Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit in Goleta Focuses on AI, Leadership and the Future of Business

Leaders gather on the Central Coast to discuss technological change, women's representation in business and solutions to community challenges.

GOLETA, Calif. — Some of the most influential women in business gathered in Goleta for the Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit, discussing how artificial intelligence, changing economic conditions and technological innovation are reshaping leadership.

This year's summit, held October 12–14, focuses on a new blueprint for power, emphasizing collaboration, purpose and navigating uncertainty in a rapidly changing business landscape.

Ellie Austin, Fortune's Most Powerful Women editorial leader, said bringing the summit to the Central Coast offered an opportunity to highlight technology and entertainment alongside traditional business leadership topics.

“What I love about bringing it here is obviously the beautiful environment, but also the fact that we're able to skew a bit more tech and entertainment focus when we're thinking about our speakers and who to bring on to the stage,” Austin said.

Alaina Hartley, co-host of Social Commerce Network, said the West Coast is playing an important role in developing new business models and ideas.

“A lot of folks have flown out from New York, and a lot of the innovation is happening on the West Coast, whether it's LA, San Francisco or Santa Barbara,” Hartley said.

“This is really the epicenter where there are new business models and concepts being driven,” she added.

AI reshapes leadership and media

As artificial intelligence transforms industries, leaders are considering how technology will change the way companies operate — and what those changes could mean for women in executive positions.

Austin said technological innovation will reshape expectations for effective leadership in the coming years. She also pointed to diversity, equity and inclusion rollbacks at a time when women remain underrepresented among Fortune 500 company leaders.

The changes extend to the media industry, where social platforms are creating new ways to distribute news and other content.

Sammi Cohen, CEO of Social Commerce Network, said technological disruption is prompting the industry to reconsider how content is produced and shared.

Cohen said platforms that once played a smaller role in media are creating new opportunities for people to communicate and distribute content beyond traditional media channels.

Women leaders focus on community impact

The summit also highlighted how leadership can extend beyond the corporate world to address challenges facing local communities.

Georgie Smith, founder and president of A Sense of Home, works to prevent homelessness among young people transitioning out of foster care.

Smith said the organization began as a random act of kindness before revealing a larger need among young people who leave the foster care system without adequate support.

“We discovered this complete and total crisis in that kids coming out of the foster care system are having to fend for themselves,” Smith said.

Smith said bringing women together can help generate solutions to major societal challenges.

“We need to do a lot more of this, like a lot more women coming together, because I think we've got some pretty good answers to a lot of crises that we face, and I think we're pretty caring and thoughtful about how we implement solutions,” Smith said. “So it feels hopeful.”

As leaders navigate technological change and evolving business expectations, the summit's conversations center on who will shape the future — and how their influence can be used to address challenges both inside and outside the workplace.