GEOFF COLVIN

Senior Editor-at-Large, Fortune; Bestselling Author –
Humans are Underrated, Talent is Overrated,
and The Upside of the Downturn

SPEAKS ABOUT

AI Business Transformation • Leadership • Innovation
Business Strategy • Business Model Innovation
Global Business • Government Regulation
Competition • Economic Update • Moderator/Host/Interviewer

“AI is doubling its capabilities every three months. At that rate, in five years it will be a million times more powerful. Leaders, workers, and companies need to get their imaginations in gear!”
– Geoff Colvin

Summary

FORTUNE SENIOR EDITOR-AT-LARGE.

• REPORTS FOR FORTUNE ON THE INFOTECH REVOLUTION, LEADERSHIP, BUSINESS STRATEGY, GLOBAL BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT REGULATION, COMPETITION, THE ECONOMY, WORKER/WORKFORCE ISSUES, AND RELATED TOPICS.

• AUTHOR OF THREE BESTSELLING BOOKS – HUMANS ARE UNDERRATED, TALENT IS OVERRATED, AND THE UPSIDE OF THE DOWNTURN.

• SINCE 1995, HOST OF REGULAR BUSINESS INSIGHTS ON THE CBS RADIO NETWORK WITH 7 MILLION LISTENERS.

• UNPACKS WHAT TOP LEADERS ARE THINKING, SEEING, AND DOING TO WIN IN SPITE OF RELENTLESS TECHNOLOGICAL, COMPETITIVE, ECONOMIC, AND WORKPLACE CHANGE.

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SPEECH THEMES

GEOFF COLVIN
PREVIEW

Geoff Colvin
Overview Video

TAILORING
THE MESSAGE

Keynote Opening

INSPIRING
EXAMPLES

New Business Models

THE AI
OPPORTUNITY

Preparing for AI

AI IMPACT
ON WORKERS

Workforce of the Future

INNOVATING
FASTER

Doing the Impossible

HOW TO CREATE
THE FUTURE

What the Best Companies Do

ECONOMIC
OUTLOOK

Economic Status Report

THE FUTURE OF WORK

People Skills for an AI Economy

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

3 KEYS TO WINNING IN AN AI ECONOMY

In an uncertain and fast-changing world, it’s tempting to hold on to the familiar. It’s also hazardous to the business. In this presentation, Geoff Colvin inspires audiences to stop protecting the past and invent the future by focusing on three interconnected priorities: how to find advantage in an environment of AI and automation; how business models and strategies must change to create value in new ways; and the future of workers and the role of people. In an upbeat and optimistic view of what’s ahead, Geoff draws on his relationships with CEOs across industries to arm audiences with insights and examples of what top leaders and their companies are thinking, seeing, and doing right now to win. In this presentation, Geoff shows leaders a path to making important change happen in their companies.

 

HUMANS ARE (STILL) UNDERRATED

Head-spinning technological change is transforming work, leaving leaders and workers wondering how people fit in. Geoff Colvin has been foreseeing the future on this topic since before his groundbreaking book Humans are Underrated was released in 2015. He’s made the case, correctly, that empathy, collaboration, creativity, communication, storytelling, and creating relationships would be increasingly prized skills in this environment. Formerly called “soft skills”, they’re now referred to as “durable skills” because the skills of human interaction are eternal. Geoff comes before audiences with insights and hard data examples from the biggest private equity firms and preeminent executive search firms showing how organizations that make these skills a priority produce the best financial results. Geoff reveals what the best leaders and companies are doing now to prioritize them. In an AI world, the most valued skills and traits for people are changing fast. You can’t afford to be left behind.

 

TODAY’S ECONOMY: NAVIGATING WHAT YOU CAN’T CONTROL

Economic, regulatory, and political risk have an outsized impact on every business and industry. Geoff Colvin brings his experience at Fortune to show the interconnectedness of these factors, empowering audiences with information they can use to anticipate and strategize effectively. Geoff’s approach is strictly non-partisan, and it’s not just a barrage of statistics. He presents the current economy as a story and urges leaders to confront reality as it is – not as they wish it would be. He weaves in real-world examples of how companies are responding successfully to the current environment with an eye for opportunities, not just dwelling on problems. Audiences benefit from Geoff’s experience as he takes two steps back and offers a long-view vision of a future which he believes is full of promise. Geoff’s insights help business leaders not only weather storms but also capitalize on emerging opportunities in today’s volatile environments.

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