When the Aspen Ideas conference convenes, it attracts some of the most influential thinkers, leaders, and advocates from around the globe. This year, among the distinguished speakers was Jon Goldfarb from Wiggins Childs Pantazis Fisher Goldfarb (“Wiggins Childs”). Goldfarb’s appearance was highly anticipated, given his storied career and his pivotal role in landmark cases that have shaped the landscape of employment law and civil rights in America.  He was joined along stage with the award-winning actress, Patricia Clarkson, who played Lilly Ledbetter in the feature film, Lilly.

The Aspen Ideas conference is a gathering of visionaries who come together to ignite conversations on the most pressing issues of our time. This year’s themes included prosperity reimagined, breakthroughs and innovations, and what it means to live a good life. It was within this context that Jon Goldfarb took the stage.

At the conference, Goldfarb spoke about the ongoing struggle for equal pay and civil rights in the workplace. Drawing from his personal experience representing Lilly Ledbetter, he recounted the challenges faced by individuals who confront discrimination and the systemic barriers that persist even today. Goldfarb’s talk highlighted several key points:

• The Personal Cost of Injustice: He shared how Ledbetter’s years of underpayment at Goodyear were not just a matter of lost wages, but a profound injustice that affected her family and future.
• The Power of Legal Advocacy: Goldfarb illustrated how a single case, when championed with skill and determination, can lead to national legislative change, as seen with the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act.
• Continuing Barriers: Despite progress, Goldfarb emphasized that pay discrimination and workplace harassment remain widespread. He called on attendees to remain vigilant and proactive in their own organizations.
• The Importance of Storytelling: By sharing real stories—like Ledbetter’s—Goldfarb believes advocates can humanize the statistics and inspire action among policymakers and the public.