Research Week: Research Leadership Summit, hosted by Sarah Sled
- Date
- 2025-06-04
- Location
- San Francisco, CA, USA
- Host
- Learners
About this event
Research leadership can be isolating even when your calendar is full. This summit brings research leaders together in person in San Francisco for a focused morning of conversation, perspective, and practical connection with peers who understand the real work of guiding teams, shaping strategy, and building influence across an organization. If you lead research, support research operations, or are stepping into a more senior role, this is a chance to get out of your usual context and into a room designed for honest discussion. Hosted by Sarah Sled as part of Research Week, the Research Leadership Summit is built for people who want sharper thinking, stronger networks, and more grounded ways to lead. What Is This? The Research Leadership Summit is an in-person gathering centered on the realities of leading research today. Rather than a generic networking event, this is a summit format: a space for shared learning, peer exchange, and conversations that go beyond surface-level introductions. As part of Research Week, the event sits within a broader moment of community attention around research practice and impact. That makes it especially valuable for attendees who want to zoom out from day-to-day delivery and think more intentionally about leadership, team health, stakeholder relationships, and the future of the discipline. Expect a room with a strong community feel, but with clear professional value. The tone is social and welcoming without losing focus: you should leave having met people, traded ideas, and gained language or perspective you can bring back to your work. What to Expect The morning begins at 8:30 AM PDT on Wednesday, June 4 and is designed for in-person participation in San Francisco, USA. Because this is a leadership summit, expect the experience to center on conversation, discussion, and connection rather than passive attendance. You can expect a mix of activities that support both structured learning and informal exchange, including: Opportunities to meet fellow research leaders and practitioners face to face Discussions around leadership challenges, team development, and organizational influence Space for peer-to-peer conversation with people navigating similar decisions A community-driven atmosphere that supports both new connections and deeper professional relationships This is also the kind of event where the conversations between sessions matter. Some of the most useful insights often come from hearing how someone else handles hiring, prioritization, cross-functional alignment, or research visibility inside their company. Because the event is tagged as a summit, community, networking, meetup, and social gathering, you should expect a format that balances substance with accessibility. You do not need to arrive with a polished point of view; showing up ready to listen, contribute, and connect is enough. Why Attend Research leadership asks you to make decisions that are rarely simple. You may be balancing craft quality with speed, advocating for headcount, helping teams mature, or figuring out how research earns trust at higher levels of the organization. Being in a room with peers who are thinking through similar questions can save you time and sharpen your judgment. This summit offers value in a few distinct ways: Perspective: hear how others are approaching leadership, influence, and team-building Connection: build relationships with people in the research community beyond your immediate company or circle Practical insight: gather ideas you can apply to your own team, workflows, and stakeholder conversations Professional grounding: step back from execution and reconnect with the bigger picture of what strong research leadership looks like For newer leaders, the summit can help you get clearer on the role itself: what to prioritize, how to communicate your impact, and where leadership differs from individual contribution. For more experienced leaders, it creates space to compare notes, test assumptions, and expand your network with peers operating at a similar level. It is also simply useful to be in person with others who care about the field. In an environment where many professional interactions are fragmented or remote, a concentrated, face-to-face gathering can lead to more candid conversations and more durable connections. Practical Details This event takes place in person in San Francisco, USA. If you value live conversation, easier relationship-building, and the energy of being in the room, this format is a major part of the appeal. The summit starts at 8:30 AM PDT on Wednesday, June 4, so plan to arrive with enough time to settle in, meet people, and ease into the morning. Since this is part of Research Week, it may also fit well into a larger week of community participation if you are planning multiple events. A few useful things to keep in mind: This is best suited to attendees who want active participation, not just passive listening In-person networking is a core part of the experience, so leave room for conversations before, during, and after the main program If you are coming with current leadership questions on your mind, bring them; this setting is ideal for comparing approaches with peers If your work involves leading research, growing a research function, or helping research have more impact, this summit is a strong use of a morning. You will leave with new contacts, stronger context, and a better sense of how other leaders are navigating the same work.
Who should attend
This is for people who want thoughtful, in-person conversation about what it really takes to lead research well. - You lead a research team and want to compare notes with peers on strategy, team development, and cross-functional influence. - You are a senior researcher or research manager stepping into leadership and want clearer perspective on how the role changes at the next level. - You work in research operations, program leadership, or a closely related function and want stronger connections with the people shaping research organizations. - You are responsible for helping research have more visibility and impact inside your company, and you want practical ideas you can bring back to stakeholders and partners. - You value community as much as content and are looking for a room where networking feels relevant, not random. - You are based in or visiting the Bay Area during Research Week and want a focused in-person event that combines leadership discussion with real professional connection. If you are looking for meaningful peer exchange, grounded leadership conversation, and a stronger network in the research community, you will likely feel at home here.