NextUp Leadership Week 2026
Bring the Team
For the first time ever, NextUp is combining our two biggest events into one giant Leadership Week! Join us the week of Sep. 15 – 18 for NextUp Executive Forum and NextUp Leadership Summit, plus our 25th Anniversary Honors Evening. Bring the entire team to NextUp Leadership Week – our largest gathering ever, with more opportunities to connect, share and celebrate!
NextUp Executive Forum
Forum is NextUp’s premier annual gathering for senior executives interested in cutting-edge business strategies and connecting with their peers. Open to executive-level leaders from across the 500+ companies represented by our membership, this year’s Forum will be a one-day experience packed with learning and networking opportunities!
NextUp Leadership Summit
Our largest national event, NextUp Leadership Summit, is open to everyone! Summit is a celebration of our community, a place where we come together to learn from best-in-class speakers and forge new connections. From dynamic breakout sessions to powerhouse keynote speakers, you’ll leave Summit bursting with new strategies you can put to work from the second you touch down back home – and with new relationships that will fuel your career and fill your cup.
Built for This
This year at NextUp Leadership Week, we’re Built for This. In a moment shaped by constant change, economic pressure, and evolving expectations, readiness isn’t granted – it’s built. Leaders must develop new capabilities – working with incomplete information, adopting new technologies, being visible, and knowing when to pivot.
Grounded in 25 years of creating opportunities for women, this year’s Leadership Week will help leaders build what leadership now demands – sustaining ambition, judgment, and impact over the long arc of a career.
We are built to learn, to grow, to lead, and to win.
We are built for this.
Schedule of Events
| September 15 | Evening: NextUp Executive Forum Opening Reception |
|---|---|
| September 16 | Day: NextUp Executive Forum Conference Evening: NextUp Leadership Summit Opening Reception NextUp 25th Anniversary Honors Evening |
| September 17 | Day: NextUp Leadership Summit Day 1 Evening: Summit Evening of Connection |
| September 18 | Day: NextUp Leadership Summit Day 2 |
In-Person
Open
Location
Gaylord Texan Resort1501 Gaylord Trail
Grapevine, TX 76051
Dates
Tuesday, September 15, 2026 - Friday, September 18, 2026
Registration fees
Forum Registration
Registration: $1995
Summit Registration
Early Registration: $2,350
(April 15 - June 30)
Regular Registration: $2,550
(July 1 - August 10)
Late Registration: $2,750
(August 11 - August 25)
Group (25+): $2,095
Anniversary Honors
Individual Ticket:$300
Table: $3000
Registration: $1995
Summit Registration
Early Registration: $2,350
(April 15 - June 30)
Regular Registration: $2,550
(July 1 - August 10)
Late Registration: $2,750
(August 11 - August 25)
Group (25+): $2,095
Anniversary Honors
Individual Ticket:$300
Table: $3000
Featured Speakers
Wayne Best
Chief Economist
Visa, Inc.
Wayne Best
Chief Economist
Visa, Inc.
As Senior Vice President and Chief Economist at Visa, Wayne Best leads the company’s Business and Economic Insights team, providing expert analysis on domestic and global economies, economic forecasts, consumer spending, and the evolving payments landscape. Best is a frequent presenter to executive audiences and advises Visa leadership, clients, and government stakeholders worldwide on the economic trends shaping commerce and business performance. Known for blending an engineer’s discipline with a business-focused perspective, Best translates complex economic models into clear, actionable intelligence that supports strategic decision-making. He is regularly quoted in business and trade media and participates in global forums examining macroeconomic and geo-economic change.
Before joining Visa in 1990, Best worked as a consultant conducting cost-benefit analyses for the power industry. He holds an MBA, a degree in nuclear engineering, and has completed executive programs at Stanford University and the Kellogg School of Management.
Built to Anticipate
See Agenda Thursday, September 17
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Dr. Suzy Welch
NYU Stern School of Business, Author
Dr. Suzy Welch
NYU Stern School of Business, Author
Suzy Welch is an award-winning NYU Stern School of Business professor, acclaimed researcher, and three-time New York Times bestselling author. Her most recent book — Becoming You: A Proven Method for Crafting Your Authentic Life and Career — was a #1 bestseller and 2025 Best Book of the Year on Amazon.
A graduate of Harvard University and Harvard Business School, Professor Welch is a frequent guest of the Today Show and an op-ed contributor to the Wall Street Journal. Professor Welch hosts Becoming You, one of America’s most listened to career podcasts. She is the Director of the NYU | Stern Initiative on Purpose and Flourishing, and serves on the boards of public and private companies.
As the founder and CEO of Becoming You Labs, Professor Welch has developed several digital assessments to help people design lives of purpose and clarity. Leveraging her PhD studies from the University of Bristol, Professor Welch created The Values Bridge and PIE360 based on years of intensive research. The Values Bridge reached 100,000 users within six months of release.
Professor Welch has architected other assessment instruments, including the Career Traits Compass, the Career Catalyst, and the Becoming Enneagram. She is also the designer of Me Book, a personalized operating manual that allows people to collaborate better with their teammates. Google, Ford, Gateway Engineering, and hundreds of other leading companies have all implemented Professor Welch’s assessment tools.
Professor Welch began her career as a reporter for The Miami Herald in 1981. After a serendipitous assignment to the business beat, she left the newsroom to attend Harvard Business School, graduating as a Baker Scholar. She spent the next seven years at Bain & Company, as a consultant working with manufacturing clients in the Midwest. In 1995, Professor Welch combined her two career paths at the Harvard Business Review, eventually rising to become the publication’s editor.
Professor Welch co-authored two international bestsellers with her late husband, Jack Welch — including Winning, in 2005, and The Real-Life MBA, in 2015. She is the author of the 2008-2009 New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller 10-10-10: A Life-Transforming Idea. The book is based on a decision-making framework she originally wrote about as a columnist for O: The Oprah Magazine. A new version of 10-10-10 will be published by HarperCollins in March 2027.
Built for This
See Agenda Thursday, September 17
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Chris Hurt
CEO
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Chris Hurt
CEO
Build-A-Bear Workshop
J. Christopher “Chris” Hurt is the Chief Executive Officer of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW). He assumed this role in June 2026 after 11 years serving as Chief Operations Officer, and more recently, Chief Operations and Experience Officer.
Hurt’s tenure has focused on restructuring the organization’s largest business unit, the global retail management and operations team, including guest experience, real estate, build-out, and logistics. Under his leadership, the company executed a successful multi-dimensional retail turnaround, resulting in best-in-class vertical retail operations, generating top-tier profitability for the experience-driven brand, and reigniting international expansion. Since early 2024, Hurt shifted his operational and consumer-insight expertise to redefine the Brand, Merchandising, Marketing and Licensing areas of the business where he has further extended consumer segments and categories through product expansion and engaging brand initiatives.
Prior to joining the Company, Hurt was at American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. from 2002 to April 2015 in various senior leadership roles of increasing responsibility, including Senior Vice President, North America, and Vice President/General Manager—Factory, Canada, Mexico Retail from 2011 to April 2015, and East Zone Vice President and Regional Director from 2002 to 2011. Before joining American Eagle Outfitters, Hurt held positions of increasing responsibility at companies including Polo Ralph Lauren and The Procter & Gamble Company.
Hurt also previously served as the President of Build-A-Bear Foundation and was a member of the Executive Steering Committee for Make-A-Wish Missouri/Kansas. He has also been involved with Toys for Tots, American Red Cross, United Way of Metro STL and Shriners Children’s Hospital.
Hurt earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from the University of Missouri and serves on the University of Missouri Alumni Association Board of Directors.
Built with ❤️
See Agenda Thursday, September 17
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Kim Utlaut
Chief Brand Officer
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Kim Utlaut
Chief Brand Officer
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Kim Utlaut joined Build-A-Bear Workshop in October 2024 as SVP, Chief Brand Officer. Prior to joining Build-A-Bear, Ms. Utlaut was at The Coca-Cola Company from 2001 to 2024 in various senior leadership roles of increasing responsibility, including Head of Amateur Sports in North America and General Manager, Franchise Leadership. During her tenure, she developed strategic partnerships with organizations such as the NCAA, U.S. Soccer, and the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Her innovative marketing strategies elevated brand visibility and successfully drove recruitment and retention initiatives. Before joining The Coca-Cola company, Ms. Utlaut held positions of increasing responsibility at companies including Sprint and AB InBev. Kim was recognized by Business Insider as one of the 25 Most Innovative CMOs of 2026.
Ms. Utlaut completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Missouri, holds a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Economics, serves as the President of the Mizzou Alumni Association and sits on the Build-A-Bear Foundation Board of Directors.
Built with ❤️
See Agenda Thursday, September 17
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Ryan Leak
Speaker, Entrepreneur & NYT Best-Selling Author
Ryan Leak
Speaker, Entrepreneur & NYT Best-Selling Author
Built to Fail
See Agenda Wednesday, September 16
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Lisa Chang
EVP & Global Chief People Officer
The Coca-Cola Company
Lisa Chang
EVP & Global Chief People Officer
The Coca-Cola Company
Built to Last
See Agenda Wednesday, September 16
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Darren Rebelez
President & CEO
Casey's
Darren Rebelez
President & CEO
Casey's
Darren Rebelez is the Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Casey’s (NASDAQ: CASY), a FORTUNE 500 company operating over 2,900 convenience stores throughout the Midwest and South. As CEO of the third largest convenience retailer and fifth largest pizza chain in the United States, Rebelez offers a wealth of experience from his career as a senior executive in the convenience, restaurant and fuel industries.
Under Rebelez’ leadership, Casey’s has undergone a remarkable transformation, including several significant milestones: a brand modernization/reimaging, closing several significant acquisitions (including the largest in the company’s history), a digital transformation including the first rewards platform that currently boasts over 10 million members, launching a new e-commerce platform, relaunching the company’s private brand business, and publishing the company’s first ESG report.
Prior to Casey’s, Rebelez served as the President of IHOP Restaurants, a unit of Dine Brands Global, Inc.. While leading IHOP, the company grew to become the largest full service restaurant brand in the USA. Previous to IHOP, Rebelez worked at 7-Eleven, the world’s largest convenience store chain, as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Before 7-Eleven, Darren held numerous leadership roles within ExxonMobil Corporation.
Preceding his civilian career, Darren was an Army Ranger and Gulf War veteran. A native of San Diego, he is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Foreign Area Studies. He went on to also earn an MBA from the University of Houston.
In addition to his role at Casey’s, Darren serves on the board of directors of Genuine Parts Company (NYSE: GPC), and as an advisory board member for the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation.
Developing the New Game Plan
See Agenda Wednesday, September 16
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Steve Goldbach
Senior Partner
Deloitte
Steve Goldbach
Senior Partner
Deloitte
Steven Goldbach leads Deloitte’s Sustainability and Infrastructure practice in the US, which serves the complex and novel challenges our clients face across energy, environment, resilience, and infrastructure. The practice helps clients make measurable progress on varying dimensions of these challenges by bringing to the table all areas of Deloitte’s experience.
Prior to assuming this role, Steve served as Deloitte’s US Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) for eight years. During his time as CSO, Deloitte made a major pivot in strategy, focusing on winning as an integrated organization. Before joining Deloitte, Steve was the head of the New York Office at Monitor Group and the head of strategy for Forbes.
Along with Deloitte principal Geoff Tuff, Steve has co-authored three bestselling books: Detonate: Why – and How – Corporations Must Blow Up Best Practices (and Bring a Beginner’s Mind) to Survive (Wiley, 2018), Provoke: How Leaders Shape the Future by Overcoming Fatal Human Flaws (Wiley, 2021), and Hone: How Purposeful Leaders Defy Drift (Wiley, 2025), which Thinkers50 named a Best New Management Book for 2026. Steve was also as a finalist for the Thinkers50 2019 Distinguished Achievement Award in Strategy and for the 2021 Distinguished Achievement Award in Leadership.
Steve completed his BCom at Queen’s University and his MBA at Columbia University. He sits on the Advisory Boards of the Smith School of Business at Queen’s University and the New York Botanical Garden.
Built to Grow
See Agenda Wednesday, September 16
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Diana Marshall
EVP & Chief Experience Officer
Sam's Club
Diana Marshall
EVP & Chief Experience Officer
Sam's Club
NextUp 25th Anniversary Honors Evening
See Agenda Wednesday, September 16
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Melody Richard
Senior Vice President - Pantry
Walmart
Melody Richard
Senior Vice President - Pantry
Walmart
NextUp 25th Anniversary Honors Evening
See Agenda Wednesday, September 16
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
7:00 pm - 10:00 pm
4
Days of Learning
40+
Speakers
1500+
Attendees
25
Years and Counting
Our Sponsors
Platinum
Presenting
Premier
Friend
Sponsors
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