Fortune 500 companies often struggle to reinvigorate their thinking and ideas while entrepreners seem to be idea machines, endlessly innovating on their own. Besides buying companies or retaining innovation consultants, what can be done to drive intrapreneurship? We have assembled a panel to share that intrapreneurship is a mindset. You can train your teams so that they become more forward-thinking operators, to help keep your business fresh and your thinking cutting edge. 

At this event we will feature four panelists who will discuss the following topics:

• The importance of innovative thinking in business today.
• Notions of entrepreneurship: it's not all "big ideas" and startups.
• Targeting and developing the intrapreneurs in your company.
• Utilizing the ideas of innovation to move your company forward while maintaining the hallmarks of the business.
• Mistakes and learnings from innovation.
• Understanding trends in entrepreneurial ventures.
• How to inspire your team about change and evolution.

Come join this lively discussion, essential for all company leaders.

After the event, Panelist Mark Monchek, Chief Opportunity Officer of the Opportunity Lab and a Founding Member of CSI/NYC will offer a guided tour of one of America's largest and most innovative collaborative workspace for social entrepreneurs. 

If you are a CEO and would like to see if you qualify to attend this event, register online at ceotrust.org/apply.

SCHEDULE:

6:00 to 6:30 pm - Mingling and Reception
6:30 to 7:30 pm - Panel Discussion and Q&A
7:30 to 8 pm - Optional Tour of CSI/NYC              

ABOUT THE STARRETT-LEHIGH BUILDING: Bold and iconic, The Starrett-Lehigh Building is one of Manhattan’s largest and premier landmark properties with a history of attracting world-class creative companies and elite brands. The building is an integral part of the emerging West Chelsea area and is synonymous with innovation, inspiration and uncompromised creativity – a Mecca for New York’s most enterprising and talented. Starrett-Lehigh’s A-list collection of local, national, and internationally renowned designers, multimedia agencies, directors, photographers, artists, and publishers find inspiration in the buildings artisan environment and expansive raw office space, heightened by the creative community that thrives within. For 80 years, Starrett-Lehigh has been, and continues to be, the place to create, to influence and to succeed.

BIOS:

MICHAEL SAMBRANO is the Founder and CEO of FitLore. Michael's 30-year career spans uniquely diverse disciplines and experience: successful entrepreneur, consultant, creative and corporate business executive. Michael’s executive career commenced over a 12-year period where he was an executive at Burroughs/Unisys Corporation (Fortune 72 at the time). He formed and managed a new group as the architect for the company’s legal, compliance, regulatory, IP and contractual processes, reporting directly to the General Counsel. Over the next seven years, Michael founded, funded and managed a legal and financial consulting firm (Tripoint, which became Tymetrix) that he successfully sold to CT Corporation in 1997. During this time, Michael was responsible for C-Suite and Generals Counsel clients at over 200 of the largest corporations in the world, including British Petroleum, Pfizer, Chevron, MetLife, Sears, DuPont, Cisco, Motorola, Morgan Stanley, Countrywide Insurance, Prudential Insurance, The Vanguard Group, Kimberly-Clark, and Halliburton, to name a few. After this, Michael returned to his creative roots as a co-founder of a New York-based fashion label, where he was responsible for operations, PR, marketing, branding, and production (film, TV, co-marketing projects). Over five years he built relationships and lead projects with IMG, QVC, Bravo, Sassoon and Audi. He was also responsible for producing and directing runway shows at NYC’s famed Bryant Park. In 2012, Michael co-founded Chief Trunk, a luxury travel accessories company. In his role as President and Creative Director, Michael was integral to three rounds of successful funding, establishing and implementing all operational and administrative processes, as well as overseeing design, production and marketing. In 2014, Michael and his wife Linda Sondik (a veteran of fitness and hospitality industries), founded FitLore, with the mission to be the most exclusive provider of Private and At-Residence Fitness, Wellness and Lifestyle services in New York. FitLore launched its services in 2015 in partnership with some of the most high-profile, luxury residential properties in the city. Michael is also working on the imminent launch of a new fashion accessories line as a co-founder and president.  After securing a $1M seed round funding, this venture is nearing the completion of its production, marketing and branding initiatives in advance of a late 2016 launch. Michael has been the lead consultant in many multi-million dollar consulting projects, leading teams from PWC, Andersen/AC, Deloitte and Ernst & Young. He is a competitive cyclist, classically trained musician and professional photographer. Michael has a BS in Computer Science and Wayne State University.

JIN KIM is a Director of Business Development with the Innovation Business Development team at United Technologies. He works across all business units which include UTC Aerospace Systems, Pratt & Whitney, Otis and Climate, Control and Security. He is leading UTC’s patent and trademark monetization activities as well as large technology transfer and corporate venture-type opportunities in areas such as unmanned aerial vehicles, the Internet of Things and sustainable energy. He also advises UTC and its business units on IP negotiations, IP valuations and business model innovation. He is currently a member of the IP Advisory Council for Ballard Power and the Advisory Board of Autoharvest.org. For the second year, Jin has been elected to the “IAM Strategy 300 – The World’s Leading IP Strategists”. Prior to joining UTC, he was a Principal at Coller Capital, a private equity firm, and a senior member of the investment team. There he conducted a number of large IP transactions, oversaw investments and managed the financial analysis of IP assets. Previously, he held a manager position for Special Projects at IPValue Management, an IP monetization firm, responsible for strategic initiatives and large deals. He started his career as a management consultant with The Boston Consulting Group where he specialized on the high tech and oil and gas sectors. Jin earned a DPhil in physics from Oxford University and a Diploma in physics from the University of Cologne in Germany.

MARK MONCHEK is the Chief Opportunity Officer at The Opportunity Lab. “I have a passion for empowering conscious leaders to build great companies that make a difference in the world. I love to discover and develop opportunities that merge profitability with sustainable growth, creating organizations that are more conscious, making life better for their customers, employees and communities. I have had the privilege of working with leaders from Google, Apple, Etsy, Warby Parker, Eileen Fisher, Taproot Foundation, General Electric, Goldman Sachs, The New York Times, Wharton, Edison Properties, NBC, Paxar, Time Warner, United Nations, United Way of Greater New York, and Adorama to help them take their organizations to the next level of sustainable growth. “Our video series OppLabTV inspires conscious business through thoughtful insights, interviews, and media recommendations. Together with our Moment of Opportunity newsletter, blog, and social media, we are building a community of like-minded conscious business and non-profit leaders committed to Doing Well By Doing Good. “I am also a filmmaker, author and public speaker. I have directed and produced two short films and was lead interviewer and creative consultant on Politics Con Sabor-The History of Puerto Rican Politics in New York State.  My work has also been featured on the Lifetime Network, That Matters. GoodB, Conscious Talk Radio, WCBS, Catalyst, Newsday, Working Women Magazine, and The San Francisco Chronicle.” A chapter from Mark's forthcoming book was published as a part of OD Network's Organization Development in Practice and the complete book, The Culture of Opportunity: The Opportunity Lab Guide to Building a Successful, Sustainable Business, will be published in January 2017.

JOHN TREZZA With over 20 years of operating experience including 13 years at the President, Chief Executive Officer, and GM level, John is an expert at developing and executing strategies to drive aggressive growth, turn around struggling businesses, and enabling new divisions or early-stage startups to “cross the chasm” into thriving businesses. He has driven businesses to triple revenue while driving down cost-of-sales by 90%, has transformed product portfolios, and changed business models. He has led private equity financed companies as well as multiple stand-alone companies within larger organizations in technology, telecom, hardware, optics, electronics, and semiconductor for industrial, commercial, aerospace, and civil/defense sectors.John has raised substantial venture capital financing, built businesses and teams from the ground up, driven strategic partnerships and M&As (buy and sell side), and served on Board of Directors alongside top executives of other Fortune 500 companies. His diverse and extensive credentials: BSE, MSEE, and Ph.D in Engineering (Princeton & Stanford), Certified Public Accountant, and Registered Patent Agent with the US Patent and Trademark office (inventor on over 100 patents) make John a diverse leader. In addition to President / CEO roles, he has led R&D, product development, operations, and sales/business development. His hands-on, execution-focused management style with emphasis on building, coaching, and enabling agile, high-potential teams makes him a valuable CEO today.

KATE EDWARDS built her consulting business in 2007 and since then has worked with some of the biggest names in the hospitality industry. Her client list includes NYC favorites (il Buco, Brooklyn Fare, Le Cirque and the Rainbow Room) and timeless hotels including the Viceroy Anguilla, The Essex House and The Plaza Hotel; among others. Her company has been hired to create service and training programs for various customer-focused businesses (Nutrisystem, ?What If! Innovation) and Kate works as an executive coach to help entrepreneurs, chefs, and managers develop their ideas, accomplish their goals, and realize their full potential. Since 2008 Edwards has been an instructor at the Institute for Culinary Education, and since 2015 she has been an educator at Journee in NYC. A contributing writer for both The Huffington Post and Restaurant Hospitality Magazine, Edwards has been quoted in magazines and blogs as varied as Amex OPEN, AdWeek,  Shape, Haute Living, First For Women, and Fast Casual. A frequent speaker, Edwards has been chosen to present her ideas at conferences and meetings hosted by regional associations and large national organizations. Edwards just completed her first book, Hello! And Every Little Thing That Matters (Palgrave Macmillan); the customer service book that will transform your business. Edwards and her chef husband live in New York.