Leading the board in Innovative Governance

US and EU relations: a different perspective?

2025 is the year in which global relations will be redefined. Do we move from a bipolar world to a multipolar world? Or will only China and the US remain dominant players? How do we keep the EU relevant? What is Europe's position towards the US, and how does this relationship impact Belgian entrepreneurs and board members? Where should we follow, and where should we lead?

What we have witnessed over the last years is that the US is one step ahead in innovation. The AI revolution started in Silicon Valley, and has had a major ripple effect. Innovation is embedded in the board culture in the US, and has helped create an environment in which fast technological advancements can be made. Is this at the cost of sound governance in the US? Or is sound governance, as practised in the EU, not adaptable enough to allow innovation?

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What to expect?

GUBERNA announces with great pleasure our programme: “Leading the board in innovative governance”, that will take place in San Francisco & Silicon Valley in collaboration with Professor Dr Evan Epstein, renowned corporate governance expert (UC Law San Francisco & Stanford).

The continuously developing redefinition of the relationship between the US and EU and its impact on Belgian companies
The role of innovation in governance in US tech companies and the role of governance in stimulating innovation
Finding the balance between business and ethics: Is the difference between the US and the EU real?
The embeddedness of AI in decision-making

The 3-day programme consists of two days of workshops, interactive sessions and lectures from leading US and EU experts on new governance trends that will offer you a competitive advantage in championing your business in Belgium and internationally. We will explore cutting-edge themes: the latest trends in AI, stewardship governance, US governance models for start-ups, venture capital & impact investing, among others, and discuss elaborately how US and EU businesses can continue to reinforce each other in the current climate. Our GUBERNA formula ensures attention to board dynamics and exchange within an exclusive and high-level environment with distinguished speakers.

All speakers are seasoned directors and executives from globally operating US firms, testifying about their boards, in a combination with US academics and our GUBERNA experts.

Next to these two days of learning and exchange, we organise company visits to the offices and development centres of world leaders such as Google, Microsoft and Meta, in order to understand their take on innovation and AI, but also on the current developments.

Your investment

The price of this cutting-edge and exclusive programme in Silicon Valley is 8900 euros (Excl. VAT) with participation reserved only for our prominent GUBERNA members. The access package includes 3 days of content with faculty and speakers, 3 nights in a hotel, event location/classroom, meals during the programme (breakfasts, lunches and closing dinner), transportation during the second day of company visits, support staff and study materials. (It does not include flights and transport from airports to the location.)

	Day 1 – Location: San Francisco Morning session: Prof. Dr. Evan Epstein, Professor Corporate Governance at UCLaw and Stanford Graduate School of Business; Host of the well-know podcast “Boardroom governance with Evan Epstein” in conversation with Sandra Gobert, CEO of GUBERNA and Partner at Andersen Law, about the geopolitical redefinition of the US-EU relationship and its consequences for Belgian boards. Ethics and AI: Some US AI companies are “Public Benefit Corporations”, aiming to create large AI systems in which safety is primordial. In this session, they will explain their governance structure and how even large, complicated governance structures can foster innovative thinking Afternoon session: From venture capital to public company governance. How do companies make the transition and what do boards need to take into account? Our speakers are directors and C-level executives from well-known US tech companies, such as Adobe, Salesforce etc…
	Day 2 We visit leading Big Tech and startup companies in Silicon Valley, accompanied by our host Evan Epstein.
	Day 3 – Location: San Francisco Morning session: Prof. Dr. Evan Epstein in conversation with Saartje Verbeke, Lifelong Learning and Portfolio Director at GUBERNA, on governance trends in EU and US: Regulation at different speed: sustainability, AI and cyber security. All three domains need innovation but pose substantial risks. Is regulation the solution? Board dynamics in US and EU: differences and similarities? Board members give testimonials from their reality Afternoon session: We delve further into risk: cyber security and fraud remain two of the highest risks for any organisation. By Driving Culture and Managing Risk: How Corporate Directors Can Lead with Impact. Our speakers bring cases on cyber security incidents and inside views and lessons learned from the Theranos fraud incident.