Unleash Your Digital Creativity 

The inaugural Second Brain Summit took place on October 3-4, 2024
in Los Angeles.
Check out the highlights below.

I've been to quite some conferences, meetups, and summits, but never before I had such a stimulating and insightful time as at @fortelabs ' #secondbrainsummit! It's been great to mingle and throw around ideas with @NickMilo , @neuranne , @TomFrankly , @AugustBradley , @mariepoulin , John Maverick, and many others! I can't wait for the next one, would be an honor to even sponsor it!

Last week was great! I had an amazing opportunity to connect with other creators at the Build Your Second Brain Summit. I left this event inspired. @jinalsampat1 who runs @sampati_official and @designyourland ❤️ @felippenardi is a creative genius helps create wonderful online experiences @nathanbarry who runs @kit and a great podcast/ YouTube channel for creators. @radreadsco who is the brain behind Rad Reads mayaplim who is a brand expert and really nice human being and other new friends 😊 I truly feel blessed to be able to attend this conference hosted by @fortelabsco and his team

Now that I'm back home from the #secondbrainsummit I've really had some time to digest just how special of an event this truly was. I met so many amazing people and gleaned some incredible insights. Thank you @fortelabs , Simply Storied, and everyone who made this event possible.

My head and heart are so full after attending the hashtag#secondbrainsummit It felt so special getting to connect with other people on knowledge management and meeting some of my fellow Notion ambassadors and consultants in person! I look forward to the notes I get to sift through and questions I get to answer 💙

Had so much fun sharing our work at the Building a Second Brain summit I’ve spoken in many rooms, and the energy in this one was definitely different. The work that it takes to unlock AI is - Codifying your expertise - Creating process - Structuring your knowledge and data This room has been doing it for years. Our conversation was about unlocking its full potential 😌 I have so much admiration for the personal knowledge management space. Leaving inspired and with tons of new ideas today 🪄 Thank you again Tiago Forte and the whole Forte Labs team for having me

This was so fun. Amazing production, people, and learning. So grateful to have been part of it!

In-person events can be serendipity machines. And @fortelabsco did such a fantastic job bringing a bunch of creative-type nerds together for the #SecondBrainSummit. Seeing people in 3D, having conversations without the limits of a 30-minute Zoom call, bumping into someone and connecting without reading their bio first... As an online creator, those moments of IRL connection are truly magical.

Day 2 crushed it ⇢ and made it the best Summit I ever attended ⇢ 5 sessions, 1 panel - dozens of insights Tiago Forte and team made hashtag#secondbrainsummit such an outstanding event.

Thank you Tiago! What an amazing event. I met FANTASTIC people and had deep meaningful conversations with other experts and speakers. Met some of my heroes! It was so much fun to be on both sides, attendee and backstage. My brain and heart are full.

Leaving #secondbrainsummit energized and inspired to put knowledge to action. So grateful I had the opportunity to geek out and be surrounded by my people. Much love and appreciation to @fortelabs for bringing the community together and assembling The Avengers of PKM. 😉

This is going to be a great conference…

Day one of the Second Brain Summit was unlike any event I've attended. For the first time every conversation began with our second 🧠 While the idea of spending two days talking about note taking and personal knowledge management might sound boring, in reality it's about: 🧐 challenging our perception of productivity; ☺️personal growth; and 💡how we can use AI to increase creativity in our first and second brains. Looking forward to doing it all again tomorrow ☺️

It’s the end of Day 1 of the Second Brain Summit. I’ve met so many wonderful people and learned some amazing things. I learned prompts mastery from Rachel Woods. How to define your purpose before building a system from Ryder Carol, author of the Bullet Journal. Great keynotes from Tiago Forte, Steven Johnson, Tiago Forte, and Khe Hy. There was a fantastic panel discussion on the power of linking notes together with Ryder Carol, Nick Milo, Anne Laure LeCunf and Sonke Ahrens. I finally got to meet @fortelabs after four years of knowing him, too.

The first day of the Second Brain Summit has ended and it was incredibly intense and full of insights. Not only the speakers' presentations but the great level of interactivity of the sessions and the opportunity to engage with so many people who share a drive toward the pursuit of a sustainable and effective knowledge creation process.

Thanks to @fortelabs for what is already turning out to be a fantastic conference, and we’re only a couple of hours in. 😎

I’m thrilled to be attending the #SecondBrainSummit! Excited to sharpen my PKM skills and connect with others passionate about building their second brains. Big shoutout to @fortelabs for making this happen! PKM is the key to getting organized and turning our ideas into action.

This is a special conference hosted by @fortelabsco #secondbrainsummit 💜 @kunal_sampat and I are really excited to be a part of. Firstly because it's been years we went to a conference together( since baby Seth ☺️) but secondly the topic is so relevant to both of us even though we are in different industries. 😀🙌 The conference is about digital creativity aka how one would use the digital tools available to be more creative and organized for a greater output. 😀 I find my self gathering inspiration and ideas all the time. But we need a systematic way to save these so that they can be pulled out when you need them. ✍🏻 One of a good example is have a second brain where you can file things so your brain can do the doing and not the storing. I am sure we will learn a lot and I am excited to attend this. I will be sharing more with you later. @fortelabsco also had a great book Building the second brain that I still need to read. 👀

I came across the concept of a "Second Brain" by Tiago Forte last year, and it quite literally changed my life. With the exponentially increasing amount of information we have flying at us each day, a second brain system has helped me categorize info that is most important to my work and passions, saving a ton of time on projects and recalling data when I need it, as well as improving my creativity. I'm so excited to go deeper into this subject and collaborate with experts in the field in-person next week at the hashtag#SecondBrainSummit, and even more excited (and honored) to share a talk there about how leadership plays a role in collaboration and innovation in the age of AI. If you haven't heard of the concept of a second brain, I highly recommend a look. I believe having a system to manage information isn't just helpful for work; it can be used in many areas of life. I would also add that it can be looked at as a way to reduce the stress of finding important information quickly when you most need it.

What becomes possible when we combine the power of technology with the potential of the human mind?

Whether you’re building an app or a company, designing a website or a workflow, authoring a book or a life….

The Second Brain Summit is THE place to unlock the incredible possibilities of the global revolution in digital creativity we’re living through.

Join us for an immersive pop-up university designed to change your mind, touch your heart, and maybe even stir your soul.

What to expect

A 2-day immersive learning experience 

Learn the skills they never taught you in school from your favorite creators in productivity, creativity, and personal knowledge management.

Inspiring Keynotes on Transformational Ideas

The world’s leading creators, teachers, and authors will share their latest ideas with you, drawn from personal experience (not just theories).

Deep Dives and Q&As with Hands-On Coaching

Your favorite creators will become your personal mentors for two days, helping you solve your biggest challenges in hands-on workshops and interactive Q&As.

Experiences Designed to Deepen and Create New Friendships

Meet your online friends (and make new ones) with impromptu meetups, intimate small group dinners, and a series of unique experiences we are curating just for you.

We’ve designed everything about the Second Brain Summit with YOUR experience in mind – we promise this will be a turning point in your career and life.

No keynote speeches written by ChatGPT that are little more than a sales pitch.
No wading through 20 sponsor booths before you reach the main event.
No awkward “networking” with people who are trying to get something from you. 

Speakers

Learn from your favorite teachers and creators in real life

Keynote Speakers & Workshop Leaders

Ryder Carroll

Best-Selling Author & Inventor of The Bullet Journal® Method

Pre.K.M: Defining your purpose before building your process.

Join Ryder Carroll (creator of The Bullet Journal Method) for an exploration that explores a simple question: what are you managing your knowledge for? Without a purpose, personal knowledge management can deteriorate into overwhelming information hoarding. Whether it’s running a company, writing a book, or launching a YouTube channel, this session will guide you through ways to define a focus foundation on which to build your PKM.

Ryder Carroll

Best-Selling Author & Inventor of The Bullet Journal® Method
bulletjournal.com

Anne-Laure Le Cunff

Neuroscientist, Writer & Entrepreneur

Tiny Experiments: A Neuroscientist's Guide to Living a Life of Exploration

In this keynote, neuroscientist and entrepreneur Anne-Laure Le Cunff will unveil the core ideas in her upcoming book, Tiny Experiments, for the first time. Based on her story of finding professional success before walking away from it all, it offers a new perspective on ambition and achievement without sacrificing your wellbeing or the childlike spirit of discovery that makes our curiosity sing.

Anne-Laure Le Cunff

Neuroscientist, Writer & Entrepreneur
nesslabs.com

Nick Milo

Obsidian Expert & Creator of Linking Your Thinking

Linking Your Thinking: The Dawn of Networked Knowledge

In this keynote, Nick Milo will explore the transformative potential of linked notes in modern knowledge work. By shifting focus from mere organization to ideation, he’ll demonstrate how this approach fosters creativity and insight, moving practitioners from passive notetaking to active notemaking and the intellectual joy it offers.

Nick Milo

Obsidian Expert & Creator of Linking Your Thinking
linkingyourthinking.com

Jo Franco

Polyglot, Entrepreneur & Netflix Travel Host

Live Journaling: A Creative Practice for Modern Self-Discovery

In this dynamic and vulnerable workshop, creator and polyglot Jo Franco will introduce the practice of Live Journaling she's pioneered over the last few years as a timeless yet modern approach to self-discovery and personal development. Jo will demonstrate how Live Journaling can serve as a powerful complement to Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) and digital notetaking, including how to integrate journaling with digital tools to make it even more insightful and profound. We'll skip right past the small talk and connect deeply with yourself and those around you. No previous journaling experience is required. Just a notebook, pen, and good vibes.

Jo Franco

Polyglot, Entrepreneur & Netflix Travel Host
joclub.world

Khe Hy

Post-Achievement Professional, Writer, Podcast Host & Coach

The Productivity Delusion

In our productivity-obsessed culture, we’ve mastered the art of squeezing “more” out of every moment. In this keynote, entrepreneur, coach, and writer Khe Hy will zoom out and ask a series of provocative questions: Why do we want to be more productive? What if PKM, GTD and Inbox Zero are all just coping techniques or shallow distractions? Who are you without achievement?

Khe Hy

Post-Achievement Professional, Writer, Podcast Host & Coach
radreads.co

Marie Poulin & Ben Borowski

Creator of Notion Mastery

Digital Permaculture: A New Approach to PKM as a Wellbeing Practice

In this workshop, Marie Poulin and Ben Borowski will combine their obsessions with digital systems and organic permaculture, exploring how we can use the timeless principles of permaculture to cultivate healthier, wiser, more introspective information environments. For the first time, they'll unveil a philosophy of "digital permaculture" that promises to revolutionize how we design workspaces as sites of personal self-discovery, not just productivity.

Marie Poulin & Ben Borowski

Creator of Notion Mastery
mariepoulin.com

Thomas Frank

World's Most-Followed Notion Expert & Startup Founder

Capture Everything: Take Notes with Your Voice, Highlight the Web, and Add Anything to Your Second Brain Instantly

The best ideas often come at the worst times – while you're driving, out for a run, or chopping lumber in the woods. Without the right tools to capture those ideas instantly, effortlessly, and in-the-moment, you'll lose almost all of them. In this workshop, productivity expert and creator Thomas Frank will show you the tools he's built and wacky experiments he's run in the name of never losing a great idea, including how to generate a perfect transcript using voice notes, instantly capture web content with a couple clicks, and digitize handwritten notes using AI.

Thomas Frank

World's Most-Followed Notion Expert & Startup Founder
thomasjfrank.com

Rachel Woods

Founder, CEO & Chief AI Nerd at The AI Exchange

Automating Creativity: Using Process and Repeatability to Unlock AI's Potential

The promise of AI is that it will help us scale ourselves. But what exactly does that look like? Join entrepreneur and content creator Rachel Woods as she unveils the secrets to embedding process and repeatability into your work, even in the most creative tasks, as a gateway to fully unlocking the potential of AI for modern knowledge work.

Rachel will also host a workshop on AI Mastery: How to use the MASTER Method for Prompting.

Rachel Woods

Founder, CEO & Chief AI Nerd at The AI Exchange
theaiexchange.com

August Bradley

Creator of Notion Life Design

Turning Your Dreams Into Action Fueled by Knowledge

In this workshop, August Bradley guides participants in a process to break down life aspirations into actionable stages — reverse engineering progress toward ambitious aspirations. We'll explore how to translate dreams into desired outcomes while integrating knowledge management to support and empower planning for each time horizon.

August Bradley

Creator of Notion Life Design
YearZero.io

Stacey Harmon

Top Evernote Consultant & Productivity Coach

The New (Evernote!) Elephant in the Room

The pace of innovation at Evernote has soared since its acquisition by Milan-based Bending Spoons in 2022. Join two who know Evernote best – Evernote Certified Expert Stacey Harmon and Evernote's Product Lead Federico Simionato – for a chat about how the 50+ new Evernote features released in 2024 help you expand your digital creativity efforts, what the data shows about those who use Evernote most effectively and how Evernote usage is evolving, and how the new era of Evernote is focusing on building a product with users, for users.

Stacey Harmon

Top Evernote Consultant & Productivity Coach
harmonenterprises.com

Sönke Ahrens

Independent Researcher & Author of How to Take Smart Notes

Mental Models for External Brains

In this talk, author and educator Sönke Ahrens will discuss the mental side of working with our external brains. Our beliefs about what drives insight determine the outcome as much as the tools we use. Drawing from his seminal work "How to Take Smart Notes", countless coaching sessions on the zettelkasten method, and some deep dives into the history of science, he will present you with a handy toolbox of mental models to improve the quality of your "thinking in writing". This also translates into practical consequences for "smart note taking". Some ideas presented will be counterintuitive, but thought-provoking for sure.

Sönke Ahrens

Independent Researcher & Author of How to Take Smart Notes
soenkeahrens.de

Steven Johnson

Author and Editorial Director, NotebookLM @ Google

Harnessing the Digital Brain: The Evolution of Tools for Thought and the Future of AI Writing

In this keynote, celebrated author and thought leader Steven Johnson will explore the fascinating evolution of tools for thought, from early mnemonic devices to the advent of the personal computer, and how that history has shaped his collaboration with Google on NotebookLM, the first major AI platform for complex research and writing projects. Join us for an inspiring keynote that will bridge the past, present, and exciting future of digital thinking tools as AI transforms what is possible in creative work.

Steven Johnson

Author and Editorial Director, NotebookLM @ Google
stevenberlinjohnson.com

Tiago Forte

Creator of Building a Second Brain
And, of course, your host…

Tiago Forte

Creator of Building a Second Brain

Breakout Session Speakers

Maya P. Lim

Brand designer

Building a Strategic Brand

Maya is the designer behind the BASB visual identity system, as well as Tiago’s PARA Method book, the Pillars of Productivity course, and the Second Brain Summit branding. In this session, Maya will share a behind-the-scenes peek into her process of designing these visual identities, and offer tips for building your own branding strategically.

Maya P. Lim

Brand designer
mayaplim.com

Mike Vardy

Author, Speaker & Productivity Expert

The Productivity Diet

This breakout session is based on Mike's latest book, The Productivity Diet. The session will explore actionable strategies for nurturing your productive potential, focusing on how to cultivate healthy productivity habits that align with your personal goals and values. We'll explore the importance of balance, intention, and sustainable routines, providing practical tips to optimize your relationship with time. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how to apply the principles of The Productivity Diet in their daily lives, fostering long-term growth and maintaining momentum on their productivity journey.

Mike Vardy

Author, Speaker & Productivity Expert
mikevardy.com

Janet Goldstein

Publishing Strategist and Writer

How to Publish Your First (or Next!) Book

Shaping your ideas and shipping them in the form of a book (or a mini book) is one of the most powerful ways to elevate your thinking, crystallize your voice and message, and expand your visibility and reach in the world. However, the path to publishing is surprisingly complex and filled with contradictory advice. In this breakout session, we’ll explore:

What makes a book concept “book worthy.”

How to know if you’re ready for a major “traditional” book deal.

What steps to take from “socializing” an idea and building a platform to figuring out the “pitch,” writing a proposal, and getting connected to the right people.

When to consider hybrid and self-publishing and why these approaches can be so important for long-term success as a thought leader and writer.

The secret of “starter books” to help you get started with smarts and speed.

Janet Goldstein

Publishing Strategist and Writer
janetgoldstein.com

Alexis Teichmiller

Sr. Brand Partnerships Manager at Circle

Building Thriving Communities: Strategies for Growth, Engagement, and Revenue

Discover how to build a powerful community that drives your business forward. In this workshop, you’ll learn how to choose the right community business model for your goals, explore real-world case studies of successful communities and their earnings, and uncover proven strategies for fostering peer-to-peer engagement. Walk away with actionable insights to create a thriving, sustainable community that keeps members coming back again and again.

Alexis Teichmiller

Sr. Brand Partnerships Manager at Circle
circle.so

Dara Ladjevardian

Co-founder & CEO of Delphi

The Ultimate Second Brain: Scaling Your Expertise with Digital Clones

In this interactive session, Dara Ladjevardian, CEO & Co-Founder of Delphi, will demonstrate how cutting-edge AI can create dynamic digital twins—interactive replicas that capture your unique knowledge, thought patterns, and expertise. Delphi’s technology allows influencers, business leaders, and experts to engage their audiences in personalized dialogue, not just passive content consumption. Join Dara as he showcases how this game-changing tool scales your wisdom and impact, making your expertise available anytime, anywhere. Get ready to explore the future of knowledge sharing and audience engagement.

Dara Ladjevardian

Co-founder & CEO of Delphi
delphi.ai

Michael Gendler and Tristan deMontebello

Co-founders of Ultraspeaking

How to speak without notes

Ditch the script and discover a more effective way to prepare for your videos, meetings, & presentations (no memorization required!) In this session, you’ll learn key strategies to maintain composure and navigate the speaking process with greater calm and control. You’ll walk away with a powerful toolkit for creating and delivering content without relying on notes or rote memorization.

Michael Gendler and Tristan deMontebello

Co-founders of Ultraspeaking
ultraspeaking.com

Haroon Choudery

Co-founder & CEO at Autoblocks

Make your AI tools more accurate

AI tools are transforming the way we capture and process information, but oftentimes, they're inaccurate.. Haroon is at the forefront of AI as the writer of the leading AI newsletter Not A Bot and the founder of Autoblocks, which helps product teams reliably apply AI to many aspects of their work. During this session, we'll explore strategies and techniques for making AI tools more accurate and reliable over time.

Haroon Choudery

Co-founder & CEO at Autoblocks
haroon.ai

Margaret Bensfield Sullivan

Author and World Traveler

What Happens When You Travel Around the World for a Year With a Second Brain

Margaret is the author of "Following the Sun: Tales (and Fails) From a Year Around the World With Our Kids," an account of the year she and her husband quit their jobs, took their young children out of school, and left the U.S. to travel around the world, visiting 29 countries across six continents. In this session, Sullivan describes the Second Brain techniques she used that year to both capture the overwhelming daily volume of memories, ideas, and inspiration -- as well as unearth surprising discoveries about travel, about the world, and about herself.

Margaret Bensfield Sullivan

Author and World Traveler
margaretbensfieldsullivan.com

Mark Alexander

Executive Coach & Facilitator

How Enjoyment Makes You Far More Productive

We often think efficiency is how fast we get things done, and this is the biggest misconception in productivity. Join this highly interactive session to see how enjoyment can be the most direct measure of efficiency. We'll run live experiments on your current issues to learn tools that get you out of the checkbox-dopamine-cycle to easeful efficiency.

Mark Alexander

Executive Coach & Facilitator
artofaccomplishment.com

Billy Broas

Marketing & Messaging Strategist

Simple Marketing for Smart People

Tiago co-authored a book called “Simple Marketing for Smart People” with Billy Broas, which teaches Billy's marketing fundamentals that he applied to grow a multimillion dollar online education business. Billy has generously shared what normally costs thousands of dollars to access in this succinct book, and will further distill its most essential, concrete takeaways in this session.

Billy Broas

Marketing & Messaging Strategist
simplemarketingbook.com

Roland Allen

Author of “The Notebook: a History of Thinking on Paper”

The History of the Notebook, Our Best Productivity Tool

Roland is the author of the forthcoming book “The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper”, in which he documents the fascinating, surprising history of the notebook as an informal and intimate tool that people have used for many centuries in every culture. He’ll reveal some of history’s timeless principles and lessons that we can apply even today in the digital age.

Roland Allen

Author of “The Notebook: a History of Thinking on Paper”
roland-allen.com

Gary Isaac Wolf

Co-founder of the Quantified Self Movement

Experiments in Self-Observation

Gary is the co-founder of the Quantified Self Movement, a global community of people who use technology to deeply understand themselves and apply that knowledge to improve their lives. QS, as it’s known, was one of the main inspirations for the Second Brain community. In this session, Gary will share some of his most recent revelations in this closely related field.

Gary Isaac Wolf

Co-founder of the Quantified Self Movement
antephase.com

Thanks to our 2024 sponsors

"Everything worthwhile is done with other people."

Mariame Kaba

Schedule

What we’ve got in store for you

Virtual Meet & Greet
Get to know your fellow attendees on Sep. 4th at 12 pm ET (view in your timezone) before you even reach LA. We want to bring you all together so you can create the first connections and start conversations.
Thursday, October 3rd
  • Register and meet your fellow attendees over coffee 
  • Get inspired at keynote talks by the world’s leading creators, teachers, and authors
  • Solve your biggest challenges in hands-on workshops and interactive Q&As
  • Join or host a meetup to dive deep into a topic you care about 
  • Enjoy dinner with your fellow Second Brainers
Friday, October 4th 
  • Enjoy more keynote talks, workshops, and Q&As with your favorite creators
  • Join or host a meetup to dive deep into a topic you care about 
  • Surprise activities (think conversations instead of lectures, and experiences instead of concepts)
  • Grab dinner with your fellow Second Brainers or head home after 5 pm 
Exclusive Circle Community
Start meeting your fellow Second Brainers in our Circle community just for attendees. This is where you can ask questions, start discussions, and stay up-to-date prior, during, and after the event. 

Unleash Your Digital Creativity

$1,200

ticket sales closed

Includes a Digital Swag Bag worth $5,144!

Venue & Accommodation

Join us in the heart of LA’s downtown fashion district

Since our physical environment shapes our thinking, we couldn’t have wished for a better location than this 1920s loft. Its wide open spaces and natural light will encourage creative breakthroughs and serendipitous “hallway conversations.” 

Stay with the other attendees and speakers at our selected hotel – the official "Summit Hub" – just a block away from our venue. Of course, you’ll receive a special rate with extra perks. Did we mention the pool and open rooftop with incredible views of LA? 

Missed the Summit? Stay up to date

We’ll keep you in the loop and add you to our weekly newsletter where we share our best essays, videos, and other resources designed to level up your productivity and life.

Hosted by the Forte Labs Team

Hi, I'm Tiago Forte

I’ve spent the last decade researching and experimenting with new ways of leveraging digital tools to fuel our creativity.

My biggest breakthroughs and mindset shifts have always come from collaborating with others who share my goals and values.

For years, I’ve dreamed of bringing the incredible community we’ve built in the virtual world into the physical world.

Now we’re finally making it happen – I invite you to join the most dedicated experts and practitioners of personal knowledge management in the world’s creative capital to discover what technology is now making possible.

For the full story behind this event, check out my blog post on how it came to be.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know

Will the Second Brain Summit be live-streamed or recorded?

Nope! The Second Brain Summit won't be live-streamed or recorded in any way. This is an immersive, sensory experience that may never be repeated, so come join us in person!  

What topics will be covered at the Second Brain Summit?

We're still in the process of finalizing the topics with our speakers. Here are the ones you can already look forward to:

Nick Milo: Linking Your Thinking – The Dawn of Networked Knowledge
In this keynote, Nick Milo will explore the transformative potential of linked notes in modern knowledge work. By shifting focus from mere organization to ideation, he’ll demonstrate how this approach fosters creativity and insight, moving practitioners from passive notetaking to active notemaking and the intellectual joy it offers.

Anne-Laure Le Cunff: Tiny Experiments – A Neuroscientist's Guide to Living a Life of Exploration
In this keynote, neuroscientist and entrepreneur Anne-Laure Le Cunff will unveil the core ideas in her upcoming book, Tiny Experiments, for the first time. Based on her story of finding professional success before walking away from it all, it offers a new perspective on ambition and achievement without sacrificing your wellbeing or the childlike spirit of discovery that makes our curiosity sing.

Khe Hy: The Productivity Delusion
In our productivity-obsessed culture, we’ve mastered the art of squeezing “more” out of every moment. In this keynote, entrepreneur, coach, and writer Khe Hy will zoom out and ask a series of provocative questions: Why do we want to be more productive? What if PKM, GTD and Inbox Zero are all just coping techniques or shallow distractions? Who are you without achievement?

Marie Poulin and Ben Borowski: Digital Permaculture – A New Approach to PKM as a Wellbeing Practice
In this workshop, Marie Poulin and Ben Borowski will combine their obsessions with digital systems and organic permaculture, exploring how we can use the timeless principles of permaculture to cultivate healthier, wiser, more introspective information environments. For the first time, they'll unveil a philosophy of "digital permaculture" that promises to revolutionize how we design workspaces as sites of personal self-discovery, not just productivity.

Sönke Ahrens: Mental Models for External Brains
In this talk, author and educator Sönke Ahrens will discuss the mental side of working with our external brains. Our beliefs about what drives insight determine the outcome as much as the tools we use. Drawing from his seminal work "How to Take Smart Notes", countless coaching sessions on the zettelkasten method, and some deep dives into the history of science, he will present you with a handy toolbox of mental models to improve the quality of your "thinking in writing".

Jo Franco: Live Journaling – A Creative Practice for Modern Self-Discovery
In this dynamic and vulnerable workshop, creator and polyglot Jo Franco will introduce the practice of Live Journaling she's pioneered over the last few years as a timeless yet modern approach to self-discovery and personal development. Jo will demonstrate how Live Journaling can serve as a powerful complement to Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) and digital notetaking, including how to integrate journaling with digital tools to make it even more insightful and profound. We'll skip right past the small talk and connect deeply with yourself and those around you. No previous journaling experience is required. Just a notebook, pen, and good vibes.

Steven Johnson: Harnessing the Digital Brain –The Evolution of Tools for Thought and the Future of AI Writing
In this keynote, celebrated author and thought leader Steven Johnson will explore the fascinating evolution of tools for thought, from early mnemonic devices to the advent of the personal computer, and how that history has shaped his collaboration with Google on NotebookLM, the first major AI platform for complex research and writing projects. Join us for an inspiring keynote that will bridge the past, present, and exciting future of digital thinking tools as AI transforms what is possible in creative work.

August Bradley: Turning Your Dreams Into Action Fueled by Knowledge
In this workshop, August Bradley guides participants in a process to break down life aspirations into actionable stages — reverse engineering progress toward ambitious aspirations. We'll explore how to translate dreams into desired outcomes while integrating knowledge management to support and empower planning for each time horizon.

Ryder Carroll: Pre.K.M – Defining Your Purpose Before Building Your Process
Join Ryder Carroll (creator of The Bullet Journal Method) for an exploration that explores a simple question: what are you managing your knowledge for? Without a purpose, personal knowledge management can deteriorate into overwhelming information hoarding. Whether it’s running a company, writing a book, or launching a YouTube channel, this session will guide you through ways to define a focus foundation on which to build your PKM.

Thomas Frank: Capture Everything –Take Notes with Your Voice, Highlight the Web, and Add Anything to Your Second Brain Instantly
The best ideas often come at the worst times – while you're driving, out for a run, or chopping lumber in the woods. Without the right tools to capture those ideas instantly, effortlessly, and in-the-moment, you'll lose almost all of them. In this workshop, productivity expert and creator Thomas Frank will show you the tools he's built and wacky experiments he's run in the name of never losing a great idea, including how to generate a perfect transcript using voice notes, instantly capture web content with a couple clicks, and digitize handwritten notes using AI.

Stacey Harmon and Federico Simionato: The New (Evernote!) Elephant in the Room
The pace of innovation at Evernote has soared since its acquisition by Milan-based Bending Spoons in 2022. Join two who know Evernote best – Evernote Certified Expert Stacey Harmon and Evernote's Product Lead Federico Simionato – for a chat about how the 50+ new Evernote features released in 2024 help you expand your digital creativity efforts, what the data shows about those who use Evernote most effectively and how Evernote usage is evolving, and how the new era of Evernote is focusing on building a product with users, for users.

Rachel Woods: Automating Creativity – Using Process and Repeatability to Unlock AI's Potential (keynote)
The promise of AI is that it will help us scale ourselves. But what exactly does that look like? Join entrepreneur and content creator Rachel Woods as she unveils the secrets to embedding process and repeatability into your work, even in the most creative tasks, as a gateway to fully unlocking the potential of AI for modern knowledge work.

Rachel Woods: AI Mastery: How to use the MASTER Method for Prompting (workshop)
In this breakout workshop, AI expert Rachel Woods will show you how to optimize your business workflow using AI, backed by case studies and data points from her latest groundbreaking research at the AI Exchange. Learn to implement process-oriented strategies, utilize tools like ChatGPT, and advanced AI tools for automation. She will also introduce the MASTER method for crafting high-quality prompts quickly, helping you avoid common AI pitfalls and build your own prompt library. Get ready to revolutionize your creative process and unlock new levels of efficiency and productivity.

Do you offer discounts for the Second Brain Summit?

We're dedicated to making the Second Brain Summit accessible to a diverse range of participants. If you're affiliated with a non-profit organization, NGO, educational institution, or are a student or faculty member, please complete this form to apply for a discounted rate.

We also support Purchasing Power Parity Pricing. Based on your location, you might qualify for a reduced ticket price for the Second Brain Summit. If you do, you’ll automatically see a banner with a discount code. Make sure to disable any VPN since this will block the banner from showing.

Can I get my ticket for the Summit reimbursed by my employer?

If you need help asking your employer for professional development reimbursement, we’ve created this proposal template you can fill out and send to your manager. Many organizations have budgets for conferences and professional training, but you have to ask!

What is the Digital Swag Bag and what's included?

Every ticket to the Second Brain Summit includes a Digital Swag Bag (worth $5,144) – a cornucopia of educational offerings allowing you to dive deeper with the speakers and ideas you encounter at the summit. Here’s what’s included:

#1. One-year access to the Second Brain Membership ($499 value)
You’ll receive an entire year’s membership to our flagship learning community, the Second Brain Membership, which includes weekly hands-on workshops, monthly Q&As with me (the only way to work with me directly these days), guest workshops with top PKM experts, all hosted on an exclusive Circle community.

#2. Tiago’s courses: BASB Foundation and Pillars of Productivity ($750 value)
You’ll have lifetime access to my two self-paced courses, containing the twin pillars of my holistic productivity philosophy: Pillars of Productivity for the actionable world of emails and to-dos, and BASB Foundation for all your notes and ideas.

#3. One-year access to the Ultraspeaking Membership ($192 value)
The Ultraspeaking Membership gives you access to a rich community of people dedicated to improving their communication and speaking skills, from daily online classes led by expert coaches & alumni on topics like storytelling, confidence, and the fundamentals of public speaking, to their renowned communication games and self-paced courses.

#4. Ryder Carroll’s Bullet Journal Basics and Beyond course and one-quarter access to his BuJo U learning community ($350 value)
Get the inside track in BuJo U, a global community based on Ryder Carroll’s bestselling book The Bullet Journal Method. It is a vibrant ecosystem of passionate Bullet Journalers, including tutorials, tips and techniques, templates and guides, an art showcase, and live events. And if you want to dive into the fundamentals of his world-renowned productivity and journaling method, you can do so in the ​​Bullet Journal Basics and Beyond online course.

#5. One-quarter access to JoClub + JoClub Fluent, Jo Franco’s journaling community ($159 value)
You’ll have the chance to join the most passionate journaling-based community on the planet, JoClub, inspired by Jo Franco and her experiences using journaling for self-reflection and personal and career growth, as well as JoClub Fluent, a community for language learning. Included are 12 guided live journaling sessions in English and 12 for language learners, 21-day challenges, prompt kits, daily journal prompts to your inbox, and access to the private Circle community.

#6. Khe Hy’s flagship course Supercharge Your Productivity and LifeOS ($2,300 value)
Get access to Khe Hy’s flagship course Supercharge Your Productivity, including live session recordings, activity prompts and questions, a Notion Life Dashboard template to implement the new values and principles you uncover, and an exclusive community of purpose-driven productivity enthusiasts. Also includes LifeOS, Khe’s complete operating system for your digital world in Notion.

#7. Nick Milo’s course Notemaking Mastery ($500 value)
You’ll be one of the first to take part in Nick’s upcoming new live workshop Notetaking Mastery, in which he’ll teach his signature practice of “notemaking” (as opposed to notetaking). Launching on November 1, 2024, it will include his holistic approach to making your digital thoughts visible, shapeable, and powerful in service of doing the best writing and work of your career. 

#8. One-year access to Anne-Laure Le Cunff’s Ness Labs learning community ($49)
The Ness Labs learning community is all about knowledge, note-taking, learning, reading, and psychology with a unique perspective. This includes unlimited access to online courses, monthly virtual meetups, “Mind Match” to connect you with like-minded thinkers, and special offers and deals on productivity tools for members.

#9. Sönke Ahrens’ upcoming Zettelkasten Master Class ($249)
In his upcoming Zettelkasten Master Class, Sönke teaches how to apply Zettelkasten principles using the versatile Obsidian app.

#10. One-year pro subscription to Taskade, the AI-powered productivity platform ($96)
Taskade supercharges your productivity with “AI agents” that automate your tasks, do research, and even create content for you in one unified workspace. It’s the project management tool for the AI era, making it easy to collaborate with team members on a project and visualize your projects in various formats.

This is like getting a full undergraduate degree’s worth of education in the emerging and increasingly vital field of personal knowledge management and productivity. You’re essentially joining a virtual elite university made up of the best teachers AND students from around the world.

You’ll redeem access to your digital swag bag in person in Los Angeles at the Second Brain Summit. There is no virtual attendance option, so you must join us live to take advantage of this offer.

Do you offer a group discount?

Yes, we’re happy to offer a special group rate for people from the same company or organization: Buy 2 tickets at full price and get the third one 100% free! 

Just email hello@fortelabs.com to let us know you want to take advantage of that, and we’ll send you instructions.

Can I sponsor the Second Brain Summit?

Thank you for your interest, but we are not accepting sponsors at this time.

What's your refund policy?

Tickets to the Second Brain Summit are not refundable. However, they are transferable to someone else up to 14 days prior to the event. 

Are you taking applications for speakers?

We're carefully tailoring a special experience and thinking through every detail from the moment you land in Los Angeles to the moment you head home– that includes our speaker list. We've already sent invites to those who we think are the best fit, so we’re not taking speaker applications at this time.

What are your COVID-19 protocols?

We’re dedicated to ensuring a safe experience for our team and attendees.  We are following guidance from the CDC and local health authorities in our plans and will continue to update them accordingly.  

What happens if the event is canceled because of COVID-19?

In the event that the Second Brain Summit must be canceled due to COVID-19, all tickets will be refunded.

Get Your Ticket to Unleash Your Digital Creativity

$1,200

ticket sales closed

Includes a Digital Swag Bag worth $5,144!

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