The Leading Speakers Bureau

International Entrepreneur and Businessman

Sir Richard Branson is the eccentric and outspoken chairman of Virgin Atlantic Airways and Chairman of the Virgin Group. An experienced daredevil, Branson has raced powerboats across the ocean and has set distance records in hot air balloons. His unconventional style of living is only a part of his undeniable knack for beating impossible odds in business and in life. In his latest venture Richard Branson announced the signing of a deal under which a new space tourism company, Virgin Galactic, will license the technology behind Spaceship One to take paying passengers into suborbital space. In 2009 Thinkers 50, the global ranking of management gurus, placed him among the top ten most influential thinkers.

“Richard Branson has got the Midas Touch”

[expand title=”In detail”] Richard Branson received his education at Stowe School, where he established a national magazine entitled Student at the age of sixteen. He started a Student Advisory Centre at 17, aiming to help young people. At twenty years old, he founded Virgin as a mail order record retailer and a short while later; he opened a record shop in Oxford Street, London. In 1972, a recording studio was built in Oxfordshire where the first Virgin artist, Mike Oldfield, recorded “Tubular Bells”, later released in 1973.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]In his presentations Richard Branson talks about his business philosophies as a “transformational leader” with his unique business strategies. He stresses that the Virgin Group is an organization driven on informality and information, one that is bottom-heavy rather than strangled by top-level management.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]A charismatic and charming individual, Richard Branson talks candidly about his business ventures and the leadership skills which have made him into a truly global player.[/expand]
Continue Reading »

Nobel Prize Laureate in Economics 2009

Prof. Oliver E. Williamson was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economics for “his analysis of economic governance, especially the boundaries of the firm” in 2009, sharing it with Elinor Ostrom. He is the Edgar F. Kaiser Professor Emeritus of Business, Economics and Law and Professor of the Graduate School, both at the University of California, Berkeley, USA. He is a prominent author in the area of transaction cost economics and related disciplines and is credited with the development of the term “Information Impactedness”, which applies in situations where it is difficult to ascertain what the costs to information are.

“Oliver E. Williamson is one of the leading economic theorists of our time”

[expand title=”In detail”] Oliver E. Williamson received his B.Sc. in management from the MIT Sloan School of Management, M.B.A. from Stanford University, and his Ph.D. from Carnegie Mellon University. He is recognised for developing a theory where business firms serve as structures for conflict resolution, and has argued that hierarchical organisations, such as companies, represent alternative governance structures, which differ in their approaches to resolving conflicts of interest.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Author of one of the most important books on the corporation, Prof. Williamson has been instrumental in establishing economic governance as a field of research. His focus on the cost of transactions has led him to distinguish between repeated case-by-case bargaining on the one hand and relationship-specific contracts on the other. He is highly sought-after by government organisations and corporations eager to reap the benefits of his considerable expertise, in-depth research and proven economic strategies.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Oliver E. Williamson is an engaging, enlightening and highly informative speaker with an unparalleled level of knowledge of today’s economic markets.[/expand]
Continue Reading »

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)

[expand title=”In detail”] Alberto Alesina obtained his Ph.D. from Harvard in 1986 and served as Chairman of the Department of Economics from 2003 – 2006 and was the Taussig Research Professor of Economics from 2006 – 2007. He is a member of the Econometric Society and of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Alberto Alesina’s offers a unique perspective on a variety of topics. He expertly points out how Europe should handle labour productivity, labour market regulation, globalization, support for higher education and research, fiscal policy, and its multiethnic societies. His wake-up call will ring loud and clear for anyone concerned about the future of Europe and the global economy.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Alberto Alesina is a highly respected, knowledgeable and provocative speaker with the ability to engage audiences worldwide. He has an informative presenting style – he is clear, direct and thought provoking.[/expand]
Continue Reading »

International Best Selling Business Author and Acclaimed Business Strategist

Dr. David P. Norton is Founder and Director of Palladium, and co-founder of Balanced Scorecard Collaborative, an organization facilitating the global use and effectiveness of the Balanced Scorecard as a value-added management process. A frequent lecturer and writer, Dr. Norton’s work with the Balanced Scorecard has been the subject of many articles and public conferences and was selected by Harvard Business Review as one of the most influential management ideas of the past 75 years. He is also a best selling author, having published his most recent book, ‘Alignment: Using the Balanced Scorecard to Create Corporate Synergies’, in 2006.

“Superior strategy execution requires a system”

[expand title=”In detail”] He was previously the president of Renaissance Solutions, Inc., an international consulting firm he co-founded in 1992. Before Renaissance, he co-founded Nolan, Norton & Company where he spent 17 years as president, prior to its acquisition by KPMG Peat Marwick. Dr. Norton is the co-author, with Dr. Robert S. Kaplan, of numerous articles for the Harvard Business Review, as well as four books. They were ranked by the Financial Times among the top 15 business world’s most important practical and intellectual influences. In 2007 & 2009, they were ranked in the Thinkers 50, the global ranking of business thinkers.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]One of the most valuable speakers in the fields of business strategy and leadership Dr. David P. Norton reveals the key principles business leaders will need in order to create their own strategy-focused organizations. A renowned management expert and thought leader whose books have been translated into 23 languages, he draws upon his vast experience to offer audiences invaluable advice into achieving sustainable success.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]In his presentations he uses his extensive research of companies that implement the Balanced Scorecard to suggest a new performance management framework centred on strategy.[/expand]
Continue Reading »

1992 Nobel Prize Winner and Human Rights Activist

Rigoberta Menchú Tum is a 1992 Nobel Prize Winner and Human Rights Activist. She is a renowned leading advocate of Indian rights and ethno-cultural reconciliation, not only in Guatemala, but in the Western Hemisphere generally, and her work has earned her several international awards.

“Rigoberta represents the dynamic development of international legal norms”

[expand title=”In detail”] Born in 1959 in the village of Chimel, Guatemala, a community continuing the millennium-old Maya-Quiché culture. In 1979, Rigoberta joined the CUC (Peasant Unity Committee). That year her brother was arrested, tortured and killed by the army. The following year, her father was killed when security forces in the capital stormed the Spanish Embassy. Shortly afterwards, her mother also died after having been arrested, tortured and raped. Rigoberta became increasingly active in the CUC, and taught herself Spanish as well as other Mayan languages than her native Quiche. In 1980, she figured prominently in a strike the CUC organized for better conditions for farm workers on the Pacific coast, and on May 1, 1981, she was active in large demonstrations in the capital.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]The breadth and depth of her knowledge and experience is unique. Rigoberta has great insights into the social justice and human rights arena as well as globalisation and sustainable development.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]A highly emotional and forceful speaker, the flamboyant Guatamalian is now in great demand as a speaker on political and human rights issues at conferences the world over.[/expand]
Continue Reading »

Winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize for Literature

Orhan Pamuk is a Nobel Prize-winning novelist and is the recipient of numerous national and international literary awards. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature on October 2006, becoming the first Turkish person to receive a Nobel Prize. He is currently a Fellow with Columbia University’s Committee on Global Thought and holds an appointment in Columbia’s Middle East and Asian Languages and Cultures at The School of the Arts.

“One of the world’s most celebrated novelist”

[expand title=”In detail”] Orhan Pamuk studied architecture at the Istanbul Technical University before leaving to become a full-time writer. He graduated from the Institute of Journalism at the University of Istanbul in 1976. He was a visiting scholar at Columbia University from 1985 to 1988, a period which also included a visiting fellowship at the University of Iowa. He returned to Istanbul, where he lived until 2006, before returning to the US to take up a position as a visiting professor at Columbia.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Orhan Pamuk is not only one of the world’s best known authors but also one of the most outspoken social and political commentators. In his presentations he tackles a wide range of social, political and economic issues as he explains to audiences the potential opportunities for organisations. He is supporter for Turkey’s accession to the EU.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Orhan Pamuk mesmerises audiences with his highly engaging speeches and he is an ideal choice as a guest for events where a live interview format is used.[/expand]
Continue Reading »

Author and Leading Authority on Innovation, Creativity and Leadership

Nigel Barlow has a reputation as one of the world’s most dynamic business speakers. He is also a strategic coach, consultant and author, working with large organisations in over 20 countries. Nigel is founding director of an international consultancy company and was also a founding director of the Tom Peters Group consulting business in the UK.

The master of applying creative thinking to customer service.

[expand title=”In detail”] Nigel’s skill is to convey a serious message in a highly entertaining and interactive way. His latest book is ‘Re-think: How to think differently’ and in his speeches he helps his audience to “Open their mind to creative re-thinking”. Creative re-thinking can be applied to topics as diverse as Leadership, People Development, Individual and Corporate Innovation, Strategic Development and the Customer Experience.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Nigel Barlow improves organisational focus by stimulating attitudes and developing leadership capabilities. Concentrating on continuous development, he works with organisations around the world as a speaker, coach, mentor and consultant.[/expand]
Continue Reading »

Swiss Adventurer & Global Warming speaker, Humanitarian & Inventor & Creator of the Solartaxi

Louis Palmer, a Swiss school teacher, made world history as the first man who has ever circumnavigated the world with a car powered by renewable energy. His message has reached more than 700 million people all over the world. The tour’s mission was to spread knowledge about the dangers of global warming and to demonstrate to the world that solutions are available to combat global warming. He is definitely a man with a mission.

Around the world using solar power: 53451 km through 38 countries (2007 – 2008)

[expand title=”In detail”] Among his other projects that see Hungarian born Louis Palmer regularly give up his ordinary life and finish his job as a teacher he wanted to fill the the gap between a car and a motorcycle with the solar taxi. He set off on a world tour in his solar powered vehicle in July 2007 and after 17 gruelling months his around-the-world trip was completed, having travelled 32,000 miles and across 40 countries. In 1996 he started a journey across the US with an ultralight airplane, in 1999 he was a tour observer at the World Solar Challenge in Australia, in 2001 he crossed Asia by car and in 2003 he led a tourist group across Afghanistan to raise money for the reconstruction of the Arkandi School.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Louis Palmer talks openly and freely to worldwide audiences about his historical journey. The ultimate goal was quite simple: to show the world that renewable energy is a viable solution to global warming. Hearing the stories of how the project came together and how it evolved, audiences are amazed at how the efforts of a single man could bring someone so far and deliver the message to hundreds of millions of spectators. With a truly inspiring speech, Louis speaks of his adventures and describes the numerous obstacles he came across, most of which seemed quite amusing in retrospect.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Louis Palmer stimulates the interest of his audiences and is recognised for his innovative vision, sense of humour and conviction.[/expand]
Continue Reading »

IMD Professor & Founding Director of the Evian Group

Prof. Jean-Pierre Lehmann has been Professor of International Political Economy at IMD since 1997. In 1995, he launched the Evian Group, which has developed as a leading global voice on global trade and investment issues and acts as a forum for dialogue and a birth place of ideas. He was also Associate Professor of International Business at INSEAD. He is the author of several books and articles primarily dealing with globalization, modern East Asian history and East Asia and the international political economy.

“Advisor to WTO Director General, Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi”

[expand title=”In detail”] Prof. Lehmann studied in Japan, Switzerland, the United States (Georgetown) and received his doctorate from Oxford. Prior to joining IMD, his academic and business careers encompassed activities in virtually all Asian and Western European countries, as well as North America. He was founding director of the European Institute of Japanese Studies (EIJS) at the Stockholm School of Economics and Professor of East Asian Political Economy and Business. He established and directed the East Asian operations of InterMatrix, a London-based business strategy research and consulting organization (1986-1992). During this time he was concurrently Affiliated Professor of International Business at the London Business School.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Jean-Pierre Lehmann offers vast and highly respected experience in areas including globalization, global governance, trade and development, the role of business in reduction of poverty and inequality and the socio-economic, cultural, and business dynamics of Asia. Acting in various leading capacities in a number of public policy institutes and organizations, as an adviser to governments and corporations, and as a frequent commentator in the international media he is uniquely positioned to provide answers to questions on a variety of current issues.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]World famous thinkers in management, Jean-Pierre Lehmann’s highly sought-after presentations are thought provoking and captivating, enjoyed by audiences worldwide.[/expand]
Continue Reading »

Expert on Obama & the U.S., Award – Winning Journalist

Christoph von Marschall is arguably the best German speaking expert on the US president, Barack Obama and his wife Michelle. As bureau chief of the Berlin Tagesspiegel in Washington, he followed Obama’s two year campaign, closely observing the presidential couple even after their entry into the White House. He writes for major internal magazine including Die Zeit, Cicero and the Atlantic Times. Marschall appears frequently as a commentator in the international media.

“An expert on the intricacies of the US election system and on the changing mood of the electorate”

[expand title=”In detail”] Christoph von Marschall holds a Ph.D. in Eastern European History from Freiburg University. His journalistic career began in 1989 at the Süddeutsche Zeitung and he has won several awards: In 2002 he received the German-American Prize for a commentary post related to the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 and its consequences for American foreign policy. In 2005 he was honoured with the German-Polish journalism award for a report on Skierbieszów, the birthplace of the Federal President Horst Köhler. In the same year he was awarded the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland for his contribution to the German-Polish reconciliation.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Christoph von Marschall openly talks about his unique experience following the President-Elect during the 2008 elections. He expertly analyzes how the questions of race, religion and the economic crisis dominate America’s policy. The award winning journalist offers insights into the political landscape of the United States of America and the role of Europe.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]In his highly sought-after presentations, Christoph von Marschall provides his audiences with a vivid and insightful analysis of power relations and the political climate.[/expand]
Continue Reading »