This conversation produced such impact and innovative ideations last year, we had to bring it back again! This facilitated closed-door session, by McKinsey & Co., will give industry C-Suite leaders the opportunity to have confidential peer-level conversations and address sensitive, yet critical, topics impacting their organizations and the industry.

Talent Rewire, an initiative of FSG, envisions a future where every individual in the U.S. can realize their full potential through a humanity- and economy-boosting job that provides equitable economic opportunity, stability, and mobility. They are especially focused on such opportunities for frontline employees—particularly people of color and women—through 1) innovating new research, programs, and tools to drive employer systems transformation; 2) scaling learnings to build the capacity of the broader workforce field; and 3) modeling equity and frontline-centered systems change. This workshop will be continued in a Part Two session in Chicago on June 17^th and 18^th.

Join us for some lightly structured networking through conversational lunch topics including:

• Hiring justice impacted citizens.
• Leading from the Top: Increasing Access to the C-Suite
• One New Thing We Are Doing Is….
• Building your Ecosystem of Personal & Professional Support
• Accessibility Challenges
• Changing Dynamics of Partnerships w/ Community Based Organizations
• Supporting Title 1 Schools in Adopting Energy Curriculum
• Titles & Terminology

Welcome & Opening Remarks by Cornell Johnson (CEWD)

In 2023, an activist campaign was launched to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion, also known as DEI, in schools, government, and corporations. The campaign described “diversity” as putting identity above merit, “equity” as forcing an equality of outcomes, and “inclusion” as restricting the opposing discourse from non-historically underrepresented communities. Despite the proven record of DEI to help advance positive outcomes as both a moral imperative and competitive advantage, this campaign has successfully leveraged a three-pronged strategy to destabilize the discipline, which includes a narrative line, policy line, and action line to help persuade a split in public support of its elimination. In addition to the proven benefits of DEI on performance, productivity, and profitability, approximately 6 out 10 citizens believe that a representative society makes the United States a better place to live.  In her prior role as the “People’s Chief Diversity Officer”, Dr. Sesha Joi Moon defined “diversity” as all people, “equity” as fair access to opportunity, and “inclusion” as the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness — yet, despite many practitioners’ non-partisan approach to the discipline, D, E, and I have become some of the most politically divisive letters in the alphabet. During this fireside chat, Dr. Moon will be joined by Cornell Johnson to discuss what went right and what went wrong — and where do we go from here as both corporations and a country.

Learn how companies that have successfully achieved cultural transformations actually did it. What are the respective cultures of their organizations and what tangible impacts do those cultures yield? During this session you will hear from CEOs that are investing in sustaining this body of work beyond “the moment.” Learn how they are positioning culture driving work to their board and what outcomes they are presenting.

It is no secret that at the end of the day, the name of the game is making money. For a lot of utility companies, how they do that is impacted and regulated by their respective public service commissioners. During this session you will hear from state commissioners on how they are holding utilities accountable to be inclusive of the communities they serve. Where is this critical group of stakeholders placing priority?

“Pivot” has become the word of the year as companies adjust strategies and terminology related to the business imperatives of diversity yet respect the current political landscape and in some cases, mandates. One futurist wrote the pivots she expects to see in 2025 include: 1) The words change; the work does not. 2) Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) continue to grow and expand. 3) Inclusive leadership and allyship programs become more widespread. 4) DEI is embedded into the culture through values. 5) One and done, check the box inclusion programs are discontinued. 5) Leaders prepare for legal risk from executive orders and Project 2025. 6) Microlearning with live reinforcement accelerates. 7) More focus on doing the work than talking about the work. 8) Using inclusion as a talent magnet. 9) Laser focus on investments in inclusion work. What are your company’s pivots? What are others in the industry adjusting? Join this session for an open, transparent, and forward-looking dialogue.

The dine-around dinners offer Forum attendees the chance to check out some of the area’s unique dining spots. They are perfect for those eager to expand their network and continue the day’s conversations. Individuals will be responsible for their own meal costs.

Date & Time: May 13th, 7:00 PM (following the Forum Reception) 

How to Sign Up: Sign Ups will be released soon.

Space is limited, so be sure to reserve your spot early! 

Description coming soon!

The current president has signed over 65 executive orders since taking office on January 20^th, many of which have challenged the way we work and serve the communities across your respective service territories. But what do these executive orders really mean? What can we do without coloring outside the lines? How can we sustain the work that we spent so many years investing in? Hear from attorneys that have spent time gathering these very answers to help guide our next steps as an industry united.

Hear from Louisiana’s 2^nd Congressional District Representative, The Honorable Troy A. Carter. Congressman Carter serves on the House Committee for Energy and Commerce and is a key stakeholder and influencer of energy policy and economic development. Congressman Carter also serves as House Deputy Whip and 1^st Vice Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Justin J. Pearson is a community-centered visionary focused on environmental and social justice through servant leadership. Committed to creating pathways to opportunity, Pearson has spent years working in workforce development and understands the needs of corporations and the demands of the market.

How are we going to build the workforce of the future when there is a lack of education around what the challenges are in the next 10/20/30 years to achieve our clean energy goals? How do we educate around generation sources? Inspired by AABE’s Ethics Bowl, join us for this dynamic session featuring local college students as they help us solve pertinent and timely challenges that we face today solving for tomorrow.