Corporations & Associations

APB speaker David Epstein’s latest bestseller Range contradicts the conventional wisdom of “practice makes perfect” or, in career lingo, specialization. Epstein went on GPS with Fareed Zakaria on CNN to explain his data-driven bombshell theory. Epstein shares that it is generalists who thrive in a specialized world and offers two key reasons why this is so. Firstly, he draws on his encyclopedic knowledge of science, journalism, data, business and technology to assert that the world itself is becoming more specialized, which in turn demands big-picture thinkers to synthesize information and connect the dots. Secondly, as he puts it for Zakaria on air, “we learn who we are in practice, not in theory,” meaning that we maximize our potential by sampling many things.

Jeopardy! champion and APB speaker Ken Jennings is set to return to the Jeopardy! stage this January to compete against the other two top money winners in show history. The ultimate showdown, aptly called Jeopardy! The Greatest of All Time, is set to debut at 8pm EST on January 7th, hosted by Alex Trebek. Already having won two games, the first of the three contestants to win three matches will take home $1 million (and a lifetime of bragging rights), while the two runners-up will win $250,000.

Check out these trending speakers who are making headlines!

A world-renowned talent management consultant and advocate for women in the workplace, APB speaker Joan Kuhl channeled years of high-level consulting experience into her new book Dig Your Heels In: Navigate Corporate BS and Build the Company You Deserve. She recently appeared on Know Your Value on NBC to discuss the phenomenon of imposter syndrome in the workplace with host Mika Brzezinski.

LinkedIn has published its 5th annual “Top Voices” list, highlighting standout professionals from diverse industries who are breaking boundaries, building communities and starting conversations. APB’s Justin J. Shaifer, the founder and executive director of Fascinate, Inc., is featured on the prestigious Top 10 list for Technology, making 2019 a banner year for the young, science-loving firebrand.

Already a Top 10 New York Times best-selling book, Range, by APB speaker David Epstein has been named to multiple “Best of 2019” lists. These include Amazon’s Best Business and Leadership Books of 2019, Apple’s Best Audiobooks of 2019, Inc.’s Must-Read Books for Entrepreneurs in 2019, Bookpal’s Outstanding Works of Literature 2019 Longlist and Porchlight’s Business Book Awards Longlist. 

President and CEO of The Paley Center for Media and sought-after speaker Pat Mitchell launched the TEDWomen conference in 2010. Today, the conference is a blockbuster annual event recognizing the incredible work championed by women and girls in all fields. This year, not only will Mitchell be giving a keynote during the December 6th "Wayfinders" session, but fellow APB speaker and first female President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will be addressing the audience during the December 4th "Truth Tellers" session. 

Entrepreneur, investor and APB speaker Soraya Darabi is taking over the second season of Business Schooled, the hit podcast by Synchrony, as the new host and resident business expert. The eight-episode season features probing conversations with an up-and-coming generation of entrepreneurs from across the country. Darabi’s mission with this season of Business Schooled is to unpack why today’s generation of entrepreneurs are more successful across the board than in the prior three decades. She talks to business owners and founders that run the gamut of modern business, from the world of 3D printing in the heart of New York City to a backyard grilling guru in Louisville, Kentucky. This consistently top-ranked business podcast explores what it really takes to start and grow a business, from the financial to the personal.

Forget your worries about the rise of AI, robotics, blockchains, IoT and other technologies “botsourcing” our jobs. Instead, get ready for a golden age when humans are empowered to flourish, emotional connections are paramount, and authenticity is essential. According to Dr. Nada Sanders, futurist, AI expert, keynote speaker and distinguished professor at Northeastern’s D’Amore McKim School of Business, we are at the dawn of the Human Era. In the Human Era, machines are just tools doing automated, repetitive, and standardized tasks. Our uniquely human qualities will reign supreme, advancing our enterprises, society and economy.

APB speaker Vaclav Smil, a renowned scientist, professor and thought leader has released his much-anticipated new book Growth: From Microorganisms to Megacities via the MIT Press. Smil’s expertise in the realms of climate, energy and consumption have made him a larger-than-life figure in the scientific discussions around our society’s response to climate change, especially the potential of energy transitions.