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Innovation

AI in Daily life by Mike Walsh

28 January 2019
Sweeney Agency
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Categories: creativity, Future, Innovation, Technology

Futurist Mike Walsh is always ahead of the curve. In this video from a recent keynote, Mike shares the next big change coming in AI – it’s all about how we interface with technology where our interactions will be entirely natural. Watch this video on how China is an amazing example of AI technology in daily life.

 

About Mike Walsh

Mike Walsh is the CEO of Tomorrow, a global consultancy on designing companies for the 21st century. He advises leaders on how to thrive in the current era of disruptive technological change. Mike’s bestselling books include ‘FUTURETAINMENT’ and ‘The Dictionary of Dangerous Ideas’. Each week he interviews provocative thinkers, innovators and troublemakers on his weekly podcast, ‘Between Worlds’. A true nomad, Mike travels over 300 days a year worldwide, researching trends, collecting innovation case studies and presenting on the future of business.

To Learn more about Mike contact [email protected]

Derek Sweeney is the Director of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency. www.thesweeneyagency.com. For 15 years Derek has been helping clients find the right Speakers for their events. Derek can be reached at 1-866 727-7555 or [email protected]

10 Speakers That Were Trending in December 2018

3 January 2019
Sweeney Agency
No comments
Categories: Change, creativity, Economy, Innovation, Leadership, Marketing, Motivation

Every month, Clients call, email, and even text us asking about different Speakers they are considering for upcoming events.  They ask questions, view videos, read testimonials and in some cases request a call with a Speaker, something we are delighted to arrange. Based on all that activity, here are the 10 Speakers clients were talking about in December 2018.

Jeff Tobe | Motivational Sales and Communication Speaker

Jeff Tobe is a motivational speaker who believes in the power of creativity to manage the change that is inevitable with innovation and to look at what one does from an entirely new perspective. His trademark – Coloring Outside the Lines – presentations can be applied to areas essential to your organizational success, including customer service, sales, teamwork and communication.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Jeff-Tobe 

Mike Evans | Thought Leader & Speaker on Organizational Accountability and Personal Leadership

Mike Evans has developed a unique perspective from 20+ years of working alongside a star studded list of world-renowned thought leaders. He served in senior leadership and consulting roles with Kotter International, FranklinCovey, and Tom Peters Company. In addition, he is a  leading authority on Unleashing Personal and Organizational Accountability.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Mike-Evans

Dr. George Friedman | Speaker and Author on the Future of Geopolitics

George Friedman is an internationally recognized geopolitical forecaster and bestselling author. As Founder and Chairman of Geopolitical Futures, a new online publication dedicated to forecasting the course of global events, Friedman combines his passion for writing and publishing for his readers world wide who follow international affairs.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dr.-George-Friedman

Mike Mullane | Former Astronaut, Inspiring Leadership Speaker

Colonel Mike Mullane is a retired NASA Astronaut and member of the International Space Hall of Fame. He was selected as a Mission Specialist in 1978 in the first group of Space Shuttle Astronauts, completing three space missions on the shuttles Discovery and Atlantis before retiring from NASA and the Air Force in 1990. Since his retirement from NASA, Colonel Mullane has written an award-winning children’s book Liftoff! An Astronaut’s Dream and Do Your Ears Pop In Space? a popular space-fact book.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Mike-Mullane

Libby Gill | Leadership and Employee Engagement Speaker

Libby Gill knows change. She grew up on two continents and went to eight different schools before putting herself through college waiting tables. She started her first job in entertainment only to go through three mergers in five years, where she went from assistant in a small production company to vice president of publicity, advertising and promotion for Sony’s worldwide television group.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Libby-Gill

Garry Golden | Academically Trained Futurist and Speaker on Emerging Trends

Garry Golden is a professionally trained futurist who writes, speaks, and consults about issues that will shape society and business in the 21st century. His uncanny sense of what will hit—and what won’t—can be seen in futurethink’s research and heard in his international keynotes and corporate leadership seminars. His insights on how to align talent development to coming industry and market transitions have been shared with and implemented by such organizations as the McGraw-Hill Companies, Goodyear, S&P, and Reliant Energy.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Garry-Golden

Robyn Benincasa | Firefighter, CNN Hero and Motivational Adventure Racer

Robyn Benincasa  is NYT Best-Selling Author of How Winning Works: 8 Essential Leadership Lessons from the Toughest Teams on Earth and World Champion Adventure Racer. Her unforgettable presentations have taught countless high-performance leaders all over the world about Building World Class Teams and the followership skills necessary for dynamic role shifting and true teamwork.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Robyn-Benincasa

Joey Coleman | Customer Experience Expert, Award-Winning Speaker, and Author

Joey Coleman is called upon for assistance when organizations like Whirlpool, NASA, Deloitte, the World Bank, and Zappos need to boost their customers’ experience. For over a decade, Joey has helped organizations retain their best customers and turn them into raving fans via his entertaining and actionable keynotes, workshops, and consulting projects. His First 100 Days® methodology helps fuel the successful customer experiences his clients deliver around the world.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Joey-Coleman

Lisa Bodell | Award-winning Keynote Speaker and Best-selling Author

CEO of futurethink Lisa Bodell is the bestselling author of Kill the Company, and her latest Why Simple Wins. She is a recognized global leader on innovation foresight and change management, whose keynotes leave audiences inspired with a vision and armed with tools towards action. A dynamic speaker and futurist, Lisa Bodell has brought innovation to life for Google, Cisco Systems, Citigroup, Merck, Fidelity, Accenture and the U.S. Navy. Her presentations are frequently the highest-rated sessions at conferences, as she engages audiences and empowers them with practical tools, tips, and resources to start innovating immediately.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Lisa-Bodell

Kaihan Krippendorff | Strategy and Innovation Expert & Founder of Outthinker

Kaihan Krippendorff is committed to helping organizations and individuals thrive in today’s era of fast-paced disruptive technological  change. Kaihan is known for his ability to turn difficult concepts into easy-to-understand ideas that drive meaningful outcomes and actions. He is an internationally recognized thought-leader, battle-tested consultant, and sought-after keynote speaker on the topics of business strategy, growth, transformation and innovation.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Kaihan-Krippendorff

To Learn more about these speakers contact [email protected]

Derek Sweeney is the Director of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency. www.thesweeneyagency.com. For 15 years Derek has been helping clients find the right Speakers for their events. Derek can be reached at 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected]

10 Speakers That Were Trending in November 2018

2 December 2018
Sweeney Agency
No comments
Categories: Change, Communication, creativity, Economy, Future, Innovation, Inspiration

Every month, Clients call, email, and even text us asking about different Speakers they are considering for upcoming events.  They ask questions, view videos, read testimonials and in some cases request a call with a Speaker, something we are delighted to arrange. Based on all that activity, here are the 10 Speakers clients were talking about in November 2018.

Vince Poscente | Olympic Skier and Motivational Keynote Speaker

Vince Poscente, one of the most in-demand speakers today, is an expert on resiliency – the ability to overcome challenges and motivate to bounce back even stronger than ever before. His client list includes top organizations with one thing in common: they understand that success is not just about reaching your goals and getting what you want.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Vince-Poscente

Marilyn Tam | Author and Speaker on Leadership, Productivity, and Diversity

Marilyn Tam, Ph.D. is a Speaker, best selling Author, Consultant, Board Certified Executive/Corporate Coach, CEO of Marilyn Tam & Co. and Founder and Executive Director of Us Foundation. She was formerly the CEO of Aveda Corp., President of Reebok Apparel and Retail Group, Vice President of Nike Inc. and also a successful entrepreneur who has built four companies.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Marilyn-Tam

Scott Halford | Awarded CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame Speaker on Emotional Intelligence, Critical Thinking and Influence

Scott Halford is an Emmy Award winning writer and producer, an engaging presenter and a long-time consultant to Fortune 500 executive teams. Scott’s expansive knowledge in the areas of achievement psychology, including brain-based behavioral science, emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and influence, add richness and depth to his programs.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Scott-Halford

Mark Thompson | Authority and top Speaker on Leadership, Driving Change & Innovation

Mark is an expert on executive leadership, business strategy, and innovation who has spent over 25 years leading teams and building companies from the ground up. He delivers actionable, valuable and practical advice for leaders at all levels of an organization.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Mark-Thompson

Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour | First African American Female Combat Pilot and Motivational Speaker

Known simply as FlyGirl, Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour went from beat cop to combat pilot in 3 years. Within months of earning her wings, she found herself flying over the deserts of Iraq supporting the men and women on the ground. After serving two tours overseas, she had become America’s First African American Female Combat Pilot. After returning home, she realized that many people wanted to create breakthroughs in their own lives, they just didn’t know how.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Vernice-Armour

Curt Steinhorst | Speaker on Strategic Communications & Digital Distractions

Curt Steinhorst is the bestselling author of Can I Have Your Attention? Inspiring Better Work Habits, Focusing Your Team, and Getting Stuff Done in the Constantly Connected Workplace. He is on a mission to rescue us from our distracted selves. After years studying the impact of tech on human behavior, Curt founded Focuswise, a consultancy that equips organizations to overcome the distinct challenges of the constantly-connected workplace.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Curt-Steinhorst

Libby Gill | Leadership and Employee Engagement Speaker, Brand Strategist and Author

Libby Gill knows change. She grew up on two continents and went to eight different schools before putting herself through college waiting tables. She started her first job in entertainment only to go through three mergers in five years, where she went from assistant in a small production company to vice president of publicity, advertising and promotion for Sony’s worldwide television group.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Libby-Gill

Jeff Adams | Paralympic Gold Medalist & World Champion

For Jeff Adams, a wheelchair is a vehicle for success. This five-time Paralympian and six-time World Champion in wheelchair sports is living proof that focus, determination, and spirit are the keys to achieving “gold medal” dreams. Combining his unique understanding of life’s challenges with his experience as a world-class athlete, Jeff synthesises his experience in sport, government, and business into messages that show how the path to success is often the same, regardless of the goal that is being pursued.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Jeff-Adams

Dr. George Friedman | Speaker and Author on the Future of Geopolitics

George Friedman is an internationally recognized geopolitical forecaster and bestselling author. As Founder and Chairman of Geopolitical Futures, a new online publication dedicated to forecasting the course of global events, Friedman combines his passion for writing and publishing for his readers world wide who follow international affairs.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dr.-George-Friedman

Lisa Bodell | Award-winning keynote speaker and best-selling author of Kill the Company

CEO of futurethink Lisa Bodell is the bestselling author of Kill the Company, and her latest Why Simple Wins. She is a recognized global leader on innovation foresight and change management, whose keynotes leave audiences inspired with a vision and armed with tools towards action. A dynamic speaker and futurist, Lisa Bodell has brought innovation to life for Google, Cisco Systems, Citigroup, Merck, Fidelity, Accenture and the U.S. Navy.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Lisa-Bodell

To Learn more about these speakers contact [email protected]

Derek Sweeney is the Director of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency. www.thesweeneyagency.com. For 15 years Derek has been helping clients find the right Speakers for their events. Derek can be reached at 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected]

Heads Down VS. Heads Up by Josh Linkner

26 November 2018
Sweeney Agency
No comments
Categories: Innovation, Leadership

We’ve all heard people in the business world proclaim that they are “heads down” on a project. Or that they are unable to explore new opportunities since they are “heads down in execution mode.”

Consider, for a moment, the advantages of being “heads up” instead. Let’s compare the two states of being:

Heads Down

  • Focused on delivery
  • Tuning out distractions
  • Avoiding influence from your surroundings
  • Execution
  • Getting things done
  • Right now
  • What is
  • Deadlines

Heads Up

  • Focused on possibilities
  • Embracing new things
  • Welcoming outside influence
  • Curiosity and awareness
  • Questioning everything
  • The future
  • What could be
  • Imagination

There is a time and place for both approaches. When you are working to ship a new product out the door, it’s heads-down all the way. The problem is that so much of the business world languishes in that heads-down state of mind, making it increasingly difficult to shift to heads-up position. Yet it is the heads up time where we discover new ideas, gain fresh insights, and unleash our most powerful breakthroughs.

What if you scheduled just one hour each week to be heads up? Give it a trial run for 30 days if you’re skeptical. While it may feel frivolous at first, you’ll likely look back at your hourly refuge as the most productive part of your week.

The urgency of heads-down demands usually supersedes the longer-term importance of being heads-up, so many people rarely visit this vantage point. As you work to expand your creative capacity, make sure to proactively schedule some heads-up time for yourself and your team, and hold each other accountable not only for grammatical errors on a memo but, more importantly, for being heads-up and unleashing your imagination and creativity.

Heads up is where history is made. Make yours.

About Josh Linkner:

Josh Linkner – who started his career as a jazz guitarist – personifies creativity, entrepreneurship and disruptive innovation.  He has been the founder and CEO of four tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million. Josh is the author of two New York Times Bestsellers: Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity, and The Road to Reinvention: How to Drive Disruption and Accelerate Transformation.

To Learn more about Josh contact [email protected]

Derek Sweeney is the Director of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency. www.thesweeneyagency.com. For 15 years Derek has been helping clients find the right Speakers for their events. Derek can be reached at 1-866 727-7555 or [email protected]

10 Speakers That Were Trending in October 2018

4 November 2018
Sweeney Agency
No comments
Categories: General, Innovation, Inspiration, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Teamwork

Every month, Clients call, email, and even text us asking about different Speakers they are considering for upcoming events.  They ask questions, view videos, read testimonials and in some cases request a call with a Speaker, something we are delighted to arrange. Based on all that activity, here are the 10 Speakers clients were talking about in October 2018..

Michelle Ray | Change, Communication and Leadership Speaker

Born in Australia and now residing in Vancouver, Canada,  leadership  expert, Michelle Ray is an award-winning speaker and founder of the Lead Yourself First Institute. Michelle began her career in the media industry with one of Australia’s leading broadcasting networks. She worked her way up the management ladder and was responsible for the sales revenues of 25 radio and television affiliate stations.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Michelle-Ray

Adrian Gostick – Bestselling Leadership Author & Organizational Culture Expert

How do today’s best leaders accelerate business results? By engaging their employees to execute on strategy, vision, and values. In his challenging, information-packed talks, #1 bestselling  leadership  author Adrian Gostick provides real solutions on managing change, organizational culture, driving innovation, and leading high-performance teams.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Adrian-Gostick

Janet Lapp – Expert on Change and Employee Motivation

What would happen if everyone in the organization saw the positives and not the problems in change? This question inspired Dr. Janet Lapp and her team to conduct decades of research enacting these types of changes in the workplace, with amazingly positive results. Janet shares the evidence-based results derived from years of experience in both her books and stage performances. She has a professor’s ability to translate complex theory into usable answers, and a humorist’s knack for getting ideas across in an entertaining way.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dr.-Janet-Lapp

Stuart Knight – Award Winning Entrepreneur, Critically Acclaimed Author, and Hit Producer

Stuart Knight has written, produced and starred in live presentations that have been seen by over one million people and each year speaks internationally helping some of the world’s biggest companies reach new levels of success. When he is not on the road speaking, you may have seen or heard him on some of Canada’s biggest TV and Radio stations where he is often asked for his expert opinion on high level communication.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Stuart-Knight

Greg McKeown – Social Innovator, Peak Performance Speaker & Author

Greg McKeown has dedicated his career to discovering why some people break through to the next level—and others don’t. The definitive treatment of this issue is addressed in McKeown’s latest project: the instant New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller,  Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Greg–McKeown

Polly LaBarre – Bestselling Author, Co-Founder of Management Lab,  Founding Writer of Fast Company

For more than 20 years, Polly LaBarre has used her writing, business consulting, and speaking to help organizations unleash and organize human potential in ever more powerful ways. Polly has devoted her career to helping leaderslearn to lead differently. The disruptive  business environment today demands it, and the best leaders and companies today have found out-of-the-box ways to invent the future by shedding bureaucracy and engaging their people in completely new ways.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Polly-LaBarre

Dr. George Friedman – Speaker and Author on the Future of Geopolitics

George Friedman is an internationally recognized geopolitical forecaster and bestselling author. As Founder and Chairman of Geopolitical Futures, a new online publication dedicated to forecasting the course of global events, Friedman combines his passion for writing and publishing for his readers world wide who follow international affairs.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dr.-George-Friedman

Natalie Stavas – Harvard Doctor, Athlete, International Humanitarian, Motivational Speaker

Dr. Natalie Stavas shares inspiring real-life stories based on her experiences as a physician at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and an instructor in pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. She is also described as a healer, educator and Boston community leader, and received the 2012 Change Maker award from The Boston Foundation.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Natalie-Stavas

Josh Linkner – Speaker on Creativity, Innovation, and Leadership

Josh Linkner – who started his career as a jazz guitarist – personifies creativity, entrepreneurship and disruptive innovation.  He has been the founder and CEO of four tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Josh-Linkner

Commander/Dr. Mary Kelly – Author, International Speaker, and Leadership Economist

Dr. Mary Kelly with a PhD in economics, is an internationally-known economist and expert specializing in the fields of leadership, productivity, communication, she focuses on strategy and tactics that improve productivity and profit growth. Commander Mary Kelly served 25 years in the US Navy as an intelligence and logistics officer, mostly in Asia. She was an HR Director, a chief of police, and she was part of the team that ran Pearl Harbor.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dr.-Mary-Kelly

To Learn more about these speakers contact [email protected]

Derek Sweeney is the Director of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency. www.thesweeneyagency.com. For 15 years Derek has been helping clients find the right Speakers for their events. Derek can be reached at 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected]

Metrics That Matter by Josh Linkner

4 November 2018
Sweeney Agency
No comments
Categories: Change, Innovation, Leadership

With our national focus on productivity and financial gain, we carefully measure Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and other metrics related to our economic outputs. Yet as our economy remains strong, our nation suffers greatly in other categories.

Suicide rates have skyrocketed in recent years, while the opioid crisis has torn apart families and communities. Venom spews from politicians on both sides of the aisle, with our citizens more divided than ever. Divorce rates are up. Life expectancy is down. Childhood obesity climbs, our prisons are overfilled, racial tensions have been exacerbated, our environment is imperiled, while fear and anger are the norm. Despite incredible advances in technology and a booming economy, it seems our overall happiness and well-being has plummeted.

Makes me wonder… are we measuring the right things?

Perhaps we can learn something from the tiny country of Bhutan. Located high in the Himalayans between China and India, these 750,000 citizens beat to their own drum. Their key metric isn’t coal production or lumber output, but rather GNH. That’s right – Gross Domestic Happiness. According to the official governmental website:

Gross National Happiness, or GNH, is a holistic and sustainable approach to development, which balances material and non-material values with the conviction that humans want to search for happiness. The objective of GNH is to achieve a balanced development in all the facets of life that are essential for our happiness.

The broader measure is broken down into nine core components, including community vitality, health, psychological well-being, time use, cultural resilience, and environment. Their balanced approach to measurement has the country focused on more than just the financial bottom line. The results? A thriving community. In fact, Bhutan is one of the few countries on earth that is carbon-negative. By all environment metrics, this country makes our planet healthier instead of sick- a rare condition in our increasing polluted world.

In our businesses and communities, we track our Key Performance Indicators with surgical precision. As they say, what gets measured gets improved. But are we missing some important key metrics? What about quality time spent with our kids? Exercising and getting ahead of health problems before we have a problem? Reading, learning, and expanding our minds? Caring for others, volunteering, creating positive impact for those around us?

Let’s take inventory of what matters most- how we want to be remembered. From there, we can set “Metrics that Matter” in addition to the standard measures of today. If we track the right things, we’ll elevate more than just our financial wellbeing. Like Bhutan, we can leave a positive fingerprint on the world.

About Josh Linkner:

Josh Linkner – who started his career as a jazz guitarist – personifies creativity, entrepreneurship and disruptive innovation.  He has been the founder and CEO of four tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million. Josh is the author of two New York Times Bestsellers: Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity, and The Road to Reinvention: How to Drive Disruption and Accelerate Transformation.

To Learn more about Josh contact [email protected]

Derek Sweeney is the Director of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency. www.thesweeneyagency.com. For 15 years Derek has been helping clients find the right Speakers for their events. Derek can be reached at 1-866 727-7555 or [email protected]

WE’VE BEEN BANKSY’D by Josh Linkner

4 November 2018
Sweeney Agency
No comments
Categories: Innovation, Management

The demure art world felt shockwaves over the last week as the dramatic news broke. The mysterious street artist known as Banksy made history when his painted work self-destructed minutes after being purchased for $1.4 million at a Sotheby’s auction. Immediately following the thud of the closing gavel, the audience stood in bewilderment as the painting appeared to sink through its frame into shreds of canvas.

The stealthy artist – whose real identity remains a mystery – had built a shredder into the frame years ago when the work was completed. Upon its resale at auction, the new buyers were aghast as this long-term plan was enacted. Across the globe, speculation spread. Was there a co-conspirator? How was the shredder triggered? How did the batteries last? Why didn’t Sotheby’s sniff out the plot in advance? The stunt captured headlines and imaginations from Boston to Bangkok, while millions of people learned the name of this prolific and mischievous artist.

The art world had been Banksy’d.

While a normal buyer would be disappointed after a new purchase self-destructed, the new owners in this case hit pay dirt. Immediately elevated to Banky’s most famous work, the half-shredded painting has likely tripled in value according to experts in the field. Meanwhile, the enigmatic artist has achieved legendary status, creating rabid demand for any of his works.

Brilliant. By doing the unthinkable, Banksy achieved the unimaginable. His creative act of destruction actually created incredible value, elevating the myth and drama of his work and his brand.

A new verb – to “Banksy” – can be a powerful driver of our own businesses. If pulling a Banksy is an activity that helps you stand out from the competitive pack and propels your work to legendary status, what would such a move look like for you? Your Banksy need not be a PR stunt or destroying your own work product. In fact, it could be any creative leap that breaks the mold. A strategy that’s so bold and proactive, it can’t be ignored. An act that begins a remarkable conversation.

With competitive forces, geo-political turmoil, and raging shifts in technology, it’s easy to find ourselves feeling lost or overwhelmed. These are the ideal moments to Banksy our way to success. Doubling down on our creative gifts in order to create a tsunami of interest and intrigue among those we serve. Banksy’s imaginative act will be remembered for decades for shaking up his industry and launching him into the pantheon of greatness.

It’s time to make your own history. What will your Bansky be?

About Josh Linkner:

Josh Linkner – who started his career as a jazz guitarist – personifies creativity, entrepreneurship and disruptive innovation.  He has been the founder and CEO of four tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million.  Josh is the author of two New York Times Bestsellers: Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity, and The Road to Reinvention: How to Drive Disruption and Accelerate Transformation. He is also the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners, investing in and mentoring over 100 startups.

To Learn more about Josh contact [email protected]

Derek Sweeney is the Director of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency. www.thesweeneyagency.com. For 15 years Derek has been helping clients find the right Speakers for their events. Derek can be reached at 1-866 727-7555 or [email protected]

3 Great Books on Innovation Everyone Should Read

9 October 2018
Sweeney Agency
No comments
Categories: Innovation

We have been reviewing and researching speakers on Innovation for 18 years and have seen some incredibly insightful presentations. Here are 3 of the best books on innovation by 3 great speakers.

Lisa Bodell – Award-winning keynote speaker and best-selling author of Kill the Company

CEO of futurethink Lisa Bodell is the bestselling author of Kill the Company, and her latest Why Simple Wins. She is a recognized global leader on innovation foresight and change management, whose keynotes leave audiences inspired with a vision and armed with tools towards action. A dynamic speaker and futurist, Lisa Bodell has brought innovation to life for Google, Cisco Systems, Citigroup, Merck, Fidelity, Accenture and the U.S. Navy. Her presentations are frequently the highest-rated sessions at conferences.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Lisa-Bodell

Andy Boynton – Dean of Boston College’s Carroll School of Management, Author and Speaker on Innovation & Leadership

Andy Boynton is Dean of Boston College’s Carroll School of Management, one of the world’s leading business schools, the author of several books and co-creator of DeepDive™, the world’s leading methodology for helping executives harness the power of teams to significantly improve problem-solving speed, innovation and results.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Andy-Boynton

Dr. Peter Diamandis – Inspiring speaker on Innovation and Technology

Scientist, engineer, doctor, and inspiring speaker Dr. Peter Diamandis is the world’s foremost expert in incentivizedinnovation and the growth of expontential technologies. The art of incentivize smart and talented people within your company or those experts around the world to focus on solving your grand challenges. He has worked with Fortune 100 companies, government leaders and captains of industry over the past 15 years. In 2010 Diamandis is the winner of the Economist No Boundaries award for meta-innovation – driving innovation in the way people innovate.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Peter-Diamandis

To Learn more about these speakers contact [email protected]

Derek Sweeney is the Director of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency. www.thesweeneyagency.com. For 15 years Derek has been helping clients find the right Speakers for their events. Derek can be reached at 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected]

5 Great Books Every Innovator Should Read

27 August 2018
Sweeney Agency
No comments
Categories: creativity, General, Innovation, Inspiration, Leadership, Management

Innovation used to be down the hall, the third door on the right, that’s where you found the Innovation department. But great Leaders today know that creating a culture of Innovation across an organization is the most a powerful way to generate new ideas, ideas that will change the game. But how do you encourage people to innovate, take risks, publicly fail and keep trying. The 5 books below are filled with ideas, insights and practical tips that you can use to encourage a Culture of Innovation.

Scott Anthony – Innovation Strategist

Scott Anthony is a senior partner at Innosight, a strategy and consulting firm. He has led Innosight’s expansion into the Asia-Pacific region as well as its venture capital activities (Innosight Ventures). In his more than a decade with Innosight, Scott has advised senior leaders in companies such as Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Singtel, Kraft, General Electric, LG, the Ayala Group, and Cisco Systems on topics of growth and innovation.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Scott-Anthony

 

Daniel Burrus – Technology and Innovation Futurist

Daniel Burrus is considered one of the World’s Leading Futurists on Global Trends and Innovation. The New York Times has referred to him as one of the top three business gurus in the highest demand as a speaker. He has delivered over 2,800 keynote speeches worldwide, and is a strategic advisor to executives from Fortune 500 companies, helping them to develop game-changing strategies based on his proven methodologies for capitalizing on technology innovations and their future impact.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Daniel-Burrus

 

Josh Linkner – Speaker on Creativity, Innovation, and Leadership

Josh Linkner – who started his career as a jazz guitarist – personifies creativity, entrepreneurship and disruptive innovation.  He has been the founder and CEO of four tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He is the author of two New York Times Bestsellers: Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. He is also the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners, investing in and mentoring over 100 startups.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Josh-Linkner

 

Diana Kander – Entrepreneur, Author, and Speaker on Innovation

Diana Kander’s family escaped from the Soviet Union when she was 8-years-old. By the time she was an American citizen, she had perfected her skills as a capitalist – selling flea market goods to grade school classmates at a markup. Today, Diana is a successful entrepreneur, having founded and sold a number of ventures, a Professor of Entrepreneurship at the University of Missouri and a Senior Fellow at the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, the largest non-profit in the world dedicated to entrepreneurship and education.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Diana-Kander

Nicholas J. Webb – Futurist, Expert on Innovation

Nicholas Webb is a number one best-selling author and is one of the most popular Innovation, Healthcare, Future-trends, and Customer Experience Speakers in the world. Unlike most Innovation Speakers who have never actually invented anything and have no real-world expertise in the area of Enterprise Innovation, Nicholas is a multi award-winning inventor of technologies ranging from one of the world’s smallest medical implants to a very successful line of educational and fitness products.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Nicholas-J.-Webb

 

To Learn more about these speakers contact [email protected]

Derek Sweeney is the Director of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency. www.thesweeneyagency.com. For 15 years Derek has been helping clients find the right Speakers for their events. Derek can be reached at 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected]

5 Great Books to Help You and Your Team Deal with Change

12 August 2018
Sweeney Agency
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Categories: Change, Change Management, Communication, General, Innovation, Management

Here are 5 great books to help you and your team deal with change.

Carol Kinsey Goman – Author of The Silent Language of Leaders

Carol Kinsey Goman, Ph.D., is an international keynote speaker, specializing in leadership and nonverbal communication. She coaches executives, women leaders, salespeople, and managers to build strong and productive business relationships by projecting confidence, credibility, caring, and charisma.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Carol-Kinsey-Goman

 

 

Dr. Gary Bradt – Change and Leadership Author

Dr. Gary Bradt is a speaker and writer who helps individuals and organizations adapt to change faster and better. He gained national attention in 2000 when Dr. Spencer Johnson, the renowned author of Who Moved My Cheese? An Amazing Way to Deal with Change in Your Work and in Your Life, chose him as the leading speaker on the message of that blockbuster bestselling book which has sold over 28 million copies worldwide.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dr.-Gary-Bradt

 

Dr. Britt Andreatta – Author of Wired to Resist

Dr. Britt Andreatta is an internationally recognized thought leader in leadership and learning. Drawing on her unique background in leadership, neuroscience, psychology, education, and the human sciences, she has a profound understanding of how to unlock the best in people, helping organizations rise to their potential.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dr.-Britt-Andreatta

 

 

Eric Boles – Author of Moving to Great

Eric Boles is the president of The Game Changers Inc., a training and development company dedicated to maximizing the human asset. He is also a highly acclaimed keynote speaker and consultant for some of the most recognized and respected organizations in the world. His insights on Leadership, Peak Performance, Team Dynamics, and Managing Change has been shared with clients such as  Dunkin’ Donuts, Nationwide Insurance, AVIVA Insurance, Alaska Airlines, and State Farm Insurance.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Eric-Boles 

 

Daryl Conner – Author of Managing at the Speed of Change

Daryl Conner is chairman of Conner Partners, an advisory firm that specializes in strategy execution. Daryl and the firm have a steadfast focus: they help clients deliver the promised benefits for the most difficult type of strategic change – change that transforms the business. As an internationally recognized leader in organizational change, Daryl serves as an advisor and mentor to senior executives around the globe.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Daryl-Conner

 

To Learn more about these speakers contact [email protected]

Derek Sweeney is the Director of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency. www.thesweeneyagency.com. For 15 years Derek has been helping clients find the right Speakers for their events. Derek can be reached at 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected]