As the gaming industry rapidly converges with other sectors of society and the U.S. economy, the 2017 Global Gaming Expo will offer attendees an unprecedented opportunity to help bridge these transitions while advancing their personal and career development.
This year’s show, which is co-owned and co-produced by the American Gaming Association and Reed Exhibitions, will feature a cohort of outside experts who possess a sweeping range of expertise in business leadership, communication, organizational behavior and neuroscience.
These speakers will provide attendees with the opportunity to continue building their skillsets both on and off the casino floor.
The announcement follows a recent trend whereby G2E headline speakers have increasingly come from outside the industry as gaming continues to transform itself into an increasingly mainstream part of the U.S. economy.
On Tuesday, October 3, Kelly McDonald will lead three sessions on leading and working with a diverse workforce, the impacts of changing demographics on the modern business landscape and engaging a diverse customer base.
McDonald is considered one of the top multicultural marketing and advertising experts in the country and has worked with companies such as Toyota, State Farm, Nike, Harley-Davidson, Miller-Coors and Sherwin-Williams.
Also presenting on Tuesday will be Phil Gwoke of BridgeWorks, who will speak to the challenges of intergenerational workplaces and how cohesion can be fostered in such situations.
On Wednesday, October 4, Bill Benjamin – a partner at the Institute for Health & Human Potential – will discuss the program from his bestselling book “Performing Under Pressure,” examine how the brain functions in stressful situations and elaborate on the importance of developing emotional intelligence in responding to unforeseen or intense stimuli.
Thursday, the final day of the expo, will feature both Dee O’Neil, of the Center for Brain Health at the University of Texas at Dallas, and Jeff Hurt, vice president of education and engagement at Velvet Chainsaw Consulting.
O’Neil brings more than 15 years of experience in research and clinical neuroscience and will host a discussion on how industry leaders can ensure the optimal cognitive performance in their personal and professional lives.
Hurt is one of the leading authorities in the association and meetings industry on education, governance, conference design, participant experience and transformative learning. He will highlight the importance of gaming professionals developing an innovators’ mindset by changing certain behaviors and rethinking strategies and assumptions.
More keynote speakers for this year’s event are slated to be released in the coming weeks.
