Each spring, The Forum convenes more than 250 executives, founders, and emerging leaders for our annual Leadership Symposium. The event is designed to create space for reflection, learning, and connection among leaders shaping what comes next across industries.
In 2026, the Symposium focuses on a defining leadership challenge: how to move forward with confidence when the path is not fully clear. Hosted at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA), the program explores how leaders can unlock growth and momentum through calculated, values-driven risk-taking by balancing intuition with discipline and creativity with pragmatism.
The conversation will examine how intentional risk can become a strategic tool for advancing organizations, accelerating careers, and strengthening communities during periods of change and opportunity.
Featured Speaker: Amy Smilovic
Founder of Tibi | Author of Almost Reckless
Amy Smilovic, founder of the global fashion brand Tibi, brings a rare blend of creative vision and operational rigor. Drawing from her forthcoming book, Almost Reckless: A Creative and Pragmatic Approach to Taking Risks, Amy will introduce Creative Pragmatism, a practical framework for making bold decisions while maintaining strategic clarity. Through real-world examples, she will show how leaders can trust instinct without abandoning structure, take risks that align teams rather than fracture them, and build durable, values-led organizations while continuing to evolve. Her keynote offers clear, applicable insights for leaders navigating complexity, growth, and reinvention.
Moderator: Angela Val
President & CEO | Visit Philly
Angela Val is a Forum Member who leads a diverse team of creative thinkers at Visit Philadelphia, shaping Greater Philadelphia’s image, driving visitation, and strengthening the region’s economy. With more than two decades of experience in tourism marketing, she became President and CEO in 2022, returning to the organization after an earlier tenure from 1998 to 2015. Known for her warm, accessible leadership, Val is a passionate champion of Philadelphia and its ability to honor its past while embracing progress.
What Attendees Will Gain
- A clear, actionable framework for taking smarter, more strategic risks
- Insight from a founder who built and continuously evolved a category-defining brand
- Greater confidence leading through ambiguity, change, and inflection points
- Meaningful connection with a high-caliber network of executives, founders, and builders
Event Details
- Thursday, March 12, 2026
- 4:30–6:30 PM
- Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (PAFA)
- A reception with drinks & heavy hors d'oeuvres to follow the program
- The Forum’s Leadership Symposium is designed for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and lifelong learners who believe the future is not something to wait for, but something to build.
This event is open to Forum members, sponsors, guests, and allies.
If you are interested in learning more about sponsoring this event, please contact Director of Advancement Olivia Rettstatt at oliviarettstatt@foew.com.
Pricing:
Forum Member: $150
Non-Member/Guest: $210
Current sponsors, please contact Olivia Rettstatt for information on how to register guests.
