Speakers On China

Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper is one of the finest intelligence minds of the 21st century. In the midst of shifting national security policies and varying threats to American interests at home and abroad, Clapper illuminates a broad array of intelligence-related issues.

Admiral Michael Rogers is the former director of the National Security Agency (NSA), the former chief of Central Security Service, and the former commander of US Cyber Command. Rogers assumed those posts in March of 2014 and stepped down in May of 2018. An MIT technology seminar fellow and former Harvard Senior Executive in national security, Admiral Rogers is one of the most-knowledgeable intelligence operatives and cyber security experts on the lecture circuit today. Offering presentations packed with insights gleaned from his recent experience at the highest levels of the US government, he served under both Presidents Obama and Trump and oversaw the NSA and Cyber Command responses to both the Snowden leaks and Russian interference in the 2016 US Presidential election.

Michael (Mike) Steep is the executive director of Stanford Engineering School's Center for Disruptive Technology and Digital Cities and the former senior vice president of global business operations at innovation mega-hub, PARC Xerox. He draws on first-hand experience and anecdotes from time spent with the biggest names in Silicon Valley to instruct audiences on how to get ahead of disruptive innovation. Viewing new technology as opportunity, Mike highlights the importance of allowing innovation to trump company culture and legacies—and not the other way around.

Zachary Karabell is a renowned economist and the author of The Leading Indicators: A Short History of the Numbers That Rule Our World. With his prolific, award-winning writing career, illustrious background on Wall Street, and PhD from Harvard, he offers audiences a tour de force of what’s to come and shows that optimism is a vital ingredient for capitalizing on current economic opportunities. He brings a unique perspective to the discussion of globalization and the economic environment and shares insights on how to use big data to get a real picture of the global economy.

Ambassador Michael Froman is the Vice Chairman and President of Strategic Growth for MasterCard, where he focuses on launching new businesses and driving inclusive growth efforts. In his former role as United States Trade Representative, Froman was President Obama’s principal advisor, negotiator and spokesperson on international trade and investment issues. Ambassador Froman led the Office of the United States Trade Representative in its work to open global markets for U.S. goods and services, enforced America’s rights in the global trading system, and fostered development through trade.

General Michael Hayden, the former director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the National Security Agency (NSA), was on the frontlines of geopolitics and the war on terror. A two-time New York Times best-selling author, he served nearly 40 years in the Air Force. The longest-tenured NSA director and the number one military intelligence officer in the country, Gen. Hayden oversaw the entire security community. He has also served in senior staff positions at the Pentagon, the National Security Council, and more. Hayden addresses security, intelligence, crisis management, terrorism, and geopolitics.

One of the brightest minds in economics, Matthew Slaughter addresses the near-term challenges facing the economy with an eye on the future. He is a member of the Congressional Budget Office’s Panel of Economic Advisors and was a member on the White House Council of Economic Advisors. Approachable and enthusiastic, he makes practical sense of economic data and shares insights on opportunities, emerging markets, trade, investments, and policy – offering organizations the numbers they need to put the economic situation in the right perspective.

Anja Manuel is a founding partner and principal at Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel, LLC, a strategic consulting firm, which she co-founded along with former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and others. The firm assists CEOs and senior executives at major US companies in key emerging markets such as China, India, and the Middle East. She teaches at Stanford University’s International Policy Studies Program and is a leading expert on globalization, emerging markets, and America’s shifting role in international leadership. Anja is a former State Department official, an international lawyer, and the author of the book, This Brave New World.

Admiral Winnefeld was the ninth Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and formerly the nation’s second highest-ranking military officer. He graduated with distinction from the Naval War College, and is a member of the Georgia Tech Engineering Hall of Fame and the Georgia Tech Advisory Board. Admiral Winnefeld has been involved in many of our nations conflicts in last century including, commanding USS CLEVELAND and USS ENTERPRISE during the nation’s initial response to the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

Zak Dychtwald is a lifelong fan of interesting people, big ideas, great food, new adventures, science fiction, and religious meaning. A writer, consultant, and public speaker, he has traveled extensively throughout five continents to explore what makes people and cultures tick while searching for glimpses into the future.

At the complex intersection of global politics, economics, investment, and financial markets sits Jeffrey Garten. Few experts can boast such high-level experience in both government and business, as well as a deep knowledge of the global economic picture. He has earned an unparalleled reputation. His experience, from the emerging markets to the dean’s office at the Yale School of Management, has made him a hot commodity for organizations whose survival depends on a clear picture of the state of the global economy and the underlying implications of America’s policies.

Ambassador R. Nicholas Burns, the former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs and former U.S. Ambassador to NATO and Greece, is one of America’s top foreign policy experts and viewed as one of the most articulate spokespeople on globalization and U.S. foreign policy. Burns is currently the professor of the practice of diplomacy and international politics at Harvard’s Kennedy School, and addresses foreign relations and policy, U.S. competitiveness, perceptions of America, and the global impact of the fiscal crisis.