2012 Inc. Leadership Forum

Enjoy an inspiring day of motorcycle riding, networking, and spectacular sightseeing with fellow company leaders and entrepreneurs. Hosted by Bob LaPointe, the president of Inc., this guided excursion will venture from sea level in Carlsbad into the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park with its highest elevations of over 6,000 feet. The park’s 26,000 acres features beautiful pine, fir, and oak forests with expansive meadows and rushing streams and abundant wildlife. The route will cover close to 200 miles with several rest-breaks as well as a stop for lunch. This unique experience is for those with a passion for company building and riding.

Open to license drivers only, please. Participants will return to the hotel at approximately 3:30 p.m. Additional fees and insurance are required and must be paid in advance. There will be no onsite sign-up available. Bikes provided by EagleRider.

If you are interested in joining the ride, please email events@inc.com and an Inc. representative will be in touch with rental information.

Registration is open from 3:00pm through 8:00pm

Opening Remarks: Eric Schurenberg, editor in chief, Inc.
Special Keynote: Norm Brodsky, founder, CitiStorage; partner, Black Gold Suites; co-author, Street Smarts: An All-Purpose Tool Kit for Entrepreneurs; columnist, Inc.

Vulnerability is often believed to be a sign of weakness, associated with emotions such as fear, shame, and timidity. We wake up every morning, put on our game face, and rarely take it off—especially at the office. This false front may protect us on the surface, but it also blocks our creativity and innovation, authenticity, adaptability to change, and accountability—the key elements that every business leader needs to survive and thrive. But just how is it possible to lead with courage by daring to expose your weaknesses? Researcher and author Dr. Brené Brown, LMSW has spent the past decade studying vulnerability, courage, worthiness, and shame.

• Explore the critical role that vulnerability plays in your business success.
• Learn actionable strategies for leaning into our discomfort and embracing vulnerability as a source of strength and inspiration.

Speaker: Dr. Brené Brown

With work abound and goals to achieve, there are marathon aspects of leadership that few consider (or have the ability to endure). After 28 years, Gary Hirshberg—founder of Stonyfield Far m, the world’s leading organic yogurt company—decided to step down from his role as CE-Yo. He had overseen Stonyfield’s phenomenal growth from its infancy, starting as a seven-cow organic farming school and growing to its $370 million-plus in annual sales today. The role of a leader should change as the company grows. Are you in this for the long haul?

• Learn from Hirshberg how to determine your proper place within your organization.
• Find out how to handle the ongoing challenges and consequences of leadership.
• Identify ways to increase profits while remaining true to the values that got you here.

Speaker: Gary Hirshberg

Meet and have your books signed by Dr. Brené Brown and Gary Hirshberg

Location: The Inc. Marketplace

We say that we want our employees to think and act like owners, but is our company culture prepared for that? According to research, your current employees are among your most likely future competitors. Prepare for the disruptive threat that empowered employees represent. Take care to create an entrepreneur-friendly environment or else you’re likely to create an unexpected culture clash. It is possible to capture the “power” in “empowerment?” Sure. But be forewarned: Not all employees are created equal, so don’t treat them that way. Learn best practices for managing empowerment in order to achieve the best results and along the way you’ll determine:

• How to create an empowerment-friendly culture
• Inspire your most dynamic employees
• Harness your in-house entrepreneurial energy

Speaker: Lewis Schiff

For your company to reach its full potential, you have just got to keep believing in your vision and determination—and find the right ways to attract strong, dedicated talent to your march to succeed. It starts with clearly defining your company’s awesomeness and, thereafter, effectively communicating your message to any potential hire. From the tone of your leadership to the focus of your company culture, you will determine whether the right people are being added to your ranks.

• Learn the real cost of hiring wrong.
• Uncover the importance of building a cohesive team.
• Find out why every person you hire is ultimately a salesperson.

Speaker: Vanessa Merit Nornberg

Exchange contact information and sharp observations about what it means to start or run a business. Enjoy the meal as you make lasting connections with potential partners, colleagues, and friends.

Here’s your chance to stop by to meet and have your book signed by Lewis Schiff, author of Business Brilliant: Surprising Lessons from the Greatest Self-Made Business Icons

Location: The Inc. Marketplace

Throughout her life, the odds were always stacked against Bonnie St. John. Born with a birth defect that led to the amputation of her right leg when she was just five years old, St. John learned early in life that people often underestimate those with disabilities. But she had another outlook in mind. She went on to graduate from Harvard and Oxford universities, become a three time Paralympics medalist (in skiing), and serve on the White House National Economic Council during the Clinton administration. Learn how St. John reclaimed her power by following her passion in sports, business, and education—all helping to create the life she wanted to live. And you too can value yourself despite the circumstances in order to better your best.

Speaker: Bonnie St. John

Speaker: Paul Spiegelman

Meet Bonnie St. John and have your copy of How Great Women Lead and Live Your Joy signed in The Inc. Marketplace!

Choose one of three hands on, practical concurrent sessions focused on helping you enhance your leadership skills. Click each for session descriptions.

- Build a Better, Relevant Org. Chart
- The Voice of Your Family|
- Study Hall

Stop by the Inc. Marketplace to mingle with the speakers and have your books signed by  Gary Hirshberg, Meg Hirshberg, and R. Michael Rose.

In most companies, the concept of work-life balance assumes segregating things that matter to the business from things that matter to the employee. The challenge is to prevent the former from overwhelming the latter. At TRX, the top business priority is that employees be in the best shape possible so they can deliver exceptional work performance. And just like its physical-fitness products and programs – which are based on portable cables with attached handles –business hours are almost endlessly flexible. Hours are arranged around employees’ personal fitness regimens. And believe it or not, the work still gets done. Last year, revenue reached nearly $40 million. TRX founder and former NAVY SEAL Randy Hetrick will share with you how he created the future of fitness while simultaneously building a workplace culture of like-minded, action-oriented doers. What are the challenges in practicing what you preach?

• Discover the physical, mental, and financial benefits of organizational health.
• Learn just how your company culture affects profitability.
• Determine the right work-life balance for your team.
• Find out how to work out company kinks in order to keep your bottomline in superb fit.

Speaker: Randy Hetrick

No two company cultures are alike. Teaming up with research giant Towers Watson, bestselling author Chester Elton presents an unprecedented 300,000-person study conducted during the nation’s economic recession. Based on this breakthrough research and their extensive consulting experience with a who’s who of successful companies, Elton will share a seven-step roadmap that all managers can follow to create a high-achieving culture in their own teams. With the most current data available on culture, Chester Elton will offer specific how-to’s to help you build the right culture, and tell fascinating stories of leaders in action that vividly depict just how these powerful methods can be implemented. You will learn:

• The 3 research-based characteristics of the world’s most profitable, productive organizational and team cultures
• The steps today’s most successful managers use to generate buy-in
• How managers at any level can build a productive workgroup culture of their own where employees commit to the culture and give that extra push of effort

In this engaging, energizing session, you will walk away with practical tools that you can implement tomorrow with your teams.

Speaker: Chester Elton

Take part in “The Orange Revolution” by saying hello and having your books signed by Chester Elton, co-author of several best-selling leadership books and motivation expert. Chester has been featured in The Financial Times,Washington Post, Fast Company and the New York Times. He has been featured on 60 Minutes, CNN, ABC’s Money Matters, MSNBC and National Public Radio.

Location: The Inc. Marketplace

Susan Leger Ferraro started her career at the age of 17 in her parent’s house and ended up building an empire 30 years later. Today, Lager’s business portfolio includes four successful companies including an early-childhood school chain which she actually sold twice. Although the bulk of her business pursuits are in the education field, Ferraro says she is just someone passionate about growing businesses. She does this now for other entrepreneurs in varying industries. Ferraro will open up about her inspiring entrepreneurial journey as well as share what she believes it takes to maximize growth, accept failure, and effectively lead. Also, find out what her measurements are for success. This is a reminder that no goal is unachievable, you just have to have the guts, patience, and the business strategy to make it happen.

Speaker: Susan Leger Ferraro

While some founders leave their company by force, a proud few decide themselves that it’s time to move on. Curt Richardson recently stepped down as chief executive officer of OtterBox, a position he’s held since founding the protective case company fifteen years ago. Richardson created the first prototype of a waterproof case in his garage in the early 90’s and in 1998, OtterBox was born. Today, the company is a major player in devise protection for mobile technology.  With sales well over $350 million and three-year revenue percentage growth of 3,312%, OtterBox ranks Number 85 on the Inc. 500 list of fastest-growing private companies in the nation. So, it’s a wonder why and how did Richardson vacate his leadership post? In this exclusive one-on-one conversation with Inc., Richardson will share his journey.

• Find out what motivated him to launch OtterBox—and when he knew it was time to leave.
• Learn how to create a seamless transition strategy and set growth plans that can be implemented and achieved with or without you.
• Discover why it’s important to always hire someone smarter than you.

Speaker: Curt Richardson

A good plan gets you in the game, but adhering to the plan propels you into the winner’s circle.  Mastering the art of adherence has made the difference for world-class leaders and organizations for the past 10 years.  Based on research and real-life experiences, the absolute highest-achieving people and teams apply this time-tested, field validated formula for winning:  Focus x Competence x Passion = ADHERENCE.  When you consistently sharpen Focus, build Competence and ignite Passion, you plant the seeds of victory. Join author and leadership advisor Lee J. Colan for a fast-paced, engaging presentation.  Colan will cut through the clutter to share winning insights, like how to:

• Apply the Yellow Car Phenomenon to sharpen your focus
• Use your B.E.S.T. team and keep score to build your competence
• Increase your 3-to-1 ratio of positive to negative interactions to ignite your team’s passion.

Speaker: Lee J. Colan

Continue to converse and connect as you enjoy a meal complete with great food and company.

Choose from four topics and, in a more intimate setting, drill down to the specific challenges in your company. Two more TBA. Click on each for session description.

- All In: The Recognition Workshop
- The Specifics of Accountability: How to Accelerate Winning Results and Relationships
- Leadership in a Digital Age

Lee Colan, Chester Elton