Linkedin Speaker Series

We’re thrilled to learn from leadership guru and business strategist, Simon Sinek! Best known for popularizing the concept of Why, Sinek’s TED Talk is one of the most watched TED talks of all-time, hitting 37+ million views. Sinek is also the author of multiple NYT best-selling books, “Start with Why” and “Leaders Eat Last” -- acclaimed for helping organizations around the world inspire their leaders to reach new heights. Join LinkedIn Editor in Chief, Dan Roth as he chats with Sinek about the themes of his latest and greatest, The Infinite Game, that largely focuses on how adopting an infinite mindset is necessary for leaders who want to build stronger, more innovative and more inspiring organizations.

Join us as LinkedIn General Counsel Blake Lawit sits down with Microsoft’s president, Brad Smith, to discuss Smith’s new book, Tools and Weapons, a narrative from his past 25 years at Microsoft, as the company navigated some of the thorniest issues of our time.  Smith operates by a simple core belief: When your technology changes the world, you bear a responsibility to help address the world you have helped create. Challenges have been created that come with no preexisting playbook, including privacy, cybercrime and cyberwar, social media, the moral conundrums of artificial intelligence, big tech's relationship to inequality, and the challenges for democracy, far and near.  Come and learn about some of Microsoft’s most crucial recent decision points, as it strives to protect the hope technology offers against the very real threats it also presents.

Unconscious bias can be at work without our realizing it, and even when we genuinely wish to treat all people equally, ingrained stereotypes can affect our visual perception, attention, memory, and behavior. This has an impact on education, employment, housing, and criminal justice. In Biased, with a perspective that is scientific, investigative, and informed by personal experience, Dr. Jennifer Eberhardt offers us insights into the dilemma and a path forward. Come ready to learn and be inspired as Eberhardt presents a hopeful framework for discussion and action by connecting racial bias with the scientific study of the brain. The good news is that we are not hopelessly doomed by our innate prejudices -- Eberhardt reminds us that racial bias is a human problem -- one all people can play a role in solving. 

Join us as LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner sits down with Andre Iguodala, three-time NBA champion, to discuss insights from Iguodala’s new book, The Sixth Man.  Andre Iguodala is one of the most admired players in the NBA. Off the court, Iguodala has earned respect, too—for his successful tech investments, his philanthropy, and increasingly for his contributions to the conversation about race in America. Centering around leadership, drive, pain and accomplishment, this is a powerful memoir of life and the culture of basketball that reveals new depths to the superstar athlete. The Sixth Man offers tremendous insight into the most urgent stories being told in American society today, touching on diversity, inclusion, and belonging.

Join us as LinkedIn VP of Engineering Erica Lockheimer sits down with Telle Whitney, former CEO of the Anita Borg Institute and co-founder of the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference, to discuss the successes and challenges women in technology face and how to create cultures where women thrive. Whitney has been a force in the industry, truly changing the trajectory for Women in Technology. When the Grace Hopper Conference started in 1994, there were 500 attendees. Today, it sells out within minutes and has over 20,000 attendees!    Get ready to be inspired by Whitney’s key leadership lessons learned throughout her career, her thoughts on the importance of diversity and career advice that will benefit everyone.

Join us as LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman sits down with former Executive Chairman of Alphabet and former Google CEO, Eric Schmidt, and Jonathan Rosenberg, former Senior Vice President and Advisor to Alphabet CEO, Larry Page, to discuss insights from their new book, “Trillion Dollar Coach.” From Steve Jobs and Dick Costolo to Larry Page and Sundar Pichai, several of the biggest names in Silicon Valley will gladly credit much of their success to one name you’ve probably never heard of and who’s no longer with us – Bill Campbell. Considering that Bill helped create well over a trillion dollars in market value, his leadership method doesn’t just deserve our recognition, but could result in an extraordinary return on investment of your time if you learn it.  “Trillion Dollar Coach” shares behind-the-scenes business wisdom from Bill Campbell, Silicon Valley’s preeminent executive coach. Although he was perhaps the greatest executive coach of all time, Bill shunned the spotlight and rarely gave interviews. The au

Join us as LinkedIn Wellness Director Michael Susi sits down with international fitness icon, nutrition expert, and legendary big-wave surfer, Laird Hamilton, to discuss Laird’s take on human resilience, relationships, business, technology, risk-taking, and the importance of respecting the natural world ‒ all through the lens of his life both in and beyond the ocean. While the world increasingly seeks happiness from fads and self-help books, Laird Hamilton  focuses on looking inward and appreciating the brilliant creature we already are. In his book, Liferider, Laird uses five key pillars – Death & Fear, Heart, Body, Soul, and Everything is Connected – to illustrate his unique worldview and life practices, offering inspiration to anyone who wants to elevate their ordinary, landlocked life to do extraordinary things.  Liferider is based on extensive interviews and conversations between Laird and his co-writer, Julian Borra, with additional insights from Laird’s wife, pro-volleyball player Gabby Reece, join

Join us as LinkedIn Chief People Officer, Christina Hall sits down with Chip Conley to discuss his new book, "Wisdom@Work: The Making of a Modern Elder." This book was inspired by his professional journey as the 26-year old founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality, when he took an inner city motel and turned it into the second largest boutique hotel brand in America, to being an “elder” 50-year-old mentor and unexpected intern at Airbnb. Part manifesto and part playbook, Wisdom@Work ignites an urgent conversation about ageism in the workplace, calling on us to treat age as we would other types of diversity. In the process, Conley liberates the term "elder" from the stigma of "elderly," and inspires us to embrace wisdom as a path to growing whole, not old. Many “elders” have been forced to make a mid-career change, are choosing to work past retirement age, or are struggling to keep up with the millennials rising up the ranks. Wisdom@Work helps bring understanding about the value of “elders” and multi-generational

Join us as LinkedIn Chief Marketing Officer, Shannon Brayton sits down with Chelsea Clinton to discuss the work Clinton is doing to empower young activists to change the world. In Clinton’s new book, Start Now! You Can Make a Difference, she shares information about problems both large and small. She breaks down concepts of health, hunger, climate change, endangered species, and bullying so that young people can understand the world around them. She helps them learn how they can make a difference in their own lives, as well as in their communities and the world at large. Clinton hopes to encourage kids to learn more about what helps them to be healthy and to be inspired to stand up for what they believe is right.  

Join us as we turn the tables on our frequent LinkedIn Speaker Series interviewer, Reid Hoffman, and interview HIM about his new book, Blitzscaling: The Lightning-Fast Path to Building Massively Valuable Companies. Reid’s new book comes out at the beginning of October, so don’t miss this “hot off the press” chance to hear directly from him about the lessons he has learned. Shannon Brayton, LinkedIn CMO, will host a fascinating fireside chat to understand what “blitzscaling” means and what separates the startups that get disrupted and disappear from the ones who grow to become global giants.

Join us as LinkedIn co-founder Allen Blue sits down with Dr. Kim to discuss the work we are doing together to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce. The goals of the World Bank Group are to end extreme poverty by 2030 and boost shared prosperity for the bottom 40 percent of the population in developing countries. By providing access to data trends and insights, LinkedIn is supporting the World Bank to achieve these goals. Come learn more about this innovative collaboration - how you can get involved and make an impact.

Join us as LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman sits down with Daniel Pink to discuss his new book, When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing. Everyone knows that timing is everything. But we don't really know much about timing itself. Our lives are a never-ending stream of "when" decisions: when to start a business, when to change jobs, when to get serious about a person. Yet we often make those decisions based on intuition and guesswork. Timing, it's often assumed, is an art. In his new book, Daniel unlocks the scientific secrets to good timing to help us flourish at work and at home. We hope you’ll leave this session with insights into how to live a richer, more engaged life!

Join us as LinkedIn’s Head of Social Impact, Meg Garlinghouse, sits down with Jennifer Dulski, the head of Groups at Facebook, and former president of Change.org, to discuss how you can turn your mission into a movement that creates change. Anyone can spark change if they believe in the power of taking action, no matter where, or how small, they start. In Dulski’s new book, Purposeful, she explains how to create a clear vision, inspire supporters, persuade decision makers, navigate criticism, and more. Our world needs movement starters more than ever and this discussion about Purposeful will empower you to start your own movement and make your mark on the world.

Join us as LinkedIn’s Co-Founder, Reid Hoffman sits down with Fred Kofman, Advisor on Leadership Development, to learn more about Fred’s new book, The Meaning Revolution. Bringing together economics and business theory, communications and conflict resolution, family counseling and mindfulness meditation, Kofman argues that our most deep-seated, unspoken, and universal anxiety stems from our fear that our life is being wasted - that the end of life will overtake us when our song is still unsung. Material incentives like salary and benefits only drive a small portion of employees’ motivation. What really drives engagement is the meaning, a feeling that what we do day in and day out makes a difference, that how we spend our time on earth serves a larger purpose beyond just ourselves. Join the conversation to learn: How to “die before you die,” thinking about the legacy you are leaving behind while you still have an opportunity to shape it How to assume a truly “response-able” mantle of leadership, in a step-by-

Join us as LinkedIn’s CMO, Shannon Brayton, sits down with Joanna Coles, Chief Content Officer Hearst Magazines, to learn why The New York Times recently described Joanna as “one of the most powerful people in media.” Not only has Joanna had an incredible career before her current role overseeing content and editorial partnerships for 300 magazines globally as the CCO of Hearst Magazines, but she also has made incredible impact through the board of Women Entrepreneurs New York City, an initiative to expand female entrepreneurship, with a focus on underserved women and communities.   Joanna also currently sits on the board of directors of Snap Inc, is the executive producer of ABC Freeform’s scripted drama, The Bold Type, and has recently written a book with HarperCollins on relationships in the digital age and lives called Love Rules.

LinkedIn for Good hosted David Miliband, CEO of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and former Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, to discuss how individuals and organizations can work to alleviate the global refugee crisis. As the son of refugees, David has brought a personal commitment to the IRC’s work. Under his leadership, IRC has launched a global strategy focused on collaborating with the private sector to further its mission to help people whose lives have been shattered by conflict and disaster to regain control of their future. At LinkedIn, this is also an issue we’re actively engaged with: through our Welcome Talent initiative, LIFG partners with nonprofits, governments, and the private sector to provide refugees the training, resources, and networks they need to become a new member of their local workforce. If you’re interested in learning more about the current refugee crisis and how you can help, join us for this important conversation!

In 2017, not a month went by without major revelations about discrimination or harassment in Hollywood, politics, the media, and beyond. As the #MeToo movement spread, millions of women bravely came forward to share stories of abuse and sexual harassment. As we begin 2018, one thing is clear: the desire for change has become palpable. In BROTOPIA: Breaking Up the Boys’ Club of Silicon Valley, Bloomberg TV journalist Emily Chang takes on the industry that has perhaps had the most profound impact on the future of humanity and created the greatest wealth of our generation - technology. Its inventions have become integral to our modern lives and instigated extraordinary change—but behind the scenes, it’s far from a utopia.   Join us as LinkedIn’s Managing News Editor, Caroline Fairchild, sits down with Emily to discuss what Emily has discovered about the staggering gender inequality in the tech industry, and to understand more about how we got here and how can we foster real change.

Interested in what the future will hold? Join us as LinkedIn Co-Founder and Partner at Greylock Reid Hoffman hosts a fireside chat with MIT Sloan School of Management’s faculty members Erik Brynjolfsson and Andrew McAfee. Erik and Andrew are co-authors of the 2014 NYTimes best-selling book, The Second Machine Age, and their latest book, Machine, Platform, Crowd: Harnessing Our Digital Future. Reid, Erik, and Andrew will discuss the fascinating times that we are living in today - a time where a machine can play the strategy game Go better than any human; upstarts like Apple and Google are destroying industry stalwarts such as Nokia; and ideas sourced from the crowd are infinitely more innovative than corporate research labs. Andrew and Erik know what it takes to master this digital-powered shift, and Reid will have a chance to discuss with them how we need to rethink the integration of minds and machines, of products and platforms, and of the core and the crowd.

Join us for a fascinating fireside chat with Stacy Brown-Philpot, CEO of TaskRabbit, and Ty Heath, the President of our Black Inclusion Group (BIG). They will discuss the future of work, the sharing/gig economy, how TaskRabbit is fueling it, and what is being done in Silicon Valley to invest in diversity. Fun fact: Did you know that Stacy grew up where LinkedIn opened our most recent office?!?  We’re excited to bond over Detroit and hear how growing up there has shaped her view on the world.

To kick off our 2018 LinkedIn Speaker Series, we are honored to host Chade-Meng Tan (Meng), Retired Jolly Good Fellow at Google (yes, that was actually his official job title!).  Meng’s session will set us all up for a productive and successful year by enlightening us on some of the key learnings from his book, Joy on Demand.  This book is the long-awaited follow-up to the New York Times bestselling Search Inside Yourself and shows us how to cultivate joy within the context of our fast-paced lives and explains why it is critical to creativity, innovation, confidence, and ultimately, success in every arena.