Embracing Tomorrow's Needs, Exploring New Solutions

Improving quality of life is our business and core mission. At Sodexo, we are constantly looking for new ways to enhance the well-being of people. We consider quality of life to be a key and yet largely unexplored aspect of individual and collective performance. Based on this conviction, in 2015, we organized the first Quality of Life Conference in New York City. With our second conference, in 2017, we will continue to move the needle toward more inclusive growth and a stronger social fabric.

This conference brought together some 50 extraordinary speakers including an Oscar-winning actress, the Secretary General of the OECD, a Japanese architect of open-air schools, the first Iranian woman in outer space, Sweden’s former prime minister, a French military commander, an Oxford University philosopher, a teenage tech entrepreneur, academics, hospital directors, company founders and CEOs, and many more.

All of them are committed to the idea of progress for society as a whole. And all believe that improving quality of life is the key to our future success.

Watch the video to know the Best of the Quality of Life Conference and visit the 2017 Conference website.

Participate in the Quality of Life Conference 2017

Some of the sessions will be broadcasted live - have a look below and save the date in your calendar for those which interest you most!
Below are at London time. 

Day 1 – Oct. 16, 2017

1:30 pm – OPENING SPEECH by Michel Landel, Sodexo CEO - Human Beings Must Remain at the Heart of the Service Sector Revolution

> MICHEL LANDEL
Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Committee, Sodexo | France
He became CEO for Sodexo in North America in 1999 and in February 2000 was named Vice-Chairman of the Group's Executive Committee. In 2005 Landel was appointed CEO of Sodexo Group. Since then, he has led Sodexo's transformation to become the global leader in Quality of Life Services.
One of Landel's priorities has always been to foster the human factor within the larger organization. His commitment to diversity and inclusion has resulted in the organization being considered a recognized leader in the area. Under Landel's leadership, Sodexo was honored with the prestigious 2012 Catalyst Award.


2:00 pm – Six Key Insights Driving the Future of Quality of Life

Six exceptional individuals, from the founder of Barefoot College in India to the first Iranian in outer space, each give a 15-minute talk underscoring the new quality of life needs of a sector of society. Subjects range from students to corporate employees, workers in atypical environments, seniors, patients and citizens.

Speakers：

> 2:00pm PEDRO TARAK
Co-Founder, Emprendia and Sistema B | Argentina
Topic:Citizens Mean Business, and Companies Know It

> 2:15pm  ANOUSHEH ANSARI
Co-founder and Chairman, Prodea Systems, Inc. | Iran
Topic:Keeping Workers Connected When the Office is Outer Space

> 2:30pm JANE GRIFFITHS
Global Head, Actelion | United Kingdom
Topic:What It Takes to Unlock Employee Engagement

> 2:45pm SANJIT “BUNKER” ROY
Founder and Director, The Barefoot College | India
Topic:How Innovative Ecosystems in Education Impact the Learning Experience

> 3:00pm FREDRIK REINFELDT
Economist and Prime Minister of Sweden 2006-2014 | Sweden
Topic:Making the Shift from Curing to Preventing

> 3:15pm JANE FONDA
Actress, Writer, Political Activist | USA
Topic:Designing Life Through the Ages


6:00 pm – ROUNDTABLE – Cities and Residents: Partnering for Progress

By 2050, 70% of the world’s population will live in cities. Representatives from the private sector and municipalities in the UK, France, Greece, the USA and India will discuss new ways to engage with residents and involve them in the process of creating quality of life in the urban world.
Data collection, mapping and apps are creating smart cities, allowing citizens to express their needs and mayors to quickly respond. This strengthening of the bond between cities and residents can lead to safer streets, less traffic congestion, better social and environmental measures, and a greater sense of well-being.

Speakers:

> ABHISHEK LODHA
Managing Director, Lodha Group | India

> RENAUD PROUVEUR
CEO, Spallian | France

> JULIE RUSK
Chief Civic Wellbeing Officer, City of Santa Monica | USA

> AMALIA ZEPOU
Vice Mayor for Civil Society and Innovation, Municipality of Athens | Greece
 

DAY 2 – OCT. 17, 2017 

9:45 am – DISCOVERY – A PLACE TO EXPLORE QUALITY OF LIFE 
Step into a unique exhibition space and experience quality of life solutions for every stage of life. From robot waiters to virtual reality demonstrations and much more, it’s time for exploration with hands-on, interactive and immersive experiences. In line with its commitment to improve quality of life for all, Sodexo will showcase some of its latest innovations as well as those developed by game-changing startups from around the world.

Learn More


12:00 pm – AWARDS CEREMONY

In partnership with Accor Hotels, Gares & Connexions SNCF, Le Village by CA, Sodexo and Steelcase, the Spark Life Contest is a European contest that recognizes the startups that can truly transform people’s quality of life for the better. Months of anticipation culminate in the announcement of the five Spark Life Contest award winners.


1:45 pm – THE TRAILBLAZER CHALLENGE for Seasoned Leaders and Rising Changemakers

An intimate dialogue between seasoned leaders and rising changemakers on their organizations’ quality of life challenges. Expect open and authentic cross-sector exchanges of advice that you can learn from, without limit as to age, cultural or professional background.

Speakers:

> PROFESSOR SIR CARY COOPER, CBE
50th Anniversary Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health at the Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester United Kingdom | USA

> SISSEL HANSEN
Founder and CEO, Startup Everywhere/Startup Guide | Denmark and Germany

> WENDY LUHABE
Pioneer for the Economic Empowerment of Women | South Africa

> TAKUNDA USHE
Co-founder and Director, Circle of Influence Projects Society | South Africa

2:30 pm – CLOSING REMARKS by Sophie Bellon, Chairwoman of Sodexo’s Board of Directors and Angel Gurría, Secretary-General of the OECD

> SOPHIE BELLON
Chairwoman of the Board of Directors, Sodexo | France
Sophie Bellon has been on the Sodexo Board of Directors since 1989, and succeeded her father, Pierre Bellon, as Chair in January 2016. She is also a member of the Bellon SA Management Board.
​In 2008, she became Managing Director for the Corporate segment in France, where she implemented a comprehensive Quality of Life Services offer to clients and mobilized staff in Sodexo's transformation to become the global leader in Quality of Life Services.

> ANGEL GURRÍA
Secretary-General, OECD | Mexico
As Secretary-General of the Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) since 2006, Angel Gurría has firmly established the Organization as a pillar of the global economic governance architecture including the G7, G20 and APEC, and a reference point in the design and implementation of better policies for better lives.