Last month’s Annual Summit, like the one before, was about convening our members to do what they do best: connect, collaborate, and tackle head-on issues that have resounding implications for our region. Last year, our focus was on the regional moment of crisis in the face of sweeping federal changes, and this time we once again tackled a topic with potential to radically transform the workforce: artificial intelligence.

But the real story wasn’t about AI. It was about people.

Through a keynote address from Helen and Dave Edwards of The Artificiality Institute; a regional outlook from Kathy Hollinger ('04), LGW Board Chair and President and CEO at Greater Washington Partnership, and Deb Hodge, Chief of Staff at Greater Washington Partnership; a panel moderated by Jonathan Aberman ('15) on the DMV's approach to AI; and interactive breakout sessions throughout the day, one message emerged: the future of AI must be people-first.

This Annual Summit was about the potential to build a future not where technology takes over but where it helps us work smarter and build new opportunities – empowering people, not replacing them. It was about ethics and equity, the impacts on workforce and talent development, and the necessity of agile, adaptive leadership. And it was about creating space for Members to learn from one another and connect over common questions or challenges.

And for Leadership Greater Washington, it might just be a new way to tell our story.

As part of the day’s program we also welcomed Abe Sorock & Alicia Cassels from LeadersAtlas for an AI-enhanced storytelling activity. LGW Members were invited to use a proprietary platform to tell their Leadership Greater Washington story, and these moments, memories, and experiences were then built into a narrative using AI to frame them in the context of the LGW mission. The goal? To generate storycards that represent the breadth of what LGW offers, to tell our story in a way not easily achievable by traditional means.

In all we captured more than 70 specific, personal examples of LGW impact, creating a living mosaic of our past and present, a visual representation of our impact told through the voices of our Members.  And as we celebrate our milestone 40th anniversary, we’re excited to share some of them with you today.

But this is just the beginning. 

In the coming months, we'll continue building on these stories to create new ways of showcasing the collective impact of our network and the ripple effect our members have on each other and across the region. And if you weren’t able to share your story, we’re still accepting submissions through August 1 at the link below!

SHARE YOUR STORY

As we look toward the next 40 years, we're excited to continue telling the story of Leadership Greater Washington – one leader, one connection, and one story at a time.

Thank you to our sponsors for supporting this year's Annual Summit!