MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Star Tribune has announced its initial speaker lineup for the second annual North Star Summit, scheduled for Sept. 22-23 at the Guthrie Theater and Four Seasons in Minneapolis.
The two-day event will bring together national and regional leaders for interviews, panel discussions and conversations about technology, media, business, health care, public policy and other issues shaping the Midwest and the nation.
“The success of last year’s inaugural North Star Summit alongside recent events have shown that Minnesotans and Midwesterners are shaping culture and policy well beyond our borders,” said Steve Grove, publisher and CEO of the Minnesota Star Tribune. “The 2026 North Star Summit is shaping up to be the can’t miss event of the fall for anyone in a leadership position across our region.”
The initial group of scheduled speakers includes:
. U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna of California’s 17th Congressional District, a leading congressional voice on technology, manufacturing, economic policy and innovation.
. Varun Shetty, vice president of media partnerships at OpenAI, where he leads collaborations with publishers, news organizations and media companies on the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
. Adam Winer, head of content strategy, insights and analytics at Spotify, where he leads data-driven content strategy and audience research.
. Susan Dominus, a staff writer at The New York Times Magazine and author whose work focuses on culture, science, education and social change.
. Julie Pace, executive editor and senior vice president of The Associated Press, where she oversees the organization’s global news report and editorial operations.
. Christophe Beck, chairman, president and CEO of Ecolab and chair of Greater MSP.
. Dave Bozeman, president and CEO of C.H. Robinson, one of the world’s largest logistics platforms.
. Carla Vernón, CEO and board director of The Honest Company, a consumer products company focused on personal care and household products.
. Wemimo Abbey, co-founder and co-CEO of Esusu Inc., a financial technology company working to expand financial access and credit-building opportunities for renters.
. Michelle Bellanca, CEO of Claros, which is developing technology designed to destroy PFAS, commonly known as “forever chemicals.”
. Adair Mosley, CEO of the GroundBreak Coalition, an initiative seeking to deploy $5.3 billion to reduce wealth gaps through homeownership, entrepreneurship and commercial real estate development in Minnesota.
. Dr. Joseph Lee, president and CEO of the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation and a nationally recognized addiction psychiatrist and mental health leader.
. Matt Caldwell, CEO of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Minnesota Lynx, where he oversees business operations, fan engagement and long-term growth initiatives.
. John Phelan, president of Center of the American Experiment, a Minnesota-based public policy organization focused on free-market policies, fiscal responsibility and government accountability.
. Andrew Dayton, founder and CEO of Constellation Fund, a foundation that uses data and research to identify and support organizations working to reduce poverty in the Twin Cities.
. Amy Webb, futurist, bestselling author and founder and CEO of the Future Today Strategy Group.
Additional speakers and session details will be announced before the summit. All announced speakers are subject to change.
The inaugural North Star Summit in 2025 featured political leaders, Fortune 500 executives, journalists and cultural figures. Organizers said this year’s event will again focus on ideas and potential solutions that can be applied in workplaces, communities and daily life.
Google, The New York Times, Fairview and HealthPartners are among the summit’s sponsors. Participating organizations include OpenAI, Spotify, Ecolab and C.H. Robinson.
Tickets and sponsorship packages are available at startribune.com/northstarsummit.
The Minnesota Star Tribune traces its history back 159 years and has won seven Pulitzer Prizes. The company operates the largest news organization in the Midwest. More information is available at startribunecompany.com.
