Spotlight Finance 2026
April 23–26, 2026 · Washington, DC
The Fairmont (Apr 23–24) · Aspen Offices, 2300 N Street NW (Apr 25–26)
Thursday, April 23
Registration, Opening Reception & Opening Dinner
Kennedy Foyer & Ballroom, The Fairmont.
Seminar Dialogue I: Get to Know Your Cohort
Spotlight participants organized into cohorts of ~20 Fellows for all seminar dialogue sessions.
Friday, April 24
Seminar Dialogue II
Readings: Yehuda Amichai & Stephen Mitchell — "The Place Where We Are Right"; Arthur Brooks — "Why Your Perfect Life Feels So Empty"; Thomas Sowell — "Grasshopper and Ant".
Plenary I: Finance Is a Gift — Can We Unlock Its Full Potential?
Moderated by Ida Rademacher (Aspen Institute). Panelists: Ailish Campbell (Mastercard), Bori Cox (JPMorgan Chase), June Kim (CalPERS), Jonathan Turner (Accel).
Ecosystem Lunch
Convenes Fellows spanning savers, stewards, intermediaries, and deployers.
Topical Dialogue: Inequality & A Polarized Society
What Will It Take to Level the Playing Field? Lead discussants: Aparna Ramesh (FHLB), Clay Grubb (Grubb Properties), Tucker Bartlett (Self-Help).
Topical Dialogue: The Climate Transition
Who Pays, Who Profits, Who Leads? Lead discussants: Jane Ambachtsheer (BNP Paribas), Jasper van Brakel (RSF), Kyung-Ah Park (Temasek).
Topical Dialogue: Fintech and Financial Inclusion
Expanding Access, Rethinking Systems. Lead discussants: Harold Pettigrew (OFN), Jamie Twiss (Carrington Labs), Marc Diaz (RSF).
Topical Dialogue: AI in Finance
Automation, Risk, Responsibility. Lead discussants: Yolanda Daniel (ErgonADV), Phil Drury (Poolside), Alex Popa (Poesis).
Cohort Curiosity: The Spirit of Our Fellowship Classes
Exploring what makes each cohort unique.
Serendipity Dinners
Dinners for groups of 12–28 at Rasika, RIS, and Nobu.
Saturday, April 25
Seminar Dialogue III
Readings: Oren Cass — "The Finance Industry Is a Grift. Let's Start Treating It That Way"; W.H. Auden — "The More Loving One".
Plenary II: Innovation in Action — Reshaping Finance for Good
Moderated by Amanda White (Conexus Financial). Panelists: Bobby Bose (Amby), Ellis Carr (Momentus Capital), Michael Hsu (Michael Hsu LLC), Elizabeth Vazquez (WEConnect International).
Topical Dialogue: Navigating Risk
Building Resilience Amid Geopolitical Turbulence. Lead discussants: Siobhan Macdermott (TeenAegis), Zul Onn (Employees Provident Fund).
Topical Dialogue: Digital Assets & Decentralized Finance
Promise, Risk & Reality. Lead discussants: Dan Draper (S&P Dow Jones), Michael Hsu (Michael Hsu LLC), Ben Savage (Clocktower Technology Ventures).
Topical Dialogue: Leadership In Conflict
Capital, Connectivity, and Consequence. Lead discussants: Dawson Her Many Horses (Wells Fargo), Malcolm Fair (RisCura).
Topical Dialogue: Capital for Care
Advancing Health, Innovation, and Longevity. Lead discussants: Brian Kreiter (Braidwell), Nick Talwar (Rohati Capital).
Life + Leadership: Sacred Questions, Secular Spaces
Exploring the Role of Faith & Spirituality in Leadership. Discussants: Amit Anand (Jungle Partners), Emily Chew (GIC), Chris Varelas (FLF Co-Founder).
Life + Leadership: Intimacy — How Do We Re-Ignite Connection?
Discussants: Dune Thorne (Brown Advisory), Noland Chambliss (AGLN Advisor).
Life + Leadership: The Sandwich Years — Leading While Caring
Discussants: Neamul Mohsin (OUem), Ann Li (JPMorgan).
Closing Party
dLeña DC, 476 K St NW Suite D, Washington, DC 20001.
Sunday, April 26
Group Walk: Rock Creek Park to Georgetown
Morning walk through Rock Creek Park.
Closing Session: Revelations & Declarations
Final closing session — reflections and commitments from the full group.
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