Join us for our installment of the Pacesetters Doing Business series featuring Mass General Brigham on August 7, 2025.
08/07/2025
1:00pm - 2:00pm
Virtual
The BIMA Summer Sizzler is a chance to network with your digital media industry peers from the agency, publisher, and adtech community!
08/14/2025
6:00pm - 9:00pm
Fenway Park
Join Boston’s leading educators and industry experts to explore career-aligned high school programs, in-demand workplace skills, and innovative school partnerships driving student success
07/17/2025
9:00am - 11:00am
Omni Boston Hotel Seaport
This program is in redevelopment. Click this page for DEI resources.
Our Women’s Leadership Program enables you to take your leadership to the next level by arming you with the most in-demand leadership toolkit.
Our Boston’s Future Leaders (BFL) program provides emerging leaders with a socially conscious and civically engaged leadership toolkit, as well as the opportunity to apply their knowledge through experiential assignments.
In this highly interactive workshop with Strategic Career & Leadership Coach Carole-Ann Penney, you’ll define your professional identity and develop strategies to confidently navigate workplace dynamics.
City Awake empowers young professionals in a variety of ways that encourages these rising leaders to stay invested in the region’s future success.
We are developing an ecosystem of corporations and partners with the influence and buying power to transform economic inclusion for minority business enterprises (MBEs).
Small businesses are the backbone of the Boston economy. Learn more about the resources available through the Chamber.
BIMA (the Boston Interactive Media Association) serves a vibrant community of like-minded professionals from agencies, brands, publishers, and ad-tech companies with business interests in the New England market.
For over 30 years, the Chamber’s Women’s Network has connected female professionals of all background and career levels. Today, our Women’s Network is the largest in New England, strengthening the professional networks of women each year.
The Massachusetts Apprentice Network convenes employers, training providers, and talent sources interested in developing and implementing apprenticeship programs in occupations across industries and statewide in fields such as tech, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and more.
Explore our mission and values to better understand how we are leading the business community forward.
Our member directory is your resource to discover, connect, and engage with Boston’s businesses from every industry and sector.
On November 14, the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce hosted its highly anticipated 2024 Economic Outlook event, featuring leading experts in the fields of economics, entrepreneurship, AI, and more. The discussion provided valuable insights into local, national, and global economic trends, technology advancements, and the evolving workforce, helping attendees prepare for strategic planning in 2025.
Egon Zakrajšek, Executive Vice President and Director of Research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, noted the U.S. economy’s “soft landing” post-pandemic and likely strong, steady recovery as we move into 2025: “With inflation coming down and employment stabilizing, we are growing.”
Remarkable increases in labor productivity – particularly in sectors like healthcare and food services – are enabling businesses to do more with fewer workers. Zakrajšek highlighted a surge in new businesses coming in, innovating, and providing competitive pressures, claiming this is the “special sauce” behind the U.S. economy’s growth.
Zakrajšek acknowledged uncertainties, including the evolution of labor supply, productivity trends, and fiscal policies. Normalizing monetary policy is crucial to preserving current economic stability, but interest rates remain a critical question.
Dr. Stephen Spinelli Jr. highlighted how Babson College’s ranking as #2 in the Wall Street Journal’s 2025 best colleges list underscores the growing mainstream significance of entrepreneurship in business and society. He emphasized that job scarcity often acts as a catalyst for entrepreneurial activity, not because individuals can’t find work, but because they see better opportunities in creating their own ventures. This shift reflects a societal trend of valuing entrepreneurial risk-taking, even in the face of failure, as a positive attribute. Businesses must adapt by rethinking how they attract and reward talent in a landscape where the opportunity cost of starting a business often outweighs traditional employment.
Entrepreneurs today are thinking globally from the start, with many young founders building businesses with international reach. “In today’s world, the issue of scale is on the forefront of almost every entrepreneur’s mind,” Dr. Spinelli shared. He highlighted examples like Jiffy Lube and Planet Fitness to illustrate how scalable impact is a key element of entrepreneurial ambitions.
Dr. Spinelli stressed that generative AI represents a transformational shift in the economy, even more significant than the advent of the internet. He also shared that AI adoption is generational: 50% of Millennials, 45% of Gen Z, 34% of Gen X, and just 19% of Boomers are committed to using AI at work. It’s clear that younger generations are leading the way in adopting AI for work, viewing it as a catalyst for growth and productivity.
Caitlin Reimers Brumme, CEO of MassChallenge, expressed optimism about Massachusetts’ unique combination of talent, knowledge, and capital. Universities play a vital role in fostering high-potential startups, attracting talent from around the globe, and driving economic growth.
Carol Meyers, Operating Partner at Glasswing Ventures, noted the challenges that exist currently for new businesses in securing funding, but pointed to AI’s transformative potential in making advancements across industries. While venture-backed companies like the “Magnificent 7” came through the more typical funding route, , emerging companies have had a bit more difficulty in raising money, as Carol noted: “what we see is a decline in subsequent rounds that a company needs to have to scale – [there’s] little bit of a backlog.” So, this will be something to watch for and see if more funding frees up.
Panelists discussed the shifting dynamics of the labor market, including the rise of hybrid and virtual work models. While companies initially hoarded labor during the tight job market, a natural correction is occurring as businesses reassess workforce needs.
The event underscored the resilience and dynamism of the Greater Boston economy, driven by entrepreneurship, innovation, and productivity. The optimism and strategic insights shared provide a roadmap for leveraging Massachusetts’ strengths in a rapidly evolving economic landscape. As we move into 2025, collaboration between businesses, academic institutions, and policymakers will be critical in addressing uncertainties and unlocking new opportunities.
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