Future of Work Speakers

Heather E. McGowan is a globally recognized futurist and expert on the future of work. She is the 2x bestselling author of The Adaptation Advantage and The Empathy Advantage (a Top 10 Business Book of 2023). Her work shows leaders how to transform human capabilities—adaptability, empathy, and curiosity—into strategic advantages. As a keynote speaker, she advises organizations like Google, JPMorgan Chase, and Mastercard, providing actionable frameworks for thriving alongside AI and building high-trust environments where innovation is maximized.

Dr. Andrew Ng is a renowned pioneer in AI and online education. He is the Co-founder and Chairman of Coursera, the founding lead of Google Brain, and the former Chief Scientist at Baidu. Recognized as one of the most influential AI persons in the world by the Time100 AI list (2023), he continues to shape the future of technology through his ventures. His keynotes offer authoritative, research-backed insights into machine learning, AI strategy, and the future of work and online education.

Chris Skinner is an award-winning speaker and one of the most influential people in FinTech. He is a recognized Thought Leader in Finance and the author of 18 books, including the bestsellers Digital for Good and Intelligent Money. His expertise, including advising the UN and the World Bank, is informed by his role as a visiting lecturer at Cambridge University. His keynotes provide critical insights and strategies for leaders on digital transformation, the impact of AI (Generative Finance), and how to use finance and technology to address environmental and social issues.

Philip Rosedale is the founder of Second Life, the pioneering virtual world with over 70 million registered accounts. He is an entrepreneur and expert on virtual reality and the future of the metaverse. Following the acquisition of his internet video conferencing product by RealNetworks, he served as their CTO. His keynotes offer deep insights into virtual reality, online economies, and distributed work, sharing his vision for how virtual worlds will reshape collaboration and societal interaction.

Dr. Hugh Herr is the Director of the Biomechatronics research group at the MIT Media Lab and a pioneer whose work is redefining disability. He designs and builds advanced bionic limbs and is the inventor of devices that have achieved human normalisation in amputees. A highly decorated scientist and entrepreneur, he is the founder of BionX Inc. and the recipient of the 2016 Princess of Asturias Award. His viral TED Talk and public appearances share his vision of a future where biology and technology merge to expand human potential, providing a powerful message on innovation and overcoming adversity.

Jeremy Rifkin is an influential American economist and the author of 20 bestsellers, including The Zero Marginal Cost Society and The Third Industrial Revolution. As an economic advisor to the European Union and the People's Republic of China, he guides nations on building a sustainable, low-carbon economy. His keynotes provide cutting-edge insights on globalization, energy security, and the strategic deployment of the Internet of Things (IoT) for a Collaborative Commons.

Jonas Kjellberg is a co-founder of Skype and a highly successful digital transformation expert and investor. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board at Nornorm (backed by IKEA). His presentations focus on digital transformation, innovation, and business creation, sharing the core philosophies from his books. As a speaker, he leverages his experience at Skype and his current role as a lecturer at Stanford University to teach audiences how the interaction of products, sales, and profitability creates a winning sales culture.

Dr. Soumitra Dutta is a Professor of Management at Cornell University and a leading global expert on innovation and the knowledge economy. He is the author of the World Economic Forum's Global Information Technology Report. He is a board member of Sodexo and Dassault Systemes and was honored by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi. As a keynote speaker, he provides actionable strategies on building global capabilities, the interface of technology and innovation, and the crucial leadership requirements for driving growth in the post-COVID world.

Dr. Tali Sharot is a globally recognized Professor at UCL and MIT who directs the Affective Brain Lab. Her research in neuroscience and behavioral economics reveals the forces that shape our decisions and beliefs. Her influential books, including The Influential Mind and The Optimism Bias, have been widely praised by The New York Times and TIME magazine. Her talks, including four viral TED Talks with over 15 million views, provide leaders with practical, science-based strategies for inducing behavioral change and making better decisions across finance, marketing, and public policy.

Dr. Parag Khanna is a leading global strategy advisor and the founder of FutureMap. He is the bestselling author of books like Connectography and The Future is Asian, offering deep, data-driven insights into global trends and geopolitical strategy. He is a frequent media commentator and TED speaker whose talks have been viewed millions of times. As a keynote speaker, he provides tailored briefings to corporate executives and government leaders on systemic risks, technological disruptions, and market entry strategies, helping organizations navigate the shift toward an increasingly multipolar and interconnected global order.

Patty McCord is a pioneer in organizational culture, having served as the Chief Talent Officer at Netflix for 14 years and co-creating the viral Netflix Culture Deck. Her work advocates for a culture of freedom and responsibility. As a consultant and highly-rated speaker, she shares her innovative ideas on Reinventing HR, the Future of Work, and the need for Diversity and Equality in the workplace. Her keynotes provide actionable strategies for leaders seeking to transform their companies by stripping away constraints and encouraging accountability.

Martin Eberhard is the Co-founder and former CEO of Tesla Motors, where he spearheaded the development of the groundbreaking Tesla Roadster. He is a leading expert on sustainable technology and EV market disruption. With a strong background in electrical engineering and computer science, his expertise lies in automotive innovation and battery technology. His keynotes provide invaluable insights on entrepreneurship, the future of transportation, and the strategic imperatives for leaders navigating the accelerating transition to renewable energy.

Jacob Morgan is a leading futurist and one of the world’s foremost experts on leadership and the future of work. He is the bestselling author of five books, including Leading With Vulnerability. His work, which focuses on employee experience and future-ready organizations, has been cited in the Harvard Business Review and The Wall Street Journal. As a speaker, he inspires tens of thousands yearly, providing actionable strategies for leaders to harness their teams' potential and drive organizational transformation.

Dr. Vijay Govindarajan is one of the world’s leading experts on strategy and innovation and a Professor at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business. He served as the first Chief Innovation Consultant at GE. He is the pioneer of Reverse Innovation and a New York Times bestselling author. His keynotes, delivered to over 25% of the Fortune 500, provide thought-provoking insights on strategic transformation and how organizations can thrive in a multispeed, global world.

Thomas Sargent is a Nobel Laureate in Economics (2011) and a distinguished Professor at New York University. He is one of the foundational figures in modern macroeconomics, known for his work on rational expectations and empirical analysis of cause and effect. His books, including Recursive Macroeconomic Theory and Rational Expectations and Econometric Practice, are standard reference texts in the field. As a speaker, he provides authoritative insights on the long-term effects of economic policy and the role of expectations in shaping global markets, making his perspective vital for leaders in finance, government, and academia.

Dr. Andrew McAfee is an MIT Principal Research Scientist and the Co-founder of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy. He is the author of The Geek Way and the bestseller The Second Machine Age. Named to both the Thinkers50 list and the Politico 50 group, he provides deeply researched insights into the "Geek Way"—the radical mindset that enables organizations to outpace competitors. His keynotes are invaluable for decision-makers seeking to understand how to capitalize on Generative AI and drive organizational agility.

Sandy Carter is a former Fortune 25 executive and a top-rated global speaker on AI, IoT, and digital transformation. She is a bestselling author and was named one of CNN’s Top 10 Most Powerful Women in Tech. With an MBA from Harvard Business School and a degree in Computer Science from Duke, she provides strategic insight into how companies can leverage technology for growth. Her keynotes focus on innovation, digital strategy, and Women in Business, offering practical tools to transform company culture for the AI and IoT era.

Dr. Ken Goldberg is a Professor at UC Berkeley, a pioneer in robotics and AI, and a highly-regarded filmmaker/artist. He is the Director of the CITRIS People and Robots Initiative. The creator of the first robot on the Internet, his presentations blend his expertise in automation, social information filtering, and creative problem solving. His work has been recognized with the Presidential Faculty Fellowship (Bill Clinton) and the Joseph Engelberger Robotics Award.