General Session

As the first female president of a professional sports franchise, Susan O’Malley is a pioneer in two fields: sports and business. She knows what it takes to be a leader in a tough business environment and how to create an organization from the ground up. Her ground-breaking business ideas and proactive approach to customer service brought her – and Washington Sports and Entertainment – to the top of the sports business world.

Bill Cates is a high-energy speaker who motivates by sharing proven ideas and strategies that work.  Bill has helped over 20,000 small business owners and salespeople build thriving referral-based businesses – where the phone is ringing with referred customers/clients. And Bill has helped large companies increase sales and cut hundreds of thousands of dollars in marketing expenses at the same time! 

Bill Cates is the author of three popular books on referrals:  Get More Referrals Now!, Don’t Keep Me a Secret!, and Beyond Referrals: How to Use the Perpetual Revenue System to Turn Referrals into High-Value Clients.  Bill is the president of Referral Coach International and the founder of The Referral Coach Academy.

Bill Cates’ client-acquisition system has been featured in such publications as Success Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Selling Power, the Huffington Post and The Wall Street Journal.   

Bill’s seminars are high energy, and high content.  Bill is the kind of speaker who prefers to talk with his audience instead of talking to them.  Therefore, you can expect a highly interactive session.  You can also expect to receive powerful and practical strategies that will have an immediate impact on your business.

Award-winning journalist Michele Norris is one of the most recognized voices in radio. She was host of NPR's longest-running national program, "All Things Considered," until 2012. Norris and "All Things Considered" received many of journalism's highest honors, including a Peabody Award, a duPont Award and an Overseas Press Club Award, and she was named the 2009 Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists, solidifying her as an in-demand speaker on current events and American culture.

In 2013, Norris was named host and special correspondent for NPR. While on sabbatical, Norris spent a time traveling the country and developing two successful initiatives: The Race Card Project and NPR's Backseat Book Club. Her new role will allow her to continue this work while producing in-depth segments for all NPR programs.

Before joining NPR, she served as a correspondent for ABC News, where she reported extensively on education, inner city issues, the national drug problem, and poverty. While at ABC, she earned an Emmy Award and Peabody Award for her contribution to the network's coverage of 9/11.

In her 2010 book, The Grace of Silence: A Memoir, Norris focuses on how America talks about race in the wake of the Obama presidential election, and explores her own family's racial legacy. Tom Brokaw says the memoir makes her personal story a universal one: "Michele Norris takes us on a riveting personal journey from north to south and back again through the tangled landscape of race in America -- and teaches anew about the pain and possibilities of our past and future." It was named one of the year's best books by The Christian Science Monitor.

Leslie Mays is vice president, chief inclusion officer for Avon Products, Inc., responsible for designing and driving the company’s worldwide inclusion strategies, policies and practices in line with Avon’s empowerment mission. She has been leading the design and implementation of the company’s first global women’s strategy across six of Avon’s largest markets around the world, leading development of a new global employee value proposition and integrating D&I into core talent practices. She also currently serves as acting vice president of Global Talent Management.

Prior to joining Avon, Leslie has served in senior executive roles and as an executive level specialist for other leading global corporations for over 20 years. Her key accomplishments include: the establishment of the first auditable global D&I policy in a multinational corporation implemented in 140 countries; applying rigorous, evidence-based analysis to D&I strategy development; educating and partnering with leadership teams in Asia, Latin America, Europe and Africa to improve talent and business performance through understanding and leveraging cultural differences. Her work has resulted in several awards and professional commendations, and has been featured in articles, books, and research in academic, trade and business publications.

A powerful storyteller with a powerful story to tell, Dr. Steve L. Robbins has an uncanny ability to inspire people even in the midst of disrupting and challenging the way they think about the world. Born in Vietnam, Dr. Robbins immigrated with his mother to the United States where they faced many challenges during a time when there was much anti-war and anti-Vietnamese sentiment.

Working through and rising out of the challenges of poverty, discrimination and the tough streets of Los Angeles, Dr. Robbins now brings insightful perspectives on issues of inclusion & innovation, leadership, and the power of caring.  Drawing upon a compelling life journey, his talks and workshops are filled with intriguing stories, laugh-out-loud humor and a keen understanding of human behavior.

Dr. Robbins uniquely knows how to simultaneously challenge and motivate people with a dynamic use of storytelling, humor and extensive knowledge of pertinent issues and concepts. The inclusive power of his message are why organizations like Coca-Cola, Disney, Ford Motor Company, Walmart, Lululemon, Pixar, NASA, The NBA,  Michelin, Bank of America, Mercedes-Benz,  and numerous others call on Dr. Robbins to inspire, educate and prepare their people for the exciting challenges of dynamic and diverse environments.

A thought leader and innovator, Dr. Robbins' unique, science-based approach to inclusion and diversity has captured wide acclaim from numerous audiences and organizations across the the world. His approach does NOT blame or point fingers. It uses neuroscience and the science of human behavior to encourage individuals and organizations to be more open-minded, mindful and intentional about inclusion and valuing people for their unique gifts, abilities and experiences.

Dr. Robbins earned an undergraduate degree in Communication from Calvin College, and his masters and doctorate in Communication Science from Michigan State University.  His background in communication, social-psychology and cognitive neuroscience drives his work with individuals and organizations – the core of the work is about understanding human behavior and leveraging human differences in an ever-changing, fast-paced 21st world.

Keith Ferrazzi is the founder and CEO of Ferrazzi Greenlight. He provides market leaders with strategic consulting and training services to increase company sales and enhance team performance.

Ferrazzi and his associates are the world’s leading experts in the relational and collaborative sciences. Their research has proven the singular predictive importance of relationships to business success (sales, team performance, and individual career advancement). Their applied work with thousands of the most respected organizations has established clear methodologies for accelerating such relationship development.

Ferrazzi Greenlight strategically leverages the insight of its executive team, whose careers span the highest echelons of corporate America, along with principles from Ferrazzi’s best-selling book, Never Eat Alone, which was recognized as one of the best business books of 2005, 2006, and 2007. His recent book, Who’s Got Your Back, guides readers to develop an intimate inner circle, a handful of people who they trust completely to hold them accountable to ever higher levels of achievement.

Ferrazzi created The Relationship Masters Academy, an online learning academy for "people skills" that delivers an exclusive program aimed at salespeople and business professionals.

Ferrazzi is a frequent contributor to CNN and CNBC. He has authored numerous articles for leading business and consumer publications, including Forbes, Inc., The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, and Reader’s Digest.

Ferrazzi was previously Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Sales at Starwood Hotels, where he oversaw marketing activities for global brands including Sheraton, Westin, The Luxury Collection, St. Regis, and W Hotels. Ferrazzi also served as Chief Marketing Officer for Deloitte Consulting, a leading global management consulting firm, where he developed and managed the industry’s first globally integrated marketing organization.

Ferrazzi’s foundation, Big Task Weekend, is an impactful, invitation-only event that brings together a diverse group of visionary leaders from top organizations to facilitate partnerships to solve the world’s biggest challenges.

As CEO of Maslansky Luntz & Partners, Michael Maslansky advises Fortune 500 companies, industry associations, and professional communicators on language strategies that shift perceptions and move markets. His book, The Language of Trust: Selling Ideas in a World of Skeptics explores new words, phrases, and communication techniques to address situations where there appears to be a "failure to communicate." His presentations incorporate this real life experience, providing clear and compelling advice for how to use the right language – and the right approach to using it. Maslanksky's key philosophy is that it is not what organizations say, but what their audience hears, and he has incredible research on how the public interprets words and messaging.

How CEOs, companies, and entire industries communicate – whether during crises, in advertising and public relations campaigns, or with investors, Congress, or the American people – often means the difference between success and failure. Organizations turn to Maslansky to understand the public mood, challenge conventional wisdom, and transform not just what they say to key audiences – but how they say it. He explains how to be more effective at communicating by understanding and anticipating how audience interpret what they hear or read and has helped clients position and differentiate their products in good times and protect their reputations when faced with crises.

Communications Master. Maslansky shares with audiences his in-depth understanding of hot-button issues in banking and financial services, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, corporate social responsibility and non-profits, technology and consumer products, and litigation and politics. He has worked with industries to reframe the national debate over issues including Medicare, climate change, digital movie and music piracy, and, most recently, lead in Chinese imports. He has worked with a range of companies on corporate social responsibility efforts relating to the environment, public health, and labor standards.

Maslansky's strategic analysis builds on insights from his unique combination of expertise: battle-tested communications experience combined with a deep understanding of public opinion. He has conducted hundreds of messaging and research projects in over 20 countries using his firm's trademarked polling methodology, lauded by The New York Times, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, 60 Minutes, Nightline, and PBS's Frontline, among others. In his presentations, he incorporates quantitative and qualitative research on his audience's industry and issues. He can also do customized research or focus groups.

Previously, Maslansky founded MarketResearch.com, a leading market intelligence company where he served as President and remains on the Board. He is also on the Advisory Boards of Kindsight and Poprule. He began his career as a corporate attorney with Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz.

Coach K became the winningest coach in NCAA Division I history, passing his mentor Bob Knight, with a 74-69 win over Michigan State on Nov. 15, 2011. In 2015, Krzyzewski became the first Division I men’s basketball coach to reach 1,000 career wins with Duke defeating St. John’s 77-86 at Madison Square Garden.

But most impressive are the five National Championships (1991, 1992, 2001, 2010 and 2015) that make Coach K one of only two coaches in NCAA history to earn five or more NCAA titles. In addition to Krzyzewski, only John Wooden (10) has accomplished that feat. With back-to-back national championships in 1991 and 1992, Coach K became the first coach since Wooden in 1972-73 to earn consecutive NCAA crowns. The Blue Devils grabbed their third title in 2001 with an 82-72 win over Arizona in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Duke defeated Butler, 61-59, in the 2010 championship game in Indianapolis, Indiana to give Krzyzewski his fourth NCAA Championship. In the 2015 championship game, Duke defeated Wisconsin 68-63 in Indianapolis, Indiana to give Krzyzewski his fifth NCAA Championship title.

Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils have been a fixture on the national basketball scene, and Krzyzewski is the winningest active coach in NCAA Tournament play. He also ranks first in NCAA Tournament history in wins and games. From 1999-2002, Duke finished number one in the nation in the final Associated Press poll for a record four consecutive seasons. In 2003-04, the Blue Devils reached the nation’s top spot in the AP poll, marking the seventh straight year they had been number one (only UCLA’s string of 12 consecutive years reaching No. 1 from 1964-75 was longer). Krzyzewski has mentored National Players of the Year, All-Americans, ACC Players of the Year and All-ACC selections during his tenure at Duke. In the past several years, four different Blue Devils—Elton Brand, Shane Battier, Jason Williams (twice) and J.J. Redick (twice)—have earned National Player of the Year honors.

Coach K has coached NBA Draft picks, including a record of first round selections. An NCAA-best 17 Blue Devils have been NBA Lottery picks with Elton Brand (1999) and Kyrie Irving (2011) being taken No. 1 overall in their respective drafts.

Krzyzewski earned his 900th career victory on March 20, 2011 with a 73-71 win over Michigan in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. On March 1, 2008, Krzyzewski became the sixth coach in Division I history to reach 800 wins with an 87-86 victory at N.C. State. Coach K became just the fifth coach in NCAA history to record 800 wins at one school with a win over Kansas State on Nov. 23, 2010. On Nov. 17, 2000, Krzyzewski earned his 500th win at Duke with a 98-85 triumph over Villanova. That night, the fabled floor of Cameron Indoor Stadium was dedicated as Coach K Court. On Feb. 13, 2010, Krzyzewski became the eighth coach in Division I history to coach 1,000 games at one school.

In all, Coach K has been named the National Coach of the Year 12 times in eight different seasons, including Basketball Times, UPI and Chevrolet (1986), Naismith (1989), the NABC (1991), The Sporting News and Naismith (1992), Basketball Times (1997), the NABC and Naismith (1999), Chevrolet (2000) and the Victor Awards (2001). He was named Coach of the Decade for the 1990s by the NABC and was the second recipient of the John R. Wooden Legends of Coaching Award. On October 5, 2001, Coach K was presented by his college coach Bob Knight as one of three members of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame class of 2001.

Krzyzewski was named Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year on Dec. 5, 2011. In 1992, The Sporting News named him the Sportsman of the Year, becoming the first college coach to win the honor. Krzyzewski also received another prestigious honor in 2001 as he was named “America’s Best Coach” by TIME and CNN.

On the court, Coach K has averaged more than 25 wins a season during his career at Duke. The Blue Devils have won at least 30 games in 11 of the past 22 seasons. He directed his teams to nine straight trips to the NCAA Sweet 16 from 1998-2006, as well as joining Wooden as the only coach to guide a team to the Final Four five consecutive years.

Krzyzewski added to his already impressive list of accomplishments on Oct. 26, 2005 when he was named head coach of the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team program for 2006-2008. With Krzyzewski at the helm, Team USA won the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics with a 118-107 victory over Spain. In the summer of 2007, he guided the USA squad to a gold medal victory and an unblemished 10-0 record in the FIBA Americas Championship. Krzyzewski has been honored by USA Basketball as the National Coach of the Year four times.

On July 21, 2009, he resumed his role as head coach of the USA Basketball Men’s Senior National Team through 2012. Coach K guided Team USA to a 9-0 record and gold medal at the 2010 FIBA World Championships. Krzyzewski guided Team USA to an 8-0 and a gold medal at the 2012 London Olympics to become the first coach since Henry Iba (1964 and 1968) to lead the program to back-to-back Olympic gold medals. Coach K posted a 62-1 record as head coach of Team USA, including 50 straight wins to close out his tenure leading the program.

David Weil was sworn in as the Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division on May 5, 2014. Dr. Weil is an internationally recognized expert in public and labor market policy; regulatory performance; industrial and labor relations; transparency policy; and supply-chain restructuring and its effects.

Prior to this appointment, Dr. Weil served as professor of economics and the Peter and Deborah Wexler Professor of Management at Boston University School of Management. He also served as co-director of the Transparency Policy Project at the Ash Institute at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. He has written three books on labor market policy, including the recently published The Fissured Workplace. He has authored numerous articles and publications in a variety of economics, public policy, management, and industrial relations journals and books, as well as numerous publications in non-academic outlets.

No stranger to the Department’s mission or its work, Dr. Weil has served as an adviser to both the Wage and Hour Division and to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, as well as to a number of other government agencies. He also has served as mediator and adviser in a range of labor union and labor/management settings across the globe. In addition to his work for the Department, his research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the Russell Sage Foundation, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation, and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, among others.

Dr. Weil received his B.S. at Cornell University and M.A. and Ph.D. in public policy at Harvard University.

Dr. Oz, two-time Daytime Emmy® Award-winning host of the three-time Daytime Emmy® Award-winning “The Dr. Oz Show,” is Vice-Chair and Professor of Surgery at Columbia University.  He directs the Cardiovascular Institute and Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital. His research interests include heart replacement surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, complementary medicine and health care policy.  He has authored over 400 original publications, book chapters, and medical books, has received several patents, and performs more than 100 heart surgeries per year. 

Dr. Oz was born in Cleveland, Ohio, raised in Delaware, received his undergraduate degree from Harvard University (1982) and obtained a joint MD and MBA (1986) from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and Wharton Business School. He lives in Northern New Jersey with his wife Lisa of 26 years and their four children, Daphne, Arabella, Zoe and Oliver. 

Previously, Dr. Oz was a featured health expert on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” for over five seasons, spanning 55 episodes.  In addition to regular appearances on the “Today” show, he has also been featured on “Good Morning America,” “Larry King Live,” “The View,” “Piers Morgan Tonight,” guest-hosted the “Charlie Rose” show and appeared on all the evening news broadcasts.  He also served as medical director of Denzel Washington’s “John Q” and participated in several other feature films. 

Dr. Oz authored seven New York Times Best Sellers, including “You: The Owner’s Manual,” “You: The Smart Patient,” “YOU: On a Diet,” “YOU: Staying Young,” “YOU: Being Beautiful,” “YOU: Having a Baby,” “YOU: The Owner’s Manual for Teens,” as well as the award-winning “Healing from the Heart.”  He has a regular column in O, The Oprah Magazine, Time and AARP, and his article “Retool, Reboot, and Rebuild” for Esquire magazine was awarded the 2009 National Magazine Award for Personal Service. 

In addition to belonging to every major professional society for heart surgeons, Dr. Oz was named Forbes’ #3 most influential celebrity (2010-2011), has been honored as one of Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People (2008), Esquire magazine’s 75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century and a Global Leader of Tomorrow by the World Economic Forum (1999-2004). He has also won the prestigious Gross Surgical Research Scholarship, received an honorary doctorate from Istanbul University and was voted a “Doctor of the Year” by Hippocrates magazine.