Game Changers

Game Changers are hosted by ASAE Strategic Partner, Business Events Canada and its Partners

Sunday, August 11
2:00–3:00 p.m.

Purpose Takes Over

Joe DeLoss
Founder, Hot Chicken Takeover

"I believe HR is the single most efficient tool we have to tackle the cycle of poverty."

Joe DeLoss has become one of the most talked-about social-cause entrepreneurs in Columbus. And he did it by selling really, really good Nashville-style fried Chicken. Joe is founder of Hot Chicken Takeover, a shop and food truck that’s a favorite of hungry downtown Columbus lunch crowds thanks to a delicious product—and a business model that provides good paying jobs for men and women who badly needed supportive employment. That’s right, this hot chicken-fueled social enterprise is changing lives by employing people who are formerly incarcerated or those living in poverty.

 

Jeni Britton Bauer
Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams

A pioneer of the artisan ice cream movement, she introduced a modern, ingredient-driven style of ice cream making that has been widely emulated across the world but never duplicated. Jeni opened her first ice cream shop, Scream, in 1996, then founded Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams in 2002. Her first cookbook, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams at Home, is a New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller and won a coveted James Beard Award in 2012. It quickly became the de facto bible for anybody making their own ice cream or thinking about opening a new-style ice cream shop. Her second cookbook, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream Desserts (2014), took ice cream to the next level with an array of incredible plated, layered, and piled-high ice cream-centric desserts. As Founder and Chief Creative Officer, Jeni remains the beating heart of the company and is in charge of all creative output—from the ice cream itself to the supporting details that enhance the experience of eating it. Jeni is a 2017 Henry Crown Fellow and has been recognized by Fast Company as one of the most creative people in business today.

Sunday, August 11
4:00–5:00 p.m.

Let’s Talk about Movements. Period.

Nadya Okamoto
founder and executive director, PERIOD. The Menstrual Movement

Nadya Okamoto, who grew up in Portland, is a 20 year old Harvard student. She is also the head of an organization she founded at the age of 16. Nadya is a leading authority about “the menstrual movement”, the power of Generation Z and youth activism, and overcoming adversity through advocacy. In 2017, Nadya ran for office in Cambridge, MA and while she did not win, her campaign team made historic waves in mobilizing young people on the ground and at polls. Nadya is the author of the newly released Period Power: A Manifesto for the Menstrual Movement.

Monday, August 12
9:00–10:00 a.m.

Become Unbreakable

Brant Menswar
CEO, Rock Star Impact
author, Rock ’N’ Roll With It

Brant Menswar, with his authentic rock star swagger, challenges us to become values-based leaders, empowers us to choose our purpose, and inspires us to change what’s possible with his incredible story of hope, creativity, and determination. A critically-acclaimed author of Rock ’N’ Roll With It: Overcoming the Challenge of Change, award-winning musician, and the CEO and founder of Rock Star Impact, Brant teaches association leaders how to cultivate values-based leadership and activate organizational values to help connect the head and heart. His unique and compelling approach of using music to build bridges across generational, gender, and competency-based gaps has changed what’s possible for industry-leading organizations like Netflix, Verizon, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Microsoft, Hilton and more.

Monday, August 12
2:00–3:30 p.m.

Unleash Your Connectional Intelligence

Erica Dhawan
founder and CEO, Cotential

Erica Dhawan is the world’s leading authority on “connectional intelligence” and co-author of the bestselling book Get Big Things Done: The Power of Connectional Intelligence. Erica was named by Thinkers50 as “The Oprah of Management Ideas” and featured as one of the emerging management thinkers most likely to shape the future of business. She hosts the award-winning podcast Masters of Leadership.

Monday, August 12
4:00–5:00 p.m.

Lessons from the Ledge

Alison Levine

Alison Levine is the history-making adventurer who served as team captain of the first American Women's Everest Expedition, climbed the Seven Summits and skied to the North and South Poles. You can't control the environment; only the way you react to it. A former part-time faculty member at West Point and author of New York Times best-seller, On the Edge, Allison draws authentic parallels between unconventional leadership concepts in the world of extreme adventure and challenging situations in business and in life...because everyone has mountains to climb.