This week, I had the privilege of attending the Executive Circle AI Summit hosted by Juniper Networks, and it was nothing short of incredible. The event brought together industry leaders, innovators, and forward-thinkers to explore the transformative potential of AI and leadership in today’s rapidly evolving landscape between Datacenters, AI, Network and job growth.
One of the highlights for me was reconnecting with Mitch Davis, CIO at Dartmouth. It was great to catch up with Mitch, who I first met years ago when he served on the Connect Maine Authority and toured parts of my network back in Maine. It’s always inspiring to see familiar faces in new contexts, especially when the focus is on innovation and growth and Mitch has often been at the front of these innovations.
The sessions themselves were packed with insights. Hearing about growth mindset from both Guy Kawasaki and Kevin O’Leary was especially impactful. Their perspectives on leadership, grit, and the importance of aligning our actions with our goals provided valuable takeaways that I can’t wait to bring back to my own work.
Day two brought a fresh perspective from Scott Galloway, whose strong—but differing—opinions from some of day one’s speakers challenged us to think critically. His insights were thought-provoking and added another layer of depth to the discussions, showing just how diverse and dynamic conversations around AI and leadership can be.
I also want to extend a huge thank you to Jean English, CMO of Juniper Networks, John Moses, SVP of Enterprise Sales, Sharon Mandell, CIO of Juniper, and Ken Miller, CFO of Juniper. Their willingness to engage in one-on-one conversations, both personally and professionally, made this experience even more valuable. It’s rare to find such candid and impactful dialogue in events like these, and I’m deeply appreciative of the opportunity.
This summit was truly one of a kind—an event that challenged us to think, connect, and grow. I look forward to more opportunities like this in the future to engage with such a vibrant and inspiring community of leaders.
