The Situation

The Export–Import Bank’s Annual Conference was a longstanding event, but its format and impact no longer reflected the importance of the institution’s role in global trade. At a time when the Bank’s mission and relevance were under increased scrutiny, leadership saw an opportunity to reimagine the conference as a higher-impact platform for policy discussion, stakeholder engagement, and institutional visibility.

The Approach

David helped lead a comprehensive redesign of the conference – refreshing content, rethinking programming, and elevating the caliber of speakers to better reflect the Bank’s national and international prominence. The event was repositioned to emphasize substantive dialogue, real-world impact, and global perspective, attracting senior policymakers, labor leaders, and international partners.

The Impact

Within two years, paid attendance at the Annual Conference more than doubled, signaling renewed relevance and engagement. The redesigned program featured world-class speakers, including the president of Brazil and the president of the AFL-CIO, reinforcing the conference’s stature as a serious forum for discussion of U.S. trade, labor, and economic policy.