The IEEE International Leadership Conference (ILC), a new global event designed to elevate leadership excellence across engineering, technology, and innovation ecosystems, will be held Oct. 3–4 in Budapest, Hungary.
The ILC brings together senior executives, emerging leaders, educators, policymakers, and innovators from more than 100 countries to address a shared challenge: preparing technical leaders to navigate rapid technological change and steward innovation responsibly. By unifying IEEE’s leadership-focused programs into a single global forum, the conference creates new opportunities for learning, collaboration, and impact.
A Unified Narrative of Purpose, Vision, and Impact
The ILC brings IEEE’s leadership development portfolio under one roof, offering practical insights for leading through AI-driven transformation and accelerating technological change.
“Leadership in technology today requires more than technical mastery—it demands vision, adaptability, and a deep commitment to societal benefit,” said conference co-chairs Vickie Ozburn and Howard Wolfman. “The IEEE International Leadership Conference will serve as a premier global forum where leaders can learn, collaborate, and shape the future of responsible innovation.”
Through keynote addresses, workshops, strategic roundtables, and immersive learning experiences, participants will gain leadership skills and perspectives applicable at every career stage.
A Comprehensive Program for Technology Leaders
Four learning tracks designed to help leaders navigate technological change, accelerate innovation, advance their careers, and create lasting global impact.
Leadership & Professional Growth
Focused on personal mastery, strategic thinking, and adaptive leadership.
- You Are a Superhero — Let’s Discover Your Superpower So You Can Use It for Greatness
- Hugging the AI Lion — Human-Centred Leadership Across Generations
- Know Where You Stand — The Strategy Before the Strategy
Innovation, Industry & Entrepreneurship
Exploring how engineering leaders can drive innovation and strengthen emerging technology ecosystems.
- Meaning Before Math — Building the Trust Layer of AI
- Building Innovation Ecosystems — The Role of Engineering Leaders
- Technology for Humanity — Empowering Future Engineers for Healthcare Innovation and Medical Device Development
- From Engineer to Entrepreneur — Building AI-Native Connectivity Ventures for Digital Equity
- Building an AI-Ready Engineering Program — A Cross-Generational Industry–Academia Playbook
Career Readiness & Mentorship
Providing mentorship, leadership insights, and guidance for career advancement.
- When Opportunity Knocks — My Evolution from Intelligence Officer to Public Privacy Persona
- What Directors Wish Their Managers Knew — About Promotion
- The Competency That Got You Promoted — May Not Be Yours to Keep
Global Impact & Inclusion
Advancing global collaboration while centering humanity in the development and governance of emerging technologies.
- The Human Readiness Gap — In AI Ethics and Machine Systems Design
- Flying Blind — Shadow AI, Digitization Legacy Risk, and the Cyber Vulnerability of Irish Micro-SMEs
- The Heartbeat of Innovation — Centering Humanity in the Age of Emerging Technologies
Together, these tracks form a leadership ecosystem aligned with IEEE’s mission to prepare STEM leaders to navigate complexity, collaborate across sectors, and advance technology for humanity.
The ILC will take place alongside the IEEE Technology Summit on Ethical Artificial Intelligence, giving attendees a unique opportunity to strengthen their leadership capabilities while deepening their understanding of the technical and ethical dimensions of AI-enabled innovation.
For more information, visit ieeeilc.org
