Practically everyone who works in an office has attended a big trade show or conference at some point. But who finds all the keynote speakers and educational session leaders? In this episode of AFP Conversations, John Gibson, PMP, Director of Education and Projects for the Association for Financial Professionals, explains how he and his team identify, assess and book nearly 150 speakers and session leaders every year for the biggest event in treasury and finance.

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Technology strategist and best-selling author Salim Ismail explains why some organizations are growing exponentially rather than in a traditional linear fashion. These exponential organizations grow 10 times faster than their traditional peers -- and they will have a dramatic impact on finance and treasury and finance teams. 

Michael High, head of planning, appraisal and reporting for Shell, is tasked with making the company’s new, multi-billion-dollar Deepwater line of business less risky and expensive. High talked about his role with the Deepwater project and his career, including his time as an intelligence offer in the United States Army and how it prepared him for a career in FP&A. 

John Drzik, president of Marsh Global Risk and Specialties and chairman of the Global Risk Center for Marsh & McLennan Companies, talks about risk and how technology, geopolitical changes and broad societal trends are radically shifting the risk landscape.

Jer Thorp is a digital artist who combines science, art, culture and data into his data visualizations. He’s also the former Data Artist in Residence for The New York Times. Thorp will speak at AFP 2017 in October, and he'll address an audience of financial planning and analysis professionals on the challenge of making data more human. www.AFP2017.org.