Speakers Bureau: The Lavin Agency: In the Headlines

In the headlines

September 2, 2010

		1000 Awesome Things, One International Bestseller Neil Pasricha has built a fanatical following, online and off, by listing life's surprisingly simple pleasures
Neil Pasricha's 1000 Awesome Things blog has garnered over 20 million hits, won two Webby awards, and spawned a #1 international bestseller with The Book of Awesome. Pasricha's awesome things, such as "bakery air," "finding money in your coat pocket," or "fixing electronics by smacking them," are universal experiences with enough quirky edge to keep them fresh and compelling. And, clearly, they've struck a resonating chord. In hilarious and personal talks, for colleges and corporations, Pasricha celebrates the day-brightening moments we often overlook. He doesn't list fluffy distractions, though; he delivers a cogent and passionate reminder that we're only here for a little while, so why not enjoy every day? The Lavin Agency is proud to announce Neil Pasricha as our newest exclusive speaker. Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Neil Pasricha

August 2, 2010

		Satirizing Celebrity in the Age of TMZ In his bestseller Star Island, Carl Hiaasen finds the funny in our endless worship of false idols
Carl Hiaasen's new novel, Star Island, is a masterwork of comic fiction that takes as its subject America's sickly obsession with celebrity culture. The protagonist, Cherry Pie, bares a striking resemblance to world famous fingernail model Lindsay Lohan. The high-octane plot, involving an ex-child star, a paparazzo, and an ex-Florida governor, is classic Hiaasen: it throws elements of sleaze, scandal, politics and pop culture into a blender and hits the pulse button. "Hiaasen can still take any aspect of pop culture," writes The New York Times, "and find a laugh in it." Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Carl Hiaasen

July 20, 2010

		Expanding Social Media Outreach? Try Power Friending Businesses need to think of their customers as their friends, says web maven Amber Mac
"With few equals, Amber Mac has and continues to demonstrate a keen insight toward the continually evolving fabric of the social web." - Steve Chen, cofounder of YouTube Amber MacArthur's new Power Friending: Demystifying Social Media to Grow Your Business is a comprehensive book aimed squarely at businesses looking to grow their social media strategies -- and customer base. Her message? Think of your audience as your "friends" and then treat them that way. Create relationships based on mutual support and respect. The results will speak for themselves. No stranger to web strategy, Amber Mac is the pioneering web journalist, blogger, podcaster and sought-after consultant who has tracked social media's growth since its beginnings. Power Friending, her delightful first book, brims with real world case studies on how leading businesses have crafted meaningful relationships with their customers. She shows us that social media doesn't have to be expensive or complicated, just smartly implemented and authentic. Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Amber MacArthur

June 28, 2010

		The New Population Bomb Jack Goldstone surveys looming demographic challenges that will shift economic and military power
According to Jack Goldstone, we are the last generation: the last generation in which the United States and Europe will drive economic growth. While rich countries age, the population in poor countries explodes. Today, nine out of ten children under the age of 15 live in the developing world. This daunting demographic shift will affect everyone and everything -- from economic growth to military power to regional stability to market opportunities. In a highly touted Foreign Affairs article titled "The New Population Bomb," Goldstone lays out what these irrevocable changes mean and how they'll affect a variety of players, including governments, corporations, even citizens. How will we deal with aging populations in the West? Where will we find new workers, new ideas, and money for ballooning health care costs? On the flip side of the equation, how will we manage explosive population growth in already-crowded third world megacities? These are just some of the questions that Goldstone considers -- and ties together -- in his provocative and important new keynote. The Lavin Agency is pleased to welcome Jack Goldstone as our latest exclusive speaker. Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Jack Goldstone

June 16, 2010

		Obama Seeks to End Our Addiction to Oil; Solutions Welcome As the President calls for a post-petro energy age, many are turning to Vijay Vaitheswaaren's book, ZOOM
At his first Oval Office address, President Obama lambasted BP for the Gulf of Mexico oil spill -- the worst environmental disaster in US history. He then sought solutions: "I am happy to look at other ideas and approaches from either party -- as long as they seriously tackle our addiction to fossil fuels." In other words, Obama is looking to kick-start the post-petro age of energy. Inaction is not an option. This very topic, moving America toward a new energy age, is the subject of the critically acclaimed book, ZOOM. Co-written by Economist correspondent Vijay Vaitheeswaran, who covered energy and the environment for the magazine for over a decade, ZOOM is both a call to arms as well as a practical guide to effectively shifting us away from oil and toward new energy sources. The Financial Times named it a Best Book of the Year. A TED speaker and frequent Charlie Rose guest, Vaitheeswaran speaks on how to usher in this new energy age in a way that makes sense for governments, corporations, and consumers alike. To read an excerpt from ZOOM, click on Vaitheeswaran's speaker link (below). Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Vijay V. Vaitheeswaran

June 14, 2010

		*"Sht My Dad Says": From Twitter Sensation to the Top of the Bestseller List** Justin Halpern's book, a tribute to his hilariously cranky dad, is a #1 New York Times bestseller
"Sht My Dad Says" began as a Twitter account that attracted over 1.4 million followers. This week, it's the nation's bestselling book and, starting next year, it will be turned into a CBS sitcom, starring William Shatner. "Sht My Dad Says" is the brainchild of Justin Halpern. Like many college grads, Halpern was forced to move back in with his dad after losing his job at the age of 28. While at home, he started to receive cranky yet hilarious advice from his father -- advice that was unsolicited, but, above all else, quotable. Sharing this advice with the Twittersphere, Halpern quickly landed a book deal and a sitcom, which he is co-writing. The book is not simply a retelling of his dad's blunt aphorisms, though; it's a classic father-son memoir, a witty take on the ties that bind, as well as the struggles that try. It's full of his dad's potent quotables, but surprisingly heartfelt and, according to Chelsea Handler, "ridiculously entertaining." Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Justin Halpern

June 4, 2010

		Building a Better Team? Start with the Marshmallow Challenge In his hit TED Talk, Tom Wujec shows us what happens when groups are forced to collaborate quickly
Recently at TED, Tom Wujec shared his insights on team-building -- what makes a great team and why -- by explaining The Marshmallow Challenge. The premise of the Marshmallow Challenge is simple: teams of four are instructed to build the highest tower using only dry spaghetti, tape, string and marshmallows. Each team has 18 minutes. A variety of groups has been given the challenge, from children to CEOs. Kindergarteners, it turns out, do better than business students: they are not entrenched in looking for the one correct answer. CEOs do well, but they do even better when teamed with administrative staff. Wujec discusses the nature of incentives and shows us what happens when people are forced to collaborate quickly. When we visualize problems, when we develop a common language with group members, and when we tangibly engage things -- in other words, when we bring all our senses to the task -- we can build higher towers, and, ultimately, better teams. To view Tom Wujec's TED Talk, click through to his Speaker Link, below. Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Tom Wujec

May 31, 2010

		Good Food is an Everyday Right, Not a Privilege Bryant Terry works to bring fresh food -- and food justice-- to low-income neighborhoods
The Food Justice Movement embraces the reality of low-income consumers who are often denied fresh food choices for a variety of reasons. Bryant Terry, a Food Justice advocate, has worked for years to educate the public on the connection between food insecurity, poverty, and structural racism. "Bryant Terry knows that good food should be an everyday right and not a privilege," says Chef Alice Waters. For Terry, it's not about whether food is Local or Organic. It's about whether it's fresh and readily available. How can we ensure easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables, especially in poor urban areas? And how does this profoundly affect local communities? In his interactive and optimistic talks, Terry shows us how to provide healthier food choices for all -- how, in short, to eliminate food discrimination based on income, race and location. The Lavin Agency is pleased to announce Bryant Terry as our latest exclusive speaker. Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Bryant Terry

May 28, 2010

		An Oil Spill's Timely Reminder As a massive oil spill decimates the Gulf of Mexico, policy leaders -- like Jason Grumet -- point toward a New Age of Energy
"We're not going to be able to sustain this kind of fossil fuel use," President Obama recently said in reaction to the devastating oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. America is entering a New Energy Age. And one of the people leading the way is Jason Grumet. During the 2008 Presidential campaign, Grumet was Obama's Chief Advisor on Energy and the Environment. Today, he is the Executive Director of the National Commission on Energy Policy, where he works with upper-tier policy makers in various fields to find a better way to deliver energy to Americans -- a way that makes sense for consumers, industry, and the environment. When it comes to the energy crisis, partisan gridlock -- "politics as usual"-- is not an option. (Grumet is also the founder of the Bipartisan Policy Centre.) We must all work together to build robust policy. The stakes, as we've been so rudely reminded, are too high. Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Jason Grumet

May 20, 2010

		One Man. One Year. 52 Jobs. After graduation Sean Aiken worked 52 jobs, searching not just for a career but meaning
Like many of his generation, Sean Aiken struggled to answer the question, "What should I do with my life?" Instead of taking the first job he found after college, he started The One-Week Job Project. His goal -- which he recently accomplished -- was to work 52 jobs in one year, anywhere in the world. As word spread, the job offers poured in, inviting him to try his hand at being a pizzamaker, a mascot, a vinter, an ad executive, a yoga instructor, even a mayor. A flurry of national media attention followed, including appearances on CNN, Good Morning America and Rachel Ray, and write-ups in The New York Times. Now that the year is over, the Vancouver native is sharing his inspirational story to help audiences -- from college kids to HR professionals -- understand the value of meaningful work, creativity, and, most of all, passion. Aiken's new book, The One-Week Job Project, has just been released to critical acclaim. A documentary is in the works. The Lavin Agency is pleased to welcome Sean Aiken as our latest exclusive speaker. Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Sean Aiken

May 18, 2010

		Can Google Save the News Business -- and Itself? In his Atlantic cover story, James Fallows lays out the search giant's next big plan: saving journalism
"Plummeting newspaper circulation, disappearing classified ads, unbundling of content -- the list of what's killing journalism is long," writes James Fallows. "But high on that list is Google." In his sweeping Atlantic cover story, Fallows details the symbiotic, unlikely and sometimes strained relationship between Google and the news business -- and how each can (and must) save the other. It's a complex situation. After all, without fresh news content to search for, who would use Google? And without Google's help in monetizing content, the news industry as we know it may soon be gone. Talking to a who's who of insiders, Fallows maps the important changes in our reading habits while pointing to the staggering waste in news organizations (For example, only 15% of resources are alloted to the one thing that matters in our digital age: reporters). A manifesto of sorts, Fallows' story offers a bold new business model -- one that, with a little work, and a little help from an interested party (Google), may yet save and revitalize the news industry. To read James Fallows' Atlantic cover story, click on his speakers link below. Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For James Fallows

May 8, 2010

		The Medium and Its Message New York Times Internet critic Virginia Heffernan rethinks the most influential medium of our generation
Many media players and corporations misjudge how robust and immersive Internet culture really is. They fail to recalibrate their messages for an online world that, overnight, has displaced traditional media as the central hub of conversation, reading, art and shopping. The Internet, according to Virginia Heffernan, of The New York Times, must be understood as its own civilization, with its own rules and implications. It has its own scale, its own poetics and its own language. The Medium columnist for The Paper of Record, Heffernan is an effervescent voice who speaks regularly on leveraging the capabilities of the Internet for cultural, political and professional purposes. What Susan Sontag did for photography, and what Marshall McLuhan did for television, Heffernan does for the Internet: she helps us see this new medium's enormity, its effect on society, our place in it, and the opportunities that abound. The Lavin Agency is pleased to announce Virginia Heffernan as our newest exclusive speaker. Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Virginia Heffernan

April 30, 2010

		How We'll Read Tomorrow Who better than Lev Grossman -- TIME's book critic and lead tech writer -- to talk about the future of reading?
Do you want the iPad? "Of course you do," writes Lev Grossman in his recent cover story for TIME. Grossman is the magazine's chief book critic and its lead tech writer -- giving him the perfect credentials to discuss the important and fast-colliding worlds of technology and publishing, and the future of reading. Is publishing dead? Are novels, as we know them, over? How can traditional media respond to massive changes in technology and reader behavior? In an equally fascinating talk called "Bill and Steve," Grossman looks at the founders of Microsoft and Apple. Born in the same year, the two men represent opposite values -- productivity vs. creativity, form vs. function -- yet each has found major success, laying out the rules by which everybody, including Google, must play by. The Lavin Agency is pleased to announce Lev Grossman as our newest exclusive speaker. Read Lev Grossman's iPad cover story in TIME Magazine HERE. Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Lev Grossman

April 12, 2010

		Watching Oprah One Moment, Helping Congolese Women the Next Lisa Shannon has given up everything -- her fiance, her job -- to raise awareness for thousands of women in the Congo
Lisa Shannon's A Thousand Sisters is a remarkable -- and remarkably frank -- book about her journey to help women in the civil war-decimated Congo. Running solo marathons to raise money for educating Congolese women, Shannon has been applauded by the likes of Alice Walker (The Color Purple), Nicolas Kristof (Half the Sky) and Oprah Winfrey (who both inspired and helped publicize Shannon's lone journey). Shannon's efforts, written about in The New York Times and TIME, have brought worldwide attention to "the worst place on earth to be a woman." In her keynotes, a personable Shannon discusses women's leadership, at home and abroad, and tells the harrowing but hopeful stories of the women she's met. With grace and depth, she explores the world's deadliest war through the intimate lens of friendship. To read her articles in The New York Times and TIME magazine, click on her speakers link. Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Lisa Shannon

April 9, 2010

		Billions in Profits. No Layoffs: A Business Model to Consider Frank Koller's masterful study of a century-old company that stays ahead by putting people first
Perennially robust profit margins. Consistently innovative technology. Guaranteed employment. This is the story of Lincoln Electric, an Ohio-based manufacturing company that rejects standard North American business practices, yet still generates billions in profits every year. In Spark, journalist Frank Koller goes where no other journalist has been allowed -- into the heart of a Fortune 1000 organization whose old-fashioned management values (give employees the security to innovate and they will pay you back tenfold) serves as a rebuke to traditional Wall Street thinking. Noted Harvard economist Richard Freeman calls the book, "a remarkable story of the better side of American capitalism." In his powerful and infectiously optimistic talks, Koller draws out the practical management, HR and innovation lessons for adjacent industries. Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Frank Koller

April 7, 2010

		Challenging a Country's Telecom Oligopoly With WIND Mobile, entrepreneur Tony Lacavera has shaken a billion-dollar industry to its core.
Just a few months old, Anthony Lacavera's company, WIND Mobile, has won a far-reaching victory for wireless consumers in Canada while pushing into the national conversation a variety of broader, more important issues: consumer choice, business transparency, and the fundamental relationship between corporations and consumers, which Lacavera believes should be a two-way street. Lacavera is a brilliantly provocative CEO with an infectious entrepreneurial spirit; he even personally calls WIND customers daily. In his frank, informative talks, he shares universal lessons on fending off deep-pocketed competitors, overcoming immense regulatory hurdles, rewriting the rules of customer service and building an exciting new brand, one employee at a time. The Lavin Agency is pleased to announce Tony Lacavera as our latest exclusive speaker. Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Anthony Lacavera

March 30, 2010

		One Day without Shoes TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie leverages his business to do good on a global scale. Again.
On April 8th, TOMS Shoes -- the company founded by Blake Mycoskie -- invites the world to live One Day Without Shoes. The point? To spread awareness of the impact a simple pair of shoes can bring to a child's life. (Most kids in developing countries grow up without shoes). It's a mission close to Mycoskie's heart -- and an animating features of TOMS, a commercial juggernaut whose innovative business model has sparked a wave of conscious consumerism. In other TOMS news, Fast Company named it the #6 most innovative retail company, just behind Apple and Nike, while Mycoskie shared his secrets of entrepreneurial success with Fortune Magazine. Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Blake Mycoskie

March 0, 2010

		At the Vancouver Olympics, Taking Athletes from Potential to the Podium With all of Canada watching, how did our athletes keep their composure? Three-time Gold medalist Marnie McBean explains.
Marnie McBean is an expert at turning potential into performance. She's one of only a handful of Canadians to win three Gold medals, so she's used to performing under enormous pressure. After a record-breaking rowing career, she is now Manager of Olympic Preparation with the Canadian Olympic Committee. At the historic 2010 Vancouver Games, she had a vital role as Athlete Mentor. She mentored the Canadian athletes during the toughest two weeks of their lives, making sure they performed at their physical and mental peak. With a record Gold medal haul for Canada, it's safe to say she delivered beyond expectations. In her keynotes, McBean outlines her practical tips for performing under all sorts of pressures and deadlines, whatever the task. Take a look at our other Olympic Speakers Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Marnie McBean

February 11, 2010

		The Jihadist Next Door How did a popular American teenager come to lead an Al-Qaeda-linked terror group. Pulitzer Prize winner Andrea Elliott investigates
In a recent New York Times Magazine cover story, Andrea Elliott looks into why a high school student in Alabama -- a cool kid who was president of his sophomore class -- came to lead an Al Qaeda-linked terror group. It's a thoughtful and sensitive look into the roots of domestic terrorism. In another investigative project for The Times last year, Elliott detailed how more than 20 Somali-Americans from the Minneapolis area -- including promising business school students -- left the States to join the militant Jihad in Somalia. In "The Jihadist Next Door: Understanding the Threat of Homegrown Terrorism," a new talk full of human tales and hard analysis, she discusses homegrown terrorism and why young Americans are being drawn to the movement now. To read Andrea Elliott's story, The Jihadist Next Door, click through to her speaker profile. Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Andrea Elliott

February 7, 2010

		At Google, He Championed a Culture of Innovation Douglas Merrill provides a rare look into the innovative practices at one of the world's most admired companies
As Google's former Chief Information Officer, Douglas Merrill championed a relentless -- and relentlessly profitable -- culture of innovation. Innovation as strategy, as culture. One of his projects, Google Checkout, is now a multi-billion dollar project. In his fast-paced talks, Merrill pulls the curtain back at Google, and at other companies he's worked for, to show you how to build your own culture of innovation. How do you foster ideas in their infancy? What corporate and team structures drive innovation? Which ones get in the way? Many companies unknowing crush the innovative ideas that right under their noses, Merrill reminds us. With tips on everything from how to build the right teams to how to incorporate new technologies to boost -- and not detract from -- efficiency, Merrill offers a rare, high-level look at how the world's leading companies conpete. The Lavin Agency is pleased to welcome Douglas Merrill as our latest exclusive speaker. Get More Information About Speaking Engagements For Douglas Merrill

Neil Pasricha has built a fanatical following, online and off, by listing life's surprisingly simple pleasures

In his bestseller Star Island, Carl Hiaasen finds the funny in our endless worship of false idols

Businesses need to think of their customers as their friends, says web maven Amber Mac

Jack Goldstone surveys looming demographic challenges that will shift economic and military power

As the President calls for a post-petro energy age, many are turning to Vijay Vaitheswaaren's book, ZOOM

Justin Halpern's book, a tribute to his hilariously cranky dad, is a #1 New York Times bestseller

In his hit TED Talk, Tom Wujec shows us what happens when groups are forced to collaborate quickly

Bryant Terry works to bring fresh food -- and food justice-- to low-income neighborhoods

As a massive oil spill decimates the Gulf of Mexico, policy leaders -- like Jason Grumet -- point toward a New Age of Energy

After graduation Sean Aiken worked 52 jobs, searching not just for a career but meaning

In his Atlantic cover story, James Fallows lays out the search giant's next big plan: saving journalism

New York Times Internet critic Virginia Heffernan rethinks the most influential medium of our generation

Who better than Lev Grossman -- TIME's book critic and lead tech writer -- to talk about the future of reading?

Lisa Shannon has given up everything -- her fiance, her job -- to raise awareness for thousands of women in the Congo

Frank Koller's masterful study of a century-old company that stays ahead by putting people first

With WIND Mobile, entrepreneur Tony Lacavera has shaken a billion-dollar industry to its core.

TOMS Shoes founder Blake Mycoskie leverages his business to do good on a global scale. Again.

With all of Canada watching, how did our athletes keep their composure? Three-time Gold medalist Marnie McBean explains.

How did a popular American teenager come to lead an Al-Qaeda-linked terror group. Pulitzer Prize winner Andrea Elliott investigates

Douglas Merrill provides a rare look into the innovative practices at one of the world's most admired companies