Independence Business Alliance ERG Summit 2025: “Reimagining for the Future”
Workshop Facilitator
Lex facilitated his workshop, “I Advocate: Allyship & Advocacy Skill Building” for ERG Leaders on October 2nd, 2025.
Title of event: ERG Summit: Reimagining for the Future
Date: Thursday, October 2, 2025
Time: 11:00AM-5:00PM, ConnX Networking 5:30-7:00PM
Location: Quorum at the Science Center
This year’s theme, Reimagining for the Future, was centered on inspiring hope while also offering a space for connection and recharging. Each keynote, panel and breakout session circled back to finding hope and inspiration in this important work.
Event Description:
The Independence Business Alliance (IBA)’s, Greater Philadelphia’s LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, are hosting their second annual ERG Summit on Thursday, October 2nd. We hope you can join us there!
In today’s rapidly changing social and cultural climate, yesterday’s playbooks may not be enough to keep your employee resource group (ERG) aligned with business priorities. The half-day summit is designed to help ERGs thrive in this new normal and sustain their positive impact.
High-level agenda:
A keynote message connecting social progress to economic strength
A panel discussion with leaders on how their organizations’ ERG models and strategies are changing
Concurrent breakout sessions specifically designed to meet your needs:
For HR and DEI leaders: gain the skills to push forward in the face of the current climate
For ERG leaders: master advocacy skill-building to put your knowledge into action for your members
An action-oriented closing session to help you walk away with a tangible plan
What else you can expect:
Connections and supported networking with like-minded peers
Access to leadership development and skill-building opportunities
Interactive workshops for in-the-moment ideation
Dynamic learning moments from peers and subject-matter experts
ERGs are more essential now than ever before. Discover how to blaze new trails in navigating today’s challenging landscape. Join us for the IBA’s 2025 ERG Summit: Reimagining for the Future on October 2, 2025!
Post Event Announcement
Our keynote, Ashleigh Strange, Executive Director of Governor's (Governor Josh Shapiro) Commission on LGBTQ Affairs, set the tone in a fireside chat with IBA CEO, unpacking how social progress fuels economic strength and sharing real examples of leadership that turns vision into action.
Throughout the day we heard the common thread of how to sustain the important work of diversity, equity and inclusion (in a landscape where the backlash is apparent) and continually the conversation was: we can evolve but the work cannot stop.
Thank you to our panelists. Your honesty and perspective enlightened other leaders (important note: we are ALL leaders in this work given the landscape) to keep showing up with care and curiosity.
Thank you to our breakout session speakers: Domonique Revere, DSL, M.Ed., SHRM-CP, ACC, CPD and Lex Horwitz. Your insights on ERG strategy and allyship were top notch and the energy you brought was felt.
Thank you to our LGBTQ+ vendors: Arrive Therapy and Lex Horwitz Consulting LLC. Diverse owned suppliers matter! Reach out to the IBA for any recommendations of LGBTQ+ owned businesses.
