Disruption Summit Europe 2019

Disruption Summit Europe returns to London this September to showcase just how much has changed in the 3 years since it began. From a starting point of uncovering emerging technologies and their disruptive potential, to exploring how to harness disruption, this year the focus is on how to be a truly disruptive and innovative organisation.

It has become clear that simply ‘doing digital transformation’ is missing the point. Businesses need to actually be transformative. They need to change not just the technologies and business models they are using, but also their culture, and the way in which they integrate the purpose which underlies all their activities and contributes enormously to their success. 

With the event just around the corner I've picked out a few highlights to give you a flavour of what to expect.

Change, growth, exchange

The overarching theme for this year's Summit – and a guiding principle at the heart of D/SRUPTION – is the convergence of technology, innovation and purpose. These concepts embody what all organisations need to be successful at: a willingness to adopt new technologies and business innovations, as well as the presence of an authentic purpose behind everything they do.

We've built this year's Disruption Summit around three parallel conference tracks:

CHANGE - Today the only certainty that large organisations face is change. 

Shining a spotlight on the individuals driving change programmes for some of Europe’s leading businesses this track explores the emerging technologies and innovative new business models transforming the way we do business.

2. GROWTH - How do you disrupt and established organisation or industry? 

In this track we’ll hear from the challengers taking on big business, to understand what it takes to start, scale, and ultimately disrupt the incumbents.

3. EXCHANGE - Whilst the drivers and benefits of innovation in private and public sector can be very different, many of the challenges remain the same. 

What can we learn from large scale transformation programmes in government and how can they be applied in a private sector setting?

The Disruption50 Index

A central part of this year’s conference are the results of the inaugural Disruption50 Index, a programme to identify the most disruptive organisations in the UK. Delegates will be able to meet the Disruption50 finalists, while many of them will speak in the Growth track throughout the day.

We've got some fantastic startups and scale-ups within the 50 that have been indexed across a whole range of industry sectors. Given that one of the key themes of the Summit is Purpose, I'm really pleased to see how many companies have come up with solutions that make a positive difference to the world.

A unique opportunity

Attending Disruption Summit Europe will put you in the midst of a unique mix of change leaders, from heads of innovation, technology and strategy at large corporates, to disruptive startups and scale-ups, and those leading large-scale change programmes in the public sector. This diverse range of attendees is the standout characteristic of the event – and something you won't find anywhere else.

I've always believed that there's a huge amount to be gained by looking outside of your company, outside of your industry, and really learning from what others are doing. Technology is moving things so quickly now that it's not good enough just to look around your boardroom for the answers, or even to look just at your industry. There's so much to be learned from what others are doing. When you bring together this variety of industry sectors, size of organisation and different job roles, this cross-section and diversity of ideas makes the magic happen.

The building blocks of innovation

Out of all the fantastic speakers, panel sessions and exhibitors at Disruption Summit Europe this year, a few really stand out. One is David Gram, Head of Ventures at Lego who will share his hard-learned lessons from tackling disruptions, building world class innovation capabilities and balancing the disruptive forces of innovation with a clear understanding and care for the past - or as he calls it being a Diplomatic Rebel.

On your bike

Another stand out is CEO of Brompton Bicycles, Will Butler-Adams, who, fresh off the back of the DisruptionX study tour to Brompton in July, will talk about how to be truly collaborative in business.

Will has steered the company through quite difficult times to now become the UK's largest exporter of bikes. We recently ran the first event in our DisruptionX experience programme with Brompton, where 20 business leaders from organisations across the UK spent a day with Will and his team. They really learned about how they've adapted to some of the challenges around mobility, disruption and, in particular, collaboration.

Experience is everything

Other highlights include our panel on innovating at scale featuring: Rannia Leontaridi, director of business growth at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Tessa Clarke founder of OLIO, Jonathan Midgely, Director of Engineering at Trainline and Ben Boucher-West Head of Mobility at Appy Parking who'll be sharing their thoughts on what it takes to start, scale and ultimately disrupt a market.

Jeff White returns to the Summit with a new live cybersecurity show which promises to both excited and scare in equal measure.

Finally we'll be wrapping up with the event with the founders of two truly disruptive businesses: Cemal Ezel, founder of Change Please, the socially conscious coffee brand; and Chris Sheldrick, founder of What3Words, a new global addressing system that gives the whole planet an address.

With all of this – and more – in store, Disruption Summit Europe 2019 is definitely not to be missed. Taking place at 133 Houndsditch, London on September 10.

We hope to see you there.

For more information on the event and to secure your place, visit disruption-summit.com