On February 11th through the 13th this month, Emerson University kicked off the 2026 Emerson University Executive Education series with a distinguished group of retailers, brand leaders, and industry experts at Harvard Business School. The two-day immersive program focused on Agentic Commerce, the next evolution in how consumers discover, evaluate, and purchase products. The experience reinforced Emerson’s commitment to helping partners and the industry navigate rapid technological change while keeping people, trust, and relationships at the center.
The program began with a welcome reception at The Charles Hotel in Cambridge, creating space for connection and conversation before diving into the work ahead. The following morning, participants explored how Generative AI, Large Language Models (LLMs), and autonomous agents are reshaping retail and consumer goods. Harvard Business School Executive Fellow Dan O’Connor helped frame the opportunity, challenging attendees to think intentionally about when and how to transform in this rapidly evolving landscape.
Learning came to life through hands-on experiences, where participants explored LLM-enabled shopping journeys and agent-powered workflows firsthand. These sessions offered a practical look at how consumers are beginning to search, compare, and purchase within AI-driven ecosystems—and what it will take for brands to remain relevant and discoverable.
Additional sessions examined the shift from assistive tools to autonomous agents, introducing the agentic S-curve and what it means for trust, adoption, and growth. Insights from Spencer Millerberg (DetailPage), Jeremy Yang (Harvard Business School), and industry leaders including Emerson’s own Anu Bliss and Catherine Mazzella helped ground the conversation in today’s real-world application.
The program concluded with a powerful discussion on change management, using the Harvard Business School case Walmart’s Ten-Year Investment in the Frontline. Led by HBS Professor Leonard Schlesinger, an exceptionally dynamic facilitator and teacher, the session reinforced a critical
takeaway: while technology may accelerate transformation, sustained success depends on leadership, trust, and thoughtful investment in people.
Participants left with sharper strategic questions, practical frameworks, and a shared conviction that the agentic future will be defined not just by automation but by how well organizations lead through change.
