About the Gala Who Will Be There? Programme Media Coverage Venue Hotels What Thinkers are Saying Dress
THE THINKERS50 GALA
A biennial gathering of the leading management thinkers of our era. Every two years, Thinkers50 hosts a unique event in central London: A gathering of great business minds for a day of debate, discussion and networking, followed by an elegant Gala evening celebrating the very best in management thinking. 2017 Ranking of Management Thinkers 2017 Award Winners Video and Photo Gallery
THINKERS50 2017 GALA
Every two years, Thinkers50 hosts a unique event in central London: A gathering of great business minds for a day of debate, discussion and networking, followed by an elegant evening celebrating the very best in management thinking.
Highlights of this gala event, dubbed “The Oscars of Management Thinking” by the Financial Times:- Announcement of the newest Thinkers50 ranking of the world’s leading management thinkers, and presentation of the coveted trophy for the #1 ranked thinker for 2017.
- Announcement of the winners of eight Thinkers50 Distinguished Achievement Awards. Award categories for 2017 are:
- Breakthrough Idea
- Digital Thinking
- Ideas into Practice
- Innovation
- Leadership
- Radar
- Strategy
- Talent
Award descriptions and 2017 award shortlists are here.
JOIN THE EXCITEMENT

WHO WILL BE THERE?
These and other thinkers and guests will be joining us for Thinkers50 2017.PROGRAMME
November 13, 201709.00-09.45 | Registration Opens |
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09.45-10.00 | Grand Hall Welcome to Thinkers50 2017: Des Dearlove & Stuart Crainer |
10.00-11.00 | Grand Hall Merchants of WOW! A unique opportunity to hear Tom Peters, one of the pioneers of modern management thinking, in conversation with Nilofer Merchant, the author of The Power of Onlyness. Facilitated by Stuart Crainer. |
11.00-11.30 | Thinkers50 Tea and Networking |
11.30-12.30 | Grand Hall: Panel Discussion #1 Ideas@Work There’s nothing so practical as a great idea. But what do companies and leaders need to understand to put ideas into practice and get things done? Hosted by the Brightline Initiative, chaired by Loizos Heracleous of Warwick Business School and featuring Rita McGrath, Alex Osterwalder and Liz Wiseman. |
11.30-12.30 | Edinburgh Room: Panel Discussion #2 Ethics in a post-truth world Should we expect business leaders to champion values or simply deliver profits? How do changing ideas about morality and ethics impact on the business world? Featuring Hal Gregersen, Roger Martin and Herminia Ibarra. Chaired by Bobby Parmar of the Darden School at the University of Virginia. |
12.30-13.30 | Networking lunch |
13.30-14.30 | Grand Hall Idea Hunting Session #1 Invited T50 Shortlisted and Radar thinkers present their big ideas in quick-fire 8-minute sessions. Chaired by Erica Dhawan. Featuring Ayse Birsel, Carol Fishman Cohen, Mark Greeven, Margarita Mayo, Pim de Morree, David Robertson & Deborah Rowland. |
13.30-14.30 | Edinburgh Room Idea Hunting Session #2 Invited T50 Shortlisted and Radar thinkers present their big ideas in quick-fire 8-minute sessions. Chaired by Kate Sweetman. Featuring Jose Esteves, Anindya Ghose, Maja Korica, Jeanne Liedtka, Johanna Mair, Megan Reitz and Louise van Rhyn. |
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14.30-14.45 | Thinkers50 Tea and Networking |
14.45-15.35 | Grand Hall: Panel Discussion #3 What price ideas? What is the role of the management thinker in society? And will they be replaced by robots any time soon? Featuring Whitney Johnson, Gianpiero Petriglieri and Daniel Pink. |
15.35-16.25 | Grand Hall The Ideas Bazaar Industry briefing on the ideas business. What are the trends impacting on the thought leadership market? Featuring Sarah Green Carmichael from HBR.org, Danny Stern of the Stern Strategy Group, and Dorie Clark, author of Stand Out. Chaired by futurist Amy Webb. |
18.30-19.15 | Balmoral Room: Welcome Drink |
19.15-22.15 | Grand Hall: Gala Dinner Awards ceremony compered by Thinkers50 founders Stuart Crainer & Des Dearlove |
22.15-24.00 | Balmoral Room: Drinks at the Thinkers50 Bar |
MEDIA COVERAGE
Thinkers50 attracts media coverage from throughout the world. In 2015, journalists from China, Korea, Germany, France, the US and the UK attended the event. Among many others, the ranking and awards have been featured by:- BBC, UK
- Business Insider, US
- China Daily, China
- China National TV News, China
- Chosun Biz, Korea
- Conference Board Review, US
- Executive Excellence, Spain
- The Economist, UK
- Financial Times, UK
- Forbes, US
- Globe & Mail, Canada
- Harvard Business Review, China
- Harvard Business Review, US
- Les Echos, France
- Manager Seminare, Germany
- Smart Manager, India
- The Times of India, India
- The Times, UK
- Vedomosti, Russia
- The Wall Street Journal, US
- Washington Post, US
HISTORIC VENUE
Thinkers50 2017 will be held at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, at Covent Garden, in the heart of London. Originally the Freemasons’ Tavern, the Grand Connaught Rooms combines baroque and art deco styles in a dramatic historic space. The AntiSlavery Society was founded at the site and the rules of football were first agreed to here by the Football Association.Hotels
COVENT GARDEN HOTEL 10 Monmouth Street London WC2H 9HB Tel +44 (0)20 7806 1000
KINGSWAY HALL HOTEL 66 Great Queen St Covent Garden, London WC2B 5BX Tel +44 (0) 20 7309 0909 Hotel Discount Codes for Kingsway Hall:
- GCRRO – Room Only
- GCRBB – Bed & Breakfast
WHAT THINKERS ARE SAYING
DRESS
Daytime events require business attire. The Thinkers50 Gala in the evening is a formal event. Thinkers50 2015 Gallery