The Leading Speakers Bureau

Award-Winning Journalist & Author known for his advocacy of the Slow Movement

Carl Honoré is an award-winning journalist and is best known for his advocacy of the Slow Movement – an international effort by the harried and haggard to decelerate the pace of their lives. His book ‘In Praise of Slowness’ has been translated into 29 languages and landed on bestseller lists in many countries. In addition to worldwide broadcasts and public speaking, Honoré lectures in universities and takes part in debates and panels.

“We all feel under pressure to do everything faster. But faster is not always better”

[expand title=”In detail”] After studying history and Italian, he worked with street children in Brazil. This inspired him to take up journalism. Since 1991, he has written from all over Europe and South America, spending three years in Buenos Aires along the way. His work has appeared in publications on both sides of the Atlantic, including the Economist, Observer, National Post, Globe and Mail, Houston Chronicle and Miami Herald. His 2005 speech at the prestigious TED conference has been ranked in the Top 10 “Most Inspiring” talks by the millions of visitors who vote on the TED website. On top of a (relatively!) busy schedule of broadcasting and public speaking around the world, he lectures in universities and takes part in debates and panels. He has spoken with great success at Microsoft headquarters in Seattle as well as at several prestigious IT conferences, including Thinking Digital (UK), Pop!Tech (USA) and BloggCamp (Norway).[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Carl offers the alternative to living life in the fast lane. It’s called the Slow Movement. “Being Slow is not about giving up or dropping out. It’s about working and living better by relearning the art of shifting gears. Taking breaks, taking time to plan or think through a decision or even just taking a nap can boost productivity and the bottom line”. Carl helps audiences across the globe see the world in a new light. He is at ease running workshops for small groups or working the stage in front of thousands of people. His witty presentations are intellectually stimulating, highly entertaining, and forced us all to look at how we think about the invisible force that rules our lives: time.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Carl Honoré is an engaging, incisive and humorous speaker. He builds a compelling case for slowing down as a way to live, work and play better in the fast-paced modern world. His talks are dynamic, challenging, eloquent, informative and full of humour.[/expand]
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Financial Journalist & Presenter of Effetto domino on La7

Myrta Merlino is a TV presenter, journalist and producer of numerous television programmes (including Italia Maastricht, Energia, Mister Euro, La storia siamo noi and Economix). She presents the economic affairs TV discussion programme Effetto Domino, broadcast on La7, the private Italian TV channel. She has contributed to Il Mattino and Il Messaggero, reporting on economic policy issues, and is the author of two essays on economics, La moneta and Gli affari nostri.

“Myrta Merlino is a respected and natural presenter”

[expand title=”In detail”] Myrta Merlino presented the economic affairs talk show Economix on RAI Educational and RAI 3 from 2006 to 2009 and prior to that the programmes Italia Maastricht, Energia, Mister Euro and La storia siamo noi. On the RAI Radio 2 programme Alle otto della sera she also presented an in-depth series on the history of money. [/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Economic journalist, Myrta Merlino is at ease in any media situation, having gained vast experience on TV including her weekly talk show that treats economy in a very simple and interesting way, explaining how economy affects everyday life from macro to micro.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Myrta Merlino always manages to encourage engaging debate using her natural charm, intelligence and warmth.[/expand]
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Branding & Marketing Pioneer and World-class Photographer

Oliviero Toscani’s internationally recognised work includes corporate images and advertising campaigns and was the creative force behind some of the most successful brands including Benetton, Esprit, Valentino, Chanel, Fiorucci. Most of the Benetton advertising campaigns were institutionals for the brand, always composed of rather controversial photography, usually with only the company logo “United Colors of Benetton” as caption. He is creating with La Regione Toscana a new research facility for modern communication called ‘La Sterpia’.

“The man behind some of the most memorable and controversial ads in history”

[expand title=”In detail”] Oliviero Toscani has worked as fashion photographer in the pages of magazines such as Elle, Vogue, GQ, Harper’s, Esquire and Stern among others. In 2005, five years after his resignation from Benetton, he sparked controversy again with his photographs for an advertising campaign for the men’s clothing brand ‘Ra-Re’. In 1993, he invented, founded, and directed Fabrica, the international center for research in the arts of modern communication. In 1990 he conceived, created and directed Colors, the world’s first global magazine, making of it a cult magazine, which set a trend for a lot of new editorial and communications projects. For his work he has won numerous awards.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]No stranger to controversy Oliviero Toscani has gained a reputation as a unique, masterful and highly creative individual. Being able to communicate in ways unthinkable to a traditional multinational corporation his presentations provide fascinating insights into the mindset of a true pioneer. Toscani’s work may be a form of cynicism, or it may be a vehicle for stirring up debate around social issues. Or it may be both.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Oliviero Toscani is a frank and passionate speaker and a truly colourful character, very comfortable with the seeming contradictions in his nature.[/expand]
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Lecturer & Researcher Carlos III University, Madrid

Irene Tinagli’s work focuses on policies for innovation, creativity and regional development. She has worked as a consultant for the Department of Social and Economic Affairs of the United Nations, for the European Commission, and for regional governments and development agencies in various European countries.

Irene Tinagli works on two levels: macro and micro”

[expand title=”In detail”] Irene Tinagli holds a Master of Science in Innovation Management and Policies and a PhD in Public Policy and Management from Carnegie Mellon University. She has authored and co-authored international publications including ‘Europe in the Creative Age’ (with R. Florida) and ‘Understanding Knowledge Societies’ (with J. Szeremeta) and is an editorialist for the Italian newspaper La Stampa… Her research focuses on the social and economic conditions that lead to creativity and innovation. At the macro level she explores the geographic distribution of human capital and innovative activities and investigates the sources of regional growth, innovation and competitiveness. At the micro level, she explores the psychological mechanisms that attract and retain people in one place and that stimulate them to undertake more creative / innovative activities.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Irene Tinagli’s research is focused on the concept of innovation in social contexts, cities and regions, comparing global trends and local systems. Her invaluable presentations examine how countries and cities are adapting to the 21st century global economy, probing the opportunities and challenges that Europe faces in the global competition for creative and talented people. Her professional activities range from consulting, research projects, to training, executive education and speaking engagements, as well as participation to advisory boards and scientific committees.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Irene Tinagli’s expertly delivered presentations are high in content, clear and informative.[/expand]
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American Novelist, Author of New York Times Bestsellers Committed & Eat, Pray, Love and Spiritual speaker

Elizabeth Gilbert is most famous for her book ‘Eat, Pray, Love’, the story of the year she spent travelling around the world in search of personal restoration after a difficult divorce. The result is a book which has exploded in popularity with women across the planet. She was a staff writer for five years at GQ, where her stories earned her three National Magazine Award nominations. She has also written for such varied publications as The New York Times Magazine (Yoga Y’all!), Allure, Real Simple and Travel and Leisure. She has been a contributor to the public radio show This American Life. Her editor calls her the “Queen of Quirk”.

One of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in the World, 2008

[expand title=”In detail”] After graduating from New York University, Elizabeth Gilbert used money earned at a Philadelphia diner to travel. Coming from an educated, ascetic rural Connecticut upbringing, she came to her writing career with fearless reporting skills, an abiding appreciation for working-class values with an attendant scepticism of politically correct liberalism. Much of her writing has been optioned by Hollywood for potential films; one GQ story, a memoir about Gilbert’s career as a bartender in a lowdown East Village dive (“The Muse of the Coyote Ugly Saloon”) became the basis for the Disney movie Coyote Ugly.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Brilliant and personal, rich in spiritual insight, filled with sorrow and a great sense of humour, Elizabeth Gilbert is everything you would love in a tour guide, of magical places she has travelled to both deep inside and across the oceans: she’s wise, jaunty, human, ethereal, hilarious, heartbreaking, and pays great attention to the things that really matter. She muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses – and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person “being” a genius, all of us “have” a genius.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Expansive, exploratory, playful, bright and armed with a comic’s sense of timing, Elizabeth Gilbert has an awful lot of humour and charm. She also talks the way she writes – with intelligence, wit and not just a shade of the performer behind her expressive and insightful presentations. She delivers funny, personal and surprisingly moving talks.[/expand]
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Media Mogul and Broadcaster

Andrew Neil is a publisher, broadcaster and company chairman working out of London, New York, Dubai and the South of France. He is currently Chairman and Editor-in-Chief of Press Holdings Media Group, publishers of The Spectator, Spectator Business, Spectator Australia, Spectator India and Apollo, the world-renowned art magazine. He currently presents four editions of the Daily Politics on BBC2 every week, the award-winning This Week on BBC1 and Straight Talk with Andrew Neil on BBC News 24.

“An acknowledged expert on British, European & US politics & business”

[expand title=”In detail”] During his career, Andrew has been lobby correspondent in the British Parliament, White House correspondent then British Editor of The Economist, Editor of The Sunday Times of London and Executive Chairman of Sky Television, which he launched in 1989 as Britain’s first multi-channel satellite TV platform. Until recently he was a member of the International Advisory Board of Al Jazeera, the international news channel based in Doha, Qatar; and Publisher of The Scotsman Group of newspapers in Edinburgh. [/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]In addition to his business responsibilities, Andrew is a well-known anchorman on BBC TV. At the forefront of world news and digital television developments he is well placed to comment on the information revolution. A widely respected opinion leader and a businessman with real and current knowledge, he will help you plan your future communications strategy. As well as being a versatile commentator on British and US politics and business, Andrew enjoys a ringside seat on all major developments in media and technology.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Informal but professional, humorous but thought-provoking, Andrew will add pace and energy to your event.[/expand]
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British Actor, Writer, Comedian, TV Presenter and Film Director

Stephen Fry is one of the few living legends of acting and comedy and a great after dinner speaker and host. As a solo actor, he played the lead in the film Wilde, was Melchett in the Blackadder TV series and is the host of the erudite, but comedy-based quiz show, QI. He also presented a 2008 television series Stephen Fry in America having become known to American audiences for his recurring guest role as Dr. Gordon Wyatt on the Fox crime series Bones.

Stephen has been described as a “national treasure”, “a phenomenon”, and “an epitome of the Renaissance man”

[expand title=”In detail”] Stephen Fry first came to attention in the 1982 Cambridge Footlights Revue presentation, The Cellar Tapes. Apart from his work in television, he has contributed columns and articles for newspapers and magazines, and has written four novels and an autobiography. Stephen is enormously well-loved for his numerous television appearances, including The Young Ones, Blackadder, Saturday and Friday Live, Alias Smith and Jones, The Lenny Henry Show, A Bit Of Fry And Laurie, Jeeves and Wooster, The Wind in the Willows, The Thin Blue Line and Fortysomething among others. His film credits include Peter’s Friends, The Good Father, The Secret Policeman’s Other Ball, A Handful of Dust and A Fish Called Wanda.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]His presence at any event adds prestige and good humour, delighting fans and non-fans. Now in demand as an after dinner speaker at corporate entertainment events, Stephen is able to use a mix of humour and wit to offer his audiences a memorable and entertaining evening.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Britain’s best-loved comic genius, Stephen Fry is a wonderfully funny and highly informative speaker and presenter.[/expand]
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Philanthropist, World Famous Author & Creator of the Harry Potter Series

Joanne “Jo” Murray OBE better known as J. K. Rowling is perhaps equally famous for her “rags to riches” life story, in which she progressed from living on welfare to multi-millionaire status within five years. The Potter books have gained worldwide attention, won multiple awards, sold more than 400 million copies, and been the basis for a popular series of films. Time magazine named her as a runner-up for its 2007 Person of the Year, noting the social, moral, and political inspiration she has given her fandom.

Forbes ranked J. K. Rowling as the forty-eighth most powerful celebrity of 2007

[expand title=”In detail”] In 2000, graduate of Exeter University, a teacher and then an unemployed single parent, “Jo” established the Volant Charitable Trust, which combats poverty and social inequality and in 2005 founded the Children’s High Level Group. She is the president of the charity One Parent Families. She has received honorary degrees from St Andrews University, the University of Edinburgh, Napier University, the University of Exeter and the University of Aberdeen. The Harry Potter novels have been translated into more than 60 languages.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Perhaps no one in our time has done more than J.K. Rowling to inspire young people to experience the excitement and the sheer joy of reading. She conveys the idea that we do not need magic to transform the world. She emphasizes that we should not be afraid of failure in life as our imaginations are our greatest gifts. She is an experienced speaker, having spoken at prestigious global events including being Harvard University’s principal commencement speaker.[/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]J. K. Rowling speaks from the heart and provides inspiration to a wide ranging worldwide audience.[/expand]
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Chair Professor of Communication Technology & Society

Manuel Castells is Professor of Communication and the holder of the Wallis Annenberg Chair in Communication Technology and Society at the Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California. He is a Research Professor at the Open University of Catalonia in Barcelona and Professor Emeritus of Sociology and of City and Regional Planning at the University of California, Berkeley. He is currently the co-editor of the International Journal of Communication.

“Governments can no longer govern; they can only negotiate”

[expand title=”In detail”] Between 1967 and 1979 he was associate professor of sociology at the School for Advanced Studies in Social Sciences at the University of Paris. In 1979 he was appointed Professor of City and Regional Planning and of Sociology at the University of California, Berkeley. He has lectured in over 300 academic institutions in 46 countries and is the author of 22 academic books and editor or co-author of 21 additional books, as well as over 100 articles in academic journals. He has been knighted for scientific merit by the Governments of France (Order of Arts and Letters), Finland (Order of the Lion of Finland), Chile (Order of Gabriela Mistral), Portugal (Order of Santiago da Espada), and Catalonia (Cross of Saint George).[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]A pro-bono advisor to the governments of Chile, Portugal, Spain, Mexico, Ecuador, Nicaragua, China, Brazil, Russia, Finland, and South Africa, Manuel Castells is the most influential urban theorist of our time and has revolutionized modern thought on the processes of advanced capitalism and the generation of inequality. His forward thinking views reflect the panoramic breadth of his knowledge, the clarity of his approach, and the scholarly rigor and intellectual depth of his theoretical methods. [/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]Manuel is a brilliant speaker who brings great depth to his immaculately researched presentations in which he skillfully demonstrates his analytical prowess.[/expand]
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Chairman & Former CEO of Xerox Corporation

Anne M. Mulcahy is credited with leading the printer and copier maker out of a deep financial slump earlier in the decade. From 2001 to 2009, she was also CEO and retains the position of chairman. The Wall Street Journal named her one of 50 women to watch in 2005 and Forbes Magazine ranked her at the sixth position among the Most Powerful Women in America in 2005. In 2008, she was selected by U.S. News & World Report as one of America’s Best Leaders. She has been selected as CEO of the Year 2008 by Chief Executive magazine.

“One of America’s Best & Courageous Leaders”

[expand title=”In detail”] Anne M. Mulcahy earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English / Journalism from Marymount College in Tarrytown, N.Y. In addition to the Xerox board, she is a board director of Catalyst, Citigroup Inc., Fuji Xerox Company, Ltd., Target Corporation, The Washington Post Company, and is the chairman of the corporate governance task force of the Business Roundtable. She began her Xerox career as a field sales representative in 1976 and became chief staff officer in 1997 and corporate senior vice president in 1998. Prior to that, she served as vice president and staff officer for Customer Operations, covering South America and Central America, Europe, Asia and Africa, and China.[/expand]

[expand title=”What she offers you”]Anne Mulcahy provides worldwide audiences with her story of how she successfully led a multibillion-dollar turnaround of Xerox and transformed the business into an innovative digital technology and services enterprise. Central to her strategy is the investment in R&D through good times and bad. She is a superb motivator who can push people to step up their game without demoralizing them in the process. [/expand]

[expand title=”How she presents”]Anne Mulcahy is a tremendous communicator and a skilled negotiator having persuaded a full 98 of the 100 top executives to stay during the dark periods of the turnaround, and the bulk of them are still with the company today.[/expand]
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