Skip to main content

Vision, Ambition, and Humanity in the Age of AI: Insights from Blackstone’s CEO Conference

December 23, 2025

By Rodney Zemmel, Global Head, Blackstone Operating Team

When you gather more than 200 CEOs from across Blackstone’s portfolio — alongside some of the world’s most innovative business leaders — the conversations quickly move past theory into what it actually takes to grow and succeed at scale.

Over two days of exciting, candid conversation at our annual CEO Conference, we explored the transformative power of AI, how companies are turning the technology’s potential into measurable results, and what it takes to lead effectively in today’s dynamic environment. In convening this community, Blackstone  seeks to equip the CEOs with perspectives and insights that strengthen their businesses and help create value across the portfolio.

The remarks that follow capture moments from those discussions — ideas that are sharp, memorable, and grounded in the realities of leadership in a time of profound change.

Drag
Drag
Drag
Drag
Drag
Drag
Drag
Drag
Drag
Drag
Drag
Drag
Drag
Drag
Drag
Drag
Drag
Drag
Drag
Drag

“Human leadership is the single biggest driver of AI infusion in enterprises.”

– Paul Smith, Chief Commercial Officer of Anthropic

“The slope of the curve for AI’s improvement, adoption, and implications is so steep. It’s imperative to make investments now.”

– Ruth Porat, President and CIO of Alphabet and Google, and Blackstone Board Member

“Hitting 99.9% of your target means you missed your target.”

– Kevin Lobo, Chair & CEO of Stryker

2025 CEO Conference - Courtney della Cava

“The world has never moved this fast, and it will never move this slow again.”

– Bill McDermott, Chairman & CEO of ServiceNow

“Technology is no longer a vertical — it’s a horizontal. It’s everything.”

– Amit Dixit, Head of Asia Private Equity, Blackstone

“If you are going to do something new, do it with your best people.”

– Steve Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO & Co-Founder of Blackstone

If there’s one thing the CEO Conference reinforced, it’s that AI will only become more transformative across industries— and the leaders who move now will define its impact.

For me, three priorities stand out on AI:

  • First, teams need to be educated, equipped and empowered to use these tools every day.
  • Second, I encourage leaders to focus on one area of the business where transformation will truly move the needle.
  • And third, use AI‑powered software development as the proving ground — it’s the most immediate, scalable way to see what’s possible.

Done together, these steps can turn the promise of AI into measurable results.

Explore More from the CEO Conference

More Highlights

View from the Top

Jon Gray, Blackstone’s President & COO, discusses AI as ‘the main thing’ and pursuing relentless excellence as a business leader.

Watch Now

In the Ring: Inside OURA and the Wellness Boom

Eurie Kim, Former Chair of OURA & Managing Partner at Forerunner, shares her journey of helping scale OURA from a niche sleep tracker to a global health platform.

Watch Now

Wall Street Meets Silicon Valley

Ruth Porat, President and CIO of Alphabet and Google and Blackstone Board Member, provides cross-industry lessons from finance and tech — with powerful insights on AI and leading through crisis.

Watch Now

Stay up-to-date

Sign up for our latest insights and firm announcements.

Please fill out this field.
Please fill out this field.
Please fill out this field.
Please fill out this field.
Please fill out this field.

You have successfully submitted your information