April Rinne

April Rinne is a Contributor for Quartz at Work  

Expert on the new economy, future of work and disruptive innovation April Rinne has been named a contributor for Quartz at Work, the digital news outlet’s guide to being a better manager and how to navigate the modern global workplace. An in-demand advisor for organizations and companies as diverse as the World Economic Forum, Airbnb, and China’s National Sharing Economy Commission, Rinne is a leading voice on the real opportunities and obstacles of the new economy. Her informative Quartz columns unpack myriad lessons from her forward-thinking and global career, touching on everything from trends in the future of work to growing pains in the gig economy. Her keynotes are equally illuminating, as Rinne has been sought-out by Coca-Cola, TD Ameritrade, Enova, The Aspen Institute, and more to shed light on how businesses can translate uncertain change into economic opportunity. Rave reviews from Rinne’s recent engagements include: “Timely topic, and April was really wonderful to have” (TD Ameritrade);  "April is a gifted speaker with in-depth knowledge of her field of expertise. Her talk at our conference was a highlight which has inspired an entire industry to understand that business can be done differently!...The insights and ideas she shared with us at our congress were an eyeopener for our entire industry... With her inspirational, profound, and – at the same time – entertaining talk at our congress, she put an entire industry under her spell!" (RIAD International Association of Legal Protection); “April Rinne is a brilliant thought leader operating at the nexus of technological change, new economy, and social impact. She is able to unpack the confusing signals and share perceptive insights that allow us to make practical strategy" (Social Innovation Generation).

April's HWA Chat offers golden nuggets of insight about the sharing economy

Whether you are intrigued by the success of sharing companies like Uber, airbnb, Lyft, Task rabbit and the like, or you are a die hard believer that the sharing economy is in fact the new normal and wave of the future, April has an innovative and well-rounded perspective about the future of the sharing economy.

April Rinne is a smash hit at back-to-back engagements

Sought-out to deliver two keynotes at back-to-back events, first at Dentons’ Courageous Counsel Leadership Institute and then TD Ameritrade’s National LINC Conference, APRIL RINNE delivered sharp insights into the sharing economy and future of work. Delivering a keynote entitled, “The New Economy: What’s It all About?” at Dentons LLP’s professional leadership development conference, the theme of which was “cultivating innovation,” Rinne exposed audience members to emerging trends and new platforms, unpacking their legal implications. Engaging in an in-depth and informative Q&A, Rinne kept the audience riveted from start to finish, and received stellar feedback: “Amazing!! April is such a profound speaker! The entire audience was so captivated with her.” Just one week later, speaking to a packed room at TD Ameritrade’s LINC Conference, Rinne gave a showcase presentation on the new economy. Tailoring her remarks to the audience of financial advisors, Rinne dove into how shifts in labor, business models, and technology will impact the business and finance industries, and delivered substantive analysis on how the sharing and gig economies will affect financial planning. Keeping the conversation going with a handful of particularly curious participants for over an hour after the keynote’s close, Rinne received the following rave review: "It went very well. Timely topic, and April was really wonderful to have."

April Rinne sought-out to advise forward-thinking, visionary companies across industries 

Working at the intersection of the public, private and social sector for almost 20 years, APRIL RINNE has been sought-out for her extensive expertise on the new economy, future of work and inclusive growth by top organizations across industries. Advising a range of leading companies and organizations such as Airbnb, Nike, Intuit, The World Economic Forum, World Bank, The Inter-American Development Bank, and Jobbatical, plus numerous public sector organizations including Amsterdam Sharing City, Sharing City Seoul, Apolitical, Welcoming International, Estonia's e-Residency initiative and China's National Sharing Economy Commission, April has brought invaluable strategies and insights to help organizations prepare for the future and stay ahead of the curve. Whether shedding light on emerging markets and opportunities for international expansion, crafting innovative public policies, or decoding the implications of new technologies and helping organizations prepare for the future of work, April anticipates major global trends before they’ve disrupted entire industries. Her track record speaks for itself: "Drop the April bomb… and good things happen" (Patrick Robinson, Director of Public Policy, Airbnb); “Who’s your April?” (Will Fitzpatrick, General Counsel, Omidyar Network).

Read the latest post from new economy expert April Rinne

APRIL RINNE is a global authority on the new economy: sharing economy, collaborative economy, on-demand economy, freelance economy and new tech-enabled business models. Advising companies, local and national governments, entrepreneurs, think tanks, investors and development banks, using for-profit and non-profit models, her areas of expertise include policy reform; the future of work; the future of travel and tourism; sustainable development; cities; and emerging markets. 

April Rinne shares substantive insights on the new economy at the Microsoft Summit

Addressing a sold-out crowd of top executives at the Microsoft Summit in Bucharest, APRIL RINNE shared key insights on the future of work, automation, innovation and more in her keynote: “The Digital Sharing Economy.” Drawing on her extensive experience at the head of the World Economic Forum’s Sharing Economy Working Group, Rinne illuminated the impacts of new technologies in transforming business, government and society at large. Sprinkling in loads of fascinating anecdotes (there are platforms just for sharing Maseratis, for example!), and tailoring her remarks to the Romanian and European market, Rinne inspired lots of interaction with the audience. Sought-out for six interviews while at the conference, many of Rinne’s insights were highlighted in a Business Review article and she shared her own perspective in an informative LinkedIn post.  

April Rinne decodes the human side of AI and automation, and the implications worldwide

Co-Founder of the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Sharing Economy Working Group and serving on a wide range of tech-focused advisory boards, APRIL RINNE is a trusted expert on the new economy and digital disruption, able to shed light on how AI and automation will impact individuals and companies across industries and geographies.  Having recently written an informative op-ed on the uneven distribution of AI and automation development around the world, and interviewed by ReInvent on how AI and automation interest and fear is playing out in different countries, April is an authority on how new technologies are being implemented worldwide and how they are (and will) affect business models, the future of work, and more.  Heralded by audiences for presenting “new, complex and even sometimes controversial topics substantively and with ease, persuasively informing everyone from students to CEOs..." (Emory University), April brings a human dimension to the conversation around AI and automation, breaking down how society as a whole can best prepare for inevitable disruptions and shifts. Drawing on her experience advising a range of organizations directly involved in the "humans vs. machines" debate, from companies including Airbnb and Intuit, and governments from Estonia to Singapore and China, April provides a playbook to help prepare for an uncertain future and become predictive and proactive rather than reactive in the face of change.

April Rinne keeps audiences raving at every kind of event

Whether speaking at industry associations or universities, The World Economic Forum or government roundtables, APRIL RINNE consistently receives rave reviews for her transformative insights and shrewd analysis on the new economy, the future of work, global citizenship and more. Having already addressed audiences in seven countries at events such as the Future Trends Forum and the Conference on World Affairs in 2017 thus far, Rinne is praised by attendees and event-planners alike for her on-the-point, customized remarks, tremendous passion, and vast knowledge.  Recent reviews include: “April's presentation was fantastic. She delivered a keynote as it should be: showing the big picture, addressing key issues, and doing so in a way that's enlightening and fun.” (ITB Berlin Convention); “April's keynote was excellent. She was engaged in the whole process from start to finish. Her inspirational and valuable insight proved to be of enormous value for the Summit.” (World Travel & Tourism Council); "April is an engaging communicator who has a special knack with audiences. She can present new, complex and even sometimes controversial topics substantively and with ease, persuasively informing everyone from students to CEOs..." (Emory University); "April is a gifted speaker with in-depth knowledge of her field of expertise. Her talk at our conference was a highlight which has inspired an entire industry to understand that business can be done differently!” (RIAD International Association of Legal Protection).

April Rinne sheds light on the future of work and gig economy 

The Head of the World Economic Forum’s Sharing Economy Working Group, APRIL RINNE is not only a renowned expert on the gig economy, but a living embodiment of it. A freelancer who’s worked at the intersection of the private, public and social sectors for over 20 years, currently April is also an advisor at Airbnb and a Sharing Economy Advisory Board Member for China’s National Sharing Economy Commission. As Airbnb’s Director of Public Policy Patrick Robinson said: “Drop the April bomb… and good things happen.” Recently sought-out as a keynote to shed light on the future of work and the impact of the gig economy at the World Travel and Tourism Council Global Summit, The Enova Conference, and The World Economic Forum Regional Summit, April is known to tailor her speeches to every audience and consistently receives rave reviews: “April's presentation was fantastic. She delivered a keynote as it should be: showing the big picture, addressing key issues, and doing so in a way that's enlightening and fun.” (ITB Berlin Convention); "April is an engaging communicator who has a special knack with audiences. She can present new, complex and even sometimes controversial topics substantively and with ease, persuasively informing everyone from students to CEOs..." (Emory University); "April is a gifted speaker with in-depth knowledge of her field of expertise. Her talk at our conference was a highlight which has inspired an entire industry to understand that business can be done differently!” (RIAD International Association of Legal Protection). Check out April’s recent interview on the rise of independent workers worldwide, and her podcast on the gig economy trend with Wharton Business’ podcast.  

April Rinne's website is the hot spot for timely insights on the new economy and global citizenship

APRIL RINNE's work is focused on 'building better markets that work better for more people.'  She is focused on Global Access, Global Perspective and Global Citizenship. She posts thought-pieces on how people, companies and communities can navigate the future of the new economy and global citizenship.  She explains how global citizenship is not the same as globalization or being well-traveled, and why she predicts changes to our values, sense of citizenship, and our economic opportunities.

April Rinne reveals insights on the future of work at WTTC Global Summit

Addressing some 1,000 international industry and government leaders as a keynote at the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit in Bangkok, APRIL RINNE shed light on the future of work and what lies ahead in the new economy. A global authority on the Gig Economy and the Head of the World Economic Forum’s Sharing Economy Working Group, April Rinne provided top-level attendees with key takeaways on what economic trends-- such as the proliferation of freelance workers, self-employment, and direct-to-consumer business models-- mean for the future of work and their impact across industries. A trusted expert at the vanguard of technological advances, disruptive innovation, and the “new” marketplace, Rinne reveals transformative shifts that are underway before they are headline news, providing invaluable insights for any organization.

April Rinne Decodes the Sharing Economy for Audience of CEOs and Execs

In a recent keynote to CEOs and top level management of insurance companies, academics, lawyers and consumer representatives in Montreal, sharing economy expert APRIL RINNE unpacked the implications behind a rapidly evolving global marketplace, and both the challenges and opportunities that exist for legal service providers. Rinne’s detailed, insightful message at the International Association of Legal Protection (RIAD) Conference became the source of an article; a testament to the utility of her information-packed sessions. With revenues from the five key sharing economy sectors expected to climb to $107.3 billion by 2025 (up from $5 billion today), Rinne’s expertise will surely continue to be a hot commodity. 

Sharing Economy Expert April Rinne is 'Fantastic'

There is not an industry that the sharing economy doesn't touch. Traditional businesses and regulation are being sideswiped by newer competition based on sharing platforms, i.e., Uber and Airbnb. APRIL RINNE wins high praise from hosts interested in a macro-level keynote, as well as from hosts interested in particular applications to their industry. ITB Berlin described her keynote speech as "fantastic" and "as it should be." 

April Rinne is an advisor for a groundbreaking documentary film on the future of work

APRIL RINNE is participant in Future of Work (working title), a documentary being made by a stellar team of award-winning documentary filmmakers. It will thoughtfully and objectively explore issues related to the rise of self-employment, independent work and related policy implications. The goals of the documentary are to raise awareness, educate a range of stakeholders, and catalyze deeper, informed conversations about the future of freelance, self-employment and on-demand platforms. It is in production, with a target release date of early 2018. 

Key themes that are also discussed include economic resilience, empowerment, and new technologies, as well as the risks and unknowns that come alongside these shifts. Does the future mean greater choice and flexibility to earn income, or is it a "race to the bottom?" Does your answer depend on where you live and the skills you have? If so, then what about the future of education and entrepreneurship? 

Artificial Intelligence & Digital Disruption

As technological developments continue at break neck speeds, impacting businesses across industries and fundamentally changing the way we work, consume and live, these HWA experts are qualified to address questions at the at the top of business leaders' and employees' minds. Whether shedding light on both the opportunities and threats in automation, revealing the next wave in artificial intelligence, or preparing your business for the impacts of disruption, HWA represents some of the leading minds of the new economy and tech. 

HWA's AI & Digital Disruption Experts >>

4 Steps to Improve Our Cities

The policy challenges for the sharing economy have deep and complicated roots, but they are also eminently solvable. In her work with sharing economy companies, policy-makers and governments worldwide, Sharing Economy Expert APRIL RINNE has had the opportunity to see first-hand how forward-thinking leaders can embrace this new space thoughtfully, responsibly and creatively. In her role advising cities of all sizes across developing, growth and developed markets, she has identified 4 stepping stones to successful policy reform.

Unprecedented Power of the Sharing Economy

The sharing economy is not a silver bullet for the world’s problems, but if we can address the unknowns, it has unprecedented power to take us towards a more caring, collective and sustainable future. Check out this fantastic post by Sharing Economy Expert and World Economic Forum Young Global Leader April Rinne.

China's Sharing Economy is Exploding with Growth & April Rinne is a Key Voice in the Conversation

Sharing Economy Expert APRIL RINNE has a great track record advising companies, cities and governments worldwide on creating impact with the sharing economy, and it is a topic that is becoming a priority on many national agendas. From the UK to Canada, South Korea and of course the United States, leaders are realizing the importance and impact of new sharing and on-demand business models. Recently, the Chinese government announced that the sharing economy is now a "national priority" and part of China's 5-year plan. According to this Entrepreneur article, “the sharing economy was already worth about $299 billion (1.956 trillion yuan) in 2015 and it’s expected to grow at an annual rate of 40 percent over the next five years." Other articles around China’s sharing economy include: China’s Internet Giants Throw Weight Behind Sharing Economy After Endorsement by Beijing;'Sharing Economy' Seen as Next Big Force by NPC (National People’s Congress) Deputy; and China's Sharing Economy Worth 1.95 Trillion Yuan (298 Billion US Dollars). April offers incredibly illuminating insights about the sharing economy and how it will affect the future of governments, businesses and lives. Consider bringing her to your next event to help your audience better understand and embrace the power of the sharing economy.