News Briefs Archive

Speakers Announced for ‘workSMART’, VM’s March 14 Global Leadership Summit

Jan. 17, 2018

Experts from pop-up retail, healthcare communications and multi-generational trends in the workforce are among the first speakers to be announced for “workSMART – Leadership Tactics for Transformative Times,” the program of the 12th annual Vision Monday Global Leadership Summit.

The day-long live event will be held Wednesday, March 14, at the Times Center in New York City, just prior to Vision Expo East that week.

Erin Byrne, CEO of GreyHealth Group (ghg) in New York, leads the group’s engagement-marketing and digital-media efforts for clients all over the world, who draw on her extensive experience integrating social media, digital technology, corporate communications, and marketing to improve patient-provider relationships, drive desired behaviors, and boost outcomes for both patients and their businesses.

Named CEO in September 2017, Byrne was previously EVP and chief client officer at Grey, and prior to that, was managing director, digital media, of Burson-Marsteller agency. She will be one of the Summit’s opening speakers, and will address the intersecting dynamics of technology and health care and the flexibility required by industry leaders today.

Jason Dorsey, a leading Millennials and Gen Z researcher and speaker, will be the 2018 VM Summit keynote speaker, talking about solving tough generational challenges for organizations and leaders.

A featured guest on 60 Minutes, The Today Show and more than 100 TV interviews, Dorsey is chief strategy officer at the Center for Generational Kinetics where research drives conversations and decision-making among senior executives who are looking to solve working with multiple age and attitude groups within their workforces. His most recent book, “Y-Size Your Business,” addresses this challenge. A sought-after speaker, Dorsey won the Austin Under 40 Entrepreneur of the Year Award at age 25—one of the youngest winners ever. He now serves as a board member for venture-backed and emerging technology companies.

Retail futurist Melissa Gonzalez founded the The Lion’esque Group in 2009. Her firm includes retail strategists and pop-up architects (a phrase she’s trademarked) who have produced over 100 pop-up experiences in New York City, Chicago, Austin, Los Angeles, Puerto Rico and the Hamptons. Gonzalez is also a co-founder of The MARKET, chief pop-up retail architect of Loudoun, Virginia’s Smart City development.

Gonzalez is the author of “The Pop-Up Paradigm: How Brands Build Human Connections in a Digital Age.” Among her many awards are Design:Retail’s 40 Under 40 for her work in the retail space, a 2015 Retail Innovator Award and a CLIOP Image Award. Most recently, Lion’esque partnered with General Growth Properties (GGP), one of the country’s largest shopping mall operators, to develop “experiential data” concept shops for brands. Gonzalez will discuss the growing pop-up trend, its implications for retailers and brands of all types who are looking to create flexible and relevant environments for their customers.

“The VM ‘workSMART’ program will investigate and illustrate a new agility mandate for all businesses, brands and leaders, brought on by rapid global and digital change. This is transforming the way we all work,” explains Marge Axelrad, SVP, editorial director of Vision Monday. “Top thinkers and doers in the new world of work and business are redefining retail, healthcare and service. But how does a company ‘pivot’? What does the current digital revolution mean for traditional business models?”

Early-bird registration is open until midnight, Jan. 26, for “workSMART – Leadership Tactics for Transformative Times.” Registration details are available here. Additional speakers for the program will be announced soon.

The Summit attracts senior industry executives, optical retailers, leading eyecare professionals, suppliers and key opinion leaders from the worldwide optical industry. It has become the place for face-to-face networking, a dynamic exchange of ideas and thought-provoking discussion.

The 2018 VM Summit Premier Sponsors are Essilor, Europa Eyewear and Luxottica. Signature Sponsors include Alcon and VisionWeb. Supporting Sponsors are VSP Global and CareCredit.

Click HERE to learn more and to register.

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