PITTSBURGH — Registration is now open for The Global Impact Forum (TGIF) 2025 which will be held Nov. 3-5 at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh. Now in its second year, TGIF will bring together prominent leaders in education, industry, government and community to propel economic development, social mobility and innovative solutions with a focus on Workforce Readiness in the Age of AI and Automation.
“This year's forum is not just a conference but a catalyst for actionable solutions created by the intersection of AI, automation, and workforce readiness,” said Larry Terry, vice president for Penn State Outreach. “We invite stakeholders globally to join us in Pittsburgh to help shape the future of work in ways that drive positive economic and social impact.”
Building on the success of the inaugural session with over 500 attendees in Philadelphia, TGIF continues to set the stage for transformative discussions and initiatives.
This year's highlights include new impact awards, featuring the Susan Wojcicki Legacy Empowerment Award, honoring the former CEO of YouTube, presented by the Wojcicki family and led by Esther Wojcicki. The award was created to honor a visionary leader who has demonstrated extraordinary commitment to empowering individuals and communities through innovation, education and technology. Esther Wojcicki, educator and journalist, known as the “Godmother of Silicon Valley” and author of “How to Raise Successful People” said her hopes in the establishment of this award in her daughter’s name and presenting at TGIF is to empower future generations to lead with TRICK: trust, respect, independence, collaboration and kindness.
“Susan was a very empathetic leader. She was strong, she was opinionated, but she was somebody that didn't just sit around and let things happen. She took a stand, but she was always nice about it,” Wojcicki said. “I think it's important for future leaders to realize that power really lies in empowering the people around you and giving them trust and respect and allowing them to carry on with their ideas, acknowledging that their ideas can also be ideas that people consider, respect and follow through on. The traditional way that companies are run is that the CEO has just has a few people around him and those people make all the decisions. Susan was trying to break that model.”
Wojcicki said empowering women in leadership roles was also important to Susan.
“It means a lot to present this award and empower Susan’s legacy, recognizing what she contributed to society in general, but especially to women," Wojcicki said. "We need more women leaders. And we need effective women leaders who are not going to be vindictive. Susan never held a grudge.”
TGIF will present a diverse lineup of engaging workshops and sessions designed to foster learning and networking, addressing today’s challenges and opportunities for the future and dynamic speakers including Jack Krawczyk, Google’s Gemini product lead; Roberto Clemente Jr., CEO for RCJ Global Impact; Jerome Bettis, former Pittsburgh Steeler and founder of The Bus Stops Here Foundation; Lisa Dughi, CEO for the National Academy Foundation (NAF); Patrick Methvin, director of education in Postsecondary Success for the Gates Foundation and Ryan Newman, managing director at Goldman Sachs.
“As we look ahead to TGIF 2025 in Pittsburgh, we recognize that the future of work is evolving faster than ever and that convenings like this ensure we are collectively moving with the times,” said Lisa Dughi, CEO of NAF. “Our commitment to addressing the needs of students is not just important, it’s imperative. By equipping young people with the skills, experiences and opportunities they need, we’re ensuring they are prepared to meet the ever-changing demands of the workforce. The time to act is now, and together with other partners, supporters and funders attending TGIF, we are building a future where every student can thrive.”
Attendees will experience robust networking opportunities and forge connections with a wide array of leaders, investors, entrepreneurs and educational professionals. It will be an opportunity to share insights and develop strategies that drive innovation across various sectors through workshops, panels, keynotes and other in-depth learning opportunities.
New for TGIF 2025 is the "Meet the Funders and Founders" session where participants will have the opportunity to sign up for 20-min roundtable discussions with foundations and investors.
TGIF is actively seeking proposals through April 1 for innovative workshops, design thinking studios and special segments that support the 2025 theme through one or more areas of impact: economic development, education and innovation, positive impact, or upward social mobility. Proposals will be accepted for the High School Student Spotlight and Higher Education Student Spotlight through Sept. 15.
To learn more about TGIF and check out early registration rates, visit the TGIF 2025 registration page.
For travel and lodging opportunities available for TGIF 2025, click here.