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The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau

A speakers bureau that represents the best original thinkers,
writers, and doers for speaking engagements.

Joe Jackman Repositions Change as a Force to Be Embraced in The Reinventionist Mindset—Out Tomorrow!

What if, instead of fearing, resisting, and hiding from change, we ran towards it with open arms? How might our lives and our businesses transform? How might we become better positioned to thrive in an era of disruption? In The Reinventionist Mindset, CEO and world-renowned Reinventonist Joe Jackman shows us how to overcome our instinct for the status quo.  

Joe Jackman is a master of creating lasting, meaningful change—in a distinctly human way. In his debut book The Reinventonist Mindset, he offers readers a behind-the-scenes glimpse at some of the most remarkable reinventions he’s spearheaded throughout his career, from the seismic turn-around of Dave & Busters to Duane Reade’s total revamp. Jackman’s human-centric approach, now translated into this savvy how-to book, has been praised as both “an invaluable aid to those in pursuit of redefining and growing their business” (Jill Soltau, CEO,  J.C. Penney) and “an indispensable resource for today’s leaders in our fast-paced, ever-changing world” (John Lederer, Executive Chairman, Staples). The book is available everywhere tomorrow.

 

The Reinventionist Mindset: Book Trailer

 

To book speaker Joe Jackman for your next event, contact The Lavin Agency today, his exclusive speakers bureau.

Connecting to Today’s Consumers: Lavin’s Top Ten Marketing Speakers

The last decade has seen a complete transformation in the way we do business. Lavin’s Top 10 Marketing Speakers expertly navigate us through the changing tides, and help leaders and organizations win the hearts of tomorrow’s consumer.  

Sarah Kaplan
Corporate social responsibility has morphed from a nice-to-have into an absolute must-have. In her talks, as well as her book The 360 Corporation, Rotman professor Sarah Kaplan considers not only how companies can incorporate ethical, sustainable, and diverse practices into their organization, but how they can communicate their mission to a wide array of stakeholders, each wanting different outcomes.

 

Stephanie Mehta
Fast Company’s editor-in-chief Stephanie Mehta is dismantling the old guard of business and reinventing the future. Her world-class marketing talks distill a lifetime of knowledge—gained from working alongside the world’s most innovative companies and people—into an action-packed, anecdote-filled roadmap for success.

 

Steve Martin
World-renowned behavioral science expert Steve Martin uses the power of persuasion to capture attention and influence behavior. His most recent book Messengers, co-authored with Joseph Marks, uses behavioral psychology to explain why we listen to and trust some people over others—oftentimes, at the cost of the truth. In his rousing marketing talks he considers the question: what are the implications for business when the messenger becomes the message?

 

Joseph Marks
Though we like to consider ourselves arbiters of logic and rational thought, the truth is that many of our decisions come from snap-judgements. That’s what makes Joseph Mark’s book Messengers (co-authored with Steve Martin) a particularly thrilling read. In it, the psychological scientist deep dives into how society’s messengers can influence, persuade, and change behavior, as well as shape collective beliefs.

 

Luke Burgis
Why do we want what we want? According to French philosopher René Girard, we discover what we want in relation to what others have. Now, his upcoming book Wanting, entrepreneur Luke Burgis builds upon Girard’s theory to uncover the powerful, hidden forces that shape our desires—and reveals how to harness them for good.

 

Markus Giesler
Named one of the best business professors under 40, Markus Giesler is doing groundbreaking work in the field of marketing. His Customer Experience Design course at the Schulich School of Business is the world’s first MBA course on consumer experience, and the only one to be endorsed by the American Marketing Association. A sought-after and highly original marketing speaker, Gielser takes a sociological approach to his work, showing us how to create a captivating customer journey from start to finish.

Seth Stephens-Davidowitz
In his astonishing book Everybody Lies, former Google data scientist Seth Stephens-Davidowitz offers us a peek into the motivations behind human behavior and decision-making. In talks, he draws upon a wealth of information to show us a more accurate picture of the world—ultimately helping to deliver what consumers really want.

 

Amber Mac
Innovation is overrated, says marketing expert Amber Mac. The real winners in today’s ever evolving marketplace are actually masters of adaptation. In her award-winning podcasts, as well as her highly prized talks, Mac helps companies and business leaders navigate the age of disruption with speed and ease.

 

David Sax
The digital revolution changed the world, but the desire for real things persists, perhaps even more forcefully than before. In his book The Revenge of the Analog, David Sax shows how a one-size-fits-all approach to digital transformation is a lopsided  strategy. Instead, the consumer analyst reveals how retailers and businesses can fuse the digital with the analog to achieve greater creativity, connection, and success.

 

Doug Stephens
Internationally renowned retail futurist Doug Stephens has helped legendary brands redefine their strategy in a post-digital world. His strategic marketing talks draw from his decades of experience, as well as compelling research from his latest book Reengineering Retail, to show how smart brands can secure a place in the hearts and minds of tomorrow’s consumer.

 

To book one of these talented Marketing Speakers for your next speaking event, contact The Lavin Agency today and speak with a representative. 

Welby Altidor Unveils Record-Breaking Touchscreen Display for Hunger Games Attraction

The Hunger Games: The Exhibition, a new attraction created by Victoria Hill Exhibitions, features the world’s largest interactive touchscreen display. As the exhibition was unveiled to the public, Welby Altidor—CCO of Victoria Hill—spoke about the company’s record-breaking achievement. 

Located in the MGM Grand Hotel in Las Vegas, The Hunger Games: The Exhibition features iconic costumes, props, and a stunning recreation of the film’s fictional world of Panem. The touchscreen display, a 60-foot marvel, was designed to be an archery training experience for guests.

 

“We strive to create unique, one-of-a-kind attractions, and the 60-foot wide interactive touchscreen offers patrons an unparalleled experience as they dive deep into the world of Panem,” said Welby Altidor, Group Chief Creative Officer of Cityneon Holdings and Victory Hill Exhibitions. “Our immersive attractions are designed with the latest technology to create hands-on interactives, and receiving a Guinness World Records title validates the quality, precision and creativity we put into every project.”

 

To book speaker Welby Altidor for your next speaking event, contact the Lavin Agency today.

Revenge of Analog Author David Sax on Real Things and Why They Matter in Marketing

“Analog may be more cumbersome and costlier than its digital equivalents,” says consumer behavior expert David Sax, “but it provides us with a richness of experience that is unparalleled with anything delivered through a screen.” In an interview with Content Magazine, Sax explains the ways that analog experiences can actually enhance digital strategy.  

“What I’ve been interested in seeing lately is the digital-only brands, that have no actual connection to the real world, opening stores. They know that everything online is ephemeral, that allegiance is temporary. That’s why you’re seeing companies like Amazon moving into this market.” He uses the success of Warby Parker as an example: “Warby Parker, which started off selling eyeglasses online, is another example of an e-commerce business that realized it was limited in an online-only market. Yes, it sold a lot of glasses, but ultimately it knew that people still wanted to try them on before buying…from opening its first brick and mortar store in NYC, Warby Parker has since gone on to launch more than 60 across the U.S. and plans an additional by the end of this year.”

 

Watch Sax break down the enduring appeal of analog products below:

David Sax: Why Are Analog Goods Making a Comeback?

 

To book David Sax for your next speaking engagement, contact The Lavin Agency, his exclusive speakers bureau.

Nothing Just ‘Goes Viral’: Watch the New Trailers for Derek Thompson’s Hit Makers

There’s a hidden history to every smash success—a web of economics, psychology, and desire that holds our attention. In these new videos, Atlantic senior editor Derek Thompson reveals fascinating insights from his new, groundbreaking study of how culture gets made, Hit Makers.

How Did the Creator of the Vacuum and Refrigerator Help Design the 20th Century?

 

In this video, Thompson reviews the work of Raymond Loewy—arguably the most influential artist of the 20th century. Inventor of the modern vacuum, fridge, and tractor, Loewy also devised the ‘MAYA’ rule to product design—“Most Advanced, Yet Acceptable.” To sell something surprising, we need to make it familiar; to sell something familiar, it needs to surprise. As Thompson says: “People adore that which is a little bit familiar … they don’t want new things—they want new things that remind them of old things.”

 

Hit Makers by Derek Thompson: Raymond Loewy

 

How Are Buzzfeed and VICE Using an Advertising Playbook from the 1930s?

 

In Hit Makers, Thompson explores “how media and entertainment companies go from little tiny shops to global empires.” In our second video, he talks about how a Nebraskan salesman revolutionized merchandizing by taking a core product (here, Mickey Mouse) only to branch out with auxiliary products, like soaps, t-shirts, and watches, which end up making more money than the Disney films themselves. People want to “live inside the fantasy created by the original hit maker,” Thompson says—and that’s how today’s entertainment companies find success without being true originators themselves.

 

Hit Makers by Derek Thompson: Walt Disney Co.

 

What Can Lab Mice Tell Us about Chart-Topping Hits?

 

Below, Thompson argues that the appeal of pop music is rooted in repetition—something he dubs the “God particle” of the chart-topper. Repetition tricks the brain into hearing noise as music, and studies with lab mice reveal just how much the mammalian brain is trained to pay attention to intervals of notes. And modern pop music—think verse, chorus, bridge!—is all about pleasing patterns of repetition.

 

Hit Makers by Derek Thompson: Mice and Music

 

Derek Thompson’s Hit Makers hits stores this February. To book Thompson to speak with your organization, call or email The Lavin Agency today. 

First Look: David Sax’s New Book,The Revenge of Analog

The promise of digital seems too good to pass up. With advanced technology, operations become smoother, purchases simpler, and everything’s just a few clicks away. But recently, we’ve seen another curious trend emerge: the resurgence of analog goods, businesses, and experiences, thriving against a tech-heavy backdrop. It’s the subject of David Sax’s fascinating new book, The Revenge of Analog, and it hits both real and digital shelves this November.

Somewhere beyond the sea of Instagram filters, food-swapping apps, and WiFi-enabled self-driving cars, Sax has discovered a culture of outliers. But the throwback notions of analog goods have now moved beyond the fringe—and even large corporations are embracing the trend. Be it vinyl records, board game cafés, Moleskine notebooks, or Polaroid cameras, everything old is new again, and Sax knows why: these tactile products and experiences fill a void left by cold, calculating digital. But the analog revival goes beyond mere enjoyment, Sax argues. We’re also reminding ourselves that we read more efficiently from the printed page, that physical retailers outstrip the profits of e-commerce, that tech-free meetings encourage us to retain information. And that maybe, just maybe, analog and digital products can exist side-by-side: a happy medium with one foot firmly in each millennium.

Sax’s focus on the re-emergence of analog doesn’t stop with the book, however. He’s a regular contributor to both Bloomberg Business and The New Yorker, where he writes on the digital-analog overlap—everything from Record Store Day to Kodak’s renaissance to Amazon’s ambitious foray into brick-and-mortar bookstores. And if you want the full experience, look no further than his brand-new keynote, “Analog Revenge,” an intriguing exploration of the 20th-century trends permeating 21st-century culture, and their profoundly human underpinnings.

David Sax is always ahead of the curve when it comes to our ever-changing cultural trends. Whether he’s discussing the re-emergence of analog or our obsession with bacon strips, Sax can tell you what major trends say about us, and what they mean for marketing, health, and the economy. To book David Sax for a keynote, contact The Lavin agency speakers bureau

Forecasting Trends: Innovation Speaker Jeremy Gutsche On Wine & TIFF

Wolf Blass Wines are celebrating their 30th year in Canada—and they enlisted our highly requested innovation speaker Jeremy Gutsche to help make it a success! The founder of Trendhunter.com is often looked to for his ability to conduct cutting-edge market research and supercharge innovation. For his role with the company, Gutsche was instrumental in drumming up unique ways to promote the milestone event. This included coverage in the media and events at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival. Drawing from crowd-sourced trends on Trend Hunter, and his unique eye for the next big thing, Gutsche has helped made the anniversary event a success.

As part of the venture, he pinpointed 10 unique wine trends and was part of the film festival's media wine lounge. One of his trends, Wine Painting, is being recreated this year at the festival. The chance to take part in the activity will also be among the 30,000 prizes given out to lucky winners. Some of the other top trends in wine he discovered were Everyday Sommeliers, Wine as a Shared Experience, Winecations, and Desnobbing. So far, publications to feature his research include Marketing Magazine, OCanada.com, and The Calgary Herald.

So how did Gutsche get the skivvy on what's hip in wine? And, how did he help the company expand its marketing efforts to apply not only to Toronto, but to a global market, as well? “For Canada, it was about 100,000,000 views of data—and globally, about 1.5 billion views of data—that led us to some of these different patterns,” he explains. “Instead of looking to a guru, we look at what the power of the crowd tells us.” He pours over the micro-trends on his site to unlock “Clusters of Inspiration” for each industry. In short, he uses crowd-sourcing to unlock trends and then teaches companies how to use this invaluable input. Thanks to Gutsche's help, the company was able to do just that.

As the founder of Trendhunter.com, the largest trend hunting website in the world, Gutsche is plugged in to the latest in consumer behavior. He channels that insight into his popular keynotes on marketing and innovation. Pairing that with research from his book, Exploiting Chaos, he cuts through the noise to give companies the no-nonsense guide to being competitive in the marketplace. To book Jeremy Gutsche as a speaker, contact The Lavin Agency.

Winning The Media Game: Derek Thompson On ESPN’s Global Dominance

“People tune in to ESPN without even knowing what’s on.” That's what Artie Bulgrin, ESPN’s director of research, told Derek Thompson in a new feature in The Atlantic. That may seem boastful, but the sports broadcaster has the stats to back up the claim. The company is projected to earn a whopping $10 billion in revenue in 2013, for starters. Further, ESPN is roughly 20 times bigger than the New York Times Company, five times bigger than News Corp, and American men named it as their favorite channel for 14 years straight. “In short, the 34-year-old project out of Bristol, Connecticut, is likely the most valuable media property in the United States,” Thompson writes.

How has the company dominated the market for so long, without any real competition threatening its place at the top? What have they done that sets them apart from other sports broadcasters? According to Thompson—who writes and speaks about ESPN and paid media at length—they “guessed right in a billion-dollar version of the simplest sport there is: heads or tails.” While there's definitely a market for niche sports like food-eating contests, high-stakes poker tournaments, and horse racing, ESPN owes its success to focusing on only the most popular sports. “[ESPN] seeks to maximize the odds that whenever a middle-American male tunes in, he’ll see either a major sport, or coverage of a major story line,” Thompson says. Their secret to success was to become “aggressively mainstream” and place a large bet on a small pool of content. And it's working.

So we know how the company hooks its viewers, but how does it make money from that? The company operates on a simple formula: Two-thirds TV subscription fees plus one-third advertising. Thompson breaks down the formula in a separate post, showing that a little more than half of their overall revenues is drawn from cable subscription fees. The rest is generated from a combination of digital and print advertising. Not only that, but the company is extremely fast-moving digitally. “As a brand, ESPN is everywhere. On your phone, on your laptop, on magazine stands,” Thompson says. While 91 percent of their revenue comes from television, the ESPN brand has its consumers surrounded. “For better or worse, that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.”

Derek Thompson is an editor at The Atlantic and a prominent speaker on Millennials. He is also an expert on paid media, delivering enlightening and practical keynotes on the future of cable TV and digital ads. Using ESPN as a case study, he tailors his talk to apply to advertisers, consumers, or media conglomerates. If you're interested in hiring Derek Thompson as a speaker for your event, contact The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau.