Editor’s Word: The next remarks by Chief Government Group CEO Marshall Cooper opened the 2025 CEO of the Yr celebration honoring Dave Ricks, CEO of Eli Lilly at Nasdaq in Instances Sq. on Wednesday, October 22, 2026. Picture, above: AMD’s Lisa Su, our 2024 CEO of the Yr, offered Ricks with the award. Extra on CEO of the Yr >
Good night, and welcome.
I’m Marshall Cooper, CEO of Chief Government Group, and it’s my honor to welcome you to the fortieth Annual CEO of the Yr Gala.
Let me begin by thanking our companions who assist make tonight potential—our hosts at NASDAQ, our associates at AlixPartners and our roundtable hosts FranklinCovey, Development Protocol, Pearl Meyer and PURE Insurance coverage. We’re grateful in your continued help.
Tonight, as at all times, we collect for 3 causes: To have fun, to discover inspiration and likewise to recommit ourselves.
We have fun the management of tonight’s honoree, David Ricks—chosen by his friends as our 40th CEO of the Yr. You’ll hear extra about him shortly, however I wish to observe how significant it’s to acknowledge a frontrunner who represents not solely enterprise excellence, but additionally the highly effective intersection of innovation, public well being and societal influence.
We additionally discover inspiration on this room—from the various CEOs and govt leaders right here tonight who lead with integrity and function, and who earn the belief positioned in them by staff, prospects, shareholders and the communities you serve.
And at last, we recommit ourselves—not simply to the work we do, however to the beliefs that permit us to do it.
It’s a troublesome time to be a CEO. Apart from the activist traders, macro headwinds, tariffs and regulatory stress everybody right here is dealing with, there are additionally one million 22-year-olds on TikTok proper now explaining how capitalism is “only a vibe.”
It’s no marvel all of us wanted an evening out.
It’s funny-not humorous. We’re in a defining second. Assist without cost markets—particularly amongst youthful Individuals—is shifting.
A current Gallup survey discovered that solely 43 % of adults underneath 35 have a optimistic view of capitalism, whereas practically half have a good view of socialism. One other ballot from Axios confirmed that 68 % of school college students say they’d choose “extra authorities regulation” of enterprise, not much less.
Now, that’s not trigger for panic. However it’s a name to motion.
As enterprise leaders, we are able to’t assume the subsequent era will inherit our religion in free enterprise. We should earn it. We should clarify it, exhibit it and defend it—not simply in white papers, however in the best way we lead, the best way we converse and the best way we present up in our communities.
We should remind people who the free enterprise system—although imperfect—has improved the well being and wealth of extra individuals than another pressure in human historical past.
That’s not a speaking level. That may be a truth.
At a time when so many Individuals—on each side of the political aisle—are shedding religion within the establishments that serve them, enterprise stays one of many few pillars in our society that has the dimensions, functionality and ingenuity to unravel actual, sensible issues for on a regular basis individuals.
Whether or not it’s growing life-saving medicine, creating jobs or serving to individuals construct wealth by means of possession and alternative—enterprise, completed effectively, is an unparalleled pressure for good in our nation and in our world.
As CEOs, I hope we are able to remind individuals of that—not with slogans, however with readability, braveness and humility. It’s a superb time to talk up for enterprise—and be proud to take action.
So tonight, let’s have fun a exceptional chief. Let’s discover inspiration in each other. And let’s recommit to the rules that make all this potential—liberty, innovation alternative—and to the laborious however important work of constructing a future the subsequent era can be proud to inherit.
Thanks for being right here. Thanks for what you do. And please benefit from the night.
