Business and creativity - Montreal presents C2-MTL

The IBM 2010 Global CEO survey of 1,500 CEOs in 60 countries and 33 industries
found that CEOs rank creativity as the most important leadership quality, ahead of
management discipline, rigor, operational acumen and vision.
IBM 2010 Global CEO Study

NEW YORK, NY, Oct. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - In May 2012, Montreal will play host to a unique event: C2-MTL, a major international gathering for business leaders interested in insights into how creativity can drive their organization's strategic development. With high-profile speakers, thought-provoking presentations and privileged access to business gurus who have figured out how to incorporate creativity into business management, C2-MTL will be an opportunity for participants from industries of all types to develop their business creativity skills and discover tools for stimulating their organization's innovation capacity.

"The findings of the IBM Global study are quite striking: creativity is no longer a distinguishing feature of the new economy; it is becoming a key management function for businesses and executives in all industries and all corners of the globe," said Jean-François Bouchard, President of Sid Lee and the main architect of the event. "Creativity is a critical factor for business survival in the age of globalization. C2-MTL will explore the business/creativity dyad and its potential to reshape the business landscape. We must use both sides of our brains in order to fully leverage our ability to think and create. Participants will be prompted to do just that, and will then be able to apply what they learn in their organizations."

C2-MTL benefits from the support of strong partners.  HSM Global has been a key partner from the start, providing strategic, logistical and marketing support.

Cirque du Soleil, as creative partner of C2-MTL, will devote its talents and energy to supporting the event. "Our people are contributing ideas that will transform the participant experience at C2-MTL and make it an event people will long remember," said Daniel Lamarre, CEO of Cirque du Soleil. "Our teams' creativity extends well beyond the trapeze and the tight-rope. Expect the unexpected."

Content partner Fast Company will unveil the 100 most creative people in business at C2-MTL and co-produce segments showcasing these success stories. Written by and for the most forward-looking business figures, Fast Company inspires readers to think outside the box and build the future of business.

World-renowned speakers
Accompanied by Daniel Lamarre, CEO of Cirque du Soleil, Jean-François Bouchard unveiled the program for the event, which will be held May 22-25, 2012. It will bring together speakers from a wide spectrum of backgrounds, , including noted director Francis Ford Coppola, who will be speaking on the subject "A Brave New World" former Disney CEO Michael Eisner; Robert Safian, Editor of Fast Company; Dr. Rex Jung, Associate Professor of Neuroscience at the University of New Mexico, who will speak on "The Eureka Moment"; Arianna Huffington, Editor in Chief of AOL Huffington Post Media Group; Robert Wong, Executive Creative Director of Google Creative Lab; Daniel Lamarre, CEO of Cirque du Soleil; Lotfi El-Ghandouri, the founder of Creative Society and Hub Madrid; and many others.

How to bring creativity into the workplace
C2-MTL will tackle a series of key business issues. The items on the agenda will include: creating an environment that stimulates the emergence of new ideas, breaking down interdepartmental barriers to spur creativity, developing evolutionary business models, the value of R&D, and fostering idea-generation and risk-taking.

A web of experience supporting a wealth of content
C2-MTL is an unorthodox concept, a conference with an entirely new framework designed to produce a creativity-generating environment. C2-MTL has rethought the conventional conference concept to come up with an event featuring one-of-a-kind meetings, immersive exhibitions and activities, a creativity Boot Camp and collaborative sessions, all set in an innovation village specially designed for C2-MTL. "We want this to be a content-driven experience that creates a conducive environment for learning creative leadership skills, spurs participants to think deeply about their business issues and helps them build a culture of creativity in their organization," said Benoît Berthiaume, Executive Producer of C2-MTL.

SOURCE C2-MTL