Livecasts: Will They Replace Live Meetings? What Is Their Future?

Leading Authorities is hosting its sixth Livecast today featuring retail thought leader Paco Underhill. The program will originate from our studios and is basically live, interactive television over the internet. You can broadcast from a single point to literally anyone with a laptop around the world.

We are seeing more and more organizations that want to reach employees, members, or diffuse audiences look at this technology. It is a lot more expensive than a simple audio conference call….but…you get a live picture, can poll the audience, and have participants from around the world ask questions.

Where is this technology going? Will it replace live meetings? Displace traditional training programs? Or will it take a very long adoption…after all picture phones were first introduced by ATT in the 1960s. You could go to a facility in New York and can do picture calls with your friends in Los Angeles….50 years ago! And video conferencing which is just a more mobile, affordable version of “picture phones” are just now becoming popular. What do you think?

Retail Thought Leader, Paco Underhill, to Be Featured on Leading Authorities Webcast

 Paco Underhill, one of the era’s foremost shopping anthropologists, and the founding president of Envirosell, the New York-based behavioral research and consultancy firm focused on commercial environments, will be featured on Leading Authorities “Leading Authorities on Business” webcast on May 20 at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time.  To register, go to: http://www.leadingauthorities.com/speakers/all_events.htm.

Underhill’s first book, Why We Buy: The Science of Shopping was an internationally recognized bestseller and has been published in 27 languages. Call of the Mall: The Geography of Shopping was released in 2004 and has been called a humorous walking tour of an American shopping mall. His newest book (the subject of tomorrow’s webcast), is What Women Want, and focuses on how the changing status of women affects the physical world we live in.

Kevin Roberts, CEO of Saatchi & Saatchi, Talks About the Future of Brands

Last night I had the chance to see Alexis Glick interview Saatchi & Saatchi CEO, Kevin Roberts, on his signature work on brands and business transformation.  Kevin pioneered the idea that companies need to create strong emotional connections with customers..and employees… that go beyond “like” and “trust.”  His groundbreaking work on branding at P&G and at Saatchi & Saatchi, suggests that great brands must creat “Loyalty Beyond Reason.”  He talks about attributes like mystery, intimacy and sensuality…words rarely spoken in many “button-up” companies.  He also says that to get the best out of people, companies must create a family connection…that employees responsibility, learning, recognition, and joy.  Alexis Glick, who has done many programs with Kevin, is one of the best interviewers I have seen and together, they formed a dynamic duo on stage.

Joe Scarborough hits a “homerun” at mutual funds conference!

Joe Scarborough energized the final day of a 3-day conference for the mutual funds industry with a high-octane presentation on politics and the media.  Not since Tom Peters have I seen such energy…combined with great stories, humor, and some pretty compellling insights on the state of politics today.  Scarborough was self deprecating and funny, and called for civility in public discourse.  He also responded to a questioner saying he would definitely not be a candidate for president in 2012!  That means he WILL be available for speeches.  And he is now teaming up Mika Brzezinksi.  The two were profiled in The New York Times this past Sunday.  See link:http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/fashion/09JoeMika.html.

60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley spoke for Leading Authorities at the U.S. Chamber this morning

Pelley used some amazing clips from interviews on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, the volcano in Iceland, and interviews w/ Bruce Springsteen, George Tenant, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. It was a real tour de force. He ended by sharing his “attitude of gratitude” for the little things in life for which we should all be grateful. He is a “10” as a speaker.

LAI Represents Andy Stern, President of SEIU

Leading Authorities is proud to announce the signing of our newest exclusive speaker, Andy Stern, the president of the 2.2 million-member Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the fastest-growing union in North America. Stern turned SEIU into a powerful political force, and Stern and SEIU were widely credited for helping elect Barack Obama in 2008.

Stern is one of the most connected Democrats in Washington, and has been one of the most frequent visitors to the White House during the Obama Administration. During his fourteen year tenure atop SEIU, Stern pushed labor to modernize and to build stronger partnerships with employers and faith-based, environmental, and community organizations who share members’ aspirations. On healthcare, he worked closely with industry groups and business, and he counts among his friends, and is admired for his insight, by captains of industry, Republicans and Democrats. He believes in finding common ground with his opponents and in being able to agree without being disagreeable.

Smart, savvy, and articulate, Stern has been the subject of a cover story in the New York Times Sunday Magazine, as well as feature stories on 60 Minutes, Charlie Rose, and Bill Moyers Journal, and in countless other newspapers and magazines.

Stern will be addressing audiences about politics and issues such as fiscal policy, entitlements, immigration, healthcare, and the future of the labor movement. He will speak independently, and also be matched with leading Republican thinkers.

If you are interested in booking Andy Stern for your next event, call 1-800-SPEAKER and talk to one of our program consultants.