Keynote SpeakersBiographical statements
Mark CubanOwner, Dallas Mavericks
Since Cuban purchased the Dallas Mavericks on Jan. 4, 2000, the face of the organization has changed dramatically. Under his leadership, the team's home games have become more than just an ordinary NBA event – they have become a total entertainment experience. The party atmosphere he helped instill with the return of the "Reunion Rowdies" has carried over into the creation of the "Mavericks ManiAACs" at American Airlines Center.
Prior to his purchase of the Mavericks, Cuban co-founded Broadcast.com, the leading provider of multimedia and streaming on the Internet. Broadcast.com was sold to Yahoo! Inc. in July of 1999. MicroSolutions, a leading national systems integrator, was co-founded by Cuban and partner Martin Woodall in 1983 and later sold to CompuServe.
Today, in addition to his ownership of the Mavericks, Cuban is the owner and chairman of HDNet, the world's only all high-definition national television network.
Marc GeigerWilliam Morris Endeavor
Marc Geiger is the head of WME's music department. Under his oversight, WME's industry-leading music division booked over 22,000 live shows worldwide in 2010 and garnered 106 Grammy nominations in 2011. His diverse client roster includes artists such as David Byrne, The Flaming Lips, Jack White, Caifanes, Jane's Addiction, Lady Gaga, Nine Inch Nails, Ozzy Osbourne, Black Sabbath, Pixies, Roger Waters, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Star Wars, Steve Martin, Tom Petty, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Trent Reznor, and X-Japan, among many others.
A Connecticut native, Geiger found his calling in music working as a concert promoter while still a computer science student at the University of California, San Diego. Geiger became one of the very first to plug the music industry into the Internet when he launched ARTISTdirect, which has since become a media juggernaut, housing a talent agency, two record labels, web commerce for major artists and one of the most popular music destinations on the Internet. Geiger served as the company's Chairman and CEO, overseeing all aspects of ARTISTdirect Digital activities, including the label's branding and development, as well as online and record label operations.
Matthew KeyChairman, CEO of Telefónica Digital
Telefónica Digital serves 300 million customers worldwide. Key became its CEO in September, 2011.
Prior, Key joined O2 UK in February 2002, becoming its CEO in 2005. In his three years as CEO, he oversaw a turnaround of the business, as the company significantly outperformed the market and all of its competitors. Specific highlights during this period include O2 becoming Apple's exclusive partner for the iPhone, the opening of The O2 (the world's most popular entertainment venue) and the creation of the joint venture, Tesco Mobile.
Pete CarrollHead Coach, Executive Vice President, Seattle Seahawks
In 2010, Carroll guided the Seahawks to an NFC West Division Championship and a playoff victory over the defending Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints. This NFL accomplishment came after his previous years (2001-09) as head coach at the University of Southern California, where his teams won seven consecutive Pac-10 titles (2002-08), two national championships (2003-04) and finished with an impressive 97-19 record.
Carroll is also involved in the community, co-founding "A Better LA" in 2003 in an effort to reduce gang violence and "provide a common language of hope" in Los Angeles. In 2009, Carroll founded Winforever, a joint venture with AEG, to further human performance, elevate mentorship and inspire leaders through the art and science of competition.
Jeff JamesVice President, Disney Institute
James leads and directs a team of talented individuals who provide global training and consulting services based on the best practices of The Walt Disney Company. Responsibilities include driving worldwide sales, facilitation and content, and overseeing marketing and public relations for Disney Institute, which offers programs at Disney Destinations and in cities around the world.
Prior to his current role, Jeff was vice president and managing director, marketing and sales for Disney Destinations International. Based in London, Jeff managed and led the marketing, sales, public relations, and finance efforts in the United Kingdom for Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort Paris and Disney Cruise Line.
Before his international assignment, Jeff was vice president of domestic sales for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts where he was responsible for national accounts, field sales and inside sales for Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line and Disneyland Resort. Jeff also managed the tour operators / Internet aggregator team for Walt Disney World Resort.
Tim WestergrenFounder, Pandora
Westergren is a musician, an award-winning composer and an experienced record producer. He has recorded with independent labels, managed artists, owned a commercial digital recording studio, scored feature films, produced albums, and performed extensively. His main instrument is the piano, but he has also played bassoon, drums and clarinet.
He is obsessed with helping talented emerging artists connect with the music fans most likely to appreciate their music. Tim spends much of his time as Pandora's Chief Evangelist — meeting and getting feedback from listeners, researching local music, and spreading the word of the Music Genome Project.
