Owning It: Experiences from the Front Lines of Employee Ownership

Tens of millions of employee-owners go to work every day in the US. What they experience is often different from the rest of the workforce in terms of the financial rewards they receive, the culture they operate within, and the roles and responsibilities they assume. These experiences offer a different vision for our economy and our approach to work in the US. In this discussion from the 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, we hear from employee-owners about their experiences with ownership and the effects it has had on their lives and communities. Panelists discuss how ownership affects their job quality, their performance, their relationship with their company, and their perspectives on other outcomes from employee ownership.For additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/videos/owning-it-experiences-from-the-front-lines-of-employee-ownership/Or subscribe to our podcast and listen on the go: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/aspeneop/For other session videos, visit the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@aspeneopThe 2025 Employee Ownership Ideas Forum took place on April 9-10, 2025, virtually and in Washington DC. The Forum is proudly co-hosted by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program and the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing at Rutgers University.This year’s theme, “From Workers to Owners,” highlights how the experience of ownership changes the reality of work for workers. The forum highlights companies in a range of business sectors and explores how employee ownership fits their business strategy and approach to business leadership. We also discuss the particular role employee ownership can play in supporting business success, and we consider the role institutional investors can play in improving capital access for employee ownership conversions and expansions.For more information about the Employee Ownership Ideas Forum, including our speakers, agenda, and additional resources, visit our website: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/employee-ownership-ideas-forum-2025/