October Dates Set for Chicago Ideas Week

Chicago Ideas Week returns in 2012 for another week of brainstorming with innovators, big thinkers and entrepreneurs. 

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Groupon co-founders Brad Keywell and Eric Lefkofsky announced Tuesday the second annual event will span Oct. 8 through Oct. 14 and will include 30, 90-minute talks with prominent local and national leaders, as well as four evening "Mega Talks" with "globally recognized speakers, discussing timely topics."

AOL co-founder Steve Case, TIME Magazine Rick Stengel and Felicity Aston, the first woman to ski across Antarctica alone are among the confirmed speakers.

Organizers said Tuesday a schedule and list of speakers will be announced on chicagoideas.com. Tickets will go on sale in August. Programming includes several Edison Talks guided by the topics of innovation and invention, and CIW labs meant to take attendees behind the scenes of businesses.

Topics will range "from entrepreneurship to fashion, to the environment, sports and military," Ideas Week cofounders said in a statement.

"Our focus is turning ideas into action, which we achieve by bringing globally provocative speakers to our great city, and igniting the imagination, conversation, and connectivity of our diverse and highly engaged attendees," Keywell said.

Last year, more than 160 speakers included former President Bill Clinton, Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Dr. Sanjay Gupta and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. This year, the program will span more than 200 speakers and 100 events.
 

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