2018 Speaker

BAFTA and Emmy-nominated director and producer Steve Barron will describe his transition from film to farming to create a cleaner and more sustainable world. In conjunction with the University of Cambridge, Steve has established Margent Farm to explore the ability of industrial hemp to revolutionise construction with its adaptable and highly efficient properties. From film cameras to houses, Steve will reveal the enormous opportunity for hemp to redefine our environment.

The current global growth model is broken, helping the few, not many; working against, not with nature; contributing to short-term gains while compromising on long-term impact. We need future-fit leaders who can reinvent this growth model, not through philanthropy, but through ideas that sit at the intersection of commercial opportunity and societal needs. Rick will discuss a new leadership model to address the leadership deficit and help emerging leaders take this journey, and incubate ideas that use commercial muscle to address human problems.

Climate Change is today’s defining global moral issue. Our collective response to it will not only define the kind of planet on which future generations will live, but also how they will judge this current generation. By exploring another historical moral movement, the Abolition of Slavery in the British Empire, Richard will not only open a door on a poorly understood era of British history, but also provide insights into the development of the Climate Change movement and its possible future trajectory.

What effect is humanity having on our planet’s most “permanent” landscapes? Paddy will relate his experiences as an award-winning landscape photographer paying witness to the dichotomy of landscapes appearing untouchable and yet truly changing at an alarming pace. We pay the effects little mind because to us, they appear quite slow, when truly in geological terms they are happening in the blink of an eye. Paddy will explore the landscapes of Antarctica, Patagonia, Iceland, and more through the photographer’s lens and will talk about the challenges these landscapes are facing in light of growing human pressures and global warming.

As a classically trained pianist and singer living and working in Hong Kong, Masters in Business Administration student Lucy Choi noticed a gap between the traditional art form of Western opera and the modern world. Lucy will describe to us her efforts to build a bridge between these two worlds to make opera more accessible and relevant to a 21st century audience. Lucy will share her passion for opera, its impact on her life, and how opera can find its place in modern society.

Who doesn’t want to be authentic? But, a simplistic understanding of what authenticity means hinders growth and limits our impact. Learning, by definition, starts with unnatural and often superficial behaviors that can make us feel calculating, instead of genuine and spontaneous, and we latch onto authenticity as an excuse for sticking with what’s comfortable. But, the moments that
most challenge our sense of self are also the ones that can teach us the most. By viewing ourselves as works in progress and evolving our professional identities through trial and error, we can develop in ways that both feel right to us and suit our changing circumstances.

What can be done in the face of the growing loneliness epidemic? London Business School PhD student, Jennifer Lynch, builds on principles of creativity research to offer a fresh perspective. Her talk outlines a new way to think about creativity, extending it beyond the traditional domains of the arts and the intellect. She illuminates a third domain of creativity, creativity in the relational sense, as a way of being that results in meaningful human connection.

As the UK prepares to leave the EU, London is facing a moment of real jeopardy. Jasmine Whitbread, chief executive of business group, London First, will set out the key challenges facing the capital and what needs to happen to keep London top of the global charts - from staying open to talented people to building the homes and transport links they need.

With a background in business and a decade leading change for the world’s poorest children, Jasmine believes in the power of business leadership to make a positive difference. She’ll draw on her experience to explore how to bring people together to bring about change, including how she’s convening major employers to keep London thriving in a time of uncertainty.

Who doesn’t want to be authentic? But, a simplistic understanding of what authenticity means hinders growth and limits our impact. Learning, by definition, starts with unnatural and often superficial behaviors that can make us feel calculating, instead of genuine and spontaneous, and we latch onto authenticity as an excuse for sticking with what’s comfortable. But, the moments that
most challenge our sense of self are also the ones that can teach us the most. By viewing ourselves as works in progress and evolving our professional identities through trial and error, we can develop in ways that both feel right to us and suit our changing circumstances.

What is a “best self” and can it be turned on and made chronically accessible? Dan Cable will explore the notions of best self activation and signature strengths, examining how both people’s lives and organizational performance can be improved when people’s best selves are activated at work. Dan will introduce the seeking system, the part of the brain that urges us to explore what is possible based on our personal strengths, and explain how leaders can tap into enthusiasm and energy when they activate the best self.