Robert Sutton is Professor of Management Science and Engineering in the Stanford Engineering School, where he is Co-Director of the Center for Work, Technology, an active member of the Stanford Technology Ventures Program, and a cofounder of the new Hasso Plattner Institute of Design. Sutton is also an IDEO Fellow. Sutton studies the links between managerial knowledge and organizational action, innovation, and organizational performance, and has published over 100 articles in academic and applied publications. His most recent best-seller is The No Asshole Rule: Building a Civilized Workplace and Surviving One That Isn't.

Following Bob's keynote, members will begin their private Alliance Group meetings. We will also host a CEO Luncheon after the meeting, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, to enable our members to meet CEOs from throughout the Alliance.

These smaller, intimate dinners for Alliance members and their guests were a hit last year and we are bringing them back by popular demand.  A progressive dinner means that we all change seats with each course so that we can meet nearly everyone at the dinner.  We ask a dinner charge of $100 per person so that we can donate all profits from these dinners to Junior Achievement of the Bay Area.  Ed Levine, CEO of Left Bank Restaurants and a fellow Alliance member, has graciously hosted our progressive dinners.  Space is limited, so please register early.

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Challenges of Life Sciences Partnerships

The necessity of the Biotech partnership is more important than ever.  Due to the increasing cost of commercializing a compound, coupled with the weak capital markets, many CEOs are exploring partnerships earlier in the life cycle of their company to meet capital demands.  This increased focus on partnership, coupled with Big Pharma’s depleted pipeline, causes increased focus on partnership terms and the need for multiple compounds in the private company’s pipeline.  This current market dynamic specifically heightens the CEOs fear of “selling” the company through a partnership that is too restrictive and potentially exposing core intellectual property to competitors.

Life Sciences CEOs are invited to attend.  Space is limited. No cost for Alliance members.

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Alliance members, Ryan McGredy of Media Net Link; Rick Gaan of LeMans Karting; Jason Skeoch of All Systems Broadband and Tejune Kang of Six Dimensions, are inviting their fellow Alliance members and guests to join them for a night of poker, racing and other fun. Bring a guest and prepare for fun. In addition to poker, we'll have darts, Wii golf, and of course, kart racing since we will be at LeMans Karting.

Dinner and beer are included, and for those playing poker, chips are included too. Win prizes and a raffle. And, of course, you'll be meeting CEOs from other groups in the Alliance.  Cost for poker players is $90 which includes dinner. Cost for dinner and non-poker fun is $40.  All profits are donated to charity.

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This Regional Alliance Meeting will feature Tim Brown, CEO of IDEO, the world's leading design consultancy specializing in turnkey product development and innovation strategy. Tim's special interest has been in cultivating great design and innovative thinking within multidisciplinary teams.

Following Tim's keynote, members will begin their private Alliance Group meetings. We will also host a CEO Luncheon after the meeting, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, to enable our members to meet CEOs from throughout the Alliance.

When & How to Develop Strategic Partnerships that Work...and Avoid Wasting Time on Those That Don't

Tech companies play in a complex world that often requires companies to work together to enable rapid product development, efficient supply chains, effective marketing and other strategies and tactics.  Formal and informal partnerships often appear to make sense, but are frequently problematic - either failing completely or requiring inordinate amounts of attention to make them work at acceptable levels.  The Alliance is bringing Tech CEOs together to share your techniques that have resulted in successful partnerships as well as your challenges with partnerships that aren’t working so well.

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This Regional Alliance Meeting will feature Warren Bryant, Chairman & CEO of Longs Drugs Stores Corporation.  Warren will talk with us about the lessons he learned in his career with The Kroger Company and now as CEO of Longs.

Following Warren's keynote, members will begin their private Alliance Group meetings. We will also host a CEO Luncheon after the meeting, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, to enable our members to meet CEOs from throughout the Alliance.

Join Alliance members and their guests for cocktails and dinner at the Orinda Country Club in celebration of the holidays!

Reserve your space early.  This is always a popular event!

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We look forward to welcoming Bill Campbell back to the Alliance.  Bill is the Chairman of Intuit and he will discuss his philosophies on leadership and management gained from a fascinating career as both a senior executive at several companies including GO Corporation, Claris Corporation and Eastman Kodak Company and as head football coach at Columbia University.  Bill was recently sited by FORTUNE magazine as the “Coach to Silicon Valley CEOs.”

Following Bill's keynote, members will begin their private Alliance Group meetings. We will also host a CEO Luncheon after the meeting, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, to enable our members to meet CEOs from throughout the Alliance.

This Regional Alliance Meeting will feature Judy Estrin is CEO of JLABS, LLC.  She is the author of Closing the Innovation Gap, published in September, 2008. Prior to co-founding Packet Design, in May 2000, Estrin was chief technology officer for Cisco Systems. Estrin also co-founded three other successful technology companies: Bridge Communications, Network Computing Devices, and Precept Software. Judy will be speaking on her views on the “innovation gap.”

Following Judy's keynote, members will begin their private Alliance Group meetings. We will also host a CEO Luncheon after the meeting, from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, to enable our members to meet CEOs from throughout the Alliance.