The days leading up to the Spring 2015 CLO Symposium at the Trump National Doral in Miami, we’ve been highlighting the experts we’ve booked as keynote speakers. ESPN founder Bill Rasmussen and award-winning journalist Brigid Schulte are just a couple of speakers you can look forward to watching when you’re at Symposium next month.
But today, we’d like to change things up a bit and introduce you to some of Chief Learning Officer magazine’s editors that will also be attending Symposium. #CLOsym
Kellye Whitney
Chief Learning Officer’s assistant editorial director and author of CLO’s “From the Editors” blog
@kellyewhit
How many Symposiums have you been to?
I have been attending Symposiums for over a decade.
What’s your favorite thing about Symposium?
Our speaker lineup is always stellar: entertaining, informative and useful for our audience.
What are you looking forward to this Spring?
I enjoy interacting with our readers. Learning leaders are unbelievably passionate, and it’s infectious watching their eyes light up and listening to their excitement when you get them talking about their work.
If you could pick the location for the next Symposium, where would it be?
I think we should go South. The Greenbriar, or somewhere in North Carolina where it’s just gorgeous and there are Mint Juleps on Tap. LOL.
Which celebrity would be your ideal keynote speaker?
Taraji P. Henson – I have empire on the brain right now – or Kerry Washington. Both would turn our event out!
Ladan Nikravan
Chief Learning Officer senior editor and author of CLO blog “Ask a Gen Y”
@LadanNikravan
How many Symposiums have you been to?
Four.
What’s your favorite thing about Symposium?
It’s the perfect mix of work and play. I’ve had the opportunity to meet and listen to some keynote speakers I’ve admired for a long time, and I’ve also had the opportunity to see some beautiful cities as a result of attending. And the food. You’ll never hear me complaining about the food.
What are you looking forward to this Spring?
I’ve interviewed Heidi Reeder before, and I’m excited to hear her speak live. And I know next to nothing about sports, but I’m looking forward to hearing Bill Rasmussen’s speech — I can’t get behind sports, but I can get behind innovative journalism.
If you could pick the location for the next Symposium, where would it be?
Morocco.
Which celebrity would be your ideal keynote speaker?
Mindy Kaling. Or Amy Poehler. Or both!
Kate Everson
Chief Learning Officer associate editor and author of CLO blog “Mind Over Matter”
@EversonKate
How many Symposiums have you been to?
This will be my second (the first one was Fall 2014 in Carlsbad).
What’s your favorite thing about Symposium?
I love the Power Hour presentations. In just 60 minutes you hear a number of stories about successful learning initiatives and leadership development programs from a variety of industries and corporate cultures.
What are you looking forward to this Spring?
I’m looking forward to hoarding as many mini bottles of what I assume will be fantastic hair products at the Trump resort.” But in the spirit of professionalism … I’m stoked for the keynote speakers, particularly Steven Kotler (author of “The Rise of Superman”). As a young professional who tries to be Wonder Woman at work, I’m looking forward to learning about the flow that makes it possible for people to do crazy things like snowboard down giant mountains – or, in my case, tackle that next writing project.
If you could pick the location for the next Symposium, where would it be?
A beach in Bali is my first reaction, but I don’t know how much learning we’d all be doing when there’s all that white sand and turquoise water just outside…
Which celebrity would be your ideal keynote speaker?
Let’s get Robin Wright and Kevin Spacey to talk about the right and wrong ways to lead, as seen on House of Cards. Their characters Frank and Claire Underwood would have a ton of leadership advice, and I’m sure only a few parts of it rely on murdering your enemies.
If you see Kellye, Ladan or Kate at Symposium, be sure to say hello.
Until next time!
Max Mihelich
Marketing Associate
Chief Learning Officer
