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J.W. “Bill” Marriott, Jr., became executive chairman of Marriott International, Inc., in 2012 after being the company’s chief executive for forty years. He is an American business icon who has successfully created a multi-billion-dollar global hotel company. He divides his time between the Washington, DC, area and New Hampshire with his wife, Donna. They have four children, fifteen grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. About Without Reservations:  How a Family Root Beer Stand Grew into a Global Hotel Company In Without Reservations, […]

Amanda Ripley is a literary journalist whose stories on human behavior and public policy have appeared in TIME, The Atlantic, and Slate and helped Time win two National Magazine Awards. To discuss her work, she has appeared on ABC, NBC, CNN, FOX News, and NPR. Ripley’s first book, The Unthinkable, was published in fifteen countries and turned into a PBS documentary. About The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way How Do Other Countries Create “Smarter” […]

Jen Shirkani, founder and CEO of the Penumbra Group, has more than 20 years of experience as a learning and development specialist and executive coach. As a sought-after speaker, she provides insight into human dynamics in a humorous and engaging way. Jen has worked with organizations from the Fortune 50 ($40B) to family-owned entities specializing in the application of Emotional Intelligence. Her corporate career includes learning and development roles at specialty retailer Nordstrom, Select Comfort (the Sleep Number Bed), and […]

Judah Pollack is a regular speaker at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, as well TEDx conferences around the country. An expert in the field of leadership, Pollack has worked with Google, SAP, and Oracle, as well as with the Special Forces and the Army’s senior leadership. Most recently he developed a program to help returning soldiers reintegrate into non-combat military life from the experience of war. About The Chaos Imperative:  How Chance and Disruption Increase Innovation, Effectiveness, and Success The book reveals how organizations can drive growth and profits […]

Turney Duff has worked on Wall Street since 1994, including at Morgan Stanley, the Galleon Group, Argus Partners, and J.L. Berkowitz. A graduate of Ohio University E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, he has written and executive-produced two short movies and under his rap name “Cleveland D,” was partly responsible for the infamous Galleon song, “On the Good Ship Galleon.” He currently lives in Long Island City. About The Buy Side:  A Wall Street Trader’s Tale of Spectacular Excess The Buy […]

Peter Block is a citizen of Cincinnati, Ohio. He is a partner in Designed Learning, a training company that offers workshops designed by Block to build the skills outlined in his books. He is the author of Flawless Consulting, Stewardship, The Empowered Manager, and The Answer to How Is Yes. He is the recipient of the American Society for Training and Development Award for Distinguished Contribution to Workplace Learning and Performance and the Association for Quality and Participation President’s Award. […]

Juan Zarate is a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the senior national security analyst for CBS News, and a visiting lecturer of law at Harvard Law School. Prior to that, he served as the deputy assistant to the president and deputy national security advisor for combating terrorism, and the first ever assistant secretary of the Treasury for terrorist financing and financial crimes. He appears frequently on CBS News programs, PBS’s NewsHour, NPR, and CNN, and […]