Strategy Sessions at The CLOSE IT Summit are designed for leaders who are actively building, implementing, or scaling solutions at the intersection of education, workforce, and employer demand. These sessions move beyond theory to focus on practical strategies, decision points, and real-world application—especially where systems, partnerships, or policy must align to drive impact.

Unlike traditional presentations, Strategy Sessions are highly interactive and practitioner-driven. Presenters are expected to engage participants in structured discussion, problem-solving, or guided exploration of a challenge, model, or approach that has demonstrated traction or clear potential for scale. Sessions should surface lessons learned, tradeoffs, and insights that others can adapt within their own organizations, regions, or sectors.

We encourage submissions that reflect employer-led solutions, cross-sector collaboration, data-informed decision-making, and scalable systems change. Successful Strategy Sessions will equip participants with concrete takeaways, frameworks, or next steps that help close gaps between learning and work—and move promising ideas from pilots to impact.

Deadline for submission to speak is February 15, 2026.

Strategy Sessions

Theme: Closing the Gaps: Synergizing Connections!

The 2026 Close It Summit brings together employers, educators, HR leaders, technologists, policymakers, funders, and community innovators who are building the future of learning and work. We invite dynamic speakers to share insights, tools, and solutions that help close skills, equity, and opportunity gaps at scale.

Who Should Submit

We welcome proposals from employers, workforce leaders, HR practitioners, educators, researchers, training providers, community partners, technology innovators, funders, and public-sector organizations.

All sessions must be educational, non-commercial, and aligned with our mission to advance equitable, skillsfirst solutions, including techenabled approaches where relevant.

Session Types

  • Breakout Session: You will present for approximately 30 minutes on a topic in your area of expertise within one of the priority themes (below), followed by a 30 minute interactive conversation with the audience. (60 minute session total)

  • Flash Session: 5-minute presentation/pitch on mainstage only available to Gold-level Marketplace exhibitors (see Marketplace prospectus).

  • Mainstage: Very limited, chosen by production team.

Priority Themes for 2026

  • Work-based Learning & Apprenticeship - Apprenticeships, internships, and on-the-job learning innovations.

  • Industry-Driven Solutions - Strategies related to ongoing talent shortages and gaps that must be addressed.

  • Skills For All - Strategies to identify and advance talent based on skills and untapped talent.

  • Powering Pathways - Building inclusive career pathways that span the generations and include the neurodiverse.

  • AI Upleveling- The rapid rise of AI and its impact on work, learning, and technology.

Speaker Expectations & Benefits

  • Discounted conference registration (20% off)

  • Visibility to national employers, funders, and ecosystem leaders

  • Promotion through conference materials and digital channels

  • Sessions must be noncommercial

  • Presenters must meet deadlines and submit final materials as requested

  • Presenters must consent to session recording for On-Demand access

Honoraria & Travel

The Close It Summit is not able to provide honoraria, travel reimbursement, lodging, or expense coverage. Speakers contribute their expertise pro bono in support of the Summit’s mission. Registration is provided at a discounted price. Speakers submitting via the online form must acknowledge this and the discounted registration pricing.

Submission Requirements

All proposals will be submitted through our online form (link to be provided). Applicants will be asked to upload or enter:

  • Session title and description

  • 3–4 learning objectives

  • Speaker bio(s) (Max 150 words)

  • High-resolution headshot (PNG or JPEG)

  • Confirmation of the Speaker Agreement

How to Submit

To be considered, speakers must submit their proposal using the online submission form below by 10:00 PM ET on February 15, 2026. Incomplete submissions cannot be considered.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at contactus@closeit.org or jamai.blivin@innovate-educate.org.