NextUp, a forward-thinking organization committed to nurturing the next generation of business leadership, has announced its flagship 2025 Executive Forum, set for July 15–17 at the Grand Hyatt Deer Valley in Park City, Utah. This annual, invitation-only event is the pinnacle of NextUp’s programming, offering a space where senior executives from across industries converge to redefine leadership, challenge the status quo, and harness the energy of shared purpose. With this year’s theme, Vision + Velocity, the forum aims to galvanize leaders around future-facing strategies grounded in both insight and action.
Lisa Baird, CEO of NextUp, captures the spirit of the gathering with her assertion that leadership today demands both a clear view of what’s possible and the resolve to make it happen. Her call to “move boldly and inclusively” serves not just as a rallying cry for the event but also a broader reflection of a business world that increasingly prizes agility, empathy, and collective accountability. Over 300 senior leaders will be welcomed into this alpine setting for three days of immersive dialogue, strategic workshops, and connection-building, all set against the sweeping backdrop of Utah’s Wasatch Range.
Dagmar Boggs, Executive Board Chair of NextUp and a senior Coca-Cola executive, describes the forum as an indispensable touchstone for confronting the challenges of our time. Her perspective reinforces the forum’s dual value: a space for elevated discourse and a crucible for bold ideas. The event’s continued backing from presenting partners The Coca-Cola Company and Suntory Global Spirits speaks volumes about its relevance and reach. Carlo Coppola, President of North America at Suntory, emphasized the alignment of missions: to elevate and support future-ready leadership in an era of rapid transformation.
The program is anchored by an impressive lineup of keynote speakers, each offering a distinct vantage point on leadership, innovation, and equity. Dominique Shelton Leipzig, now CEO of Global Data Innovation, brings her expertise at the intersection of law, technology, and global policy. Walmart’s EVP and Chief People Officer, Donna Morris, offers insight into the evolving nature of workforce culture and human capital. Fraser Bullock, who helms the Salt Lake City-Utah 2034 Olympic and Paralympic bid, will explore the nexus of civic ambition and strategic planning. From Kantar, Casey Ferrell and Adrienne Pulido will present the latest in market intelligence and inclusive strategy frameworks, reflecting the importance of data-driven leadership in navigating uncertainty.
Capping off the forum is a keynote from Sarah Wynn-Williams, whose path from New Zealand diplomat to Facebook’s director of global public policy, and now a leading voice in AI governance, brings a deeply international and technology-savvy perspective to the conversation. Her journey—marked by self-initiated career moves and policy foresight—embodies the very principles of vision and velocity.
Set in the rarefied air of Deer Valley, the 2025 Executive Forum is not just a conference but a strategic fulcrum for executives aiming to make real impact in their industries and beyond. Through curated interactions and a focus on collective transformation, NextUp once again positions itself at the heart of where leadership is headed next.