Kevin Fallon Chairs YPO Innovation Week
50 Events in 30 Cities Impacting Over 2,000 CEOs
In May, the Young Presidents’ Organization, the world’s premier network of chief executives and business leaders, launched of a new type of global event connecting 23,000 YPO members in more than 130 countries through a series of events around the world focused on innovation and entrepreneurship. CEO of Pivotal Innovation, Kevin Fallon, was the Chair for YPO Innovation Week. YPO hosted more than 50 events in major cities in all corners of the world, providing education, idea exchange and discussions with the world’s most innovative executives who are both leading companies today and building companies of the future.
Through progressive presentations and conversations, debates and hands-on workshops, live-streamed panel discussions as well as Innovation Performance Assessments, members had the chance to learn, exchange ideas, network and spark new growth in their companies.
Prior to the event, Fallon said, “With programs held in every region of the world, YPO Innovation Week will be a transformative experience not only for YPO’s entrepreneurs and innovators, but also in the larger community. We expect to positively affect more than 1,000 member companies through exciting events, invigorating idea exchange, valuable education and immersive activities focused on the many varying aspects of innovation. YPO is the most innovative community on the planet. This week promises to be a truly transformative experience.”
The grand opening event for YPO Innovation Week was in Sydney, Australia, hosted by John Poynton, co-founder and director of Azure Capital, focusing on innovation in Australia. Following the opening event, a signature event took place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where YPO member, and one of Canada’s best-known entrepreneurs and innovative philanthropist, Brett Wilson, was a speaker.
YPO members then gathered in Silicon Valley, CA with veteran entrepreneurs – including Harry Clark, founder of Pathway Partners, LLC, and Ariel Pfeffer, CEO of Prospekta Marketing and Jim Hornthall, Chairman of M34 Capital, Inc. – for two days of high-impact learning on how to evaluate new ideas and investments. The closing event of YPO Innovation Week, championed by Greg Besner, CEO of Culture IQ, and Asha Saxena, CEO of Future Technologies, took place at the birthplace of modern entrepreneurship and innovation, the Thomas Edison National Historic Park. At this finale event, YPO members had the opportunity to go behind the scenes, and learn how Edison worked, invented, created and scaled his companies. The closing event of YPO Innovation Week took place in New York, where Fallon and a group of YPO members participated in the NASDAQ Closing Bell ceremony.
“Like Edison, YPO members around the globe embrace the challenges of innovation to create something profound, and yet practical. Some of these topics and themes are well known on the innovation agenda, but several of them will surprise and lead to breakthroughs,” said Fallon. “By bringing together the organization’s most passionate global members, including founders, growth company executives, investors and social enterprise leaders, we plan to extend YPO’s innovative spirit and provide inspiration to the wider community around the world.”