2025 Culture Impact Lab

Organizations are grappling with rapid changes in workplace requirements, driven not just by technological advances but also by the generational shifts redefining the role of work in our lives. The traditional, outdated approach that overlooks the importance of the role work has on culture and societal change are now being challenged by a new wave of workers “Gen Why?.” Gen Why is not to be confused with Gen Y and includes a common paradigm shift over 3 emerging generations - Millennials (who are now entering positions of power, influence, and leadership), Gen Z (which will make up 30% of the workforce by 2025), and the now emerging generation Gen Alpha.

Gen Why? demand more than just a paycheck and is causing organizations to rethink their values, goals, and societal impact. The social contract has shifted. The workplace, a microcosm of society, is on the brink of the most significant transformation since the Industrial Revolution, fueled by a wave of emerging generations insisting on work that aligns with their personal values and contributes positively to society. Unlike their predecessors, these workers are not content with the status quo. They seek meaningful work that fosters cultural and societal change, viewing their professional lives as an extension of their personal commitment to making the world a better place.

As society evolves and generations change, so do the experiences, expectations, and behaviors reflected in our workplaces. The next generation is calling for purpose-fueled work environments while rejecting old paradigms that lack it, while previous generations may cling to a familiar status quo that is rapidly becoming obsolete. This generational push and pull is a recurring tension in history, but rarely do business leaders learn to adapt to these forces in time to get ahead of them.

1. Build a responsive workplace culture (rather than merely reacting to generational shifts) that aligns with the evolving demands for purpose and social responsibility at work?
2. Meet the moment of Gen Why? and seek to move beyond the latest HR or business trend to adopt a more expansive, outward-looking approach that considers both internal and external human dynamics - reimagining that role of workplace culture in impacting people and society?
3. Build the next generation of the social enterprise that seeks to advance collective liberation, connect back to our shared humanity, and progress a more equitable and just future for all?
   For event agenda and FAQs check out the full 2025 Event Guide HERE.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

The Joinery, 2533 West Homer Street, Chicago, United States