The Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program — Events and Interviews

Work and the Social Contract in the Age of AI: How did we get here?

“Social contract” has quickly become one of the most-used, least-defined phrases in the AI policy conversation. This first event in a two-part series will trace the origi

Disposable Workers: A Book Talk with MIT Sloan Professor Paul Osterman

For decades, economists and policymakers have debated how to help workers get better jobs. But what if the more fundamental problem is that employers have systematically

How Tax Policy Can Help Employers Expand Access to Learning

 Many employers want to help workers build new skills, advance into better jobs, and meet evolving business needs, but the systems designed to support employer-provided e

Metrics that Matter: Improving Financial Analysis of CDFI Small Business Lenders

CDFI boards, leadership teams, investors, and regulators have long relied on a familiar set of financial metrics to assess organizational performance. While measures such

The Impact of Foundational Skills on Workforce Success

Foundational skills — including literacy, math, digital fluency, and English language proficiency — are critical elements for a thriving workforce. Yet, gaps in these ess

The Necessity of Employee-Centered Strategies: A Book Talk with Steve Dawson and Jerry Rubin

We are living through a moment of profound uncertainty about the future of work. Rapid advances in artificial intelligence are raising urgent questions about which jobs w

Shifting Culture to Advance Employee Ownership

Culture is an essential cornerstone that determines whether employee ownership translates into strong business outcomes and high quality jobs. This session explores the m

Fmr. NEC Deputy Director Bharat Ramamurti Keynotes the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum

In this video, Bharat Ramamurti — former deputy director of the National Economic Council of the United States — speaks at the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which

Moving Institutional Capital into Employee Ownership

Employee ownership has a compelling track record, but the model has yet to attract capital at the scale required to address the silver tsunami. That is beginning to chang

Ford Foundation’s Margot Brandenburg Keynotes the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum

In this video, Margot Brandenburg — senior program officer for mission investments at The Ford Foundation — speaks at the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took

Five Big Ideas for Employee Ownership (2026)

Our speakers include Sara Horowitz (Founder, Mutualist Society; Founder, Freelancers Union); Esteban Kelly (Executive Director, The US Federation of Worker Cooperatives);

Prudential Financial’s Paula D’Ambrosa Opens Day Two of the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum

In this video, Paula D’Ambrosa — director of inclusive wealth-building at Prudential Financial — delivers opening remarks on day two of the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas

JPMorganChase’s Gwyneth Galbraith Closes Day One of the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum

In this video, Gwyneth Galbraith — vice president and philanthropy program officer at JPMorganChase — delivers closing remarks on day one of the 2026 Employee Ownership I

State Innovations in Employee Ownership

States are emerging as important laboratories for expanding employee ownership. From experimenting with new financing and investment tools to technical assistance and out

How Universal Capitalism Can Provide Economic Fairness: A Fireside Chat with Steven Hill

In this video, Maureen Conway — a vice president of the Aspen Institute and executive director of the Institute’s Economic Opportunities Program — speaks with Steven Hill

Expanding ESOPs’ Danny Massey Keynotes the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum

In this video, Danny Massey — head of strategy and communications for Expanding ESOPs — speaks at the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took place June 2-3, 2026

Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing in Public Companies

Public companies employ the majority of America's workforce, yet broad-based employee ownership remains and profit sharing the exception rather than the rule. This sessio

NCEO’s Loren Rodgers Keynotes the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum

In this video, Loren Rodgers — executive director of the National Center for Employee Ownership — speaks at the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took place June

Apis & Heritage’s Phil Reeves Keynotes the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum

In this video, Phil Reeves — founder and managing partner of Apis & Heritage — speaks at the 2026 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, which took place June 2-3, 2026, in Wash

Made Here, Owned Here: Employee Ownership in Manufacturing

American manufacturing continues to face an uncertain future, with decades of offshoring and consolidation hollowing out communities and leaving workers behind. This sess