Chris Adams is an internationally recognised pioneer in new media and a media, entertainment, and technology executive with over 20 years of experience. He has successfully created partnerships, programs, and revenue-generating initiatives throughout his career to benefit brands, their customers, and users worldwide. In 2003, Adams joined eBay's Jeff Skoll as the Chief Vision Officer to contribute to the development of ParticipantMedia.com. During his tenure, the company released several critically acclaimed movies, including Syriana, North Country, Good Night and Good Luck, The Soloist, and the documentary Murderball. These films received a remarkable 11 Academy Award nominations in 2005. Additionally, Adams played a significant role in developing the award-winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth, which was created in collaboration with former Vice President Al Gore. This documentary won an Academy Award for Best Documentary and contributed to Gore being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Following his time at ParticipantMedia.com, Adams has led media initiatives for major companies such as Amazon, Facebook, HBO, and Comcast. In late 2022, he moved from Brisbane, Australia, to Eugene, Oregon. Chris was born and raised in Pennsylvania and holds a double major in English Literature and Mass Communications from the University of Denver. He further pursued his academic pursuits by obtaining an MFA from USC's School of Film and TV and an MFA/PhD with honours from USC's School of Professional Writing, completing both degrees concurrently.
Star Wars is Joseph Campbell’s “The Hero’s Journey”, complete with the naive Hero seeking adventure and faraway quests. Still, when tragedy strikes, he finds a Mentor, sidekicks, a Co-Founder, a Guardian and a journey of discovery that will both challenge and inspire but ultimately results in Growth, a Shot at Glory and not only overcoming obstacles and “enemies” (i.e. Your competitors) but a win that allows him/her to fight another day. The entrepreneurial journey is just like Star Wars (particularly the original trilogy) in that it sets the stage for all that is to come. Note: This same paradigm can also apply to Rey, her journey, and the post-original trilogy, starting with “The Force Awakens.”
Imagine expressing your love with a simple "I love you" and receiving a sweet but routine response. Now, picture saying, "Darling, my love for you is like the last drop of morning dew caressing the petals of the roses we planted together last Spring." The impact is profound. Chris Adams, who holds a Master of Fine Arts in Professional Writing with a focus on Poetry, will demonstrate how poetry's essence—using minimal words for maximum impact—can transform your communication. Attendees will learn to convey deeper meaning with fewer words, avoid tedious presentations, and craft unforgettable love notes.
Everyone is talking about Innovation and Disruption like we talked about “Lean and Agile.” There is lots of jargon and books and podcasts, but what does it mean? If You have ever tried to take an 8-year-old to the dentist or motivate yourself to put on your gym gear while lying in bed, you are already up to your eyeballs in Innovation and Disruption. In his talk, Chris Adams shares stories from the trenches—from Amazon and Facebook to being a single dad raising a teenager—that connect audiences to the foundations of growth from a very human, very relatable point of view. There are no charts or graphs, no quotes from Joe Rogan or Elon, just relevant stories—some funny, some tragic, some bizarre—that ground Innovation and Disruption in our everyday lives and bring them into the workplace.
Yes, capital raising is hard. But it all starts with your story. Nail that, and you will be on the right track. But then it’s all about asking for money. If you don’t ask, you don’t get. Founders struggle not only with HOW to ask but WHO to ask and, if you are not willing to ask ANYONE (including friends, family and your weird, rich uncle or mate from college who sold two companies, but you don’t want to be rejected), then you are in trouble. In his talk, Chris Adams breaks down capital raising into bite-sized chunks: Your Story, Your Confidence and Your Ask. It all goes back to what your dad or mum taught you: manners, etiquette, confidence and respect.
Chris Adams' talk, "Pitch Like You’re In A Pub," emphasizes the importance of casual, engaging storytelling in pitches, making complex ideas accessible and memorable as if chatting with a friend.
