Forbes’ Under 30 Summit came to the Queen City this week, hosting celebrities and guest speakers from across the country.
The conference took place on Sunday, Sept. 22 through Wednesday, Sept. 25 at the Andrew J Brady Music Center.
The Under 30 Summit happens each year at certain cities across the country and gathers the top young leaders for networking, roundtables and celebrity panels. 2023’s summit was held in Cleveland, Ohio. Tickets for general admission started at $500 and went up to $750.
Attendees came from around the country and the globe, from Canada to Boston to the United Kingdom.
The summit kicked off on Sunday night with a concert from Cincinnati-born DJ Xandra, singer Shaboozey and Grammy-nominated DJ Metro Boomin.
Highlights from Monday included ESPN commentator Joe Buck’s session about mastering storytelling and content creator Drew Afualo’s discussion on using your voice to make a brand.
On Tuesday, comedian and podcast host Bobbi Althoff came on stage to record her first ever live session of “The Really Good Podcast.” She recorded the show with poet Rupi Kaur, who is famous for her poetry collections like “milk and honey.”
Althoff is known for her awkwardness and deadpan humor. During Tuesday’s podcast recording, she discussed all things from her recent divorce to dealing with depression and mental health to her process when recording a prerecorded podcast.
After a break for lunch, Cincinnati City Council Members Reggie Harris and Seth Walsh encouraged the crowd to consider making Cincinnati their home or at least a destination they visit often.
“We are a city undergoing a renaissance,” Harris said.
Walsh added that the Queen City has been called the future start-up capital of the nation, and large events like the Sundance Film Festival are considering Cincinnati as their destination host.
Later in the afternoon, Grammy-nominated rapper Big Sean took the stage to discuss how he manages mental health and making music.
Forbes also curated their own list of 30 Under 30 leaders in Cincinnati, which included Joe Burrow, Elly De La Cruz, NKU alumna and owners of Peachy and Vintage Caden Adams and Kayla Braden and more.
The summit wrapped up with a day of service on Wednesday.
The Under 30 Summit will return to Ohio for the third year in a row in 2025, with Columbus as the host.