Agility in the 21st Century Conference
ALUMNI   FACULTY   STUDENT

Agility in the 21st Century Conference

On October 23, the Foresight Lab is hosting the Agility in the 21st Century Conference, a full-day gathering exploring the conditions, enablers, and levers of agility.

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Agility in the 21st Century Conference

When

October 23, 2026 to October 23, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Cost

$200
Breakfast, Lunch, Refreshments


Expand Perspectives. Build Connections. Strengthen Resilience.

We are living through a period of profound and accelerating transformation. Technological disruption, geopolitical volatility, climate uncertainty, and shifting societal expectations demand a new kind of readiness. Uncertainty and ambiguity now permeate every aspect of work and life. For individuals and organizations to thrive, we need a paradigm shift: from control and rigidity to agility, fluidity, openness, and dynamism.

In October 2026, the Foresight Lab at the DeGroote School of Business, McMaster University is hosting Week of the Futures, a curated series of events designed to meet participants wherever they are on their futures-readiness journey. Whether seeking broader perspectives, practical executive insights, or in-depth capability development, participants can engage in the offering that best aligns with their goals.

As part of Week of the Futures, the Agility in the 21st Century Conference is a full-day landmark gathering of scholars, practitioners, policymakers, and innovators committed to understanding what it truly means to lead and thrive in the 21st century, we will explore the conditions, enablers, and levers of agility across four interconnected streams:

  • The Changing Conditions of Turbulence and Resilience in the 21st Century
  • How Organizations Sense, Decide, and Act
  • How Leaders Transcend What They Already Know
  • Creativity, AI, and the Fuel of Agility

More details and full speaker list
Register

Gaby Bourbara, MBA DeGroote School of Business, MBA Co-op, Cohort year 2003

Gaby Bourbara

Country President Canada, AstraZeneca

MBA

Gaby Bourbara, MBA DeGroote School of Business, MBA Co-op, Cohort year 2003
Goran Calic

Dr. Goran Calic

Associate Professor / Chair in Entrepreneurial Leadership

Faculty, Strategic Management

Goran Calic
Candice Chow

Dr. Candice Chow

Assistant Professor / Director of the Foresight Lab

Faculty, Strategic Management

Candice Chow
Catherine Connelly

Dr. Catherine Connelly

Professor / Business Research Chair / Director, McMaster Centre for Research on Employment and Work (MCREW)

Faculty, Human Resources and Management

Catherine Connelly
Shane Saunderson

Dr. Shane Saunderson

Assistant Professor

Faculty, Information Systems

Shane Saunderson
Amir Taherizadeh

Amir Taherizadeh

Assistant Professor

Faculty, Strategic Management

Amir Taherizadeh

Contact

Candice Chow ( foresight@mcmaster.ca )

Upcoming Events

ACADEMIC STUDENT

Master of Finance Application Tips: How to Submit a Strong Application

September 29, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Online

Join the DeGroote School of Business Master of Finance team for a focused session on putting together a strong application. Don't miss your chance to get expert advice before the deadline!

ACADEMIC

Fast-track your CPA: GDPA info session and application tips

September 30, 2026
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Online

Join our information session for prospective applicants and get the inside track on the Graduate Diploma in Professional Accountancy.

ACADEMIC FACULTY

Meet the Faculty: Human Resources and Management with Yair Berson

September 30, 2026
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Webinar

Yair Berson will discuss his research on leadership, visionary style, leader-follower synchronization, and organizational outcomes (including neuroscience approaches), followed by an open Q&A.

MCLEAN CENTRE

McLean Centre Grand Opening Celebration

October 6, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery, McMaster University

Please join us for the grand opening of the McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery — a landmark space built for bold ideas, collaborative learning and community connection.

FACULTY MCLEAN CENTRE STAFF STUDENT

Unveiling of “Remember ∙ Honour ∙ Renew” (Indigenous Art Celebration)

October 6, 2026
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery

Join us on October 6 for the unveiling of “Remember ∙ Honour ∙ Renew,” a commissioned piece of art by David General (Oneida/Mohawk)

ALUMNI FACULTY

Strategic Foresight Certification Program

October 19, 2026 to November 6, 2026
9:00 a.m.

Hybrid - Hamilton, Burlington, Online

In October, the Foresight Lab will host the 2026 cohort of the Strategic Foresight Certification Program, co-delivered by the Director of the Foresight Lab and the former UNESCO Head of Foresight.

ALUMNI FACULTY STUDENT

The Business of Storytelling – Alumni Networking Reception

October 21, 2026
5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Arcadian Loft | Toronto, ON

Connect with alumni, faculty, and students from the McMaster community who share a passion for storytelling and its power to inspire, influence, and drive results.

ALUMNI FACULTY

Executive Masterclass on Foresight and Futures Literacy

October 22, 2026 to October 22, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Art Gallery of Hamilton

On October 22, the Foresight Lab is presenting the second Executive Masterclass on Foresight and Futures Literacy for C-suite executives and board directors.

ALUMNI FACULTY STUDENT

Agility in the 21st Century Conference

October 23, 2026 to October 23, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Ron Joyce Centre

On October 23, the Foresight Lab is hosting the Agility in the 21st Century Conference, a full-day gathering exploring the conditions, enablers, and levers of agility.

ACADEMIC FACULTY STUDENT

DeGroote graduate programs in-person open house

October 24, 2026
10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Burlington, ON

Discover all that DeGroote has to offer at our graduate programs in-person open house!

ACADEMIC

PhD areas of specialization; Accounting, Finance, Information Systems,Management Science (Operations Management), and Marketing

October 28, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Online

Join the DeGroote School of Business for a virtual info session on our PhD areas of study.

ACADEMIC

PhD areas of specialization; Strategic Management, Health Policy & Management, and Management of Organizational Behaviour & Human Resources (MOBHR)

October 29, 2026
9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Online

Join the DeGroote School of Business for a virtual info session on our PhD areas of study.