Heather E. McGowan is a globally recognized futurist and future-of-work strategist who equips leaders and organizations to navigate relentless change by activating their most critical resource: their people. Named one of Forbes’ Top Futurists, she is a sought-after speaker and a 2x bestselling author who empowers teams to transform their distinctly human capabilities—adaptability, empathy, and curiosity—into strategic advantages to Solve Tomorrow's Problems™.
McGowan's insights are highly valued for their clarity and strategic depth, having been quoted in The New York Times, with columnist Thomas Friedman calling her an "oasis" for her perspective. Her framework for success is rooted in her bestselling books, which include The Adaptation Advantage and The Empathy Advantage. These works reveal how leading organizations thrive when they place adaptability and empathy at their core, allowing them to find breakthrough opportunities where others least expect them.
She addresses topics that are critical to modern enterprise success, including the necessity of a "learn-it-all" profile for leaders in the Age of Uncertainty. Through her presentations on The Curiosity Advantage and The Augmented Advantage, she helps leaders understand that success isn't about having all the answers, but about asking better questions, framing new challenges, and harnessing collective intelligence for breakthrough results.
McGowan's audiences range from startups to Fortune 500 companies, including Apple, Google, and Mastercard. Her keynotes provide data-driven insights and clear visual frameworks, such as her Solve Tomorrow’s Problems philosophy, which challenges the myth that we resist change. Her talks equip leaders with practical tools for building cohesive, high-performing teams, fostering brave dialogue, and using a shared vision to transform individual potential into collective impact and sustained growth.
