Agenda

Join us for our opening reception as we kick off NextUp Executive Forum! There is something powerful about being here — together, in the same place, at the same moment in time. We will reflect on the importance of connection, of showing up for one another, and of recognizing that what is built in rooms like this doesn’t stay here — it carries outward, into companies, communities, and the future we’re shaping next.

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Senior executives share how they navigate the real tensions inside their organizations—between growth and risk, transparency and discretion, values and performance, and competing stakeholder expectations. Hear how leaders communicate, prioritize, and keep organizations aligned when pulled in different directions—because leadership today isn’t about eliminating tension; it’s about holding it and moving forward anyway.

Join us as we kick off NextUp Leadership Summit! Meet new friends and renew old connections as we prepare for two days of learning together.

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We invite you to an evening honoring our founding members and celebrating 25 years of leadership, progress, and community - hosted by NextUp Board Leaders Melody Richard and Diana Marshall.

Dress Code: Cocktail Attire

Please note that this is a separate ticketed event from both NextUp Forum and Summit. To purchase a ticket, please do so during registration for your chosen conference(s), or you may purchase an individual ticket by visiting the Registration page.

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Proven entrepreneurial leaders—used to operating fast and making decisions with imperfect information—take the stage to tackle real, unscripted challenges submitted by the audience. In real time, they pressure-test ideas, offer sharp perspectives, and demonstrate how experienced operators think when there’s no playbook. Fast, candid, and highly engaging—with moments that are as insightful as they are unexpectedly funny.

Celebrating the best and brightest from across our community.

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When Everything Moves Faster, Judgement Matters More

AI is accelerating everything—but it doesn’t replace judgement. In this session, learn from the leaders who are already using powerful AI tools to make smarter, faster decisions while balancing data, instinct, and responsibility.

Making the Career Choices That Matter Most

Careers today are nonlinear and fast-moving. In this session, hear how leaders have evaluated tradeoffs, taken smart risks, and made decisions that shaped their long-term success and stayed true to the values that matter to them.

Positioning Yourself for Visibility and Opportunity

Great work doesn’t speak for itself, especially in today’s complex workplace where limited in-person interaction, digital overload, and proximity bias can make it harder to be seen and recognized. Visibility drives opportunity, and leaders who master modern communication close the gap between their impact and how it is perceived. Learn from leaders who will equip you to build credibility, increase your visibility, and position your work authentically so you are recognized, selected, and advanced.

Focus as a Competitive Advantage

Learn from the leaders who know how to cut through the noise and distraction and stay fully present, and how this helps them outperform those who don't.

Unlocking the power of ERGs

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are powerful drivers of engagement, connection, and culture, yet they are often underutilized. In this session, you’ll learn from the leaders shaping the employee experience through the power of ERGs, and how to leverage them to strengthen networks and drive real organizational impact.

Celebrating our community with an evening of connection.

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Not everyone aspires to manage people — and not everyone should. This panel explores how high-performing leaders build influence, credibility, and real authority without formal titles, driving outcomes across teams and organizations. Hear from operators who have chosen a different path—and prove that impact isn’t defined by the role you hold, but by the results you create.

Celebrating the best and brightest from across our community.

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Real Stories. Real Turning Points.

A powerful series of personal leadership stories from within the NextUp community—highlighting defining moments, challenges, and breakthroughs.