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Desiree Rogers
CEO
Johnson Publishing Company, LLC
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Rogers, CEO of Johnson Publishing Company, LLC, has earned a reputation as one of America’s most successful businesswomen. With a Harvard Business School degree and stellar business experience, Rogers has redefined every leadership position that she has held, while playing a major philanthropic role in the communities in which she has lived. In 2008, President Barack Obama named Rogers as Social Secretary, the first African-American to hold that position.
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Mike Walsh
Founder and CEO
Tomorrow
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Mike Walsh is a futurist for leaders, internationally renown for his visionary and pragmatic insights on how organizations can leverage AI for reinvention. A regular columnist for the Harvard Business Review, a strategic advisor to Fortune 50 corporations, and a global nomad - he is the author of three bestselling books, most recently: ‘The Algorithmic Leader: How to be smart when machines are smarter than you’. He has a rare talent for connecting emerging technologies, cultural shifts, and commercial strategies — crafting insights that bridge the present to the future with clarity, relevance, and a compelling touch of wit.
At the heart of Mike Walsh's work is a singular focus on redefining leadership for the AI age. Unlike other futurists who concentrate on predicting technological advances or broad societal trends, Walsh zeroes in on how leaders must fundamentally reimagine their role in a world where machines are increasingly capable of making complex decisions. His key insight is that traditional leadership approaches, built for an analog era of predictable business cycles and hierarchical organizations, are no longer sufficient. Instead, leaders must develop new capabilities to harness data and AI while maintaining their essential human judgment and ethical principles.
Walsh believes that the real challenge isn't just understanding the technology itself, but rather how leaders can adapt their decision-making, develop new mental models, and reshape their organizations to effectively combine human and machine intelligence. His emphasis on the human dimension of technological change makes his insights particularly valuable for business leaders navigating digital transformation.
On a personal note, Mike’s ethnic background is as diverse as his experiences. Born in Australia to parents of mixed Asian and European heritage, he has lived, worked, and traveled across many countries, embracing a truly global perspective.
A prolific writer and sought-after commentator, Mike’s insights have been featured in leading global publications such as Inc. Magazine, BusinessWeek, Forbes, and The Wall Street Journal. As a regular contributor to the Harvard Business Review, he tackles cutting-edge leadership themes ranging from data-driven decision-making and agile organizations to algorithmic management and AI ethics. Through his popular podcast Between Worlds, Mike engages with bold thinkers, innovators, and disruptors from across industries. He also produces The Future is Elsewhere, a YouTube series offering fresh perspectives from dynamic locations like Seoul, Mexico City, Tokyo, and Istanbul, bringing global trends and future forward ideas to life.
Mike is an accomplished author with three published books and a fourth on the way, focused on the future of AI Agents, set to release in early 2026. His most recent work, The Algorithmic Leader, provides an optimistic and practical roadmap for harnessing AI, automation, and algorithms to transform leadership and reshape organizations. The book has achieved global success, with translations available in Chinese, Japanese, Korean, German, Polish, and Russian. In his 2014 release, The Dictionary of Dangerous Ideas, Mike foresaw groundbreaking innovations such as micro satellite networks, cryptocurrencies, remote work, life extension technologies, self-driving cars, drones, digital biology, digital activism, and the commercialization of space. His debut book, Futuretainment, published by Phaidon in 2009, earned the prestigious Art Director’s Club design award in New York. It accurately predicted the impact of smartphones on media and marketing, as well as the rise of social media, digital influencers, streaming platforms, and the emergence of the Metaverse.
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Gina Max
Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer
Knauf North America
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Gina S. Max is a seasoned executive with over 27 years of experience in human resources and leadership roles. Her mission is to create a workplace where every employee thrives, contributes, and feels valued. As the Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer at Knauf Insulation, Inc., she plays a pivotal role in shaping the organization’s talent strategy and fostering a positive work environment. Gina is passionate about empowering employees and driving organizational excellence. Her commitment to fostering a culture of growth and innovation has been instrumental in her success.
Key Achievements:
Prior to joining Knauf, Gina spent over 25 years at USG Corporation where she started in an entry-level human resources position and worked in a number of human resources and field leadership roles across the company. In 2021, Max was promoted from the Head of Talent at USG to her current role.
She received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Penn State University and a master’s degree in business administration from Capella University. Max also holds the Senior Professional in Human Resources certification and is trained in Lean Principles. Max resides in the western suburbs of Chicago with her three children. In her free time Max enjoys spending time with family, reading the latest business and strategy books, and travelling to the Jersey Shore.
Dedicated time and special events have been planned into the exhibit hall hours. This is guaranteed networking time for exhibitors and attendees. We consider all exhibitors to be an essential part of this conference and we invite them to participate in the conference.
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