MLT 20 AGENDA
Schedule
Thursday, May 14
8-9:00 AM
Registration & Breakfast
Start your conference experience by picking up your badge, grabbing breakfast, and easing into Day 1. A chance to settle in and begin connecting with fellow attendees before programming begins.
Opening (Day 1) + Plenary 1: The Employer Imperative: Expanding Prosperity While Driving Performance
9:00 - 10:30 AM
What responsibility do employers have in shaping economic opportunity and what’s the business case for getting it right? This opening plenary explores how leading organizations are leveraging talent, culture, and inclusive practices to drive performance and expand access. Hear what it takes to help ensure employers are true engines of opportunity.
Jasmine Vazquez
VP, Food & Beverage Owned Brands, Target
Kamau Witherspoon
CEO, Shipt
Kedra Newsom Reeves
Managing Director and Partner, Boston Consulting Group
Session block 1: Navigating Change, Innovation, and Disruption
10:45 - noon
Technology is reshaping how work gets done, and who gets ahead. These sessions explore how AI, shifting industries, and economic uncertainty are redefining opportunity across sectors, and how leaders can position themselves to stay competitive, adaptable, and ready for what’s next.
12:15 - 1:15
Lunch
Take a mid-day break to refuel and connect with other attendees. A casual, open space to continue conversations and expand your network.
1:30 - 2:45 PM
Plenary 2: The Way Forward for America: How to Shape What’s Next
The U.S. is at a defining inflection point. In this candid conversation, influential leaders unpack how we got here, what’s at stake, and where we go next — offering unfiltered perspectives on democracy, leadership, and economic participation, and what it will take to build a more inclusive and prosperous future.
2:45 - 3:15 PM
Coffee Break
Pause, recharge, and make new connections before heading into the afternoon sessions.
3:30 - 4:45 PM
Session block 2: The Next Level: What It Looks Like & How to Get There
Leadership growth doesn’t happen by accident. This block focuses on the relationships, visibility, positioning, and strategic career moves that help professionals step into larger roles, expand their influence, and unlock new opportunities across industries and organizations.
An elevated evening networking experience designed for meaningful connection. Structured zones, curated music, and intentional design make it easy to meet new people, connect with sponsors, and continue conversations from the day in a high-energy setting.
4:45 - 6:30 PM
“Golden Hour” (networking reception)
6:30 - 8:00 PM
MLT Game Night presented by Target
Unwind, connect, and have some fun at MLT Game Night, presented by Target. This casual, come-and-go experience will feature casino-style games, board games, signature drinks, appetizers, a curated storefront experience spotlighting Black- and Latino-owned brands available at Target, and plenty of space to relax and meet new people.
Whether you’re stopping by for a quick game or staying to hang out, Game Night is a great way to close out the day and build new connections across the MLT community.
Friday, May 15
Breakfast
8:00 - 9:00 AM
Begin Day 2 with breakfast and informal networking as attendees return ready for another full day of programming and connection.
9:05 - 10:15 AM
Kickoff (Day 2) + Plenary 3: Courageous Leadership in Times of Disruption
What does it take to lead with clarity and conviction in today’s environment? Executives share real-world lessons on navigating a polarized climate, making values-driven decisions, and leading through complexity — from social pressure to legal and political risk to rapid disruption driven by AI and global change.
John Rogers
Chairman & Co-CEO, Ariel Investments
Mark Tatum
Deputy Commissioner & COO, NBA
Bethany Donaphin
SVP, Head of WNBA League Operations, WNBA
10:30 - 11:45 AM
Session block 3: Impact, Legacy, & Expanding Opportunity
Leadership today extends beyond individual success. These sessions explore how professionals can shape institutions, expand access to opportunity, engage in civic life, and align their careers with broader impact, while continuing to grow their influence and reach.
Join small-group conversations over lunch on topics including Women in Leadership, the Business of Sports, and Ownership Pathways: from employee to owner. Designed for honest dialogue, peer learning, and deeper connection.
12:00 - 1:15 PM
Lunch + Special Interest Talks
Sustaining a meaningful career also means designing a life that supports it. This block explores financial strategy, well-being, family responsibilities, and intentional career choices, helping leaders build success that is both durable and aligned with what matters most.
1:30 - 2:45 PM
Session block 4: Living Your Best Life
2:45 - 3:30 PM
Coffee Break
Step away to recharge and continue building connections before the final sessions of the conference.
3:30 - 4:45 PM
Plenary 4: The Next Era of Economic Opportunity + Closing
What will shape the future of work and who will shape it? This closing plenary explores how technology, policy, and innovation are redefining economic opportunity, and what leaders must do now to stay ahead. Leave with a clearer point of view and a call to action for the role you can play in building what comes next.
Roland Fryer
Founding Partner, Equal Opportunity Ventures
Bil Helman
Advisory Partner, Greylock
Preet Bharara
Former United States Attorney, Southern District of New York
Close out the conference with a final Golden Hour designed for reconnection and celebration. Alumni reunite with cohorts, new relationships are deepened, and conversations continue in a high-energy, intentionally designed space that brings the experience full circle.
5:00 - 6:30 PM