Schedule (Updated 12/2/25)
Location: David Rubenstein Treehouse at Harvard University and Harvard Business School
Event Overview
The ALI Cross-Cohort Workshop comes at the midpoint of the program year and is an opportunity for you to connect with past fellows and gain perspective on your social impact ideas.
Parking
We have arranged for a parking block in the Soldier’s Field Parking Garage (111 Western Ave, Boston, MA 02163) at Harvard Business School for both days. This is across the street from the David Rubenstein Treehouse. When entering the garage, please provide the event title, “ALI Cross Cohort.”
Detailed Schedule
Optional Impact Group Meeting: Climate Change
Monday, December 8th from 9:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
14 Story Street, Fifth Floor
Speakers
Charles Lin, 2019 Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow
Brett Perlman, 2026 Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Impact Leader in Residence
Break: 10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Optional Impact Group Meeting: Key Emerging Issues in a Fast Moving AI Landscape: Welcome and Introductions
Monday, December 8th from 11:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m.
Location: 14 Story Street, Fifth Floor
Speakers: Amanda Rischbieth (2024 Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Impact Leader in Residence)
Sandra Boccia (2026 Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Senior Fellow)
11:15 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. AI, Work, and Human Capital: What Leaders Need to Know
Speaker: Steven Strauss (2012 Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow)
11:45 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. How Infrastructure, Hardware and the Edge will impact AI development and uptake
Speaker: Margarete McGrath (Advisory Partner Lead Dell Technologies, Trinity College Dublin)
12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m. - Learnings from building AI platforms in 24/25 – use case: A Sports AI platform (AU, UK, US) and securing first capital raise
Speaker: Amanda Rischbieth (2024 Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Impact Leader in Residence)
12:45 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Agents: how we can ensure they are helpful
Speaker: Stephanie Silvestre (2022 Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Fellow)
Moderator: Sandra Boccia (2026 Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative Senior Fellow)
Registration & Networking over Continental Breakfast
Tuesday, December 9th from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Harvard Rubenstein Treehouse Conference Center, Third Floor Atrium
ALI Welcome and Case Study
Tuesday, December 9th from 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Harvard Rubenstein Treehouse Conference Center, Third Floor, Canopy Hall A
Speaker
Brian Trelstad, Senior Lecturer, Harvard Business School; Faculty Chair, Harvard Advanced Leadership Initiative
Advanced Preparation: for session “ALI Welcome and Case Study” (with Brian Trelstad)
Read the case study: Trelstad, Brian, and Mary C. Sauer. "Talent Beyond Boundaries: Expanding Labor Pathways for Skilled Refugees." Harvard Business School Case 326-016, November 2025.
Reflection Questions:
How do you evaluate the evolution of the Cohen’s journey through ALI to the launch of Talent Beyond Boundaries? What surprised you?
How would you measure the success of TBB? What should the organization's ultimate goal be?
If you were on the board of TBB, would you encourage TBB to continue to grow its services or should it find larger more established organizations to partner with?
Impact Group Lunches
Tuesday, December 9th from 12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.
Harvard Rubenstein Treehouse Conference Center, Third Floor, Canopy Hall B
Skills I Breakouts
Tuesday, December 9th from 1:45 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.
Harvard Rubenstein Treehouse Conference Center
Breakout: Effective Board Service, Third Floor, Canopy A
Speakers: Gerald Chertavian, Founder, Year Up; Bruce Rich, 2020 ALI Fellow; Lauren States, 2015 ALI Fellow; and Paul Salem, 2022 ALI Fellow
Breakout: Publishing, Second Floor, Riverview
Speakers: Seth Mnookin, Professor of Science Writing, MIT; Marcy Syms, 2022 ALI Fellow; Akhil Gupta, 2015 ALI Fellow; Rajan Mehta, 2022 ALI Fellow
Break: 3:15 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.
2026 Cohort Social Impact Showcase
Tuesday, December 9th from 3:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Harvard Rubenstein Treehouse Conference Center, Third Floor, Canopy Hall B
Transition Break: 5:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Dinner
Tuesday, December 9th from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Harvard Business School, Spangler Williams Room
Speaker
Steven Pinker, Johnstone Family Professor of Psychology, Harvard University
Networking over Continental Breakfast
Wednesday, December 10th from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Harvard Rubenstein Treehouse Conference Center, Third Floor Atrium
Coalition Stories
Wednesday, December 10th from 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Harvard Rubenstein Treehouse Conference Center, Third Floor, Canopy Hall A
Speakers: John Daniel, 2022 ALI Fellow; Florence Mauchant, 2017 ALI Fellow; Marcelo Medeiros, 2026 ALI Senior Fellow; Rati Thanawala, 2018 ALI Fellow
Break: 10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Skills II Breakouts
Wednesday, December 10th from 10:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Harvard Rubenstein Treehouse Conference Center
Breakout: Coalition Building, Third Floor, Canopy A
Speakers: Paul Reville, Francis Keppel Professor of Practice of Educational Policy and Administration, Harvard Graduate School of Education; James Francesconi, 2022 ALI Fellow; Diane Ballweg, 2021 ALI Fellow
Breakout: Partnerships, Second Floor, Riverbend
Leaders of four social impact organizations will describe their work and how ALI Fellows - past, present, and future -- can engage with their organizations.
Speakers: Mark Sterling, 2014 ALI Fellow; Ryann Deveney, Vice President, Development & Expansion, Greenlight Fund; Michael Zakaras, Director, Strategy & Partnerships, Ashoka; Lara Metcalf, Chief Portfolio Officer and Member, Operating Committee, DPK Foundation; and Tarun Khanna, Jorge Paulo Lemann Professor, Harvard Business School
Regional Group Lunches
Wednesday, December 10th from 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Harvard Rubenstein Treehouse Conference Center, Third Floor, Canopy Hall B
Skills III Breakouts
Wednesday, December 10th from 1:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Harvard Rubenstein Treehouse Conference Center
Breakout: Philanthropy, Third Floor, Canopy Hall A
Speakers: Jen Holleran, Becky Crowe and Jane Saccaro
Breakout: Successful Startups, Second Floor, Riverbend
Speakers: Tom Manning, 2019 ALI Fellow; Tom Sperry, 2021 ALI Fellow; Deepa Krishnamurthy, 2021 ALI Fellow, and Ken Lang, 2023 ALI Fellow
Break: 3:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Closing Reception
Wednesday, December 10th from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sloane's Restaurant
197 N Harvard St, Allston, MA 02134