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Praise & Recognition
I cannot thank each of you enough for your help. With this being my first "celebrity" experience, you all made it very easy and I truly appreciate all you did.
Rhinebeck Area Chamber of Commerce
WME could not have been more efficient, more understanding, nor better prepared. The event turned out to be spectacular and due in large measure to their professionalism and diligence. We could not have been more pleased!
Association for Financial Professionals
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Sir Richard Branson
Founder and President, Virgin Group
An incredibly successful (and unconventional) entrepreneur, Richard Branson is the founder of Virgin, one of the world's most recognized and respected brands. Today, the Virgin Group is comprised of more than 300 branded companies which encompass international retail, air travel, mobile, financial, retail, music, rail, resorts and leisure, space travel, and clean fuels. Virgin employs approximately 50,000 people in 30 countries, exceeding $18 billion in revenues. Branson is the only person in the world to have built seven billion-dollar companies from scratch in seven completely different sectors. Read More
If Branson doesn't act like a conventional businessman, it's because he never tried to be one. A middle-class British kid with dyslexia who left school at age 16 to start a youth-culture magazine, he founded Virgin as a mail-order record business. It grew into a record shop on Oxford Street in London, and in 1972 Branson built a recording studio where the first Virgin artist, Mike Oldfield, recorded the hit "Tubular Bells." From there Virgin signed the Sex Pistols, Culture Club and many others, helping to make Virgin Music one of the top record companies in the world.
Branson's empire expanded into travel with Virgin Atlantic, then grew into railways, media, mobile and more, taking on industries that he thinks charge too much, hold consumers hostage, or just treat them badly and bore them to tears. According to Branson, "We believe in making a difference. Virgin stands for value for money, quality, innovation, fun and a sense of competitive challenge."
Virgin is also at the forefront of investing in renewable energy and resource efficiency, and has a not-for-profit entrepreneurial foundation, Virgin Unite, which focuses on entrepreneurial approaches to social and environmental issues.
In 1999 Branson was awarded a knighthood by the Queen of England for "services to entrepreneurship".
As known for his love of adventure as he is for his business success, Branson has been involved in a number of world record breaking attempts. In 1986 his boat, "Virgin Atlantic Challenger II" crossed the Atlantic Ocean in the fastest ever recorded time. This was followed a year later by the epic hot air balloon crossing of the same ocean in "Virgin Atlantic Flyer" which was not only the first hot-air balloon to cross the Atlantic but was the largest ever flown at 2.3 million cubic feet capacity and reached speeds in excess of 130 miles per hour.
In January 1991, he crossed the Pacific Ocean from Japan to Arctic Canada, the furthest distance of 6,700 miles again breaking all existing records with speeds of up to 245 miles -per hour, in a balloon of 2.6 million cubic feet. He also made a number of attempts to circumnavigate the globe by balloon. In August 2010, as a way to celebrate his 60th birthday, Branson attempted to become the oldest and fastest person to kiteboard across the English Channel. Weather conditions thwarted his efforts, but no doubt he will be back again with another unique adventure.
Branson is the author of four bestselling books, Losing My Virginity, Screw It, Let's Do It: Lessons in Life and Business, Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur and Reach for the Skies: Ballooning, Birdmen and Blasting Into Space.
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Speaking Topics
A Conversation With Sir Richard Branson
Sir Richard Branson is one of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs and his Virgin Group is one of the most recognized lifestyle brands, trusted and enjoyed by many millions of people. Now, in his trademark charismatic and honest style, Richard shares the inside track on some of his greatest achievements over forty years in business as well as the lessons he has learned from his setbacks. In this interview format presentation, tells the story behind the launches of his Virgin brands, including conquering new frontiers in space with his Virgin Galactic.
He also shares his thoughts on the changing face of the global economy and how businesses worldwide need to work together to tackle environmental challenges and invest in the future of our world. Combining invaluable advice with remarkable and candid inside stories, Branson is a dynamic, inspirational and truly original guide to success in business and in life.
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Notable Works
Buy Now
Losing My Virginity: How I've Survived, Had Fun, and Made a Fortune Doing Business My Way
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Buy Now
Business Stripped Bare: Adventures of a Global Entrepreneur
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Buy Now
Reach for the Skies: Ballooning, Birdmen and Blasting into Space
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Buy Now
Screw It, Let's Do It: Lessons in Life and Business
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