Join Priya Huskins and Woodruff Sawyer at the EY Strategic Growth Forum

The EY Strategic Growth Forum is once again upon us, running from November 13th to 17th, 2019. If you've never attended the Strategic Growth Forum and are thinking about going, you are in for a treat: the invite-only event for CEOs (you can request an invitation) brings together more than 2,000 top US executives, entrepreneurs, advisers, investors, and business leaders (not to mention celebs) each year in an incredible five-day experience in Palm Springs, California.

I have attended this conference for many years, and each time I walk away impressed and inspired.

Whether it was former General Electric CEO and business executive Jack Welch's sage advice at the precipice of a financial crisis a decade ago (now is the time to "buy or bury" your competition!) or last year, learning about competition and persistence from the world's former No. 1 tennis player, Billie Jean King, there is always a ton to learn. And that is just the speakers.

This content-rich event with an all-star list is an extraordinary opportunity for CEOs and other business-minded folks to learn from and exchange ideas with peers and leaders in their fields (many of them Entrepreneur of the Year® award winners). The conversations among entrepreneurial CEOs from across the country and the lasting connections are probably the real highlights of the event for most attendees.

The agenda is packed with relevant topics that help business leaders accelerate company growth. This year, the first two days are divided into distinct themes: family enterprise leadership and preparing for a successful IPO or strategic transaction. The third day tackles a variety of topics and includes a talk with Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post, among others.

I'll be speaking this year on November 13th with Stephen Klemash, who leads the EY Center for Board Matters for the Americas. Our panel is on the "CEO's Guide to Strategic Transactions," track, and our session is titled Mitigating and Managing Transactional Risk." It's all about how to protect the value of what the CEOs in the audience have nurtured and grown while planning for M&A or an IPO. EY tells me that our session is reliably one of the forum's highest rated panels each year.

When describing the Forum, EY emphasizes the networking opportunities as well the chance to "meet potential customers, investors, partners, acquisition targets and buyers." And it's true. The myriad activities at the forum give way to often-meaningful interactions you wouldn't find on this level anywhere else.

The event also spares no expense when it comes to dazzling its attendees. Morning yoga practice, tennis tournaments, catered lunches (one with three-time Olympic medalist Lindsey Vonn) and dinners are customary.

The climax, however, is the private concert--this year with musician Lenny Kravitz––and the black-tie Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards gala, hosted by Seth Meyers of Late Night with Seth Meyers.

If you're attending or just want to follow the conversation during the forum, you can use the Twitter hashtags #SGFUS for the forum and #EOYUS on Twitter for the awards gala.

I hope to see you there.