Theme: Emergence

When the smallest actions or quietest voices converge, their synergy sparks the emergence of something extraordinary. From the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly to the monumental collaboration that built the Pyramids of Giza, every act of creation is a symphony of emergence. Throughout history, humanity has witnessed countless moments of emergence: the first spark of intelligence in Homo sapiens, the artifacts shaped by our creativity, the challenges born of our actions, and perhaps, one day, the awakening of consciousness in silicon life forms. We live in an era defined by continuous emergence. Yet emergence is not just a collective or external phenomenon; it is deeply personal and immediate. What can you do today to shape the emergences of our time? How will you help tomorrow bloom?

New Bund Campus - NYU Shanghai
567 West Yangsi Rd Pu Dong Xin Qu
Shanghai, Shanghai, 200124
China

Katie Aafjes-van Doorn

Co-founder of Deliberate AI, Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapy Researcher, Associate Professor at NYU Shanghai

Katie Aafjes-van Doorn is a Clinical Psychologist and psychotherapy researcher. She completed her Masters in Clinical Psychology in Amsterdam and received her doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology from the University of Oxford, United Kingdom. She is Associate Professor at NYU Shanghai, and Area Head of Social Sciences. She started the AI for Social Good cluster within the Center of Artificial Intelligence at NYUSH. She has an active research lab on the topic of Computational Clinical Psychology and has published over 100 peer-reviewed publications. She also co-founded Deliberate AI, a technology company pioneering ambient multimodal AI for mental health.

Niklas Olsson

Learning & Organization Development Director, Asia Pacific for the Zegna Group

Niklas Olsson, is the Learning & Organization Development Director, Asia Pacific for the Zegna Group, the leading Italian menswear brand. In this role, Niklas main responsibilities are to develop the Zegna organization across Asia Pacific, nurturing leaders and their leadership, accelerate and unleash the potential of talents, whilst also managing Learning & Development, Employee Engagement and Change Management across the region. Niklas Olsson brings extensive experience in the Learning & Development & Organizational Development field with over 20 years of accelerating effectiveness and performance in organizations, leaders and talents. Prior to his current position, Niklas has been working for the past 18 years in various regional roles in Asia Pacific leading Organization, Leader and Talent Development in companies such as Nike & AstraZeneca & Johnson Controls.

Theresa Hudzinski

President of International Professional Women's Society, Former Disney Leader, Vice President of Galaxy Entertainment Group

Theresa has over 30 years of leadership experience from Disneyland Anaheim, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Shanghai Disneyland, where she built successful teams focused on trust, transparency, and respect. Now in Macau’s gaming sector, she continues inspiring growth. As President of IPWS, Theresa empowers women globally, earning Lifetime Achievement Awards from Disney and IPWS. Her guiding principle: “When people are your purpose, you create the biggest impact!”

Wallace Chan

Jewelry Artist and Innovator

Wallace Chan began gemstone carving in 1973 at age 16. Renowned by the 2010s, his innovations include the Wallace Cut, titanium jewelry mastery, metal-free gemstone settings, and patented jadeite-enhancing techniques. His "Wallace Chan Porcelain," five times harder than steel, emerged after years of research. In 2019, his jewelry became the first Chinese contemporary piece permanently displayed at the British Museum. Exhibited globally, Chan continues pushing boundaries in materials, colors, and forms.

Yuanyuan Tan

Youngest and First Chinese Principal Dancer in Company History, Winner of Nijinsky and Dance Magazine Awards, Featured as “Hero of Asia” on Time Magazine Cover

Ms. Tan began her ballet journey at age 11 at the Shanghai Dance School, swiftly gaining global recognition with gold medals and the Nijinsky Award. Joining SF Ballet in 1995, she became its youngest and first Chinese principal dancer. Honored by Time as a "Hero of Asia" and recipient of the Dance Magazine Award, she concluded nearly 30 years with SF Ballet in 2024. Today, she directs the Dance Collaboration Center at Shanghai Theatre Academy and serves as Artistic Director of Suzhou Ballet.