The Napa Institute held its annual Faith and Business Conference on October 15, bringing together more than 250 Catholic leaders from across the country. CEOs, entrepreneurs, academics, clergy, and Catholic professionals gathered to reflect on one major theme shaping today’s economy: the rapid rise of artificial intelligence and its impact on human dignity, work, and leadership.
The day opened with the Eucharistic Procession, where over 5,000 walked through the streets of Manhattan. With faith at the center of professional life, the event encouraged attendees to consider how emerging technologies can be guided by moral clarity and responsibility. Throughout the day, speakers explored AI from multiple angles: economics, ethics, business strategy, and culture. They discussed how technology is reshaping industries, the need for standards that protect human work, and the central role of virtue in guiding innovation. Presenters emphasized that AI is not only a technical issue but also a moral one, and that Catholic leaders must help ensure it serves the common good.
Breakout sessions and panels featured experts from finance, technology, entertainment, consulting, philanthropy, and education. They stressed the importance of forming leaders who can navigate uncertainty, make sound decisions, and build organizations where character and integrity matter as much as performance.
Dean Andrew Abela of the Busch School of Business was one of the speakers. He joined a panel focused on the virtues needed in modern leadership: courage, prudence, humility, perseverance, and consistency. His contribution highlighted the Busch School’s emphasis on forming business leaders who act with integrity and serve others through their work.
The conference closed with a renewed sense of purpose: faith and business are deeply connected, and leaders must bring moral wisdom to today’s technological challenges. By gathering professionals from across industries, the Napa Institute created a space for serious conversations about AI, virtue, and responsibility in a spirit of community and hope.
The Faith and Business Conference once again affirmed the importance of developing leaders who unite innovation with moral clarity and are committed to building a business culture rooted in human dignity.