GLIDE 2026 Raleigh-Durham

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GLIDE 2026 Raleigh-Durham

10/21/2026 - 10/23/2026

Description

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You've been on GLIDE trips before.

But not like this one.

One Louisville is amplifying the Chamber's signature leadership trip and bringing you GLIDE: Raleigh-Durham — a 3-day, 2-night immersive, high-impact experience in one of the nation's most dynamic and fastest-growing regions for talent, innovation, and industry transformation. This is not a city tour. It's a working trip built to challenge assumptions, spark urgency, and push Louisville's business community to think bigger about what's possible — and then come home ready to do something about it.

Raleigh-Durham didn't evolve by accident. It made bold, coordinated decisions: investing in talent pipelines, aligning stakeholders across sectors, building a magnetic regional identity, and refusing to settle for incremental progress. The results speak for themselves.

Louisville has its own strengths, its own culture, and its own competitive advantages. This year's GLIDE is about rediscovering that confidence and asking the question that should keep every leader in this region up at night: How does Louisville own its swagger?

Why Raleigh-Durham? Why Now?

The Raleigh-Durham region stands as one of the most powerful examples of intentional, aligned growth in the country:

The Raleigh metro area was the 10th fastest-growing metro in the country between 2024 and 2025, growing 2.4% to nearly 1.6 million people per Axios — nearly four times the national rate since 2020. Louisville's metro growth over the same period? Roughly 0.5% annually. This contrast offers a valuable opportunity to reflect, learn, and consider what’s possible for our own trajectory.
More than half of adults in the region hold a bachelor's degree or higher, creating one of the deepest and most competitive talent pools in the Southeast.
A globally recognized research ecosystem has catalyzed explosive growth in life sciences, technology, and advanced manufacturing, attracting companies that are shaping the industries of tomorrow.
Strategic investment in sports and entertainment is redefining the region's identity and powering economic momentum. A $1 billion mixed-use Raleigh Sports & Entertainment District is underway surrounding the home arena of the Carolina Hurricanes, with the first phase including over 200,000 square feet of entertainment and retail, a 150-key hotel, more than 500 apartments, and a new 4,300-seat Live Nation music venue, transforming an underutilized parking lot into a year-round destination where people want to live, work, and stay.

Now consider Louisville:

Population growth has been steady but slower, and the region's quality of place is an underutilized asset in the competition for top talent.
Gaps in workforce participation and educational attainment represent both a real challenge and a significant, addressable opportunity: exactly the kind of problem that peer-city learning is designed to unlock.
Core industries like logistics, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing remain strong but diversification into high-growth innovation sectors is still evolving.
Louisville is also making bold moves in sports and entertainment, including a proposed $250M+ mixed-use Sports & Entertainment District adjacent to Louisville Slugger Field as well as developments around Lynn Family Stadium, projects that signals the city's ambition and appetite to compete.

This is not about comparison. It's about possibility.

What Makes GLIDE Raleigh-Durham Different?

GLIDE: Raleigh-Durham is built for depth and accountability:

New experiential elements that explore how identity, culture, and place fuel economic momentum
Direct connection with elected officials and regional decision-makers shaping Raleigh-Durham’s growth
Exclusive sessions with industry leaders in tech, life sciences, and emerging sectors
High-value networking with Louisville business leaders, building stronger regional alignment back home
Facilitated strategy and reflection sessions to translate insights into action

Who Should Attend?

GLIDE is for leaders ready to challenge the status quo and help shape Louisville’s future:

CEOs and senior executives
Entrepreneurs and high-growth founders
Civic and nonprofit leaders
Economic development professionals
Higher education and workforce leaders
Public sector and policy influencers

If you have a stake in where Louisville is headed, this room—and this trip—was built for you.

REGISTRATION

A 3% credit card processing fee is added during registration.

Registration: $4,500

Due to limited capacity, limit two registrants per company.

What Your Registration Includes:

Private charter flight for a seamless, elevated travel experience
Three days and two nights of hotel accommodations
Ground transportation throughout the program
All meals, curated dining experiences, snacks, and receptions
High-level networking opportunities with Louisville business leaders, as well as Raleigh-Durham executives and industry leaders
Exclusive briefings, site visits, and program materials

This year’s investment reflects the elevated, high-touch nature of the GLIDE experience, as well as broader increases in travel, hospitality, and service costs, ensuring a best-in-class program from the moment you board until the moment you're back home with a head full of ideas and a passion to act.

By registering for this event, you agree to One Louisville's Code of Conduct

Please note our GLIDE Cancellation Policy

No refunds for GLIDE will be issued after registration or once an invoice has been sent. Per One Louisville’s event policy, requesting an invoice is equivalent to registering for the event, and payment is required in full prior to departure. If you are unable to attend, substitutions are welcome. Otherwise, paid registration costs will be directed to support and further the long-term outcomes of GLIDE.

Questions about registration? Please contact the GLIDE team at registration@onelouisville.org