Agenda: 2024 Business Solves Conference

While every sector and industry has had to adapt to a post-pandemic reality, the K-12 system may be one of the best stress tests for the state of our society's recovery over the long-term. Today, where does K-12 student achievement stand in the wake of the pandemic and how does it compare to pre-pandemic educational and workforce-development goals that existed? What can states, school districts, and local communities do to complete the students’ recovery and restart improvement in K-12 education? This conversation will emphasize why students’ recovery matters for business, the economy, and communities across the country. We will demonstrate the Education Recovery Scorecard, a powerful new tool for benchmarking progress in local school districts against national comparisons.

We're now living and working in the 4th major economic era, the Purpose Economy, according to social entrepreneur and author Aaron Hurst. As emerging technologies become mainstream, communities experience rapid change, and complex societal challenges persist, purpose-driven leaders will help guide solutions for today and tomorrow. By attending Business Solves, you’ll hear exclusive context and ideas from Aaron Hurst on what it means to lead with purpose. Learn how harnessing this leadership potential can build stronger organizations and communities.

This two-part session will involve you—the audience! Put your thinking cap on and get ready to participate in a special conference edition of the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s National Civics Bee^®, complete with friendly competition. Learn and be inspired about how your individual leadership matters for civic transformation, and hear from pioneering business leaders who will discuss why civic engagement matters for their organization. Walk away with ideas and steps on how your organization can participate in the transformative collective power of civic engagement.

Military service members and college athletes acquire experiences and lessons, such as sacrifice, hard work, and how to compete and win, that are much needed in today’s workforce. The key to employers tapping into the talent found in these distinct populations is to increase access to opportunities and connections. Learn how Hiring Our Heroes and the National Collegiate Athletic Association are creating opportunities that benefit service members, student athletes, and workplaces that succeed through innovation, problem-solving, and leadership.

Innovation That Serves - Demo | Great Hall

Divya: The Invention That Promises to Change Lives

Inspired by a salad spinner and named for woman who used to spend 20 hours a week hand washing clothes in South India, the Divya machine is humanitarian innovation that is changing lives and easing burdens on women and girls in remote and low-income communities. Join Navjot Sawhney, founder of The Washing Machine Project, for a hands-on, dynamic presentation explaining his journey from an engineer’s desk to a social entrepreneur’s promise to change lives.

Good Business and Good Health | Great Hall

If you have employees, you are a health organization — and that can seem daunting amid the complexities and systemic healthcare challenges we face as a society. A partnership with the Deloitte Health Equity Institute, American Heart Association, and SHRM Foundation has led to the Health Equity in the Workforce Initiative, which as the goal to help enable positive health outcomes for 10 million U.S. workers by 2025. This collaboration offers insights to understand the value proposition of health equity in the workplace and tools to measure the impact and change across the business landscape. Learn what's possible for individuals, organizations, and our society at large when employers are on the front lines of good business and good health.