Featured Speakers Hear from this year's mix of inspiring visionaries, industry experts and business leaders at THINK 10
Tony Hsieh
Zappos.comChief Executive Officer
"Delivering Happiness: Successful Business Innovations in the New Economy",
Tony Hsieh (pronounced "shay") turned Zappos into one of the buzzwords of the digital age. Under his leadership, the online shoe seller has become synonymous with convenience and customer service, a model of e-commerce success. Zappos.com sales have skyrocketed from $1.6 million in 2000 to $840 million by 2007. After its recent acquisition by online giant Amazon.com, Hsieh continues to focus on growing the Zappos business at a rapid pace while maintaining the culture and feel of a small company. Prior to joining Zappos, Hsieh founded a successful internet incubator and investment firm with college buddy and current Zappos COO Alfred Lin.
Tim Sanders
Yahoo!Former Chief Solutions Officer
“Harnessing the Power of Great Relationships”,
Tim Sanders is a man on a mission. That mission: fostering a business culture of social responsibility, sustainability, and employee development. Why? Companies that nurture their people, their communities, and the planet, have stronger brands and healthier bottom lines. Tim is the author of "Saving the World at Work" and has deep experience in cutting-edge businesses and marketing. Prior to his senior positions at Yahoo!, Tim created and led the Yahoo! ValueLab, a "think tank" which delivered futuristic insight to the company's partners and clients. He's a frequent guest on TV and written about in countless business publications.
Ken Auletta
Best-Selling Author Columnist for The New Yorker Magazine
"Googled: The Future of Media",
One of today's most perceptive observers of transformation in the media and entertainment industries, Ken Auletta is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Googled: The End of the World as We Know It. Writer of the "Annals of Communication" column for The New Yorker magazine since 1992, as well as nine other books, Ken has profiled Information Age leaders such as Bill Gates, Rupert Murdoch, John Malone and Michael Eisner. In addition to his extensive presence in print, Ken regularly appears on Nightline, PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and Charlie Rose.
David Schembri
smart USAFormer President
The Smart Car is taking America by storm, and David Schembri is the man responsible for leading the charge. David came to smart USA with over 30 years of experience in the challenging automotive sector, including a variety of executive positions at Volkswagen and Mercedes Benz. During his tenure at Mercedes, David was responsible for several successful product launches while the company recorded 11 consecutive record years in new vehicle sales. In addition to his corporate responsibilities, David serves on the Board of Directors for the Boomer Esiason Foundation, funding research to find a cure for cystic fibrosis.
Bob Herbold
MicrosoftFormer Chief Operations Officer
“Stamping out Fiefdoms & Bureaucracy: How Organizations Can Get Lean and Agile and Stay That Way”,
No one has more experience and deeper insight into improving profitability than Bob Herbold. During his eight years at Microsoft, Bob's disciplined approach to streamlining operations drove a seven-fold increase in profits while the company's revenues increased four-fold. He is the author of "Seduced by Success: How the Best Companies Survive the 9 Traps of Winning," and "The Fiefdom Syndrome." Bob is also the founder of the Herbold Group, a consulting business focused on strategy and profitability issues, with deep expertise in operations and marketing.
Peter Sealey
The Coca-Cola CompanyFormer Global Marketing Director
“The Keys to More than a Century of Brand Leadership”,
Peter Sealey is one of the world's great marketers and business strategists. As The Coca-Cola Company's first Global Marketing Director, he developed and led some of the most successful marketing initiatives in history, including the "Always Coca-Cola" campaign and the introduction of Diet Coke into over 50 countries. Prior to his tenure at Coca-Cola, Sealey led marketing efforts for Columbia Pictures, including the releases of Ghostbusters, Stand By Me, and Tootsie. He continues to anticipate and articulate changes in advertising and consumer behavior, especially in relation to new technologies, for a range of national and global brands.
Paul Gentile
President and CEONew Jersey Credit Union League
Paul Gentile is president and CEO of the New Jersey Credit Union League, representing more than 200 credit unions with 1.2 million members and a combined $10 billion in assets. His bold leadership has energized the state's credit union movement, with consumer awareness efforts such as the renowned "Banking You Can Trust" campaign. A well-known and -respected figure in the industry, Gentile advocates regulatory flexibility for credit unions so they can offer low-cost, high-quality financial services to more consumers. Prior to his current role, Gentile served as editor and publisher of the industry flagship Credit Union Times. He lives in Matawan, New Jersey, with his wife Janet and twin five year-old boys Joseph and Christopher.