GEOFF COLVIN

Senior Editor-at-Large, Fortune and Bestselling Author;
Arming Leaders to Confront Disruptive Change and Win

SPEAKS ABOUT

Economic Update • Washington Policy Update • Trends Changing Business
Innovation Strategies • Reinventing the Business Model • Future of Work • Leading Through Crisis
Creating Human-Centric Organizations • Global Business • Secrets of Great Performers Moderator/Host/Interviewer

“It’s a fast changing world and a lot of news isn’t all that great. But there are good reasons to be optimistic because, even now, there are tremendous opportunities to be found in this world.”
- Geoff Colvin

Summary

Experience counts in serious times. For four decades at Fortune, Geoff Colvin has covered the economic, political, technological, and competitive forces disrupting business and how top leaders and companies adapt and transform to win in spite of them. The big takeaway, Geoff says, is that winning companies and leaders summon the courage to act – they stop protecting the past and start inventing the future – and they confront this reality faster than the competition. As business leaders face their biggest challenge ever, Geoff Colvin is the voice of experience who shines a light – revealing a clearer path for an uncertain future. His columns and cover stories for Fortune have earned him millions of loyal fans. Many of them also hear him dispense critical business insights on the CBS Radio Network, where he reaches seven million listeners each week. Geoff’s bestselling books include The Upside of the Downturn, Talent is Overrated, and Humans are Underrated. A keynote speaker with compelling content, Geoff Colvin is also a brilliant panel moderator and interviewer.

SPEECH THEMES

GEOFF COLVIN
PREVIEW

Geoff Colvin
Overview Video

INNOVATING
FASTER

Doing the Impossible

HOW TO CREATE
THE FUTURE

What the Best Companies Do

BE BOLD AND SEIZE OPPORTUNITY

Trying Times Alter the Competitive Order

PURPOSE VS.
PROFITS

Leading on Purpose

ECONOMIC
OUTLOOK

Economic Status Report

BUILDING BUSINESS FOR TOMORROW

What Will Tomorrow Look Like?

THE CASE
FOR OPTIMISM

Opportunity in a Fast Changing World

THE LABOR
OUTLOOK

The War For Talent

FORCES DRIVING
BUSINESS CHANGE

Supply Chain Stress Forecast

WHAT ARE
YOU THINKING?

Stop Being Drawn to Bad News

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOCUS

Regional Development for the Future

HOW GREAT PERFORMERS GET GREAT

Talent is Overrated

MODERATOR/HOST
EMCEE

Hosting and Moderating Overview

VIRTUAL
MODERATING

Virtual Moderating Excerpt

SPEECH DESCRIPTIONS

CONFRONTING THE REALITY OF CHANGE

When change comes at us from every direction, it can feel like our only option is to play defense. “Not so,” says Geoff Colvin of Fortune. “The best leaders I’ve reported on have found ways to embrace a world of continuous disruption and build a powerful competitive advantage in the process.” Geoff is optimistic about the future as he unpacks step-by-step how we can all respond faster to change and even get ahead of it as individuals, teams, and enterprises. Geoff provides actionable takeaways to help leaders face change smarter:

• What the best leaders and companies are doing right now to create the future
• Why confronting reality faster is the key to seizing new opportunities
• Biggest pandemic lessons for business
• Scenario planning: surviving bad times begins with better decisions in good times
• 3 best ways to lead during crisis and disruption
• Creativity and innovation – how to unleash it individually and organizationally

 

RISKS & OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS ECONOMY

Global turmoil has roiled an already fragile economic order in ways that are still unfolding. At Fortune, Geoff tells the economic story in terms that focus on the risks and opportunities. Business people already know the numbers – what they might miss is the big picture; the forces driving the trends causing disruptive change in their world and, most importantly, what to do about it. This presentation isn’t a stream of economic statistics; it’s an optimistic story that Geoff tells engagingly, humorously, and memorably with valuable takeaways because, as he says, “Even in tough times, somebody’s going to win, why not you?” Geoff covers:

• Why, even in times like this, it’s vital to remain optimistic
• The latest data and trends curated for the audience/industry he’s addressing
• A plain-spoken explanation of what’s going on now – on Main Street, Wall Street, in Washington, and globally.
• How successful companies are winning in this economy

 

FUTURE-PROOF YOUR BUSINESS MODEL

Four big trends are causing business leaders angst as they confront the idea that their business model needs to change. In this talk, Geoff Colvin looks at how the economic climate, advancements in tech, global and domestic politics, and workers are moving to render many business models obsolete. As a result, business model innovation has become a must-have competence for all companies. That’s a problem for those that are unprepared but a huge opportunity for those who are paying attention and taking this challenge seriously. Geoff reveals:

• Inspiring examples of companies transforming their business model and winning
• Key trends driving the need for business model change
• How to just do it: Stop protecting yesterday and start creating the future
• The secrets to becoming a business model innovator
• How to adapt to a friction-free economy and create outsized opportunities
• Why human capital is the most valuable kind and how to make the most of it

 

LESSONS FROM THE WORLD’S GREATEST LEADERS

Through his work at Fortune, Geoff Colvin gets to see top business leaders up close. Over the years, he’s gotten to know many of those leaders on a personal level. Watching them and talking with them has revealed eye-opening insights into how they cope with change, wrestle with transforming their companies, and face the economic, competitive, technological, and political forces buffeting their businesses. Geoff unpacks their stories in this talk uniquely crafted for each audience, showing relevant lessons learned from leaders and companies we all know. This talk can focus on several themes:

• The crucial process of making tough decisions
• Finding and keeping great employees
• Navigating regulatory uncertainty
• Adopting new technology
• Managing in a crisis
• Leading cultural change

 

 

PANEL MODERATOR, DISCUSSION LEADER, EMCEE/HOST

Geoff Colvin’s unique gift is his ability to brilliantly moderate panels, lead onstage interviews, and host/emcee. He’s played these roles for more than three decades at Fortune conferences worldwide. Top companies and associations regularly utilize Geoff because he gets the most out of participants; he asks the right questions, listens intently to what’s being said on stage, and responds to that. He also connects ideas and insights across sessions, transforming a multi-part program into a satisfying, unified whole. He always keeps the discussion relevant and the energy high.

TESTIMONIALS

 

“Geoff hit it out of the park!!! Sounded great, looked great, and wonderful insights.”

– RealPage (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“Avaya was thrilled, just thrilled with Geoff . They weren’t pleased , they were pleased squared! As the Marketing VP for LatAm said “Ese hombre es un sol”. It doesn’t translate that well (That man is a sun) but they mean he was marvelous!”

– James Maroney, Smart Speakers (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“We have had tons of great feedback. You helped companies get honest with themselves and to think of doing business differently.”

– Global Leaders Organization (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“Geoff did a fantastic job. We got terrific feedback from our CEOs, in particular, that thought it was refreshing to get a fresh, macro perspective of how companies can really thrive during difficult times.”

– McRock Capital (VIRTUAL EVENT)

“The amount of praise you received was incredible, to say the least. Many, many of our attendees expressed how moved they were with your presentation. Just a tremendous amount of praise is ALL I heard (more than any speaker we have ever had).”

– Executive Director, National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA)

“Geoff hit a home run today!!!!!!!!!!!! Outstanding…”

– Head of Conf Planning & Travel, Putnam Investments

“Geoff, you were definitely the highlight of our conference. In reviewing our surveys today, you were overwhelmingly ranked as the favorite speaker and one they would most like to hear from again.”

– Lead Executive, Business Alliances & Ancillary Division, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield

“You hit it out of the park. We will ask you back.”

– CEO, American Pacific Mortgage

“I can’t tell you how many people, customers and employees, came up to me and said how good your session was. Honestly, it set a tone that I was hoping for so to me it was a huge win.”

– President and COO, SoftwareAG North America

“We were completely amazed with how incredible Geoff was with the five very unique sessions we had him lined up to moderate. He added a layer of additional perspective to each and every one of those sessions that we just would not have expected. Truly amazing.”

– Tax Senior Manager, National Growth Team, Deloitte Tax LLP

“… he was so awesome!!! Thank you so much for sending him to us! He was amazing.”

– Director of Economic Development Services, CareerSource Pinellas

“It was GREAT. We have only heard great things. Geoff tailored it to the audience. He is a gem!”

– Gala Organizer, Institute for Public Relations

“Geoff did a fantastic job and really set the stage for the remainder of the day and his perspectives were repeated during later sessions.”

– Group Communications Director, The Coca-Cola Company

“The consensus was: “He did a great job.” “He was dead-on.” “He said what we needed to here.” “Great job.” I truly didn’t hear one bad or negative comment. He was a total “hit”. He was a total delight to work with (as were all of you). Thank you for everything.”

– Assistant to the CEO and President, Vanguard Health Systems

“Geoff did an amazing job with our event. He was very thoughtful and thorough with his preparation and really hit the mark for us. He’s a wonderful moderator!”

– Marketing Manager, The Boston Consulting Group

“You are a star. All the comments have been stellar.”

– Partner, Pepper Hamilton LLP

“Geoff Colvin was fabulous! Thanks. Members thought he was the best speaker we have ever had.”

– President, Flexible Packaging Association

“In a word: fantastic! Geoff really was perfect for this. He kept the conversation lively. Geoff really knocked it out of the ballpark.”

– Microsoft