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Toastmasters Announces Speakers for 2024 Convention

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ENGLEWOOD, Colo., July 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Toastmasters International announced an impressive lineup of speakers for its 2024 International Convention, to be held Aug. 14-17 in Anaheim, Calif. With seven inspiring speaking sessions, the 2024 International Convention will feature presenters from around the world. 

“We are delighted to offer an accomplished and inspiring group of speakers at this year’s International Convention,” says Radhi Spear, Toastmasters’ International President-Elect. “As we celebrate the organization’s centennial at the convention, the speakers taking the stage in Anaheim give highlights from the past 100 years as well as focus on relevant topics that will inspire and educate the audience.” 

The main-stage presenters include Shawn Ellis, who will deliver the keynote presentation during the Opening Ceremonies on Wednesday, Aug. 14. Renowned as a motivational keynote speaker, dynamic storyteller, and modern-day philosopher, Ellis stands as a beacon for those seeking guidance and inspiration to navigate an ever-changing world. With over 20 years of leadership and entrepreneurial experience, Shawn expertly guides leaders and teams toward adaptability and resilience, offering insights rooted in mindfulness, neuroscience, and psychology.

Join Ellis for a dynamic and strategic approach to becoming more resilient in all facets of life—including in these times of centennial celebration! Drawing on over 20 years of leadership experience and his “Mastering the Moments” philosophy, he will offer practical strategies for resilience and adaptability in an ever-evolving world. He will also guide you towards using core values to shape future optimism and teach you how to grow forward with an appreciation for the past, all while combining humor, storytelling, and wisdom for a deeply impactful experience.

Lisa Sun is the recipient of Toastmasters’ 2024 Golden Gavel Award. Sun is an entrepreneur and national best-selling author of Gravitas: The 8 Strengths That Redefine Confidence. As a presenter exclusively represented by Leading Authorities, Sun encourages audience members to choose self-confidence, work to harness their “superpower,” and use gravitas to advance personally and professionally.

Sun founded Gravitas in 2012 with a mission to catalyze confidence. The company’s origin story dates back to her first professional review, where she was told that she “lacked gravitas,” and “should go buy a new dress, big jewelry, and great shoes.” With those words in mind, Sun filed for a global patent to build shapewear directly into dresses. Two months after launch, her first collection was featured in O, The Oprah Magazine, People, and on Today all in the same month. Prior to founding Gravitas, Sun spent 11 years as a management consultant for McKinsey & Company.

Other education sessions:

Negotiating Conflicts Confidently: Join this engaging and insightful talk by Alice Shikina, host of the podcast, Negotiation with Alice, designed to equip you with the tools and mindset needed to navigate conflicts effectively. Delving into the intricacies of interpersonal dynamics, Alice will go over strategies for approaching conflicts with confidence, clarity, and empathy. You will learn to identify underlying interests, communicate assertively, and seek mutually beneficial solutions. By fostering a culture of constructive dialogue and understanding, you can empower yourself to transform conflicts into opportunities for growth and collaboration.

An Extraordinary History: Past Leaders Discuss 100 Years of Toastmasters: Join the prestigious panel of Past International Presidents, which includes Dilip Abayasekara, Ted Corcoran, Pat Johnson, and Tim Keck, as well as moderator Neil Wilkinson, as they guide you through Toastmasters International’s amazing heritage. Learn some of the behind-the-scenes details regarding how Ralph Smedley founded the organization, why significant changes were made along the way, and which major milestones culminated in this ‘100 Years’ anniversary.

From Likes to Leads: Build a Club Social Media Presence Amidst the Noise: In this session, Gia Abao, content creator and entrepreneur, will share her insights on how to craft a compelling brand that turns audiences into followers. She will help members unlock the power of data to grow their club and optimize their content strategy and teach members how to leverage analytics to formulate insights into audience behaviors and preferences.

From identifying trends to measuring content performance, this thought-provoking session will help members craft an approach and tailor content to reach their ideal audience, while adapting to diverse platforms and formats. Imagine creating videos that spark conversation, inspire action, and cultivate a loyal community of followers.

Onboarding and Mentoring Mastery: The Missing Piece to Club Growth/Longevity: Join Marty Dickinson, Toastmasters mentor, leader, entrepreneur, author, as he explores the transformative power of two essential skills. Attendees will learn to quickly integrate new members into their club, fostering a sense of belonging and community. Be able to identify solutions to the common challenges of finding dedicated mentors and onboarding partners. This session is an essential guide for Toastmasters members looking to enrich their club experience and extend their influence beyond the club environment. And you can even take the knowledge and insight into your company or business.

Keep ‘Em Coming Back: In this age of influencers, there are four that greatly affect the value and success of each Toastmaster, according to Sravanthi Vallampati, Distinguished Toastmaster. Join her to explore what they are and how you can leverage them to elevate the Toastmasters experience for all who seek it. From inquisitiveness to inspiration through information, the full breadth and depth of the journey awaits members through her value analysis and engagement approach.

To learn more about Toastmasters’ 2024 International Convention, Aug. 14-17, and obtain a complete schedule of events, including the Opening Ceremonies, Education Sessions, and the World Championship of Public Speaking®, visit toastmasters.org/Convention.  The International Convention will be a hybrid event and the public is invited to attend in person or online.

About Toastmasters International
Toastmasters International is a nonprofit educational organization that builds confidence and teaches public speaking skills through a worldwide network of clubs that meet online and in person. In a supportive community or corporate environment, members prepare and deliver speeches, respond to impromptu questions, and give and receive constructive feedback. It is through this regular practice that members are empowered to meet personal and professional communication goals. Founded in 1924, the organization is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado with approximately 270,000 members in more than 14,200 clubs in 148 countries. For information about local Toastmasters clubs, please visit toastmasters.org. Follow @Toastmasters on X (formerly Twitter).

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SOURCE Toastmasters International

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Altimetrik Accelerates Enterprise AI Transformation with Google Cloud’s Gemini for Healthcare

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BENGALURU, India, Nov. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Altimetrik, an AI engineering company, has launched new industry-specific AI capabilities built on Google Cloud’s Gemini for healthcare to automate complex enterprise workflows. As an integration partner, Altimetrik will help healthcare organizations put agentic AI to work on their most complex operational challenges.

Together, Google Cloud and Altimetrik will put these capabilities to work by integrating AI with existing enterprise data, systems, and workflows for healthcare organizations. Combining Google Cloud’s advanced AI capabilities with Altimetrik’s healthcare domain expertise and enterprise engineering, the collaboration aims to streamline administrative processes, improve access to clinical and operational information, and support more effective care coordination.

Altimetrik will build and deploy these solutions using its ALTi AIOS™ framework, complementing Google Cloud’s technology with workflow orchestration, and governance. The framework incorporates agent permissions, auditability, and human oversight into solution design, enabling healthcare organizations to adopt agentic AI responsibly.

“Pilots are easy. Scaling is the hard part, especially when AI must operate within decades of established systems, data, and processes,” said Raj Sundaresan, CEO of Altimetrik. “In healthcare, AI must earn the trust of the people delivering care. Since joining Google Cloud’s AI-native partner cohort earlier this year, our forward-deployed engineers have been helping organizations move agentic AI from pilot to production through ALTi AIOS™, ensuring every agent is permissioned, auditable, and accountable. Gemini for healthcare provides a powerful foundation for the industry, and we are proud to build on that foundation as a launch partner, while keeping care teams firmly in control.”

“Healthcare organizations need solutions that bridge cutting-edge AI with day-to-day operational realities,” said Satish Thomas, Vice President, Google Cloud. “Our collaboration with Altimetrik brings Gemini directly into mission-critical workflows, helping healthcare leaders to streamline administrative processes, improve coordination, and make data more actionable.”

Altimetrik first partnered with Google Cloud earlier this year when it became a part of the company’s cohort of AI-native partners to scale agentic AI across the global enterprise.

Learn more about how Altimetrik is building governed, agentic solutions that help healthcare teams make more confident decisions.

About Altimetrik

Altimetrik is an AI engineering company helping some of the most revered and iconic enterprises modernize systems, data, and processes at the heart of their business, so they can move faster, operate more efficiently, and innovate continuously. Through ALTi AIOS™, its AI-native operating system, Altimetrik combines the latest AI capabilities with deep engineering expertise to help clients solve complex challenges, accelerate modernization, and deliver measurable outcomes at scale.

Altimetrik’s clients get access to the latest AI innovations while maintaining flexibility to choose the right technologies for their business, through trusted relationships with OpenAI, Google Gemini, Anthropic, Databricks, and major hyperscalers.

A member of the World Economic Forum’s Centre for AI Excellence, the Forum’s global hub for shaping responsible AI, Altimetrik is also recognized in the 2025 Constellation Research ShortList™ for Global AI Services and named a Major Contender in multiple Everest Group PEAK Matrix® assessments, including Software Product Engineering Services (2026), Enterprise Quality Engineering Services (2025), and Digital Engineering Services for BFSI and Life Sciences. Learn more at altimetrik.com.

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/altimetrik-accelerates-enterprise-ai-transformation-with-google-clouds-gemini-for-healthcare-302935320.html

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20th Global Entrepreneurship Week China 2026 Kicks off in Shanghai

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SHANGHAI, Nov. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On November 10, 20th Global Entrepreneurship Week China 2026 (hereinafter referred to as “Entrepreneurship Week”) kicked off in Shanghai.

Running from November 10 to 14, 2026 for five days, this edition features more than 50 entrepreneurship events, bringing together over 100 distinguished global guests, representatives from nearly 500 cutting-edge tech enterprises and professional investment institutions, and more than 1,500 entrepreneurs.

By focusing on “Learning”, “Showcase”, “Matchmaking” and “Empowerment”, Global Entrepreneurship Week China builds an all-round entrepreneurship support ecosystem and creates an international platform for in-depth exchanges among entrepreneurs.

This year’s event further elevates its international profile. Jonathan Ortmans, Founder and President, Global Entrepreneurship Network, led a delegation of more than 20 international guests, including outstanding entrepreneur representatives and seasoned entrepreneurship mentors from the Republic of Korea, the United States, Chile, Germany, Egypt, New Zealand and other countries, to Global Entrepreneurship Week China, enabling Chinese and foreign entrepreneurs to share valuable experience from diverse entrepreneurial ecosystems with zero distance.

Taking the 20th anniversary as an opportunity, this year’s Entrepreneurship Week further highlights its role in disseminating innovative ideas. It features five themed days tailored to Shanghai’s industrial tracks, catering to the growth needs of entrepreneurs across the full lifecycle. Future Intelligence Day focuses on cutting-edge areas including intelligent computing, general AI, quantum technology and humanoid robots; Future Manufacturing & Materials Day focuses on sectors such as humanoid robots, precision intelligent equipment and flexible manufacturing; Future Energy Day focuses on controllable nuclear fusion, advanced nuclear energy, long-duration energy storage, hydrogen energy, solid-state batteries and other fields; Future Health Day covers tracks of brain-computer interface, cell and gene therapy, biomanufacturing and regenerative medicine; Angel Fund & Future Space Day centers on campus entrepreneurship, early-stage startup pitching, entrepreneurship research, commercial aerospace, low-altitude economy, future mobility and other themes.

More than 50 entrepreneurship activities including startup project pitching, achievement exhibitions, sci-tech innovation community exchanges, and cultural and sports interactions will be held successively on Fuxing Island. These activities build a platform for global entrepreneurs to connect technologies, capital and industrial resources, and the event will run through November 14.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/20th-global-entrepreneurship-week-china-2026-kicks-off-in-shanghai-302936055.html

SOURCE Global Entrepreneurship Week China

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Dragonpass Acquires iCoupon the Leading Global Voucher Redemption Network to Build International Loyalty-as-a-Service Platform

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Strategic Acquisition Combines Dragonpass’ Loyalty Infrastructure, Powering 35 of the World’s 50 Largest Banks, With iCoupon’s Vouchering Technology Supporting Over One Billion Passengers

SINGAPORE, Nov. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Dragonpass, the global travel and lifestyle benefits platform serving more than 45 million members worldwide, has announced the acquisition of iCoupon, the intelligent digital vouchering technology business whose network spans over 400 airports worldwide. The transaction represents a strategic expansion of Dragonpass’ technology and distribution capabilities, combining established financial services relationships with extensive airline and retail integrations to accelerate its development of a global loyalty-as-a-service platform.

The acquisition follows almost a decade of commercial collaboration between the two businesses, initially focused on delivering digital dining benefits across airports. While Dragonpass has developed its global presence through partnerships with financial institutions, including some of the world’s largest banks and payment networks, iCoupon has built complementary infrastructure connecting 200 airlines, over 400 airports and 4,000 retail units across 56 countries. The combination creates immediate opportunities to expand dining and retail offerings, alongside access to previously untapped solutions and customer segments across both networks.

In the near term, Dragonpass will focus on extending its dining and retail propositions through iCoupon’s established network, while introducing additional Dragonpass services to iCoupon’s airline and airport partners. Longer term, the business will explore how transferable integrations can support a wider lifestyle offering beyond aviation, creating opportunities to deliver relevant benefits across more frequent customer interactions. iCoupon’s existing team will remain in place, with its open-network model continuing to operate, ensuring continuity for existing partners while supporting new opportunities across the combined business.

Dragonpass acquires iCoupon following nearly a decade of collaboration, expanding its financial services, aviation and retail capabilities.iCoupon’s network spans over 200 airlines, 400+ airports and over 4,000 retail units across 56 countries, with support already available to over one billion passengers.iCoupon issued over £100 million in digital vouchers in 2025, demonstrating the scale of its existing distribution and redemption infrastructure.Dragonpass research finds 50% of Britons consider loyalty schemes outdated, while 76% value affordable everyday treats.The deal strengthens dining and retail offerings in the near term, supporting Dragonpass’ wider ambition to build a global loyalty-as-a-service platform

Jane Zhu, CEO & Co-founder at Dragonpass, shares:

“The acquisition of iCoupon represents a significant step in our strategy to build a global loyalty-as-a-service platform. Having worked together for almost a decade, we recognise the strength of its technology and network, and the immediate opportunity to expand our dining and retail offering while exploring applications across new lifestyle markets.

“The future of loyalty lies in connecting customer intelligence with relevant benefits at scale. By bringing together complementary distribution networks and investing in more intelligent engagement technology, we’re building the infrastructure to help our partners deliver greater value to customers, precisely when they need it.”

iCoupon’s technology enables airlines and other partners to distribute vouchers, discounts and customer entitlements through existing identifiers, including boarding passes, barcodes and QR codes. Integrated directly into participating retailers’ point-of-sale systems, its platform supports real-time redemption, transaction tracking and automated reconciliation. Having issued over £100 million in digital vouchers during 2025, including 12 million food and beverage entitlements, iCoupon has expanded into 13 technology modules spanning passenger care, retail and other travel services, providing Dragonpass with additional capabilities and new commercial opportunities.

Richard Bye, CEO and Co-founder at iCoupon, shares:

“For too long, loyalty has been constrained by fragmented ecosystems, disconnected rewards and experiences that often fail to reflect what customers genuinely value. This acquisition is about helping accelerate a shift away from traditional points-based programmes towards real-time, contextual engagement that delivers meaningful benefits exactly when and where they matter most. By combining Dragonpass’ global distribution and customer intelligence capabilities with iCoupon’s powerful airline connected redemption infrastructure, we are creating the foundations for a new generation of loyalty; one that is intelligent, frictionless and seamlessly embedded into the everyday lives of consumers around the world.”

Dragonpass’ nationally representative Comfort Index finds 50% of Brits consider loyalty schemes outdated, revealing the mounting pressure on traditional loyal models to demonstrate value while 48% of Brits are more likely to switch long-term providers due to rising costs, poor support or irrelevant rewards. Meanwhile, 69% say brands that reduce everyday friction are more likely to earn their loyalty. Demand for practical benefits is also growing, with 76% valuing affordable everyday treats, despite 56% worrying about the cost of dining, drinks and experiences.

This expansion forms part of Dragonpass’ broader investment in data orchestration and customer engagement technology. By connecting a wider global benefits supply chain with more intelligent distribution and personalisation capabilities, the company aims to address a longstanding challenge for enterprise loyalty programmes: sourcing relevant benefits across markets and delivering them through a seamless customer experience. Its longer-term strategy is to enable financial institutions, airlines and other partners to move beyond static rewards catalogues, offering benefits aligned with individual customer needs, while strengthening engagement and commercial value across its network.

About Dragonpass

Established in 2005, Dragonpass is a leading global travel and lifestyle platform, providing premium benefits and experiences to more than 45 million members worldwide. Its growing ecosystem spans travel, health and wellness, lifestyle and entertainment, with a global network covering more than 140 countries and regions and partnerships with more than 800 enterprises.

About iCoupon

iCoupon is a market-leading intelligent vouchering company with a global presence, specialising in the provision of digital vouchering services within the aviation industry and beyond. Collaborating with an extensive network of more than 200 airlines, spanning over 400 airports and in excess of 4,000 retail establishments, the company’s aim is to share value and place it where it counts. iCoupon leverages its unique technology to facilitate the seamless distribution of intelligent vouchers by airlines, airports, ground handlers and retailers directly to passenger boarding passes, enhancing the value-sharing experience.

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SOURCE Dragonpass

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