LBS Corporate 100 at the Festival of Minds explored leadership, AI and global challenges

London Business School faculty, corporate leaders and industry experts came together for a special event of topical discussion and insight for LBS Corporate 100 (11-12 June). This was the first time, LBS Corporate 100 has aligned with the Festival of Minds event, bringing together all members, alongside corporate clients and HR alumni, for an expanded edition of the annual event.

The bespoke event brought members together, to explore the forces shaping organisations and leadership in an increasingly fragmented world. The programme featured a diverse range of sessions shaped by community feedback and focused on key challenges facing organisations today. Highlights included immersive experiences such as wildlife-tracking and space-flight simulations, alongside small-group discussions where guests explored their most pressing business challenges with leading faculty and learning partners.

The day opened with a session about ‘Navigating the Unknown’, an immersive leadership experience designed to challenge participants to interpret uncertainty, collaborate under pressure and identify emerging patterns, by using animal tracking techniques. By placing participants in unfamiliar scenarios where information was incomplete and decisions carried consequences, the session highlighted the capabilities leaders need to sense, adapt and act when certainty is unavailable.

Artificial intelligence was another key focus. In ‘AI Value, Not AI Virtue Signalling: Leading Beyond the Hype’, Michael Jacobides, Sir Donald Gordon Professor of Entrepreneurship & Innovation and Professor of Strategy shared insights on AI's transformative impact on organisations, workforce capabilities and long-term strategy.

Tim Landucci, Director of Corporate Community at London Business School, said: "The LBS Corporate 100 initiative was created to bring together business leaders from a myriad of industries who share a common ambition: to better understand and respond to the complex challenges shaping business and society through knowledge exchange and collaboration. The Festival of Minds provided an ideal platform for these conversations, combining practical insights and meaningful peer exchange with a large group of senior leaders."

The afternoon's Knowledge Exchange Labs enabled participants to engage in deeper discussions with faculty and industry experts, across five critical themes: Agility & Resilience, Leadership & Strategic Thinking, Technology & Digital Transformation, Sustainability and Geopolitics.

LBS Dean, Sergei Guriev explored the growing complexity of the global landscape, examining why organisations are facing an unprecedented convergence of geopolitical challenges and how leaders can respond to increasing uncertainty.

In the Leadership & Strategic Thinking stream, Professor Ben Hardy challenged conventional thinking around talent management, arguing that the widely accepted "war for talent" is often misplaced. He encouraged leaders to focus on creating environments where people can thrive, while also exploring how organisational performance can be improved through simplification, reducing unnecessary initiatives, meetings and complexity.

The event closed on 12 June with a session focussed on expanding leadership perspective, through ‘thinking like a futurist’, hosted by the leading futurist, Professor Nick Barker.

The LBS Corporate 100 event reflected London Business School's commitment to fostering lifelong learning, meaningful connections and informed dialogue across its global community.

LBS Corporate 100 is a cross-sector community spanning global brands, institutions, SMEs and third-sector organisations, united by a shared commitment to addressing the forces shaping the future of business and society. Its members engage with London Business School's world-class thought leadership, faculty expertise and global network to explore the challenges and opportunities defining the future of leadership and business.

For more information please visit LBS Corporate 100