Chairman and CEO of Forbes Media; Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Magazine; Republican Candidate for President, 1996 and 2000

As Chairman and CEO of Forbes Inc. and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Magazine, Steve Forbes is front and center on the economic challenges that we all face. Making frequent appearances on CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News, Mr. Forbes has become the voice of calm in these turbulent economic times.

46th Vice President of the United States; Secretary of Defense; Congressman, House Leadership; White House Chief of Staff; Chairman and CEO of Halliburton

For over 40 years, Dick Cheney has served at the highest levels of the US Government and private sector. As White House Chief of Staff in the aftermath of Watergate and America’s withdrawal from Vietnam, Wyoming’s Congressman and a member of the House Republican leadership during the Reagan years, Secretary of Defense as the Cold War ended and America defeated Iraq in Desert Storm, CEO of Halliburton, and Vice President of the United States on 9/11 at the dawn of the Global War on Terror, Cheney has participated in many of the events that have shaped our nation for over four decades. Few Americans alive today can match the breadth and depth of his experience and service.

As a statesman, policymaker, businessman, and politician – who never lost an election in which his name was on the ballot--Cheney’s insight, experiences and knowledge are unparalleled.

Secretary of State, 1973-1977; Nobel Peace Laureate

Foreign Policy Magazine named Henry Kissinger one of the "Top 100 Global Thinkers" for a "Half-Century Ruling the U.S. Foreign Policy Community." World-renowned for his unparalleled skills in the art of diplomacy, Dr. Kissinger is one of the shrewdest, best-informed and most articulate figures ever to occupy a position in Washington. A vital presence in international and national politics, Dr. Kissinger understands firsthand the delicate balance of world power and America’s influence.

Member of President Obama's Economic Advisory Panel; National Economic Advisor to President Clinton, 1995-1996 ; First Female Chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisors, 1993-1995 ; First Female Dean, London Business School, 2002 - 2006; S.K. and Angela Chan Professor of Global Management, Haas School of Business, Present

Laura D’Andrea Tyson is a member of President Obama's Economic Advisory Panel, where she is an integral part of a team of advisors assessing the measures needed to get the U.S. economy back on track. As a speaker, Dr. Tyson articulates global economic issues and the real world challenges and solutions facing world markets today. Offering unfailingly frank, direct and principled advice, Dr. Tyson forecasts economic trends for specific industry sectors, prospects for world trade and international markets.

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT: Watch Dr. Tyson's  appearance on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher.

Former U.S. Trade Representative 1996-2001; Board Member, America China Foundation; Board of Directors of the American Express Company; The Estee Lauder Companies Inc.; Intel Corporation; Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.; and the Council on Foreign Relations

Known globally as the architect and negotiator of China’s WTO agreement, Ambassador Barshefsky is one of the world’s experts on China. With two decades of experience, she offers highly expert, in-depth knowledge about conducting business with this coming superpower. Ambassador Barshefsky also draws on the skills she used to spearhead hundreds of trade and investment agreements, as well as her unique understanding of international economic policy, and foreign and U.S. government policies,  to enlighten audiences with her wide breadth of global knowledge.

Founder & Chairman, Breeden Capital Management ; Chairman of the Board, H&R Block, Inc.; Former Chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; Corporate Monitor of WorldCom, Hollinger and Fannie Mae

Widely acknowledged as the preeminent expert on corporate governance, Richard Breeden is the former Chairman of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. With wit and perspective, Mr. Breeden analyzes the issues and alternatives facing boards of directors, corporate leadership and regulators in today’s business environment.

CEO, Walt Disney Company (1984-2005); Owner and Non-Executive Chairman, The Topps Company, Inc.; Owner, Vuguru, a Multimedia Production Studio

Under the leadership of Michael Eisner, Walt Disney Company revenues grew from $1.7 billion to more than $30 billion by focusing on the power of ideas, pursuing the innovative vision, and taking creative risks. As a leader in the media industry for nearly four decades, Mr. Eisner has overseen organizations recognized for their inventiveness and innovation, experienced an explosion of technological advances that have impacted his business and led his companies through the advent of the next big ideas. In his presentations on leadership, he shares his insights on what it takes to run a company that must always grow and change.

Dean, Columbia Business School; Chairman of the White House Council of Economic Advisors under President George W. Bush, 2001-2003

An economic advisor to Presidents, a well-respected Dean and Professor, R. Glenn Hubbard has been the architect of policies that affect millions. His groundbreaking research in the areas of tax policy, monetary economics, international finance and corporate finance has earned him international acclaim as a leader in economic theory and application.  A prolific writer, he rises at 4 a.m. to pen research papers and op–eds that regularly appear in The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times. He’s a frequent guest on such programs as NPR's Marketplace and PBS's Nightly Business Report.

Chairman & CEO, Kenneth Cole Productions; Author, Awearness: Inspiring Stories about How to Make a Difference and Footnotes; Chairman, amfAR (The Foundation for Aids Research); Humanitarian, Activist and Philanthropist

In 25 years, Kenneth Cole has built a 150 store-strong retail empire, uniting his fashion instincts and business acumen with his philanthropic convictions. Mr. Cole’s influence reaches far beyond the world of fashion – he has been a dynamic advocate for many causes ranging from initiatives for the homeless to his work as Chairman of the American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR).

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, 1977-1979; United States Congressman, 1973-1977; Mayor of Atlanta, 1982-1990; Co-Founding Principal and Chairman, GoodWorks International

Ambassador, Congressman, Mayor, humanitarian, ordained minister, international businessman, and sports enthusiast, Andrew Young has been serving and shaping our country for almost 50 years.

Member of President Obama's Economic Advisory Panel ; 27th Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission; Former Chairman and CEO, New York Stock Exchange; Former, U.S. Undersecretary of State

As one of the members of President Obama's high-profile Economic Recovery Advisory Board, and with his experience as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is perhaps the most important rule-making authority for U.S. financial markets, William Donaldson is one of the most sought-after speakers regarding the current state of the economy and prospects for the road to recovery.

President of Mexico, 2000-2006

A visionary leader with a deep understanding of the economic and social challenges facing Latin America, President Vicente Fox is one of the world’s most important voices on the contemporary geopolitical landscape and the role of business in the developing world.

CNN INTERVIEW: President Fox addresses the escalating drug violence in Mexico.

Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations, 2003-2008

Dan Gillerman was appointed Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations in 2003, the first time that Israel nominated someone from the private sector to this post. Armed with eloquent English and an understanding of the media rules of the game, Ambassador Gillerman may have landed in New York relatively unknown, but he soon emerged on the diplomatic frontline during the war in Iraq, the 2006 conflict in Lebanon, the growing Iranian nuclear program and other global challenges. Always direct, and always entertaining, “His addresses at the Security Council during the Second Lebanon War were among the best the organization has seen in recent years, and there are those who even noted that he caused the institution to awake from its boredom.” (Ynetnews)

Counselor to President George W. Bush, 2001-2002; Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, 2005-2007; Global Vice Chair of Burson-Marsteller

Karen Hughes is a senior strategist helping business leaders strengthen their corporate/CEO reputations, achieve business goals through effective communications and shape positive public and stakeholder perceptions. She has also been described as "the most powerful woman ever to serve in the White House" (Dallas Morning News) and "the most powerful public diplomacy czar in decades" (The Boston Globe). As Under Secretary of State, she traveled to more than 50 countries, meeting world leaders and reaching out to international audiences.

President of Poland, 1995-2005; Co-Founder of the Social Democratic Party; Distinguished Scholar in the Practice of Global Leadership, Georgetown University, 2006

One of the most influential political figures to come out of Eastern Europe since the fall of communism, President Aleksander Kwasniewski is a powerful voice in the debate over the economic and political future of the former Eastern Bloc nations, including Russia and Poland; the political and economic success of these emerging democracies; and such relevant issues as energy reserves and oil.

Bestselling Author of Illicit: How Smugglers, Traffickers and Copycats are Hijacking the Global Economy ; Editor of Award-Winning Foreign Policy Magazine; Executive Director, World Bank, 1990-1992

Editor of award-winning Foreign Policy magazine , member of TIME Magazine’s International Economic Board, frequent Davos World Economic Forum speaker, Business School Dean, MIT PhD and World Bank Executive Director, Moisés Naím examines abstract trends and, with a storyteller’s deft gift, translates them into practical knowledge. Offering insight into what CEO’s can learn from global smugglers, how financial crashes on one continent rock countries oceans away; how new standards of human rights developed in Europe transform politics in Latin America or Asia, or how corruption becomes a political lightning rod simultaneously around the world, Naím analyzes current challenges and opportunities, exposing the good, the bad and the ugly; the profitable and the perilous.

U.S. Ambassador to India, 2004-2009 ; Chairman International, Credit Suisse First Boston, 1992-2003 ; Under Secretary/ Assistant Secretary for International Affairs, U.S. Treasury, 1984 - 1992

United States Ambassador David C. Mulford came to India in early 2004, at a time when India-U.S. relations were undergoing a dramatic shift and the strategic partnership between New Delhi and Washington was gaining momentum as the two sides began working closely together on an unprecedented range of issues. Ambassador Mulford has been a major player for five years in the building of a strong partnership between the United States and India, the world’s two largest multicultural democracies. With charm and aplomb, Ambassador Mulford shares his first-hand perspective, taking audiences inside the comprehensive development of one of the most important relationships the U.S. will have with any country in the 21st century.

Former President and CEO of Pepsi; Former CEO of Apple Computer; High-Tech Entrepreneur and Venture Capitalist; Named "CEO of the Decade" by Financial News Network

John Sculley shares the business secrets that he used to catapult Apple and Pepsi to the most recognizable brand names in their categories.  John Sculley draws from his boardroom experiences to offer valuable insight into leading change, the new global marketplace and the innovative concepts companies are developing to transform business.

Senior Counselor, Albright Stonebridge Group and Albright Capital Management; Retired Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Citigroup

In November 2007, Charles Prince retired as Chairman and CEO of Citigroup, the world’s largest bank. During Mr. Prince’s tenure as CEO, Citigroup achieved several noteworthy accomplishments, including the restoration of important relationships with regulators around the world and improving business practices under a comprehensive corporate governance and ethics initiative that he led in design and implementation.

Chairman of WPP Group; Senior Advisor to Morgan Stanley International; U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James’, 1997-2001

Former U.S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James’, Phillip Lader is uniquely qualified to discuss current international, economic and political issues, as well as business strategy, leadership, and ethics.

CEO, Executive Chairman & Lead Portfolio Manager of AIC Advantage Fund since 1987

From young, unemployed Jamaican immigrant to the cover of Forbes' Billionaires Edition, Michael Lee-Chin is the Executive Chairman of AIC Limited (a Canadian mutual fund), and Chairman of the National Commercial Bank of Jamaica. Under Mr. Lee-Chin's management, AIC has grown to more than $8 billion in assets. Mr. Lee-Chin was honored by TIME Magazine as one of Canada's Heroes and has been one of the country's most intriguing and inspiring citizens.

Former President and CEO of Ferrari North America; Author, Selling Dreams: How to Make Any Product Irresistible

Marketing maven and veteran CEO Gian Luigi Longinotti-Buitoni, Ph.D. has led some of the world's most prestigious consumer products companies. His broad experience in banking, luxury goods and branded products, along with his comprehensive international business perspective serve as the backdrop for his presentations, where Dr. Longinotti-Buitoni reveals how he transformed products like Ferrari into irresistible brands.

Author, One Billion Customers: Lessons from the Front Lines of Doing Business in China; Senior Counselor, APCO Worldwide; Senior China Advisor, Vistage, World’s Leading Chief Executive Organization ; Member, Council on Foreign Relations, International Council Asia Society, National Committee US-China Relations; Chairman US-Government Relations Committee, American Chamber of Commerce in China

James McGregor is everybody's go-to guy on China - providing strategic advice to top political leaders and Fortune 500 CEOs and serving as an insightful and influential China commentator for television, radio and print media across the globe. James McGregor knows how China really works. With formidable storytelling skills, he reveals indispensable and street-smart strategies, tactics and lessons for succeeding in the world’s fastest growing consumer market.

World Famous Trend Forecaster; Bestselling Author

Faith Popcorn removes the mystery from business, helping companies who apply her Trend-based methodology become leaders, not followers, of the future. She has been hailed as “the trend oracle” by The New York Times and the “Nostradamus of Marketing” by Fortune.

Bestselling Author and World Renowned Speaker on Exploiting Business Trends and New Market Opportunities ; Expert in Gen Y Trends

Peter Sheahan has established a globally recognized brand as a leading expert in how the world's most effective organizations and individuals distinguish themselves from the competition instead of running with the pack. In the space of three years he built a multi-million dollar consulting practice attracting clients such as News Corporation, Google, Coca-Cola, L'Oréal and Ernst & Young.

WATCH SIZZLE REEL! Take a look at the following video compilation to see why meeting planners bring Peter Sheahan to the stage time and time again.  VIEW CLIP

Founder, Wikipedia; U.S. Internet Entrepreneur and Wiki Pioneer; One of TIME Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People”; Wikipedia: Ranked Among the Top Ten Most-Visited Web Sites Worldwide

“Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet is given free access to the sum of all human knowledge...To create and distribute a free encyclopedia of the highest possible quality to every single person on the planet in their own language-That’s who I am. That’s what I am doing. That’s my life goal.” -Jimmy Wales, founder of Wikipedia, was ranked 12th by Forbes Magazine in their first annual “Web Celeb 25” List and named one of TIME Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People.”

Wales created the first open-source online encyclopedia truly by the people and for the people. Wikipedia's articles have been written collaboratively by volunteers around the world, and nearly all of its articles can be edited by anyone with access to the Internet. Having steadily risen in popularity since its inception, Wikipedia currently ranks among the top ten most-visited web sites worldwide. In May 2008, Jimmy Wales co-chaired the annual World Economic Forum on the Middle East, the foremost global gathering of political, business and cultural leaders. In 2007, The World Economic Forum recognized Wales as one of its “Young Global Leaders.” This prestigious award acknowledges the top 250 young leaders across the world for their professional accomplishments, their commitment to society, and their potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world. In an address to the forum, Mr. Wales declared that the internet will act as a catalyst in the promotion of democracy. “We do not hear much from everyday people; the Internet can change that. It is going to change political dynamics.”

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Africa and the Near East in the Clinton Administration ; President of The Barnett Group, L.L.C.

An expert in the economic opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), Judith Barnett is the founder of The Barnett Group, LLC. Her opinions and unparalleled knowledge are highly prized by companies looking to compete in these rapidly expanding markets. In her speeches, Ms. Barnett addresses the economic opportunities in the Middle East and North Africa from a geopolitical and economic perspective. Specializing in creating or expanding trade and investment in the Middle East, North Africa and China, Ms. Barnett is uniquely qualified to discuss global economy issues.

Founder, The Vanguard Group, Inc.; President, Bogle Financial Markets Research Center

Named by Fortune as one of the investment industry’s four giants of the 20th century, John Bogle is a titan of the investment world and a hero to independent investors.

Bestselling Author, First, Break All The Rules, and Now, Discover Your Strengths; Expert on Outstanding Leadership and Management Practices

Marcus Buckingham is considered one of the world's leading authorities on employee productivity and the practices of leading and managing. After graduating from Cambridge University with a master’s degree in social and political science, Mr. Buckingham went to work for the Gallup Organization, where he became a senior consultant. He is one of the top twenty bestselling authors in the ten year history of Amazon.com.

Global Currency and Public Policy Strategist, BMO Capital Markets ; Financial Industry Expert ; Author; Contributor, CNBC

As a foreign exchange strategist with over twenty years of financial experience, Andrew Busch knows what it takes to make it in today’s dynamic market.

Chief Marketing Officer, Citi; Chief Marketing and Community Relations Officer, Global Consumer Group; Chairman and CEO, Women & Company; Citigroup Inc.

One hundred years ago, women didn’t possess the right to vote. Thirty years ago, no woman was the head of any publicly traded company that she did not inherit. Today, women own 49% of American businesses operating in the U.S., generating +$1.15 trillion in sales annually. (source: US Census Bureau). According to Lisa Caputo, after only three decades of being mainstream members of the workforce, one in three wives now makes more than her husband. Of the 66 million working women in the United States (source: 2000 US Census Bureau), over half are professionals with disposable income. The glass ceiling has shattered along with the glass slipper - at least in the Western world - and Lisa Caputo has held a front row seat for much of it. In her speeches, she talks about the major impact powerful women - in both the political and private sectors - are having on today’s world. :

Global Business Strategy Expert ; Thought Leader ; Noted Author ; Successful Global Businessman

With a specific expertise in India and China, John Caslione provides hands-on experience with a keen focus on how US and European firms can develop strategies to succeed as they grow globally. His highly valued presentations are dynamic, information-packed, and sought after by CEOs and audiences from around the world seeking current, first-hand knowledge of global business markets.

Acclaimed Business Advisor; New York Times Bestselling Author of Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done

For 35 years, Ram Charan has coached some of the worlds’ most successful CEOs, working behind the scenes at companies like GE, KLM, Bank of America, DuPont, Novartis, EMC, Home Depot, 3M and Verizon. Ram is a favorite among executive educators and was selected as one of Business Week’s top ten resources for in-house executive development programs. Ram is known for his practical, real world perspective. :

Co-chairman of the European-American Business Council (EABC); Head of the International Trade and Finance Division of the Law Firm of Covington and Burling; Former U.S. Ambassador to the European Union; Former U.S. Undersecretary of Commerce, Undersecretary of State; Former Deputy Treasury Secretary; Former Chief Domestic Policy Advisor to President Carter

With an expertise in international business transactions and regulations and on resolving international trade problems, Stuart Eizenstat addresses issues relating to global competition and economic policies worldwide.

Member of President Obama's Economic Advisory Recovery Board ; Chairman, Council of Economic Advisors, 1982-1984; George F. Baker Professor of Economics, Harvard University; President Emeritus, The National Bureau of Economic Research

One of the most brilliant economists at work today, Martin Feldstein understands the impact and influence of government’s role in monetary policy – from the inside out. President Reagan's chief economic adviser Martin Feldstein helps audiences understand what lies in wait for the world’s economic future.

Best-selling Author, The Rise of the Creative Class: And How Its Transforming Work, Leisure Community and Everyday Life

Richard Florida is one of the world’s leading public intellectuals on economic competitiveness, demographic trends, and cultural and technological innovation. He is one of the world's most sought after speakers on global trends, economics, prosperity, competitiveness and growth. Combining in-depth analysis, cutting-edge trends, compelling personal stories and a touch of humor, Dr. Richard Florida presents his insights into how creativity and the Creative Class are revolutionizing the global economy.

Juan Trippe Professor of International Trade, Finance and Business at the Yale School of Management; Chairman of Garten Rothkopf; Former Dean of Yale School of Management; Author

Addressing today’s increasingly global economy, Jeffrey Garten explores the timely challenges that corporate executives and other top business leaders will face in the decade ahead. Mr. Garten offers audiences his unique perspective on how to run a business in today’s volatile business climate.

Founder & CEO, Mandalay Entertainment

A passionate, humorous, and tireless motivator and speaker, Guber has dedicated himself to coaching current and future leaders about the importance of telling purposeful stories to propel their business success. Guber is the sponsor of e2e: A Day of Generosity, an annual conclave in which top business story telling experts and leaders share story telling best practices, brainstorm, and collaborate on bringing the MAGIC of telling purposeful stories to the people of enterprises everywhere.

Leading Expert on Strategy, Globalization and Emerging Markets

Anil Gupta, world-renowned scholar on global strategy, is a regular speaker at major conferences and serves as an adviser and director for corporations in the United States, Europe, and Asia.

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT: In this engaging Globe and Mail interview about Business Management, Anil Gupta says that "CEO's can make mistakes, but they must always act with integrity." Watch Video..

Author, High Performance with High Integrity ; Former Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer, GE

At the podium, Ben Heineman demonstrates how CEO’s can build stronger contemporary corporations by fusing high performance with high integrity deep in business operations.

Authority on Business Leadership and Productivity; Author, It's Not The Big That Eat The Small - It's The Fast That Eat The Slow

Jason Jennings has spent twenty years founding and leading successful businesses and consulting other companies; teaching them how to achieve their full economic potential.

“Everyone is searching for the same things in life; the assurance that everything is going to be alright, that their tomorrows can be better than their today and the roadmap that shows them how to make that brighter day happen. Together these things comprise the essence of purpose and it’s my responsibility in a keynote speech to provide that assurance, promise and the roadmap.”  -Jason Jennings   

25th Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission

Throughout his tenure as the Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Commission, Arthur Levitt has worked to educate, empower, and protect America's investors – now more than 50 million strong.

Past President and CEO, Society for Human Resource Management

Michael Losey provides audiences with expertise on best human resource practices, leadership, labor, market trends, and effective recruitment and retention As one of the world’s leading authorities on human resource management, Mike Losey knows an organization’s most important asset is its people - and that success at the bottom line is dependent on developing their skills and loyalty. Losey shares with audiences - in practical, solution-oriented terms - the key ingredients to creating the kind of productive cultures that lead to rising profits and a competitive edge.

Former OPEC Secretary-General and Nigerian Minister of Petroleum

Dr. Lukman was elected as OPEC Secretary-General on Nov. 22, 1994 to a three-year term to succeed Dr. Subroto of Indonesia. Lukman was re-elected to a second three-year term as OPEC Secretary-General in 1997. Later he became a key force behind a price defense deal reached by Iran and Saudi Arabia in early 1999. He then served for four years as Special Adviser on Petroleum and Energy Matters to Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo and then as Nigerian Minister of Petroleum from 2008-2010 resigning his post in March 2010.

Vice Chairman, Fidelity

In his speeches, the Wall Street guru says that the secret to his success is his ability to "think like an amateur." He offers a common-sense approach to stock picking: Know "everything about a company before buying a stock, then follow the story after buying the stock." He says, "Don't sell the stock if the story is still good whether the market is up or down."

Top Business Strategist; New York Times Business Bestselling Author; Director of Research, MediaPost; CEO, NFI Research

Bestselling author and Business Strategist Chuck Martin has had his pulse on the latest management trends since first authoring Managing for the Short Term. Sharing the stage with President Clinton, Rudy Giuliani, Dr. Phil, and Lance Armstrong, Chuck Martin advises audiences and companies on how to best cope with today’s business challenges. CEO of international market research powerhouse, NFI Research, Martin overseas a global idea exchange and research engine with a network base of 2,000 senior executives from more than 1,000 companies in 50 countries, including: AT&T, GE, American Express, Deloitte & Touche, Microsoft, and IBM.

Founder and C.E.O. of LIF Group; Author, Shaking the Globe: Courageous Decision-Making in a Changing World

Directorship Magazine named Blythe McGarvie as one of the 100 “Most Influential People on Corporate Governance and in the Boardroom.”  She speaks worldwide to business and academic audiences about consumer markets, worldwide economic trends, and the financial implications for better decision-making.

Nobel Laureate Economics; Professor of Economics, Columbia University; Father of the Theory of Optimum Currency Areas

Professor Mundell has lectured widely in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia. He has given the Frank Graham Memorial Lecture at Princeton, the Marshall Lecture at Cambridge, The Ohlin Lecture and the Robbins Memorial Lecture. Professor Mundell customizes his speeches - he has addressed audiences in France after the French Referendum, Indonesia for the Bank of Indonesia and audiences in China at Peking University, tailoring his speech to the economic and monetary conditions of those regions.

Bestselling Author Megatrends and Mind Set; Futurist

A former visiting fellow at Harvard University, visiting professor at Moscow State University and current faculty member at the Nanjing University in China , John Naisbitt is the best-selling author of Megatrends, Reinventing the Corporation and his most recent book Mind Set: Reset Your Thinking and See the Future.

Former Governor of Hong Kong; Former European Commissioner for External Relations (EU Secretary of State); Chancellor, University of Oxford

Christopher Patten draws on his experience as Great Britain's last Governor of Hong Kong and as the Former European Commissioner of External Affairs (the EU's Secretary of State) to address current world political and economic topics.

Economist ; Principal Advisor to the European Union on Economic Development, Energy Security and Climate Change Policy ; President, Foundation on Economic Trends; Bestselling Author, The End of Work and The Age of Access; Fellow, Wharton School’s Executive Education Program

Jeremy Rifkin and his ideas are not without controversy. The author of seventeen books on the impact of scientific and technological changes on the economy, the workforce, society and the environment, Mr. Rifkin advocates a new type of economic thinking. He is a proponent of sustainable development, quality of life and the nurturing of community. His books have been translated into more than thirty languages and are used in hundreds of universities, corporations and government agencies around the world. Mr. Rifkin is one of the highest rated speakers on the international lecture circuit on the topics of globalization, sustainability and shifting to a new energy era and low-carbon economy. CNN-International is airing a documentary on his Third Industrial Revolution vision for their program Principal Voices.  Click here to view the trailer.

CEO Worldwide, Saatchi & Saatchi

Saatchi & Saatchi CEO Worldwide Kevin Roberts is a radical optimist, a celebrated author, a motivator, a visionary and an evangelist for the power of world-changing ideas. A champion of unconventional thinking and assumption disruption, Kevin has a formidable record of success as a business leader. Teams he leads revere him for his energy, his uncompromisingly positive and inspirational management style and his extraordinary ability to generate ideas that cut to the heart of any problem. Using multi-media from Saatchi & Saatchi to engage and provoke his audience Kevin is not just a speaker, he is an emotion-in-motion experience in what it takes to succeed. As President of Pepsi in Canada after his team blew away Coke and took Pepsi to number one in the market for the first time ever, he celebrated by machine gunning a Coke vending machine on stage at a sales conference. As COO of Australasian brewer Lion Nathan, he shook up analysts by bringing a real lion on a chain to one of his first briefing meetings.

Professor of Finance and Economics (Emeritus), Graduate School of Business, Columbia University; Senior Fellow, Management, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania; Founder & Managing Director, Selden & Associates

Conventional wisdom holds that the customer is always king (or queen), but not all customers are created equal, according to Larry Selden. In fact, some may be hurting your business (e.g., people who phone customer service lines thousands of times in a single year). In his speeches Professor Selden shows how businesses can thrive by researching which customers are making them the most money, which are losing them the most money and then developing a customer-centric plan to create the greatest profit. For corporate leaders, middle managers, or small business owners, Selden offers a breakthrough plan to delight their best customers and drive shareowner value.

Silicon Valley Success Story; Undersecretary for Technology, 1999 – 2001

More than just a technologist, businesswoman or global leader, Dr. Cheryl Shavers is an inspiration, a role model for individuals and organizations faced with seemingly insurmountable odds.

ABC News Foreign Correspondent; Producer of NPR's All Things Considered; Consulting Editor, The McGraw-Hill Companies and Business Week

With a remarkable background including nine years as an ABC news foreign correspondent, producer of All Things Considered, editorial director of Business Week and the ongoing chairman of many McGraw-Hill industry-specific conferences, Scott Shuster's prodigious skills onstage make him the an excellent choice to serve as facilitator for the most challenging events. Scott brings a completely new method to onstage presentation at business events. More than a moderator, he is a leader of discussions, giving direction to your meeting's content on a minute-to-minute basis for the entire duration of your gathering. Armed with an MBA and extensive globe-spanning experience as a leader of business discussions, Scott Shuster prepares meticulously for every event, ensuring that he is ready for off-the-cuff discussion of the most detailed industry, policy or company-specific issues. Recent events Scott has moderated include: The US-Africa Business Summit, The 2005 HIMSS Thought Leader Summit, The World Health Care Innovation and Technology Congress, The Aspen Technology Enterprise Operations Management Executive Forum, The WIPRO Strategyms (US & UK): The 40-institution Committee of Donor Agencies for Small Enterprise Development conference, The McGraw-Hill Companies Top Firm Leaders Forum and The MCI CIO Forum.

Recipient of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Economics; Chief Economist and Senior Vice-President, The World Bank, 1997-2000; Chairman, U.S. Council of Economic Advisors, 1995-1996; Professor, Columbia Business School, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Department of Economics) and the School of International and Public Affairs ; Author of the New York Times Bestseller, Globalization and Its Discontents

Recognized around the world as a leading economic educator, Joseph Stiglitz has written textbooks that have been translated into more than a dozen languages. His book, Three Trillion Dollar War, discusses the true cost of the war in Iraq.  Dr. Stiglitz is now University Professor at Columbia University in New York.

Leading Authority on Corporate Strategy and Business Transformation; Author of The Discipline of Market Leaders and Double Digit Growth: How Great Companies Achieve It, No Matter What

Michael Treacy has been an expert in market leadership for more than 25 years, aiding the senior management of many companies with their greatest strategic challenges.

Executive Director, William F. Achtmeyer Center for Global Leadership; Author Building Breakthrough Businesses Within Established Organizations; Author Ten Rules for Strategic Innovators – from Idea to Execution

Chris Trimble is an expert on innovation and execution. He has been warmly received as a speaker by audiences at such forums as the Business Week CEO Forum and the Conference Board’s Innovation Conference. He tackles challenging innovation concepts with an engaging speaking style that includes a comfortable blend of storytelling, illustrations from real companies, and clear insights.

Media Mogul; Philanthropist

Throughout his career, Ted Turner has received recognition for his entrepreneurial acumen, sharp business skills, leadership qualities, and his unprecedented philanthropy. At the podium, Mr. Turner delivers insight into his illustrious career.

Former Chairman and CEO, GE Capital Services

Since turning “Outsourcing to Gold” for General Electric, Gary Wendt has traveled the world teaching other companies how to hit the mother lode by taking advantage of today’s global business opportunities and trends. Considered a leading turn-around expert, Gary Wendt is widely credited with transforming GE Capital into a financial services giant. Wendt was praised by Fortune magazine as "one of the shrewdest people at GE, with an eye for spotting trends and an ability to move fast." He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin and the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.

Founder, Owner and creative driving force behind YO! Sushi.; UK entrepreneur of the year

Simon Woodroffe is a charismatic and engaging speaker with a very personal story on how he has built up YO! Sushi. His common sense approach is of practical use and his entertaining style leaves audiences feeling inspired.

Pulitzer Prize Winning Author; Chairman, Cambridge Energy Research Associates

A highly respected authority on international economics, globalization, politics and energy, Daniel Yergin shares with audience’s unmatched insight into the world today. Compelling and informative, his presentations capture the issues, while grounding them in his audiences’ context.

2006 Nobel Prize Winner; Founder, Grameen Bank; Member of Board of Directors of UN Foundation

What if you could harness the power of the free market to solve the problems of poverty, hunger, and inequality? To some, it sounds impossible. But Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus is doing exactly that. As founder of Grameen Bank, Yunus pioneered microcredit, the innovative banking program that provides the poor — mainly women — with small loans they use to launch businesses and lift their families out of poverty. Muhammad Yunus’s vision is the total eradication of poverty from the world. "Grameen," he says, "is a message of hope, a program for putting homelessness and destitution in a museum so that one day our children will visit it and ask how we could have allowed such a terrible thing to go on for so long." This work is a fundamental rethink on the economic relationship between the rich and the poor, their rights and their obligations. The World Bank recently acknowledged that "this business approach to the alleviation of poverty has allowed millions of individuals to work their way out of poverty with dignity." Credit is the last hope left to those faced with absolute poverty. That is why Muhammad Yunus believes that the right to credit should be recognized as a fundamental human right. It is this struggle and the unique and extraordinary methods he invented to combat human despair that Muhammad Yunus recounts here with humility and conviction. It is also the view of a man familiar with both Eastern and Western cultures — on the failures and potential for good of industrial countries. It is an appeal for action: we must concentrate on promoting the will to survive and the courage to build in the first and most essential element of the economic cycle — Man.

Author, The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life; Conductor, Boston Philharmonic Orchestra

Benjamin Zander has appeared three times as a keynote speaker at the World Economic Forum in Davos. In his speeches he uses uplifting stories, parables, and anecdotes to invite audiences to become passionate communicators, leaders, and performers. In a profile of Mr. Zander, Fast Company writes: “He plays, lectures, spins tales, and pushes his audience to laugh, cry, and sing -- usually Beethoven's "Ode to Joy," in German.”

Chief Economist and Co-Founder, Moody's Economy.com

Mark Zandi is a familiar name and face to anyone following financial news. Often called upon to comment on major news stories and their impact on the economy, Zandi is known for his objective, stimulating, jargon-free analysis of current economic and financial events worldwide. He is especially adept at explaining economic concepts to nontraditional or occasional users of economic information.

Global Political-Economic Expert ; Professor at the Graduate School of Business at the University of Chicago; Author

"All politics is local," former House Speaker Tip O'Neill once famously remarked and the adage holds true for economics as well, even in the era of globalization, according to Marvin Zonis, global consultant and University of Chicago professor. In a world where local markets are increasingly interconnected, events in one small country can easily snowball to have a worldwide impact and while powerful corporations may be able to plant their flags around the world, they still need to deal with the locals. Factors like political corruption or ethnic conflicts can undermine a country's chances for prosperity, but they can be countered by strong leadership and stable institutions. In order to "do globalization better," business leaders need to recognize the importance of local political dynamics.