In Brief: The GreenBiz conference is the leading annual gathering for corporate sustainability executives and their allies. The powerful event is framed by the State of Green Business report, GreenBiz Group’s award-winning annual accounting of key sustainability metrics and trends, combined with the high-wattage stage presentations, workshops and networking sessions that have become hallmarks of GreenBiz events.

This year’s conference will be held online. We are looking forward to bringing together this community of sustainability professionals leading the way towards a more resilient, sustainable future — including our signature networking opportunities — now more important than ever.

Where and When: February 9-11, 2021 online

Audience: More than 1,500 professionals, including corporate executives, nonprofit leaders, policy makers, academics, entrepreneurs and business associations.

Format: The GreenBiz audience is extremely high-caliber and we set a high bar for speaker proposals. The conference content consists of keynotes, breakouts and facilitated networking. We emphasize peer-to-peer learning experiences throughout the conference program. We put a premium on showcasing diverse speakers, in all senses of the word.

The conference program features three session formats:

• Keynote Talk — typically, a 10-minute solo presentation from the main stage, given by an executive or  innovator sharing a breakthrough, achievement, insight or story that is inspiring, informative and thought-provoking. We look for cutting-edge ideas and engaging presenters (especially new voices and companies not already well known on the sustainability conference circuit). We are not interested in presentations intended primarily to promote a company, product or service.

• Keynote Conversation — typically, a 15-20 minute mainstage conversation, facilitated by a skilled moderator. This can either be a one-on-one interview with a high-profile thought leader or C-level executive; or a lively discussion among two or three experts offering diverse viewpoints around a particular topic. No slides or presentations — a “talk show” format.

• Breakout — a 45-minute interactive workshop or panel. Workshops offer a hands-on approach to learning and skills-building. Panels offer a moderated, in-depth discussion among a group of experts offering diverse viewpoints around a particular topic. In both cases, breakouts are outcome-based, intended to engage attendees as participants, not just as a passive audience.

Topics: We are interested in topics that are relevant to environmental and social sustainability within the context of business, with a focus on large, mainstream companies. We also like to be surprised by fresh, outside-the-box ideas that may not necessarily map exactly to our conference tracks.

The GreenBiz conference program will address several cross-cutting themes, elevating social justice, equity, diversity and inclusion; risk and resilience, for both companies and society; business model transformation; policy engagement; metrics and goal setting; innovation and creativity; and collaboration and partnerships.

The following seven tracks frame the structure and content of the conference program.

• Circular Economy: Design and business strategy that create zero-waste products, processes and value chains that are restorative and regenerative for both people and the planet.

• Finance & ESG: How capital markets and mainstream investors are prioritizing sustainability, along with the growing array of sustainability-linked financial products.

• Net Zero: Technologies, strategies and business models to achieve ambitious reduction targets for energy, water, carbon and waste.

• Resilient Supply Chains: Responsibly and transparently managing sourcing, manufacturing and labor practices.

• Social Justice: How companies are responding to growing calls to address racial, criminal, climate and economic justice, both within companies and society at large.

• Stakeholders & Storytelling: How companies are effectively and innovatively communicating sustainability and social issues to customers, communities, activists, investors and employees.

• Sustainability Leadership: Strategies and skills essential for corporate sustainability professionals to increase their impact.

Who we want to speak: We invite proposals from speakers of all disciplines, backgrounds and perspectives. Our speakers are leaders in their fields, whether senior executives from large companies or visionary rising stars. The GreenBiz audience is also interested in hearing from those outside of the sustainability department, including C-suite executives in such functions as risk management, marketing, operations, supply chain, procurement, finance, human resources and investor relations. We uphold a strong commitment to diversity throughout our conference program, including gender, race and ethnicity, as well as in background, areas of expertise and perspective.

What we value: 

• Creativity: We strive to expand participants’ minds and catalyze new ways of thinking, and invite sessions that emphasize fresh ideas and new approaches to challenges. Given the virtual format, we also welcome creative approaches to presentations, such as hosting a session from a unique location. 

• Interactivity and peer-to-peer learning: We seek to foster dialogue, empower active learning and enable participants to spark new connections with fellow attendees. We prioritize breakouts designed to facilitate interaction over passive listening.

• New and timely content: We focus on the latest trends, developments and tools sustainability executives need to successfully do their jobs and advance their careers, and strive to bring fresh initiatives, research and information to our audience. We are not interested in repackaged presentations given at other conferences.

• Diversity: We prioritize participants with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences. This includes our commitment to racial diversity and gender balance of our speakers.

• How and why: The “what” is interesting, but the “how” and the “why” aspects of sustainable business are where the value lies for the GreenBiz audience.