Business in the City: Explore | Share | Grow 2017 conference

Contents · 2 sections

1. What to expect
2. What is in the programme?

Sofia, one of the top 10 cities in the world for entrepreneurs and business growth, will host a three-day conference like no other. Business in the City: Explore | Share | Grow takes place from 8 to 10 September 2017 and covers the key aspects of building a business in today's world: how to seize opportunities by sharing ideas and resources, and how to achieve sustainable growth.

During the conference you can take part in seminars, workshops, networking events and a special gala dinner with the speakers and other guests from Bulgaria and abroad. The programme gives us valuable opportunities to learn new things, exchange know-how, share experience and grow ourselves, our businesses and our networks. Managers and entrepreneurs from Bulgaria and abroad will also be part of the conference and help with that.

EXPLORE: you will learn how urban living in today's fast-changing world can bring more opportunities for growth, the free exchange of ideas, cultures and resources, and higher income.

SHARE: the sharing economy is one of the main trends of recent years and shapes business management through more efficient use of resources. This socio-economic system is built around sharing all kinds of resources: human, physical and intellectual.

GROW: you will learn how to use the reasons why cities attract more residents, businesses and tourists and keep growing (the flow of people, clean water and air, effective emergency and health services, quality education and so on), and how to turn them into opportunities for your own business.

What to expect

• More than 200 participants from Bulgaria and abroad;
• 9 international speakers;
• 3 days of useful seminars and workshops;
• A networking cocktail on Friday;
• A gala dinner on Saturday;
• An expo with Bulgarian and international companies;
• Plenty of surprises and fun.

What is in the programme?

Seminars

You will attend useful seminars with great Bulgarian and international speakers who will share what motivates them and how they achieved success.

Some of the names include:

Ismail Haznedar from Turkey, CEO of Stratejik Isler, member of the Strategic Planning Society (SPS), Certified Management Consultant (CMC) and JCI World President for 2015.

Steve Kyle from Australia, founder of MammothDB, co-founder and CEO of Xentio, international speaker and entrepreneur. Thanks to his flair for innovation and his experience in business management, he has taught entrepreneurship, information systems management and business since 2004. At TEDxBG in 2011, Kyle presented his theory of why people in Bulgaria are unhappy and how that could change. It is one of my favourite TED talks. If you have not seen it yet, join the revolution:

Kevin Hin from Monaco, a member of the Palace Press Service that organised the royal wedding in Monaco in 2011, and JCI Vice President for Europe in 2015. He has experience growing different businesses, owns and runs a hotel in Nice, developed the jewellery brand APM Monaco, popular in Europe and the Middle East, and created a successful blog about the French Riviera.

Alan Hutchison from Switzerland, co-founder and CEO of ProsFit Technologies, board member of Europe Unlimited and founder of ClusterBridge in Switzerland, a consultancy specialising in international business development. He previously headed corporate development at an equipment marketing company in Asia.

Ionut Tata from Romania, senior consultant and head of R&D at Iceberg, co-founder of Thinkstitute, Quib, Hub and Arkhive, and JCI Deputy President for 2017. His experience co-founding start-ups shows how dedicated he can be to a cause and how persistence and hard work can turn an idea into a successful business. He is also deeply involved in social and business issues in Romania and the region as chair of the Pro Democratia Association.

Kristina Krancheva from Bulgaria, founder and managing director of CM Consulting, a licensed consultant in corporate etiquette and international protocol, an image consultant certified by the London Image Institute® and holder of the Bulgarian licence for Speakers Training Camp®, USA. The second edition of her book "Business Etiquette" was published in 2013.

Boris Hristov from Bulgaria, founder of 356labs, a boutique design and training agency. He has run training sessions in more than 25 countries. Boris has many years of experience as a trainer, teaching not only students but also people in IT, sales, marketing and management, on topics from presentation skills and storytelling to the psychology behind slide design.

Workshops

You can take part in unique workshops where you will learn what makes a business successful and sustainable, with a good reputation.

Networking cocktail

The special cocktail lets you exchange contacts, know-how and ideas with the participants and speakers. Networking events like this are a JCI trademark, so expect something really special.

Gala dinner

This is the cherry on the cake: a special event full of fun, songs, dancing, positive emotions and countless opportunities. Get your formal clothes ready.

Expo

You will have the chance to present your business to all conference participants.

Special programme

To spark your curiosity even more, this part of the programme stays a secret for now. But we promise you will not be disappointed. Come to the conference to find out what we have planned.

Join entrepreneurs, managers, innovators, investors and leaders from all over the world, and learn and share many new things that will help you and your business grow.

If you want to become a partner of the event, write to me.

To book a ticket or learn more, visit the JCI website.