Trust Building and the Key to Thriving Economies

In a moment of growing polarization, local trust and collaborative economic development matter more than ever. This conversation brings together Nathan Ohle (President & CEO, International Economic Development Council), Christy Gillenwater (President & CEO, Greater Oklahoma City Chamber), and Matthew Lee (Associate Professor of Public Policy and Management, Harvard Kennedy School), in conversation with Amy Holloway (currently Practitioner-in-Residence on the Reimagining the Economy Project, at HKS) to explore how communities can build the trust needed among business, government, nonprofits, and residents to advance shared economic goals. Panelists will reflect on their own lived experiences or research to discuss why local economic development is inherently a multi-stakeholder effort, how trust (or the lack of it) shapes outcomes on the ground, and what practical steps leaders can take to build, maintain, and repair relationships over time. Combining practitioner and research insights, the panel will discuss concrete tools and strategies to strengthen cross-sector collaboration and foster more resilient, broadly shared local prosperity.