LTEN Connect Keynotes: Courage & Purpose
Keynote Speakers – By Tim Sosbe
LTEN will again bring forward world-class keynote speakers this year, as centerpieces on the main stage of the inaugural LTEN Connect learning forum. With messages that will inspire and inform you, the speakers are bestselling authors and recognized business leaders.
Let’s meet this year’s keynote speakers.
John O’Leary
John O’Leary’s story is both every parent’s nightmare and every parent’s pride. At the young age of nine, O’Leary did what too many children do … curiously decided to play with fire. As a result, he was burned over 100% of his body and given less than a 1% chance of survival.
But the human spirit – and medical science – can overcome great obstacles, as O’Leary’s role as the opening keynote speaker will show. O’Leary will share his journey of pain, loss, recovery and discovery as he celebrates the heroes who saved him, including his family, his medical team, a visionary burn-ward nurse and a Hall of Fame sports announcer.
His message will drive home what trainers already know: that one person can make a profound difference for other people. You’ll want to hear this tale of courage and hope.
Brant Menswar
In a way, the closing keynote speaker brings everything together, with a presentation that includes business, inspiration and music. Brant Menswar combines rock-star swagger with values-based leadership as he shares a story of hope, creativity and determination.
Menswar is an acclaimed author and musician, as well as being the CEO and founder of Rock Star Impact, which helps clients cultivate values-based leadership throughout their organizations. His programs, which use music to build a bridge to everyone, have been presented to companies like Netflix, Microsoft, Hilton, Verizon and St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
His closing-day keynote will be worth sticking around for, as he brings passion to the stage to talk about growing with deliberate intention and defining what matters most.
Tim Sosbe is editorial director for LTEN. Email Tim at tsosbe@L-TEN.org.
Our Hosts
Two members of the LTEN Board of Directors will serve as masters of ceremonies for the general session activities on the three days of LTEN Connect.
Richard Sampson, LTEN Board president and head of global training and development for Cepheid, will welcome everyone at the first general session on Tuesday, June 9. He’ll share some opening remarks with LTEN members, introduce our first keynote speaker and help induct two life sciences training leaders into the LTEN Hall of Fame.
On Wednesday, June 10, Board member Ranieka Weston will take over the main stage activities. Ranieka, head of corporate learning and development for United Therapeutics, will serve as master of ceremonies for the 6th annual LTEN Excellence Awards.
Finally, on Thursday, June 11, Richard Sampson will take the stage again for the closing events. Richard will recap LTEN Connect, introduce the final keynote speaker and bring up two LTEN Talks speakers before closing out the event.
