The Leading Speakers Bureau

Leading expert on Blue Ocean Strategy, Value Innovation and Defying Conventional Wisdom

Gabor George Burt is an internationally recognized expert on Blue Ocean Strategy and Value Innovation; the highly acclaimed, new approach to high-growth strategy formation and implementation. He is also regarded as a thought leader on the cognitive perspective of Defying Conventional Wisdom. Taken together, his two spheres of expertise are especially relevant in helping organizations to create successful strategies during times of economic uncertainty.

“The entire global economy requires Blue Ocean Strategy.”

Bruce Nussbaum,
Business Week

[expand title=”In detail”] Gabor George Burt is also the chief architect and original host of the Blue Ocean Executive Experience series, an exclusive immersion forum on Blue Ocean Strategy and Defying Conventional Wisdom.
He is actively involved in shaping strategy with a diverse group of international clients spanning from Fortune 500 firms to successful start-ups, as well as in his own wide-ranging application of the Blue Ocean and DCW concepts.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]An engaging and provocative presenter, Gabor George Burt aims to uncover the core concepts of Blue Ocean Strategy and the mindset of Defying Conventional Wisdom in a way that is immediately accessible for his audiences.
He is a frequent lecturer and advisor to companies on the topic of innovation and strategies that lead to uncontested market space. [/expand]
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Co-author, Blue Ocean Strategy, Distinguished Fellow and Professor, INSEAD

Renée Mauborgne is a leading authority on value innovation and wealth creation. She is professor of strategy and management at INSEAD and is also codirector of the INSEAD Blue Ocean Strategy Institute. Blue Ocean Strategy argues that tomorrow’s leading companies will succeed not by battling competitors, but by creating “blue oceans” of uncontested market space ripe for growth. Such strategic moves, termed value innovation, create powerful leaps in value for both the firm and its buyers, rendering rivals obsolete and unleashing new demand. Renée co-founded the Blue Ocean Strategy Network, a global community of practice on the Blue Ocean Strategy family of concepts that they created.

She stimulates creative thinking at an intellectual level with great ease.

Renée Mauborgne has been ranked among the top 50 most influential business thinkers. In 2009 Thinkers 50, the global ranking of management gurus, placed her among the list of most influential thinkers.

[expand title=”In detail”] Renée received the Nobels Colloquia Prize for Leadership on Business and Economic Thinking 2008 and is the winner of the Eldridge Haynes Prize, awarded by the Academy of International Business and the Eldridge Haynes Memorial Trust of Business International. She is the winner of Prix des Dirigeants Commerciaux de France 2009 in the category of Stratégie d?entreprise. Thinkers 50, the global ranking of management gurus, places Renee among the top five most influential thinkers in 2009. She was also selected as the highest placed woman ever on Thinkers 50. [/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Renée Mauborgne is a preeminent thought leader on business strategy, innovation and wealth creation in the knowledge economy. With Blue Ocean Strategy, Renée brings business audiences a genuinely important breakthrough in strategic business thinking, which is changing the business lexicon across the globe. Taking the ever-changing global picture, she conveys the impact that it is having, and will have, on your organisation. As competition is redefined by technology and economic factors she looks at the implications for cost and sustainability. [/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Renée is a very impressive presenter-engaging, energetic and intelligent, with substantive material that can significantly impact your organisation’s performance. Candid and affable, she delivers her message with great clarity and relevance to your own situation. [/expand]
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Global Energy Economist

Philip K. Verleger Jr. is the President of PKVerleger LLC and senior advisor to The Brattle Group. He has been associated with the Fred Bergsten Institute since 1986 and is a senior fellow. He has held positions at the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, the U.S. Treasury, the Institute for International Economics, Yale University, the University of California, and various firms in the private sector. He is a member of the National Petroleum Council and the Council of Foreign Relations.

“The leading specialist in the study of energy commodity markets.”

[expand title=”In detail”] The author of over 100 articles and books on energy economics, Dr. Verleger has testified frequently as an expert witness for parties in private disputes and as an independent authority to the U.S. Congress. His testimony before Congress has addressed regulation, taxation, the behaviour of markets, and most recently, mergers. He received his Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1971.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Adept at both the podium and with the pen, Philip, the author of numerous studies on international energy and petroleum issues, brings his experience and analytical prowess to bear on the conventional economic wisdom, reaching insightful conclusion others simply can’t.[/expand]
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Timken Chaired Professor of Global Technology & Innovation at INSEAD

Yves Doz is a Professor of Business Strategy and the Timken Chaired Professor of Global Technology and Innovation at INSEAD.

His business experience includes work on multinational aircraft programmes, along with consulting for many major multinational corporations and teaching in their internal development programmes.

“The metanational hypothesis is becoming reality.”

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Professor of Strategic and International Management at LBS

Costas Markides is Professor of Strategic and International Management at London Business School. A native of Cyprus, he received his BA (Distinction) and MA in Economics from Boston University and his MBA and DBA from the Harvard Business School. Prior to joining London Business School he has worked as an Associate with the Cyprus Development Bank and as a Research Associate at the Harvard Business School. In 2009 and 2007 Thinkers 50, the global ranking of management gurus, placed him among the list of most influential thinkers.

“Costas Markides is an expert on creating breakthrough strategies with proven results”

Costas Markides has been ranked among the top 50 most influential business thinkers. In 2009 Thinkers 50, the global ranking of management gurus, placed him among the list of most influential thinkers.

[expand title=”In detail”] His work has been has published in a wide range of journals such as the Harvard Business Review, Sloan Management Review, Directors & Boards, Long Range Planning, British Journal of Management, Journal of International Business Studies, Strategic Management Journal and the Academy of Management Journal.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Having taught on many in-company programmes Prof. Markides is without a doubt one of Europe’s most experienced and respected business strategists. His presentations are ideal for decision makers keen to sustain and develop superior competitive performance by implementing and understanding new business strategies.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Costas Markides is a captivating and engaging speaker and he has designed his lectures with just the right blend of humour and useful actionable information. His appearances are consistently well-received making him one of the most sought-after and prized speakers currently available.[/expand]
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Former CEO of Starbucks

Orin C. Smith was President and Chief Executive Officer of Starbucks Corporation from 2000 to 2005. He joined Starbucks as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer in 1990, became President and Chief Operating Officer in 1994, and became a director of Starbucks in 1996. Mr. Smith has been a Director of The Walt Disney Company since 2006 and he has been a Director of Nike Inc. since September 20, 2004 and serves as a Member of its Audit Committee.

“Embracing diversity is not only the right thing to do socially or ethically, it’s good for business.”

[expand title=”In detail”] Prior to joining Starbucks, Mr. Smith spent a total of 14 years with Deloitte & Touche. He serves on the Advisory Board for the University of Washington School of Business, the University of Washington Medicine Board of Directors and the Board of Directors of Conservation International. He was also a Director of Oakley Sunglasses, Watches, Shoes, and Apparel from August 1995 until July 10, 2003. [/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]As one of America’s most respected and successful corporate leaders, Orin C. Smith offers audiences valuable insights into the strategies which have made him so successful. He carefully explains in great detail the importance of strategic leadership and how to create a global brand[/expand]
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Former Creative Director of Gucci, Yves Saint Laurent

Tom Ford was hired by Gucci’s creative director Dawn Mello in 1990 as chief women’s ready-to-wear designer and later appointed design director. When, in 1994, Gucci was acquired by a Bahrain-based investment firm called Investcorp, Tom was promoted to creative director and moved to Milan.

In his first year at the helm, he was credited with putting the glamour back into fashion introducing Halston-style velvet hipsters, skinny satin shirts and car-finish metallic patent boots. In 1995, he brought in French stylist Carine Roitfeld and photographer Mario Testino to create a series of new, modern ad campaigns for the company. By 1999, the house, which had been almost bankrupt when Tom joined, was valued at about $4.3 billion. In 2000, he was named Best International Designer at the first VH1/Vogue Awards in New York.

[expand title=”In detail”] Tom Ford has become arguably the most influential designer of the last decade. Having initially trained as an actor, he studied interior architecture at Parsons School of Design until 1986, and went on to take positions at Perry Ellis and Cathy Hardwick, before joining Gucci in 1990.[/expand]
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First Woman to Summit Everest from North & South Sides and Leadership speaker

Cathy O Dowd is a winning explorer and raconteur. Not one to submit to adversity, she reached Everest’s peak from the south, despite facing the worst storm in the mountain’s history. She took on the challenge of the treacherous north side two years later, but her attempt ended when she stopped to try and save a dying climber. A year later she returned and succeeded in becoming the first woman to climb Everest from both the north and south sides.

The first woman to conquer both the north and south sides of Everest

[expand title=”In detail”] A former university lecturer with a Masters degree in Media Studies, she grew up in South Africa. Now based in Europe, she remains an active adventurer, from the heights of the Himalaya to the wilderness of the Arctic. In 2003 she attempted a new route up the notorious east face of Everest. [/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Interweaving the literal climbing adventure and the symbolic challenge of peak performance, she evokes your sense of possibility. Spectacular images add to her poignant story, which will rouse you to approach challenges with renewed zeal and increased capabilities. Cathy’s great strength lies in combining her dramatic adventures with a coherent message to business. Her inspirational presentations entertain and motivate while reinforcing key principles of best business practise.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Cathy is a fluent and passionate speaker, combining humour and drama, weaving a spell-binding story out of which she subtly draws her metaphors for achievement. All presentations are dramatically illustrated with photographs from the mountain. She is also part of our Top Women keynote speakers. [/expand]
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Award-Winning Global Marketing Guru

The prolific author of many definitive marketing reference works, Professor Philip Kotler is widely regarded as the world’s leading expert on strategic marketing.
He is currently the S.C. Johnson & Son Distinguished Professor of International Marketing at the Northwestern University Kellogg Graduate School of Management in Chicago.

“Today’s smart marketers don’t sell products; they sell benefit packages”

Prof. Philip Kotler has been ranked among the top 50 most influential business thinkers. In 2009 Thinkers 50, the global ranking of management gurus, placed him among the list of most influential thinkers

[expand title=”In detail”] Professor Kotler has consulted to many major U.S. and foreign companies – including IBM, Michelin, Bank of America, Merck, General Electric, Honeywell, and Motorola – in the areas of marketing strategy and planning, marketing organization, and international marketing.

He has authored what is widely recognized as the most authoritative textbook on marketing: ‘Marketing Management’, now in its 12th edition. He has also authored or co-authored a number of benchmark books and over one hundred articles, many of which have been published in the world’s leading journals. He holds many major awards, including the Distinguished Marketing Educator of the Year Award of the American Marketing Association and Marketer of the Year by the Sales and Marketing Executives International (SMEI)[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Professor Kotler’s professional wisdom is contemporary, relevant and practical, and his presentations are illustrated with many examples drawn from international business. He offers profound and provocative perspectives on market-based corporate revitalisation.[/expand]
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Former US Assistant Secretary of State and Adjunct Professor at Columbia University

James P. Rubin is currently an Adjunct Professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs and a prominent commentator and lecturer on U.S. foreign policy. From 2000 to 2007, Mr. Rubin lived in London, working as a broadcaster, professor, commentator and communications consultant. Most recently, from 2005 to 2007, he was international news anchor and world affairs commentator for SKY news. Mr. Rubin served under President Clinton as Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs and Chief Spokesman for the State Department from 1997 to 2000.

He shares his insights of how media covers world events and how the public receives news

[expand title=”In detail”] During the 2004 election, Mr. Rubin served as Senior Adviser for National Security for the Kerry/Edwards Campaign. In the 1996 election, Mr. Rubin was Director of Foreign Policy for the Clinton/Gore ’96 Campaign. While in London, Mr. Rubin was a Visiting Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics from 2001-2004, a partner in the Brunswick Group – a financial advisory firm – from 2001 -2004, and in 2002 and 2003 the host of the PBS series Wide Angle, a primetime, weekly international affairs program.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]James is an authority on foreign affairs and will give your audience insight into national security policies and US foreign policy initiatives that impact the world. James provides behind-the-scenes perspectives on his personal experiences during negotiations spanning the globe, from the Middle East and Iraq to Russia and China, in addition to the diplomatic missions which he led to Kosovo. Mr. Rubin is a regular contributor to a number of American and European newspapers, including The Financial Times, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. [/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]James is a stimulating speaker with a proven track record and is ideal for addressing international audiences as well as UK-based audiences.[/expand]
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