AFP 2026 Announces Keynote Lineup Featuring Leslie Odom, Jr., Jake Knapp and Michelle Caruso-Cabrera

Keynote speakers will share perspectives on risk-taking, intuition and global economic trends

ROCKVILLE, Md., Oct. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- The Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) announced the keynote lineup for AFP 2026, featuring Tony and Grammy Award-winning artist Leslie Odom, Jr.; investor and bestselling author Jake Knapp; and journalist and economic commentator Michelle Caruso-Cabrera.

Representing backgrounds in entertainment, innovation and geopolitics, the keynote speakers offer attendees new perspectives on professional growth and decision-making.

"The AFP Conference connects financial professionals with ideas and experiences they might not otherwise encounter. This year's keynote speakers come from very different fields, yet they each bring lessons relevant to treasury and finance: responding to setbacks, making decisions with incomplete information and understanding external forces that affect every organization," said Pat Culkin, President & CEO of AFP.

Overview of keynotes

Leslie Odom, Jr.
Sunday Keynote | Failing Up: How to Take Risks, Aim Higher, and Never Stop Learning
Drawing from his career and personal experiences, Tony and Grammy Award-winning artist Leslie Odom Jr. will challenge the audience to rethink their relationship with risk, rejection and setbacks. He will share powerful insights on following your passions, recognizing your own potential, staying curious and continuing to grow when success doesn't happen on your expected timeline. Along the way, he will show how persistence, preparation, self-belief and a willingness to learn can transform obstacles into opportunities.

Jake Knapp
MindShift Keynote (sponsored by Capital One) | The Intuition Secret
Investor Jake Knapp will share lessons from a decade of investing in successful startups, illustrate unconventional approaches from his New York Times bestseller "Sprint," and offer a brand-new take on Steve Jobs and his magical intuition. He will teach audience members to strengthen their own intuition and — no matter their role — think more like a startup founder to forge deeper connections with customers and deliver fantastic products.

Michelle Caruso-Cabrera
Certification Keynote Luncheon (sponsored by PNC Bank) | The Intersection of the Economy, Policy, and Geopolitics
Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, a long-time journalist and commentator in the fields of political and financial reporting, will zero in on key geopolitical issues and the top risks impacting the global economy. She will offer timely analysis and detailed commentary on complex topics affecting the global network to help treasury and finance professionals better anticipate risk and make informed decisions in a volatile global environment.

Registration and media information
Join nearly 7,000 treasury and finance professionals at AFP 2026 in Las Vegas. Register for AFP 2026.

Members of the press interested in covering AFP 2026 can apply for media credentials.

About AFP 2026
Hosted by the Association for Financial Professionals, AFP 2026 brings together more than 7,000 treasury, payments, FP&A and corporate finance professionals for four days of education, networking and real-world insights. The event takes place November 8-11, 2026, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.

About AFP^®
The Association for Financial Professionals (AFP) is the leading professional society dedicated to helping financial professionals achieve their greatest career potential. Since 1979, AFP has been connecting financial professionals to the real-world expertise of their global peers, notably through the largest annual conference for treasury and corporate finance. As the certifying body for the Certified Treasury Professional (CTP®) and Certified Corporate FP&A Professional (FPAC®) credentials, AFP sets the standard of excellence in the profession. For more information, visit financialprofessionals.org.

Media contact
Joe Hodanich
Senior Director, Digital Strategy & Content
Association for Financial Professionals
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Association for Financial Professionals