What does leadership look like in a world defined by rapid technological change, shifting media landscapes, economic uncertainty, and evolving cultural values? At the Leadership Summit, we convened a group of thinkers, journalists, investors, technologists, and business leaders to explore the forces reshaping design and business today.
From luxury real estate and hospitality finance to AI, media, culture, and innovation, these conversations offered practical insights and big-picture thinking for design leaders navigating what's next.
What Today's Real Estate Market Reveals About the Financial Future
Leonard Steinberg with Hadley Keller Lloyd
A 29-year real estate industry leader and former President of Compass, Leonard Steinberg has helped shape the modern luxury real estate market at global scale. In conversation with Hadley Keller Lloyd, Steinberg examines what today's housing and investment markets reveal about broader economic trends, wealth creation, and the future outlook for luxury consumers.
Digital Media in the Substack Era: How Emerging Voices Are Embracing a New Tone for Design Coverage
Lila Allen, Sydney Gore, and Leonora Epstein with Michael Diaz-Griffith
Traditional media continues to evolve, while independent voices are building loyal audiences through newsletters, podcasts, and digital platforms. Join three of design media's most compelling new voices as they discuss how audience expectations are changing, what readers are looking for today, and why authenticity is becoming one of publishing's most valuable assets.
Agentic AI: What Is It and How Will It Change Our World?
Mark Ibrahim
As artificial intelligence moves beyond simple tools toward increasingly autonomous systems, new questions emerge about how humans and machines will collaborate. Meta AI researcher Mark Ibrahim explores the rise of agentic AI, how these systems learn and make decisions, and the implications for business, creativity, and everyday life.
The End of Taste: How Algorithms Disrupted, Flattened, and Redefined Culture
Kyle Chayka
Technology has transformed not only how we consume culture, but how culture itself is created and shared. Drawing from his acclaimed writing and research, New Yorker staff writer Kyle Chayka examines the growing influence of algorithms on aesthetics, attention, and taste—and what that means for creative industries moving forward.
How Strong Leaders Guide Through Change
Luke Williams
Periods of disruption often reveal the difference between management and leadership. Innovation strategist and NYU Stern professor Luke Williams shares practical frameworks for navigating uncertainty, fostering resilience, and helping organizations embrace change as an opportunity for growth.
What Makes Luxury Hospitality So Exciting to Investors
Kent Insley and Sabrina Gleizer
Luxury hospitality remains one of the world's most dynamic investment sectors. Veteran investment leaders Kent Insley and Sabrina Gleizer provide an insider's perspective on capital markets, luxury travel trends, hospitality development, and the economic forces influencing the future of the sector.
What Design Business CEOs Are Focused on Right Now
Gale Singer, Alex Shuford, and John Edelman with Peter Sallick
What challenges—and opportunities—are keeping today's design industry CEOs focused? Three of the sector's most influential leaders join DLN Founder Peter Sallick for a candid discussion on growth, talent, and the future of the design business.
