This session reframes Brand Management as a strategic lever for building a successful portfolio career, not a superficial marketing exercise. We will demystify what an executive brand truly is, why it matters far earlier than most leaders assume, and how it directly shapes access to board seats, advisory roles, and broader portfolio opportunities. The session will make the mechanics tangible, demonstrate how intentional positioning creates pull instead of reactive hustle, and highlight the importance of doing this work well in advance of any transition. It will conclude with a practical activation exercise to help participants clarify and align their narrative with the portfolio career they want to build.
A strong personal network is a nice-to-have during the operating career, but paramount for portfolio career success. This session covers strategies for identifying and prioritizing existing connections, establishing new relationships intentionally, and nurturing your personal network. Learn how to map your network, manage touchpoints, and maximize impact.
This session helps you assess whether a board role is right for you. Explore what board service entails, key differences between private and public boards, and practical factors like travel, risk, and resilience. Learn how AI is creating new opportunities for leaders.
This session explores how to navigate the path into the boardroom. It will introduce the NYSE Board Services program as a structured pathway into board service and feature firsthand insights from her journey into the boardroom. Drawing on her experience, she will share practical lessons on positioning, credibility, sponsorship, and the realities of the selection process, offering a candid perspective on what it truly takes to secure and succeed in a board role.
This panel will feature an open discussion on the organic path into the boardroom and how opportunities develop through networks, reputation, and operating experience. Panellists will compare startup, private, public, and non-profit boards, highlighting differences in expectations, governance, and value creation. The conversation will also explore how board dynamics and selection processes vary across geographies, offering practical insights for executives considering board roles in different markets.
This horse show showcases the unique Icelandic horse, a purebred lineage preserved for over 1,000 years due to strict import bans. Unlike other breeds, Icelandic horses have five gaits, including the smooth tölt and the flying pace, and are known for their resilience, strength, and calm temperament despite their compact size.
Sunday September 6, 2026 6:00pm - 6:30pm PDT Horse Farm
This visit takes us inside one of Iceland’s most innovative hydroponic tomato farms, which produces nearly 80 percent of the tomatoes consumed in the country. Grown year-round using geothermal energy, artificial light, and natural pollination by bees, the tomatoes move from farm to table within 24 hours. The experience concludes with dinner on-site featuring an all tomato-based menu.
For many enterprise technology leaders, a balanced portfolio career represents their Northern Light, a clear aspiration guiding their next chapter. Yet, just like the Northern Lights, finding and building that portfolio is far more complex and unpredictable than it appears.
