Kermit 2 day Intensives
learning from experts - and each other
Once a year, we tap into subject matter experts to go deep into a topic of interest for the Kermit community. These experts present a keynote and provide exercises and conversation fodder for us to work through together. Their expertise combined with our experiences result in new approaches to old problems, new energy to face our ever-evolving industry and tactics to put into action immediately.
These are structured as 2 day intensive workshops and discussions (less time and less cost than the camp option) and will be open to employees of Kermit Collective member organizations.
This year’s two day Intensive: October 6-7 2026
Theme: Preparing Your Business, Your People, and Yourself for 2030
This program is designed for senior executives who are wrestling with what AI transformation means for their business, their team, and their own leadership approach. This debate is for those who are past the "should we pay attention to AI" question and firmly inside the harder ones: what does this actually require of us, as an organization, and as leaders?
Who should attend: This program is designed for senior executives who are wrestling with what AI transformation means for their business, their team, and their own leadership approach. This debate is for those who are past the "should we pay attention to AI" question and firmly inside the harder ones: what does this actually require of us, as an organization, and as leaders?
Approach: The format is built around peer conversation, not presentations. So this year, you'll hear from each other as much as from the facilitator (active debates, panels, and community participation).
Outcome: Each of us will leave with a clearer point of view on where our organizations needs to go, how we need to pivot to get there, and what kind of leader this moment is asking us to be.
2026 Agenda:
Monday Night, Oct 5 (Optional) Welcome dinner
6:30pm: The welcome dinner will provide an opportunity for us to gather as a community before we get into the dialogue and discussion during the two day intensive
Tuesday, October 6: Preparing Your Organization for 2030
9am - 3pm: Intensive Day 1
We'll look honestly at what AI is already doing to the structure of work inside your company and across the industry, and what that means for the decisions you need to make. We'll work through workforce strategy, role evolution, and org design, with an eye toward the specific pressures facing companies at your scale.
How is AI already changing the nature of work inside your organization, and what's coming that most leaders aren't ready for?
Which capabilities will matter most for growth over the next three to five years, and which ones are quietly becoming less relevant?
What does smart workforce planning look like when the technology is moving faster than your annual review cycle?
Where does AI belong in your decision-making (and where should it not)?
3pm - 6pm: (Optional) Social Happy Hour
Wednesday, Oct 7: Preparing Your People and Yourself for 2030
9am - 3pm: Intensive Day 2
The org strategy only lands if your people can move with it. Day two focuses on the human side of transformation: how to lead through change that doesn't have a clean finish line, how to keep your culture intact while things are shifting under it, and what this moment asks of you personally as a leader.
What do your employees actually need from you right now, and how do you communicate change honestly without creating fear?
How do you hold onto the people and the culture that built your company while also evolving it?
What mindsets and behaviors separate leaders who thrive through disruption from those who just survive it?
What do you need, as a leader, to show up well for this?
This program is designed for senior executives who are wrestling with what AI transformation means for their business, their team, and their own leadership approach. This debate is for those who are past the "should we pay attention to AI" question and firmly inside the harder ones: what does this actually require of us, as an organization, and as leaders?
What’s covered: Two days of facilitation with Dr Huang, workshop and facilitation location, and the social activity Tuesday afternoon.
Not covered: Hotel accommodations, flights, or meals during the week.
2026 Facilitator: Dr. Serena Huang
Dr. Huang has led AI and People Analytics at organizations including PayPal, Kraft Heinz, and GE, where she drove over $100 million in measurable business impact across a 300,000-person global enterprise.
Her work focuses on the intersection of AI, leadership, and the human skills that become more valuable as technology advances. She is the author of The Inclusion Equation: Leveraging Data and AI for Organizational Diversity and Wellbeing (Wiley, 2025),
Her insights have been featured in Fast Company, Barron’s, and CNET.
See who spoke and what we did at Previous Intensives
In 2025, we invited Blair Enns (author of Win Without Pitching Manifesto and the Four Conversations, to discuss how we should be selling by demonstrating expertise. The workshop focused heavily on business development practices relevant to our industry and how we can set ourselves apart in a crowded marketplace.
In 2024, we introduced the Kermit Intensive concept by inviting Ron Tite to spend time with our community, talking about how we can align our organizations better, build more momentum towards a shared purpose, and gain traction in our strategic initiatives.