Saturday, October 17, 2026
9:30am-4:00pm | Philadelphia, PA
The running industry is bigger than you think.
Come see it from the inside.
Built for early-career people who are curious about the running industry and have never had a clear way in. Panels, mentorship conversations, and workshops led by the people already building careers across brands, retail, race events, and beyond. This event is for college students and recent grads, collegiate athletes, retail employees, career explorers, and more. If you care about sports, fitness, culture, or community, there's a role here for you.
Run the Industry: Career Summit is not a career fair.
Instead, it’s a full-day education and access event. The running industry employs designers, buyers, coaches, race directors, brand marketers, retail owners, and more. We want to create the access that allows more people to know what jobs exist in the industry. You’ll hear directly from professionals across every corner of the industry, get inside the rooms most people spend years trying to find, and leave with a clearer understanding of where you fit.
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Check in, get settled, and enjoy coffee and snacks before the summit starts.
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After an RIDC welcome, explore four key sectors: retail, brands, race events, and coaching. Discover how these lanes operate, the organizations driving them, and the career paths available within each.
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Hear from a diverse panel of professionals thriving in coaching, product development, marketing and sales. Learn how they found their fit, what their day-to-day looks like, and how to find your own stride.
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Grab lunch, head to your preferred track, and connect with mentors working in that field. This structured networking session is your chance to engage with professionals doing the work you are curious about.
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Wrap up our speaker programming with a message from the RIDC and our keynote speaker. Discover why your perspective is essential to the running industry before moving into the afternoon activities.
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Take 15 minutes to change before a 2-mile run or walk hosted by a local run club, featuring brand activations. We’ll wrap up back at the venue with a yoga cooldown to prep for the mixer.
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Bring the day's conversations together with small bites, giveaways, and casual networking. Browse partner tables, strengthen connections, and build community with fellow attendees and mentors.
THE COOKOUT is coming to Philadelphia
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This event is about creating a space to connect, build community, and explore your lane.
Sponsorships
If you’re interested in sponsoring RIDC’s RUN THE INDUSTRY Career Summit, we’d love to chat! Please send an email to our Executive Director, Kiera Smalls, at kiera@runningdiversity.com, for more information.
Speakers
We are excited to present an incredible lineup of speakers. Our industry insiders will share valuable insights, trends, and stories to help you learn more about the running industry. From keynotes to panel discussions, these sessions are designed to inspire, educate, and help you find your lane.
Ready to experience RIDC’s Run The Industry: Career Summit?
We’ll see you in Philadelphia in October.