I’m going to write a blog series on cool speakers that have different messages from the usual leadership one, or a new book out, or some other reason to pay attention to them.  I’m starting with a most unusual individual who is just launching his public persona.  Glenn Llopis is one to watch; he’s got a number of ventures going, so stay tuned to see which one (or ones) generates the most buzz. 

You can get to know Glenn here: http://www.glennllopis.com/.  He’s a confident, energetic speaker who connects well with his audiences: http://www.glennllopis.com/digital-speaking.php . (Scroll down to the video.) Audiences want to engage with him, and that’s a very good sign.  Glenn is passionate and fun to watch as a speaker.  A speaker truly starts to grow in stature as soon as he or she realizes that a speech isn’t about the speaker, but rather the audience.  Glenn’s right on that cusp.   

His book, released in 2009, is called Earning Serendipity: 4 Skills for Creating and Sustaining Good Fortune in Your Work (http://bit.ly/9sBQU0).  Employing an agricultural metaphor, the book discusses how entrepreneurs make their own luck by first seeing an opportunity, then ‘sowing’ the seeds of success with hard work, ‘growing’ the business with attention to detail and focusing on the best aspects of the venture, and finally ‘harvesting’ the results.

Glenn’s parents were refugees from Castro’s Cuba, and his father became a highly successful musician, as well known as the Beatles throughout Central and South America.  Glenn himself has been a successful executive in the food industry, and as a consultant, and is now heading up both the Center for Hispanic Leadership (http://glennllopis.com/hispanic.php) and the Center for Innovation and Humanity (http://glennllopis.com/CIH.php), as well as his own consulting firm.  I attended the CIH’s first summit in January, and found it a most interesting and inspiring mix of entrepreneurial not-for-profit thinkers and socially minded business people. 

Whether it’s developing Hispanic leadership, innovation in the workplace, or entrepreneurial passion, Glenn Llopis is a speaker to watch in 2010 and beyond.