Cultivating Innovation & Collaboration: Key Takeaways from Recent Board of Trade Executive Lunches

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Mar 12, 2025 Board of Trade

Cultivating Innovation & Collaboration: Key Takeaways from Recent Board of Trade Executive Lunches

Over the past few months, our executive lunch series has brought together leaders from across industries to engage in meaningful discussions on resilience, innovation, and the future of business in the DC region. With expert facilitators across our membership, each session fostered an open exchange of ideas, centering on personal leadership challenges and strategies for navigating them successfully.

Regional Growth and Infrastructure: Moving DC Forward

Transportation and workforce development were key topics, as leaders examined how regional collaboration can drive economic growth. Board of Trade President & CEO Jack McDougle provided a deep dive into DMVMoves and efforts to create sustainable long-term solutions for transportation funding and operations. Discussions also touched on:

Updates on major infrastructure projects, including Maglev’s progress, autonomous vehicle permitting in DC, and innovative transit solutions like using county buses for school transportation.

Workforce development initiatives, emphasizing the need for businesses and universities to collaborate in retaining top talent and expanding opportunities for local students.

Economic competition across regional lines, shifting the mindset from a zero-sum game to attracting and developing a diverse workforce that serves multiple industries.

Innovation and the Business Landscape

Emerging industries, technological advancements, and the role of policy in fostering innovation were also key discussion points. Leaders explored ways to position DC as a global hub for business and technology, emphasizing:

The potential for AI and energy innovation, leveraging the region’s strengths in data centers, federal institutions, and top-tier universities.

The need for collaborative policies that support startups and technology innovation.

Business retention and student opportunities, with ideas for expanding internship programs and creating direct pipelines from high schools to local universities.

Navigating the Return-to-Office Debate: Leadership, Culture, and Policy

In a thought-provoking discussion, a recent discussion highlighted how communication and leadership clarity play a crucial role in shaping organizational performance. Instead of transitioning to remote work, organizations are now grappling with the challenges of bringing employees back to the office under a federal mandate, even as many private companies take a more flexible approach.

This shift has sparked important conversations about workplace policies, with organizations weighing the benefits and drawbacks of full-time in-office work versus hybrid models.

Federal vs. Private Sector Approaches – While the government is mandating a return to the office, many private companies are prioritizing flexibility, recognizing that employees have adapted to remote and hybrid work.
Balancing Productivity and Collaboration – Full-time office work fosters in-person collaboration and structure, while hybrid models offer flexibility and, for many, increased productivity.

However, beyond policy decisions, one key factor remains central: organizational culture. A strong, clearly communicated culture that prioritizes serving clients, maintaining work quality, and fostering collaboration is what ultimately drives success. More than just where employees work, it’s about ensuring everyone understands the goals and mission that guide the organization forward.

What’s Next?

These discussions reinforced that DC is an asset-rich region with significant opportunities for growth, but strategic collaboration remains key. From transportation and workforce retention to AI and energy innovation, business leaders are focused on long-term solutions that ensure sustainable success.

As we continue these conversations, we invite our business community to actively engage in shaping the future of the region. Stay tuned for upcoming events where we’ll explore these themes further and continue building momentum for a resilient, innovative, and thriving DC business ecosystem.

A special thank you to our recent facilitators: Kevin Dougher, EVP, Johnson, Kendall & Johnson, Inc.; Jane Williams, SVP & National Practice Consultant, HNTB; Licy DoCanto, Founder, The DoCanto Group; Cindy Bean, VP, Government & Regulatory Affairs, Comcast; Lizabeth Wesely-Casella, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, L-12 Services.

Thank you to our recent sponsors, including United Airlines and L-12 Services, for helping make these lunches possible!