New York has long been recognized as the business capital of the world, the epicenter of both the U.S. and global economies. Yet for overseas companies, government agencies, and global professionals, the sheer scale and potential of this market often remain abstract. It is precisely this gap that commands attention.

For global brands, New York is not the city locals know. Their view often stops at Manhattan’s skyline or parts of Brooklyn, like Williamsburg and DUMBO. Expose them to the full New York City metropolitan area, and it can feel overwhelming. The metro area encompasses New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and parts of Pennsylvania. Its economic scale surpasses that of many nations, and its influence resonates worldwide.

To understand this dynamic firsthand, the bcdW team attended the ‘Shape CT’s Future: Drive to ‘35’ event in Stamford. The goal was to see how local leaders and professionals, shaping Connecticut’s present and future, network and collaborate. Accompanying the team was Nate DiDomizio, Executive Producer at G15 Media and a native of Connecticut with deep ties to the region.

On the drive from New York to Stamford, Nate shared the state’s rich history, its people, and the hidden stories behind its industries. Connecticut wears two very different crowns: Pizza Capital and Insurance Capital. Legendary slices on one hand, billion-dollar policies on the other. Here, tomato sauce meets spreadsheets, proving local flavor and global impact can coexist—sometimes on the same block.

At the event, conversations with a diverse group of participants revealed Connecticut’s latent potential and local impact strategies.

Shaping Connecticut’s Future takes a deep dive into the sectors that will define the state’s success over the next decade. Past and upcoming events highlight a commitment to cutting-edge technology as well as the foundational pillars of Connecticut’s economy.

Especially, The Circular City, Reinventing Manufacturing for longevity and Local impact panel session offered a deep dive into the future of traditional manufacturing and its effects on the community. Panelists outlined the region’s industrial direction over the next decade and shared strategies to maximize local impact.

Connecticut’s manufacturing sector stands at a pivotal crossroads. Facing automation, AI, sustainability challenges, and workforce shortages simultaneously, local manufacturers are rethinking both technology and talent. Factories are evolving into intelligent, digitally optimized operations, integrating AI-driven production planning, downtime reduction, and future-proofed infrastructure.

Sustainability has also taken center stage. Carbon capture technology, renewable-based packaging, and circular production processes are helping Connecticut secure its position as a technological leader in the Eastern U.S. manufacturing ecosystem. Yet the most significant transformation lies in human capital. Manufacturing companies are rapidly upskilling their workforce and partnering with community colleges and technical schools to ensure a pipeline of prepared talent. As the panel emphasized, the sector’s competitiveness now depends less on manual labor and more on “brainpower at work.”

Yet, amid this rich discussion, one crucial question was notably absent: “How can manufacturing drive global connectivity?” Manufacturing today is no longer just a local industry—it is a platform connecting cities to the world, attracting international businesses, experts, and investors, and acting as a multi-layered hub linking manufacturing, commerce, and service sectors. Without cross-border collaboration and integrated manufacturing-commerce strategies, achieving both local impact and global opportunity is impossible.

Connecticut has the potential to evolve from a traditional manufacturing region into a global manufacturing connection hub. Beyond technology, talent, and policy, designing structures for global collaboration is now critical. Bridging local and global actors is essential to creating lasting impact.

The bcdW team left Connecticut with a clear insight: the future exists everywhere, but it is often unseen. Realizing that potential requires more than organic growth—it demands proactive discovery, intentional connections, and facilitation of collaboration between local and global stakeholders. Creating tangible local impact while unlocking global opportunities is bcdW’s mission and calling. This tour reaffirmed that mission, providing both clarity and inspiration for the path ahead.