The Leading Speakers Bureau

Former Prime Minister of Italy, President of the European Commission (1999 – 2004)

Romano Prodi served as President of the Council of Ministers (prime minister) of Italy twice, from 1996 – 1998 and 2006 – 2008. He became President of the European Commission at a time of crisis, from 1999 – 2004. In 2008, he was was named by the UN as president of the African Union – UN peacekeeping panel. In 2009, he was appointed Professor-at-Large at the Watson Institute for International Studies of Brown University.

“One of Italy’s most successful post-war Prime Ministers”
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Nathaniel Ropes Professor of Political Economy at Harvard University

Alberto Alesina is a leader in the field of Political Economics and has published extensively in all major academic journals in economics. He is also a member of the National Bureau of Economic Research and the Center for Economic Policy Research. He has been a co-editor of the Quarterly Journal of Economics for eight years and Associate Editor of many academic journals. He has published columns in many leading newspapers around the world and has visited several institutions including MIT, Tel Aviv University, University of Stockholm, The World Bank, and the IMF.

“One of the eight best economists under the age of forty in the world and most likely to win a Nobel Prize in the future” The Economist (1990)
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Founder and CEO of Blogosfere

Marco is the founder and CEO of Blogosfere, Italy’s biggest web log network. He is currently assistant professor at the Cattolica University, Milan and teaches theories and techniques of online communication at the faculty of Arts and Philosophy. Marco also  hosts his own TV show on SkyTG24 Television channel, Reporter Diffuso, which deals with the Internet, blogs and news.

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Leading Business Advisor and Author

Ram Charan is a highly sought after business advisor and speaker, famous among senior executives for his uncanny ability to solve their toughest business problems. For more than thirty-five years, Dr. Charan has worked behind the scenes with top executives at some of the world’s most successful companies, including GE, Verizon, Novartis, Dupont, Thomson Corporation, Honeywell, KLM, Bank of America, and MeadWestvaco. He has shared his insights with many others through teaching and writing.

“…even more than his dedication, it’s his insights that have won him the ear of hundreds of top managers…” Fast Company

Ram Charan has been ranked among the top 50 most influential business thinkers. In 2009 Thinkers 50, the global ranking of management gurus, placed him among the list of most influential thinkers

In detail
Dr. Charan’s introduction to business came early while working in the family shoe shop in the small Indian town where he was raised. He earned an engineering degree in India and soon after took a job in Australia and then in Hawaii. When his talent for business was discovered, Dr. Charan was encouraged to pursue it. He earned MBA and doctorate degrees from Harvard Business School, where he graduated with high distinction and was a Baker Scholar. After receiving his doctorate degree, he served on the Harvard Business School faculty.
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Italian Marketing Expert, Communications Director of the Piaggio Group

Fulvio Zendrini is currently communications and marketing director of the Piaggio Group in Italy. Previously he was worldwide communication director of the Italian clothing and fashion house Ferragamo working around the world in Europe, Japan, Asia, USA and South America. He was previously head of development at the Italian Media giant Interactive as well as holding various high level executive positions at Telecom Italy.

“One of Italy’s most successful and renowned advertising and marketing executives”
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The First Female Anchor of the Prime Time Italian Rai News & Author

Lilli Gruber is a journalist and writer. She is a highly respected journalist for foreign affairs, specialised in Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and gulf wars. Lilli is a member of the European Parliament and is chairman of the delegation for the relationships with the states of the Gulf; member of the commission for the civil rights, the justice and the internal affairs and member of the delegation for the relationships with Iran.

“An Italian Media Pioneer”

In detail

In 1987 Lilli Gruber became the first female anchor to present the TG1, Italy’s most popular television news. In 1988, she became international political correspondent for RAI, covering events such as the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the war in the former Yugoslavia, the situation in the United States after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the Iraqi war. Lilli has worked for the Italian daily newspaper La Stampa, and for Io Donna, the women’s magazine of Italy’s leading newspaper Corriere della Sera, and for magazines Tv Sorrisi e Canzoni and Anna.
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One of Europe’s Most Acknowledged Futurist

Vito Di Bari is one of Europe’s most acknowledged futurists and the leading futurist in Italy. Mixing Italian strengths of creativity and design with strong scientific analysis, he explains future mega-trends and scenarios of our fast-pace changing world. He is the official Innovation Designer of Expo 2015 Milan’s Candidate City.

“Future is all we have, the rest it’s just spilt milk”

In detail

Vito Di Bari has been Executive Director at UNESCO’s IMI and is Scientific Director of the International Research Laboratory LabNext, quoted as “Milan’s M.I.T.” by L’Espresso magazine and “the Milan’s think tank” by Wired magazine. He is professor of Design and Management of Innovation at the Polytechnic University of Milan and of Corporate Communication at the Bocconi University, where he also chairs the “Laboratory of Cross Media Communication”. He is a weekly columnist for the Italian newspaper Il Sole 24Ore and TV anchorman for Rai and Mediaset.
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International Design Manager

Alberto Alessi has been described as the ‘godfather of Italian product design’.

Now Managing Director of Alessi Spa, using his entrepreneurial flair he has successfully explored the frontiers of design and technology. As a result, he has repositioned the company as a design leader partnering world class designers.

Deservedly, his risk management skills are sought by prominent technology and design led organisations around the world.
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Practitioner, Scientific Advisor and Technology Intelligence Expert

Prof. Andrea Aparo is a practitioner, scientific advisor and technology intelligence expert.

Having joined Finmeccanica Spa., the major Italian Aerospace and Defence Industrial Group, in 2002 he currently holds the position of Scientific Advisor and Responsible for Technology Intelligence.

From 1999 to 2000, he was Assistant to Professor Ferrante Pierantoni, Board Member of AIPA, the Information Technology Authority of the Italian Prime Minister’s Office.

“A leader in technology”

In detail

Andrea Aparo holds a Doctorate degree “summa cum laude” in Physics. He started work in experimental physics and then became a researcher at the International Patent Office in Den Haag, Netherlands. In 1995, he founded com.e srl, an Internet company based in Rome. In 1999 he was appointed Director General of the City of Barletta, Italy.
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Creative Entrepreneur

Lapo Elkann is the grandson of Gianni Agnelli. Together with his brother and sister he is the majority shareholder of the private parent company controlling Fiat Group. In 2007, he launched his own company, Italia Independent which creates unique objects, clothing and accessories. Prior to that he was in charge of Worldwide Brand Promotion for Fiat Group. In 2001, he was Dr. Henry Kissinger’s Personal Assistant.

“To be independent means to write your own story everyday”

In detail

Having previously worked for Ferrari and Maserati in the Marketing Departments, Lapo moved to Fiat Auto S.p.a. in 2003, where he was in charge of the Fiat Europe Operative Marketing. Whilst in charge of Worldwide Brand Promotion for Fiat Group, he succeeded in winning back the attention of long gone younger clients bringing them to perceive Fiat as a “buddy brand” and “love mark”. He was in charge of the launch of Fiat Punto and has been involved in promoting the relaunch of the Iconic Fiat 500 Car.
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