Global Innovation Advisor John Kao Speaks in Nashville on May 10

Global innovation advisor and best-selling author John Kao will speak in Nashville on Thursday, May 10 from 5:30-7:30 pm at the 21C Museum Hotel in downtown Nashville. Kao will discuss next steps for Nashville following the recent transit setback and highlight ways the city can foster creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Hosted by Dr. Rod Berger, President and CEO of MindRocket Media Group, "An Evening with John Kao” will be attended by numerous civic and business leaders, who will also have an opportunity to interact directly with Kao following a lively discussion and musical performance. The event was organized in coordination with Nashville-based executive coach Christie Berger and EdgeMakers, an organization founded by Kao that empowers students to become creative thinkers and innovative problem-solvers.

Dubbed “Mr. Creativity” and hailed as “a serial innovator” by The Economist, Kao is renowned for his decades of work creating compelling learning experiences for emerging innovators and entrepreneurs. In this special event, he will share his insights on innovation in a variety of contexts, including business, government, schools, countries, and cities. A senior advisor on innovation for the World Economic Forum, Kao has advised many countries, including Singapore and Finland, as well as leading companies such as Nike and Intel, on innovation, organizational transformation, and emerging technologies.

With his wealth of experience, Kao will bring insightful analysis to Nashville’s current innovation infrastructure initiatives and address issues such as the impact of building innovation capacity on regional, social, and economic development, and the importance of participating in new forms of collaboration that drive value for organizations and the community at large. Kao will also explain why developing innovation capabilities is a top demand from civic and business leaders, describe some of the common problems that hinder innovation, and articulate why leaders and organizations must overcome those challenges in order to compete.

“We are thrilled to welcome John Kao to Nashville for an evening of insight and entertainment. Civic and business leaders will learn how to enter the ‘zone of improvisation,’ in order to support a culture of innovation, disrupt their industries, and effect meaningful change within their organizations, in our city and beyond,” said Dr. Rod Berger. “This is an extraordinary opportunity to hear from one of the greatest thinkers of our time, right here in ‘Music City.’”

Kao has an unmatched “innovation resume” over the past 30 years. He developed executive and MBA programs in innovation at Harvard Business School and also taught at the MIT Media Lab and Stanford’s Bowman House. A true Renaissance man, he is also a Tony award-winning producer of stage and screen and a Yale Medical School trained psychiatrist.

A self-styled “innovation activist,” Kao is known for his legendary creativity which forms the DNA of EdgeMakers, the company he founded to empower students to think more creatively and work on problems more effectively, so they become highly skillful innovators and entrepreneurs who can make a difference in the world. EdgeMakers programs are designed to supply the “missing ingredients” in formal education and close the gaps between current curriculum and future readiness.

MindRocket Media Group is a Nashville-based multimedia, multi-channel, production, marketing and public relations firm specializing in education industry thought leadership and strategy. MindRocket’s clients are education organizations and companies worldwide, seeking market exposure and influence through new media and high-fidelity assets.

Christie Berger is a certified executive coach and expert in leadership development. In addition to her private coaching practice of 10 years, Christie served as Head of Executive Coaching for Belmont University, Center for Executive Education and collaborates with a variety of global consulting firms. Christie is also the creator and facilitator of Fusion Leader Circuit, an executive development program for women leaders.