2026
Encoura + RNL National Conference On Demand
Relive this year's most captivating moments from the Encoura + RNL National Conference with the keynote recordings below. Watch as Liz Murray tells her inspirational story of transitioning from homelessness to Harvard, Americus Reed shares how to create identity loyalty among students and families, Platon reminds us of the power of human connection, and Kim Reid shares student research to strengthen your institutional brand.
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From Homeless to Harvard
Liz Murray, Best-Selling Author, Breaking Night: My Journey from Homeless to Harvard; Founder of The Arthur Project
A story so powerful it was made into a movie, Liz Murray shares her fascinating, inspirational story of growing up with two drug-addicted parents who she began supporting at age 10. Homeless at age 15, the death of her mother was the wake-up call that made her break free of her circumstances and pursue a different path for her life. While living on the streets of New York, she completed and graduated from high school in just two years. Overcoming horrible odds, she won a full scholarship and was accepted to Harvard University. Murray offers one of the most moving, elegant and uplifting tales you will ever hear.
The AI Paradox: Why Identity Matters More Than Ever
Americus Reed, The Whitney M. Young Jr. Professor of Marketing, Co-Founder of Persona Partners
Generative AI is transforming how students search, learn, compare, and make decisions. Information that was once scarce is now abundant. Advice that once required a counselor, expert, or trusted source is increasingly available on demand. As AI accelerates the commoditization of information, higher education faces a critical question: What remains truly differentiating?
This is the AI Paradox: the more accessible information becomes, the more important identity becomes. In this keynote, Wharton Professor Americus Reed will explore the concept of Identity Loyalty—the powerful bond that forms when a brand becomes part of who people believe they are and who they aspire to become. Drawing from research in psychology, consumer behavior, and branding, Reed will show why students and families continue to choose institutions that reinforce their aspirations, values, and sense of self, even amid growing skepticism toward higher education and expanding educational alternatives.
Participants will learn what other industries can teach higher education about creating enduring loyalty, how generative AI is reshaping the enrollment landscape, and why the institutions that thrive in the coming decade will be those that move beyond providing information to helping students answer a deeper question: Who do I want to become?
As demographic shifts, alternative credentials, political pressures, and technological disruption reshape the sector, Identity Loyalty offers a framework for building trust, strengthening demand, and creating lasting institutional relevance in an age where information is everywhere, but meaning is increasingly scarce.
The Power of Human Connection in the Digital Age
Platon, World-Renowned Portrait and Documentary Photographer
A master communicator and storyteller, Platon has photographed a unique mix of subjects across the globe—ranging from the world’s most powerful to everyday people.
Having recently worked with Donald Trump, Platon shares a rare and unique insight into the U.S. President’s current mindset and character. Platon also reflects on his personal encounters with Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu, and tech titans Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg. Against an ever-changing political, cultural, and technological landscape, Platon calls for constructive optimism and unity. Leaving audiences enthralled, Platon explores the poignant and riveting stories behind his renowned portraits, showcasing his extraordinary ability to penetrate the barriers of his sometimes weary subjects. He reveals the lessons in leadership and compassion that he’s learnt from some of the world’s most prominent figures — like George Clooney, Condoleezza Rice, Adele, Nicole Kidman, Muhammad Ali, Edward Snowden, Stephen Hawking, heads of state and government, U.S. military heroes and human rights champions — and how they can be applied to our everyday interactions.
“Something is fundamentally shifting in the values of our society,” says Platon. “As we learn to navigate the forces of AI and respond to global disruption and uncertainty, we must remind ourselves that genuine human connection and real emotional intelligence bind our society together. It’s time to celebrate a new set of cultural heroes: those who inspire us with their courage, their curiosity and their compassion.”
Memorable and soul-stirring, Platon’s one of a kind emotional presentation promises to bring people together to embrace new perspectives, bridge divides, and create a stronger sense of belonging. Taking listeners on an emotional journey, from laughter to tears to reflection, he’ll leave your audience wanting more from this master of his craft.
Perception Is Reality: How to Own Your Institutional Identity
Kim Reid, Eduventures Principal Analyst, Encoura
Who do prospective students say you are? Each time you connect with students you have an opportunity to develop your brand and differentiate your institution. In an ideal world, every institution would seamlessly communicate a distinctive and relevant identity to students who would apply in droves. In reality, institutions are both aligned and misaligned with student notions of brand. Using the Eduventures Prospective Student Brand Research, we’ll identify brand neighborhoods, as defined by students themselves. Understanding these neighborhoods, the real position of your institution, helps you embrace alignment and strategize to overcome the misalignments.
