Long overdue post and a big thanks to Brian, John and Chelsie for inviting me to be part of The Daily Beast Reboot America Summit.

I have to admit, that I never read The Daily Beast before. I just don’t jive with their politics – if you know what I mean? Anyhoo, I am always up for opportunities and when I was invited to attend their Reboot America Summit – I jumped. They sponsored a beer summit at the Bulldog which was pretty cool because I got to meet some local bloggers. The enticement for me to go was to see General McChrystal and Sean Parker speak. However, I got a lot more (see list below)! As for this premier conference – first class all the way! I was impressed beyond my expectations with the quality of guest speakers and how well it was put together. Unfortunately, they will probably find a new location next year:(

Here and here are posts from The Daily Beast regarding General McChrystal’s speech (oy – why did I look at the comments – ignore). He also spoke immediately before the Wikileaks newest leaks – so good to hear his opinion on it. Ya – he is my rock star and I even got to ask a question! I asked him on behalf of the Milbloggers when the book was coming out and how we could review it. He said he would have to write it first.

I also got to see:
STAYING AHEAD OF THE CURVE: DIANE VON FURSTENBERG
• Diane von Furstenberg, CEO and Founder, DVF Studio
• Interviewed by Bianna Golodryga, Anchor, Good Morning America Weekend Edition and Business Correspondent, ABC News

HOW TO OWN THE DIGITAL EXPERIENCE
• Michael Mendenhall, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, HP
• Sean Parker, Managing Partner, Founders Fund
• Lori Senecal, President and CEO, kirshenbaum bond senecal + partners
• Lauren Zalaznick, President, NBC Universal Women & Lifestyle Entertainment Networks
• Moderated by Ken Auletta, Writer, The New Yorker and Author, Googled: The End of the World As We Know It

THE PUMA PIONEER: JOCHEN ZEITZ BREAKS THE RULES
• Jochen Zeitz, Chairman and CEO, Puma, Chief Sustainability Officer, PPR, and Founder, Zeitz Foundation
• Interviewed by Tina Brown, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Daily Beast

THE RISK FACTOR
• Barry Diller, Chairman and CEO, IAC
• Interviewed by Ken Auletta, Writer, The New Yorker and Author, Googled: The End of the World As We Know It

UP FROM ZERO: BRADDOCK, PENNSYLVANIA & ITS REVOLUTIONARY MAYOR, JOHN FETTERMAN
• John Fetterman, Mayor of Braddock, Pennsylvania
• Interviewed by Dan Senor, Investor, Bestselling Author, and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations

AFTER THE DRUG CARTELS: REVIVING MEDELLIN
• Sergio Fajardo, Former Mayor of Medellin, Colombia
• Interviewed by Maureen Orth, Special Correspondent, Vanity Fair

COUNTERINSURGENCY & THE GANGS OF LA: ONE WOMAN’S DANGEROUS MISSION
• Connie Rice, Co-Director, The Advancement Project in Los Angeles
• Interviewed by Tina Brown, Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief, The Daily Beast

GENERAL MCCHRYSTAL (USA-RET.): LESSONS OF LEADERSHIP
• GEN Stanley A. McChrystal (USA-Ret.), Former Commander of U.S. and International Security Assistance Forces Afghanistan; Joint Special Operations Command
• Interviewed by Frances Townsend, Senior VP, MacAndrews and Forbes and Former Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism

GENERAL MCCHRYSTAL (USA-RET.) LEADERSHIP LAB: LEADING AGAINST THE TIDE
• Niall Ferguson, Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History, Harvard University and William Ziegler Professor, Harvard Business School
• Theodore Forstmann, Chairman and CEO, IMG
• David Neeleman, Chairman and CEO, Azul Airlines
• Michelle Rhee, Chancellor, District of Columbia Public Schools