BHEF 2025 Spring Convening: Agenda

Monday, March 31, 2025

7:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.    
Optional drop-in networking at the hotel bar 

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

9:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.    
Board of Directors Meeting (Board members and BHEF staff only)

11:00 a.m.    
Registration Opens 

12:00 p.m.    
Welcome Lunch and Opening Remarks

Speakers:

  • Jeff Armstrong, President, California Polytechnic State University
  • Laura Ipsen, CEO, Ellucian
  • Kristen Fox, CEO, Business-Higher Education Forum

12:30 p.m. – 1:45 p.m.    
Session I: The Talent Our Nation Needs: Building Tomorrow’s Workforce 

This opening session dives into the transformative role of AI in shaping industries today. Business leaders from diverse sectors will share use cases, cutting through the hype to showcase AI's tangible impacts on productivity and innovation. This session offers a unique opportunity to understand how businesses are integrating AI into their operations and the implications for aligning academic strategies with industry realities. Attendees will gain actionable insights into the evolving demands of AI-driven workplaces and how higher education can better support these shifts.    

1:45 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Break

2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.    
Session II: Learning from Regional Ecosystems Meeting the Moment: Case Studies of Effective Partnerships 

This session explores how collaborative regional partnerships are addressing economic needs through coordinated efforts among businesses, higher education, government, and other stakeholders. Featuring compelling case studies, it will examine how these alliances tackle shared obstacles, the strategies behind their success, and the tangible outcomes they achieve. Attendees will gain practical insights into building and sustaining partnerships that effectively respond to evolving workforce demands. 

3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Break

3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Cal Poly Bus Tour: Learning by Doing

4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.    
Board Chair’s Reception featuring a Fireside Chat with Paul Leblanc 

Join Paul LeBlanc, former president of Southern New Hampshire University and co-founder of Human Systems, for an engaging fireside chat exploring the role of AI in shaping a more human-centered economy. Drawing from his extensive experience at the intersection of education and technology, LeBlanc will discuss how AI can enhance workforce transitions, support lifelong learning, and empower individuals to thrive in a rapidly changing world.

6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.    
Board Chair’s Dinner

Wednesday, April 2, 2025

8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.    
Networking Breakfast 

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.    
Session III: Balancing Values and Strategy: Inclusive Leadership amid Cultural Shifts

Activating the full potential of the U.S. workforce is both an economic necessity and a cornerstone of social mobility. Achieving this requires educational systems that empower all individuals to thrive while meeting the nation’s labor market demands. This session explores how executives are navigating these complexities to foster inclusivity, maintain trust with diverse stakeholders, and drive sustainable success. 

10:15 p.m.– 10:30 a.m.        
Break

10:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.    
Session IV: “How to Build It” Break-Out Groups

BHEF members will facilitate peer-to-peer conversations about effective approaches to advance BHEF’s learning and research agenda. Attendees will have the opportunity to discuss two topics of their choosing.

  1. Upskilling and Re-Skilling Strategies that Work in the Era of AI
  2. Beyond Internships: Building Scalable Models for Learning and Working
  3. The Power of Place: Effective Strategies for Regional Talent Ecosystems

12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.    
Lunch and Table Topics 

1:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.    
Session V: Taking Action: How Higher Education and Business Can be America’s Engine

Partnerships between higher education and business have the potential to transform how the nation addresses its most urgent challenges. These collaborations are key to strengthening economic competitiveness, fostering social cohesion, and preparing a skilled workforce for the future. Attendees will gain practical insights and strategies for advancing these partnerships, along with tools to clearly convey their value to stakeholders, driving long-term prosperity for communities and the country.

2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Closing Discussion: Our Work Ahead and Next Steps

3:00 p.m.    
Meeting Adjourns