Harmony at TUG CONNECTS 2026

Join your fellow Summit attendees for a private breakfast and a welcome and introduction to this year's agenda and speakers for the summit

Generative AI is already shaping how organizations operate, make decisions, and manage risk, yet it is still often looked at as a technical initiative rather than a leadership responsibility. This session reframes AI as a shared priority for senior leaders, IT teams and staff, emphasizing how organizations can work collaboratively to guide AI decisions with clarity, trust, and accountability.

Using tools and real-world examples to illustrate current and near-future capabilities, the session explores leadership considerations including security, AI agents, automated workflows, and the critical role of staff education in successful adoption. Participants will also examine balancing productivity gains with security and risk.

This engaging session is a roundtable and follow-up to the general session presentation from our keynote speaker, Josh Linkner.
Josh s a dynamic entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, and one of today’s most compelling voices on innovation and creative leadership. As a five-time tech founder and venture capitalist, Josh brings real-world insight into how organizations can thrive amid disruption. His high-energy keynote blends inspiring storytelling with practical strategies that empower teams to think boldly, embrace uncertainty, and unlock everyday creativity. Engaging, relatable, and deeply actionable, Josh challenges conventional thinking and equips audiences to turn imagination into impact.

Many leaders in the distribution industry rise into management roles through technical expertise and operational excellence. Yet few are given the opportunity to develop the leadership mindset, people skills, and communication capabilities that drive sustained team performance.

This session explores how effective leadership is less about authority and more about influence. Executives will gain insight into the often-underestimated impact leaders have—both positive and negative—on engagement, productivity, and results.

In this session, Mark will explore:
- Leadership mindset and presence — building confidence, self-awareness, and the distinction between leadership and management
- Communication that drives performance — using language effectively, navigating difficult conversations, and influencing outcomes
- Developing and empowering people — coaching and mentoring, delegation, and enabling accountability and growth
- Leading through change and complexity — aligning vision, values, and behaviors while guiding teams through uncertainty
- Modern leadership challenges — managing remote teams and maintaining engagement, alignment, and performance

Throughout the session, Mark will share real-world examples drawn from practical leadership experience, illustrating how these principles can be applied immediately to drive stronger performance and leadership impact.

Enjoy this time as an open-roundtable discussion, exclusively for executive summit distribution executives to share insights, challenges, and strategies.