Sir Julian King, KCVO CMG at the British Embassy, Paris
r. to l. Her Majesty’s Ambassador of the United Kingdom to France, Sir Julian King, KCVO CMG - the UK’s foremost diplomatic representative in France & head of Britain’s diplomatic mission - exchanging bon mots with Mobilium Global CEO, Ralph Simon. Sir Julian hosted an amazing banquet in the gilded reception rooms of the Embassy, for the Founders Forum, bringing together a cluster of the top business leaders & digital entrepreneurs from the UK & France to help spur accelerated innovation, entrepreneurs & business visioneering. Traditionally, the British Embassy to France has been the most prestigious posting in the British foreign service, since 1801.
The Mayor of Toronto, John Tory at Music City
l. to r. The Mayor of Toronto, John Tory, and Mobilium Global CEO Ralph Simon, having a deep chat about Mayor Tory’s drive to make Toronto one of the world’s great music cities. Mayor Tory hosted a special session at Canadian Music Week to kick off his key initiative to raise Toronto’s global reputation as one of the world’s great music cities - and emulate New York, London, Liverpool & San Francisco. The Mayor’s “music city” task force is serious, engaged & off to a cracking start. Strike up the band and bang the drum for Toronto !
Gary Shapiro, President & CEO of the Consumer Technology Association in Claridges, London
l. to r. Mobilium Global CEO Ralph Simon & Gary Shapiro, President & CEO of the Consumer Technology Association, the trade body representing the $287bn Consumer Tech industry which owns & produces CES - the world’s largest (150,000+ attendees) annual gathering for the business of consumer tech, every January in Las Vegas. Gary is a great CTA CEO driving the latest products & new product announcements from the world’s best & hottest brands, always unveiling tomorrow’s consumer tech products at CES.
Rula Ghani, the current First Lady of Afghanistan in New York City
l. to r.: Rula Ghani, the current First Lady of Afghanistan and the wife of the incumbent President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani - in conversation with Mobilium Global CEO, Ralph Simon. In 2015, Mrs Ghani was named in the ‘Time 100’, a list of the world's most influential people, by Time magazine.
Oscar-winning director & film-maker Asif Kapadia, director of ‚Amy Winehouse’, ‚Diego Maradona’ and ‚Ayrton Senna‘ in Mumbai, India
r. to l.: Oscar-winning director & film-maker Asif Kapadia & Mobilium Global CEO, Ralph Simon after Kapadia’s amazing interview session at the big annual Bollywood gathering FICCI Frames 2016 in Mumbai this week. Kapadia’s unforgettable documentary “Amy”, about the late great singer Amy Winehouse, and his earlier box office smash hit documentary film, “Senna”, on the life & death of Brazilian racing driver Ayrton Senna, have brought him Oscars, BAFTA Awards & global recognition as a film-maker of exceptional taste & artistry.
Director-General of WIPO, Dr Francis Gurry in Mumbai, India
l to r: Director-General of WIPO (the World Intellectual Property Organisation), Dr Francis Gurry & Mobilium Global CEO, Ralph Simon reconnecting. D-G Gurry oversees the United Nation’s influential WIPO that governs global patents, copyright & trademarks, managing the stress on international patent & copyright systems produced by rapid technological change, by globalisation & increased demand. WIPO ensures that the IP system serves its fundamental purpose of encouraging creativity & innovation in all countries. Dr Gurry has led WIPO as the D-G since 2008, enabling nations & people to earn recognition from what they invent or create world-wide.
Creative innovation polymath, will i am in Hollywood, California
Will I Am Shakes Peer
l. to r. The great visioneer & creative innovation polymath, will i am, & Mobilium Global CEO Ralph Simon: talking digital & having fun celebrating at the 'I Am Angel' Foundation, will i am’s educational foundation that enables young innovators, makers & coders in will’s old ‘hood in East LA. Will just announced his new audio tech company Ambidio, in conjunction with George Lucas’s Skywalker Sound, a 360-sound experience that brings a great new dimension to sound systems & listening. Will makes a central difference to hundreds of young people in the USA & internationally with his global philanthropy, & caring visionary creativity.
Global 'Positive Disruption' leader D11's CEO, Juha Tiihonen in Helsinki, Finland
l. to r. Global 'Positive Disruption' leader D11's CEO, Juha Tiihonen & Mobilium Global CEO, Ralph Simon in D11's Helsinki HQ having a major Rethink. Juha & D11 are one of the world's most respected thought leaders in mobile strategy, corporate positive disruption and how to re-think an established business for today & tomorrow's challenging tech times. A great start & a wonderful Finnish.
Chris Hadfield, the first Canadian to walk in space
Vancouver, Canada r. to l. Astronaut & globally admired international Space Station singer & musician Chris Hadfield, having a stellar chat with Mobilium Global CEO, Ralph Simon.
Hadfield is the first Canadian to walk in space. An engineer & former Royal Canadian Air Force fighter pilot, Hadfield has flown two space shuttle missions & served as commander of the International Space Station (ISS). He was responsible for a crew of 5 astronauts & helped run dozens of scientific experiments dealing with the impact of low gravity on human biology. During the mission he also gained popularity by chronicling life aboard the space station, taking pictures of the earth & posting them through Twitter, Facebook, Google+ & Tumblr to a large following all around the world. He was a guest from space on television news & talk shows & gained massive popularity by playing David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” on the ISS's guitar in space. Fortunately David Bowie would have seen & heard Hatfield sing his song in the 'tin can' that is the ISS - a perfect location to sing & bring great meaning to the Thin White Duke’s unforgettable lyrics.