Book Innovation Speakers

Dr. Mariana Mazzucato, CBE, is a professor at UCL and the Founding Director of the UCL Institute for Innovation & Public Purpose (IIPP). She is a globally influential economist who advises governments on innovation-led inclusive and sustainable growth. The author of four bestselling books, including The Entrepreneurial State and Mission Economy, her work has fundamentally reshaped the debate on value creation. As a speaker, she provides actionable, research-backed insights on how to build a Mission Economy and drive transformational change through public-private partnerships and redefined purpose.

Dr. Renée Mauborgne is the Co-director of the INSEAD Blue Ocean Strategy Institute and was named the world's Most Influential Management Thinker by Thinkers50. She is the co-author of the global bestsellers Blue Ocean Strategy and Blue Ocean Shift. Her research on creating new market spaces has been adopted by nearly 3,000 universities worldwide. As a speaker, she provides strategic frameworks for achieving Blue Ocean Shift, enabling organizations to achieve growth, drive innovation, and make competition irrelevant in their industries.

Dr. Gregg Semenza is a Nobel Laureate in Physiology or Medicine (2019) and a Professor at Johns Hopkins University. He is a world-leading expert on how cells adapt to changes in oxygen levels and the founder of the Institute for Cell Engineering's vascular program. His major discovery of the HIF-1 protein regulates genes in response to oxygen supply, providing key insights into tumor development and coronary artery disease. His extensive research has earned him numerous awards, including the AHA Distinguished Scientist Award.

Sebastian Thrun is a distinguished computer scientist, co-founder of Google X, and a pioneer in robotics and AI. He is a recognized authority on autonomous systems and online education. As a keynote speaker, Thrun shares visionary insights from his work at Google X and his ongoing efforts to democratize education through Udacity. His talks provide leaders in business and technology with a clear roadmap for understanding the profound implications of artificial intelligence, robotics, and online learning for the future of industry and the workforce.

Gerd Leonhard is a leading global Futurist and Digital Ethics expert, whose bestseller Technology vs. Humanity is available in 12 languages. He has delivered over 2,000 keynotes across 70+ countries, reaching millions live. As a trusted advisor to Fortune 500 companies and governments, he provides bold insights into the future of AI, digital transformation, and business. His unique "super-keynotes" use immersive media to challenge audiences to shape the future for the better, making complex trends feel thrillingly real.

Dr. Kai-Fu Lee is a leading AI expert, venture capitalist, and the Chairman and CEO of Sinovation Ventures, which manages a $2+ billion fund focused on Chinese high-tech companies. He previously served as President of Google China. The author of the bestselling AI Superpowers, he is a highly respected expert on the competitive dynamics between Silicon Valley and China. His keynotes provide strategic foresight on AI's encroachment on labor forces and the ethical responsibilities of technological power.

Dr. Erik Brynjolfsson is a professor at Stanford University and the Director of the Stanford Digital Economy Lab, recognized globally as a leading expert on the economics of AI and productivity. The author of the bestseller The Second Machine Age, he provides authoritative insights on the effects of information technologies on business strategy, employment, and the role of data-driven decision-making. His keynotes offer practical frameworks for navigating the digital future and leveraging technology for sustainable growth.

Sir Richard Branson is the founder of the Virgin Group, a global conglomerate known for innovation across industries like aviation, telecommunications, and space tourism. His career demonstrates mastery in entrepreneurship and global branding. A strong advocate for purpose-driven business, Branson shares candid lessons on leadership, innovation, and corporate social responsibility. He provides valuable, firsthand insights on how to build a resilient, purpose-led company that creates both commercial success and a lasting positive impact.

Dr. Bertrand Piccard is a pioneering explorer, psychiatrist, and the Founder of the Solar Impulse Foundation. He is famous for completing the first non-stop round-the-world balloon flight and the first round-the-world solar flight. A UN Ambassador for the Environment and Special Advisor to the European Commission, his mission is to select 1000 efficient solutions to protect the environment profitably. His keynotes inspire audiences with his pioneering spirit, demonstrating how to find synergies where others see opposition and encouraging political action on sustainability.

Mike Walsh is a top futurist, strategic advisor, and bestselling author of The Algorithmic Leader. His work is critical for leaders navigating AI for reinvention, emphasizing the need to develop new capabilities where machines make complex decisions. A regular columnist for Harvard Business Review, his insights have been featured in Forbes and The Wall Street Journal. As a speaker, he uses a compelling touch of wit to provide a pragmatic roadmap for adopting algorithmic management and building organizations that bridge the present to the future.

Dr. Robert B. Wilson is a Nobel Laureate in Economics (2020) and an Emeritus Professor at Stanford Business School. He is a pioneer in auction theory, market design, and competitive bidding. His foundational work established the auction model used by the FCC to award broadcast licenses. As a highly sought-after speaker, he offers an unmatched perspective on the efficient and reliable delivery of critical resources, advising governments and industries on pricing, negotiation, and market design.

Lisa Bodell is a global leader and CEO of FutureThink, specializing in simplification and innovation. She is the bestselling author of Why Simple Wins and Kill the Company, and consistently ranks among the world's top speakers. Bodell's work provides a compelling perspective on transforming performance by reimagining the work, not the people. Her presentations offer actionable insights that inspire executives at Google, SAP, and Citigroup to question the status quo and make small changes with profound impact across their organizations.

Matt Mullenweg is the co-founder of WordPress—the world’s most popular publishing platform—and the CEO of Automattic, the company behind WooCommerce and Jetpack. His mission is to democratize publishing and commerce globally. As a pioneer of the fully distributed work model, he advises and invests in startups through Audrey Capital. A highly-regarded thought leader, Mullenweg is a prominent voice on open-source technology, e-commerce, and remote organizational design, with his expertise recognized by Fortune and Wired.

Stéphane Garelli is a world authority and pioneer in the field of competitiveness. He is the Founder of the IMD World Competitiveness Center and a former Managing Director of the World Economic Forum and the Annual Meetings in Davos. His best-selling books, including Top Class Competitors and Are you a Tiger, a Cat or a Dinosaur?, provide clear frameworks for success in the new global economy. As a speaker, he uses his trademark graphics and clear-cut approach to help audiences develop a "so what" attitude toward change, turning complex problems into strategic opportunities.

Seth Godin is a marketing visionary, teacher, and bestselling author of over 20 books, including Linchpin and Purple Cow. He is one of the most influential thinkers on modern marketing, leadership, and the power of spreading ideas. As a speaker, Godin delivers profound insights, humor, and inspiration, drawing on his work that touches on everything from the practice of shipping creative work to fostering change. He is a MasterClass instructor whose talks provide audiences with actionable strategies for building a loyal tribe, achieving growth, and delivering creative work consistently.

Dr. W. Chan Kim is a Professor of Strategy and the Co-Director of the INSEAD Blue Ocean Strategy Institute. He is a globally influential management thinker and the co-author of the four-million-copy bestseller Blue Ocean Strategy. His strategic frameworks have been adopted by nearly 3,000 universities worldwide. As a speaker, he provides authoritative insights on strategic growth, innovation, and the creation of new market spaces, empowering multinational corporations and governments to navigate economic transformation.

Alexandra Cousteau is a celebrated explorer and conservationist, known for her powerful storytelling and ability to drive policy change for ocean health. She is the founder of OCEANS 2050, a global initiative focused on marine habitat restoration and ocean afforestation. As a speaker, the National Geographic Emerging Explorer and World Economic Forum Young Global Leader shares invaluable, firsthand insights from her global expeditions and policy work with organizations like Oceana. Her talks offer a compelling vision of how communities, corporations, and governments can work together to restore ocean abundance, mitigate climate change, and ensure global food security.

Biz Stone is the co-founder and former Creative Director of Twitter and a visionary entrepreneur. He has been recognized by TIME as one of the most influential people in the world for his pioneering work on collaborative web systems. His philosophy emphasizes a new way of doing business that places value before profit, advocating for selflessness and altruism as a measure of success. His keynotes offer insights into entrepreneurship, technological innovation, and how to build systems that scale and deliver deeper meaning in work.