September 18-19, 2025
Princeton, NJ | Nassau Inn & Grounds for Sculpture
The Innovation Un‑conference
This September, NetElixir’s X=Experience returns to Princeton, NJ, bringing together top industry leaders and academic innovators for an exclusive, two-day summit designed to spark groundbreaking ideas and transformative strategies. Since its inception in 2013, X=Experience has been more than just an event—it’s a “brain spa” where creativity flows, collaborations thrive, and the future takes shape.
From exploring Einstein’s footsteps at Princeton University to engaging in immersive, classroom-style learning at the captivating Grounds for Sculpture, every detail is carefully curated to inspire out-of-the-box thinking and push the boundaries of possibility.
Featured Speakers
Thrive Maximizing Well‑Being in the Age of AI
Anindya Ghose
Heinz Riehl Chair & Professor, NYU Stern
Best-Selling Author of TAP & THRIVE
Litigation Expert, Compass Lexecon
Anindya Ghose
The Science of Mastering Your Intuition
Laura Huang
Professor | Entrepreneur | Author
Laura Huang
Laura Huang is a Professor of Management and Organizational Dynamics. She has held faculty positions at Harvard Business School and the Wharton School, and currently serves as Distinguished Professor and Faculty Director of the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative at Northeastern University, and on the board of Wharton Alumni Angels. An electrical engineer by training, Laura's research focuses on 'quantifying the unquantifiable' where she examines the role of intuition and signaling in behavioral interactions and economic decisions.
Laura was named one of the top 40 business school professors by Poets and Quants, and was a recipient of the 2020 Cozzarelli Prize given by the National Academy of Sciences. In 2021, she was named to the Global Thinker50 Radar list as one of the top thinkers with the potential to change the world of theory and practice.
AI & Innovation for DTC Businesses
David Bell
Co-Founder and President,
Idea Farm Ventures
David Bell
Called the “guru of the DTC movement,” by Inc. Magazine and the “man who kickstarted the direct brand economy,” by IAB, David is co-founder and President at Idea Farm Ventures (IFV), a consumer and investment company based in New York. David was an early personal investor Diapers.com (acq. by Amazon for $545m), Jet.com (acq. by Walmart for $3.3b), Bonobos (acq. by Walmart for $310m), Burrow (private) Cotopaxi, (private), Dagne Dover (private), Harry’s (private), and Warby Parker (WRBY), among many others.
Before IFV, David had a 20-year academic career at Wharton where he was a chaired professor, award-winning teacher and researcher, and originator of courses on digital marketing and e-commerce. His research awards from the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) include the Frank M. Bass Outstanding Dissertation Award, John D.C. Little Best Paper Finalist Award (three), Marketing Science Long Term Impact Finalist Award (two), and Best Operations Management Paper in Management Science Finalist Award (two). He also received the First Place Award for the Production and Operations Management Society Applied Research Challenge, Workshop in Information Systems and Economics Overall Best Paper Award, among several others.
David speaks globally for clients including Alibaba, Google, Haier, Mastercard, Microsoft, Nike, and Ralph Lauren as well as in keynotes for founders and entrepreneurs. His first book, Location is (Still) Everything: The Surprising Influence of the Real World on How We Search, Shop, and Sell in the Virtual One, is a playbook for how navigate the new economy. His MIT Sloan Management articles “How to Win in an Omnichannel World” and “The Store is Dead—Long Live the Store” are bestsellers at Harvard Business School Publishing and he has published in all premier journals in marketing, i.e., Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, Management Science, and Marketing Science.
David holds a Ph.D. (Business) and M.S. (Statistics) from Stanford University as well as a B. Com and M. Com (1st Class Honors) from University of Auckland.
Experimentation AI to Drive Topline Revenue
Udayan Bose
Cofounder and CEO, NetElixir
Cofounder and President, UDAAN
Udayan Bose
Udayan Bose, Founder & CEO of NetElixir, started the company with a vision to help retail businesses succeed online. Over 20 years later, NetElixir continues to drive exceptional results for clients through a combination of proprietary technology, strategic growth models, and expert campaign management services.
With Udayan’s determination and persistence, NetElixir has connected 600+ retail clients to their customers around the world. His exclusive focus on the digital retail space has helped NetElixir become the de facto search marketing experts while partnering with industry leaders like UPS, Google, and Bing.
Prior to NetElixir, Udayan was the Director of Business Development at PartyGaming. He regularly lectures MBA classes at Cornell University, Baruch College, and the Indian School of Business in Hyderabad, India.
Udayan has been featured in many of the most prominent online journals, including The New York Times, Forbes, AdWeek, eMarketer, and Media Post, among others.
Responsible AI: Innovation with Integrity
Thierry E. Klein
President of Nokia Bell Labs
Solutions Research
Thierry E. Klein
Thierry E. Klein is the President of Bell Labs Solutions Research at Nokia Bell Labs. His global multi-
disciplinary team conducts fundamental and applied research focused
on new Nokia value chains, business opportunities and ecosystems. Bell
Labs Solutions Research pursues research and innovation into
advanced technologies, architectures, systems and applications beyond
Nokia’s current product and solutions portfolio. Research areas include
advanced sensing technologies, AI-based knowledge systems and
fundamental algorithms, autonomous software and data systems, and integrated solutions and
experiences.
Thierry served as the Founding Vice-Chair of the Board of the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA), a
cross-industry association bringing together the telecommunications and automotive industries that
he helped found and launch in September 2016. He has also served as the Chairman of the Technical
Committee of GreenTouch, a global consortium dedicated to improving energy efficiency in networks
by a factor 1000x compared to 2010 levels.
Thierry earned an MS in Mechanical Engineering and an MS in Electrical Engineering from the
Université de Nantes and the Ecole Centrale de Nantes in Nantes, France. He received a PhD in
Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA
and is an author on over 35 peer-reviewed conference and journal publications and an inventor on
36 patent applications. He is the recipient of a Bell Labs’ President Award, voted “Technologist of the
Year” at the Total Telecom World Vendor Awards and received an Industrial Innovation Award from
the IEEE Communications Society. He is an IEEE Fellow.
Jim Samuel, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Practice | Executive Director, Master of Public Informatics
Jim Samuel, Ph.D.
Dr. Jim Samuel is an Associate Professor of Practice and Executive Director of the
Informatics Program at Bloustein. He is an information and artificial intelligence
(AI) scientist, with significant industry experience in finance, technology,
entrepreneurship and data analytics. Dr. Samuel’s primary research covers human
intelligence and artificial intelligences interaction and information philosophy.
Dr. Samuel’s applied research focuses on the optimal use of big data and smart
data driven AI applications, text analytics, natural language processing, public
informatics and socioeconomic implications of AI, applied machine learning, social
media analytics, AI education and AI bias.
Dr. Samuel completed his Ph.D. from the Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College
– CUNY, and he also has M.Arch and M.B.A (International Finance) degrees along
with AI/NLP training from Stanford University. His research has been published in
top academic journals and he has served as Editor in Chief and in multiple editorial
roles. Dr. Samuel has worked with large multinational financial services
corporations, and advises businesses and organizations on analytics and AI driven
value creation strategies. He is passionate about research driven thought
leadership in AI, information philosophy, data science and informatics.
Julie Lane
Digital Transformation Leader
Julie Lane
Julie Lane is a visionary Digital Experience and Marketing Leader with over 20 years of experience
driving innovation, operational excellence, and customer-centric growth across Fortune 500
companies, including Amazon AWS, Wells Fargo, and Freedom Mortgage. Known for her ability to
bring clarity to complex challenges and developing actionable strategies, Julie has built a career at
the intersection of leading-edge technology, product innovation, and business transformation.
At Amazon AWS, Julie serves as the Global Program Leader for Digital Innovation and Ways of
Working, collaborating with CEOs, CMOs, and other C-suite executives in Financial Services to
implement product led solutions that enhance customer experience, streamline execution and
accelerate time to value. Under her leadership, AWS launched groundbreaking initiatives like an AI
powered diagnostic engine that scaled globally, enabling product teams to eliminate non-
differentiated tasks and focus on high-value priorities.
Previously, as the Chief Digital Officer at Freedom Mortgage, Julie transformed the analog customer
experience and marketing into a fully integrated digital ecosystem, leveraging AI-driven
personalization and real-time data orchestration to enhance customer journeys and increase
retention. By leading enterprise-wide digital strategies and building a high-performing team of 65
professionals, she positioned Freedom Mortgage as a leader in digital innovation within the U.S.
During her tenure at Wells Fargo, Julie held multiple senior leadership roles, including Managing
Director, Digital Marketing and Customer Experience. She spearheaded digital transformation
initiatives that drove $37 billion in consumer lending volume and led the seamless migration of 11
million customers during the Wells Fargo-Wachovia merger.
In addition to her corporate achievements, Julie founded Skill2Grow, where she mentors startup
founders and C-suite leaders on AI adoption, product strategy, and digital transformation. Her
advisory work has supported successful product launches, market entries, and acquisitions,
including guiding Sharetini through its acquisition by a Canadian VC group.
Julie’s leadership philosophy is rooted in integrity, accountability, and collaboration. She is
passionate about empowering high-performing teams, mentoring underrepresented talent, and
fostering cultures of resilience and adaptability. A founding member of AWS Women in AI, she has
mentored professionals across multiple disciplines, achieving a 70% promotion rate among her
mentees.
Agenda
Breakfast
Rat’s Restaurant at the Grounds for Sculpture
Lunch and Walking Tour
Rat’s Restaurant and the Grounds for Sculpture
Welcome Reception
The X=Experience magic begins on Thursday, September 18th at 6:30 pm with a Welcome Reception at the historic Nassau Inn in Princeton, NJ. During Night One, network with fellow attendees while enjoying a cocktail reception, seated dinner and live entertainment. Notable Americans from Paul Revere to Albert Einstein have dined, lounged, and stayed at the Nassau Inn, and we invite you to share the spirit of their camaraderie.
We have a hotel block with a preferred rate at the Nassau Inn for those guests who wish to stay over to minimize their traveling for the main conference day.
A Night in the Life of
Albert Einstein
Rat’s Restaurant
Empowering the Next Generation
Each year at X=Experience, we raise funds for the UDAAN Trust Flight Foundation through an onsite auction. Think AirBnB, Ray Ban, Sony and more! All tickets purchased are tax-deductible.
Since 2016, the UDAAN Trust has been sponsoring the high school and university education of underprivileged girls in India. Our students come from humble backgrounds, whose families live below the poverty line. Through UDAAN, our students are able to get on the right path to achieve their dreams and improve not just their lives, but those of their families and communities. Currently, 36 girls are enrolled in the program. Eight girls have graduated and six have earned job placements in top-tier multinational companies, increasing their household income by more than 280%.
Hal Hershfield is a Professor of Marketing, Behavioral Decision Making, and Psychology at UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and holds the UCLA Anderson Board of Advisors Term Chair in Management.
His research, which sits at the intersection of psychology and economics, examines the ways we can improve our long-term decisions. He earned his PhD in psychology from Stanford University.
Hershfield publishes in top academic journals and also contributes op-eds to the New York Times, Harvard Business Review, the Wall Street Journal, and other outlets. He consults with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, many financial services firms such as Fidelity, First Republic, Prudential, Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch, and Avantis, and marketing agencies such as Droga5. The recipient of numerous teaching awards, Hershfield was named one of “The 40 Most Outstanding B-School Profs Under 40 In The World” by business education website Poets & Quants.
Your Future Self: How to Make Tomorrow Better Today.
Jonah Berger is a Wharton School professor and internationally bestselling author of Magic Words, Contagious, Invisible Influence, and The Catalyst.
Dr. Berger is a world-renowned expert on natural language processing, change, word of mouth, influence, consumer behavior, and why things catch on. He has published over 80 articles in top‐tier academic journals, teaches one of the world’s most popular online courses, and popular outlets like The New York Times and Harvard Business Review often cover his work. Berger has keynoted hundreds of major conferences and events like SXSW and Cannes Lions, advises various early-stage companies, and consults for organizations like Apple, Google, Nike, Amazon, GE, Moderna, and The Gates Foundation.
Berger has been recognized with a number of awards for both scholarship and teaching, including various early career awards. He was named one of the top 30 leaders in business by the American Management Association and one of the most creative people in business by Fast Company magazine. His research has been featured multiple times in the New York Times Magazine’s “Year in Ideas” and Wharton gave him the Iron Professor award for awesome faculty research.
Founder & CEO,
Pour Moi Skincare
Ulli Haslacher
Ulli is the founder & CEO of Pour Moi Skincare, a pioneering company dedicated to revolutionizing skincare with Climate-Smart solutions, tailored to unique environmental needs.
As a global beauty executive constantly on the lookout for the latest innovations, Ulli noticed her skin transitioning from good to problematic. Frustration drove her to maintain a daily journal of her skin’s condition, leading to uncover a pattern linked to the specific local climates in which she found herself. After aligning her personal observations with published medical research on skin responses to different climates,
Ulli recognized the necessity for a fresh approach. In 2012, Ulli teamed up with Strand Europe Cosmetics/MS BeautiLab, a renowned French expert laboratory in scientific skincare. The partnership was formalized in 2018, giving birth to the Pour Moi Institute at Strand.
After evaluating 3,000+ raw materials and active ingredients, years of R&D, including rigorous testing and pilot programs, the Climate-SmartⓇ Rotating System launched in 2020 and won TIME magazine’s Best Invention Award for skincare. Now Pour Moi Skincare has secured 10 patents with more pending, over 8,000 certified reviews and is at the forefront of the new era of beauty.
Founder & CEO,
Kahawa 1893
Margaret Nyamumbo
Margaret is the founder & CEO of Kahawa 1893, a specialty coffee company with a mission to empower women farmers in Africa. Growing up on her grandfather’s coffee farm she noticed that women provide the majority of labor, about 90%, but they were not fairly compensated. She created Kahawa 1893 to source coffee from women farmers and give back to support them. Consumers can scan a QR code on the bag to send a tip to women farmers.
The coffee is available on the company website and is distributed by major retailers like Trader Joe’s, Sprouts, Fresh Market, Meijer, HEB, Gelsons, Target - the first Black & Woman-owned coffee company to gain national distribution. The brand appeared and received an investment on the hit TV Show Shark Tank.
Prior to launching Kahawa 1893, Margaret worked in Finance at Citi evaluating retail and consumer companies and also at the World Bank and in consulting.
Margaret holds an MBA from Harvard Business and studied Economics at Smith College and the London School of Economics.
Co-founder & CEO,
IAMBIC
Maeve Wang
After returning 300 pairs of shoes in 3 years due to poor shoe fit, Maeve Wang became the unlikely fashion founder of IAMBIC. IAMBIC is transforming the shoe industry with AI-tailored, precision-fit shoes, addressing the needs of the 1 in 4 people frustrated by poor shoe fit but unable to afford custom-built footwear. Unlike traditional custom-fit shoes that cost $3,000-10,000, IAMBIC cuts that price by over 90% with a patent-pending AI system that personalizes fit at scale.
With 12 patent-pending inventions developed over 3 years of government-backed R&D, IAMBIC is democratizing bespoke fit, transforming it from an exclusive luxury to an accessible reality for all. IAMBIC has been featured in Forbes, Shape, and Wall Street Journal and recognized as a TIME Best Invention.
With her background, Maeve brings a nuanced and individualized approach to an industry that has long been plagued by uniformity. Maeve began her career as a Bain consultant where she worked with Fortune 500 executive teams on their most critical innovation, consumer, and retail initiatives. Maeve then served as VP of Delos Ventures, where she led product development and investments in wearables, digital health, and digital content. Maeve graduated from Harvard with a degree in Government and Economics.
Co Founder & Chief Growth Officer
Chai Chief
Naheed Adil
Naheed Adil, is a consumer focused retail specialist with global experience across a number of multi channel retailers in the UK, Europe and USA laser focused on Growth & Profit. Product areas have been Apparel, Footwear, Home, Edible & CPG. Naheed has worked with the world’s top multi channel specialists such as Otto Group in the UK, has launched new brands from concept and a winning team that took the company Boxed ( a competitor of Costco) to IPO. Naheed is using all the ammunition of the 25 years of figuring out the customer journey to co found a new venture called Chai Chief, a new express food and beverage service.
Co-Founder and President,
Idea Farm Ventures
Panel Moderator
David Bell
Called the “guru of the DTC movement,” by Inc. Magazine and the “man who kickstarted the direct brand economy,” by IAB, David is co-founder and President at Idea Farm Ventures (IFV), a consumer and investment company based in New York. David was an early personal investor Diapers.com (acq. by Amazon for $545m), Jet.com (acq. by Walmart for $3.3b), Bonobos (acq. by Walmart for $310m), Burrow (private) Cotopaxi, (private), Dagne Dover (private), Harry’s (private), and Warby Parker (WRBY), among many others.
Before IFV, David had a 20-year academic career at Wharton where he was a chaired professor, award-winning teacher and researcher, and originator of courses on digital marketing and e-commerce. His research awards from the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS) include the Frank M. Bass Outstanding Dissertation Award, John D.C. Little Best Paper Finalist Award (three), Marketing Science Long Term Impact Finalist Award (two), and Best Operations Management Paper in Management Science Finalist Award (two). He also received the First Place Award for the Production and Operations Management Society Applied Research Challenge, Workshop in Information Systems and Economics Overall Best Paper Award, among several others.
David speaks globally for clients including Alibaba, Google, Haier, Mastercard, Microsoft, Nike, and Ralph Lauren as well as in keynotes for founders and entrepreneurs. His first book, Location is (Still) Everything: The Surprising Influence of the Real World on How We Search, Shop, and Sell in the Virtual One, is a playbook for how navigate the new economy. His MIT Sloan Management articles “How to Win in an Omnichannel World” and “The Store is Dead—Long Live the Store” are bestsellers at Harvard Business School Publishing and he has published in all premier journals in marketing, i.e., Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Marketing Research, Management Science, and Marketing Science.
David holds a Ph.D. (Business) and M.S. (Statistics) from Stanford University as well as a B. Com and M. Com (1st Class Honors) from University of Auckland.
