On Thursday night we hosted senior management of 50 of the most exciting and transformative digital businesses in the UK. The member companies of our flagship Future Fifty programme were treated to an evening of unique insights on leadership.
After entering to stunning panoramic views of the London skyline at dusk from the 28th floor of Millbank Tower, the group were seated for an opening session from leadership maestro, Itay Talgam. For twenty years, Talgam has drawn on his experience on the music podium to teach non-musicians the art of leading like a conductor – from CEOs to entrepreneurs, politicians to schoolteachers.
In his lectures, including his acclaimed TED talk, and in his forthcoming book The Ignorant Maestro, he brings that art to leaders everywhere, turning to six of the most iconic conductors as examples. A protégé and disciple of Leonard Bernstein, he has conducted orchestras worldwide, including the Orchestre de Paris and the St. Petersburg Philharmonic. He also teaches leadership to Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and universities, and at conferences around the world, including TED, Google’s Zeitgeist, and the World Economic Forum at Davos.
Using visual aids from the giants of contemporary classical music conduction, Itay talked the audience through the various styles of business management drawing attention to those that are most conducive to success. As the darkness fell over London, the views became more eye-catching with the view of the Thames lit up by the buildings of Westminster in the near distance.
With over 15,000 people employed, multiple billion dollar valuations and four IPOs, Future Fifty companies are contributing directly to the growth of the UK’s digital success story on the world stage.
We want to thank all our attendees and supporters, with a special mention to Barclays for sponsoring the event.