Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine Issue I, 2015 | Page 60
KEYNOTE
SPEAKERS
Peter Diamandis is the world’s foremost expert and futuristic leader in incentivized innovation: the art of incentivizing smart and talented
people within your company or those experts around the world to focus on solving your grand challenges. He has worked with Fortune 100
companies, government leaders, and captains of industry over the past 15 years. In 2010 Diamandis was the winner of The Economist’s “No
Boundaries” award for “meta-innovation — driving innovation in the way people innovate.” He is also the winner of the Arthur C. Clarke
Award for Innovation, the Heinlein Award, the Lindbergh Award, the Wired RAVE Award, the Neil Armstrong Award, and the World Technology Award.
Dr. Diamandis is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation, a non-profit focused on designing and launching large incentive
prizes to drive radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity. Best known for the $10 million Ansari XPRIZE for private spaceflight, the
Foundation has awarded prizes in Exploration, Life Sciences, Energy & Environment, Ocean Health, and Education/Global Development. Dr.
Diamandis attended the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) where he received his undergraduate degree in molecular genetics and
graduate degree in aerospace engineering.
Dr. Peter Diamandis
New York Times Best-Selling Author, Innovator and
Founder of the XPRIZE
After MIT he attended Harvard Medical School where he received his M.D. In 2005 he was also awarded an honorary Doctorate from the
International Space University. Diamandis has founded over 15 companies since his first year at MIT. Many of these are non-profits dedicated
to creating change in the world. Peter’s mission is to guide and inspire the transformation of humanity both on and off the Earth. His personal
motto is: “The best way to predict the future is to create it yourself.” In 8th grade, while living in New York, Dr. Diamandis won first place in
the Estes rocket design contest.
In 2012, Diamandis released the best-seller Abundance: The Future Is Better Than You Think, debuting at number one on the Amazon and
Barnes and Noble best-sellers lists. The book focuses on how exponential technologies, coupled with the DIY movement and the on-line
connectivity of the “rising billion,” will enable an age of global abundance providing water, energy, food, shelter, education and healthcare in
unprecedented availability for humanity.
Frank W. Abagnale is one of the world’s most respected authorities on forgery, embezzlement, and secure documents. For over 36 years he
has worked with, advised, and consulted with hundreds of financial institutions, corporations, and government agencies around the world.
Mr. Abagnale’s rare blend of knowledge and expertise began more than 40 years ago, when he was known as one of the world’s most
famous con men. This was depicted most graphically in his best-selling book, Catch Me If You Can, a film of which was also made, directed by
Steven Spielberg with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks. The Tony-Award winning musical Catch Me if You Can, directed by multiple award
winner Jack O’ Brien, opened on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre in April 2011.
Between the ages of 16 and 21, he successfully posed as an airline pilot, an attorney, a college professor, and a pediatrician, in addition to
cashing $2.5 million in fraudulent c hecks in every state and 26 foreign countries. Apprehended by the French police when he was 21 years
old, he served time in the French, Swedish, and US prison systems. After five years he was released on the condition that he would help the
federal government, without remuneration, by teaching and assisting federal law enforcement agencies.
Frank Abagnale
Acclaimed Subject of the Book, Movie and Broadway
Play Catch Me If You Can
Mr. Abagnale has now been associated with the FBI for over 36 years. More than 14,000 financial institutions, corporations, and law
enforcement agencies use his fraud prevention programs. In 1998 he was selected as a distinguished member of the “Pinnacle 400” by CNN
Financial News – a select group of 400 people chosen on the basis of great accomplishment and success in their fields.
In 2004 Mr. Abagnale was selected as the spokesperson for the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) and the National
Cyber Security Alliance (NCSA). He has also written numerous articles and books including The Art of the Steal, The Real U Guide to Identity
Theft, and Stealing Your Life.
“Abagnale’s lecture may be the best one-man show you will ever see.” —Tom Hanks
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