ABOUT

[Going to Work] is a private, invitation-only conference about the most pressing problems that American leaders are grappling with about work, our economy, and society at large.

Now in our third year, [Going to Work] brings together CEOs, investors, labor leaders, journalists, philanthropists, policymakers, technologists, academics, and even religious leaders and screenwriters. We keep the participant list private to encourage openness from people whose public profiles often require them to censor themselves.

The main format is small-group conversations (what some people call an “unconference”), so our participants can try out new ideas, and ask questions among peers and with people who hold (very!) different views. Together, we figure out better answers, spark unexpected connections, make progress on our individual goals, deepen relationships and build new ones.

We meet in Baltimore because it reflects both the real issues we need to solve and the potential of our country. The hotel which we take over is in the Fells Point neighborhood—which was a major point of entry for immigrants into the U.S—and formerly served as everything from a radio station to a community center to the setting for the movie Step Up. That backdrop, itself a story of work in America, feels perfect for our gathering. We intend to only host this conference for a few years as a focused project to meet this moment in America.

People who attended [Going to Work] told us how it made them feel:

• "Like I was standing inside a room and doors were opening that I didn't even know were there."
• “I appreciated the rare venue where you can say what you actually think.”
• “Impressed by the high intellectual quality of the attendees. Respectful, engaged. A wonderful group atmosphere with a rare lack of blowhards.”
• "Uplifted by the overall vibe, even during tough conversations.”
• "Like I wanted to be in every session. Usually at conferences I just want to skip the programming and stand in the hallway talking to interesting people. At [Going to Work], the programming WAS the hallway."

Welcome Committee for [Going to Work] 2025:

• Amjad Masad, Replit
• Camiel Irving, Uber
• Chris Griswold, American Compass
• Chris Hyams, Indeed
• Dug Song, Song United
• James Cham, Bloomberg Beta
• Karin Klein, Bloomberg Beta
• Larry Williams, UnionBase
• Liba Rubenstein, The Aspen Institute
• Marshall Kosloff, The Realignment Podcast
• Natalie Foster, Economic Security Project
• Peter Rojas, Mozilla
• Roy Bahat, Bloomberg Beta

Charter supports [Going to Work] with research on trends and analysis about the future of work.