Foremost Forums Upcoming This Month

Did you know that the word “October” is from the Latin “octo,” meaning “eight,” because this was the eighth month of the year in the ancient Roman calendar. And the name “October” was retained in the later Julian and Gregorian calendars, even though it was now the tenth month, two months having been added. So, how come they didn’t keep October eighth and make August tenth? Or come up with a new name? Think about that while you are savoring knowledge of these excellent conferences happening this month, whatever it should be called.

Foremost forums upcoming

• Net Impact Conference (October 24 – 26; San Jose). Event aspires "to discuss a vast array of innovative ideas that will create social and environmental value for our future." The conference challenges attendees to "examine the organizational processes, strategies, and capabilities that enable sustainable value creation," with representative topics including: Creating a "more-than-money" career; evolution of the sustainable business leader; connecting consumers with action – and your brand; past and future of sustainable supply chain management; how partnerships and passions can fuel sustainability initiatives; and fair trade in the era of social entrepreneurship.

• Fortune Most Powerful Women Summit/US (October 15 – 17; Washington, DC). Summit aims to provide these and other successful women leaders with the opportunity to explore key issues impacting business as well as subjects impacting their organizations and their careers. The agenda features interactive interview-style panel discussions and one-on-one interviews, and addresses business topics such as global competitiveness; new media; technology trends; and management issues such as building great brands and mastering organizational change.

• Women's Forum for the Economy and Society Global Meeting (October 16 – 18; Deauville, France). Meeting aims to "create a powerful, global network in order to strengthen the influence of women throughout the world [and develop] action plans to encourage women's contribution to society and promote diversity in the business world." The Forum's emphasis on global networking and action is prevalent throughout the meeting. Discussion topics have included coaching; diversity; Internet; sustainability; rising talents; and women in education. 2013 theme: "The Open World: Compete, Cooperate, Create."

• Chatham House Climate Change Conference (October 21 – 22; London). Conference focuses on action being taken by the United Nations and national governments with the goal "to assess the prospects for progress on climate action…." Representative topics include: As developed countries cut back on spending, what are the prospects for action on climate? Will new "green growth" investment banks succeed in driving low carbon economies? Will opportunities to gain ground in clean tech be lost without swift government intervention?

• PopTech (October 24 – 26; Camden, ME). Event explores the impact of technological advancements on society. Conference focuses on dramatic transformative changes from a technological, cultural, and global perspective. Program address topics such as globalization, global warming, biotechnology, nanotechnology, ubiquitous computing, and the future of knowledge and intellectual property. The 2013 theme is "Sparks of Brilliance."

• GreenBiz Verge San Francisco (October 14 – 17; San Francisco). Event aims to bring together "business innovators, entrepreneurs, and leading public officials to illuminate the opportunities for radical efficiencies created through technology advancements in energy, buildings and transportation." Representative topics here include: Day in the life of a smart building; preparing cities for electric vehicles; how the social web transforms real estate; and the city as an operating system.

Noteworthy conferences beginning agenda planning this month

• The Alliance to Save Energy will begin finalizing the agenda for its Energy Efficiency Global Forum scheduled to be held May 20 – 21, 2014 in Washington, DC. EE Global is self-described as focusing on "integrating effective policy with efficient business practices to create change on a large scale." Event aims to bring together "high-caliber industry professionals, academics and policy makers" to "exchange the latest technology and information, forge partnerships, and develop best practices policies and strategies for global implementation of energy efficiency." Representative topics include: Powering an energy efficient economy; energy efficiency as the foundation to building smart grids; and changing the world through social media and communication technologies.

• Harvard Business School will begin agenda development for its Dynamic Women in Business Conference, taking place February 22, 2014 in Boston. Conference aims to "bring together 1000 women, including students, alumnae, faculty, distinguished business leaders, and community members, to explore the opportunities and challenges facing women in today's business world." Agenda focuses on topics such as best practices for managing work and family; developing networks and mentors; executing negotiating strategies; and accessing resources.

• Business Event Solutions will begin developing the agenda for its Sustainable Facilities Summit to be held spring 2014. Summit brings together "senior real estate, facilities and sustainability executives collaborate to explore the latest innovations in building efficiency, environmental impact and occupant health." Representative topics include: Financing energy efficiency retrofits; getting to net zero energy; analyzing the latest in smart building technologies; and designing the world's greenest building.