University at Buffalo School of Management

Autumn 2026 Buffalo Business 13 "The choice leaders give their employees with discre- tion is important," she says. "They also need to support innovation and cultivate the mindset of the continuous learner, because things are changing quickly and if you're stuck with an ingrained mindset, you're going to fall behind." Beyond AI, the other big technological shi impacting the workplace has been the move to remote and hybrid work. Bezrukova says that while many leaders may instinctually push for employees to return to the office to build a sense of belonging and team identity, research has revealed benefits to remote work as well. "If the existing organizational culture is toxic with too much competitive and political behavior, people will withdraw and seek remote and hybrid work as a way to survive," says Bezrukova. "Strong team culture comes from principles of transparency, justice and fairness. And for Gen Z and younger employees, being remote will feel natural if the workplace culture is good." Sustainable resilience Sustainability can be among the first areas to take cuts when volatility hits a business, as focus shis to quarterly results rather than the long term. But no matter what the global or economic situation may be, sustainability contin- ues to be a smart business move, according to Aditya Vedantam, associate professor of opera- tions management and strategy. "It's important at this stage for companies to invest in resilience — not simply because it aligns with Vedantam If you're stuck with an ingrained mindset, you're going to fall behind. Kate Bezrukova Associate Professor of Organization and Human Resources "The leadership conference is our high-visibility event, but it's just one moment. The work we do compounds throughout the year — the partnerships, the scholars and the global network," says Siaw-Asamoah. "It's a full-cir- cle ecosystem of researchers, practitioners, community, students and faculty." To learn more about the Center for Leadership and Global Impact, visit management.buffalo.edu/clgi. program specialist in the Civil Society Division of United Nations Women. The event was sponsored by Rich Products, North Forest Office Space, the Western New York Sustainable Business Roundtable, the School of Management Alumni Association and UB Sustainability. Looking ahead, the center plans to take that global ambition even further, alternating conference destina- tions internationally and domestically every other year and inviting participants to join wherever the conversa- tion unfolds next.

• Cover