OpenText Social Workplace

Speaker Series: Exploring Organizational Purpose

In the 21st century, competition is fierce, and great companies will be determined by their ability to focus and engage their workforce and their market on building real value – in other words pursuing a meaningful purpose.

We are sponsoring a speaker series that will bring in some of the people who’ve informed, inspired and amazed us so that you can bring an event greater level of excellence to your team, your organization, and your endeavors.

These free events will be intimate gatherings around North America. We hope you can join us at one of the events, or check out the videos we'll post online.

Many of our speakers will also serve as judges for the Prize for Organizational Purpose – an award of $10,000 will be made to the charity of the winner’s choice. Please share your stories with us about the role that purpose has played in your team or organization.

Speakers:
Breakfast with Simon Sinek: July 11, New York City
Breakfast with Michael Edson: September 21, Washington D.C.
Breakfast with John Seely Brown: October 18, San Francisco
Breakfast with Andrew McAfee: November 1, Boston

Watch Speaker Videos | Get on the Mailing List

Breakfast with Simon Sinek: July 11, New York City

Simon Sinek is the author of “Start With Why”. He understands that we make decisions based on our emotional response more than our rational response. He gives great insight into how great leaders and organizations tap into this when they focus on their purpose and let that shine through in their products, the way they relate to customers, and how they do what they do.

Come have breakfast with Simon and leave inspired and armed with the right arguments for why you should fight to keep your personal and organizational aspirations at the center of the conversation. We instantly recognized that Simon was talking about exactly what we found was the key to success amongst our clients – purpose – what it is, and why it works. We'll do 45 minutes of talk, 15 minutes of Q&A and 30 minutes of general discussion. Join us - you'll be glad you're starting your week this way.

Watch Speaker Videos

Breakfast with Michael Edson: September 21, Washington D.C.

Michael is the Director of Web and New Media Strategy at the Smithsonian Institution and the epitome of the 21st century leader: visionary, soft spoken, and able to identify the intrinsic value in everyone he meets. Michael has pioneered a number of innovative techniques to help businesses develop strategy in times of rapid change and in this talk Michael will unveil a series of urgent new ideas about the changing relationship between technology, organizations, and the future—and what we should do about it. Michael’s presentation and discussion afterwards should be valuable for leaders, employees, and collaborators engaged in all types of work.

Michael was one of our earliest influences and will give you a framework for understanding leadership, and change, and introduce you to a sample of the vast array of thinking and expertise he’s uncovered. He’s also a sweetheart of a person, whom you will be glad to meet in person.

Watch Speaker Videos

Breakfast with John Seely Brown: October 18, San Francisco

John Seely Brown is Co-Director of Deloitte’s Center for the Edge. His research and insight into how we as a society are learning to live in an age of constant flux is masterfully structured and presented. If you’re serious about understanding what is really going on, and how to take action to ensure that you are not only prepared for but leading the increasingly rapid pace of change, then you should not miss this talk. We first ran across this keynote John gave, and he’s been one of our favorites ever since. Watch John's keynote on YouTube here.

Watch Speaker Videos

Breakfast with Andrew McAfee: November 1, Boston

Andrew McAfee coined the Term Enterprise 2.0 five years ago. Since then, he has researched, written and reported widely on the capacity of individuals and teams, the types of problems collaboration can solve. He asks compelling questions about how organizations can and should be structured, the meaning and value of work and the possibilities created by social technology. Andrew brings new every time he takes the stage. I’d see him every week, if I could.

Please RSVP Here

For more information on OpenText Social Workplace, please visit http://www.opentext.com/otsw or email us at OTSW@opentext.com.