Gary Swart

Former CEO of oDesk, Venture Partner at Polaris Partners, LinkedIn Influencer

Travels From Travels From:
San Francisco, CA, USA
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Gary Swart Biography

Gary Swart is the former CEO of oDesk, which under his leadership grew to be the world's largest online workplace, boasting over eight million freelancers and one million clients. His tenure at oDesk culminated in a successful merger with Elance in April 2014, further solidifying the platform's position in the industry. Swart is recognized as a thought leader in entrepreneurship, the future of work, and the dynamics of online workplaces. He is passionate about fostering small business growth, drawing from his robust experience with startups and small businesses that engage with platforms like oDesk, as well as his mentorship of entrepreneurs and business school students.

Swart has spoken at prominent events such as the Inc. Leadership Conference, The Economist’s Ideas Economy panel, and South by Southwest. His involvement extends to having participated in TechCrunch 50, TiECon, GigaOM’s Net:Work Conference in 2010 and 2011, and delivering insights at Harvard Business School, which teaches a case study on oDesk. Swart’s insights and commentary have been featured in leading publications such as Forbes, TechCrunch, and The Washington Post, and he has appeared on several TV and radio shows, including BBC, National Public Radio, and Fox Business's program “After the Bell.”

In addition to his significant contributions at oDesk, Swart has held pivotal roles in technology and sales at prestigious organizations. He led SMB Sales for the Americas at IBM’s Rational Software Product Group and served as VP of Worldwide Sales at Intellibank, where he was responsible for leading the sales organization. In 2014, he transitioned into venture capitalism, joining Polaris Partners as a Venture Partner, where he now leads the Silicon Valley technology practice, mentoring business leaders at innovative companies aiming to revolutionize modern living and working environments.

Gary holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Maryland and continues to share his expertise on scaling companies, leadership, and the evolving nature of work through his role as a LinkedIn Influencer and speaker at various global events.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 05/04/2024.

Gary Swart Speaking Topics

  • The Future of Work

    Pay a visit to any Silicon Valley startup and you’ll hear about the disruptive technology that is being deployed across any number of vertical markets. But are these innovations actually disruptive? Or are they, instead, transformative? As the builder of one of the largest online marketplaces in the world and investor in the next generation of revolutionary companies, Gary will speak about how today’s innovations are expanding the size of the pie to include more players, not less, and how this “lift, not shift” dynamic offers incredible opportunities for efficiency and innovation. In this candid discussion, Gary will identify the major drivers of the future workplace along with winning strategies to inspire leaders to think outside of the box and thrive in the new normal.

  • Beyond Perks: How to Create an Inspiring Culture and Win the Talent War

    Every CEO knows the importance of creating a strong culture that reflects the core values of their organization and why it’s key for attracting and retaining the best talent. But how many CEOs are actually getting it done? The reality is that most leaders can’t define their core values, let alone build a meaningful culture around them. As the war for talent heats up, there is no better time to talk about how a well-defined culture can actually be the strongest recruiting and retention tool a business can leverage. In this conversation, Gary will walk you through his culture creation roadmap (starting on Day 1), complete with fast track options and tips for working around roadblocks. Touching on how to identify your company’s needs and core values, to creating the clarity necessary for brilliant execution, to ultimately ensuring the success and delight of your teams, Gary will share tactical approaches and anecdotes from more than three decades operating in both small startups and leading global enterprises about what it takes to grow a great organizational climate.

  • The Universal Entrepreneur: Where, What, When, Why and NOW

    You don’t need to own a business or work out of a garage to be an entrepreneur in 2015. Today, being “an entrepreneur” is actually a mindset, not a job title, that’s critical to business success. Companies that encourage their team to develop entrepreneurial practices—experimenting with new, big ideas or trying radically different processes—are seeing incredible organic growth and innovation from within the organization. Sharing practical strategies for identifying and inspiring the entrepreneurs at your organization to embracing your own aspirations of becoming an innovative leader, you will walk away from this discussion with a strong understanding of what it takes to find the entrepreneur in everyone. Gary will guide you through the entire process—touching on the pitfalls and benefits of this approach. Equal parts startup stories and practical tips, it’s a message that resonates with students, early stage entrepreneurs, and veteran business leaders who want to ignite innovation within their business.

  • From the Jungle to the Highway: How to Scale Your Company without Losing Your Primal Edge

    Scaling a business from startup to enterprise requires a broad skill set that must evolve significantly over time. What was once most important in the early stages could kill your company once it reaches maturity. In this discussion on the company journey, Gary will share valuable lessons learned from scaling businesses throughout his three decades as an operator, and most recently building oDesk from inception to a globally recognized brand. He will also touch on how company founders should set priorities and make critical decisions at meaningful inflection points in the company’s lifecycle.

Gary Swart Videos

  • Gary Swart: Former CEO@ oDesk, current VC at Polaris Partners ...
  • Gary Swart - CEO of oDesk, Startups Uncensored 38 - YouTube

Speaker Lists Featuring Gary Swart

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  • What topics does Gary Swart speak about?

    Gary Swart is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Business Leadership, Computer Science, Customer Experience, E-Commerce, Entrepreneurship, Future of Work, Futurism, Innovation, Leadership, Sales, Technology.
  • Where does Gary Swart travel from?

    Gary Swart generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
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Gary Swart is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as The Future of Work, Beyond Perks: How to Create an Inspiring Culture and Win the Talent War, The Universal Entrepreneur: Where, What, When, Why and NOW and From the Jungle to the Highway: How to Scale Your Company without Losing Your Primal Edge. The estimated speaking fee range to book Gary Swart for your event is $30,000 - $50,000. Gary Swart generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Erik Qualman, Mike Walsh, Scott Klososky, Vic Strecher, Ph.D. MPH and Nicole Yeary. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Gary Swart for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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