest book.
The second day will emphasize innovation and cultural topics. Shira Center will moderate a conversation spotlighting women at the forefront of Boston’s artificial intelligence sector, including Luda Kopeikina, Lily Lyman, and Gabriela Torres. Later in the afternoon, Kerry Kennedy will engage in a fireside chat about her new book. Additional sessions include a discussion on fine dining with food writer Kara Baskin and Biplaw Rai, followed by a conversation on the creator economy led by Emily Schario. The summit will conclude with a live taping of the “Say More” podcast hosted by Anna Kusmer, featuring Jujubee reflecting on the challenges faced in performance art.
The Boston Globe Summit aims to foster dialogue across disciplines and sectors as communities navigate rapid change and future challenges.