The Executives' Club of Chicago

Last chance to unlock Illinois’ innovative plan to lower state emissions through the adaptations of previous green building standards, thus ultimately building a State of Net Zero. Join us tomorrow, October 31, as Brian Imus (President, Illinois Green Alliance), Kelly Meissner (Vice President, Corporate ESG & Sustainability, Ventas, Inc.), and moderator Alex Kruzel (CEO & Founder, Telesto Strategy) explore the comprehensive annual report, “Getting to Zero Illinois”. They'll dive into the progress already taken to reduce carbon emissions in the Illinois community. Discover how the state plans to transition to a net zero carbon emission future and the role Chicago businesses will play. Register Here: https://bit.ly/3YvAkPg #WhereTheFutureMeets #ExecClub #carbon #cleantech #environment #climatechange #sustainability #netzero

Do you want to help promote diversity and ensure equitable opportunities to create an effective and cohesive work environment? Join us November 12 at our DEIA Summit to engage in conversations about how to smoothly manage backlash, professionally address misconceptions, and illustrate how these practices help to facilitate a better environment. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to implement DEIA practices in the workplace for an inclusive and equitable environment. Register here: https://bit.ly/3U5Atr8 #WhereTheFutureMeets #ExecClub #DEI #DEIA #Diversity #Inclusion #WorkplaceWellbeing #LeadershipDevelopment

What does net-zero carbon emissions mean for policymakers, business leaders, and you? Join us on October 31 for our virtual program, Decarbonization In Illinois, with Brian Imus (President, Illinois Green Alliance), Kelly Meissner (Vice President, Corporate ESG & Sustainability, Ventas, Inc.), and moderator, Alex Kruzel (CEO & Founder, Telesto Strategy). They will review the “Getting to Zero Illinois” annual report and discuss how Illinois is navigating the future to achieve net-zero emissions. Register Here: https://bit.ly/3YvAkPg #WhereTheFutureMeets #ExecClub #carbon #cleantech #environment #climatechange #sustainability #netzero

The Exec Club hosted its third annual Talent Outlook at the magnificent Venue SIX10 Theatre, which featured a rich lineup of speakers sharing how today’s talent challenges demand anticipating the future of talent development. Thank you to Hilda Harris Piell (Senior Managing Director & CHRO, CME Group), Katie Lawler (SVP & CHRO, ITW), Aaron Sojourner (Senior Researcher & Labor Economist, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research), and moderator, Imran Qureshi (Head of North America, WTW) for their insights and expertise! Key Takeaways: 1. Three key factors that are driving the talent landscape: 1) the magnitude and scale of disruption – whether social, climate, geopolitical, labor, migration - that create an overriding and deep uncertainty. 2) AI, M&A, and shipping disruptions, which will continue, and 3) shifting demographics and the pending “silver tsunami” of retiring Baby Boomers. 2. The pandemic was a massive shift in solidifying the important role of HR and talent development, securing that HR contribute to solving problems, developing the talent needed to drive business outcomes, and reinventing how work gets done. Today, that means investing in “building vs buying” talent with internal development and training that meet business outcomes while also helping employees keep their momentum and energy. That will pay dividends in the long run for companies that take the long view. Matching productivity that allows employers to be better leaders and develop better talent. The WHY is important. Why companies do what they do, WHY employers need to invest in their talent, and WHY employees should lead through change and manage through it. 3. With the labor market cooling, layoff rates are at record lows, but so are hiring rates which, currently at 2014 levels. Cooling demand is the waiting game surrounding policy and political risks, whether waiting for the Fed reaction, and the November presidential elections. As a result, shifting demographics will remain a massive factor, largely the result of Baby Boomers leaving the workforce and shrinking the labor pool. Labor is more scarce. Capital is more abundant. Buying labor is becoming harder, demanding that employers build relationships with employees over the long-term by investing in them. This is NOT a labor shortage – it’s not temporary – it’s a structural shift, demanding new strategies. The world has – and will continue to change – and management strategies and paradigms must change along with them. Thank you to our presenting sponsor, WTW, and our featured sponsor, The Prinz Law Firm, for their support on today’s program. Explore upcoming events: https://bit.ly/3YxJlIx #WhereTheFutureMeets #ExecClub #HRMAC #TalentOutlook #HR #TalentAquisition #Chicago #Business

Does employee recognition play a role in improving retention rates? In today’s job market, employers are rethinking their strategies to attract and retain talent. This includes everything from innovative compensation packages to evolving leadership opportunities, all of which are reshaping the employment environment. Read More: https://bit.ly/3BTBsV8 Tomorrow! Join us on October 22 for our Talent Outlook 2024. Our panel of experts will share insights into the talent search, the current landscape of talent, and the latest trends in recruitment. We’ll explore the data on job entrants, career changers, and retirees, and discuss how these trends will shape the remainder of 2024 and into 2025. Register today: https://bit.ly/40bFQZC #WhereTheFutureMeets #ExecClub #TalentOutlook #HR #HRMAC #Retention #Talent #Chicago

Mathias Carlbaum (President & CEO, International) is inspired by the leaders around him to take on the challenges of running an internationals business and seize the opportunities presented to him. Mathias joined us recently on the Executives’ Exchange for a conversation with Travis Hunter (Chicago Office Managing Partner, KPMG US). They discussed Navistar’s rebranding to International, the importance of diverse perspectives and so much more. Listen now: https://bit.ly/3BEQZIl #WhereTheFutureMeets #ExecClub #ExecutivesExchange #Podcast #InternationalBusiness #Navistar #International #Transportation #Automotive

At yesterday’s summit ‘Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG): Present Outlook and Future Potential’, global leaders, experts, and stakeholders explored the transformative power of responsible business practices. Participants dived into key topics such as sustainable development, corporate governance, social impact initiatives, and climate action strategies. Key takeaways: * How can companies avoid greenwashing? Start by developing a meaningful interdisciplinary relationship among internal corporate, legal, marketing, and communications teams. Respect for cross-functional buy-in is vital. * Inclusion and opportunity are good for the mission and good for business. In Chicago, there are more and more organizations developing business diversity beyond just the supply chain. As Chicagoans look to partner with diversity and minority businesses, a value-add is knowing that those businesses tend to give back more to their communities advancing better work, wealth generation, and educational access while advancing ESG goals. * Climate change and environmental justice are such enormous challenges but all contributions matter. Small steps create scale. Locally and globally. Macro and micro. Action arising from confidence can overcome skepticism. Thank you to Jordan Knights, CPA (Senior Manager – Sustainability Reporting & Assurance Services, KPMG US), J. Simone Jones (Partner, Sidley Austin LLP), Paige Graham (Senior Vice President, Social Impact & Sustainability, Edelman), Kari Lydersen (Reporting Fellow, Energy News & Assistant Professor, Northwestern University Medill School), Eileen Buckley (Vice President of Corporate Responsibility, Stryker), Nadia Quarles (Assistant Vice President, Office of Business Diversity, University of Chicago), John Edelman (Managing Director, Global Engagement and Corporate Responsibility, Edelman), Jennifer Olson (Director of Guest and Community Engagement, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum), Apostolis (Paul) Sambanis, Ph.D. (Vice President of Sustainability, Sloan), Kathryn Siegel (Air Toxics and Assessment Branch Manager, EPA), and Jamie M Ezefili (Senior Vice President & Chief Sustainability Officer, Northern Trust) for your insights. Thank you Edelman and Northern Trust for your partnership and invaluable support at today’s summit. Explore Upcoming Exec Club Events: https://bit.ly/3zTgpBw #WhereTheFutureMeets #ExecClub #ESG #CSR #Environment #Chicago #Business

Lilly Ledbetter, a pioneering women's equality activist, passed away this week at age 86. Her fight for pay equity led to the passage of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009 and her legacy continues to inspire the next generation of women’s rights activists. In 2021, Ledbetter joined the Exec Club for a powerful conversation about her journey, the ongoing fight for equal pay, and her enduring legacy. We encourage everyone to revisit this inspiring discussion and reflect on her lifelong dedication to justice. Watch her Exec Club conversation: https://bit.ly/4fo0b2r Learn more about Lilly’s impact: https://n.pr/4eMeM7K #WhereTheFutureMeets #ExecClub #EqualPay #LillyLedbetter #WomensEquality #Leadership #FairPayAct

Join the future on October 22 as our panel of experts will forecast the future of the labor market, upcoming HR trends, and how current trends might develop over the next year. Hilda Harris Piell Piel (Senior Managing Director and CHRO, CME Group), Katie Lawler (SVP and CHRO, ITW), Aaron Sojourner (Senior Researcher & Labor Economist, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research), and moderator, Imran Qureshi (Head of North America, WTW) will delve into the latest movements and crucial topics in talent management. Don’t miss their insights on the future of HR and how companies can stay ahead in the pursuit of top talent. Register here: https://bit.ly/4gUQNVg #WhereTheFutureMeets #ExecClub #FutureOfHR #TalentManagement #Management #Leadership

For the first time in six years, cases of greenwashing have declined, signaling a potential shift in corporate accountability and consumer awareness. This decrease suggests that businesses may be more cautious in their environmental claims, possibly in response to increased scrutiny from regulators and a growing demand for transparency from consumers. As awareness around sustainability continues to rise, this trend could indicate a positive movement toward genuine environmental practices within the corporate sector. Read more: https://bit.ly/4h1Vm0d Limited spots are still available for our ESG Summit on Wednesday, October 16. Join us to explore topics such as greenwashing, business diversity, and environmental justice. Featured speakers include John Rogers (Founder and Co-CEO, Ariel Investments), Kathryn Siegel (Air Toxics and Assessment Branch Manager, EPA;), and John Edelman (Managing Director of Global Engagement and Corporate Responsibility, Edelman). Register now: https://bit.ly/3BMTS9Z #WhereTheFutureMeets #ExecClub #ESG #CSR #Summits