With the help of more than 40 of the world’s largest and most respected companies, Business Forward is making it easier for entrepreneurs, investors, small business owners and senior executives from across America to get involved in the policy-making process. Together, we’ve organized hundreds of business leader briefings in nearly 50 cities across 40 states. In 2012, we helped organize more than 50 White House business leader fly-ins. To date, more than 250 Obama Administration officials, Members of Congress, governors and mayors have participated.
Our work focuses primarily on helping business leaders advise policymakers on ways to create jobs and accelerate our economic recovery, but we also organize briefings on specific topics, like energy, cyber security, immigration reform, healthcare reform implementation, and IP protection.
Our founding and national members help by funding our platform, providing their own policy expertise, and helping Business Forward identify local business leaders. Ninety-eight out of 100 business leaders participating in our regional events and White House fly-ins were guests of the members and pay nothing to participate.
Five out of 10 business leaders who participated in our 2012 programs were CEOs; three out of 10 were senior executives; one in 10 invested in other businesses (angel, VC and private equity); and one in 10 were legal, CSR or government affairs executives. Ninety-eight out of 100 of those who participated in 2012 say they would participate in another Business Forward briefing.