The TrustMakers

Fiorenza Lipparini, Director General of Milano & Partners, which led the transformation of Milan for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games, joins Amanda Edelman, General Manager of Chicago and Head of Edelman’s U.S. Travel and Tourism portfolio, to explore what it takes to build trust while hosting a global event. They discuss how Milan balanced international visibility with local impact, and how honest communication, cultural programming and community-first planning helped turn the Olympic Games into a source of pride for residents.

Sean Tindale, Head of Brand at LEGO Education, joins Amanda Edelman, General Manager of Chicago & COO of the Gen Z Lab at Edelman, to explore how LEGO Education is approaching AI through a filmed social experiment with kids. They discuss the critical importance of brand trust, the path to AI literacy, and how companies can step into polarizing topics with authenticity and long-term accountability.

Sandra Sucher, Professor of Management Practice at Harvard Business School, and David Bersoff, Head of Research at the Edelman Trust Institute, join Justin Blake, Executive Director of the Edelman Trust Institute, to discuss their recent article from HBR.org on what it takes for leaders to build stakeholder trust amid heightened uncertainty. The conversation examines why stakeholders increasingly look to business for stability, how transparency and shared sacrifice can reduce anxiety, and why trust brokering has become an essential leadership skill.

A.G. Sulzberger, Publisher of The New York Times, joins Richard Edelman at Cannes Lions for a conversation on the role of journalism in rebuilding trust. They discuss the global rise of misinformation, the decline of local news, and why independent reporting remains essential to democracy. A.G. reflects on how The Times is adapting to new …

Continue reading "The New York Times’ A.G. Sulzberger on the New Playbook for Modern Journalism"

Raj Kumar, President and Editor-in-Chief of Devex, joins Justin Blake, Executive Director of the Edelman Trust Institute, for a recap of their time at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos. Raj and Justin discuss the state of trust in NGOs, shifts in development finance, the impact of misinformation, and how AI could reshape the capacity to deliver in underserved communities.

Max Klymenko, Creator of “Career Ladder,” joins Edelman Trust Institute Executive Director Justin Blake at the World Economic Forum in Davos to discuss how trust is formed in the creator economy. Max offers his perspective on findings from the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer, shares stories behind his YouTube success, and talks about the responsibility creators face in addressing misinformation and bridging divides in an insular world.

Stephen Kehoe, EVP and Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, PepsiCo, joins Justin Blake, Executive Director of the Edelman Trust Institute, at the World Economic Forum in Davos for a conversation on trust, leadership, and global responsibility. Drawing on findings from the 2026 Edelman Trust Barometer, they discuss why trust is increasingly earned locally, how multinational companies balance global scale with local credibility, and what it means for business to broker trust amid economic pressure, misinformation, and geopolitical uncertainty.

Emmy Award–winning storyteller, corporate CMO and The Longest Table movement co-founder Maryam Banikarim joins Edelman’s Jackie Cooper to discuss why trust is increasingly built at the hyperlocal level. They explore how real-world connection, participation, and shared purpose are helping communities rebuild trust, what leaders can learn from grassroots movements, and why grace, vulnerability, and human connection matter more than control in today’s divided world.

Andrew Ng, founder of Coursera and Deeplearning.AI, joins Edelman CEO Richard Edelman to discuss what it will take to build trust in artificial intelligence at scale. They explore how AI is moving from experimentation to everyday use, why media narratives and sensational headlines have led to public fear and misunderstanding of AI, and how leaders can ensure AI innovation delivers real value for stakeholders. 

Continue reading "Stewart “Brittlestar” Reynolds on Trust, Humor, and Staying Relevant "