The workplace disrupted. Supply chains redefined. Education for all.
Last week I had the pleasure of hanging out with a visionary bunch of young influencers at SAPPHIRE NOW, the premiere business technology conference. These individuals marked the highlight of my week and represent how the next generation envisions and is taking action towards a brighter, more inclusive future by breaking the status quo across the future of work, traditional marketplace structure, access to education, and entrepreneurship incubation.
While the group was clearly an impressive bunch of up-and-comings, the crew was also incredibly fun and down-to-earth. By the end of the week, it was as though we all had made a bunch of new friends. A little more about each (note: all photos 100% organic selfie style).
Jacob Morgan
At 28, Jacob is principal and co-founder of Chess Media Group, a consulting and strategic advisory firm on the future of work and collaboration. He speaks widely about and consults on both topics. Jacob is the author of the best-seller, The Collaborative Organization, published by McGraw. He is a frequent contributor to Forbes as well as many other outlets.
Tammy Tibbetts
At 27, Tammy is the founder and president of She's the First, which sponsors girls' education in developing countries and helps them be the first in their families to graduate from secondary school. Tammy's a frequent speaker on social entrepreneurship and millennial leadership, and has been recognized among Forbes 30 Under 30 in Education and Fast Company's League of Extraordinary Women.
Adam "Smiley" Poswolsky
Smiley is the author of Amazon best-seller, The Quarter-Life Breakthrough, a career guide for millennials to find meaningful work. Adam is tapped into the world of entrepreneurs and startups in the Bay Area. He writes for Fast Company, Forbes, Good Magazine, the Huffington Post, and many other outlets.
Miles Bird
Miles is the Global Director of the Kairos Society, an international organization of entrepreneurs and innovators under the age of 25 in more than 100 universities and 54 countries. Miles previously worked in Bangladesh, Mongolia, and the Philippines and is a serial entrepreneur.
Tiago Dalvi
Tiago is the founder and CEO of Solidarium, which markets products made by local Brazilian artisans living below the poverty line to retailers including WalMart and JC Penny. Tiago has been recognized by Endeavor, which selects, mentors, and accelerates high-impact entrepreneurs worldwide. SAP Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) also supports Tiago as part of its Emerging Entrepreneur Initiative, which provides young social business leaders with mentorship, technology, and other support.
Jacob Rosenbloom
Jacob is the founder and CEO of Emprego Ligado, the largest blue-collar workforce in Brazil comprising 500,000 workers. Emprego Ligado is a mobile-based jobs matching platform enabling local workers and employers to find each other through simple, fast mobile communication. Jacob has also been recognized by Endeavor and is supported by SAP CSR’s Emerging Entrepreneur Initiative.
And believe it or not, this is just a teaser! Stay tuned for more on the wrap-up from SAPPHIRE NOW 2014.