Conference Speakers
Our speakers are industry leaders, innovators, and visionaries who will share their expertise
and bring valuble insights to each session.
Daniel Zhao
Chief Economist, 2026 Kenan Institute Distinguished Fellow
Daniel Zhao is Chief Economist at Glassdoor, the worldwide leader on career insights about jobs and companies. Daniel leads the Economic Research team, conducting research using Glassdoor’s unique data on a range of topics in labor market trends and employer-employee relations.
Daniel’s work covers drivers of employee engagement and sentiment and has produced new data products like the Glassdoor Employee Confidence Index. Daniel’s research has also touched on other topics like pay transparency, employee retention, layoffs and leadership communication styles.
Daniel’s work covers drivers of employee engagement and sentiment and has produced new data products like the Glassdoor Employee Confidence Index. Daniel’s research has also touched on other topics like pay transparency, employee retention, layoffs and leadership communication styles.
Gerald Cohen
Chief Economist
Gerald provides strategic vision and leadership of the translational economic research and policy initiatives at the Institute.
He has worked in both the public and private sectors focusing on the intersection between financial markets and economic fundamentals. During the Obama Administration Gerald was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Macroeconomic Analysis at the U.S. Department of Treasury where he helped formulate and evaluate the impact of policy proposals on the U.S. economy. Prior to Treasury, he managed a global macro fund at Ziff Brothers Investments.
He has worked in both the public and private sectors focusing on the intersection between financial markets and economic fundamentals. During the Obama Administration Gerald was Deputy Assistant Secretary for Macroeconomic Analysis at the U.S. Department of Treasury where he helped formulate and evaluate the impact of policy proposals on the U.S. economy. Prior to Treasury, he managed a global macro fund at Ziff Brothers Investments.
Michael Christian
Professor of Organizational Behavior, Bell Distinguished Scholar and Area Chair of Organizational Behavior, UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and 2026 Kenan Institute Distinguished Fellow
Mike Christian is an award-winning teacher and researcher. Dr. Christian aspires to help people to be their best at work. Dr. Christian’s teaching interests include human energy optimization, resilience, leadership coaching, leading effective teams and organizational change. His research focuses on understanding the mind-body connection at work. He examines how somatic states such as sleep, pain and sickness affect energy, work engagement and self-control at work. He studies how these factors dynamically relate to unethical behavior as well as desirable work performance.
Nicholas Bloom
William D. Eberle Professor in Economics and Academic Council faculty, Stanford, and 2026 Kenan Institute Distinguished Fellow
Nicholas (Nick) Bloom is the William Eberle Professor of Economics at Stanford University, a Senior Fellow of SIEPR, and the Co-Director of the Productivity, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship Program at the National Bureau of Economic Research. His research focuses on management practices and uncertainty. He previously worked at the UK Treasury and McKinsey & Company.
Sekou Bermiss
Associate Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship; 2025 Kenan Institute Distinguished Fellow
Sekou Bermiss’ research is in the area of strategic management and organizational theory.
Specifically, he investigates how institutional factors shape the perception of firms by critical stakeholders. His research also explores the antecedents and consequences of human capital mobility and how different forms of employee movement impact a firm’s ability to compete with rivals.
Dr. Bermiss teaches courses in people analytics, managing human capital, leading for impact and organizational theory and design
Specifically, he investigates how institutional factors shape the perception of firms by critical stakeholders. His research also explores the antecedents and consequences of human capital mobility and how different forms of employee movement impact a firm’s ability to compete with rivals.
Dr. Bermiss teaches courses in people analytics, managing human capital, leading for impact and organizational theory and design
Paige Ouimet
Executive Director, Professor of Finance
Paige Ouimet became executive director of the Kenan Institute of Private Enterprise in August 2023 after a year as the institute's research director.
She has several research projects looking at income inequality and the role of firms. She also has researched ESOP (employee share ownership plans) and employee stock options and their impact on labor productivity, wages and turnover.
She has several research projects looking at income inequality and the role of firms. She also has researched ESOP (employee share ownership plans) and employee stock options and their impact on labor productivity, wages and turnover.
