25 Reflections From Impact-Driven CEOs at the Sold-Out 2026 MO Summit

As the world accelerates, with economic volatility, technological disruption, climate urgency, and social transformation converging at an unprecedented pace, the noise has never been louder, the distractions never more persistent. The business leaders who will define the next era of capitalism won’t be those who avoid turbulence, but those who learn to thrive within it.

The MO Summit, hosted by Big Path Capital, is one of the largest annual convenings of CEOs of high-growth, positive-impact companies using the power and creativity of business as a force for good. It is a gathering of leaders who are building the future – one that is inclusive, regenerative, and sustainable. At MO, leading impact CEOs engage, learn, and forge a new path on critically important topics.

At the 2026 Summit, CEOs from across the impact spectrum came together with a focus on cultivating clarity at every level of leadership. Here, we’ve collected 25 CEO takeaways from the event. Collectively, their priorities signal what we can expect from the impact business community in the year to come.

A Commitment to Community

In the face of rising pressure and fragmentation, the No. 1 takeaway from our CEOs is the power of community. Forging a new path for the future of business can feel isolating—being in community brings solidarity, strength, and resilience in the face of external pressures.

  • “It is critical for impact leaders to have the right community to learn from, be supported by, and to fill our energetic cups, because innovation is hard.”
  • “Build a culture of trust and prioritize working with others who share your values.”
  • “Connections matter.”
  • “A reminder to surround myself with like-minded leaders who are all working to change the world in their own way. Seek input and counsel and trade ideas by connecting with them more.”
  • “Networking with other impact leaders; ideas shaped because of them, with follow-up plans in place!”
  • “The intentionality of and camaraderie amongst these leaders – great to meet and get to know them.”
  • “Keep growing and nurturing your connections!”
  • “Harness the power of physical community.”
  • “Community is possible and a better way to create impact.”

Growing the Field of Impact

Despite current pushback, the impact community across the globe is growing and scaling. Impact leaders are part of a global network that is exploring and modeling the future of business.

  • “Sometimes it feels like your business is on an island, insisting that you can run a successful business while also considering all stakeholders, not just shareholders. Being surrounded by other CEOs with a similar ethos is inspiring.”
  • “We’re not alone! ‘Doing well by doing good’ is alive and well — and catching on like fire!”
  • “Utilize the network! and plan for succession.”
  • “I am not alone.”
  • “A lot of people are doing really good work in the world.”
  • “It was so great to swap stories about how we’re navigating everything from economic headwinds to AI, and to see and recognize in each other shared resilience at a time when it’s important to model this behavior for others.”
  • “Being surrounded by so many people working on bold, meaningful ideas was energizing in the best possible way.”
  • “The #MOSummit was a peek into the future of business — where impactful leaders are creating solutions for strong communities, resilient food systems, and businesses that create a better living for everyone.”

A New Style of Leadership

The MO Summit is designed to act as a catalyst for innovation, inspiration, and meaningful connection, a place where impact leaders experience sparks of creativity, challenge their assumptions, and hear from a diversity of voices. The result is inspiration and support for a new style of leadership.

  • “The importance of personal work in leading an organization. Leadership is about being able to connect deeply with yourself as much as it’s about connecting deeply with others.”
  • “Lead with curiosity.”
  • “The importance of finding and returning to what grounds me in moments of chaos, so I can move with clarity rather than reaction.”
  • “Stay weird… keep the integrity of who I am, and accept the help offered from others.”
  • “When you lose your sense of humor, it’s time to give yourself a timeout.”
  • “A recommitment to purpose, and being careful not to get distracted by the details of the business.”
  • “Push the mission more into everyday work activities.”
  • “Re-evaluating our connection to our mission and what it means to be a B Corp; looking more seriously into ESOP options.”

The reflections from this year’s event have us looking forward to MO Summit 2027, which will take place in Asheville, North Carolina from April 12-14, 2027. Be the first to know when registration is open: Join our MO mailing list for updates.