Feeling paralyzed by the daily news and wondering is there any way to create meaningful change beyond your company? This session brings together a congressional candidate, a seasoned activist, and a founder who has created a company that can affect the mid-terms and the 2028 election to share their distinct pathways for influencing government and policy. Learn practical strategies for finding your leverage point—whether through running for office, grassroots organizing, or other forms of civic engagement—and discover how impact-driven leaders can effectively shape the systems that govern us.
Join Compact Cottages Founder and CEO Barry Bialik for an exclusive factory tour showcasing an innovative building system that delivers high-quality homes at lower costs than traditional stick-built construction—bringing a needed solution to the affordable housing crisis at epidemic proportions in cities across the U.S. You’ll also learn about their “Origami Home” (patent pending), a foldable, prefabricated unit that ships flat and unfolds on-site to become move-in ready in about a week. This innovative system eliminates the 20% lumber waste typical of stick-built construction and has essentially zero waste. The Origami Home was recently selected for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Innovative Housing Showcase on the National Mall, highlighting its potential to rapidly address both disaster recovery and affordable housing needs nationwide.
This tour provides interactive tours highlighting African American history, resilience, and local grassroots initiatives. It connects past and present through community gardens, art, and the development of “Blue Note Junction,” a future hub for Black-owned businesses and wellness.
Back by popular demand – You’ll learn what bean-to-bar really means as the team walks you through the steps. There might be giant roasters working slowly to bring out flavor, or melangers carefully churning chocolate to give it that smooth texture. Watching skilled chocolate makers handle the process reveals just how much of a balance it is between science and art.
Impact CEOs often feel pressure to lead like the charismatic founder with a great social media following, the servant leader they read about, or the visionary they heard speak at a conference. But authentic leadership isn’t about copying someone else’s playbook—it’s about understanding who you are, what you value, and how you naturally show up, then intentionally crafting a leadership approach that’s genuinely yours. This panel will do a deep dive with 2 CEO through a process of self-discovery to identify core leadership values, natural strengths, and the conditions under which one leads at their best (and your worst).
Building a great, mission-driven company is only half the battle — knowing how to protect and grow the wealth that comes from selling it, and sustain your mission is the other half. In this panel, experts in financial planning and sustainable investing share key guidance on both what to do pre-liquidity event as you are negotiating an exit, as well as levers that can be used post-liquidity to stay true to your mission and values. This dynamic panel will cover a range of topics from tax planning and estate and gift structuring to sustaining and integrating mission in personal portfolios while achieving investment diversification. Too many founders arrive at the finish line unprepared, leaving significant money — and opportunity — on the table. Whether your exit is years away or on the horizon, this session will give you the practical playbook to make sure you’re ready when the moment comes.
