What’s the work of a true genius? Explaining to a theater filled with over 1,000 executives how they can understand and predict the future… even if for some (including this blogger) it only lasts for the duration of the speech. However, there is no doubt in my mind that after Ray Kurzweil’s closing speech at the World Innovation Forum New York, the entire audience left the event with a plethora of probing questions to use in taking businesses forward.

“Real reality still has some advantages,” joked Kurzweil, “I could’ve done this speech from the comfort of my own home with my 3D image projected on stage, but then I would’ve missed this gorgeous theater.” Someone who continually has the future and the latest technology in mind, Kurzweil portrays this curious perspective in all that he does, and his speech on the World Innovation Forum New York stage was no exception. In the following, discover how you can predict the future in a very logical way in terms of bits and the miniaturization of physical information into information files by applying Kurzweil’s Law of Accelerating Returns.

It is estimated that by 2050 two thirds of the world will live in cities. What does that mean for the environment? What can we do to avoid the worst case scenario for the planet, as well as continuing to satisfy our clients? And even go one step further: to reduce costs with sustainable actions. An expert on sustainable business and author of the bestseller Green to Gold, Andrew Winston took to the World Innovation Forum New York stage to answer just these questions.

Influential companies such as Unilever, Xerox, Sony and many more are leading successful sustainable actions through processes and daily activities. What are they doing? And how can you apply their strategies to your business? In the following, Winston reveals diverse ways to be more sustainable, and at the same time attract more clients.

“Can large businesses really innovate?” Asked Scott Cook, co-founder of Intuit, of the World Innovation Forum New York audience. After seeing a quick show of hands for those who believed this to be true, the audience looked around to realize that it appears not. However, according to Cook there is a way, and in order to do so it is absolutely necessary that in this new era of innovation a leadership exists that nurtures experimentation.

In large groups it is difficult to guess what each individual will want or do. However, teams can utilize short-term experimentation that allows the group to test ideas and move on to the next level. Don’t miss in the following post what the culture of rapid experimentation is and tips from Cook on how to implement these ideas into your company.

Anyone involved in business knows that staying up to date with the latest trends and practices in innovation can be critical in gaining that all important edge over the competition. For the last six years, the World Innovation Forum in New York has established itself as the premier business innovation event in the US offering a range of new perspectives and ideas with which to face up to coming business challenges.  This year, the World Innovation Forum will also take place for the first time in Mexico, in the city of Leon located in the state of Guanajuato.  This is no accident.  In recent years Leon has distinguished itself as a focal point for innovation within Mexico, establishing itself as a city determined to encourage business growth through the promotion of knowledge and new ideas.

This year's events in New York and Leon will focus on a number of key areas where innovation is pushing boundaries further and faster. These include mobile technology and digital marketing as platforms which both motivate and empower customers; virtual reality as a tool to positively impact the world; the advance of science in business; and new insights into innovative thinking and how to promote the creative impulse.

Whilst the New York edition of the World Innovation Forum takes place June 20-21, the Leon edition is just around the corner on May 23-24, and in anticipation of the event we want to share with you some great videos featuring speakers at the event in Leon.  Read on to learn more...