SXSW Interactive 2012 speakers

Adam L. Penenberg is a journalism professor and assistant director of the Business and Economic Program at New York University. A contributing writer to Fast Company, he has also written for Inc., Forbes, The New York Times, Slate, Wired, Economist, Techcrunch, and Mother Jones. A former senior editor at Forbes and reporter for Forbes.com, Penenberg garnered national attention in 1998 for unmasking serial fabricator Stephen Glass of The New Republic. Penenberg's story was a watershed for online investigative journalism and is portrayed in the film "Shattered Glass" (Steve Zahn plays Penenberg). His most recent book, Viral Loop: From Facebook to Twitter, How Today's Smartest Businesses Grow Themselves (Hyperion, 2009), has been published in the U.S., U.K., Brazil, Japan and Korea, and will soon come out in China.

Ashok Kamal is Co-Founder & CEO of Bennu, which is the leader in green social media marketing. Ashok coined the term “green gamification” and has worked extensively with FORTUNE 500 clients and startups to develop game-based campaigns that promote sustainability while creating enterprise value. Ashok’s career as a social entrepreneur spans the for-profit and nonprofit sectors, including launching a progressive entertainment company, leading a youth development organization, and working on Newsweek magazine’s inaugural Green Rankings while at KLD Research & Analytics, the pioneering sell-side firm for socially responsible investors. Ashok holds a BA in Sociology and Environmental Analysis & Policy from Boston University and a master’s in Nonprofit Management from Milano The New School. He earned his MBA in Entrepreneurship from Baruch College’s Honors program, where he served as President of the Sustainable Business Club, Baruch’s Net Impact chapter. He has also studied abroad at the Indian Institute of Management, India’s premier business school. Ashok has received numerous awards related to social enterprise. His writings on sustainability are regularly featured on leading websites and he is a frequent public speaker at green business events. He is also a board member of the Entertainers 4 Education Alliance and volunteers for the Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE). In 2011, Ashok joined a distinguished team of eco-advocates to launch Ocean Aid, which is a campaign dedicated to protecting the health of our oceans.

Bing Gordon joined Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers as a partner in 2008. He leads on the sFund, the investment initiative to fund and build applications and services that deliver on the promise of the social web. The sFund, launched in 2010 with strategic partners Amazon.com, Facebook, Zynga, Comcast, Liberty Media and Allen & Co., has made 16 investments to date, including four seeds. Bing serves on the board of directors of sFund companies Klout and Lockerz; sFund strategics Amazon and Zynga; as well as MEVIO and Zazzle. He was also a founding director at Katango (acquired by Google 2011), ngmoco (acquired by DeNA 2010) and Audible (acquired by Amazon in 2008). Before joining KPCB, Bing had been a long-time executive at Electronic Arts, beginning with EA’s founding in 1982 with initial funding from Kleiner Perkins. He was chief creative officer at EA from 1998 to 2008 and previously headed EA marketing and product development. Bing drove EA’s branding strategy with EA Sports, developed EA’s pricing strategy for package goods and online games, created EA’s studio organization, and contributed to the design and marketing of many EA franchises, including John Madden Football, The Sims, Sim City, Need for Speed, Tiger Woods Golf, Club Pogo and Command and Conquer. Bing was awarded the Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences' Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, and he held the game industry's first endowed chair in game design at The University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. He earned an M.B.A. from Stanford University and his B.A. degree from Yale University, where he serves on the President’s Council. Bing's favorite games of all time are World of Warcraft, the Sims, Diablo, Pogo, Civilization, Columns, Freecell, Farmville and Cityville.

Carrie Freeman, Intel director of sustainable business innovation, is responsible for the strategy and business development of eco-technology solutions in the areas of environment and natural resource management. In her previous role as corporate sustainability strategist, she directed corporate wide strategic sustainability efforts working with stakeholders across the company to ensure that Intel continues to build upon its industry leadership in sustainability. Since joining Intel in 1998, Carrie has been a regional environmental relations manager, an engineering manager and a technical program manager. Although, never her core job responsibility, Carrie is known for her work in the areas of diversity, personal mastery, leadership and career development. Carrie regularly speaks around the world on the role of information technology and sustainability. She is on the boards of the Nature Conservancy of New Mexico, the Permaculture Credit Union and acts in an advisory capacity to the Water Innovations Alliance and the Technology Venture Corporation. Carrie holds an MBA in environmental policy and planning from the University of New Mexico.

Frank, does internet marketing and strategy at Blackbaud, blogs at NetWits ThinkTank and guest blogs at Mashable.com, All his efforts are focused on helping non-profits use the Internet for fundraising, marketing, communications and community building. With more than eight years of experience in the nonprofit arena, he has worked with a diverse group of organizations including LIVESTRONG, United Methodist Church, American Heart Association, Family Life, Darkness to Light, University of Richmond, Big Brother Big Sisters, ChildFund Int’l, and more.

Applied psychologist.
Product designer.
UX Advisor @ 500 Startups.
Mentor for the Thiel Foundation's 20 Under 20 Program.

Jeffrey Plank is Associate Vice President for Research. He coordinates the identification, conceptualization, and implementation of large-scale institution-wide research initiatives, most recently the pan-University sustainability institute. As leader of the UVA Bay Game project, Plank pioneered development of an innovative participatory simulation that now serves as a proof-of-concept for demonstrating the potential of digital and social media to motivate personal and collective behavior change for environmental conservation. The defining features of the UVA Bay Game—its collaborative, high-impact, and “disruptive” conversion of problems into opportunities—will distinguish the University’s sustainability institute. In 2009 Plank completed a three-part book series on architectural photography, building restoration, and architectural history, using the American modern architect Louis Sullivan and long neglected photograph archives of his work as his case study. A major 2008 exhibit in Chicago on this project was hailed by the Chicago Tribune as one of the 10 best of the year. Prior to joining the University in 1993, Plank held academic and administrative positions at the University of Southern California, Georgia Tech, and the University of Chicago. He also has provided strategic planning, management, and fundraising counsel to the National Geographic Society, the American Research Center in Egypt, and the Leakey Foundation and has managed USAID projects in South Africa and Botswana.

Laura Pincus Hartman is Director of External Partnerships for Zynga.org, the philanthropic arm of Zynga Game Network. Hartman helped to establish Zynga.org, though which Zynga players have contributed more than $10 million toward both domestic and international social causes. She is also Vincent de Paul Professor of Business Ethics in DePaul University’s Driehaus School of Business, Special Assistant to the President for DePaul’s Haiti Initiatives, and chair of the board of one of Haiti’s first elementary schools that focuses on leadership development for children living in poverty, L’Ecole de Choix (the School of Choice, www.ecoledechoix.org). As a globally recognized scholar, educator, trainer, service-provider, advisor and author of over 80 books, cases and articles, Hartman has consulted for multinational for-profits, non-profits and educational institutions in the field of business ethics on issues related to the alleviation of global poverty through profitable corporate partnerships, corporate governance, responsibility and culture, the employment relationship, global labor conditions and standards, and the impact of technology on employment relationships. She is based in Chicago.

Leslie A. Saxon, M.D., is a Professor of Clinical Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, specializing in the ddiagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias in patients with congestive heart failure. After serving as the director of the electrophysiology laboratory and implantable device services at UC San Francisco, Dr. Saxon was recruited to serve as the Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine at USC. In addition to using state-of-the-art resynchronization devices in patients with arrhythmias, such as modified pacemakers and implantable defribrillators, Dr. Saxon also collaborates with medical device companies to evaluate the latest, most innovative interventional gadgets for patients with difficult-to-treat heart failure. In 2010, Dr. Saxon formed the USC Center for Body Computing. The Center aims to accelerate the successful development of ideas and innovative products in the wireless health space through cross-disciplinary work with various USC programs in partnership with industry leaders and venture capitalists in biotechnology, telecommunications, entertainment and design. The Center collaborates with USC schools and programs including the Keck School of Medicine, Viterbi School of Engineering, School of Cinematic Arts, and the Marshall School of Business, as well as USC Stevens Institute for Innovation and the Institute for Creative Technologies. The USC Center for Body Computing is the most comprehensive center for wireless health in academia. Dr. Saxon also hosts an annual Body Computing Conference which brings together leading authors and futurists as well as leaders from the fields of medicine, design, entertainment, the FDA, investment banking, and pharmaceuticals for a day of intense discussions about the nascent but exciting field of wireless physiologic monitoring. Dr. Saxon has completed over 90 publications in various medical journals and is an active member of a multitude of organizations, including the American College of Cardiology, the Heart Rhythm Society, The American Heart Association, and the Heart Failure Society of America. On Twitter @DrLeslieSaxon

Michael is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Ayogo Games Inc., and is dedicated to the idea that playing is one of the most productive things we can do. He’s been an entrepreneur and innovator on the Web for over 15 years, and the games he has developed have been played by millions on computers and Smartphones all over the world. This year, Michael has been invited to speak on game design at SXSW, Vancouver’s F5 Expo, Games and Health – Vid Week, Banff Television Festival and NextMedia in Toronto, and has been featured by the Vancouver Sun, Fast Company, MIT Technology Review, CBC, and the Globe and Mail. Michael lives in Vancouver with his beautiful wife and four amazing children.

Molly Kittle joined Bunchball at the beginning of 2008 and has a proven track record of helping to create successful gamification programs, powered by Bunchball's industry leading products and solutions, for companies including NBC, Warner Bros., MySpace, Hasbro, UBM, Comcast, and ABC. In her role as VP Digital Strategy, she continues to provide consultation for how gamification can best be used within the context of client's holistic engagement strategy. From workshops to ongoing client feedback, Molly is personally invested in client success. Molly has a BFA in Experimental Theatre from NYU, and isn't afraid to use it.

I am a PhD candidate at the University of British Columbia studying Human-Computer Interaction as it pertains to Health. I am enrolled in Electrical and Computer Engineering. For my PhD, I am designing an online social network, VivoSpace, to promote positive health behaviour change. I am a Professional Engineer registered in the province of British Columbia (BC). I am also a Quality Leader at the BC Patient Safety & Quality Council.

Patty Huber, Manager of G-Team, leads the philanthropic arm at Groupon. Harnessing the collective action platform, Patty developed the G-Team initiative to turn deal seekers into do-gooders by tapping into the collective power of the group to respond to local community need. Passionate about volunteer involvement and crafty with online engagement, she has led the G-Team in raising funds and awareness for local charities across the nation. Patty discovered her passion for community development and civic engagement through her experience developing service-learning and experiential education programs for high school and college students. She went on to produce corporate volunteer programs while pursing work in mental health and social service agencies. Patty approaches corporate citizenship and civic engagement from a social work perspective and seeks to create innovative ways to solve social problems through sustainable for-profit models. Patty has a Bachelor’s degree on Psychology from James Madison University, as well as a Master’s degree in Social Work from Loyola University Chicago. Her hobbies include braving the elements during her year-round bike commute to work and spending time with her husband, Brian, and new daughter Vivian Rose.

Explorer, social entrepreneur and environmental advocate, Philippe Cousteau is the 32-year-old member of the legendary family. He is the President of EarthEcho International (www.earthecho.org), a leading non-profit organization whose goal is to engage and empower youth to take action for a brighter future. His tools are simple—education, balanced advocacy and a commitment to action.
In addition to his work with EarthEcho International, Philippe is co-founder of Azure Worldwide (www.azureworldwide.com), a strategic environmental design, development and marketing company.
Most recently, Philippe announced a partnership with AdvisorShares Investments to leverage Wall Street to “do good” by launching the Global Echo Fund on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: GIVE), the first multi-manager exchange traded fund with a sustainable investment mandate where a portion of the management fee will fund a new Foundation aimed at funding solutions to many of the challenges facing the world community from social issues impacting women and children to environmental conservation, as well as supporting social entrepreneurship.
Philippe is also the spokesperson for the 2012 United States Pavilion at the World Expo in Yeosu Korea (www.pavilion2012.org).
As a special correspondent for and host of the Going Green series on CNN International, Philippe reports regularly on environmental and humanitarian stories from exploration of the extreme science of climate change deep in the frozen arctic to the deforestation and indigenous rights in the Sumatran jungle. Philippe is also the coauthor, with Cathryn Berger Kaye, of Going Blue, A Teen Guide to Saving Our Oceans, Lakes, Rivers, & Wetlands (Free Spirit Publishing), which was released in the summer of 2010 and has been awarded Learning Magazine’s 2011 Teachers’ Choice Award for the Family, a Gold Nautilus Award and a 2010 ForeWord Reviews Book of the Year Gold Award, amongst others.
Philippe serves on the Board of Directors of The Ocean Conservancy, Marine Conservation Biology Institute, and the National Environmental Education Foundation, and the National Council of the World Wildlife Fund. Philippe has also testified to Congress on issues of ocean management and off-shore drilling.

Randy Paynter is the Founder and CEO of Care2.com. With over 15 million members, Care2 is the largest online community of people making a difference in healthy & green living, human rights and animal welfare. Care2 empowers individuals to “Make a Difference” with daily actions, healthy living advice, news and blogs on causes, petitions, contests, groups and more. Care2 adds more than 7,000 new members each day and is among the fastest growing sites among women and baby boomers. Care2 was Green America’s 2009 People’s Choice Award Winner for Green Business of the Year. The company was founded in 1998, has offices in Redwood City, CA and Washington, DC and has over 50 employees.