Archive 2006: Here are some of Rowan’s speaking engagements for 2006:

MGI Metro Group Convention, Düsseldorf

There’s a great deal of rethinking going on right now in retail, so it doesn’t surprise me that I’ve been asked to address companies from right across the sector over the past few months. Most recently, I was honored to deliver a keynote speech in Düsseldorf, Germany, at the 10th anniversary convention of MGI - the Information Technology arm of Metro Group, one of the world’s leading wholesale/retail companies. The company is a pioneer in the implementation of innovative new retail technologies, such as RFID, Smart Shelves, Self Check-out, and Personal Shopping Assistant (PSA), many of which can be seen in everyday action at Metro’s Future Store in Rheinberg. My speech on “Winning in the Innovation Economy” focused on some of the cutting-edge trends and innovations in the industry, and on how to discover new strategic opportunities in the decade ahead. Afterward, the participants received signed copies of my last book Rethinking the Future. Click here for photos from the event >>>Click here for feedback from the event >>>

Generali Group “Innovation Lab”, Munich

OK. I missed “Oktoberfest” by less than a week, but it was great to be in Munich for an international “Innovation Lab” event held by Generali Group - one of the world’s leading insurance and financial services companies. Having put innovation squarely on the top management agenda, the Group is taking on the challenge with typical Italian gusto. I got the chance to address the participants in a 2-hour session on “Winning in the Innovation Economy”, after which I was delighted to sign books, and later to get involved in the discussion around new innovation opportunities for the Group.

“The Innovation Exchange”, Lake Garda, Italy

Ah, Lake Garda… as many of you will know, I’m a huge fan of (almost) everything Italian – food, wine, fashion, design, lifestyle, and so on. So naturally I didn’t hesitate for a second when IBM and Symbol Technologies (recently acquired by Motorola for $3.9 billion) asked me to come and speak at their top management conference “The Innovation Exchange” in Brescia, near Verona. The Palazzo Arzaga Golf and Spa Hotel was, of course, fabulous. And the event was perfect in every way – great participants, great program, and great organization (by McDonald Butler Associates). My one hour keynote on “Winning in the Innovation Economy” kicked off the program on the second day. And it was good to work alongside Professor Julian Birkinshaw from the London Business School for the second week in a row (see “Concours Summit” below). Click here for feedback from the event >>>

Concours Senior Executive Summit, London

A big well done to The Concours Group for their excellent 2-day Senior Executive Summit in London: “Innovation that Delivers: Moving beyond good intentions”. I not only enjoyed the opportunity to speak for a full three hours (the whole morning session of the first day) on “Winning in the Innovation Economy”, but also the rest of the event program (featuring LBS Professor Julian Birkinshaw, Sir George Cox of IOD fame, and workforce expert Tamara Erickson). The venue (the “Queen’s House” in Greenwich) was perfect, as was our evening tour and dinner at the Royal Observatory (where I got to see John Harrison’s original 18th Century maritime clock, which solved the famous “Longitude problem” – a brilliant example of open innovation!). Click here for feedback from the event >>>

“A Day of Inspiration” in Holland

Congratulations to CFS – one of the world’s leading suppliers of preparation and packaging solutions for the global food industry – for their “Day of Inspiration” event, hosted at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, Holland. I was honored to address several hundred guests from all over Europe on “Winning in the Innovation Economy”, and to share the stage with Prof. Dr. Isaac Getz from the ESCP-EAP European School of Management in Paris. Click here for feedback from the event >>>

Innotown, Norway

Some conferences (and their organizers) knock you down with their charm. Such was the case with “Innotown” 06 – the 6th international innovation conference, held annually in the picturesque town of Ålesund on the North-West coast of Norway. Organized by the lovely Cecilie With, along with Dag Lausund and Anita Osles, this was one of those events that really stands out. I had the pleasure of addressing over 500 participants from 22 countries on “Winning in the Innovation Economy”, including his Royal Highness, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway. Other speakers included the fantastic Guy Kawasaki.
Number of books ordered: 100

Teradata Conference, Madrid

Olé! The people at Teradata – NCR’s enterprise data warehousing division - put on an excellent show at their annual “Teradata Universe” Business Conference, held this year at the ultra-modern Palacio Municipal de Congresos in Madrid. The theme: Explore the possibilities! I was delighted to address 950 people from over 40 different countries on “Winning in the Innovation Economy” – most of them senior business executives from industries as diverse as retail, manufacturing, travel and transportation, financial services and telecommunications. The speech was tailored to specifically highlight the roles of enterprise analytics, customer experience management and value chain management in the innovation process.
Number of books ordered: 400

IHRSA Global Summit: Las Vegas

Addressed hundreds of stunningly fit people at this year’s industry summit for the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, hosted in Las Vegas. My speech directly followed an address by former US President William Jefferson Clinton (a public speaker’s nightmare, believe me!). Other speakers included Jim Collins, Ken Blanchard, Deepak Chopra and Lance Armstrong. The event was a bash (what else would you expect in Vegas!) and I met some really great people. And, yes, yes, yes, I promise to renew my health club membership!!
Number of books signed: 300

Inspiring Ahold in Prague
How do you succeed in an industry that totally reinvents itself every few years? That's the question I set out to answer recently for Ahold - one of the world's largest supermarket operators - in a keynote speech to the company's global leadership team in Prague, Czech Republic. Still recovering from a financial scandal that took a huge chunk out of the share price, Ahold is working hard to get back on track and manage a global innovation initiative. My after-dinner speech and book-signing was hosted in one of the state rooms at Prague Castle - about as formal a setting as you can get. Things went well, though, and the feedback was great.
Number of books signed: 100

Rexam redux, New York city
Can’t believe the top management of Rexam, one of the world’s leading packaging companies (and a personal favourite), asked me to come back and speak to them for the third time (!) on “Winning in the Innovation Economy”.
After addressing their customers (the likes of Coca-cola, Carlsberg et al) at a wonderful forum in Nice, and then one of their main business units (beverage cans) in Versailles last March, it was finally time to speak to the entire global leadership team in New York’s landmark Roosevelt hotel this January. Having beaten the drum for a couple of years now, it looks like innovation is about to become the company’s new by-word. Good for them!

Technology Forum, Switzerland

Really enjoyed speaking at the recent Technology Forum in Zug, Switzerland – not least because Zug is such a beautiful little place. The forum and its innovation award are a clear signal that Swiss companies are thinking ahead – way beyond cheese, cuckoo clocks and pen-knives - about some of the key business and technology trends they can leverage in the future. I also received some great feedback from the event: “excellent communicator” (thanks!), “very lively presentation”, “what he said was absolutely true”, “very good examples”, and “If only headquarters would listen to this” (!).