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
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
INNOVATING
FASTER
LEADING AHEAD OF DISRUPTION
Surviving Bad Times Begins with Better Decisions in Good Times
HOW TO CREATE
THE FUTURE
BE BOLD AND SEIZE OPPORTUNITY
PURPOSE VS.
PROFITS
ECONOMIC
OUTLOOK
BUILDING BUSINESS FOR TOMORROW
THE CASE
FOR OPTIMISM
BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATION
THE AI
FUTURE
THE LABOR
OUTLOOK
FORCES DRIVING
BUSINESS CHANGE
WHAT ARE
YOU THINKING?
THE FUTURE
OF WORK
REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOCUS
HOW GREAT PERFORMERS GET GREAT
MODERATOR/HOST
EMCEE
VIRTUAL
MODERATING
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.
Resources
GEOFF'S VIDEO LIBRARY
GEOFF'S ASSETS
Follow Geoff on Social Media
FEATURED MEDIA
• What Gets Lost in the Remote Work Debate
• Global 500: Global Trade’s New Playbook
• AT&T’s Warner Media Debacle Broke the Two Most Fundamental Principles of M&A Strategy
• Meet the Economy’s New Power Players
• Why Business is Bullish on Biden
• Losing Connection – Working From Home
• AT&T Has Become a New Kind of Media Giant
• Sears’ Seven Decades of Self-Destruction
• How Kraft Heinz Plans to Build a New Global Food Giant
IN PRINT
TESTIMONIALS
“Geoff hit it out of the park!!! Sounded great, looked great, and wonderful insights.”
“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!”
“We have had tons of great feedback. You helped companies get honest with themselves and to think of doing business differently.”
“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.”
“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).”
“Geoff hit a home run today!!!!!!!!!!!! Outstanding…”
“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.”
“You hit it out of the park. We will ask you back.”
“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.”
“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.”
“… he was so awesome!!! Thank you so much for sending him to us! He was amazing.”
“It was GREAT. We have only heard great things. Geoff tailored it to the audience. He is a gem!”
“Geoff did a fantastic job and really set the stage for the remainder of the day and his perspectives were repeated during later sessions.”
“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.”
“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!”
“You are a star. All the comments have been stellar.”
“Geoff Colvin was fabulous! Thanks. Members thought he was the best speaker we have ever had.”
“In a word: fantastic! Geoff really was perfect for this. He kept the conversation lively. Geoff really knocked it out of the ballpark.”