American Swiss Foundation holds workforce innovation forum in Cambridge

The American Swiss Foundation convened government, education and business leaders at Harvard Graduate School of Education on Oct. 15 to discuss how the U.S. and Switzerland can prepare workers for AI, emerging technologies and changing labor needs. The event also introduced ASF’s 2026-27 Innovation Fellows, a cohort of 13 U.S. mayors and one state labor secretary.

Why it matters: - The forum centered on how governments, schools and employers can better prepare workers for technology-driven job changes. - The event also reinforced ASF’s role as a U.S.-Swiss convener focused on leadership, workforce development and bilateral exchange. - The launch of the 2026-27 Innovation Fellows shows ASF is extending the forum into a longer-term leadership network.

What happened: - The American Swiss Foundation hosted its Innovation Forum: Developing the Workforce of Tomorrow on Oct. 15, 2026, at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in Cambridge, Massachusetts. - Leaders from government, education, business and civil society gathered to discuss workforce development in the United States and Switzerland. - The program opened with remarks from Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones. - The first panel, AI, Emerging Technologies, and the Workforce of Tomorrow, featured Taylor Stockton of the U.S. Department of Labor and was moderated by Kirsten Detrick of Basel Area Business & Innovation. - The second panel, From Classroom to Career: How States Are Building the Workforce of Tomorrow, was moderated by former Massachusetts Gov. Jane Swift and featured Katie Jenner of Indiana, Lauren Jones of Massachusetts and Laura Fortman of Maine. - The third panel, Private-Sector Leadership and Workforce Innovation, was moderated by Philippe Roesle of Swissnex in Boston and New York and featured Stephanie Fink of CRISPR Therapeutics, Shay Robinson of Aon and Kevin Kerls of Lonza. - The fourth panel, Mayors as Workforce Innovators, was moderated by Clarence Anthony of the National League of Cities and featured Wichita Mayor Lily Wu and Vancouver, Washington, Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. - The final panel, Rethinking Education for the Workforce of Tomorrow, featured Effy Vayena of ETH Zürich and was moderated by Matthew F. McKnight of Perimeter. - Swiss Ambassador to the United States Ralf Heckner delivered the closing remarks.

The details: - ASF said the forum focused on the future of workforce development across the U.S. and Switzerland. - The discussions covered AI, classroom-to-career pathways, private-sector talent strategies, local government workforce policy and education reform. - ASF said the forum was designed to foster dialogue, exchange ideas and strengthen the bilateral relationship through shared learning and leadership. - The organization introduced its 2026-27 Innovation Fellows, a cohort of 13 people. - The cohort includes 12 U.S. mayors and one state labor secretary. - Senior Fellows listed by ASF include Quinton Lucas of Kansas City, Missouri; Unique Morris-Hughes of the District of Columbia; and Daniel J. Rickenmann of Columbia, South Carolina. - Other fellows named by ASF include Malik D. Evans of Rochester, New York; Carmalitha L. Gumbs of South Fulton, Georgia; Tim Keller of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Timothy A. Kelly of Chattanooga, Tennessee; Anne McEnerny-Ogle of Vancouver, Washington; Nadia Mohamed of St. Louis Park, Minnesota; Jared C. Nicholson of Lynn, Massachusetts; D.C. Reeves of Pensacola, Florida; Debra Wimpee of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; and Lily Wu of Wichita, Kansas. - ASF said the Innovation Forum is in its second year. - The foundation was founded in 1945 in response to World War II. - ASF says its mission is to connect and engage Swiss and American leaders. - Former U.S. ambassadors Shelby Cullom Davis and Faith Whittlesey helped shift the organization toward leadership development for younger generations. - Davis served as chairman and president from 1975 to 1989 and later as honorary chairman until his death in 1994. - Whittlesey became chairman and president in 1989 and launched the Young Leaders Conference. - ASF says alumni of the past 35 conferences now total more than 1,800 leaders, including members of Congress, Swiss parliamentarians, entrepreneurs, executives, media professionals and policy experts.

Between the lines: - The panel lineup shows ASF is positioning workforce policy as a cross-sector issue, not just an education or labor topic. - The mix of mayors, state officials and private-sector leaders suggests ASF sees local implementation as central to workforce strategy. - The U.S.-Swiss framing gives the forum a transatlantic dimension that goes beyond a domestic policy discussion.

What's next: - ASF’s Innovation Fellows will continue participating in the forum’s second year. - The foundation is likely to keep using the fellowship network to connect public officials with business and education leaders. - The organization’s broader leadership pipeline remains anchored in the Young Leaders Conference and its alumni network.

The bottom line: - ASF used the forum to link workforce policy, education and private-sector innovation while expanding a transatlantic leadership network focused on the next generation of workers.