The World Business Forum NYC Kicks off with Some of the World’s Most Inspiring ‘Story Makers’

Kevin Spacey, Richard Branson, and Walter Isaacson among the confirmed speakers for this year’s Forum on November 12-13 at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, NYC

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- World of Business Ideas (WOBI), the leader in management and leadership conferences, is pleased to announce its confirmed roster of inspirational and thought-provoking ‘Story Makers.’ Speakers include: Mark Bertolini, Steve Bock, Richard Branson, Jim Collins, Carolyn Everson, Oscar Farinetti, Adam Grant, Herminia Ibarra, Walter Isaacson, Stephen Kidd, George Kohlrieser, Stephen Ritz, and Kevin Spacey. Attendees will also have an opportunity to take part in interactive networking activities on both days hosted by The Muse, a popular career site. The forum will be held from November 12-13 at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, NYC.

CONFIRMED SPEAKERS

MARK BERTOLINI, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Aetna

Forward-thinking and solutions-oriented, Bertolini’s vision for better healthcare in the U.S. came from his personal experience, battling the complexities of the system. During his tenure, Bertolini has transformed Aetna into one of the most progressive actors in corporate America.

STEVEN BOCK, President of Bedrock Manufacturing

At the helm of ‘America’s Coolest Brand,’ according to AdAge, Bock has brought life back to Shinola, through a combination of beautifully designed and locally produced products, irreverent marketing, and a resonant brand story, in just four years.

SIR RICHARD BRANSON, Founder, Chairman and CEO of the Virgin Group

A born entrepreneur, Branson has been shaking up tired industries, taking on complacent giants and dreaming big since the age of 16. Continuously finding ways to create, disrupt, and bring dreams to life, Branson continues to provoke positive change in the world, while demonstrating how business can be a force for good.

JIM COLLINS, Bestselling author and teacher of leadership

Academic by definition, Collins has been driven by relentless curiosity and a passion for researching what makes great companies tick. He has authored and co-authored six books that have sold in total more than 10 million copies worldwide, including Good to Great and Built to Last.

CAROLYN EVERSON, Vice President, Global Marketing Solutions at Facebook

As part of Facebook’s global team, Everson leads the giant social media platform’s relationships with top marketers and agencies, including Facebook’s Creative Shop. Everson was named to the top of AdWeek’s “AdWeek 50” in October 2014 and was included on Fortune’s “40 Under 40” list two years in a row.

OSCAR FARINETTI, Founder and creator of the gourmet food and wine chain, Eataly

In 2007, Italian entrepreneur, Farinetti, introduced an innovative new food concept that not only provided consumers with access to high quality Italian food, but also introduced a game-changing model to the food service industry. Today, there are more than 30 Eataly stores around the world.

ADAM GRANT, Professor of Management at Wharton

Wharton’s youngest tenured professor and one of today’s most influential social scientists, Grant’s bestselling book, Give and Take, looks at how success today is increasingly dependent on how we interact with others rather than on individual drivers such as passion, hard work, talent, and luck.

HERMINIA IBARRA, Professor of Leadership and Learning at INSEAD

As one of the world’s most influential business thinkers, Ibarra is an expert on professional and leadership development. Her latest book, Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader provides a practical guide for leaders whose organizations need them to pivot during times of change.

WALTER ISAACSON, President and CEO of the Aspen Institute

With an extensive career in journalism, media, and now non-profits, Isaacson has earned a reputation as an expert on genius. Isaacson has written bestsellers on the likes of Steve Jobs, Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin. In 2014, he published his latest book, The Innovators: How a Group of Hackers, Geniuses, and Geeks Created the Digital Revolution.

STEVEN KYDD, Co-founder of Tastemade, first 100% digital food and lifestyle network

Harnessing the power of the web, Kydd co-founded the first 100% digital food and lifestyle network, a next-generation Food Network, built on YouTube, featuring chefs and other cooking talent native to the Web. More than 80 million social followers come together to discover and share their passion for great food and travel.

GEORGE KOHLRIESER, Professor of Leadership at IMD business school

Having experienced and worked in highly volatile and dangerous situations, Kohlrieser understands the value of negotiation. Roles early in his career led him to embody a deep conviction in the power of emotional bonding and what it can accomplish.

STEPHEN RITZ, Visionary South Bronx educator and administrator

Educator by training and visionary by nature, Ritz is leading a double revolution in education and urban renewal. By leveraging technology and his own vision and energy, Ritz’s students have not only developed a series of fully functioning inner-city farms, but also achieved extraordinary academic performance. Ritz is transforming lives.

KEVIN SPACEY, Groundbreaking producer, theater director, and Oscar-winning actor

With the belief that “no matter how successful you are, always send the elevator back down,” Spacey believes in taking risks, and finding opportunity in the unconventional. His award-winning portrayals, theatrical experience and philanthropic work, have earned Spacey his place as one of the most talented actors of his generation.

CONFERENCE INFO + REGISTRATION

The 12th Annual WOBI Conference NYC will be held on November 12 -13, 2015 at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater. Open to representatives from companies of all leading sectors of business, WOBI attracted nearly 3,000 attendees last year from over 65 countries. For more information or to register, please visit www.wobi.com/wbf-nyc, call 212.317.9110, or email [email protected].

SPONSORS

WOBI wishes to thank all sponsors for their support of the World Business Forum this year. Presenting Sponsors: Teleperformance and Nikkei Asian Review; Official Airline Partner: Lufthansa Airlines; Premier Sponsors: Columbia Business School and The Wharton School; Supporting Sponsors: Nespresso, QFC Qatar Financial Centre, UC Berkeley Center for Executive Education, and 4Voice; and Official Transportation Partner: UBER.

ABOUT WOBI

WOBI (World of Business Ideas) is a business content hub featuring the world's most influential business thought leaders and doers. Through our events, television channel, print magazine and online at wobi.com, we are an unparalleled source of insight and inspiration. For more than two decades we have been serving all those restless, curious minds looking to transform ideas into projects and projects into businesses. Our mission is to create transformational experiences dedicated to building better people, better business, and a better world.

Connect with WOBI via: Facebook (@wobi.en); LinkedIn (@wobi); Twitter (@wobi_en); and YouTube (@wobi). Hashtags: #wobi #wbfny

Press inquiries: [email protected]

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151102006444/en/

For World of Business Ideas
Rosemary Cortes, 917-634-0340

Source: World of Business Ideas

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