INNOVATE@DARDEN | UVA Darden School of Business

Innovate @Darden

Bringing together Darden students and cross-industry practitioners for a day of connection, conversation and exploration around tech and AI.

23 October 2026 | Goodwin Family Grounds
Charlottesville, VA

Where Tech & AI Meet Innovation
A Premier One-Day Summit

Register for the inaugural Innovate@Darden, brought to you by the Batten Institute, LaCross Institute for Ethical AI, and Darden Career Development Office.

On Friday, 23 October at Goodwin Family Grounds in Charlottesville, students and practitioners will come together for a day of meaningful dialogue around emerging trends, career pathways, and real-world applications of tech and AI across industries, while building connections that'll extend well beyond the event.

Event Program

9 - 10 AM	Showcase Coffee & Registration
10 - 10:45 AM	Opening Keynote: Leading Through the Next Wave of Innovation Moderator: Yael Grushka-Cockayne (Dean, UVA Darden School of Business) Raiford Smith (Global Market Lead, Google)
11 - 11:45 AM	Innovation in the Core: How Technology is Changing the Enterprise Moderator: Raj Venkatesan Matt McFadden Director, PE Product & Technology Strategy, Strategy&) Mark J. Rogers (Head of AI Payments Sales Strategy, J.P. Morgan)
12 - 1 PM	Lunch with Leaders
1 - 1:45 PM	The AI-Enabled Organization: New Roles, New Work, New Leadership Moderator: Roshni Raveendhran (Professor, UVA Darden School of Business) Cassandra Woodall (Chief of Staff to Chief People Officer, Appian) Bobby MacKinnon (VP of Strategy, Niobium Microsystems)
2 - 3 PM	What Comes Next: Turning Innovation into Opportunity Moderator: Michael Lenox (Professor, UVA Darden School of Business) Christine Reddy (General Counsel, White Cap) Nick Stablein (Value Creation Director, Americas, Adobe)