A snapshot into the lives of people who hire speakers
HR Summit Taps Top Talent
Rick Curzon is managing director of Key Media, which produces HR Summit Singapore, the largest and most popular HR event in Asia. It offers
five tailor-made conference streams
accommodating an array of speakers from
around the globe making Asia-exclusive
presentations. (For more information, visit
www.HRSummit.com.sg.)
Here, Scott Friedman, CSP, gets the
low-down from Curzon about lining up
speakers for HR Summit, which includes
many NSA and GSF members.
Scott Friedman, CSP: How large
is the HR Summit?
Rick Curzon: HR Summit has been
running for nine years now. Since
2005, we have welcomed more than
3,000 visitors each year. Of course, we
won’t be happy with anything under
4,000 for 2011. We are quietly confident
we can achieve that goal with a fantastic
line up of speakers.
How do you keep HR Summit
relevant and the event of choice
for vendors?
We address HR issues that are relevant and
topical at the time, and enlist the support
of speakers who can offer real-world solutions on key topics. We usually achieve this
with a mix of expert professional speakers
and inspiring HR professionals.
What kind of speakers to you hire for
the HR Summit?
We look for a careful balance of innovative
HR professionals, who share real-world
case studies on topical issues, and professional speakers from outside Singapore.
When partnering with professional
speakers, it is important that they specialize in an HR-related area, their topic
is of current interest, and they have not
spoken in Singapore previously or at
least not in a while.
What is your advice for a speaker
speaking in Singapore for the
first time?
Do your homework on the culture
of the people and doing business in
Singapore. Use local references where possible, instead of ones you may use in
your home country. We once had
a speaker who asked if anyone in the
audience was from Arkansas. He died on
his feet at that point.
What can a speaker hope to gain
after speaking at the
HR Summit?
Speakers are usually delighted with
the number of HR and business professionals they have presented to,
met and have had the opportunity talk business with. The Speakers
Corner is a nice touch whereby
speakers can hang out, sign books,
talk to HR professionals and
fellow speakers.
Where do you see the best opportunities across Singapore and Asia?
In HR departments, of course!
Singapore itself is arguably the first choice
in Asia because many large corporations have their Asia headquarters and
decision makers here.
What would you change
about speakers?
Stick to your area of expertise.
Don’t claim to offer the solution to a
complex problem (such as retention) in a
generic motivational message.
How should potential speakers
contact you?
Talk to Scott Friedman.
Is there anything else we should
know about Singapore, Asia or the
HR Summit?
You can check out the HR Summit at
www.hrsummit.com.sg and research
HR issues in Asia at www.hrmasia.
com.sg.
Scott Friedman, CSP, 2004-5 NSA president, was responsible for the first Global Speakers Summit. He spends about one-third of his
time speaking and promoting other speakers in
Southeast Asia. Friedman is the author of
Using Humor for a Change and Punchlines,
Pitfalls and Powerful Programs.
