March 23-25, 2026 | Washington, D.C.
REGISTRATION OPENING SOON!
Where Inclusive Leaders Shape the Future
In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, leaders need the clarity, confidence and practical strategies to build workplaces where people and organizations thrive. For more than 15 years, Out & Equal’s Leadership Forum has equipped executives, ERG leaders, HR and legal professionals, and changemakers from global organizations with the strategic learning and peer exchange necessary to achieve this goal.
Through immersive tracks, candid conversations, and high-impact keynotes, more than 400 seasoned and emerging leaders gain tools that connect inclusion to measurable business outcomes, including stronger retention, improved collaboration, greater innovation, and more resilient teams. Unlike other conferences, this experience emphasizes applied learning that translates into measurable impact for both you and your organization.
Keynotes from leading voices in policy, leadership and workplace culture
Deep-dive breakout sessions on global strategy, allyship, ERG growth and more
Peer exchanges that spark new thinking and long-term collaboration
Real-time insight about how belonging builds retention, resilience and reputation
Learning & Community with Lasting Results
At the Leadership Forum, attendees embark on a shared learning journey, building relationships, tackling real-world challenges, and leaving with tools they can apply immediately to enhance belonging and performance within their organizations. You will gain:
Clear Frameworks
for Embedding Inclusion Into Business Strategy
Actionable insights and decision-making frameworks you can apply immediately to strengthen inclusion, enhance team culture and drive results within your organization.
Strategies That Improve Retention & Talent Development
Evidence-based tools for building cultures where people stay, grow, and contribute at their highest levels — reducing turnover costs and supporting long-term talent pipelines.
Insights That Strengthen Organizational Agility and Resilience
Practical guidance for navigating public policy and legal landscapes. You will learn how inclusive practices help organizations respond to complexity with clarity and stability.
Collective Learning That Unlocks Innovation
A shared understanding of how diverse viewpoints strengthen innovation, problem-solving, and creative thinking, leading to stronger business outcomes.
2026 Learning Cohort Tracks
Supercharging ERG Impact: The New Playbook
For decades, Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) have shaped critical shifts in workplaces, driving inclusive policies, building communities of belonging, educating employees, and informing business decisions. Today, however, the broader landscape of inclusion work is shifting, leaving many ERG leaders seeking stability, renewed direction, and strategies that keep their groups responsive and relevant.
This track guides attendees through a focused learning journey that begins with identifying their most urgent challenges. From there, you will build the skills to design responsive programming, strengthen leadership continuity, and elevate collaboration with Executive Champions. The experience culminates in a hands-on Program Design Derby, where you will apply your learning, test new ideas, and develop templates you can take back to your organizations to accelerate and sustain ERG impact.
Evolving the Practice & Power of Allyship
Allyship has deep roots in LGBTQ+ history, shaped by people both within and outside the community who used their influence to drive progress and bring others into the work of belonging. Yet in today’s climate, allyship is being tested. Its potential remains powerful, but recent backlash in the U.S. and globally shows where traditional approaches have fallen short.
In this track, attendees will take an honest look at the current state of allyship to understand where it succeeds and where new opportunities exist. You’ll build the skills needed to evolve your allyship practice, including staying grounded in moments of conflict, shaping and using your origin story as a tool for cultural influence, and cultivating meaningful ally networks across teams and communities. You’ll leave with a clear, actionable roadmap for strengthening allyship within your organization and advancing the work of belonging in a more connected, sustainable way.
Soft Skills, Huge Impact: Meeting the Moment with Responsiveness & Resilience
The idea of self-care has been around for a long time, but its importance came sharply into focus during the COVID pandemic as many searched for ways to stay grounded in a time of fear and uncertainty. Even with its widespread use, the true meaning of self-care — especially in the workplace — often remains unclear.
In this track, attendees will have the space to define what self-care looks like for you as a leader and to explore practical strategies that strengthen your resilience. You’ll begin by clarifying your intentions for personal and professional growth, then participate in learning experiences that build the skills needed to thrive in challenging moments. This track equips you with tools to support both your own well-being and the environments you create for others.
Building Strategy at the Intersection of Public Policy and the Workplace
This past year threatened seismic shifts in government approach to inclusion initiatives in the workplace. Headlines blared that longstanding business practices were now illegal, but reality reveals a much more complex picture. Executive orders signed in 2025 will continue to unfold across 2026 as agencies ramp up the implementation process and yet continued litigation may halt enforcement. Advocates face new challenges that demand nimbleness.
In this track, learners will examine and analyze this moment for workplace advocacy and focus on developing clarity around new developments, building specific skills that will prepare leaders for the fluctuating work ahead, and provide insights and perspectives to create a path forward that protects the progress that has been made and effectively responds to the challenges being issued.
2026 Schedule at a Glance
Monday, March 23
23
Mar
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Opening Reception
Tuesday, March 24
24
MAR
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Networking Breakfast
24
MAR
9:00 – 4:30 PM
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Programming
24
MAR
4:30 – 5:00 PM
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Networking
Wednesday, March 25
24
MAR
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Networking Breakfast
24
MAR
9:00 – 4:45 PM
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Programming
24
MAR
6:30 – 9:30 PM
Eastern Standard Time (EST)
Momentum Reception
Venue
MGM National Harbor | Washington, D.C.
The Leadership Forum will take place entirely at MGM National Harbor, a premier destination located just outside Washington, D.C., offering an elevated and seamless experience for all attendees. By hosting the whole event under one roof — from keynotes and learning track sessions to networking spaces and evening programming — attendees can fully immerse themselves in the Forum experience without the need for travel between venues. Whether you are gathering with your cohort, meeting colleagues for conversation, or unwinding after a full day of learning, MGM National Harbor offers the comfort, convenience, and energy that make Leadership Forum both productive and memorable.
For more information about the lasting impact of Leadership Forum, download the 2025 Leadership Forum Impact Report.