The session
Robert Maciejko moderates a panel of three sitting public-company directors on the governance question every board now faces. Between them the panel covers a regulated utility, a crypto exchange, a fintech lender, an IT services giant, and a browser company. It closes a full day of the INSEAD AI Forum Americas, and the welcome reception follows straight after.
Why this session
- 83% of S&P 500 companies name AI as a risk in their filings. Under 3% of their directors disclose any expertise in it.
- 82% of surveyed directors used AI in their board work in the last six months. 6% say their board has a policy for it.
- Companies change weekly. A board that meets seven times a year risks auditing a company that no longer exists.
- Startups are coming for the moats. The question is whether the board has the power steering to help the company compete, or only the brake to slow it down.
The engaged board is an acceleration agenda. The reason a company can move fast is that someone competent is watching the road.
The panel
Kerry Whorton Cooper. Chair of the Board at PG&E Corporation, Chair of the Board at Mozilla, and Director at Upstart.
Alison Davis. Director at Pagaya (Audit and Finance Committee), Kraken, and Bitwise. Chairman and Managing Partner at Fifth Era and Blockchain Coinvestors. Board member, NACD Northern California.
Chitra Nayak. Independent Director at Infosys and at Vimo/GetInsured. Executive Advisor at BCG.
Robert Maciejko (moderator). Founder of Board AI Institute, co-founder of the INSEAD AI Community, INSEAD MBA. Creator of the STAR framework and co-author of Power Steering, Not a Brake.
Details
- When. Friday, September 18, 2026, 5:15 to 6:15 PM.
- Where. INSEAD San Francisco Hub for Business Innovation, Townsend Street, San Francisco.
- Part of. The INSEAD AI Forum Americas 2026, September 18 to 19. The welcome reception follows the panel.