Social Innovation and Media Tech Summits

Landmark Ventures does a fantastic job hosting incredible events connecting entrepreneurs, private companies, leading public companies, non-profits and investment funds.  I really enjoyed photographing both the Social Innovation Summit in Washington D.C. and the Media Tech Summit at CTIA Super Mobility in Las Vegas.

The Social Innovation Summit mixes”…technology, investment, philanthropy, international development, and business” people in an environment to network, inspire and connect.  The event was held in the Ronald Regean Building in Washington, D.C.  Here were some of my favorite presentations:  Aaron Sherinian (Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for the UN Foundation), Brian Banks (NFL),  Meryl Davis (Olympian and Dancing with the Stars winner) and Ron Shaich (Founder and CEO of Panera Bread).  Brian Banks gave an incredible talk about overcoming obstacles, adversity and starting fresh after serving 5 years in prison for a crime he didn’t commit!  Ron from Panera said his kids eat at the store several times a week, so food choices are easy as a CEO because he puts on the menu what he wants his family to be eating.

I loved learning about the non-profit “Playing for Change” that wants to connect the world through music, and Carrie Hammer who included the first runway model in a wheelchair (and her friends) during NY fashion week:

Other incredible presentations came from Derk Hendriksen (Coca-Cola),  Megan Smith (Chief Technology Officer -The White House), Jen Psaki, (Director of Communications – The White House)

Held in Las Vegas during the 2015 CTIA Super Mobility Conference, the Media Tech Summit consisted of senior executives, investors, entrepreneurs, and media dealmakers.  Some of my favorites were Shelly Palmer, Doug Ziewacz (Digital Media and Advertising – Under Armour), Bernard Acoca (Chief Marketing Officer – L’Oreal), Robin Zucker (Marketing and Digital Media – Playboy), Bill Gross (CEO – Idealab), Bob Pittman (CEO – iHeartMedia), Chip Hall (Google) and Carolyn Everson (Facebook)