Founder, The William J. Clinton Foundation; 42^nd President of the United States of America

Bill Clinton was elected President of the United States in 1992, and again in 1996—the first Democratic president to be awarded a second term in six decades. President Clinton’s core values of building community, creating opportunity, and demanding responsibility resulted in unprecedented progress for America.

EVENT SPOTLIGHT: President Clinton spoke to a record-breaking crowd at the Annual Convention of the National Retail Federation in NYC recently. The organization's blog site boasted: "He was the first current or former President to appear, and helped boost attendance to a record 25,500." Read more...

Director, White House National Economic Council, 2009-2010 ; Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, 2009-2010 ; Member, President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board ; Charles W. Eliot University Professor, Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government ; President, Harvard University, 2001-2006 ; Secretary of the Treasury, 1999-2001 ; Chief Economist of the World Bank, 1991-1993

Larry Summers is the preeminent voice on all economic issues on both the domestic and global fronts. He served in the Obama Administration As Director of the White House National Economic Council and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, he was Secretary of the Treasury of the United States, and Chief Economist of the World Bank. His tenure as Secretary coincided with the longest period of sustained economic growth in U.S. history, and has made him an expert on domestic economics and a leading authority on international finance. During his tenure in the Obama Administration, Larry Summers emerged as a key economic decision-maker and continues to be called upon as the number one resource for the most pressing economic debates of the day.

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT:  Charlie Rose Interview;  Larry Summers at the World Economic Forum; CNBC Interview;  Interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria

First Deputy Managing Director, IMF 2006-2011 ; Co-Director, Aspen Institute’s Program on the Global Economy ; Director, National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); Advisory Board Member, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR) ; Former Vice Chairman, JPMorgan Investment Bank; Distinguished Visiting Scholar, Johns Hopkins University’s Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies

John Lipsky’s service at the International Monetary Fund coincided with the onset of the greatest economic and financial challenges faced yet by the rapidly globalizing world. Having served as the IMF’s First Deputy Managing Director between 2006-2011, as well as Acting Managing Director from May-July 2011, Lipsky helped lead the IMF’s efforts to halt the global downturn, to reestablish economic and financial stability, and to restart growth through unprecedented international policy cooperation in the face of historic market upheavals and systemic disruption.

Over the course of his distinguished career in both the private and public sectors, he has earned the credentials that give him the respect of leaders from both sectors around the world. Lipsky offers a unique insight into how economic policy is being negotiated and implemented today, reflecting the unique challenges and the global realities of shifting relative power in both economic and political arenas.

Secretary-General of the United Nations,
1997-2006; Nobel Peace Prize Recipient, 2001; Board of Directors, United Nations Foundation; Chairman of the Board of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa; Li Ka Shing Professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy

As the world’s most prominent diplomat, Kofi Annan has been a powerful voice on issues of human rights, international cooperation, and in the fight against HIV/AIDS. A skilled leader during a difficult era, Secretary-General Annan provides powerful insights into the challenges facing the international community, and the role of the United Nations in achieving global peace and security.

45th Vice President of the United States; Nobel Peace Laureate; Senior Advisor to Google; Board of Directors, Apple; Chairman, Generation Investment Management; Chairman, Current TV; Chairman, The Climate Reality Project ; Bestselling Author

A political, business, and environmental visionary recognized around the world as one of humanity’s leading minds, Vice President Al Gore offers a unique perspective on national and international affairs. Referred by TIME Magazine as “a businessman who is out to change the world,” Vice President Gore’s status as a leader in global politics, technology and business influences his positions as Senior Advisor to Google and member of the Board of Directors of Apple. In addition, he is Chairman of Generation Investment Management, an asset-management company incorporating sustainability values into the financial-services world, and a senior partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Silicon Valley’s preeminent venture firm. He also co-founded Current TV, an Emmy-Award winning cable news and information channel.

One of the most powerful champions of environmental awareness in America today, Vice President Gore continues to lead the campaign to educate the world on climate change, most recently launching an exciting new global campaign, "The Climate Reality Project." One of his best-selling books on climate change, An Inconvenient Truth, was turned into a critically acclaimed documentary which won two Oscar awards.

California’s 38th Governor ; Cultural Icon ; Environmental Crusader

The world knows Arnold Schwarzenegger as a famous bodybuilder and a Hollywood action hero, but he is also a successful businessman, generous philanthropist and California's 38th Governor. During his tenure as CEO and Governor of the eighth largest economy in the world, Gov.Schwarzenegger fought to protect California's economy by taking on the special interest groups, from both sides of the aisle, with a David vs. Goliath approach. It was a battle of the old economy versus the new, as he worked to reform California's fiscal policies, create a better business environment, reduce burdens on employment, boost exports and stimulate job growth.

ARTICLE SPOTLIGHT: Read Gov. Schwarzenegger's Wall Street Journal article, "The Clean Air Act Keeps Us Healthy."

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT: Watch a video clip of Gov. Schwarzenegger's recent, inspirational presentation at the University of Buffalo, which includes a compelling behind-the-scenes look at his meet and greet sessions, as well as footage from his iconic roles in politics and entertainment. WATCH VIDEO

46th Vice President of the United States; Secretary of Defense; Congressman, House Leadership; White House Chief of Staff; Former 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, former 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.

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT: Bob Schieffer from CBS' "Face the Nation" spoke with former Vice President Richard Cheney on the reception of his memoir "In My Time."

Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media

Steve Forbes is chairman, CEO, and editor in chief at Forbes Media and an internationally respected authority in the worlds of economics, finance, and corporate leadership. With the economy at the forefront of conversation on a global level, Forbes offers long-standing insights that capitalism, free markets, and a flat tax are essential to a healthy economy. This is a message Forbes has been delivering as editor of one of the world’s most successful business magazines for decades, and he continues to be one of the most sought-after speakers on this and other economic issues leading the economic debates around the world.

EVENT SPOTLIGHT: Steve Forbes received "two standing ovations" from 700+ executives from corporations throughout the Rocky Mountain region at their 2011 Rocky Mountain Corporate Growth Conference. His gracious and approachable manner also made the event "a huge success!"

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.

Chairman, Institute for Large Scale Innovation; Chair of the World Economic Forum's Global Advisory Council on Innovation ; Bestselling Author, Innovation Nation and Jamming: The Art and Discipline of Business Creativity; Innovation Consultant to Public and Private Sector Leaders Worldwide

John Kao has made a career out of helping organizations go from “getting” the importance of innovation to “getting innovation done.”

Dubbed “Mr. Creativity” by The Economist, John is Chairman of the Institute for Large Scale Innovation, whose i20 group is an association of 30 national ‘Chief Innovation Officers.’  He is considered a leading authority on the subjects of innovation, organizational transformation, and new media. He is author of the best-selling Jamming: The Art and Discipline of Business Creativity, a BusinessWeek best-seller that has been published in a dozen languages, and Innovation Nation: How America is Losing its Innovation Edge, Why It Matters, and What We Can Do To Get It Back.  

Kao’s life and career are a study in innovation: he focused on philosophy and social science at Yale where he earned his BA; he spent a summer as a keyboard player with Frank Zappa (he’s an accomplished jazz pianist); and he graduated Yale Medical School with a specialty in psychiatry. He did his residency at Harvard, where he then earned his MBA and stayed on for 14 years to teach as a Harvard Business School professor. His elective, "Entrepreneurship, Creativity and Organizations" drew some 2,000 MBA students, and the executive program he developed and taught, "Enhancing Corporate Creativity," attracted top executives from companies such as Merck, Merrill Lynch, and Saudi Aramco. He is this year's Chair of the World Economic Forum's (Davos) Global Advisory Council on Innovation.

It is the eclectic quality of Kao’s knowledge and experience that make his insights so useful and unique.

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT: View a video clip of John Kao speaking at the Tides Momentum Leadership Conference. In a presentation that mixes speech, music, and audience input, Kao talks about the meaning and importance of innovation, how we innovate, and the future as a design problem. 

John Kao explained why innovation is the key to America's future in a recent CNN special report, Restoring the American Dream: How to Innovate. View video... In addition to his appearance, Kao contributed a special article to CNN,"Defining Innovation."

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 University and Chair of Columbia University's Committee on Global Thought; Author of the New York Times Bestseller, Globalization and Its Discontents

Stiglitz helped create a new branch of economics, "The Economics of Information," exploring the consequences of information asymmetries and pioneering such pivotal concepts as adverse selection and moral hazard, which have now become standard tools not only of theorists, but of policy analysts. He has made major contributions to macro-economics and monetary theory, to development economics and trade theory, to public and corporate finance, to the theories of industrial organization and rural organization, and to the theories of welfare economics and of income and wealth distribution. In the 1980s, he helped revive interest in the economics of R&D. His work has helped explain the circumstances in which markets do not work well, and how selective government intervention can improve their performance.

President of Pakistan, 2001-2008; Chief Executive of Pakistan, 1999-2001

As the former President of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf held "the world's most dangerous job," according to TIME Magazine. He has twice come within inches of assassination. His forces have caught more than 670 members of al Qaeda in the mountains and cities, yet many others remain at large and active, including Osama bin Laden. Long locked in a deadly embrace with its nuclear neighbor India, Pakistan has come close to full-scale war on two occasions since exploding a nuclear bomb in 1998. No stranger to controversy, President Musharraf has faced challenges with high stakes for the world at large. He offers an unparalleled view into the center of a region where the eyes of the world remain focused. President Musharraf's fascinating and compelling insights into Pakistan and its role in today's global challenges – from the economy to trade to energy – are not to be missed.

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT: Click HERE and view President Musharraf's Interview on CNN's Piers Morgan, where he addresses relations between Pakistan and the U.S., since Osama bin Laden's death.

Chancellor of Germany, 1998-2005

As Germany influences the future of both the European Union and the Euro, there is no leader better positioned than Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder to speak on the central issues affecting the EU and the global economy.

He remains vastly popular as a principal player in the global energy sector, and is the Independent Director and Member of the Board of Directors of the Anglo-Russian oil company TNK-BP, chairman of the shareholders’ committee for the European-Russian pipeline company Nord Stream AG, a member of the European Advisory Council of the Rothschild Group since 2006, and an Advisor to Swiss publishing company Ringier.

In the years that Gerhard Schröder served as Chancellor of Germany, he did more to modernize the country's economy than had been accomplished in decades, and his insights will enlighten audiences on the decisions currently facing European governments.

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.

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.

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.

Member of President Obama's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness (Present); Member of Secretary Hillary Clinton’s Foreign Affairs Policy Board (Present); Member of President Obama's Economic Recovery Advisory Board (Feb. 2009 - Feb. 2011); 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

Dr. Tyson's experience as an established economic advisor, a dean at two top-ranked business schools and a board member of three multinational companies gives her an extraordinary breadth of knowledge to forecast economic trends for specific industry sectors, as well as offer prospects for world trade and international markets.

Founder, Wikipedia; U.S. Internet Entrepreneur and Wiki Pioneer; One of TIME Magazine’s “100 Most Influential People”; Wikipedia is the 5th Most Popular Website in the World

Jimmy Wales, the Founder and Visionary Force behind Wikipedia, is one of TIME Magazine’s "100 Most Influential People" and was ranked 12th by Forbes Magazine in their first annual "Web Celeb 25" List. Ten years ago Wales thought if Wikipedia could rank in the top 100 or Top 50 websites that would be pretty good...Today Wikipedia is the 5th Most Popular Website in the WORLD and Jimmy Wales is one of the most sought after visionaries in business and technology! Jimmy Wales' leadership was recognized by the World Economic Forum in 2007 when they acknowledged him as one of the top 250 young leaders across the world for his professional accomplishments, his commitment to society, and his potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world. And in May 2008, Wales co-chaired the annual World Economic Forum on the Middle East, the foremost global gathering of political, business and cultural leaders.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT! 2011 Marks the 10th Anniversary of Wikipedia! Read Wales' inspired thoughts on the past decade of Wikipedia in articles from The Washington Post and WIRED Magazine, and watch his interview on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart or his video interview about Leadership!

One of the Inspiring Voices of the Arab Spring - Moving Millions Toward Freedom ; Head of Marketing of Google Middle East & North Africa (1998-2011)

Wael Ghonim, the 30-year-old sparkplug of the Arab Spring, offers one of the most inspiring stories of the Age of Social Marketing: a memoir and manifesto for all of us. Wael is an extraordinary individual, an activist who is literally changing the most important country in the Arab region, redesigning its place in the world and the world’s relationship to it. He helped to mobilize the Arab Spring from his laptop, waking up and engaging a large segment of the population to go into the streets and challenge its status quo. Although Wael doesn’t claim to be political, his social engagement is phenomenal, based on an innate sense of justice and non-violence rather than a study of history or established political precedents.

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT : Watch Wael's captivating interview on 60 Minutes.

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.

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.

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..

Expert on Global Strategy ; Managing Partner, China India Institute ; Adjunct Professor of Strategy at INSEAD; Co-author of Two Highly Acclaimed Books: Getting China and India Right and The Quest for Global Dominance ; Regular Columnist on "Getting China and India Right" for BusinessWeek

Haiyan Wang is managing partner of China India Institute, a research and consulting organization with a focus on creating winning global strategies that leverage the transformational rise of China and India. She is the co-author of two highly acclaimed books: Getting China and India Right and The Quest for Global Dominance. Wang serves as a regular columnist on "Getting China and India Right" for BusinessWeek. Her co-authored opinion pieces have also appeared in top international media such as The Wall Street Journal, BusinessWeek, Chief Executive, The Economic Times, China Daily, The Times of India, as well as other outlets. A native of China, Wang has spent the last twenty years consulting for and managing multinational business operations in China and the United States in several different industry sectors. Drawing on her broad international experience, she consults with clients and speaks at conferences on building and exploiting global presence, with a particular focus on China and India. In a global market that is increasingly Asia-focused, Wang's expertise and insight on strategic direction in the East is undeniably valuable and not to be missed.

Lead political anchor for CNN and the anchor of The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer ; Former Senior White House correspondent for CNN; Emmy Award-Winning Journalist

One of the most insightful journalists in America today, Wolf Blitzer draws on his unique international breadth of experience and depth of understanding when discussing the issues facing Washington and the world today.

U.N. Weapons Inspector, 2000 – 2003; Chairman of the International Commission on Weapons of Mass Destruction

Swedish diplomat and scientist Dr. Hans Blix provides his own unique insider's account concerning the search for weapons of mass destruction in Iraq prior to the war in 2003 and the ongoing campaign to eliminate these weapons from the world.

Special Adviser to the Secretary-General of the United Nations (2004-2005)

A veteran United Nations envoy and advisor, Lakhdar Brahimi has played a central role in world events for the past 40 years. Intimately familiar with the politics of the Middle East, African and Asian world, Ambassador Brahimi lectures regularly in the U.S., Europe, Africa and the Arab world, bringing a veteran perspective to the emerging nations and world conflicts that dominate the news today.

Prime Minister of the French Republic, 2005-2007

A champion of peace and justice in the world, Dominique de Villepin was the voice of France and the international community during the Iraq crisis. He is one of the foremost advocates of a new global governance based on multilateralism, and a reformist leader in French, European and global policy. View a video clip of Prime Minister de Villepin on Charlie Rose.

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.

Best Selling Author

Daniel Jonah Goldhagen is the bestselling author of the #1 international bestseller Hitler's Willing Executioners: Ordinary Germans and the Holocaust. Credited with generating more international discussion than any book in recent history, Dr. Goldhagen is a spellbinding, natural speaker who conveys complex thoughts and answers questions with clarity, authority and directness.

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, 9/11 Commission 2002-2004; President of Drew University, 1990-2005; Governor of New Jersey, 1982-1990

Only a true leader could step into a position as daunting as Chairman of the bi-partisan 9/11 Commission to successfully emerge as a unifier and consensus-builder.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, 2007-2009 ; Ambassador to Iraq, 2005-2007 ; Ambassador to Afghanistan, 2003-2005

Praised for his inclusive tactics, convivial style, and result oriented approach, Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad’s record in the most turbulent areas of U.S. foreign policy has earned him broad respect throughout the world. Serving as the 26th United States Ambassador to the United Nations, he dealt with extraordinary global issues during one of the most challenging periods in our history, including the recent Russia-Georgia conflict and the Mumbai terror attacks. He is the highest-ranking Muslim in U.S. Government in United States history. Previously, he served as U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan and U.S. Ambassador to Iraq, where he played a significant role in facilitating both countries’ constitutions, elections and formation of government. In Iraq, he was instrumental in getting the Sunni Arabs to participate in the political process and move away from al-Qaeda. Ambassador Khalilzad’s first-hand knowledge and experience as a statesman in these important hotspots at this crucial juncture in time give him unparalleled insights into the global issues of security, terror, extremism, state building, peace negotiation, and energy.

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.

Secretary of Labor, 1991-1993; Chair of Deloitte & Touche’s Council on the Advancement of Women

Credited with preparing the workforce for the 21st century, Secretary Martin brings breadth and authority to any debate on issues affecting the modern American workforce.

Founder and President, Good Food Organics; Presidential Candidate for the Democratic Nomination, 2004; United States Ambassador, 1999 – 2001; United States Senator, 1992 – 1998

A woman of extensive achievements and a pioneering entrepreneur, Carol Moseley Braun has established herself as an agent for change passionate about preserving the American Dream for the next generation. Carol Moseley Braun combines philosophy, history, and policy to provide a unique perspective on various topics.

Senior Associate, Carnegie’s International Economics Program; Former Editor in Chief of the Award-Winning Foreign Policy Magazine ; Frequent Davos World Economic Forum Speaker; 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 insights on 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, Dr. Naím analyzes current challenges and opportunities for businesses around the world.

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.

Bestselling Author and World Renowned Speaker on Exploiting Business Trends and New Market Opportunities ; Founder and CEO of ChangeLabs™

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.

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.

Senior Economist of the National Center for Policy Analysis

An unapologetic advocate of free enterprise and privatization, Barry Asmus is recognized as a revolutionary thinker who delivers his ideas in an energy-filled entertaining presentation. He doesn’t just talk policy – he makes it happen. A Senior Economist for the National Center for Policy Analysis, Asmus has directly influenced how world leaders approach social security, health care, monetary and fiscal policy and other equally complex issues. With presentations customized to reflect your particular economic policy needs, Asmus helps audiences understand major policy issues – without all the jargon.

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.

Economist; Bestselling Author, Market Shock

An award-winning economics teacher at Harvard, a director of economic policy at the White House from 1989 to 1992 and former managing director of the $15 billion Tiger hedge fund, Todd Buchholz targets his entertaining remarks to the cutting edge of economics, finance and business strategy. The Associated Press says that he “lights up economics with a wickedly sparkling wit.”

39th President of the United States; Nobel Peace Laureate

Former President of the United States, President Jimmy Carter is qualified to address almost any vital world issue – particularly human rights.

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.

President of the European Parliament (2002-2004)

Parliament's President Cox is convinced that the 21st century will see Europe's second renaissance, when following the consolidation of a process of unification, the EU will deliver on jobs, peace and stability and enhance the living standards and quality of life of all its people.

MIT Professor; Former Director, Central Intelligence Agency; Former Undersecretary, U.S. Department of Energy; Board of Directors, Cheniere Energy

Former Undersecretary for the U.S. Department of Energy, John Deutch is world renowned in studies on energy and the environment. Mr. Deutch has published over 140 technical publications in physical chemistry, as well as numerous publications on technology, energy, international security, and public policy issues. In his speeches Dr. Deutch brings his academic training and government experience to cover topics as diverse as world security, technology and energy.

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.

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.

Internationally Acclaimed Author; TIME Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World"

Named by TIME Magazine as one of the '100 Most Influential People in the World,' Niall Ferguson is a public intellectual whose work impacts industry, finance, government, and academia. Controversial, expansive, and eloquent, Mr. Ferguson has been called “the most talented British historian of his generation.

Bestselling Author of China, Inc.

Ted Fishman is an experienced journalist and bestselling author who has investigated and written extensively on the complex socio-economic issues facing China and America in comprehensible and insightful ways.

Lloyd M. Bentsen Jr. Chair in Government/Business Relations and Professor of Government; Economist

Noted economist James Galbraith is a frequent commentator on economic and political issues in the media. He regularly writes a column for the Texas Observer and TheStreet.com, as well authoring op-ed pieces for The New York Times and Washington Post.

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.

Former Senior Adviser to Ariel Sharon

A high level adviser for Ariel Sharon and prominent analyst on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Dr. Raanan Gissin holds strong and widely respected views on how to bring peace to the Middle East.

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.

Expert on the Geopolitics of Oil, Energy, Security and Risk; Associate Director of the Energy Program at Rice University's James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy

Amy Myers Jaffe is a leading expert on the geopolitics of oil, energy, security and risk. Associate Director of the Energy Program at Rice University's James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, she is a frequent keynote speaker at major energy industry and investment conferences. A contributor to Foreign Policy magazine's "21 Solutions to Save the World" and recipient of the Award for Excellence by the International Association for Energy Economics, Jaffe was among the 2004 "Key Women in Energy-Americas" honorees and was named to Esquire's annual 100 Best and Brightest. Her forthcoming book is tentatively titled,Oil, Dollars, Debt and Crises.

Scientist in the Russian Space Program; Naturalized American Citizen and Son of the Soviet Leader; Senior Fellow, Thomas J. Watson Institute for International Studies, Brown University

As a Senior Fellow at the Watson Institute for International Studies, Dr. Khrushchev focuses his research on the Former Soviet Union's transition form a centralized to a decentralized society, as well as its transformation from a central to a market economy and its international security during this transition. One of his points of interest is the creation of a criminal society in Russia, as a consequence of the mistakes in the early stages of market reformation. He is also interested in the history of the Cold War and the turning points in the relations between the US and the Soviet Union in the Khrushchev, Eisenhower, and Kennedy periods. Another focus of Dr. Khrushchev's interests is the history of Soviet missiles and space development, in which he played an active role, from 1958-68.

President, Kotler Marketing Group

Milton Kotler in an expert doing business in China. In partnership with Philip Kotler, the S.C. Johnson and Son Distinguished Professor of International Marketing at Northwestern University, Kotler advises companies on how to create, win and dominate markets.

Professor of Economics, Boston University; Research Associate, National Bureau of Economic Research; President, Economic Security Planning, Inc.

Professor Kotlikoff speaks to hundreds of U.S. and foreign businesses and government groups about economic and policy issues, both domestic and foreign. His talks cover a very wide range of micro and macro topics.

Economic advisor to the Reagan Administration; Popularized the “Laffer Curve”

Arthur Laffer is a supply side economist who became influential during the Reagan administration as a member of Reagan's Economic Policy Advisory Board (1981-1989). Laffer is the author and co-author of many books and newspaper articles, including Supply Side Economics: Financial Decision-Making for the 80s.

Senior Editor, Asia for Forbes Magazine; Author, The Elephant and the Dragon: The Rise of India and China and What it Means for All of Us

Hong Kong-based Forbes foreign correspondent Robyn Meredith wrote the definitive book on the rise of India and China: The Elephant and the Dragon, which The Wall Street Journal named one of the top 10 books on Asia. She also writes the "Off Shore" column on globalization and geopolitics for Forbes.com, and anchors a weekly webcast.

As Asia becomes the engine of growth for a post-crisis global economy, changes in China and India are rapidly shaping the world's political and economic future. Robyn Meredith's insights are a convergence of her extensive travels throughout Asia and her unique access to business leaders worldwide.

Meredith explains how dramatic developments in Asia are changing the world for all of us. Her talks serve as a wake-up call, delivering crucial information to Main Street and Wall Street alike. She connects with her audiences via thought-provoking speeches along with frank and lively question-and-answer sessions that alter the way audiences look at the world.

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 Prime Minister of Jamaica

As the longest serving Prime Minister in Jamaica, Percival Patterson presided over the unprecedented modernization and transformation of the economic, social and political landscape of the country.

Senior Associate and Director, China Program, Carnegie Endowment; Expert in China, Taiwan, East Asia and Democracy

The rise of China as a great power is one of the most important developments in the twenty-first century. But despite dramatic economic progress, China’s prospects remain uncertain. Minxin Pei examines the sustainability of the Chinese Communist Party’s reform strategy—pursuing pro-market economic policies under one-party rule. Combining powerful insights with empirical research, Minxin Pei offers a provocative assessment of China’s future as a great power.

Managing Partner: Rabin, Sheves, Lipkin-Shahak, Birger, Inc.

A veteran technology expert, Yuval Rabin is not only adept on the business side, but also posses the technical expertise needed to effectively promote client interests. His areas of expertise include development of large database systems, financial, human resources and payroll applications, and design of engineering, communications, Internet and embedded systems.

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.

"Indiana Jones of Finance" (Time Magazine); Founder of the Quantum Fund; Author Investment Biker and Adventure Capitalist

Called the “Indiana Jones of finance” by TIME, James Rogers is cut from a different cloth than most people on Wall Street and his speeches are reflective of that. With impressive financial credentials (he founded the Quantum Fund with George Soros), a zest for life and experience and knowledge unmatched by most armchair economists, Rogers is not content to study economies from afar. He's traveled the world (once on motorcycle and once by Mercedes Benz) to learn about the world’s developing countries and investment markets first hand. His speeches get to the heart of what drives successful nations and economies upward and what sends troubled ones downward.

Freedom Fighter Against Apartheid; Judge, Constitutional Court of South Africa (Ret.) 1994- 2009

Internationally acclaimed Freedom Fighter and Champion of Human Rights regardless of race, creed or sexual orientation,  A pillar of the international law community, Albie Sachs has helped shape our modern world, both in South Africa and around the world. 

Former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany; European Economy Expert

Chancellor Schmidt reflects on the geopolitical order as a derivative of international economic conditions. His insights into the EMU and recent economic crises around the world help corporations and governments secure their investments for the decades ahead.

National Security Advisor - Ford and Bush Administrations; Founder and President of the Forum for International Policy

General Brent Scowcroft’s extensive military and political career has afforded him unique insight into major foreign policy issues.

Partner, Sculley Brothers, LLC; Author, B2B Exchanges: The Killer Application in the Business-to-Business Internet Revolution

The New Economy has sparked a revolution in the way that business buy and sell products from each other. In his speeches, Arthur Sculley analyzes the nature of the revolution that is occurring in B2B transactions and how technology continues to revolutionize the procurement, pricing, and distribution of goods and services.

Author, Surviving the Digital Jungle and Doing Business in the Information Age

The author of two influential books on e-business, strategy, processes, and technology - Surviving the Digital Jungle and Doing Business in the Information Age - Jack Shaw helps organizations increase revenues, cut costs, improve service, and maximize productivity by using technology to enable winning business strategies.

President and Chief Global Economist, Decision Economics, Inc.

Time magazine said, "Anyone who thinks that economists practice a dismal science has never been treated to the vivid commentaries of Allen Sinai." Dr. Sinai is frequently called on by economic leaders and the media to provide commentary on economic issues.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, 1997-2001; Clinton Administration Foreign Policy Advisor; 3rd Ranking Official of National Security Council at the White House, 1993-1997

Ms. Soderberg brings her to the table her breadth of experience in the formation of US foreign policy, including promoting peace in Northern Ireland, participating in a United Nations mission to Indonesia and East Timor, negotiating key United Nations resolutions regarding the Middle East and Africa, conducting shuttle diplomacy in Latin America, assisting in the development of the Clinton Administration’s policy of political economic normalization with Vietnam and advising President Clinton on policies regarding China, Japan, Russia, Angola, the Balkans, Haiti, as well as several conflicts in Africa. With nearly twenty years of experience in the formation of U.S. foreign policy, Nancy Soderberg has been involved in most of the conflicts around the world and speaks and writes regularly on national security issues. Ms. Soderberg is highly qualified to discuss today’s crises in Iraq, Afghanistan, North Korea, Iran, Africa and the Middle East and what effects peacekeeping, terrorism, nonproliferation, and the United Nations can have on the outcomes.

Foremost U.S. Expert on Terrorism; Author of Terror In The Name of God: Why Religious Militants Kill

In her speeches, Stern connects many of the factors that link religious terrorists-from members of al Qaeda to Timothy McVeigh. She finds that the majority who join these groups feel disenfranchised and left behind by modernity. Their response to the “God-shaped hole” in modern culture is to turn their anger on those whom they hold responsible for their feelings of emptiness and failure. Stern warns that in the battle against the New World Order, disparate groups with seemingly conflicting agendas may join forces against what they perceive as the common enemy: globalization and Western culture. Yet she also points out that military solutions will not bring down religious terrorism and, in many cases, it will only work as a rallying cry to strengthen the terrorists’ cause.

Founder and Principal, Straszheim Global Advisors; Vice Chairman, Milken Institute; Former Chief Economist, Merrill Lynch

Combining an expertise in global economics with an emphasis on China, Donald Straszheim is one of the world’s foremost economists. Widely quoted in the major business and financial media, has been a regular analyst on CNBC, CNN and FOX and a frequent network guest. His perspectives on global economies, business conditions and financial markets are highly sought after by governments and corporations worldwide.

International Bestselling Author

International Bestselling Author, Allan Topol, is a graduate of Carnegie Institute of Technology who majored in chemistry, abandoned science and obtained a law degree from Yale University. As a partner in a major Washington law firm, he practices international environmental law. He writes a weekly column for the on-line newspaper Military.com. An avid wine collector and connoisseur, he has traveled extensively, researching dramatic locations for his novels, some of which are portrayed in Spy Dance, Dark Ambition, Conspiracy and now in Enemy Of My Enemy.

Co-Founder, Harvard’s Program on Negotiation; Co-Founder, International Negotiation Network; Best Selling Author

For the past 30 years, William Ury has served as a mediator, writer and speaker working with conflicts ranging from family feuds to boardroom battles to ethnic wars in the Middle East. Whether you're interested in reaching agreement in your everyday life or at the global level, Mr. Ury’s goal is to provide you with resources, insights, and inspiration. Based on his many years of experience as well as content from some of his bestselling and award-winning books, Mr. Ury can addresses the following topics in addition to others.  For more information visit www.williamury.com.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary

George Herbert Walker III, former U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, has pursued a lifelong interest in politics, international relations, and business.

Entrepreneur and Technology Pioneer; President, Walker Digital; Founder, Priceline.com

Jay Walker is a technology pioneer who turns new ideas into BIG opportunities. Whether it’s changing the way consumers buy groceries and airline tickets (priceline.com) or changing the way old line companies approach their businesses, Walker and his team have invented over 600 proprietary business systems that solve problems in industries ranging from travel to defense to retail to restaurants to vending to publishing to gaming and entertainment.

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.

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.

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.