Keynote Speakers
Get a front row seat!
Smarter Faster Payments features notable keynote speakers who share their perspectives on the future of payments. Keynotes start on Monday, but the education starts on Sunday. Be in the front row and understand why our keynotes become the catalyst for new conversations and innovations in the payments industry.
Sponsored by
Ben Whiting
Magician and Culture Expert
Monday, June 8
Ben Whiting achieved international success as an award-winning magician and mind-reader by creating an atmosphere on stage where the impossible was possible and where human connection had no limits. As an entertainer, he’s performed in over 30 countries, had multiple television appearances, and his clients include the likes of Crystal Cruises, Oprah’s HARPO studios, and Facebook.
Recognizing his passion for helping others in their careers and day-to-day lives, Ben began focusing on keynote speaking and leadership development in 2014. Shortly after delivering his first TEDx talk, he was hired by an international leadership development firm to create and deliver content around the globe. His consulting clients have included international companies like UNiDAYS, as well as Fortune 500 corporations such as Schlumberger.
Today, Ben combines his backgrounds in leadership development and corporate entertainment to help organizations create cultures that can achieve the impossible (while having A LOT of fun). He’s been featured in Entrepreneur Magazine, the New York Times, and his clients include Apple, Google, American Express, and Amazon.
Opening Keynote Speaker (San Diego)
Sponsored by
Scott Dikkers
Founder of the Onion.com
Monday, April 27
Well before the era of “fake news” became, well, real, Scott Dikkers and his fellow founders at The Onion mocked popular culture and media tropes. Dikkers then went on to found the world’s first humor website, TheOnion.com.
From his experience in developing a creative culture of frank honesty and freedom at The Onion, Scott Dikkers shares how he built one of the most famous top comedy brands in the business. Scott explores how the creative process freed his team to keep generating funny content with The Onion’s own distinctive voice.
With humor, Scott shares the inspirational story of how he crafted The Onion’s unique brand – and then grew the publication into a comedy empire with almost no marketing budget. The Onion was a small campus publication launched in 1988, which Scott nurtured with a popular website, books, and cable shows.
Scott outlined his strategy with brand development and marketing in his book Outrageous Marketing: The Story of The Onion and How To Build a Powerful Brand with No Marketing Budget. Scott breaks the rules with branding and marketing The Onion, and he spells out in hilarious terms how standing out from the crowd can get your brand noticed by using some creativity and fun. Through all the hype of the marketing, Scott makes clear how the creative process needs to be open, challenging, and engaging for teams to succeed.
Scott shares how he found escape from a tough childhood through his love of comedy and writing. A small, shy kid, Scott endured an upbringing marked by poverty, divorce, bullying, and even a suicide attempt at the age of eight. He found solace and inspiration from Mad, the groundbreaking satirical magazine, which fed his passion for comedy and later helped inspire him to create The Onion.
He currently heads the "Writing with The Onion" program in partnership with The Onion and The Second City in Chicago. Scott has written multiple comedy books, including Our Dumb Century, which sold over a million copies, debuting as a #1 New York Times and #1 Amazon bestseller, and Our Dumb World, which also debuted on the New York Times bestseller list.
Monday Luncheon Keynote Speaker (San Diego)
Jason Y. Lee
Monday, April 27
Jason is the Founder and CEO of Jubilee Media. Originators of some of the internet’s most recognizable shows: Middle Ground, Surrounded, Odd One Out and Versus 1; Jubilee has developed an audience of more than 9M subscribers and garnered over 4B+ views. As the world becomes more divided, Jubilee creates content to provoke understanding and create human connection.
Jason produced Jubilee’s documentary “Accepted” which premiered at Tribeca Film Festival and was nominated for an Emmy. Jubilee has recently launched its first mobile app for all things love & dating: Nectar. Prior to founding Jubilee, Jason was a consultant at Bain & Company and graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania - The Wharton School.
Sponsored by
