ESOP leaders gathered August 23-25 at Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, for The ESOP Association’s 2026 CEO Summit. Designed exclusively for CEOs and presidents of employee-owned companies, the summit combined keynote presentations, facilitated roundtables, peer-to-peer conversations, and networking opportunities that encouraged candid dialogue among leaders facing many of the same business realities.
Conversations throughout the summit addressed many of the issues keeping executives awake at night, including capital allocation in uncertain markets, governance and board dynamics, succession planning, leadership strategy during economic uncertainty, and the growing role of artificial intelligence in business. Just as important, the summit created opportunities for executives to learn from peers facing many of the same leadership decisions and organizational challenges. Participants also worked through practical executive applications in the AI Executive Lab, which evaluated leading AI platforms and real-world business uses.
Attendees heard from nationally recognized speakers, including economist and author Kyla Scanlon, and exchanged perspectives on economic conditions, the changing business environment, and the forces influencing employee-owned companies. Public policy and advocacy also played a prominent role in the agenda. Participants received updates on the 2026 midterm elections, The ESOP Association’s policy priorities, and legislative and regulatory developments that could influence employee ownership in the years ahead.
Roundtable sessions gave executives opportunities to share experiences and compare approaches on issues ranging from trustee alignment and executive compensation to mergers and acquisitions, repurchase planning, leadership development, litigation risk, employee engagement, and long-term ESOP sustainability. Networking events throughout the summit allowed participants to build new connections, strengthen existing relationships, and continue conversations beyond the scheduled sessions. In addition to executive education and expert insights, CEO Summit delivered something leaders consistently value: a network of ESOP executives who understand the realities of leading an employee-owned company.
The CEO Summit represents one component of The ESOP Association’s broader leadership development initiatives for employee-owned companies. That commitment continues through Leading in an Ownership Setting™, offered by the Employee Ownership Foundation in partnership with the University of Virginia Darden Executive Education and Lifelong Learning. Designed for CEOs, presidents, CFOs, and senior financial leaders of employee-owned companies, the course addresses the distinct demands of leading within an employee ownership structure while exploring finance, mergers and acquisitions, repurchase obligations, marketing, management, and other executive topics. World-renown instructors teach using the Darden case-study method, highlighting ESOP companies in the curriculum developed specifically for these classes. Participants may also earn CPE credits, adding practical professional development value. The Brandon Hall Group recently recognized the initiative with a Gold HCM Excellence Award for Learning & Development and Best Association Program, underscoring the strength of the partnership between TEA, EOF, and Darden and its impact on leaders of employee-owned companies. 2027 dates are coming soon. Learn more at www.esopleadership.org.
Together, the CEO Summit and Leading in an Ownership Setting™ reflect TEA’s ongoing commitment to developing senior ESOP leaders who can strengthen their companies, ownership cultures, and the future of employee ownership.
