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Sustainability and social impact are at a crossroads in 2024. Acronyms that were once a rallying cry – ESG and DEI – have become charged and controversial. Yet stakeholder demands for responsible business practices have never been louder.

That’s why this October, Fortune is convening the leaders of today’s largest companies to arm them with the tools they need to support more sustainable efforts in the corporate world.

Global agreements on climate, nature, ESG regulation and DEI reporting are forcing companies to continue working on these topics even if, publicly, they turn to “greenhushing” to prevent a backlash. Together we will take a deep dive into these topics and more at our 2024 annual meeting.

2024 speakers will include former Georgia State Representative Stacey Abrams, Whole Foods CEO Jason Buechel, Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Impossible Foods CEO Peter McGuinness, Microsoft Chief Diversity Officer Lindsay-Rae McIntyre, United Airlines Chief Sustainability Officer Lauren Riley, Edelman CEO Richard Edelman, Exelon Chief Executive Officer Calvin Butler, Slutty Vegan Founder and CEO Pinky Cole, and special dinner guest speaker Quavo, rapper, singer, songwriter, entrepreneur, and philanthropist.

Who Will Participate?
Senior leaders in Fortune 1000™ companies who have primary responsibility for ESG issues. Titles will include President/CEO, Head of Corporate Responsibility, Chief Sustainability Officer, Chief Development Officer, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officers, and senior titles in corporate responsibility, ethics, operations and compliance.

An Advisory Panel made up of the most influential leaders in the areas of diversity, environment and governance been created to direct and drive the critical issues under discussion.

To drive the development of new approaches, new skills, and new organizational structures providing maximum positive impact, Fortune has created the Fortune Impact Initiative™, a membership community dedicated to supporting executives who manage the risks and growth opportunities that put people, planet, and purpose at the core of their business strategies. 

Find out how membership in the Impact Initiative can make a difference to you. We also invite you to join our group on LinkedIn here.

Event Speakers

Quavo

Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist

Stacey Abrams

Senior Counsel

RewiringAmerica

Jason Buechel

Chief Executive Officer

Whole Foods Market

Pinky Cole Hayes

Chief Executive Officer and Founder

Slutty Vegan

Overview

2024 discussion topics will include: 

  • From ESG to impact: the future of responsible investing
  • ESG in the boardroom
  • The evolution of global ESG regulation
  • Aligning your social impact initiatives with business goals
  • ESG accountability and global supply chains
  • The DEI backlash and what comes next
  • Purpose-driven leadership in an unprecedented global election year
  • The political polarization of corporate America
  • Sustainability as a business imperative
  • The role of AI in social impact
  • The clean energy transition
  • Navigating DEI reporting and metrics
  • Corporate biodiversity targets: the final frontier
  • Combatting greenwashing

Impact Initiative Co-chairs

Indrani Sen

Senior Editor, Features, FORTUNE; Co-chair

Fortune Impact Initiative

Kristin Stoller

Editorial Director, Fortune Live Media; Co-chair

Fortune Impact Initiative

Phil Wahba

Senior Writer, FORTUNE; Co-chair

Fortune Impact Initiative

Molly Wood

Founder and CEO, Molly Wood Media; Co-chair

Fortune Impact Initiative

Agenda

* All items are in US/Eastern time.
1 - 3:45 PM
COMMUNITY ACTIVITY

EASTSIDE BELTLINE ARBORETUM TOUR 

The Atlanta Beltline is a 22-mile former railroad corridor that is actively being transformed into a multi-use trail system connecting a network of public parks and 45 neighborhoods throughout the city. As of 2023, it has attracted over $9 billion dollars in development and incentivized over 2 million Atlanta residents to choose to travel through the city without a car.  Attendees will have the chance to tour the Atlanta Beltline Arboretum, an 85-acre green corridor full of wildlife and art.  Attendees will learn about the social history of Atlanta, as they explore the rails, trails and trees that have helped transform this urban redevelopment.

4 - 4:50 PM
IMPACT MEMBER-LED ROUNDTABLES

These sessions comes under Chatham House Rule. Comments could be reported by Fortune, but no one will be quoted by name.

Planning For 2030 Sustainability Goals 

The Paris Agreement pushed many organizations to set lofty sustainability goals for 2030. As we inch closer to then, many of these organizations have been candid that they’re likely going to need to push back these goals to 2040, and maybe even 2050. Without comprehensive global regulation, sustainability leaders have begun to revise their goals to focus on more high-impact areas. How can sustainability leaders maintain their commitments, while adapting to evolving circumstances and stakeholder expectations?

Gabriel Presler, Global Head, Enterprise Sustainability, Morningstar, Inc.
Ann Tracy, Chief Sustainability Officer, Colgate-Palmolive
Moderator: Molly Wood, Founder and CEO, Molly Wood Media; Co-chair, Fortune Impact Initiative

The Future Of Corporate Impact Roles 

Impact leadership positions have seen many shifts throughout the last few decades. What was once an initial compliance and charitable focus has changed to integrating sustainability, diversity and inclusion into more prominence within the organization. With the recent upheaval to the corporate impact space, will there be more shifts in corporate impact roles and responsibilities? What does the path of a future impact leader look like? 

Francine Chew, VP and Head of Corporate Impact, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America
Tish Archie-Oliver, Chief Inclusion & Belonging Officer, Gap Inc.
Ellen Weinreb, CEO, Weinreb Sustainability Recruiting
Moderator: Jane Thier, Reporter, Fortune

How Businesses Can Navigate ESG In An Election Year 

From misinformation campaigns against diversity and sustainability efforts to the condemning of phrases like DEI and ESG, responsible business practices have been hit hard during this tumultuous political environment. How are impact leaders managing neutrality through shifting priorities and regulatory uncertainty, while trying to remain focused on their long-term impact goals? 

Floss J Aggrey, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Randstad
Alphonso David, President, Chief Executive Officer, Global Black Economic Forum
Susan McPherson, Founder and CEO, McPherson Strategies
Moderator: Sheryl Estrada, Senior Writer, Finance, Fortune

4:50 - 5:00 PM
SWITCH BREAK
5 - 5:00 PM
Welcome & Opening Remarks

Kristin Stoller, Editorial Director, Fortune

5:02 - 5:30 PM
DEIA's Next Act

With legal challenges to diversity initiatives and mounting shareholder pressure, some companies are cutting DEI roles completely, while others are doubling down on skills-based hiring to include the 60% of American workers without four-year degrees. As diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) strategies continue to evolve, we’ll explore three different perspectives on how the public and private sectors are redefining what it means to build a workforce that truly reflects America.

Debbie Dyson, Chief Executive Officer, OneTen
Zakiya Carr Johnson, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, US State Department
Johnny C. Taylor Jr, Chief Executive Officer, Society for Human Resource Management
Moderator: Phil Wahba, Senior Writer, FORTUNE; Co-chair, Fortune Impact Initiative

5:30 - 5:50 PM
Building Climate-Ready Cities

By 2050, over two-thirds of the global population will live in cities, placing urban areas and their leaders at the forefront of climate change adaptation. American cities, supported by federal initiatives, are building resilience against floods, hurricanes, and extreme heat through innovative approaches like raising roads, restoring natural barriers, and pioneering water conservation techniques. This conversation will explore how municipal governments, in collaboration with state and federal partners, are driving efforts to protect urban populations, prioritize equity, and prepare for future climate challenges, ensuring that every community is equipped to thrive in a changing climate.

Andre Dickens, Mayor, Atlanta
Ali Zaidi, White House National Climate Advisor
Moderator: Sheryl Estrada, Senior Writer, Finance, Fortune 

5:50 - 6:10 PM
Sustainability Goals: Are Market Movers On Track

As the urgency to address climate change intensifies, major corporations have set ambitious sustainability goals with well-publicized deadlines. But are they actually on track to meet them? Join us for a deep dive into the strategies and innovations market movers are implementing to achieve their targets–and why some companies are falling short.  

Andrea Barrack, Senior Vice President, Sustainability and Impact, Royal Bank of Canada
Amelia DeLuca, Chief Sustainability Officer, Delta Air Lines
Gayle Schueller, Senior Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, 3M
Moderator: Molly Wood, Founder and CEO, Molly Wood Media; Co-chair Fortune Impact Initiative

6:10 - 6:30 PM
The Price Tag Of Sustainability

Balancing sustainability with affordability is a pressing challenge in our quest for a greener future. What strategies and innovations are essential to keep sustainable food and energy within reach? With 19 million Americans living in food deserts and power bills on the rise, how can we make eco-friendly choices more accessible and affordable for everyone?

Jason Buechel, Chief Executive Officer, Whole Foods Market
Calvin Butler, Chief Executive Officer, Exelon
Moderator: Indrani Sen, Senior Features Editor, Fortune; Co-chair, Fortune Impact Initiative  

6:30 - 7:15 PM
OPENING RECEPTION
7:15 - 9:00 PM
DINNER, AWARDS, AND PROGRAM

Co-presented  by EVERFI from Blackbaud

A Rapper's Tragedy Turned Advocacy: Quavo's Mission To End Gun Violence

The sight of his nephew being shot and killed outside a private party in Houston in 2022 was the catalyst for rapper Quavo to join the fight to end gun violence in the United States. The Grammy-nominee has since set up a foundation to further this initiative, using his platform to gain awareness for the cause. He’s disbursed nearly $300,000 in grants and partnered with prominent thought leaders and organizations, including Vice President Kamala Harris and the White House Office of Gun Violence. As a special dinner guest speaker, Quavo will discuss what he refers to as “his calling” in a year where more than 5,000 people have died in U.S. gun violence.

Special Dinner Conversation With Quavo, ​​Rapper, Singer, Songwriter, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist
Moderator: Kristin Stoller, Editorial Director, Fortune

Venue

We will gather at  The St. Regis Atlanta, a AAA Five Diamond hotel located in Atlanta’s Buckhead neighborhood.

 

Membership Benefits

The Fortune Impact Initiative™ is a membership community dedicated to supporting executives who manage the risks and growth opportunities that put people, planet, and purpose at the core of their business strategies. 

Benefits Include: 

Member Networking

  • Impact Initiative Annual Meeting (October 2024, Atlanta, GA): The Annual Meeting is a forum for supporting and connecting senior executives responsible for ESG. This meeting will help these leaders build expertise and a holistic understanding of the implementation and measurement of ESG practices across all areas of their business.
  • Virtual Calls: These calls provide a forum for Impact members to share ideas and approaches with their peers. They are led by influential leaders in the areas of diversity, environment, and governance to direct and drive the critical issues under discussion.
  • Membership Directory: The directory is a valuable tool to view and connect with your peers.
  • LinkedIn Groups: Provide both public and private pages so members may network and discuss top of mind topics.

Editorial Coverage

  • Fortune.com: Fortune will run an editorial report following the conclusion of the Impact Initiative Annual Meeting.
  • Impact Channels: Members will be highlighted on Fortune.com and the Conferences site.
  • Impact Newsletter: This newsletter, written by Fortune Executive Editor Peter Vanham, is your source for ESG content.

Fortune Access

  • Premium-level Access across Fortune Media Platforms: These platforms allow access to subscriber-only journalism online; an immersive video portal, including every Fortune conference via livestream or on demand; and proprietary research each week.
  • Discounted Invitations and Special Opportunities: This benefit allows you to attend select Fortune events throughout the membership year. These events bring leaders together across a variety of industries and disciplines to set the global business agenda and obtain information they need to run their businesses.

Contact Us

The FORTUNE Impact Initiative program is developed with the guidance of FORTUNE editors, whose journalistic perspective provides unique insights into the key trends and dynamic people that are driving business. The program is tailored to the immediate needs of its audience, with themes and speakers carefully selected to deliver maximum value.

For Speaker Inquiries:

To suggest a speaker for Impact Initiative, please complete the form at the link below. There are no exact deadlines for speaker submissions.

Click here to suggest a speaker. 

For Participation:
Participation in the Impact Initiative is by invitation only, and subject to approval. The registration fee of $3,500 includes the complete program, activities, scheduled meals, and conference materials.

Email: ImpactInitiative@fortune.com

For Press Inquiries:
Patrick Reilly
patrick.reilly@fortune.com

Amy Galleazzi
amy.galleazzi@consultant.fortune.com

For Sponsorship Inquiries:
Elizabeth Parks
Monica Sembler
E-mail: fortunesponsorships@fortune.com