UNGA 81 · Affiliate Programme

Human Intelligence in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

The Power of Words^® — Band Bond Initiative^™ and Relational Emotional Development as a Framework for Human Flourishing.

A moderated cross-sector dialogue and applied human-capability session, moderated by Shelley Zalis and founder Deborah Sawaf, at the Celeste Bartos Theater, The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York.

24 September 2026

Thursday

9:00 a.m. — 12:30 p.m. EDT

3.5-hour programme

Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

Celeste Bartos Theater, New York

Moderated dialogue

Applied human-capability session

Moderator

Deborah Sawaf

Founder & CEO, The Power of Words Foundation

A global framework for emotional intelligence and mental well-being.

Shelley Zalis

Founder & CEO, The Female Quotient

Known as the “Chief Troublemaker,” a trailblazing CEO, entrepreneur and global advocate for women in the workplace.

Panel

Panelists

Dr Melisa Valle

Senior Researcher, Sync by Ithra

Research, education and advocacy in early childhood development, accessibility and inclusion, and digital wellbeing.

Dr Justin Thomas

Head of Research, Sync by Ithra

Head of research at Sync, Ithra’s Digital Wellbeing program, and honorary senior research fellow at the University of Liverpool.

Prof. C. Raj Kumar

Founding Vice Chancellor at O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU)

Juliet Scott-Croxford

President North America, Q5 Partners

More than 20 years of leadership across consumer, media, retail and mobility, now helping build more adaptive, human-centred businesses.

Joelle Jarvis

Co-Founder, 100 Billion Meals Challenge

Founder of The Mindset Partnership and executive coach to venture capitalists and founders representing more than $300 billion in assets.

Andrea Sullivan

Co-Founder and CEO, vYve

Leadership acceleration company founder; former CMO of VaynerX and Interbrand, and longtime professor at the School of Visual Arts.

Prof. Fernando Garibay

Founder, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer, The Garibay Institute for Systems Diplomacy

GRAMMY® and BMI award-winning producer and songwriter; visiting lecturer at Harvard, MIT and Stanford.

Programme

Agenda

All times in EDT

9:00 – 9:10 AM

Welcome and framing

Deborah Sawaf and Ronald Gunnell

10 minutes

9:10 – 9:50 AM

Panel I

Beyond Automation: The Human Advantage at Work — Creativity, Judgment and Inclusive Leadership

Moderated by Shelley Zalis

40 minutes

9:50 – 10:00 AM

Justin Thomas Evidence Spotlight

Connecting global digital-wellbeing research with the need for practical human-intelligence tools — Dr Justin Thomas, SYNC

10 minutes total, including introduction

10:00 – 10:45 AM

Panel II

Human-Centred Institutions — Education, Digital Wellbeing and Culture in the Age of AI

Moderated by Deborah Sawaf

45 minutes; must close on time

10:45 – 10:50 AM

Transition to Panel III

5 minutes

10:50 – 11:40 AM

Panel III

From Human Intelligence to Human Impact — Compassion, Health and Collective Action at Scale

Moderated by Deborah Sawaf

50 minutes

11:40 AM – 12:25 PM

Open discussion with the audience

45 minutes

12:25 – 12:30 PM

Closing Call to Action

Turning the conversation into a commitment to human flourishing

5 minutes; must end by 12:30

Time	Session	Duration / Note
9:00 – 9:10 AM	Welcome and framing Deborah Sawaf and Ronald Gunnell	10 minutes
9:10 – 9:50 AM	Panel I Beyond Automation: The Human Advantage at Work — Creativity, Judgment and Inclusive Leadership Moderated by Shelley Zalis	40 minutes
9:50 – 10:00 AM	Justin Thomas Evidence Spotlight Connecting global digital-wellbeing research with the need for practical human-intelligence tools — Dr Justin Thomas, SYNC	10 minutes total, including introduction
10:00 – 10:45 AM	Panel II Human-Centred Institutions — Education, Digital Wellbeing and Culture in the Age of AI Moderated by Deborah Sawaf	45 minutes; must close on time
10:45 – 10:50 AM	Transition to Panel III	5 minutes
10:50 – 11:40 AM	Panel III From Human Intelligence to Human Impact — Compassion, Health and Collective Action at Scale Moderated by Deborah Sawaf	50 minutes
11:40 AM – 12:25 PM	Open discussion with the audience	45 minutes
12:25 – 12:30 PM	Closing Call to Action Turning the conversation into a commitment to human flourishing	5 minutes; must end by 12:30

Join us

Register Now

Seats are limited — reserve your place at the Celeste Bartos Theater, MoMA.

Upon registering, you will receive a confirmation email latest by 20th September.