FOX61 – Paddi LeShane and Steve McLoughlin

Paddi LeShane and Steve McLoughlin preview the upcoming event.

Shaping CT’s Future: Public Affairs & Strategic Growth spotlighted a central challenge facing Connecticut: businesses and non-profits must build resilient cultures, adapt to changing legislative landscapes, and align strategic storytelling to scale effectively.

Hosted by CT’s leading brand marketing agency, Rebellion Group, the summit brought together leaders across public relations, marketing, policy, and enterprise growth to examine how organizations can navigate complex operational challenges, secure growth capital, and build lasting organizational resilience.

The conversation made clear that Connecticut’s future business landscape depends on how intentionally leaders align company culture with long-term strategy, hire for core attitudes, and stay agile in an ever-evolving market.

During the broadcast, Steve McLoughlin (Senior Vice President at Rebellion Group) and Paddi LeShane (CEO of Sullivan & LeShane) sat down with FOX61 to discuss the critical relationship between public affairs, brand strategy, and organizational growth. The discussion explored how early-stage and established companies alike can leverage industry experts, main stage discussions, and interactive breakout sessions to streamline operations and retain key customers. Their insights highlighted the power of long-term vision and culture-first leadership in driving sustained success.

“Hire for attitude, train for skills. That’s been very workable for us to build a culture where everyone is hardworking, resilient, and ready to go with the flow,” said LeShane.

“We’ve got over 70 speakers across a main stage and breakout sessions covering everything from securing capital to streamlining operations. There’s a lot of key learning and value for entrepreneurs looking to grow,” added McLoughlin.

If you want to learn more about events and initiatives like this, head to shapingctsfuture.com.