Speakers From Big Brands

GOOGLE

GINNY CLARKE

Former Director, Executive Recruiting at Google and Holistic Leadership Strategist

Dedicated to helping leaders create the conscious workplace for tomorrow, Ginny Clarke has advised at the highest levels of corporate America for decades. A proven expert in driving diverse leadership, she is the former director of executive recruiting at Google, where she led the company’s diversity, non-tech recruiting, and leadership internal mobility teams – finding and hiring senior leaders across the company. She also built a scaled internal mobility program for Google’s senior leaders to advance within the organization, and designed much of the infrastructure that supports their executive recruiting function today. | See more on Ginny Clarke.

ALBERTO SAVOIA

Former Google Executive

Alberto Savoia is a successful practitioner, expert, coach, author, and speaker on the topic of high-yield innovation through experimentation. His area of focus and expertise is in helping already successful and established companies innovate like start-ups. He was Innovation Agitator at Google where he was the most requested speaker on the topic of Innovation. His prior responsibilities at Google included being the first Director of Engineering, where he led the group that launched Google's multi-billion-dollar AdWords. | See more on Alberto Savoia.

ANJALI KUMAR

Former Google Executive & Former Head of Social Innovation at Warby Parker

Anjali Kumar is a former Google executive and the former Head of Social Innovation at Warby Parker. Now an Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School, she is as an advisor to prominent technology companies, luxury fashion brands, consumer products, and non-profits. She talks about “transforming the norm” using lessons from her time at two of the world’s most innovative companies. | See more on Anjali Kumar.

JAMES WILLIAMS

Former Google Strategist & Research Associate at Oxford University

James Williams worked as a Google strategist for over a decade, and in 2017 he was awarded both the Founder's Award and the Nine Dots prize for his innovative work.  Williams' research at  Oxford University's Oll's Digital Ethics Lab delves into the connection between attention, persuasion, and design in technology. He talks about the intersection of ethics and technology: discussing examples of "tech gone wrong" and exploring how technology has impacted society and individuals and the issue of the "attention crisis," and what organizations can do to minimize these risks now and in the future. | See more on James Williams. 

TIM HWANG

Former Global Public Policy Lead for AI and Machine Learning at Google, & Former Director of Harvard-MIT Ethics and Governance of AI Initiative

Tim Hwang, said to be "the busiest man on the Internet" according to Forbes, delves into the topic of artificial intelligence systems and their positive (or negative) impacts on society. He discusses how these systems can be used across varying professions and to fulfill different purposes—successfully appealing to both novices and experts in the field. | See more on Tim Hwang.

ALEX STAMOS

Former Chief of Security at Facebook, Former Chief Information Security Officer at Yahoo, and Professor at Stanford

During Stamos' time at Facebook, he led the company's investigation into manipulation of the 2016 US election and helped pioneer several successful protections against these new classes of abuse. The New York Times said that through that work he became known for his role as a "strong advocate inside [Facebook] for investigating and disclosing Russian activity on Facebook." Stamos helps groups think through questions about safeguarding information and infrastructure, building a trustworthy company, and what 'information warfare' means in 2019. He is currently leading the Internet Observatory at Stanford University, which is focused on building a safer internet for all. | See more on Alex Stamos. 

DEX HUNTER-TORRICKE

Executive at Google, Former Head of Communications at SpaceX, & Executive Communications Manager at Facebook

Dex Hunter-Torricke has managed communications for some of the most-influential and admired Silicon Valley leaders and corporations of our day. From 2012 to 2016, he led the executive communications team at Facebook and served as personal speechwriter for Mark Zuckerberg. He went on to join SpaceX as senior director of communications where he worked closely with Elon Musk. On stage, Dex expertly combines his experience working for some of the world’s most innovative and technology-driven brands with his passion for social innovation to help companies shift towards a 21st century business methodology. He takes audiences into Facebook’s boardroom, Musk’s open-concept cubicle, the famed Googleplex, and finally to the UN itself to share lessons on what it takes in today’s environment to build highly-effective internal teams, how to use storytelling in modern communications, and what to make of the steady transition from local to global that’s unfolded over the past decade. It’s fascinating to hear him talk about lessons learned from playing chess with Zuckerberg, or the intimidating, singular question asked by Musk in AN interview.  | See more on Dex Hunter-Torricke.

MORGAN STANLEY

CARLA HARRIS

Vice Chairman, Global Wealth Management & Senior Client Advisor at Morgan Stanley

As the first African American to join Morgan Stanley’s management committee, Carla Harris truly embodies a no-excuses persona. A well-established powerful voice in finance, Carla has practiced what she preaches for three decades. In talks, Carla energizes audiences with grace and humor as she espouses the evergreen wisdom known as “Carla’s Pearls," which she imparts on audiences globally. She is the author of two best-selling books, including Strategize To Win and Expect To Win. The recipient of numerous awards, including being named to Fortune's list of “The 50 Most Powerful Black Executives in Corporate America,” Harris was appointed by President Barack Obama to chair the National Women’s Business Council in 2013. | See more on Carla Harris.

LOUIS VUITTON

PAULINE BROWN

Former Chairman of North America for LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton

Pauline Brown is former chairman of North America for luxury goods powerhouse, LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton), and a Harvard University professor. She talks about the breakthrough strategies that build consumer demand and loyalty, the role great design plays in building a brand people can't live without (think Apple), and explains why creating desirability should be a main focus in the age of Amazon—plus how to do it. | See more on Pauline Brown.

PEPSICO

HARYLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY

KEN SCHMIDT

Former Director of Communications at Harley-Davidson

Ken Schmidt is widely known as one of the business world’s most outspoken and provocative thought leaders. He’s also viewed as a “turnaround king” for his work bringing struggling businesses back from the brink. He explains how to tap into the positive ways consumers respond to your brand and build a booming culture around that niche. In his talk on “Dominating the Marketplace,” Schmidt talks about the steps to developing a loyal corporate culture and fanatic customer base by using examples from his own life. | See more on Ken Schmidt.

FORD MOTOR COMPANY

SHERYL CONNELLY

Manager of Global Trends & Futuring at Ford Motor Company

Sheryl Connelly has served as the in-house futurist for Ford Motor Company for over a decade. In this role, she identifies and analyzes global consumer trends to aide in the discussion of long-term planning and strategy across the entire company, including design, product development, and corporate strategy and help anticipate and predict the needs and desires of consumers. | See more on Sheryl Connelly. 

BMW GB, Porsche GB, & Lamborghini GB

KEVIN GASKELL

Former Group CEO of BMW GB, Former CEO of Porsche GB, and Former CEO or Lamborghini GB

Few people have led the world's iconic brands to new levels of success and managed successful turnarounds of failing companies like Kevin Gaskell. Whether discussing rapid growth, the type of leadership that fuels success, or the roll-out of a new and unconventional strategy, Kevin always speaks from experience. Kevin's talk centers around his motto, "There's no excuse for not being world class," and he shares the tools he used to build brands that can withstand anything: clarity of vision, creating a culture of success, rethinking self-imposed limits, and creating opportunities for those around him to step up. | See more on Kevin Gaskell. 

STARBUCKS & EXTENDED STAY HOTELS

CEO of Albertson's, Former CEO of Starbucks, Haggen Food & Pharmacy, & Extended Stay Hotels

Jim Donald has been called a “Turnaround King” for his ability to take flailing brands back from the edge of bankruptcy, and was named one of the Top 25 CEO's in the world. He has a new speech all about creating a culture that forever captures the excitement you feel on your first day of work in a new job. He talks about why “the biggest threat your company faces is from inside your four walls,” how to unlock untapped “gold mines” within your corporation, and how to build better attitudes and increased execution. | See more on Jim Donald.

TRADER JOE'S

DOUG RAUCH

Former President of Trader Joe's

Doug Rauch was instrumental in growing Trader Joe’s from a small, nine-store chain in Southern California to a nationally-acclaimed retail success story and powerhouse with more than 340 stores in 30 states, and for his belief that culture is a company’s DNA—or the only thing a company has that can’t be copied or stolen, and the most important factor in success. A leading expert on marketing innovation and crafting singular corporate cultures, Doug shares important tenets of value-based leadership used to develop a commercially successful and ethically responsible business. In an energetic presentation filled with eye-opening case studies, he shows organizations how to focus their efforts on their core competencies in order to distinguish themselves from their competitors. He also talks about the practices like conscious capitalism and values-based leadership that he drew on to grow Trader Joe’s, and helps companies figure out what their cultural X factor is. | See more on Doug Rauch.

JIM VANDEHEI & MIKE ALLEN

Co-Founders of Axios 

Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen are the co-founders of the disruptive and innovative new media company, Axios, delivering quick, punchy news and insights on politics, business, media, and technology to a smart and highly-engaged audience. The company has already proved a disruptive force in the digital media space, specializing in high-quality news and analysis easily shared across social platforms by the country’s influential readers. An incredible political and new media speaking duo full of energy, Jim and Mike are completely plugged into the Washington scene and offer reporting on nitty gritty issues combined with anecdotes drawn from their personal relationships, as well as witty, up-to-the-minute presentations on current affairs and how to navigate the new digital media environment. For years, they worked at POLITICO, transforming it from a newcomer on Captiol Hill to the website and accompanying newsletter that all of Washington considered a “must-read." Together, these media entrepreneurs and highly-respected journalists cover the trends and personalities making waves on Capitol Hill. | See more on Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen. 

BT GROUP

GAVIN PATTERSON

Former Chief Executive BT Group plc

Gavin Patterson served as Chief Executive, BT for almost six years from 2013 to 2019. BT is a global communications services company bringing together the best networks and technology with the expertise of its people, to enable businesses to grow, communities to thrive, and individuals to get more out of life. Patterson led the completion of the superfast fibre broadband UK roll-out which now provides almost universal coverage and initiated the first stage of network deployment ultrafast fibre- to-the-home technology. He negotiated the £15billion acquisition of EE, which enabled BT to form the UK’s leading converged communications provider. | See more on Gavin Patterson here.

NINTENDO OF AMERICA

REGGIE FILS-AIMÉ

Former President and COO of Nintendo of America Inc.

An award-winning innovator, Reggie is the former president and COO of Nintendo of America. In his 15-year career at Nintendo, Fils-Aimé ran the day-to-day operations and was responsible for all activities for Nintendo in the United States, Canada, and Latin America. Named to the International Video Game Hall of Fame, he was responsible for revamping Nintendo’s public relations in North America, addressing the ever-changing challenges of marketing to youth while also continuing to represent the older game-player market. A proven expert in revitalizing companies and brands, he shares his principles for effective leadership and thriving in an age of disruption. | See more on Reggie here.

DYSON

MARTIN MCCOURT

Former CEO of Dyson

Named UK Business Leader of the Year, Martin is the former CEO of Dyson. Martin was the CEO of Dyson for 15 years, the ideas to market-leading consumer products maker. As CEO, he devised and implemented a strategy that transformed the company from a single product, single market producer into one where 80% of the business came from over 60 markets around the world.  In that time he increased UK skilled jobs, grew profits to over £300m and enabled James Dyson to keep on inventing. He shares proven strategies for organizations to generate new ideas, facilitate growth, stand out from competitors, make decisions, define their identity, and confront failure. | Learn more about Martin here.

COLLEGE HUNKS

NICK FRIEDMAN & OMAR SOLIMAN

Renowned Founders of world-class iconic brands, including international franchise College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving, Co-Authors of “Effortless Entrepreneur: Work Smart, Play Hard, Make Millions,” National TV Personalities, and Thought Leaders

Nick and Omar are the founders of the iconic College Hunks Hauling Junk business empire. Committed to helping more people become successful, Friedman and Soliman wrote the book, Effortless Entrepreneur: Work Smart, Play Hard, Make Millions, outlining ten common sense commandments to growing and leading successful teams and organizations. Endorsed by moguls like Subway founder, Fred Deluca, and Ted Leonsis, vice chairman emeritus of AOL and owner of the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards, the book has become a national best-seller and is a must-read for anyone looking to enhance their business leadership skills. They share their expertise on branding, leading teams, entrepreneurship, and creating a purpose-driven, customer-centric organization. | Learn more about Nick and Omar here.

LYFT

ANTHONY FOXX

Chief Policy Officer at Lyft and Former United States Secretary of Transportation

Anthony Foxx is the Chief Policy Officer at Lyft who formerly served as the 17^th United States Secretary of Transportation and as mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. As Secretary of Transportation, he led an agency with more than 55,000 employees and a budget of $70 billion. Sec. Foxx was responsible for overseeing American air, maritime, and surface transportation and ensuring that America maintained the safest, most efficient transportation system in the world. Confirmed by a rare 100-0 Senate vote, Sec. Foxx’s career success is indicative of his demonstrated ability to push forward in an era of deep partisan divide. Crafting an ambitious agenda to modernize America, he pressed Congress to pass the nation’s first long-term surface transportation bill in more than a decade. Sec. Foxx energized DOT’s embrace of innovation to help solve these problems by launching the Smart City Challenge, a national competition to implement bold, data-driven ideas that make transportation safer, easier, and more reliable in that city. He also worked to accelerate the Department’s efforts to incorporate vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication technology into new vehicles. As Chief Policy Officer at ride-sharing powerhouse Lyft, he works to develop government partnerships and serves as adviser to Lyft's president and CEO. | Learn more about Anthony Foxx here.

WALGREENS

GREGORY WASSON

Former President and CEO of Walgreens

Greg Wasson is the former President and CEO of Walgreens, the largest drugstore chain in the U.S. He took the reigns during a historic economic downturn and while our country’s healthcare system was in the midst of large-scale reforms. He transformed an iconic company and helped change an entire industry for generations to come, ensuring that Walgreens would play a much larger role in the delivery of healthcare in the United States. Today, Wasson is co-founder of Wasson Enterprise, an investment firm that specializes in healthcare, technology, and innovative consumer and shopping solutions. Additionally, Greg co-founded CoolerScreens, an innovative in-store digital marketing and merchandising platform transforming retail point of sale media. | Learn more about Gregory Wasson here.

JO LOVES

JO MALONE CBE

Founder & Creative Director, Jo Loves

Jo Malone CBE has been described as an 'English scent maverick and the woman responsible for creating some of the world's most loved fragrances. Originally a facial therapist, Jo fell in love with fragrance while working from her discreet skin care clinic which she set up from her London home. Discovering an instinctual talent for creating scented products by hand in her kitchen, word of her exceptional potions quickly spread and soon Jo was unable to keep up with demand. From these artisan beginnings Jo launched her first brand, Jo Malone London, which gained cult status around the world. In 1999, Jo sold the business to Estée Lauder Companies and remained Creative Director until she left in 2006. Two years later in 2008, Jo was honoured with an MBE for her services to the beauty industry. | Learn more about Jo Malone here.

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