Developing the Next Generation of Leaders

Dear Friends,

Ahhh…the dog days of summer…despite the complaints about the heat or the quick passing of summer, there is something magical about late August in New York City.

In the evenings it cools off enough to stay outside even longer, the angle of the light shifts and the golden light lingers, tourists make their way home, and just beyond it all is the crisp promise of a busy fall—which brings us to one of the moments I look forward to most each year: our OutNEXT Global Summit!

This year, our flagship Emerging Talent event is happening a little sooner than usual, but why wait? Hosted by our good friends at Citi in their global headquarters in Tribeca on September 9th & 10th, OutNEXT is like no other leadership program in the world—200 rising LGBTQ+ rockstar leaders and Allies, nominated by their companies, coming together to learn, connect, and to discover what we call their true OutVantage.™ 

OutNEXT is great energy, inspiring, and with enough unpredictability to keep everyone on their toes. Past participants have told me they left feeling unstoppable, that it changed how they see themselves as leaders, and gave them networks and friendships they’ll have for a lifetime. And every OutNEXT graduate joins a global cohort that’s now almost 5,000 leaders strong.

Jennifer Brown and I met way back in 2001, when we were on the very first regional council for Out & Equal here in New York. She’s spent her entire career helping companies, leaders and CEOs understand their power, and how to lead inclusively.  She’s published four books, and speaks to audiences  all around the world–I call her the gay Oprah.

Dr. Yvette Burton has been a rockstar since childhood–and her education, accolades and career trajectory just added to it.  A self-described “business-innovation-geek,” she’s worked in both the consulting and strategy sector for IBM, Deloitte and EY as well as in the Defense Sector for Lockheed Martin. Along the way, she’s been a Professor at Columbia, NYU, Georgetown, advised Harvard–after she got her JD, her PhD, and most recently, she’s packed up degrees in cybersecurity and AI which is her current focus. Yvette and I became friends around the same time I met Jennifer, and every time we’ve hung out, I’ve left with more knowledge–and a smile on my face.

Last but not least, my longtime friend, and longtime OutNEXT supporter and MC, Reverend Mark Fowler. Mark has been an advisor, a coach, a Reverend, a teacher, and is currently the CEO of The Tannenbaum Center–he’s done it all. If you’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing Mark speak, you know what I mean when I say fully-formed paragraphs of wisdom pour from his mouth every time it opens. His understanding of the human condition–and how to make everyone feel seen and heard–is something rare, and I’m so proud to call him a friend. Oh, and he’s funny as heck.

I’m not sure how we were lucky enough to convince all THREE of these leaders to co-create this year’s OutNEXT curriculum, but I’m SO grateful they agreed!

We’ll look at how LGBTQ+ history shapes inclusive progress, and how connecting activism with professional impact helps leaders influence not just their companies, but the broader world. I’m so proud that Out Leadership keeps creating space for mentoring moments and interactive challenges—especially now, when inclusion and equality are being tested.

For the past 12 years, OutNEXT has been shaping the next generation of leaders—and I couldn’t be prouder of every single one of them.

If you haven’t already, I want to personally remind you, our members, to nominate your very best and brightest candidates to send to this year’s Summit. (you can email events@outleadership.com) As a reminder, we always reserve a few spots for outside candidates, so if there’s someone extraordinary that you think should be included, please let us know!

The professionals who gather here are shaping their companies and the future of business, innovation, and if we’re honest, society itself. 

I can’t wait to see the incredible talent you send our way and to share this experience with the next generation of #Outleaders!

With pride and gratitude,
Todd Sears
Founder & CEO

Register for the OutNEXT Global Summit!

At Out Leadership, we’re in a unique position to hear the concerns of companies across industries, and we’re here to offer thoughtful, practical support.

This Series is inspired by heartfelt conversations with our members who are facing a wave of new realities, from shifting government policies to evolving workplace practices and renewed scrutiny around diversity and inclusion.

You’ve asked how to support employees through uncertainty, how to communicate with care, and what’s working in other organizations.

Our response is to bring together experts and peers to share insights, real tools, and a common language to help teams move forward with confidence, wherever you’re starting from.

Target CEO Brian Cornell will step down in February 2026, following the company’s third straight quarter of declining sales. Target acknowledges that the substantial drop in revenue has been fueled by backlash and boycotts over Target’s rollback of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. Alongside slipping sales, nationwide store traffic has also taken a significant hit. As more companies scale back their DE&I commitments, Target stands as a case study in how consumers continue to vote with their dollars.