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Where Utah’s brightest business minds address the challenges faced by today’s executives.

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Join us at Utah Business Forward, the premier conference designed exclusively for executives seeking practical insights and actionable strategies to propel their businesses forward. This dynamic event brings together Utah’s brightest business minds, curated specifically to address the challenges faced by today’s executives.

With five distinct tracks covering entrepreneurship, leadership, people & culture, rapid exchange, and strategy, attendees will gain invaluable knowledge across a range of crucial areas. Our hand-picked session speakers are industry experts renowned for their expertise and success in Utah’s vibrant business landscape.

The Agenda

2025 Forward agenda coming soon.

Time

Topic

Speaker

7:00 - 7:30 AM

CHECK IN FOR BREAKFAST WITH AN EXPERT (Pre-registration required)

N/A

7:30 - 8:30 AM

GENERAL REGISTRATION & BREAKFAST

N/A

8:30 - 8:45 AM

WELCOME

Burke Olsen
publisher, utah business

8:45 - 9:15 AM

Opening Keynote

TBA

9:15 - 10:00 AM

TBA

TBA

10:00 - 10:20 AM

Break

N/A

10:20 - 11:00 AM

Breakout Session

See other tabs

11:00 - 11:10 AM

Break

N/A

11:10 - 11:50 AM

Breakout Session

See other tabs

11:50 - 12:00 PM

Break

N/A

12:00 - 12:45 PM

Lunch

N/A

12:45 - 1:15 PM

Mainstage Keynote: Selling Nonsense

Kent Richeson and Friends

1:15 - 1:55 PM

Breakout session

See other tabs

1:55 - 2:05 PM

Break

N/A

2:05 - 2:45 PM

Breakout session

See other tabs

2:45 - 3:00 PM

Break

N/A

3:00 - 3:40 PM

Q&A Panels

N/A

3:40 - 3:50 PM

Break

N/A

3:50 - 4:20 PM

Closing Keynote

TBA

4:20 - 4:30 PM

Closing Remarks & Drawing

Burke Olsen
publisher, utah business

4:45 - 6:00 PM

VIP Afterparty
(Pre-registration required)

N/A

Time

Topic

Speaker

10:20 - 11:00 AM

Operations Formulas for Emerging Brands

Shauna Smith
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Savory Fund

11:00 - 11:10 AM

Break

N/A

11:10 - 11:50 AM

Fake It 'Til You Make It

Kelly Dearth & Alix Lewis-Burrows
co-founders, LitJoy Crate

11:50 - 12:00 PM

Break

N/A

12:00 - 12:45 PM

Lunch

N/A

1:15 - 1:55 PM

Building Trust With Donors

Mohan Sudabattula
founder and CEO, Project Embrace

1:55 - 2:05 PM

Break

N/A

2:05 - 2:45 PM

TBA

Tiffany Vail
chief operating officer, Silicon Slopes

2:45 - 3:00 PM

Break

N/A

3:00 - 3:40 PM

Entrepreneurship Panel

Track Speakers

Time

Topic

Speaker

10:20 - 11:00 AM

Leading Through Crisis

Brock Blake
CEO and co-founder, Lendio

11:00 - 11:10 AM

Break

N/A

11:10 - 11:50 AM

Leading With Authentic Human Connection

Charmelle Green
Deputy Athletics Director, University of Utah Athletics

11:50 - 12:00 PM

Break

N/A

12:00 - 12:45 PM

Lunch

N/A

1:15 - 1:55 PM

Championing Women in the Workplace

Melanie Jones
Chief Executive Officer, Women's Leadership Institute

1:55 - 2:05 PM

Break

N/A

2:05 - 2:45 PM

Restoring Damaged Trust

Kurt Dirks
Dean of the David Eccles School of Business, University of Utah

2:45 - 3:00 PM

Break

N/A

3:00 - 3:40 PM

Leadership Panel

Track Speakers

Time

Topic

Speaker

10:20 - 11:00 AM

The New Talent Pipelines

Edson Barton
Chief Executive Office, YouScience

11:00 - 11:10 AM

Break

N/A

11:10 - 11:50 AM

Building A Strong, Core Values-Based Culture

Leslie Snavely
Chief Executive Officer, CHG Healthcare

11:50 - 12:00 PM

Break

N/A

12:00 - 12:45 PM

Lunch

N/A

1:15 - 1:55 PM

Benefits To Attract Multiple Generations of Workers

Latonya Howell

1:55 - 2:05 PM

Break

N/A

2:05 - 2:45 PM

Building A Team

Laurel Day

2:45 - 3:00 PM

Break

N/A

3:00 - 3:40 PM

People & Culture Panel

Track Speakers

Time

Topic

Speaker

10:20 - 11:00 AM

Rapid Connections

N/A

11:00 - 11:10 AM

Break

N/A

11:10 - 11:50 AM

Rapid Insights: The Pivot

Caroline Klein
chief communications officer, Smith Entertainment Group &
Tunisha Brown
Founder and Editor-in-Chief, IMPACT Magazine

11:50 - 12:00 PM

Break

N/A

12:00 - 12:45 PM

Lunch

N/A

1:15 - 1:55 PM

Rapid Advice

Alejandra Salomon, Chris Mann, Christian Ross, Erynn Kerrigan, Jenna White, John LeBaron, Jared Anderson, and Jenna Bowen

1:55 - 2:05 PM

Break

N/A

2:05 - 2:45 PM

Rapid Transformation, Part 1

Dr. Chelsea Shields
founder and chief executive officer, Brandthropologie Agency

2:45 - 3:00 PM

Break

N/A

3:00 - 3:40 PM

Rapid Transformation, Part 2

Dr. Chelsea Shields
founder and chief executive officer, Brandthropologie Agency

Time

Topic

Speaker

10:20 - 11:00 AM

Building Your Three-Year Roundmap

Ally Isom

11:00 - 11:10 AM

Break

N/A

11:10 - 11:50 AM

Breaking Growth Barriers: Strategies Behind Sustainable Scale

Matthew Bowman

11:50 - 12:00 PM

Break

N/A

12:00 - 12:45 PM

Lunch

N/A

1:15 - 1:55 PM

Strategic Innovation at the Crossroads of Web3, AI, and Digital Revenue Growth

Riley Demps

1:55 - 2:05 PM

Break

N/A

2:05 - 2:45 PM

Is Your BHAG Big Enough?

Julie Castle
Chief Executive Officer, Best Friends Animal Society

2:45 - 3:00 PM

Break

N/A

3:00 - 3:40 PM

Strategy Panel

Track speakers

Speakers

2025 speakers coming soon.

Event Photos

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