Fueling the Future: Talent as an Economic Engine

{
  "id": "PP1163052",
  "track": "Workplace",
  "focus_area": null,
  "category": "Panel",
  "event_id": "PP1163052",
  "event_type": "panel",
  "format": "Panel",
  "genre": null,
  "subgenre": null,
  "name": "Fueling the Future: Talent as an Economic Engine",
  "presented_by": "Keystone House",
  "publish_at": "2026-03-13T11:28:00.000-05:00",
  "reservable": false,
  "reservable_id": null,
  "reserved": false,
  "date": "2026-03-14",
  "end_time": "2026-03-14T15:45:00.000-05:00",
  "start_time": "2026-03-14T15:00:00.000-05:00",
  "message": null,
  "image": null,
  "credentials": [
    {
      "name": "Music Badge",
      "type": "music"
    },
    {
      "name": "Platinum Badge",
      "type": "platinum"
    },
    {
      "name": "Innovation Badge",
      "type": "innovation"
    },
    {
      "name": "Film & TV Badge",
      "type": "filmtv"
    }
  ],
  "contributors": [
    {
      "id": 110558,
      "company": "Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia",
      "credential_types": [
        "filmtv",
        "innovation",
        "music"
      ],
      "entity_id": 2286857,
      "name": "Nikki Pumphrey",
      "speaker_types": [
        "Speaker"
      ],
      "title": "Vice President of Talent and Workforce",
      "image": {
        "alt_text": "Nikki Pumphrey",
        "credit": null,
        "url": "https://images.sxsw.com/ekn2YcwJ1lVVzcjsC4LM60XeUiU=/600x600/images.sxsw.com/48/ad57f1cf-417a-d43c-a1d0-e6745fae07a3/pcid-1317039"
      },
      "speaker_type": "Speaker",
      "details": "Nikki Pumphrey is a workforce and economic development leader with more than 20 years of experience advancing inclusive growth through employer-led systems that strengthen regional competitiveness. Her work is grounded in the conviction that economic growth must translate into real opportunity for workers and employers alike.\n\nShe currently serves as Vice President of Talent and Workforce at the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, where she works to strengthen regional competitiveness by shaping how employers hire, advance, and invest in talent, with a focus on expanding inclusive pathways to economic mobility.",
      "links": {},
      "type": "person"
    },
    {
      "id": 110555,
      "company": "Science Center",
      "credential_types": [
        "filmtv",
        "innovation",
        "music"
      ],
      "entity_id": 2286854,
      "name": "Kristen Fitch",
      "speaker_types": [
        "Speaker"
      ],
      "title": "Senior Director, Marketing",
      "image": {
        "alt_text": "Kristen Fitch",
        "credit": null,
        "url": "https://images.sxsw.com/B_Bx0qkH1WeASUQMgsitBqL4e34=/600x600/images.sxsw.com/48/aa706d10-278f-db45-c08e-ac0afeff2356/pcid-866041"
      },
      "speaker_type": "Speaker",
      "details": "With more than 15 years at the intersection of innovation and economic development, Kristen has led high-impact initiatives and campaigns that strengthen startup and innovation ecosystems across sectors and regions. She has directed brand and content strategy, stakeholder engagement, and cross-sector partnerships to launch and scale mission-driven programs—from founder growth initiatives and capital incentives to expanding access to STEM career pathways. Kristen is known for translating complex ideas into actionable strategies and compelling narratives that mobilize founders, funders, corporations, and public-sector leaders to drive sustained, ecosystem-level impact.",
      "links": {},
      "type": "person"
    },
    {
      "id": 110553,
      "company": "Campus Philly",
      "credential_types": [
        "filmtv",
        "innovation",
        "music"
      ],
      "entity_id": 2286852,
      "name": "Jennifer Johnson Kebea",
      "speaker_types": [
        "Speaker"
      ],
      "title": "President",
      "image": {
        "alt_text": "Jennifer Johnson Kebea",
        "credit": null,
        "url": "https://images.sxsw.com/eBKJNOuPbqug73F3wp4Y3tK7YmA=/600x600/images.sxsw.com/48/a006d5f2-8b01-886e-e2b8-2ea5f62ef271/pcid-1664318"
      },
      "speaker_type": "Speaker",
      "details": "Dr. Jennifer Johnson Kebea is a civic and economic development leader shaping how Greater Philadelphia attracts and retains the next generation of emerging talent.\n\nAs President of Campus Philly, she leads a nationally recognized nonprofit advancing inclusive economic growth by connecting college students and early-career professionals to opportunity across the region. Under her leadership, Greater Philadelphia has strengthened its position as a “brain magnet,” retaining more than half of its college graduates and reinforcing the region’s long-term competitiveness.\n\nJen works at the intersection of higher education, business, and civic life, partnering with employers, universities, and public leaders to ensure emerging talent not only comes to Philadelphia, but builds their lives and careers here. Her work centers Generation Z as a critical economic driver and advances strategies grounded in research, cross-sector collaboration, and access to opportunity.\n\nHer journey with Campus Philly began in 2004 as an intern. She previously served as Executive Director of Drexel University’s Lindy Center for Civic Engagement, where she connected more than 30,000 students to community-based experiences that strengthened their civic identity while deepening Drexel University’s relationship with the surrounding community.\n\nJen holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Management from Drexel University and undergraduate and graduate degrees from Chestnut Hill College. She champions the role of emerging talent in shaping vibrant, competitive cities and regions.",
      "links": {},
      "type": "person"
    },
    {
      "id": 110551,
      "company": "Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia",
      "credential_types": [
        "filmtv",
        "innovation",
        "music"
      ],
      "entity_id": 2286850,
      "name": "Ileana Fortuño",
      "speaker_types": [
        "Speaker"
      ],
      "title": "Manager, Talent Engagement & Programs",
      "image": {
        "alt_text": "Ileana Fortuño",
        "credit": null,
        "url": "https://images.sxsw.com/XM2iXbbNGHB2MZw5av7HlOPKCFo=/600x600/images.sxsw.com/48/1b0bd68c-92a1-042f-8c7c-721f75f8e71c/pcid-1283407"
      },
      "speaker_type": "Speaker",
      "details": "Ileana leads the Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia’s regional talent attraction and retention campaign, partnering with employers and cross-sector organizations to strengthen workforce pipelines and position the region as a destination for top talent. With a foundation in the arts and a creative, audience-centered approach, she focuses on connecting people, place, and opportunity through strategies that support critical industry sectors and advance the region’s long-term competitiveness. She is driven by a commitment to crafting meaningful experiences, fostering inclusive growth, and uplifting the vibrancy of the Greater Philadelphia community.",
      "links": {},
      "type": "person"
    }
  ],
  "venue": {
    "accessible": false,
    "age_policy": "21+",
    "floor": null,
    "id": "V0189",
    "indoor_outdoor": "OUTDOOR",
    "mixhalo_url": null,
    "name": "Half Step",
    "parent_id": null,
    "parent_venue_name": null,
    "venue_entry_info": null,
    "formats": null,
    "location": {
      "address": "75 1/2 Rainey St.",
      "lat_lon": [
        30.2585956,
        -97.7385936
      ],
      "city": "Austin",
      "postal_code": "78701",
      "state": "TX",
      "name": "Half Step"
    },
    "root": null,
    "events": "[omitted 1 venue events]"
  },
  "description": "Cities and regions don’t compete on infrastructure alone—they compete on talent. But turning talent into real economic momentum requires more than a strong workforce. This session brings together leaders from business, government, and nonprofits to explore how activating talent, strengthening mobility, and building pathways to opportunity can translate human potential into measurable economic growth.",
  "experience_level": "Intermediate",
  "audio_url": null,
  "accessibility": [],
  "accessible_venue": false,
  "add_bcl_url": false,
  "add_slido": false,
  "after_midnight": null,
  "age_policy": "21+",
  "american_sign_language": false,
  "apple_url": null,
  "audio_description": false,
  "caption_url": null,
  "captioned_qa": false,
  "closed_captioned": false,
  "cpe_credit": false,
  "event_status": "none",
  "has_subtitles": false,
  "hash_tags": [],
  "high_sensory_experience": false,
  "live": false,
  "long_description": "Cities and regions don’t compete on infrastructure alone—they compete on talent. But turning talent into real economic momentum requires more than a strong workforce. This session brings together leaders from business, government, and nonprofits to explore how activating talent, strengthening mobility, and building pathways to opportunity can translate human potential into measurable economic growth.",
  "meeting_url": null,
  "meeting_url_live": false,
  "mentorly_url": null,
  "mobile_audio_url": null,
  "open_captioned": false,
  "playlist_tag": null,
  "rebroadcast": false,
  "recommended_ids": [],
  "search_conversions": null,
  "short_program": false,
  "slido_url": null,
  "sort": "FUELING THE FUTURE: TALENT AS AN ECONOMIC ENGINE",
  "source": "Official",
  "squad_up_url": null,
  "stream_embed": null,
  "stream_id": null,
  "stream_url": null,
  "strobe_warning": false,
  "subdiscipline": null,
  "summit": null,
  "summit_display_name": null,
  "tags": [],
  "talent_attending": null,
  "title_only": false,
  "track_display_name": "Workplace",
  "trailer_id": null,
  "trailer_url": null,
  "video_on_demand": null,
  "vimeo_id": null,
  "vod": false,
  "xr_project_type": null,
  "youtube_id": null,
  "related_events": [],
  "related_sales_client": null
}