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Thinkers50 London Summit

3-4 November 2025, London

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Two days. Global minds. Bold ideas.

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Join 700 of the world’s top management thinkers and business leaders for a powerful exchange of ideas, insight, and inspiration.

At the Thinkers50 London Summit, we bring together pioneering voices from across the globe to tackle the most pressing questions in leadership, innovation, and the future of work.

Expect:

Embrace Regeneration:

Regenerative Business is good for business.

Regeneration goes beyond sustainability — it’s about reimagining how we lead, grow, and create value in a rapidly changing world.

From climate risk to inequality to burnout in the workplace, today’s challenges demand more than balance — they demand bold ideas and fresh approaches.

At the Thinkers50 London Summit, we’ll explore how regenerative leaders, organisations, and growth models are turning these challenges into opportunities for innovation and impact.

Regenerative

Regenerative
Leaders

Leaders

Inspire meaningful change by unlocking the full potential of people and purpose — creating value for customers, employees, communities, and the planet.

Regenerative
Organisations

organisations

Rethink talent, innovation, leadership, and culture to thrive in complexity —while delivering real impact beyond the bottom line.

Regenerative
Growth

growth

Move beyond “doing less harm” to creating positive outcomes — for business, society, and the environment.

This isn’t just philosophy — it’s strategy.

Consumers, talent, and investors are looking for organisations that do more than sustain. They want to see renewal, restoration, and shared growth.

Regeneration is smart business.

Learn from the experts and changemakers turning regenerative ideas into real-world impact — and help shape what comes next.

Rising to the Regenerative Challenge

For today’s leaders, resilience, relevance, and impact are non-negotiable.

Thinkers + Doers = Impact

This is not just about ideas — it’s about equipping you with the tools, frameworks, and peer insights needed to lead through complexity and create long-term value.

What will you take back to your boardroom? How will you lead regeneration in your organisation?

Join us to explore what’s next—and help shape it.

Event Program

Thinkers50 2025 London Summit

Day 1, Monday

3 November

12:30 Registration

Registration and refreshments.

More Details

We recommend arriving at 12:30 to ensure you have time to register, greet friends old and new, and settle in to your seat before the event begins.  Please use the complimentary cloakroom facilities for coats. Coffee, tea, and water will be served.

Guildhall London, Great Hall: 71 Basinghall St, London EC2V 7HH, United Kingdom
Directions

 

13:30 Welcome to the Thinkers50 London Summit Day 1

StuartCrainer T50Summit

Stuart Crainer

Co-founder,
Thinkers50

DesDearlove GalaProgram

Des Dearlove

Co-founder,
Thinkers50

SESSION #1

13:40 What is Regenerative Leadership (and Why Do We Need It)?

More Info

Is the world better off because your company is in it? As a leader, are you building a better future for your people and the planet? Simple questions, but many leaders who know what they need to do still fail to act. One reason is that most large organisations are designed for cowardice. In this session we challenge conventional leadership thinking and explore how leaders can overcome ‘the knowing doing gap’ to make the leap from extractive to regenerative leadership models. 

How can leaders simultaneously create value for customers, employees, suppliers, shareholders – and the planet? Discover the practical tools, mindset changes, and strategies that enable leaders to instil a courageous mindset and generate positive outcomes across all stakeholder relationships while creating meaningful impact and driving business performance.

 

13:45

Frances Frei

Frances Frei

Professor, Harvard Business School

Professor of technology and operations management at Harvard Business School, Frances Frei is a member of the Thinkers50 Ranking alongside her co-author, Anne Morriss. Their books include Move Fast & Fix Things: The Trusted Leader’s Guide to Solving Hard Problems (HBR Press, 2023) and Unleashed: The Unapologetic Leader’s Guide to Empowering Everyone Around You (HBR Press, 2020).

14:00

Saori Dubourg

Saori Dubourg

CEO, Greiner

Member of the inaugural list of Leaders50, Saori Dubourg is the CEO of Greiner AG. She previously served on the board of directors at BASF, where she led the global human resources organisation and chaired the sustainability committee. Saori also serves on the German federal government’s Council for Sustainable Development and the Steering Committee of the Impact Taskforce

14:15

Ranjay Gulati

Ranjay Gulati

Professor, Harvard Business School

The Paul R. Lawrence MBA Class of 1942 Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School, Ranjay Gulati is a member of the Thinkers50 Ranking. His books include Deep Purpose: The Heart and Soul of High-performance Companies (Harper Business, 2022) and the forthcoming How To Be Bold: The Surprising Science of Everyday Courage (Harper Business, 2025).

14:30

Andrew Winston

Discussion led by Andrew Winston

Co-author, Net Positive

Thinkers50 #3 Ranked Thinker, Andrew Winston is co-author of Net Positive: How Courageous Companies Thrive by Giving More Than They Take (HBR Press, 2021) with Paul Polman – a Financial Times Business Book of the Year. His other books include The Big Pivot (HBR Press, 2014) – a Best Business Book of the Year by Strategy+Business; and Green to Gold (Wiley, 2009).

 

Guest speakers

Frances Frei

Frances Frei

Professor,
Harvard Business School

Saori Dubourg

Saori Dubourg

CEO,
Greiner

Ranjay Gulati

Ranjay Gulati

Professor,
Harvard Business School

Moderator

Andrew Winston

Andrew Winston

Co-author,
Net Positive

15:15 Networking Break

Time to mingle with fellow guests and share insights from the session over an English cup of tea or freshly-brewed coffee.

Star icon

16:00 Presentation of the Thinkers50 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award

Every two years, the Thinkers50 Lifetime Achievement Award is given to someone who has had a long-term impact on the way people think about and practice management. The first-ever award in this category was given to Charles Handy in 2011.

16:10 Lifetime Achievement Award Address

Throwing a spotlight on the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award and their outstanding body of work.

SESSION #2

16:40 The Future of Work in the Regenerative Organization

More Info

Work is changing. New technology arriving at breakneck speed and changing generational attitudes are colliding, to challenge long held assumptions about the nature of work and working lives. AI and other advances are transforming the way we work and even what constitutes work. At the same time, people are living and working longer and making more career transitions than ever before. So, how can we understand and respond to the new world of work?

The secret to a healthy working life now is the ability to reinvent ourselves and our organisations. In short: to regenerate. A regenerative organisation must replenish, restore, and renew its people, resources, and environment. But how do you build and sustain a regenerative organisation and a resilient workforce?

Guest speakers

Lynda Gratton

Lynda Gratton

Professor, London Business School

Inducted into the Thinkers50 Hall of Fame in 2024, Lynda Gratton is a professor of management practice at London Business School and the founder of research advisory practice HSM Advisory. Lynda’s books include Redesigning Work: How to Transform Your Organisation & Make Hybrid Work for Everyone (Penguin Business, 2022); The New Long Life (Bloomsbury, 2020); and The 100-Year Life (Bloomsbury, 2016).

Saori Dubourg

Dan Pink

Author, The Power of Regret

Member of the Thinkers50 Ranking since 2011, Dan Pink was shortlisted for the Thinkers50 2019 Talent Award and the Thinkers50 2013 Best Book Award. He is the author of several award-winning books, including The Power of Regret (Riverhead, 2022); When: The Secrets of Perfect Timing (Riverhead, 2018); To Sell is Human (Riverhead, 2013); Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us (Riverhead, 2011); and Free Agent Nation (Grand Central Publishing, 2002).

Ranjay Gulati

Selina Neri

CEO, Institute for Future Readiness, UAE

A future readiness and corporate governance expert, Selina Neri is a member of the Thinkers50 Radar Class of 2025. She is CEO, dean, and co-founder of the Institute for Future Readiness, UAE, and a professor of leadership and corporate governance at Hult Ashridge Executive Education. Selina was a guest on the Thinkers50 2025 Radar LinkedIn Live Series: Developing Future-Ready Talent.

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Chief Innovation Officer, ManpowerGroup

Professor of business psychology at University College London and Columbia University, Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic is the Chief Innovation Officer at ManpowerGroup, co-founder of Deeper Signals and Metraprofiling, and a member of the Thinkers50 Ranking. His latest book Human: AI, Automation, and the Quest to Reclaim What Makes Us Unique (HBR Press, 2023) – selected as one of the Thinkers50 Best New Management Books.

Guest speakers

Lynda Gratton

Lynda Gratton

Professor,
London Business School

Dan Pink

Dan Pink

Author,
The Power of Regret

Selina Neri

Selina Neri

CEO,
Institute for Future Readiness,
UAE

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Chief Innovation Officer,
ManpowerGroup

1713164899037 1020370 Celebration Glasses

17:30 Drinks Reception

Time to recap and an opportunity to make new connections. For a list of suggested bars and restaurants to continue your evening, please visit our London Guide.

18:00 Close of Thinkers50 London Summit Day 1

Day 2, Tuesday

4 November

8:30 Arrive

Welcome coffee, tea, refreshments.

More Details

If you did not attend on Day 1, we recommend arriving at 08.30-09.00 to allow time to register, greet friends old and new, and settle in to your seat before the event begins. Please use the complimentary cloakroom facilities for coats. Coffee, tea, and water will be served.

Guildhall London, Great Hall: 71 Basinghall St, London EC2V 7HH, United Kingdom
Directions

 

9:30 Opening Thinkers50 2025 London Summit Day 2

Mikko Leskela

Mikko Leskelä

CEO,
Thinkers50

Monika Kosman

Monika Kosman

COO,
Thinkers50

SESSION #3

9:40 Regenerative Growth – Rethinking the Growth Imperative

More Info

The belief that economies and businesses must continually grow or begin to decline is baked into business strategies. But the planet cannot regenerate as fast as we are consuming its resources. Balancing economic, environmental, and societal impacts is not enough, we need a new type of growth. Regenerative growth is about generating profits and building the business whilst giving back more than we take, to replenish and increase the planet’s natural resources, and making society more equitable and resilient.

But how do we reset the growth imperative to get beyond growth for growth’s sake? How can companies embody, and practice three noble qualities found in all living systems: renewal, restoration, and growth?

9:45
Jørgen Vig Knudstorp

Jørgen Vig Knudstorp

Former CEO, LEGO Group

Jørgen Vig Knudstorp is the former CEO and president of the LEGO Group (2001-2016) and executive chair of the LEGO Brand Group (2017-2023). Since then, he has acted as special partner to the LEGO Brand Owner Family with responsibility for business and brand development. He is a board member of the LEGO A/S Group and Starbucks. Prior to LEGO, Jørgen was with McKinsey & Company.

10:00
Erinch Sahan

Erinch Sahan

Business and enterprise lead, Doughnut Economics Action Lab

Business and enterprise lead at the Doughnut Economics Action Lab, Erinch Sahan focuses on transforming the deep design of businesses to pursue regenerative and distributive strategies. A board member of the Social Enterprise World Forum and Finance Innovation Lab and a senior associate at Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, Erinch was previously CEO of the World Fair Trade Organization.

10:15
Linda Hill

Linda Hill

Professor, Harvard Business School

Harvard Business School professor Linda Hill has featured in the Thinkers50 Ranking since 2011. In 2015, she received the Thinkers50 Innovation Award. Linda is also faculty chair of the Leadership Initiative at Harvard. She is co-author of Collective Genius: The Art and Practice of Leading Innovation (HBR Press, 2014) – a Thinkers50 Management Classic – and co-founder of advisory firm Paradox Strategies.

10:30
Julia Binder

Discussion led by Julia Binder

Professor, IMD

Professor of sustainable innovation and business transformation at IMD, Julia Binder is also director of IMD’s Center for Sustainable and Inclusive Business. Listed on the Thinkers50 Radar in 2022, she was named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader in 2025. Julia is co-author of The Circular Business Revolution: A practical framework for sustainable business models (Pearson Education, 2024).

Guest speakers

Jørgen Vig Knudstorp

Jørgen Vig Knudstorp

Former CEO,
LEGO Group

Erinch Sahan

Erinch Sahan

Business and enterprise lead,
Doughnut Economics Action Lab

Linda Hill

Linda Hill

Professor,
Harvard Business School

Moderator

Julia Binder

Julia Binder

Professor,
IMD

11:25 Networking Lunch

Time to refresh and replenish – and take stock of new learnings so far, with friends and fellow guests.

SESSION #4

12:40 Ideas@Work – From Ideas to Practice

More Info

The world of management thinking is rich with innovative research and ideas. But the real challenge lies in putting those ideas to work. How can we communicate research insights to practitioners in a compelling way and help them translate them into business results? This session explores the often-overlooked journey from concept to implementation, examining what separates ideas that change the world from those that never leave the whiteboard. 

How can thought leaders and practitioners work together to turn ideas into practice? From distilling ideas into compelling value propositions and overcoming implementation barriers to build organisational buy-in, how do you ensure the best thinking creates real change in the business world? Discover the strategies, skills, and partnerships essential for turning insights into impact.

12:45
Amy Edmondson

Amy Edmondson

Professor, Harvard Business School

Twice #1 on the Thinkers50 Ranking and recipient of the Thinkers50 2017 Talent Award and 2019 Breakthrough Idea Award, Amy Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School. Her books include The Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well (Atria Books, 2023) and The Fearless Organization: Creating Psychological Safety (Wiley, 2022).

13:00

To be confirmed

13:15
Jayshree Seth

Jayshree Seth

Chief science advocate and corporate scientist, 3M

A member of the Thinkers50 Radar Class of 2025, Jayshree Seth was named as the first chief science advocate at 3M in 2018 and works to break down the barriers to science appreciation and STEM education. She is the author of The Heart of Science Series and her 2023 TEDx talk Why I Reframed my Why highlights the context of shaping one’s purpose. Jayshree has featured in the 3M docuseries Not the Science Type.

13:30
Alex Osterwalder

Discussion led by Alex Osterwalder

Founder and CEO, Strategyzer

Founder and CEO of Strategyzer, Alex Osterwalder is the Thinkers50 #8 Ranked Thinker with Yves Pigneur. They are the recipients of the Thinkers50 2015 Strategy Award and inventors of the Business Model Canvas and Value Proposition Canvas. Alex’s books include Business Model Generation (2010); Value Proposition Design (2014); Testing Business Ideas (2019); and The Invincible Company (2020) (all Wiley).

Guest speakers

Amy C. Edmondson

Amy Edmondson

Professor,
Harvard Business School

Jayshree Seth

Jayshree Seth

Chief science advocate and corporate scientist,
3M

Moderator

Alex Osterwalder

Alex Osterwalder

Founder and CEO,
Strategyzer

14:25 Networking Break

Afternoon teas, coffees, and light bites.

SESSION #5

15:10 Eyes Wide Open

More Info

The future is here. Blink and you miss it. And it will arrive even faster tomorrow. What does it mean to lead with “eyes wide open” in today’s volatile landscape? As new technologies and trends power us into a new future, are we prepared to meet it? This session examines how strategic foresight can transform organisations from reactive survivors to proactive shapers of tomorrow. 

How can leaders develop the vision and capabilities needed to build truly future-ready organisations? Discover practical approaches for anticipating change, preparing for multiple futures, and creating organisations that contribute to positive transformation rather than simply adapting to it. Join us as we explore the intersection of strategic thinking, organisational resilience, and regenerative principles.

Amy Webb

Amy Webb

Professor, NYU Stern School of Business

Thinkers50 #4 Ranked Thinker and CEO of the Future Today Institute, Amy Webb is a professor of strategic foresight at the NYU Stern School of Business. A quantitative futurist, she is the author of The Genesis Machine: Our Quest to Rewrite Life in the Age of Synthetic Biology (Public Affairs, 2022); The Big Nine: How the Tech Titans and Their Thinking Machines Could Warp Humanity (Public Affairs, 2019); and The Signals Are Talking (Public Affairs, 2016).

Howard Yu

Howard Yu

Professor, IMD

Recipient of the Thinkers50 2023 Strategy Award and member of the Thinkers50 Ranking, Howard Yu is the LEGO Professor of Management and Innovation at IMD and the director of IMD’s Center for Future Readiness. He is the author of Leap: How to Thrive in a World Where Everything Can be Copied (PublicAffairs, 2018) – a top Best Business Book for strategy+business, Axiom, Inc, and the FT. His work has featured in MITSloan MR, the BBC, and HBR.

Sinan Aral

Discussion led by Sinan Aral

Professor, MIT

Recipient of the Thinkers50 2021 Digital Thinking Award and a member of the Thinkers50 Ranking, Sinan Aral is the David Austin Professor of Management, IT, Marketing and Data Science at MIT. He is also the director of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy and a funding partner at Manifest Capital. He is the author of The Hype Machine: How Social Media Disrupts Our Elections, Our Economy, and Our Health – and How We Must Adapt (Currency, 2020).

Guest speakers

Amy Webb

Amy Webb

Professor,
NYU Stern School of Business

Howard Yu

Howard Yu

Professor,
IMD

Moderator

Sinan Aral

Sinan Aral

Professor,
MIT

SESSION #6

16:00 From Insight to Action – A Regenerative Mandate

More Info

After two days of bold ideas and transformative vision, our final session distils our collective learning into a clear call to action. Scott Anthony and Rita McGrath reflect on the key insights, from reimagining leadership and work to redefining growth and foresight. What must we now do – individually and together – to shift from extractive habits to regenerative impact? 

How can we empower ourselves as leaders to embed regenerative principles into daily decisions, strategies, and systems? How can we commit to bold next steps, so the question isn’t “what did we learn?” – but “what will we change tomorrow?” How can we leave not with inspiration alone, but with urgent intent? The future needs our leadership. Now.

Scott Anthony

Scott Anthony

Professor, Tuck School of Business

In the Thinkers50 Ranking since 2011, Scott  Anthony is the holder of the Thinkers50 2017 Innovation Award. He is a professor at Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College, and a senior advisor at Innosight. A leading voice on disruptive innovation, Scott’s books include Eat, Sleep, Innovate (HBR Press, 2020); Dual Transformation (HBR Press, 2017); The First Mile (HBR Press, 2014); and Seeing What’s Next (with Clayton Christensen, HBR Press, 2004).

Rita McGrath

Rita McGrath

Professor, Columba Business School

In the Thinkers50 Ranking since 2011, Rita Mcgrath is the holder of the Thinkers50 2013 Strategy Award. A longtime professor at Columba Business School and founder of Valize, Rita’s books include Seeing Around Corners (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2019); The End of the Competitive Advantage (HBR Press, 2013) – #1 business book of 2013 by Strategy + Business – and Discovery-Driven Growth (HBR Press, 2009) – a Thinkers50 Management Classic.

Guest speakers

Scott Anthony

Scott Anthony

Professor,
Tuck School of Business

Rita McGrath

Rita McGrath

Professor,
Columbia Business School

16:30 Close of Thinkers50 London Summit

The Thinkers50 London Summit is followed by the Thinkers50 Awards Gala, where we unveil the new Thinkers50 Ranking and present the Thinkers50 2025 Distinguished Achievement Awards. To learn more, click here

Please note that while we do not plan to make adjustments, the event program is subject to change at any time.

Speakers

Big ideas and bold voices! We are busy curating the full lineup of speakers, featuring boundary-pushing thinkers and doers shaping the future of business, leadership, and beyond. 
Lynda Gratton headshot 1

Lynda Gratton

Thinkers50 Hall of Fame and professor at London Business School.

Howard Yu

Howard Yu

Thinkers50 Ranking and recipient of the Thinkers50 2023 Strategy Award; professor at IMD.

Amy C. Edmondson

Amy Edmondson

Thinkers50 #1 Ranked Thinker; author of The Right Kind of Wrong and The Fearless Organization; professor at Harvard Business School.

Alex Osterwalder sq

Alex Osterwalder

Thinkers50 #8 Ranked Thinker; Founder & CEO of Strategyzer, inventor of the Business Model Canvas and Value Proposition Canvas.

Frances Frei

Frances Frei

Professor at Harvard Business School; member of the Thinkers50 Ranking.

Amy Webb

Amy Webb

Thinkers50 #4 Ranked Thinker and professor, NYU Stern School of Business.

Sinan Aral

Sinan Aral

Recipient of the Thinkers50 2021 Digital Thinking Award and a member of the Thinkers50 Ranking; professor at MIT and director of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy.

Linda Hill

Linda Hill

Recipient of the Thinkers50 2015 Innovation Award and member of the Thinkers50 Ranking; professor at Harvard Business School.

Julia Binder

Julia Binder

Professor at IMD and director of IMD’s Center for Sustainable and Inclusive Business; member of the Thinkers50 Radar Class of 2022.

Scott Anthony

Scott Anthony

Thinkers50 #9 Ranked Thinker and recipient of the Thinkers50 2017 Innovation Award; author of Eat, Sleep, Innovate and Dual Transformation; professor at Tuck School of Business, Dartmouth College.

Rita McGrath

Rita McGrath

Thinkers50 #7 Ranked Thinker; author of Seeing Around Corners, The End of the Competitive Advantage, and Discovery-Driven Growth; professor at Columbia Business School.

Andrew Winston

Andrew Winston

Thinkers50 #3 Ranked Thinker; co-author of Net Positive with Paul Polman, author of The Big Pivot and Green to Gold.

Selina Neri

Selina Neri

CEO, dean, and co-founder of the Institute for Future Readiness (UAE); member of the Thinkers50 Radar Class of 2025.

Dan Pink

Dan Pink

Member of the Thinkers50 Ranking since 2011; author of five New York Times bestsellers including The Power of Regret, When, and Drive.

Profile of Saori Dubourg.

Saori Dubourg

Member of the inaugural list of Leaders50; CEO of Greiner AG; previously served on the board of directors at BASF.

Jørgen Vig Knudstorp

Jørgen Vig Knudstorp

Former executive chairman, president, and CEO of the LEGO Group.

Jayshree Seth

Jayshree Seth

Thinkers50 Radar; chief science advocate and corporate scientist, 3M.

Erinch Sahan

Erinch Sahan

Business and enterprise lead at the Doughnut Economics Action Lab; senior associate at Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

Ranjay Gulati

Ranjay Gulati

Professor at Harvard Business School, member of the Thinkers50 Ranking.

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Chief Innovation Officer, ManpowerGroup; member of the Thinkers50 Ranking.

Early Bird Tickets

 Thinkers50 London Summit

£990.00 + VAT per person

The Thinkers50 London Summit provides daytime access 3-4 November but excludes the evening Awards Gala 4 November.

LIMITED AVAILABILITYThinkers50 London Summit & Awards Gala

£1,200.00 + VAT per person

The Thinkers50 London Summit & Awards Gala includes daytime access 3-4 November plus the evening Awards Gala 4 November.

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