IPillar
Influence
Expand and enhance your personal influence within the enterprise and your industry. The modern leader doesn't just manage — they shape narratives, build coalitions, and move organizations forward through persuasion and presence.
Athena — 3rd Annual NYC Leadership Salon 2026
The 3rd Annual NYC Leadership Salon.
Friday,
October 9, 2026
10 Hudson Yards
New York City
01 — The Experience
Not a conference.
A Salon.
The Athena Project is a by-invitation-only community, content and convening platform focused on modern leadership.
Welcome back to the home of our annual flagship Athena Project NYC Leadership Salon hosted by our Founding Partner and friends at BCG. The Athena Project launched at the inaugural NYC Salon in 2024 and we are pleased to host our 3rd Annual NYC Leadership Salon on October 9, 2026 at BCG's New York offices at 10 Hudson Yards in Manhattan.
The Athena Project is designed to help leading growth executives, marketers and operators stay resilient and relevant and offers peer-based insights and learnings on how to lead their teams during these complex and transformative times.
Please email Athena Project Co-Founder, Drew Ianni, at drewianni@athenaproject.io to learn more about memberships, speaking opportunities, or partnership.
02 — The Three Pillars
Three dimensions,
one leader.
The Athena Project is designed to expand and enhance your capabilities across three essential domains of modern leadership.
IIPillar
Intelligence
Gain actionable insights related to emerging technologies and trends. In an era of tectonic shift, intelligence is the currency that separates those who react from those who anticipate, adapt, and lead with clarity.
IIIPillar
Impact
Drive innovation, growth and the bottom-line by augmenting cross-disciplinary leadership skills. True impact comes from integrating strategy, creativity, and execution into a coherent system that moves as one.
03 — SALON THEME
Companies Do Not Transform.
People Do.
Every company says it wants to transform. Very few ask what transformation actually requires.
This year's theme - Companies Do Not Transform. People Do. - is inspired by Athena Project's Co-Founder Rishad Tobaccowala's recent Substack post.
Organizations don't change because a strategy is announced, a new technology is deployed, or an operating model is redesigned. They change because individuals choose to learn, adapt, question old assumptions, and develop new capabilities.
"An organization changes and grows when the people in the organization change and grow."— Rishad Tobaccowala
Every leader is facing that reality. AI is reshaping industries, business models, and the very nature of work. The organizations that emerge stronger won't necessarily have the best technology. They'll have leaders who create cultures of curiosity, resilience, continuous learning, and the confidence to navigate uncertainty.
04 — Featured Sessions
Conversations
that move the work.
01
Companies Do Not Transform. People Do
Lauren Wiener
Managing Director & Senior Partner, BCG
Rishad Tobaccowala
Author & Co-Founder, The Athena Project
02
Sculpting in Resiliency Across the Enterprise
Lisa Caputo
Chief Marketing, Communications & CX Officer, Travelers
03
The Growth Mandate
Janet Balis
Managing Director & Partner, BCG
Denise Campbell
VP & Head of Marketing, US Oncology, Novartis
04
Governance: A Critical Enterprise Function
Ryan McManus
Founder & CEO, techtonic.io & President, New York Chapter, NACD
Torrence Boone
VP, Global Client Partnerships, Google & Board Director, Macy's Inc.
Kay Madati
President, KM Media & Board Director, Wingstop & Allspring Global Investments
Jamie Barnard
CEO, Compliant & Former General Counsel — Global Marketing, Media & eCommerce, Unilever
05
Capability: The Foundation of Performance
Drew Ianni
Co-Founder, The Athena Project
Jerusha Harvey
EVP, Talent Practice — Program Lead, Global CMO Growth Council, ANA
Veronika Kryuchkova
Global Head, Marketing Capabilities, Reckitt
06
The End of Audience?
Carrie Seifer
Global Revenue & GTM Executive
Domenic Venuto
Chief Product & Data Officer, Horizon Media
Paul Palmieri
Managing Partner, Grit Capital Partners
05 — PARTNERS
The Athena Project thanks our Founding Host Partner, BCG, for their ongoing, generous support since our launch. And we also thank pubX for supporting this year's NYC Athena Leadership Salon as well as all of our 2026 supporting partners.
Founding Host Partner
Supporting Partners
06 — GATHER & STAY
— The Venue
10 Hudson Yards-
NYC's New West Side.
The Athena Project's 3rd Annual NYC Leadership Salon returns to the iconic Hudson Yards complex - adjacent to the High Line in the Midtown West neighborhood of Manhattan.
Metropolis Room @ BCG
Our 3rd Annual NYC Leadership Salon returns to 10 Hudson Yards in the beautiful 45th floor Metropolis Room at the NYC offices of BCG.
View on Map →
The Avenue Sky Lounge
The iconic Avenue cocktail lounge is elegantly re-imagined on the 106th Floor at Hudson Yards.
— The Reception
Avenue Sky Lounge -
Reach the Top.
All attendees are welcome to join us at the conclusion of the program at 5pm on Friday, October 9 at the new Avenue Sky Lounge which offers an elevated setting for an unforgettable celebration above Manhattan.
— The Hotel
Stay -
Marriott Hudson Yards
The home hotel for this year's Salon is the beautiful, new modern New York Marriott Courtyard Midtown West Hudson Yards.
New York Courtyard Hudson Yards
Our discounted group rate has expired but if you need a hotel, we are happy to contact the hotel on your behalf to inquire about a preferred rate. Please email drewianni@athenaproject.io.
07 — Frequently Asked