The “He-cession”: And Why No One Wants To Talk About It

Men are falling behind in health, education, and workplace engagement—and the downstream effects are already measurable in retention, performance, and risk. This session pairs macro data and masculinity research with a candid look at why this topic is culturally fraught, and how leaders can address it without zero-sum framing or moral panic.

Speakers

• ● Geraldine White, CEO, Identity & Impact (moderator)

• ● Brian Heilman, Senior Research Fellow, Movember

• ● Ted Bunch, Chief Development Officer, A CALL TO MEN

• ● Shawn Lesser, Founder, The REAL

The Performance Paradox: High Functioning, High Risk

High-performing men often carry a backpack of unseen pressure - fear of irrelevance, anxiety about the market, and the isolation of the C-suite. This session names those realities honestly and explores how leaders move from white-knuckling through burnout to building real agency and resilience under pressure.

Speakers

• ● Brooks E. Scott, Executive Coach, Merging Path (moderator)

• ● Usama Young, VP of Player Engagement, New York Giants

• ● Zac Clark, Founder & CEO, Release Recovery

• ● Isaac Slone, Clinical Associate, Backline

An Engagement Audit: Benefits & Culture for Today’s Workers

Most corporate wellness programs suffer from an engagement and adoption gap —they are purchased for the whole workforce but utilized primarily by women or by men in times of crisis. What do programs look like that actually engage men? From removing friction in mental health access, to operationalizing "activity-based" community building, we explore how forward-thinking companies are updating their offerings to solve two of the biggest threats to male retention: the under-utilization of health resources and the silent cost of workplace isolation.

Speakers

• ● Jason Rosario, Co-Founder & CEO, The Lives of Men (moderator)

• ● Daisy Auger-Dominguez, Head of People & Workplaces, Digital Asset

• ● Emani Fenton, Executive Director, Russell Reynolds Associates

• ● Sean Harvey, Senior Advisor, Men’s Engagement Strategist, Warrior Compassion Institute

A Leadership Upgrade: Connection as Currency

In today’s market, the most valuable leadership currency is trusted relationships. As volatility rises and hierarchies flatten, men who learn, adapt, and advance through peer alliances, mentorship, and vibrant networks are going further. This session explores how men grow best in connection through work buddies, peer support, and mentorship that flows in every direction. We’ll discuss how leaders are modeling growth publicly, and moving from dominance and top-down advice into active stewardship that strengthens pipelines, engagement, and retention.

Speakers:

• ● Michael R. Munoz, (moderator)

• ● Zach Gottleib, Student, Stanford, Founder, Talk With Zach

• ● Derrick Thomas, Vice President, Startup Banking, JPMorgan Chase

• ● Michael Ventura, Advisor and Author, Applied Empathy

A Dad Dividend: Fatherhood ROI and Leadership

"Fathering Out Loud" isn't just a personal choice; it's a leadership superpower. We discuss how the skills of active fatherhood (patience, vulnerability, caretaking) make men more effective managers. By making it cool to care, we give men permission to be full humans, driving retention for high-performing parents and trust across boards, teams, and organizations.

Speakers

• ● Tarah Malhotra-Feinberg, advisor, Antenna Up (Moderator)

• ● Yang Adija, SVP, Business Operations and Strategy, TNT Sports

• ● Paul Sullivan, Founder, Company of Dads

• ● Sami Hassanyeh, Chief Digital Transformation Officer, AARP

A Good Life: What Men Need

A cross-class, cross-role conversation on meaning, dignity, belonging, and sustainability. From executives to tradespeople, men’s wellbeing is shaped by whether work offers purpose, respect, and community — or isolation and disposability.

Speakers

• ● Cristian Palma, Founder & CEO, OFF THE CUFF (moderator)

• ● Jay Coen Gilbert, co-founder, B Corp, WMRJ, AND 1

• ● Chris Wilson, artist and author, The Master Plan

• ● Kevin Hines, Founder, Be Here Tomorrow Media