Big Innovation to Take Center Stage at Economist Innovation Forum at Haas, March 27

The Economist's fifth annual Innovation Forum will bring hundreds of business leaders to Haas March 27 to explore truly transformative innovations that have the potential to change how we live and work.

With the theme "Bigger Returns with Bigger Ideas,” the event is organized by The Economist magazine and sponsored by the Haas School’s Center for Executive Education.

The conference will examine disruptive technological change and whether it is changing the way companies and people operate as much as innovations have in the past. Among the questions that will be up for discussion: Are incremental advances delivering on the promise of value and impact? How has the global economy affected companies' ability to dream and act big? Is innovation big enough in America and creating the economic opportunities the country needs? Is innovation big enough at your company to create the profits you need?

Speakers include :

  • Padmasree Warrior, chief technology and strategy officer, Cisco Systems
  • Isabelle Olsson, lead industrial designer, Google Glass
  • Curtis Carlson, president and CEO, SRI International
  • Jeffrey J. Wilcox, corporate VP for engineering, Lockheed Martin
  • Wido Menhardt, chief executive, Philips Innovation Center, Bangalore
  • Wendy Mayor, VP of worldwide innovation, Pfizer

The Haas School's Jerry Engel, executive director emeritus of the Lester Center for Entrepreneurship, will participate in a panel discussion on institutional investment and the government's role. Slava Rubin, who co-founded crowdfunding site Indiegogo with Haas alumni Danae Ringelmann and Eric Schell, both MBA 08, will speak on finding financing in another panel session.

Members of the Haas community, including faculty and students, are eligible for discounts, and students also are encouraged to sign up for volunteer opportunities. For details on how to volunteer and qualify for discounts, contact Meg Fellner at [email protected]. The event is expected to sell out. Learn more about The Economist conference at economist.com/events-conferences/americas/innovation-2014.

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