Keynote Speaking

High energy keynotes on AI,  innovation , entrepreneurship. creativity and business transformation

Mike combines 20 plus years of building and advising companies to deliver keynotes that change mindsets, energize leadership teams, activate employees and provide tools and frameworks that they can execute the following day.  

What audiences walk away with

Outcomes, not inspiration.

A framework for innovation

Not theories. Not trends. A practical model you can apply to your organization this week.

How to move faster

Design thinking and rapid prototyping methods that compressed decades into months at startups.

Clarity on your biggest challenge

Disruptive innovation, digital transformation, ecosystem building. Mike helps teams see what's actually blocking progress.

A shared language

Leadership teams need to talk about innovation the same way. Mike builds that vocabulary in one session.

Confidence in uncertainty

When everything is changing fast, teams need anchors. Mike provides them.

Energy that sticks

Mike energizes the room during his talk. But more importantly, the energy lasts. Teams stay activated afterward.

Engagement formats

Six ways to work with Mike, two ways to go deeper.

High energy

Keynotes

45 to 90 minutes. Clear thesis. Energetic delivery. Built for your audience and industry.

Hands-on

Workshops

Half-day and full-day working sessions. Teams leave with prototypes, not slides.

Rigorous

Design Sprints

5-day intensive sprints. Teams go from problem to working prototype. Proven process from 100+ companies.

Engaging

Panel Discussions

Sharp moderation. Prepared panelists. Real conversation on innovation, leadership, and change.

Thought-provoking

Fireside Chats

Intimate on-stage conversations. Goes deeper than a keynote. Perfect for executive audiences.

Expert-led

Master Classes

Deep dives on specific topics. Multi-hour sessions for leaders who want mastery, not overview.

Watch Mike on Stage

When Mike arrives, the room comes alive.

Signature topics

Four talks. Each one built for a specific audience and challenge.

Disruptive Innovation and Business Model Change

The most requested talk. Mike walks leadership teams through how to spot disruptive threats and build defense or opportunity. This is not about incremental innovation. It is about structural shifts that remake industries.

Talking points
  • How disruptive innovation differs from sustaining innovation
  • The three signals that disruption is coming to your industry
  • Why incumbents miss disruption and what to do about it
  • Building innovation capability inside a large organization
  • De-risking innovation investments with design thinking
Ideal audience

C-suites, boards, innovation teams, strategy leaders

Available formats

Keynote. Fireside. Workshop. Master class.

Customization

Mike customizes for your industry and moment

Digital Transformation and Future of Work

How to lead transformation when every company is a tech company now. Mike covers both the technical and human sides. The tools matter less than the mindset. Teams need new ways of working, not just new software.

Talking points
  • Why most digital transformations fail and the structural fix
  • Building a digital-ready culture in traditional organizations
  • How to partner with startups and stay ahead of disruption
  • The skills your team needs and how to build them fast
  • Governance that enables velocity instead of blocking it
Ideal audience

CIOs, CTOs, transformation leaders, enterprise executives

Available formats

Keynote. Panel. Workshop. Full-day intensive.

Recent example

MIT CIO Symposium Digital Learning Series

Building Startup Ecosystems

How to grow entrepreneurship in your region, company, or industry. Mike has helped cities and organizations build thriving startup ecosystems from scratch. This is not a theory talk. It is based on work across Boston, Silicon Valley, Europe, and beyond.

Talking points
  • The components of a thriving startup ecosystem
  • How to connect startups to resources and mentorship
  • Accelerators, incubators, and what actually works
  • Creating pathways from education to entrepreneurship
  • Regional and global examples that work
Ideal audience

Economic development, regional leaders, universities, venture investors

Available formats

Keynote. Fireside. Workshop. Multi-hour session.

Geography

Mike speaks on this globally

Design Thinking for Innovation Teams

The human-centered design process that works. Mike teaches the methodology that produced hundreds of successful startups and transformed internal innovation teams at major companies. This session includes hands-on exercises.

Talking points
  • The five phases of design thinking and what each one delivers
  • How to run fast prototyping and testing cycles
  • Customer empathy as a competitive advantage
  • Tools and techniques your team can use immediately
  • De-risking new product and service launches
Ideal audience

Product teams, innovation leads, cross-functional groups

Available formats

Workshop. Master class. Design sprint.

Note

Requires hands-on time, not just presentation

What people say

From stages, panels, and workshops around the world.

"Mike makes complex topics feel clear and actionable. After his session, we actually knew what to do next. That is rare."
"The energy in the room shifted. He does not talk at you. He talks with you. The team felt like Mike was solving the problem with them."
"We have had dozens of speakers. Mike is in the top tier. He knows business. He knows startups. He knows what it takes to actually change an organization."
"Best workshop I have attended. Three days and we left with a working prototype and a roadmap to scale it. Most workshops leave you with ideas. This left us with traction."

Speaking, teaching, advising, and partnering.

Organizations Mike has worked with

MIT

Faculty, CIO Symposium moderator

INSEAD

Thought leadership, published research

McKinsey & Company

Consulting background, advisory

Harvard

Professor, executive education

Harvard Business Review

Published contributor

Startup Weekend

Managing Director (past)

UC Berkeley

Innovation fellow, Innovation X moderator

Wharton Business School

Research publications

Brown University

Faculty director, Innovation Leadership program

TEDx

Multiple keynote talks

Rutgers

Professor, case study advisor

Hult International

Global discipline lead (past)

Frequently asked

Questions from leaders, audience and event organizers.

Fees vary by format, audience size, and travel. A keynote to 500 runs different than a master class for 25. Email and we will send details within one business day.

For large conferences and summits, 6 to 12 months is ideal. For smaller events, 6 to 8 weeks is usually enough. Mike does accept rush requests depending on schedule.

Yes. Mike speaks regularly in North America, Europe, and beyond. International bookings need 8 weeks minimum. His team handles all logistics.

Absolutely. Mike customizes every talk. A pre-event call with your team is standard. The more context you share about your industry and challenge, the sharper the content.

Yes. Mike has spoken to virtual audiences of 5000 plus. Production quality matters for virtual. His team can advise on setup and format.

A pre-event discovery call. Content customization for your audience. The keynote itself. Q&A if requested. Travel and accommodation. A debrief with your team afterward.

Yes. In fact, workshops and sprints are where Mike creates the most impact. Multi-day intensive work produces real output. Check with us on availability.

Selectively. Mike prioritizes outlets that reach leaders and entrepreneurs. Send details and audience size. He has hosted his own disruptive innovation podcast.

Ready to lead through AI disruption?

Bring Mike to your next event, or bring him to the table for your most consequential innovation and AI decisions.