# 2021 Stern Innovation Conference ![Blue glowing lights in cubes](/sites/default/files/styles/866w/public/assets/images/blue%20glowing%20lights%20in%20cubes_0.jpg?h=375fde61&itok=PlE6gKm7) ## 2021 Innovation Conference: Innovating Virtually **September 17, 2021 12:00 PM - 4:15 PM** --- ## **Innovation Conference Series 2018 | 2019 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024** ## Conference Speakers [ ![Callen Anthony](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/assets/images/canthony_2.jpg?h=8bf64f20&itok=8v6lDAVW) ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/callen-anthony) [## Callen Anthony ](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/callen-anthony)Assistant Professor of Management and Organizations at NYU Stern [Bio](https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/callen-anthony) [ ![Justin Fox](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2025-03/fox_1.jpeg?h=f7495f53&itok=slRA3-c0) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinmicklefox/) [## Justin Fox ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinmicklefox/)Columnist at Bloomberg Opinion [Bio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/justinmicklefox/) [ ![Aamer Kaleem](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2025-03/kaleem_1.png?h=01e15906&itok=xDd3eFsi) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/akaleem/) [## Aamer Kaleem ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/akaleem/)Principal Program Manager at Microsoft [Bio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/akaleem/) [ ![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) [ ![Hila Lifshitz-Assaf](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2025-03/lifshitzassaf.png?h=01e15906&itok=eK2IPEA0) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/hila-lifshitz-311a1a5/) [## Hila Lifshitz-Assaf ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/hila-lifshitz-311a1a5/)Head of the Artificial Intelligence Innovation Network [Bio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/hila-lifshitz-311a1a5/) [ ![Tsedal Neeley](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2025-03/neeley.png?h=01e15906&itok=5hD5oVu3) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tsedal/) [## Tsedal Neeley ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tsedal/)Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School [Bio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/tsedal/) [ ![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) [ ![Bill Spencer](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2025-03/spencer.jpeg?h=f7495f53&itok=EOSstxfB) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-spencer-5913765/) [## Bill Spencer ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-spencer-5913765/)Senior Director at Microsoft [Bio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-spencer-5913765/) [ ![Claire Tandy](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2025-03/tandy.png?h=01e15906&itok=qdxGuuzA) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-t/) [## Claire Tandy ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-t/)Senior Product Operations Manager at Skydio [Bio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/clare-t/) [ ![Christopher L. Tucci](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2025-03/tucci.png?h=01e15906&itok=KNTjRKjj) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cltucci/) [## Christopher L. Tucci ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cltucci/)Professor of Digital Strategy and Innovation at Imperial College Business School [Bio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/cltucci/) [ ![Melissa Valentine](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2025-03/valentine.jpeg?h=f7495f53&itok=-lQlqW2N) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissavalentine/) [## Melissa Valentine ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissavalentine/)Associate Professor of Management Science & Engineering at Stanford [Bio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissavalentine/) [ ![Freada Zysberg](/sites/default/files/styles/500w_x_625h/public/2025-03/zysberg.jpeg?h=f7495f53&itok=Z76kSLu1) ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/freadasylvester/) [## Freada Zysberg ](https://www.linkedin.com/in/freadasylvester/)Principal Program Manager at Microsoft [Bio](https://www.linkedin.com/in/freadasylvester/) prev next - - - slide 1 - slide 2 - slide 3 - slide 4 - - ![2021 innovation conference - Opening Remarks and Keynote ](/sites/default/files/styles/965w_x_564h/public/2025-03/1_8.png.webp?itok=CgXrQMNO) [ Play Video ](#) Opening Remarks and Keynote: What is the Future of the Innovation Process? Rethinking the Role of Experts, Crowds and AI (Melissa Schilling, Hila Lifshitz-Assaf) - ![2021 innovation conference - Enabling Distributed Innovation](/sites/default/files/styles/965w_x_564h/public/2025-03/2_10.png.webp?itok=pgTjm8yD) [ Play Video ](#) Enabling Distributed Innovation (Christopher L. Tucci, Melissa Valentine, Natalia Levina) - ![2021 innovation conference - How Teams Enabled Remote Innovation](/sites/default/files/styles/965w_x_564h/public/2025-03/3_7.png.webp?itok=cIKOpVgw) [ Play Video ](#) How Teams Enabled Remote Innovation and Collaboration During COVID Lockdown (Bill Spencer, Aamer Kaleem, Freada Zysberg, Justin Fox) - ![2021 innovation conference - Brainstorms and Working Sessions](/sites/default/files/styles/965w_x_564h/public/2025-03/4_2.png.webp?itok=SjznbtyV) [ Play Video ](#) Brainstorms and Working Sessions: A Quasi-Case Study on how Innovating Virtually Changed Across the ‘20 and ‘21 Intern Cohort (Claire Tandy, Callen Anthony) ## 2021 INNOVATION CONFERENCE: INNOVATING VIRTUALLY The last year and a half have dramatically changed the work environment at most organizations, and have forced us to rethink how to accomplish collaboration, innovation and productivity. This has resulted in new technologies, organizational practices and norms that have enabled fundamental changes in how we come together and create things. In this fast-paced conference, scholars and practitioners will share their knowledge about managing remote innovation and/or the new technologies and practices that are enabling it. We will hear their lessons learned, and some predictions for what we might see in the future. Come join us! ## PROGRAM Show All | Hide All What is the Future of the Innovation Process? Rethinking the Role of Experts, Crowds and AI Hila Lifshitz-Assaf, NYU Stern Melissa Schilling, NYU Stern Enabling Distributed Innovation Christopher L. Tucci, Imperial College Business School Melissa Valentine, Stanford University Natalia Levina, NYU Stern How Teams Enabled Remote Innovation and Collaboration During COVID Lockdown Bill Spencer, Microsoft Aamer Kaleem, Microsoft Freada Zysberg, Microsoft Justin Fox, Bloomberg Opinion Remote Work Revolution: “Succeeding from Anywhere” (2021, Harper Collins Business) provides remote workers and leaders with the best practices necessary to perform at the highest levels in their organizations Tsedal Neeley, Harvard Business School Natalia Levina, NYU Stern Brainstorms and Working Sessions: A Quasi-Case Study on how Innovating Virtually Changed across the ‘20 and ‘21 Intern Cohort Claire Tandy, Paypal Callen Anthony, NYU Stern