Fortune to host Fortune 500 Innovation Forum in Detroit in November
- In today’s CEO Daily: Diane Brady announces a new forum for debating how the U.S. can foster innovation.
- The big leadership story: How Jeffrey Epstein cracked Bill Gates’ inner circle.
- The markets: Mixed globally as the price of oil inches back above $90.
- Plus: All the news and watercooler chat from Fortune.
Good morning. For many people around the world, including me, moving to the U.S. can feel like coming from a culture of why to a culture of why not? At its best, the U.S. is a country that inspires trust in its allies and optimism in its own people. It rewards risk-taking, invention, ambition and hard work, creating a dynamic ecosystem of innovation over the past 250 years that’s been a role model for the world.
What better time to look at the players and policies that will shape the next era of innovation in the U.S.? That’s why today Fortune is announcing that we’re hosting the Fortune 500 Innovation Forum in Detroit on Nov. 16 and 17. There we will convene CEOs and other C-suite leaders at Fortune 500 companies alongside startup founders, investors, policymakers and nonprofit and cultural leaders to explore new paths to prosperity and innovation. We’ll also include a special focus on those companies that have thrived for a century or more.
Held under the theme “America Leads,” the Forum will serve as the capstone event of a year-long editorial initiative in which we’ll explore the companies, leaders, and ideas shaping the next era of business. Part of what has made this country an unparalleled engine of innovation and growth has been its ability to attract and partner with the best from around the world. Some worry that we’re squandering what should be a golden era for the U.S.; others contend that we’re creating conditions to unleash it. Those debates and the ability of leaders to not only adapt to a fast-changing environment, but to shape it and profit from it, is a big part of what fuels America’s dynamism.
American innovation has never been the preserve of one group or one part of the country. The automobile industry was born in Detroit, a city that became the engine for a new century of growth and the rise of a new middle class. With its revitalized downtown and entrepreneurial energy, it’s a testament to the power and importance of reinvention. What better place to host this two-day gathering, where I’ll be joined by an editorial team that includes Alyson Shontell, Fortune’s Editor-in-Chief and Chief Content Officer, along with fellow journalists Ellie Austin, Andrew Nusca and Ruth Umoh, as well as my co-chairs: Lee Clifford, Matt Heimer and Kristin Stoller. I’m also excited to work with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other partners.
I’ve long believed that companies—and countries—rise and fall on the strength of their leadership. For 96 years, Fortune has produced award-winning journalism on the most impactful trends and people, especially those at the helm of Fortune 500 companies, our annual ranking of the largest U.S. companies that’s now in its 72nd year. To do that, we’ve had to disrupt ourselves while staying true to the values that have made Fortune the premier media brand for global business leaders. That means telling great stories, building powerful communities, and convening conversations that make all of us smarter about what matters—and what’s next.
Click here if you’d like to find out more about the Fortune 500 Innovation Forum. I look forward to getting your ideas and feedback on this exciting editorial initiative.
Contact CEO Daily via Diane Brady at diane.brady@fortune.com
This story was originally featured on Fortune.com