# 2020 Innovation Conference ![2020 Innovation Picture](/sites/default/files/styles/866w/public/assets/images/tomasz-frankowski-kBUfvkbFIoE-unsplash.jpg?h=73d3ac85&itok=MxVA2b7V) ## Stern Innovation Conference: Transformative Technological Change **September 25, 2020** --- ## Conference Speakers [ ![Jacob Becraft](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2025-03/becraft.png?h=f7495f53&itok=aCGhzfkH) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-becraft-biotech/) [## Jacob Becraft ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-becraft-biotech/)Co-founder and CEO of Strand Therapeutics [Bio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-becraft-biotech/) [ ![KD](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2023-04/Kathleen%20DeRose_Headshot.jpg?h=c63721b7&itok=bJHSGabu) ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/kathleen-derose) [## Kathleen DeRose ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/kathleen-derose)Fintech Director of the Fubon Center at NYU Stern [Bio](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/kathleen-derose) [ ![Julie Diamond](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2025-03/diamond.jpg?h=f7495f53&itok=PBDtTRKs) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliediamond1/) [## Julie Diamond ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliediamond1/)Associate Director at Endless Frontier Labs [Bio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliediamond1/) [ ![Chun-Hao Huang](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2025-03/huang.jpeg?h=86a372ab&itok=JOzH3AH6) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/chun-hao-huang/) [## Chun-Hao Huang ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/chun-hao-huang/)Co-founder and CEO of Algen Technologies [Bio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/chun-hao-huang/) [ ![Natalia Levina](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2025-01/natalia_levina_366.jpg?h=f447a50d&itok=VgIu2uIz) ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/natalia-levina) [## Natalia Levina ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/natalia-levina)Professor of Technology and International Business at NYU Stern [Bio](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/natalia-levina) [ ![Tom Mastrobuoni](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2025-03/mastrobuoni.jpeg?h=f7495f53&itok=qaHdqe8Z) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mastrobuoni/) [## Tom Mastrobuoni ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mastrobuoni/)Chief Investment Officer at Big Idea Ventures [Bio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-mastrobuoni/) [ ![Liz O’Sullivan](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2025-03/o_sullivan.png?h=007407f4&itok=Pm0jm0kx) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzosullivan/) [## Liz O’Sullivan ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzosullivan/)CEO of Vera AI [Bio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lizzosullivan/) [ ![Vincenzo Palermo](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2025-03/palermo.jpeg?h=f7495f53&itok=12AY3zzh) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincenzo-palermo/) [## Vincenzo Palermo ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincenzo-palermo/)Strategy and Data Analytics Manager at Accenture [Bio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincenzo-palermo/) [ ![Tom Pilette](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2025-03/pilette.jpg?h=dc8b30fe&itok=O_sbJubc) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-pilette-61783610/) [## Tom Pilette ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-pilette-61783610/)COO at Zeta Energy [Bio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-pilette-61783610/) [ ![Headshot of Foster Provost](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/assets/images/headshot_provost.jpg?h=54de7ba5&itok=_5xVDGSn) ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/foster-provost) [## Foster Provost ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/foster-provost)Fubon Center Data Analytics & AI Director and Professor at NYU Stern [Bio](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/foster-provost) [ ![Melissa A. Schilling](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2023-04/melissa_Schilling.jpg?h=559b5251&itok=XmQKMf9M) ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/melissa-schilling) [## Melissa Schilling ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/melissa-schilling)Fubon Center Tech Innovation Director and Professor at NYU Stern [Bio](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/melissa-schilling) [ ![Rob Seamans headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2023-09/rseamans2023.jpg?h=b7f744b4&itok=13l5ME6t) ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/robert-seamans) [## Robert Seamans ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/robert-seamans)Professor at NYU Stern and Director of Stern’s Center for the Future of Management [Bio](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/robert-seamans) [ ![Tensie Whelan](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2023-09/Tensie%20Whelan%20%282%29.png?h=a533673d&itok=IwS6BOWl) ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/tensie-whelan) [## Tensie Whelan ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/tensie-whelan)Founding Director, Center for Sustainable Business at NYU Stern [Bio](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/tensie-whelan) prev next - - - slide 1 - slide 2 - slide 3 - slide 4 - slide 5 - - ![2020 Innovation Conference - Opening Remarks and Tech Disruption in the Food Industry](/sites/default/files/styles/965w_x_564h/public/2025-03/1%20%281%29.png.webp?itok=NCk1_QUG) [ Play Video ](#) Opening Remarks (Melissa Schilling) and Fireside Chat: Tech Disruption in the Food Industry (Tom Mastrobuoni, Tensie Whelan) - ![2020 Innovation Conference: Transforming AI into Organizational Performance](/sites/default/files/styles/965w_x_564h/public/2025-03/2%20%281%29.png.webp?itok=0Q3rHvtR) [ Play Video ](#) Transforming AI into Organizational Performance: What are the Challenges and Opportunities? (Robert Seamans, Vincenzo Palermo, Natalia Levina, Foster J. Provost) - ![2020 Innovation Conference - Where Do Breakthrough Ideas Come From?](/sites/default/files/styles/965w_x_564h/public/2025-03/3%20%281%29.png.webp?itok=WA-bs1Te) [ Play Video ](#) Where Do Breakthrough Ideas Come From? (Melissa Schilling) - ![2020 Innovation Conference - The New Frontier of Healthcare](/sites/default/files/styles/965w_x_564h/public/2025-03/4%20%281%29.png.webp?itok=lPyCIst6) [ Play Video ](#) The New Frontier of Healthcare (Julie Diamond, Chun-Hao Huang, Jacob Becraft, Kathleen DeRose) - ![2020 Innovation Conference - Hindsight is 20/20: Tech Disruption in Batteries](/sites/default/files/styles/965w_x_564h/public/2025-03/5_0.png.webp?itok=6CKZK_Iv) [ Play Video ](#) Hindsight is 20/20: Tech Disruption in Batteries (Tom Pilette) ## STERN INNOVATION CONFERENCE: TRANSFORMATIVE TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGE This year's Stern Innovation Conference will be themed, "Transformative Technological Change," and will examine how major innovations are changing the landscape in industries as diverse as food agriculture, transportation, medicine, education, and more. We will also consider how firms, consumers, and regulators are responding (or will respond) to these changes. The conference will take place on Friday, September 25, 2020. In light of the current environment this year's conference will be held entirely online. We will host exciting keynotes and panels with interactive features, and we will have a special lightning-round session where speakers from both industry and academia will present the latest new breakthrough innovations and how they are likely to change the world. In keeping with our highly successful format last year, the conference will seek to engage both executives and academics in an accessible, informative and fun way. Please join us! ## PROGRAM Show All | Hide All Welcome and Opening Remarks Melissa Schilling, NYU Stern Fireside Chat: Tech Disruption in the Food Industry Tom Mastrobuoni, Big Idea Ventures Tensie Whelan, NYU Stern Transforming AI into Organizational Performance: What are the Challenges and Opportunities? Robert Seamans, NYU Stern Vincenzo Palermo, Accenture Natalia Levina, NYU Stern Liz O’Sullivan, Vera AI Foster J. Provost, NYU Stern Where Do Breakthrough Ideas Come From? Melissa Schilling, NYU Stern The New Frontier of Healthcare Julie Diamond, Endless Frontier Labs Chun-Hao Huang, Algen Biotechnologies Jacob Becraft, Strand Therapeutics Kathleen DeRose, NYU Stern Hindsight is 20/20: Tech Disruption in Batteries Tom Pilette, Zeta Energy Closing Remarks Melissa Schilling, NYU Stern Natalia Levina, NYU Stern