BIF-8

What do innovation and improvisation have in common? Tom Yorton, CEO of Second City communication (along with the Second City Ensemble) teaches us it’s a lot. Join the fun as the improvisational ensemble leads the BIF-8 audience through a co-creation experience.

Teny Gross, founder of the Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence, exudes passion. As a crusader for nonviolence, Teny and his streetworkers are igniting peace in urban Providence. Never shying away from the hard truths about the violence epidemic worldwide, Teny inspires hope while pulling on your heartstrings.

Susan Schuman, CEO and Partner at SYPartners unleashes the superpowers in us all. Schuman understands the only way organizations can be great is through having strong internal teams and relationship. This new type of personal business requires the courage to work together and bring your best self to work every day.

In a world that is more connected by technology than ever before being connected reins supreme. Although this new way is prevalent for individuals, this model has been slow to progress in the business world. Dave Gray, author and Senior Vice President at Dachis Group has a unique vision for a connected company that will revolutionize the corporate world as we know it.

We need more people in the healthcare system like Nancy Schlichting. As Chief Executive Officer of Henry Ford Health System (a $4 billion health care organization) Schlichting knows that disrupters drive change in an organization. Never afraid to shake things up, Schlichting is among the premiere change-makers in the healthcare industry.

What do magic and health care have in common, two words; Mike Harsh. As the Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for GE Healthcare, Mike oversees the most innovative health care initiatives. Never afraid to disrupt the existing health care models (Ultrasound that fits into a shirt pocket), Mike’s drive is creating a new health care system.

What if innovation markets can mobilize crowds to make innovation more predictable? A believer in “trying more stuff” James Gardner, Chief Strategic Officer at Spigit, suggests innovation starts to become predictable when we perform lots of experiment.

Former Discovery Channel host, Jeff Lieberman pushes our minds to the limits. Prepare to be mesmerized as Lieberman challenges us to embrace our inner infant and live in the “now”. In a world where we live longer Lieberman believes we need to live deeper to be truly fulfilled.

There are only a handful of individuals who can make brain science look cool. John Donoghue, Brown University professor of neuroscience is leading the pack. Appealing to the scientist inside of us, Donoghue wows us with new technological advances in neuroscience. From robotics to brain mapping, Donoghue’s awe-inspiring knowledge of the brain will leave you amazed.

From life lessons to big data Brandon Barnett, Intel’s Director of Business Innovation embraces the complexities in life. Knowing systems thinking and complexity are required partners; Barnett takes us on an honest journey through technology and experimentation.

For Carol Coletta it’s all about the power of cities. The former President for CEOs for Cities exudes passion for making urban life the epicenter of innovation and creativity. In an environment where the elite split their time between multiple residences, where do you call home? Coletta urges us to use the city as a platform to recruit, retain and develop talent, so our “distinct-less” cities, can regain their identities and thrive.

Innovation at any age is tough work; no one at BIF-8 articulated this better than 16 year old Rachel Shuster. Shuster, founder of Half Hollow Hills Kids Care club broke it down like never before, “It's not all rainbows and unicorns when you're trying to get something done”. In spite of these challenges, Rachel relentlessly advocates for cultivating youth talent and serving the community.

Traveler, bestselling author and Food Network star Simon Majumdar has a perfect recipe for transformation: go everywhere, eat everything. Majumdar uses this mantra to guide his joyful life. Whether you’re busy being a judge on Iron Chef or trying to keep up with life, Majumdar urges us to slow down and roast a chicken. Oh, and don’t forget a glass of red wine!

Few individuals conjure up feelings of nostalgia like David Macaulay. The bestselling author and illustrator of The Way Things Work uses images to make complex ideas come to life. Enjoy Macaulay’s eloquent journey of creation, authorship and invention.

For author Bill Taylor there can be no separation between “human” and ‘businesses” in the future. We can‘t thrive in a business world that sacrifices humanity for the sake of profit. Through compassion and kinds acts, a new organization is on our horizon.

Carne Ross, founder of the Independent Diplomat, offers us a new way of thinking about how we manage our affairs together. A self-proclaimed “gentle anarchist”, Ross believes the key to genuine democracy is letting the people – all of them – decide their own affairs. The world is a complex system. Ross knows that order comes not from top-down authority, but from the bottom up.

Buckle your seatbelts for a wild ride with Buzzcar founder and CEO Robin Chase. See how Chase’s peer-to- peer model for car sharing has transformed the transportation industry worldwide. Always focused on innovation and optimism Chase’s model for change could be applied to almost any field.

From living cells to cell phones, Genomic Futurist Andrew Hessel draws our attention to life in all forms. In a world where genetic engineering can be performed from a laptop, Hessel’s work is inspiring a new generation of scientist.

Kaboom! CEO Darell Hammond emphasizes two things: philanthropy and play. As a product of charity (Hammond grew up in a children’s home) he never forgot how important it is to give back. Hammond understands the importance of children and play, citing it’s not a luxury rather the foundation of learning.

David Stull, Dean of the Conservatory of Music at Oberlin believes children in this country should have a chance to be engaged. How can you argue with that? Stull’s passion for making music accessible to all students regardless of their background will stir your soul. Realizing creativity and innovation are intrinsically linked, Stull’s passion for music can be applied to any sector.

Jeremy Heimans has been building movements since he was a small child in his native country of Australia. These days he’s wowing audiences with one simple question: what’s your purpose? As the CEO and Co-founder Purpose, Heimans is bringing social movements to scale in a way we’ve never seen before. Always focused on “doing it”, Heimans is sure to inspire the activist in us all.

Jeffrey Sparr, founder of PeaceLove is the ultimate advocate for mental illness. Watch as he sheds a much needed light on a population that is both invisible and misunderstood. Sparr takes us on an intimate journey of well being through the power of art and creativity. If you can’t say it, paint it—words to live by.

Marc Freedman, CEO of Civic Ventures teaches us retirement is the beginning of a chapter, not an end. In a world where “elders” are younger and more vibrant than ever, Marc paints a retirement picture that could change the notion of careers as we know it. A champion for baby boomers and innovators alike, Freedman is creating a society for all generations.

Lara Lee, Chief Innovation Officer at Continuum makes design thinking look sexy. Her passion for human centered design has helped companies like Pampers and Harley Davidson redesign the ways they deliver value. Always accepting failure as part of the process, Lee is fearless when it comes to trying new things.

Belgium born Drupal founder, Dries Buytaert is a pioneer in the open source web publishing and collaboration platform space. What would a world without Drupal look like? Without the web platform so many organizations, BIF included, wouldn’t have a free reliable platform for web design. Built on a model of the 4 freedoms: 1) open source 2) community 3) collaboration 4) innovation, Drupal has revolutionized the web as we know it.

Tony Hsieh and his retail giant Zappos have been dominating the customer service market for years. Now he’s taken his innovation expertise to a different place, the community. Since Zappos headquarters moved to Las Vegas, Hsieh has helped revitalize the community he calls home. From ROI (return on investment) to ROC (return on community) Hsieh exemplifies the importance of investing in your community.

If Nicholas Lowinger is any indicator of what the future generation is like, we are in capable hands. As the founder of Gotta Have Sole, Lowinger has turned a Bar Mitzvah project into a 501(c)(3) that has provided over 5700 pairs of new shoes to homeless children across the United States. Wise beyond his years, Lowinger urges us to find our passions, create big ideas and act!

Brace yourself for a look at education like you’ve never seen. Hillary Salmons, Executive Director of the Providence After School Alliance, holds no punches about reforming the education system. Her passion for transformation, and her connection with the middle school mind makes her a tour de force on the BIF-8 stage.

Orgnet.com founder Valdis Krebs dissects networks in the most innovative ways. Urging us to connect with people we share common ground, Krebs is a champion for purposeful networks. Through embracing serendipity Krebs teaches us how to connect on your similarities and benefit from your differences.