Business Forward

Jim Doyle talks with Jennifer Anastasoff, executive director of the Tech Talent Project, about how to mobilize technology for a 21st century government. Anastasoff discusses the current state of technology used by government agencies and opportunities to upgrade systems and create new government tech roles.

Jim Doyle, president of Business Forward, offers advice on how business leaders can communicate their ideas on education reform with local media. Business Forward has helped more than 175,000 business leaders brief policymakers and work with local media, publish op-eds, testify at public hearings, lobby members of Congress and the White House, and advocate online.

Jim Doyle, president of Business Forward, outlines the eight rules business leaders should follow when they talk to local media. Business Forward has helped more than 175,000 business leaders brief policymakers and work with local media, publish op-eds, testify at public hearings, lobby members of Congress and the White House, and advocate online.

Ed Meier talks with Natalie Gould, Co-Founder and COO of Washington Leadership Academy (WLA), about reforming high schools to prepare students for the future of work. They discuss WLA’s mandatory four-year computer science progression, its internship program, and what policymakers can do to encourage high schools to teach more technical skills.

Taxpayers spend billions of dollars each year subsidizing coal companies, even though coal jobs are disappearing due to automation, surface mining, and natural gas. Despite clear market forces, Trump continues to protect coal plants and promise he will bring mining jobs back. Featured guests include Ohio business leader Myles Murray, director of communications at Better Together Solar, and David Hayes, former deputy secretary of the interior and current executive director of the State Energy and Environmental Impact Center at NYU.

President Trump once claimed that trade wars are "good and easy to win," but in his clash with China - American companies are paying the price. In trade wars with no strategy, there are more losers than winners. Featured guests include business leader and serial entrepreneur Robert Roche, founder and president of Roche Enterprises, and Jen Harris, former State Department official in the Obama Administration.

Business Forward Foundation welcomes Congresswoman Haley Stevens (MI-11), New Democrat Coalition Future of Work Task Force Co-Chair, for a conference call briefing on closing the skills gap, investing in STEM education, and preparing young Americans for an economy in which they will need to operate as lifelong learners. 

Small businesses employ nearly half of America’s workers and generate most of our new jobs. However, fewer new small businesses are being established, especially in rural areas. What’s to blame? Student debt and the lack of fair access to capital. Featured guests include Illinois business leader Robin Simmons, director of innovation and outreach at Sunshine Enterprises, Illinois business leader Eya Louis of SOUL Works L3C, and Michael S. Barr, Dean of the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.

Business Forward welcomed Cameron Kerry, visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Center for Technology Innovation and former acting Secretary of Commerce, for a briefing on the state of consumer privacy reform. He discussed the surge in data collection, new data uses, key players in Congress, and what a bipartisan deal might look like.

President Trump’s focus on the wall has divided the country and derailed bipartisan legislation on infrastructure. In reality, there are better and cheaper ways to protect the U.S. and those dollars would be better spent fixing America’s roads, bridges, rail, and waterways. Featured guests include Ohio business leader Kevin Burch, Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, Michigan business leader Pat Gillespie, and former Deputy Secretary of Transportation and WSP President John D. Porcari.

Under President Trump, “America First” means “America Alone” – this is bad for business. Featured guests include Michigan business leader Cornelius Harris, founder of Alter Ego Management and Jake Sullivan, Distinguished Montgomery Fellow at Dartmouth College.

Women remain overrepresented in low-paying jobs and underrepresented in high-paying jobs. By simply helping women match men’s labor force participation, America could grow its economy by $1 trillion. Featured guests include Colorado business leader Denise Burgess, President and CEO of Burgess Services and Betsey Stevenson, Professor at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan.

Automation creates and destroys jobs simultaneously, changing the future of work. We can't go back. We must reskill. School reform must prepare our students for the skills and qualities tomorrow’s employers will need. Featured guests include Michigan business leader Michael Guthrie, founding design principal of inFORM Studio and Alastair Fitzpayne, Executive Director of the Future of Work Initiative at the Aspen Institute.

On Wednesday, January 22, Business Forward Foundation welcomed Ivan Frishberg, director of impact policy for Amalgamated Bank, and Gregg Gelzinis, senior policy analyst at the Center for American Progress, for a briefing on sustainable banking. They discussed new commitments from leading banks to disclose their climate change risk and the carbon emissions they finance; the impact this new disclosure could have on renewable energy investment; and, how new regulations could speed this process.

On Wednesday, January 15, Business Forward Foundation welcomed former Acting Solicitor General of the United States Neal Katyal for a briefing on the facts and legal theories behind the impeachment of President Trump, as well as other threats to rule of law in the U.S.

By favoring types of income that only the richest Americans earn, President Trump's tax cuts skipped the middle class by design. Now, he wants to cut health care and social security by $1.7 trillion to pay for it. Featured guests include Tennessee business leader Stephen Prince, Owner of National Business Products and David Kamin, Professor of Law at New York University School of Law.

By protecting coal plants and cutting funding for solar and wind R&D, President Trump is fighting market forces beyond his control. The U.S. should be leading on energy, but we are at risk of falling behind. Featured guests include Pennsylvania business leader Kjerstin Klein, Owner of Willi’s Ski Shop, Inc. and Kristina Costa, Climate and Energy Policy Adviser.

President Trump argues that America is being overwhelmed by immigrants. The truth? Many communities are aging, shrinking, and losing their young talent to larger cities, creating a negative cycle that hurts local jobs, property values, and investment. Immigrants can break this cycle. Featured guests include Wisconsin business leader Ryan Clancy, Owner of Bounce Milwaukee and Marshall Fitz, Managing Director of Immigration at the Emerson Collective.

On Monday, December 16, Business Forward welcomed Michele Jolin, CEO and Co-founder of Results for America, to kick off the Solutions 2020 Government Innovation Policy Working Group. On this podcast, we discussed how data can improve government performance.

On Thursday, October 17, the Business Forward Foundation welcomed Congressman Don Beyer (VA-08) for a conference call on the New Democrat Coalition climate priorities. He talked about how investing in renewable energy strengthens our national security, makes our economy more competitive, and increases economic opportunity.