Beyond the Lab: Innovation at Scale
Building a culture of innovation is hard enough in a startup, let alone a global enterprise. Harvard Business School's Linda A. Hill and Fortune's Ruth Umoh unpack what it takes.
Wednesday, September 16

As the head of incubation and brand strategy for AI Research at Salesforce, Itai Asseo transforms cutting-edge AI research into practical solutions by working directly with strategic enterprise customers. His team identifies promising AI technologies, tests them in real-world scenarios, and uses these insights to help shape Salesforce's future products. Since joining Salesforce in 2015, Itai has leveraged human-centered approaches to AI implementation, helping strategic clients translate emerging technologies into competitive advantages. Prior to Salesforce, Itai led the innovation group at Digitas (Publicis), where he produced award-winning digital campaigns for top global brands, including multiple Webby Award recognized initiatives in the financial services sector. His diverse career spans multiple industries—from successfully guiding an ed-tech startup to acquisition, to consulting with Fortune 100 CEOs on digital transformation strategies. As a musician, Itai has composed and recorded alongside Grammy-winning producers, bringing a unique creative perspective to his technology leadership. Itai loves a good story, a good cup of coffee, and good music—bringing passion for artistry and innovation to his work in advancing human-centered AI solutions for business.
Agenda
2 sessions
Building a culture of innovation is hard enough in a startup, let alone a global enterprise. Harvard Business School's Linda A. Hill and Fortune's Ruth Umoh unpack what it takes.
Wednesday, September 16
Take a peek into the future of AI for business. Salesforce AI Research will showcase the latest innovations that are driving future trends, from ambient intelligence to self-evolving agentic systems.
Wednesday, September 16
Thursday, September 17