Karen I. Hirsch Photography

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Sage Summit in Chicago 2016

Sunday June 31, 2016

Last week, the Sage Summit, a business conference for small business, took place at McCormick Place in Chicago. Sage is an English-based company that produces accounting software.  Attendees came from all around the U.S. and from abroad. The four days of the Summit were filled with activities - interviews of famous speakers/entrepreneurs (See photos below), professional presentations, workshops, mentoring, a large trade show and even a concert by the Killers at Northerly Island.

Attendees were treated well. Each day, they were given lunch and dinner served at various serving stations. Bottled water, pop and OJ were free for the taking at refrigerators dispersed on the convention floor. On the last day, the attendees got the VIP treatment as they entered the theater.  They were greeted by a long line of Sage employees  who high-fived them before they took their seats.

Besides the main theater, there were 3 stages, and classroom areas where business experts taught marketing.  In the mentoring area, attendees were paired with business people who coached them on such topics as starting a business, getting funding, attracting and keeping clients.  Sage employees demonstrated the various software products that the company produces and helped people with troubleshooting issues that they might have with the software.

Jennifer Warawa, Sage EVP, interviewed Shark Tank "sharks" Robert Herjavek and Daymond John. She wrote about the lessons learned from this talk in an article HERE.

One common thread revealed by the successful entrepreneurs is that they all started small before expanding their business.  Many overcame failure, before achieving success.

I was impressed by the good works that Sage is doing for various communities.  They are a major supporter of the Invictus Games which is like the Olympics for wounded veterans.  They also help out underserved communities and train people with life skills .

Below are photos summarizing my experience at the Sage Summit during my three days of attendance.

Opening ceremony

Stephen Kelly, CEO Sage Interviews Richard Branson

Richard Branson discusses his various enterprises.

Stephen Kelly, CEO Sage

Sir Richard Branson, visionary

Sandra Campopiano, Chief People Officer - Sage

Marc Scheipe, President - Sage

Laura Wright sings Invictus Games theme song.

Mike Goody is introduced by Marc Scheipe

Victoria Gosling, OBE, CEO Invictus Games

Marc Scheipe interviews Invictus Games athletes.  

Gwetheth Paltrow, founder of GOOP

Zooey Deschanel talks about "Hello Giggles."

Marc Scheipe poses business questions to Gwetheth Paltrow and Zooey Deschanel

Athletes and veterans Bruno Guevremont and Brian Stann

Enter Text

McCormick Place - Chicago

Jennifer Warawa shares a laugh with keynote speakers Robert Herjavec and Daymond John from Shark Tank during her interview

Jennifer Warawa - Sage EVP - Product Marketing

Trade Show Floor

Bill Walsh, founder of IPowerteam,gives marketing tips.

Robert Herjavec

Secretary of State of Britain discusses the consequences of Brexit vote.

Daymond John

Santiago Solanas, Chief Marketing Officer - Sage

Software training takes place on the Convention floor

Blues Brothers wrap up the program on the last day of the Sage Summit.

Ashton Kutcher, actor, investor

Yancey Strickler, founder of Kickstarter

Ashton Kutcher gets expressive while talking with Santiago Solanas and Yancey Stickler, founder of Kickstarter