The Business of Desire: What is Next for Customer Aspiration

November 14, 2025

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This conference explores how consumer desire is evolving across industries—from luxury travel and fashion to wellness, tech, and food. As consumers increasingly seek out experiences, values, and emotional connection, brands must redefine what it means to be aspirational.

This one-day forum brings professionals from across the luxury and retail space together with top MBA talent for candid conversations and networking.

  • Keynote: Megan Grant, President and CEO of Louis Vuitton Americas

    Interested in speaking on a panel? Please reach out to luxret@stern.nyu.edu

  • Sponsorships play a crucial role in supporting this event. Please reach out if you are interested in learning more.

The Business of Desire

The conference brings together 80 - 100 NYU Stern MBA students and industry professionals for a dynamic exploration of how brands spark and sustain desire in the retail and luxury space. Each session offers 30 minutes of guided discussion and 10 minutes of audience Q&A. Topics include building desire from scratch, cultivating loyalty through storytelling and community, and envisioning the future of luxury amid shifting social, technological, and economic trends.

  • The panels will consist of 3–4 speakers and a moderator. Each session will include 30 minutes of guided questions and 10 minutes of audience Q&A. A moderator’s guide will be provided in advance, and a prep call will be scheduled with panelists and the moderator before the conference.

  • Building Desire from Scratch: This panel will explore how entrepreneurs create desire from day one, balancing vision, storytelling, and strategy to build loyal communities around emerging businesses.

    Cultivating Desire Through Storytelling and Community Building: Exploring how brands are building loyalty and fueling consumer desire by creating holistic, aspirational worlds and fostering meaningful communities.

    The Future of Desire: Examining what’s next for luxury through the lens of shifting social, technological, and economic trends.

  • 80–100 exceptional NYU Stern MBA students, interested in retail and luxury, are expected to be present, providing an engaged and diverse audience for panel discussions.