The Leading Speakers Bureau

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]
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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]
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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]
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Renowned Authority on Customer Centered Growth, Entrepreneur and Award-winning Author

Richard Whiteley is the Principal of The Whiteley Group, dedicated to helping indiviuals and organisations realize and expand their potential by designing and presenting customized, exciting and provocative speeches and workshops. Most recently, he held the position of Vice Chairman of The Forum Corporation, an industry-leading, 700 man-strong, global training and consulting firm. His award-winning best seller, ‘The Customer-Driven Company’, was named one of the top four business books of 1991 by Fortune Magazine. ‘Customer-Centered Growth’, was selected as a Business Week best-seller, and named one of the top five business books by Selling Magazine.

“Increases expectations”

[expand title=”In detail”] Richard has appeared on national and local television and radio, was featured in Flightline, an American Airlines publication, and is a frequent commentator in the business press. He was formerly a columnist for Sales and Marketing Magazine, and has created two video programs, Customer-Driven Quality with Fortune Magazine, and Solving the Leadership Puzzle, featuring the Kansas City Chiefs pro football team. In 1978 Richard founded and later served as president of The Instructional Systems Association, a group of leading national training companies.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Richard’s personal experience in building his own successful companies, ensure that the ideas and principles offered are practical and based on the most pressing and contemporary issues facing business. An entrepreneur and practitioner first, his extensive knowledge of current business challenges and dynamic presentation style have brought him acclaim as a powerful speaker. His presentations are known for their practicality and usefulness because of his first hand company building experience and his work with over 300 organizations and 350,000 executives in 26 countries over the past thirty years. First and foremost Richard considers the audience members to be his primary customers and tailors each presentation to create high impact, take-home value for every participant. [/expand]
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Leading Authority on Leadership

Manfred Kets de Vries is a clinical professor of leadership development; he holds the Raoul de Vitry d’Avaucourt Chair of Leadership Development at INSEAD. He is the Director of INSEAD’s Global Leadership Centre, program director of INSEAD’s top management seminar, and the program “Consulting and Coaching for Change”, and has on five occasions received INSEAD’s distinguished teacher award. He is the author, co-author, or editor of more than twenty books and has published over 200 scientific papers.

“One of the world’s leading thinkers on leadership”

Manfred Kets de Vries 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

[expand title=”In detail”] He has also held professorships at McGill University, the École des Hautes Études Commerciales, Montreal, and the Harvard Business School, and has lectured at management institutions around the world. He is a founding member of the International Society for the Psychoanalytic Study of Organizations.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Manfred brings a different view to the much-studied subjects of leadership and the dynamics of individual and organizational change. Bringing to bear his knowledge and experience of economics , management and psychoanalysis he scrutinizes the interface between international management, psychoanalysis, psychotherapy and dynamic psychiatry. [/expand]
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Global Business Strategist

Akio Miyabayashi was a former CEO of Minolta Europe, responsible for the launch of Minolta Europe in 1965, and Minolta’s own distribution network in the USA 1966, he became CEO Minolta Europe in 1975.

[expand title=”What he offers you”]His clear understanding of the criteria and driving forces of global competitiveness enabled him to successfully develop the European Operations of this multi-national corporation from a staff of 17 in 1965 to 5,200 in 1995 when he became a senior corporate adviser for the Minolta worldwide. His ability to understand the different cultures of the world and utilizing it for the successful growth, enabled Minolta to become a major player in the European market, with 44 companies and subsidiaries and 2 factories throughout Europe, including Eastern Europe and some parts of the former Soviet Union.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]A charismatic speaker with the knowledge of different cultures (European, American and Japanese), Akio Miyabayashi has shared centre stage with some of the world prominent politicians and business leaders. His presentations leave the audience with a valuable insight into European and Asian developments in industry, management and society, and offer meaningful projections into the 21st century.[/expand]
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Technology Guru, Founder & Director, Persuasive Technology Lab, Stanford Univ., Palo Alto

B.J. Fogg is best known for promoting the concept of “captology,” a word he coined to describe the overlap between persuasion and computers. The founder of the Stanford Persuasive Technology Lab is one of the most sought-after thinkers in Silicon Valley today. As a psychologist he brings a new perspective on working with technology innovations. He holds at least seven patents, and has additional patents pending.

Fortune Magazine recently listed BJ as one of “10 New Gurus You Should Know”

[expand title=”In detail”] B.J. Fogg has held full-time positions at Interval Research, HP Labs, Sun Microsystems, and Casio Research. In 2003, shortly after publishing his book, he began investigating how computers can help people develop close personal relationships. This work has led to a startup and Internet service YackPack. Stanford University awarded BJ the Maccoby Prize in 1998 for four years of experimental research on how computers can change people’s attitudes and behaviours.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]B.J. Fogg applies his findings to companies like eBay (where he’s working to improve customer service) and Nike (where he has helped simplify its sports technology line) and shares his insights with his worldwide audiences. His research goes deep into investigating the psychology of Facebook, how Web site or cell-phone design can impact consumers and he has started research into Peace Innovation (the vision is to innovate persuasive technologies that can bring about world peace in 30 years). [/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]B.J.’s life’s work is to shape technology innovation in ways that benefit the world and make people happier and his powerful and passionate presentations draw us all that little bit closer.[/expand]
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Co-Founder of innocent drinks

Richard Reed is the co-founder of innocent drinks, the UK’s fastest growing food and drinks company and the no.1 smoothie brand in the UK. The business was started in May 1999 by Richard and two friends, and has a turnover of £35m, selling over 800,000 smoothies a week in the UK, Eire and Continental Europe.

“A Serial Entrepreneur”

[expand title=”In detail”] innocent drinks is not Richard’s first enterprise. In fact, Richard’s entrepreneurial career started earlier than most, when he began washing windows for his neighbours at the age of 8!!!! However, a summer job picking up dog biscuits in a pet food factory soon reminded Richard of the joys of working for himself, and led him to set up a summer gardening business called Two Men Went to Mow, employing his school friends.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Richard’s presentation, “The innocent Story”, shows that with a non-corporate attitude, a sincere commitment to the cause and creative thinking it is possible to create a fast growing, profitable company that acts responsibly.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]A versatile and engaging speaker, Richard draws upon his innovative and creative ideas to inspire audiences with his entertaining presentations.[/expand]
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Founder of Pentacle Business School, World Authority on Project Management

Professor Eddie Obeng is Founder Director of Pentacle the world’s first virtual business school and the first organisation to offer an integrated management approach specifically designed to meet the challenges of our fast changing, complex 21st century. He was previously an Executive Director at Ashridge Management College, having begun his career with Shell. Professor Obeng pioneered the concept of the ‘New World’ throughout the 1990’s.

‘Agent provocateur’ and a ‘…leading revolutionary’ Financial Times

[expand title=”In detail”] Eddie and his team have spent the best part of a decade re-writing the fundamentals of business management to create their own coherent, joined up New World approach. They have challenged all the established thinking from strategy as environmental fit to ‘hero’ leaders and re-interpreted the needs for the 21st century of complexity and fast change. Eddie brings genuinely new concepts, materials and practice. He has written up some of his work in over 12 books.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]If you’re after the ‘same old – same old’ Eddie is not the speaker for you. Using his extensive experience and insights he will challenge your perceptions and help you to see the new reality. But more than just ‘talking concepts’ he will use examples from real life client assignments to illustrate and explain, proving, in his words that “The future is now because most of us are already late!”. Eddie is a genuine leader. He has the ability to bring a presentation to life, engage and involve the audience often on a tough thinking journey. Eddie’s legendary reputation for injecting energy means he is often offered the tough post-lunch ‘graveyard slot’ at many conferences.[/expand]

[expand title=”How he presents”]“Eddie’s speech was very valuable as related beautifully to audience’s need, he obviously did his homework! The audience thoroughly enjoyed his energetic and passionate delivery, and would have liked more.”

Eddie is an exciting, energising, thought provoking, rigorous and humorous speaker. His presentations are incredibly energetic and he is renowned as a powerful presenter and a wonderful speaker. He is also part of our Top Leadership speakers.[/expand]
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‘The Alternative Business Guru’

Geoff Burch has a wealth of experience in illustrating the thinking required to find business success. He is equally at ease delivering presentations at conferences, and as a highly amusing after dinner speaker. Geoff covers everything from sales and negotiation to customer care and how they can be improved. Geoff has spent years perfecting his art and is able to construct precise training programmes to suit all companies, and to motivate the individuals involved. Geoff currently presents BBC2’s All Over the Shop, a show that provides a humorous yet practical approach to the problems that businesses face.

“The Hell’s Angel of Management Consultancy” Financial Times

[expand title=”In detail”] The son of a Viennese psychiatrist, Geoff has a wealth of experience in illustrating the thinking required to find business success. Geoff looks at every conceivable area of business, and is renowned for taking a sideways look at the latest business fads and fashions – translating the ones of value into a memorable message that everyone can understand.[/expand]

[expand title=”What he offers you”]Whether it is sales, customer awareness, or change management, Geoff will fire up any team from senior directors, a gathering of international business people, to mass gatherings of ground floor and front line staff with his enthusiasm for the subject, in a way only a true fanatical genius can.[/expand]
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