The Leading Speakers Bureau

International Telecommunications Expert & Entrepreneur

Candace Johnson is an international telecommunications expert and entrepreneur. She is co-initiator of the Astra satellite system and SES Global, the world’s largest satellite systems. She is also founding President of Europe Online, the world’s first and largest independent Satellite Broadband Network, and founder of Loral Cyberstar-Teleport Europe, Europe’s first independent private trans-border satellite communications network. She is also founding President of the VATM, the Association of Private Telecom Operators in Germany and founding President of the Global Telecom Women’s Network (GTWN).

“One of the 50 most powerful Businesswomen in Europe”
CNN

[expand title=”In detail”] Candace is President of Johnson Paradigm Ventures (JPV), and a Founding Member of the Board of Directors of Sophia Euro Lab. In her personal capacity, she is a minority owner of FMN, a German telephone manufacturing company, and a member of their Supervisory Council. She is a minority owner of Alpha Com, a wireless data manufacturing company. She is also a member of the Advisory Board of numerous European and US ventures.

She has been featured in articles in Time Magazine, the Financial Times, the Economist, Le Monde, and Manager Magazin, to name a few. In 2002 she received the World Communications Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her contribution to the telecommunications industry over the past 25 years.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Candace shows decision makers how to set up and build companies with real value. She also demonstrates how affordable and excellent communication tools can make a major difference to bottom line profits.

She is a thought-provoking and authoritative speaker on entrepreneurship, e-business and telecommunications.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Candace is a charismatic speaker; her presentations are enlightening, stimulating and highly beneficial to all audiences.[/expand]
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Prolific Author & the Most Widely Cited Sociologist in the World Today

Lord Anthony Giddens popularised the notion of the “Third Way” in political thinking, and his advice has been sought by political leaders from Asia, Latin America and Australia, as well as from the US and Europe. Frequently referred to as Tony Blair’s guru, he has made a strong impact on the evolution of New Labour. He currently serves as Emeritus Professor at the London School of Economics

Anthony Giddens is “the fifth most-referenced author of books in the humanities”

[expand title=”In detail”] Anthony Giddens served as Director of the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) from 1997 to 2003. He was previously a Fellow and Professor of Sociology at King’s College, Cambridge. He was the 1999 BBC Reith Lecturer. His first work, ‘Capitalism and Modern Social Theory’, has been continuously in print for more than three decades. He was given a life peerage in 2004, as Baron Giddens of Southgate. In 2002 he was awarded the Prince of Asturias Prize for the social sciences, known as ‘the Spanish Nobel Prize’.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Anthony Giddens is the most widely-read and cited social theorist of his generation. His ideas have profoundly influenced the writing and teaching of sociology and social theory around the world. In particular, he developed the theory of “Structuration”, which is the understanding of the relationship between individuals and the conditions around them. [/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Anthony Giddens is renowned for his clear and fluent speaking style and continues to be in great demand by corporate clients the world over.[/expand]
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IT-Visionary, Co-founder and CEO of Udacity

Sebastian Thrun is a celebrated IT-Visionary, researcher and entrepreneur. He is Co-Founder and CEO of the online education startup Udacity, a Google Fellow and a Research Professor at Stanford University working through robotics to change the way we understand the world. At Google he founded Google X where he oversaw the development of self-driving cars and the Google Glass.

“One of the 50 smartest people in tech” Fortune Magazine

[expand title=”In detail”] Sebastian has published over 370 scientific papers and 11 books. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering in the US and the Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina. He led the development of the robotic vehicle Stanley which won the 2005 DARPA Grand Challenge, organised by the US Government. Wired Magazine awarded one of his robots the Best Robot Ever, Popular Science included him into their Brilliant Ten and Forbes magazine in their annual Egang. In 2011 he received the Max-Planck-Research Award and the inaugural AAAI Ed Feigenbaum Prize[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]An outstanding visionary, Sebastian Thrun gives fascinating insights into the world of technology and the way we work and live.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Sebastian tailors each presentation to precisely fit each event and his engaging speeches make him a sought-after speaker at conferences around the globe. [/expand]
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Executive Director / Director of Football Operations Chelsea Football Club

Mike Forde is one of the UK’s leading Sports Executives, having worked in the English Premier League for the past 13 years. He is widely recognised as a leading figure in the EPL and European Soccer for driving innovation and cutting edge methods to create a sustained business model for Elite Player Performance. He is Director of Football Operations and Executive Club Director for Chelsea Football Club, dealing with all areas of performance and team operations relating to the 1st team, including player recruitment, medical, sport science, psychology and performance analysis.

“Mike has an amazing sense of what motivation is about”

[expand title=”In detail”] From 1999 to 2007 Mike was Performance Director for Bolton Wanderers Football Club. He has a BSc Sport Science from Liverpool John Moores University and an MSc Psychology & Sport from San Diego State University / Leeds Met University. He also serves as a Non Executive Director with Lawn Tennis Association / Wimbledon and has advised on High Performance Cultures and Talent Management across a variety of Global Sports including NFL, NBA, MLB, International Rugby Union; International Cricket and F1.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Mike is sought for his elite experience to impart and develop wide ranging learning, integration and best practice in high performance and its practical applications for the world of business.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Mike is an inspiring and natural speaker who delivers a vibrant message on how to channel a team towards peak performance. [/expand]
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Renowned Big Data Expert

Kenneth Neil Cukier is the Data Editor of The Economist. From 2007 to 2012 he was the Japan business and finance correspondent, and before that, the paper’s global technology correspondent based in London, where his work focused on innovation, intellectual property and Internet governance. Mr. Cukier serves on the board of directors of International Bridges to Justice, a Geneva-based NGO promoting legal rights in developing countries and on the board of advisors to the Daniel Pearl Foundation.

“A renowned global expert on Big Data, society and the future of Business”

[expand title=”In detail”] Previously, he was the technology editor of The Asian Wall Street Journal in Hong Kong and a regular commentator on CNBC Asia. He also was the European Editor of Red Herring and worked at The International Herald Tribune in Paris. Kenneth was a research fellow at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, working on the internet and international relations. His writings have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, Prospect, The Financial Times and Foreign Affairs, among others. [/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]In his presentations Kenneth reveals the hottest trends in technology and the dramatic impact they will have on the economy, science and society at large. He also gives important insights and information in the world of Big Data and analyses the key trends which define the future of business. Kenneth regularly serves as a conference chairman, speaker, panel moderator and presents on-stage interviews or after-dinner remarks at public and private events.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]His enlightening and well researched presentations are full of examples and success stories. Kenneth Neil Cukier is in great demand at business events around the globe.[/expand]
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Leading Authority on the Economics of IT

Erik Brynjolfsson is the Schussel Family Professor at the MIT Sloan School of Management, Director of the MIT Center for Digital Business, Chair of the MIT Sloan Management Review, and the Editor of the Information Systems Network. He has made important contributions to the world of IT Productivity research and his research has been recognized with nine “best paper” awards by fellow academics and five U.S. patents.

“Erik Brynjolfsson provides an important roadmap for future technology innovation ”

[expand title=”In detail”] Erik Brynjolfsson earned his A.B., Magna cum laude, and S.M. in Applied Mathematics and Decision Sciences at Harvard University. He received a Ph.D. in Managerial Economics from the MIT Sloan School of Management and has served on the faculties of MIT, Harvard and Stanford Business School. At MIT, he teaches a class on The Economics of Information: Strategy, Structure and Pricing and hosts a related blog Economics of Information. He currently serves as a director or advisor for several firms and non-profit organizations.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Prof. Brynjolfsson’s research and teaching focuses on how businesses can effectively use information technology (IT) in general and the Internet in particular. His recent research examines intangible assets, information worker productivity, the Long Tail in digital goods, and business process replication. He lectures and consults worldwide on Internet strategy, pricing models and intangible assets to audiences interested in the business and economics of information technology.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]In his concise, valuable presentations, Erik Brynjolfsson skilfully provides a wealth of evidence about the effects of business investments in information technology on companies and the overall economy.[/expand]
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Neuropsychologist, brain imaging researcher & assistant professor of neurosurgery

Rex Jung is a leading scientist in the emerging field of positive neuroscience — the study of what the brain does well. As an Assistant Professor at the UNM Health Sciences Center Department of Neurosurgery, his groundbreaking research led to the first model describing a network of brain regions critically linked together in service of intellectual pursuits. His research is designed to relate behavioral measures, including intelligence, personality, and creativity, to brain function and structure in healthy, neurological, and psychiatric subjects.

Imagine if your creativity had no limits. The possibilities of what you could conceive would be endless.

[expand title=”In detail”] He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of New Mexico in 2001, and completed an internship in the Departments of Neurosurgery and Behavioral Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, in Houston, Texas. His research has been widely featured in popular media outlets including CNN, BBC, Psychology Today, New Scientist, The New York Times, and Newsweek. [/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Rex translates neuroscience and psychological insights to business leaders. With his research he helps his audience to gain a whole new view on the differences between intelligence, creativity, and personality. Rex unsettles some old assumptions — and suggests some new connections between creativity and family life, creativity and aging, and creativity and purpose.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]In his open and engaging presentations, Rex uses humour to make even the most complex ideas easy to understand and highly informative and fascinating.[/expand]
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Economics, Finance & Innovation Expert

Mariana Mazzucato is an economist with an interest in the relationship between innovation and growth, and economic policies that can ensure that economic growth is not only ‘smart’ but also inclusive and sustainable. Her work on finance and innovation argues that financial markets must be reformed to support productive investments and innovation: creative destruction not destructive creation. Mariana is currently R.M. Phillips Professor in Science and Technology Policy at the University of Sussex and Visiting Professor in the Economics of Innovation at the Open University.

“What Europe needs today is not austerity but strategic investments”

[expand title=”In detail”] Mariana received her BA from Tufts University in History and International Relations, and a PhD in Economics at the Graduate Faculty of the New School for Social Research in Y. Shewas Scientific Coordinator of a 3 year European Commission funded FP7 project on Finance, Innovation and Growth (FINNOV, 2009-2012), and is working on two new research projects, one funded by the Ford Foundation, and the other by the Institute for New Economic Thinking.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Mariana focuses on theorising the role of the State in the dynamics of economic growth-and uses these insights to influence industrial strategy and growth policy in the UK and abroad. Mariana’s aim is to force people with very different backgrounds and views to bang heads together and come up with solutions.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Mariana’s speaking style coupled with an incisive understanding and enlightened capacity to explain and discuss global issues has contributed to herhigh popularity and reputation.[/expand]
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CEO of the Futures Agency, leading expert on topics such as digital business models, the networked society, a sustainable business ecology

Gerd Leonhard is a well-known Futurist and Author of five books, a highly influential Keynote Speaker, Think-Tank Leader & Advisor, and the Founder of GreenFuturist.com. Gerd’s background is in music and the music business; he spent 10 years working as a professional guitar player, composer and producer. He then caught the Internet bug and became a digital media entrepreneur, serving as CEO with several Internet startups, based in San Francisco for 7
years.

“A versatile and experienced keynote speaker”

[expand title=”In detail”] In 2002, Gerd returned to Europe and started his career as Futurist, Keynote Speaker and Strategic Advisor. Gerd is considered a leading expert on topics such as digital business models, the networked society, a sustainable business ecology, social media and social communications. In 2006, The Wall Street Journal called Gerd ‘one of the leading Media Futurists in the World’. Gerd is a fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts (London), a member of the World Future Society and with his company The Futures Agency an institutional member of the World Futures Studies Federation.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Gerd offers audiences insights into the future of business, sustainability, environmental policy and some of the most pressing ‘green’ issues such as sustainability and ‘sustainable capitalism’ at conferences around the globe. He speaks at major events, company retreats, seminars and in-house training sessions.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Gerd’s keynotes, speeches and presentations are renowned for his hard-hitting and provocative yet inspiring, personal and intense motivational style.[/expand]
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Renowned Architect

George Efstathoiu is an internationally renowned architect. He was Chief Architect of some of the most remarkable buildings, amongst them, the tallest building in the world the Burj Khalifa in Dubai as well as the Rolex and Cayan Towers. He is a consulting partner in the Chicago office of Skidmore, Owings, & Merrill LLP where is responsibilities include the delivery of SOM’s services, including the coordination and management of all professional disciplines required for each of his client’s projects.

“One of the Middle East’s most celebrated and established architects”
ME Architect magazine

[expand title=”In detail”] Mr. Efstathiou’s experience has encompassed the design, technical coordination and project management of a variety of projects. In 1989 he relocated to SOM’s London office for two years to manage both Broadgate and Ludgate projects. In addition to his experience in the United States, Mr. Efstathiou has extensive international experience in the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Korea, Russia, China, Brazil, and the Middle East.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Based on his considerable expertise George offers audiences around the globe an in depth and personal view of the processes involved in designing and building some of the world’s most iconic buildings. He explains in detail the design process from inception to completion and offers a fascinating look at the creative processes behind his designs.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]A prolific speaker with a deep and thorough knowledge of the profession, Georg Efstathoiu is in great demand at conferences around the globe.[/expand]
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