I’ll be there, so make sure you introduce yourself!
I’m looking forward to one of my favorite conferences, MiniTrends 2014. As always, it’s a great opportunity to learn more about MiniTrends (those emerging trends that are not yet widely recognized) and how understanding them can position businesses for the future.
Best of all, the event is on the shores of Lady Bird Lake, right here in Austin, Texas. Put September 26 on your calendar right now.
This year’s conference focuses on thriving in today’s business environment by combining MiniTrends tactics with innovative strategies.
The conference chair is Dr. John Vanston, Chairman of Technology Futures, Inc., and author of MINITRENDS: How Innovators and Entrepreneurs Discover & Profit from Business and Technology Trends.
John’s MiniTrends concept is designed to increase creativity, innovation, and success, and he’ll be speaking about “The Importance of MiniTrends to Your Business’ Continuing Success” and launching your own MiniTrends adventure.
Carrie Vanston, Vice-President of Communications at Technology Futures, Inc., is co-author of MINITRENDS: How Innovators & Entrepreneurs Discover & Profit from Business & Technology Trends and is the MiniTrends Conference Director. Without Carrie’s ambition, tireless work and amazing connections, this conference could not be put on each year.
Organizers have just announced two knock-out speakers. World-renowned futurist David Pearce Snyder will deliver the morning keynote, and Brett Hurt, founder of Bazaarvoice, will share with us in the afternoon.
Snyder, a long-time contributing editor for the popular magazine, The Futurist, helps us see the future through a matrix of many emerging trends – MiniTrends – that reflect the macro-changes we must anticipate to be successful as the future unfolds. His multi-million-item database of trends and projections provides the foundation for his forecasts.
With a wide range of clients and a deep knowledge of predictable forces rapidly reshaping our future demographics, economic structure, and productive technologies, Snyder promises to provide attendees with information, ideas, and insights to guide their business decisions.
Snyder has given thousands of seminars on strategic thinking, edited/co-authored five books, and written hundreds of studies, articles, and reports on the future impacts of new technologies.
Brett Hurt, founder and co-chair of Bazaarvoice, a company that manages online customer reviews for clients, led the company’s huge growth through a successful IPO during his 7 1/2 years as CEO and president.
The title of Hurt’s afternoon presentation is “The Intersection of Culture and Innovation,” and he will address the importance of a business culture that honors and encourages the input and talent of employees as drivers of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Before Bazaarvoice, Hurt founded Coremetrics and helped grow the company into a global marketing analytics solution for eCommerce before its acquisition by IBM. Brett established the Bazaarvoice Foundation and is very active in the philanthropic arena.
Throughout the day, there’s plenty of time scheduled for networking, interest group discussions, and a reception. And don’t forget—we’re meeting in downtown Austin!
Take Advantage of Early Bird Registration, and I’ll see you there.
I’m also working with the planning committee, so let me know if you have questions about what to expect or suggestions for a better conference.
Thanks!
A quick post-conference update: here’s a short video of the panel session I hosted on the “Practical Applications of MiniTrends” (hosted on a different site):
Graphics and video credit: MiniTrends/Technology Futures
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