YIBC speaker ratings
TheBusinessDesk’s team give their assessment of the strength of the speakers at this Year’s Yorkshire International Business Convention.
Do you agree? Add your views below.
[VIDEO: 37]
Tim Smit
He may have been wearing jeans and an old shirt and peppered his speech with a few expletives but Tim Smit’s words of wisdom couldn’t fail to inspire.
The man behind the Eden project and the Lost gardens of Heligan spoke about his journey from archeologist, to jobbing muscian, to successful green entrepreneur with wit, candour and refreshing honesty.
To date, more than 11 million people have visited Eden. His unconventional management style (which he protests is not hippie s***), extends to looking after his 450 staff.
Annual drumming sessions, regular meal cooking, presentations to other members of staff as to why working at Eden is great, book reviews, film reviews and for the management team one “guerilla” act of kindness a year.
His story was engaging, inspiring and above all relevant.
He might refer to his employee principles as “monkey business” but Eden’s success is proof that looking after your business in a more sustainable way works.
A great speaker.
9/10
Tracey Edwards
Following Tim Smit was no easy task and despite an enthusiastic attempt, Edwards failed to rouse the audience into a fervour.
Edwards explained how she believed there was a silver lining to every situation, and these, in her case, have included her ship’s mast breaking in the middle of the ocean, and being declared bankrupt, a situation which has led her change direction and work for a charity.
However, Edwards failed to deliver the obvious meteoric ups and downs in her life as engagingly as one would have hoped and left delegates a little frustrated at her stumbling delivery and attempted jokes.
5/10
John Cleese
Creativity isn’t inert and can be learned – even if you’re a busy business leader.
That was John Cleese’s message at YIBC as he emphasised the benefits and gains of letting creative juices flow.
The comedian, actor, writer and business owner espoused the virtues of the ‘tortoise mind’ – a state of thinking that is more contemplative, almost dreamlike, rather than the usual ‘hare brain’ fast thinking reactionary thought process dominant in today’s business culture.
He described creativity as coming from the intelligent unconscious, which delivers awareness withouth the thinker being aware of it.
It may have come across as a university lecture at times, but the comedian’s speech threw up some interesting points and exercises to ponder and practice.
Some people may have been disappointed there were no dead parrots or Basil Fawlty antics but the trade off was worth it.
8/10
Tim Sanders
Tim Sanders advised delegates to look after their ‘mojo’ – that feeling of complete confidence that doesn’t waver or in Mr Sanders’ words “get flabby”.
The American-born speaker, warned his audience to be aware of “small pie” disease, which forced people to focus on the negative and think that there “isn’t enough to go round”.
He recommended five rules to help business leaders look after their mojo and keep in the “groove” including exercising their “gratitude muscle”.
A little too evangelical perhaps and more appropriate for an American audience but cut through the jargon and you got some plain common sense advice. Think positive, see risk as opportunity and appreciate what you have in life. What else do you need to know?
7/10
Matt Pritchett
There’s nothing like visual aids to help an audience relate to a speaker and his subject, and Daily Telegraph cartoonist Matt Pritchett used them to great effect.
His award-winning cartoons are a popular daily fix for Telegraph readers and Pritchett explained how he has to come up with dozens of jokes every day before deciding which one to run with.
Casual clothes coupled with a modest and conversationalist approach helped Pritchett warm to the audience, as did the subjects of his cartoons which ranged from Swine flu to Barack Obama and MPs’ expenses.
An unexpected hit from a man YIBC organiser Mike Firth described as “a genius”.
8/10
Dave Stewart
Possibly one of the more eccentric appearances YIBC has experienced, former Eurythmics star Dave Stewart delivered a wide-ranging presentation which at one point involved the audience composing and singing its own tune.
Stewart, who still performs as well as being an adviser to mobile phone giant Nokia, took delegates on a bizarre journey through his mind, which has involved him transforming his ideas into successful businesses.
Delegates were shown videos and commercials made by Stewart (including a pesto sauce ad starring actor Kevin Spacey), who in his own muddled way, explained how Yorkshire businesses need to embrace the technologies of the future.
It may have been a speech with little structure, but Stewart left the audience knowing that they must grasp change to survive and succeed.
8/10
