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Explore the 2026–2027 Season

Discover upcoming programs designed to help you grow your community, expand your thinking, and lead with greater impact. This lineup will continue to grow throughout the year with additional programs, timely conversations, and leadership experiences.

From Global Tensions to Local Strategy: Geopolitical Briefing for Business Leaders

Tuesday, July 14, 2026

Registration: 4 – 4:30 p.m. CT | Program: 4:30 – 6 p.m. CT | Reception: 6 – 7 p.m. CT

425 S Financial Pl, 3rd Floor, Chicago, IL 60605

Speaker: Tim Berry
Global Head of Corporate Responsibility and Chairman of the Mid-Atlantic Region, JPMorganChase
Speaker: Dana Linnet
CEO, The Summit Group DC
Speaker: Phoenix Ricks
CEO, Girl Friday Advisors
Moderator: Per Kristian Hong
Partner and Global Lead, Global Business Policy Council, Kearney

More Than A Game: How Chicago Sports Shape Business, Culture, and Leadership

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

Registration: 8 – 8:30 a.m. CT | Program: 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. CT | Reception: 9:30 – 10 a.m. CT

Obama Presidential Center | 6001 S. Stony Island Ave., Chicago, IL 60637

Speaker: Dan Moriarty
Chief Marketing Officer, Chicago Fire FC
Speaker: Laura Ricketts
Owner, Chicago Stars FC
Speaker: Michael Strautmanis
Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Obama Foundation
Moderator: Phil Clement
President & CEO, World Business Chicago

Book Talk: Overcommunicate with Rob Johnson

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

Registration: 4 – 4:30 p.m. CT | Program: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. CT | Reception: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. CT

Impact House | 200 W Madison St, 3rd Floor

Speaker: Rob Johnson
Author, Overcommunicate: A Guide for Business Executives and Aspiring Leaders
Moderator: Eileen Rochford
Podcast Co-Host, Can You Hear Me Now

Book Talk: Likeable Badass with Alison Fragale

Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Registration: 4 – 4:30 p.m. CT | Program: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. CT | Reception: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. CT

Impact House | 200 W Madison St, 3rd Floor

Speaker: Alison Fragale
Organizational Psychologist, Professor, Speaker, and Author of Likeable Badass

The Big Business of Beauty

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Registration: 4 – 4:30 p.m. CT | Program: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. CT | Reception: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. CT

CCC Intelligent Solutions | 167 N Green St, 17th Floor, Chicago, IL 60607

Speaker: Kecia Steelman
Chief Executive Officer, Ulta Beauty
Moderator: Val Warner
Eyewitness News Anchor and Co-Host of Windy City Weekend, ABC7 Chicago

Chicago, Live: Building the Moments That Move the City

Wednesday, August 19, 2026

Registration: 4 – 4:30 p.m. CT | Program: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. CT | Reception: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. CT

Navy Pier – Beer Garden | 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60611

Speaker: Chris Schyvinck
CEO, Shure
Speaker: Kristen Reynolds
CEO, Choose Chicago
Speaker: Marilynn Gardner
CEO, Navy Pier

Book Talk: I Can Fit That In with Erin Coupe

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Registration: 4 – 4:30 p.m. CT | Program: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. CT | Reception: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. CT

Impact House | 200 W Madison St, 3rd Floor

Speaker: Erin Coupe
Founder & CEO, Authentically EC; Executive Advisor; Author of I Can Fit That In

Powering the Next Era of Growth: Building Illinois’ Future Economy

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Registration: 8 – 8:30 a.m. CT | Program: 8:30 – 9:30 a.m. CT | Reception: 9:30 – 10 a.m. CT

Ivy Room, 12 E. Ohio St., #100, Chicago, IL 60611

Speaker: Gil C. Quiniones
President & CEO, ComEd

Checking In on the Future: The New Rules of Hospitality

Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Registration: 8:30 – 9 a.m. CT | Program: 9 – 10 a.m. CT

Speaker: Mark Hoplamazian
President & CEO, Hyatt Hotels

It’s Getting Hot in Here: The Real Impact of Menopause in the Workplace

Tuesday, October 13, 2026

Registration: 4 – 4:30 p.m. CT | Program: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. CT | Reception: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. CT

Accenture | 500 W. Madison St., Chicago, IL

Speaker: Dr. Jessica Shepherd
Chief Medical Officer, Hers
Speaker: Steve Pemberton
Managing Director, Seramount
Speaker: Jill Foos
Co-Founder, Chicago Menopause Collective
Moderator: Janet Foutty
Former Deloitte Executive

Talent Outlook 2026

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Registration: 4:30 – 5 p.m. CT | Program: 5 – 6 p.m. CT | Reception: 6 – 7 p.m. CT

BMO Tower, 320 S. Canal St., Chicago, IL

Speaker: Kory Kantenga
Head of Economics, Americas Economic Graph Research Institute, LinkedIn
Speaker: Manika Turnbull
Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
Speaker: Larissa Chaikowsky
Chief Learning Officer and Head, Talent & Culture Enablement, BMO
Moderator: Imran Qureshi
Global Head of Geographies & Global Head of Retirement, WTW

The State of Higher Education

Wednesday, October 28, 2026

Registration: 8:30 – 9 a.m. CT | Program: 9 – 10 a.m. CT

Roosevelt University, Ganz Hall | 430 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL

Speaker: Dr. Ali Malekzadeh
President, Roosevelt University
Speaker: Dr. Roderick McDavis
Managing Principal, AGB Search
Speaker: Juan Salgado
Chancellor, City Colleges of Chicago
Moderator: Maria Doughty
CEO, The Chicago Network

Iconic Leadership: A Conversation with Christie Hefner

Wednesday, December 2, 2026

Registration: 11:30 – 12 p.m. CT | Program: 12 – 1 p.m. CT

Ivy Room | 12 E. Ohio St., #100, Chicago, IL 60611

Speaker: Christie Hefner
Former Chairman & CEO, Playboy Enterprises

Annual Economic Outlook 2027

Wednesday, January 27, 2027

Registration: 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. CT | Program: 12 – 2 p.m. CT

Hyatt Regency | 151 E Wacker Dr., Chicago, IL 60601

Speaker: Dr. Bob Froehlich
Former Vice Chairman, Deutsche Asset Management
Speaker: John W. Rogers, Jr.
Founder, Chairman and Co-CEO, Ariel Investments
Speaker: Terry Savage
Nationally Syndicated Columnist, Terry Savage Productions
Speaker: Diane Swonk
Chief Economist, KPMG

Igniting our Economic Future: Chicago’s Next Catalytic Moment

Thursday, February 25, 2027

Registration: 8:30 – 9 a.m. | Program: 9 – 10 a.m.

Ivy Room | 12 E Ohio St #100, Chicago, IL 60611

Speaker: Kenya Merritt
Commissioner, Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs & Special Events
Speaker: Kristen Reynolds
President & CEO, Choose Chicago
Speaker: Phil Clement
CEO, World Business Chicago
Moderator: Dorri McWhorter
President & CEO, The Executives’ Club of Chicago

Top Shelf Leadership: The Growth of Premium Spirits

Wednesday, March 3, 2027

Registration: 4 – 4:30 p.m. CT | Program: 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. CT | Reception: 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. CT

Speaker: Greg Hughes
President & CEO, Suntory Global Spirits