The Professor Michael E. Hurst Distinguished Hospitality Leaders Lecture Series

Jeff Hoffman, Chairman of the Global Entrepreneurship Network

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

About the Speaker

Jeff Hoffman is an award-winning global entrepreneur, proven CEO, worldwide motivational speaker, bestselling author, Hollywood film producer, a producer of a Grammy Award winning jazz album, and executive producer of an Emmy Award winning television show. In his career, he has been the founder of multiple startups, he has been the CEO of both public and private companies, and he has served as a senior executive in many capacities. Jeff has been part of a number of well-known successful startups, including Priceline.com/Booking.com, uBid.com and more.

Jeff is the Chairman of the Global Entrepreneurship Network, which works with entrepreneurs in 200 countries, as well as being a founding board member of The Unreasonable Group, whose portfolio companies have raised over $11 billion in funding and have positively impacted more than one billion lives worldwide. He is also on the Advisory Board of CEED Global, the Centers for Entrepreneurship and Executive Development, teaching entrepreneurship globally in developing countries. Jeff has supported the White House, the State Department, the United Nations, and similar organizations internationally on economic growth initiatives and entrepreneurship programs.

Jeff is the Managing Partner of Jeff Hoffman Advisory Services, a strategic consulting firm that teaches exponential growth to business owners and entrepreneurs, as well as teaching innovation strategies to corporations and governments worldwide. Jeff serves on the boards of companies in the US, Europe, the Middle East, South America, Africa, and Asia. He supports entrepreneurs and small businesses on a worldwide basis. Jeff is also the founder and CEO of World Youth Horizons, a non-profit organization providing homes, schools, food, and health care to children in need around the globe.

Jeff is a frequent keynote speaker, having been invited to speak in over 70 countries. He speaks on the topics of innovation, entrepreneurship, and business leadership, and is the author of the book SCALE, a how-to guide for growing your business. Jeff also teaches innovation workshops to major corporations on a regular basis.

Jeff is a featured business expert seen on Fox News, Fox Business, CNN, CNN International, Bloomberg News, CNBC, ABC, and NPR, and in publications including Forbes, Inc., Time, Fast Company, the Wall Street Journal, and more.

Jeff’s accomplishments have been recognized on a global basis. Awards he has received include a Humanitarian Award from Disney, as well as a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Los Angeles Tribune for his business and philanthropic contributions. He was honored with the Champion of Entrepreneurship Award from JP Morgan Chase, Citibank, and Rising Tide Capital, as well as receiving the George Brown Award for International Cooperation from the US State Department. Jeff received the Commitment to Excellence Award from CitySummit, as well as receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award and being inducted into the Entrepreneurs Hall of Fame for his contributions to the field of entrepreneurship. He was also honored with the Best of the Best Award from the national CEO association (Collegiate Entrepreneurship Organization).

Outside of the world of technology, Jeff has produced TV shows, has produced movies in Hollywood, has produced musical events including concerts, tours, and charity events with such artists as Elton John, Britney Spears, NSYNC, Boyz II Men, and others, and serves on numerous charity and non-profit boards.

Professor Michael E. Hurst

Professor Hurst was a founding faculty member of the Florida International University Chaplin School of Hospitality & Tourism Management. In 1996, combining his business acumen and a vision for sharing industry leaders’ successes with future industry leaders, he created the Distinguished Hospitality Leaders Lecture Series. As a tribute to Professor Hurst, this endowed lecture series, named in his honor, continues to provide an occasion to create a bridge between the school and the hospitality industry.

Learn more about Professor Hurst

View past lecture series speakers

 

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