Only the curious will thrive: Top takeaways from Nexus 2025

Curiosity was the common thread at Nexus 2025, our annual flagship client event.  This year, leaders across industries gathered in San Diego to connect over human-centered AI and leading through constant change. We also celebrated our Catalyst Award winners — leaders who are driving real change and shaping the future of their industries. Here are some of the highlights and takeaways from our time together.

1. Curiosity is a leadership advantage

“Only the curious will thrive” was more than a theme — it was a challenge. In her opening keynote, Launch President Tammy Soares said, “If people are sitting back and waiting to see what happens with AI, they’re going to get left behind.” That urgency echoed across every session.

Whether it was a healthcare founder reshaping patient access or a 40-year tech veteran still asking what’s next, the leaders on stage showed that staying curious is what moves ideas forward. It’s what creates space for better questions, and better questions lead to better solutions.

2. Start with humans, not technology

Many of the strongest stories shared had one thing in common: they didn’t start with technology. They started with people. From insurance to logistics to healthtech, leaders talked about spending time in the field, watching how people actually use products and tools and then designing from that place of insight.

3. AI is not a strategy. It’s a tool.

There was plenty of excitement about AI — and plenty of realism, too. Instead of hyping AI for its own sake, leaders have focused on where it fits and how it can help. One panelist shared how his 3½-year-old grandson interacts with AI in ways that would never occur to him. The next generation will be AI natives. Our job is to stay curious enough to learn alongside them.

4. Small steps, big impact

Sean Jantzen, Vice President of Applications Development at UPS, shared how his team discovered that smaller deployments are easier to manage and that the “blast radius is smaller” when things go wrong. After months of small-batch releases, his business partner noticed something unexpected: “Isn’t it odd that there’s not as many bugs or defects?” These smaller releases create software stability, which helps gain consumer trust and leads to a better user experience.

5. It helps to be in the room

The best part of Nexus? The side conversations, connections and shared spark from being surrounded by curious leaders who show up authentically. Starting the day with an all-room game of rock-paper-scissors and ending it on the dance floor with a robot dog, we left Nexus feeling inspired, energized and ready to take on what's next.

We’re grateful to everyone who joined us in San Diego. Thanks for showing up with open minds and big questions. And thanks for proving, again and again, that only the curious will thrive.