The Ecosystem of Influence: Why Wisconsin’s Emerging Leaders Choose Forward 48
The most dangerous myth in professional development is that leadership is a solo climb. You can work hard, execute, and deliver results, but without a community that challenges your worldview, you are only reaching half of your potential. Wisconsin isn’t facing a talent shortage; it’s facing a connection gap. Forward 48 is the bridge that […]
Is Your Professional Network Stalled? Here’s How 60 Leaders Leveled Up Their Careers in Six Weeks.
Wisconsin’s top talent is hitting a wall. According to data from our latest cohort, emerging leaders across the state are reporting the same gaps: they don’t know the right people, they don’t feel supported by the generation above them, and they aren’t sure if staying in Wisconsin is a strategic bet or simply the conventional […]
Real Leaders, Real Connections: The Power of the Forward 48 Experience
Wisconsin has never had a talent problem; we have the drive, the vision, and the work ethic. However, we do have a connection problem. Too often, our state’s best and brightest stay tucked away in their own professional bubbles, divided by city lines, industry silos, and generational gaps. We tend to operate in our own […]
Dear Leader: When the Path Forward Feels Heavy, Find Your People
There are seasons when leadership feels less like momentum and more like endurance. Uncertainty at work. Heavy headlines. Personal loss. Community pain. Burnout that creeps in quietly and then all at once. In moments like these, it becomes clear that leadership development isn’t just about skills, strategy, or titles. It’s about care—and more specifically, it’s […]
Forward 48 Gives Back 2025: Shining a Light on Alumni Who Are Shaping Wisconsin’s Future
Last fall, we launched our very first Forward 48 Gives Back initiative—a simple idea with a big impact: mobilize our network to serve Wisconsin. Our inaugural partner was Hunger Task Force, and together, Forward 48 alumni stepped up in a way that set the tone for everything that came next. During our first Forward 48 […]
Empowering Wisconsin’s Next Generation of Leaders: A Look into Forward 48 – Spring 2025
What if leadership didn’t start with a title—but with self-awareness? What if impact wasn’t measured only in outcomes—but in how deeply we connect, how much we grow, and how courageously we show up for our communities? That’s the foundation of Forward 48: a statewide leadership development experience built to equip emerging leaders across Wisconsin with […]
Shaping the Future of Wisconsin: Join the Forward 48 Spring 2025 Cohort
Imagine being part of a network that’s shaping the future of Wisconsin—where emerging leaders come together to create real, sustainable impact. Whether you’re an educator, accountant, project manager, or entrepreneur, Forward 48 connects the next generation of changemakers with the people, knowledge, and resources needed to move their companies and communities forward. In our six-week […]
Drew Formentini joins the Hoan Group and Forward 48
We are excited to announce that Drew Formentini has joined the Hoan Group as a consultant supporting strategic operations and business development. Previous to this role, Drew held operations and management leadership positions in New York City across sports (Major League Baseball), technology (Lyft, Nauto) and in the education and non-profit sectors. Drew is also […]
This isn’t your grandpa’s social club: Meet the millennials connecting across Wisconsin
And each event features a guest speaker, who can share career advice and cautionary tales with Forward 48’s budding professionals. In the fall, guest speakers included Murphy, Northwestern Mutual CEO John Schlifske and Milwaukee Bucks President Peter Feigin.
Force Multiplied
Furthermore, Thomas says, Forward 48 is working to build an alumni network that will help solve Wisconsin’s biggest challenges in ways that transcend political affiliations. For example, he says, a Forward 48 alumni task force is currently working to address the issue of gun violence.