FOX61 – Steve McLoughlin and Chris Allen

Steve McLoughlin, senior VP of Rebellion Group, and entrepreneur Chris Allen preview the event.

Shaping CT’s Future: Entrepreneurial Leadership & Innovation spotlighted a central challenge facing Connecticut: scaling local businesses requires more than a good product—it requires robust leadership, strategic networking, and shared community knowledge.

Hosted by CT’s leading brand marketing agency, Rebellion Group, the summit brought together entrepreneurs, corporate executives, and industry pioneers to examine how local leaders can overcome isolation, overcome operational hurdles, and build sustainable enterprises.

The conversation made clear that Connecticut’s startup ecosystem thrives when business leaders actively collaborate, share both triumphs and failures, and surround themselves with talented teams.

During the broadcast, Steve McLoughlin (Senior Vice President at Rebellion Group) and Chris Allen (CEO of iCleanse) sat down with FOX61 to discuss the realities of running a business in Connecticut. The discussion explored how leaders must navigate the pressures of leadership, leverage expert insights to avoid common pitfalls, and empower talent to execute without micromanagement. Their insights highlighted the role of community support in turning early-stage growth into long-term market success.

“Surround yourself with great people and then allow them to do what you hired them to do unencumbered. If you do that, your business will really flourish,” said Allen.

“Entrepreneurship is more than just starting a business; it’s about creating change, problem-solving, and building new opportunities. We have nearly 1,000 registrants and over 70 speakers coming together to help entrepreneurs drive their business forward,” added McLoughlin.

If you want to learn more about events and initiatives like this, head to Shaping CT's Future.