Mike Walsh
Mike Walsh is the CEO of Tomorrow, a global consultancy on designing companies for the 21st century.
For the past twenty years, he has been a leading authority on disruptive innovation, digital transformation and new ways of thinking. A global nomad, futurist and author of three bestselling books, Mike advises some of the world’s biggest organizations on reinvention and change in this new era of machine intelligence.
A prolific writer and commentator, Mike’s views have appeared in a wide range of international publications including Inc. Magazine, BusinessWeek, Forbes and the Wall Street Journal. A regulator contributor to the Harvard Business Review, his articles explore a wide range of cutting edge leadership topics including data-driven decision making, agile organizations, algorithmic management and AI ethics. Each week Mike interviews provocative thinkers, innovators and troublemakers on his podcast, Between Worlds.
Speaking topics
- New Rules for a New World
The pandemic not only changed our way of life, it accelerated the arrival of a radical new future of work. While for many of us hybrid work is a new and unexpected challenge — it is just the start of a much bigger transformation set to reshape the nature of organizations themselves.
Whether it be engaging customers through digital channels or leveraging AI, algorithms, and automation to reinvent how we deliver value — we are likely to experience a century’s worth of change in the next decade. Not every organization will make it, but those that do will never be the same again. And for leaders, now more than ever, it is a time to upgrade their capabilities, embrace new technologies, and reimagine what they do.
Mike Walsh’s inspiring keynote presentation will offer audiences insight into the organizations and leaders that are successfully navigating this period of change, and how to create a playbook for their own transformation. Becoming future-proof is more than just about getting through a crisis — it is about being ready for the new world that awaits us on the other side.
In this keynote, attendees will learn:
- Why there is no such thing as digital disruption, just digital delivery.
- Why there is no remote work, just work.
- Why AI is not here to destroy our jobs, but it will change them.
- The Future Favors the Bold
Now is the time for transformational leadership. Customers are changing, generational priorities are shifting, and industries are being reshaped by the collision of AI and data-driven business models. In this new world, only organizations willing to adapt, experiment, and embrace learning at scale will succeed.
There is nothing inevitable about progress. The status quo is the path of least resistance. A better, brighter future is the direct result of radical reinvention not incremental improvement. Too often we fail to commit energy and resources to the real drivers of difference: projects that depart from the norm, products or services that never existed before, and technologies combined in new and unexpected ways.
Transformation is a path not a plan. It could be the courageous decision to back a provocative idea from an unexpected source or the recognition that a broken rule might be a smarter way of doing things. It could be as big as merging with a disruptive competitor or as simple as hiring someone whose thinking challenges what you know to be true. The future is not an upgrade on the familiar, it is a world built by the bold.
Based on Mike Walsh’s extensive research into the habits and mindsets of the world’s most dynamic organizations and leaders, this keynote will not only inspire your teams to embrace a new approach to change but will also empower them with a robust set of next actions personalized for their specific challenges, pain points, and growth opportunities.
In this keynote, attendees will learn:
- The bold believe that “more is different” not “less is more”.
- The bold believe that failure is free, and success is expensive.
- The bold have a bias for action, even when the future is uncertain.
- What Leaders need to know about the Metaverse
The Metaverse is more than a gold rush; it will be an alchemical transformation in the way the world works. Over the next few years, we will see a rapid convergence between the digital and real world driven by increasingly sophisticated devices, decentralized blockchain technologies, and AI platforms capable of generating persistent, immersive, and collaborative experiences indistinguishable from reality.
Mike Walsh will demystify core Metaverse technologies and concepts like NFTs, DAOs, DeFi, XR, DeSO, GameFi, and Web3. In addition, with a playbook style approach, he will provide insights into what it will take to pioneer Metaverse applications, experiment with new ways of working, and attract and develop the right kind of talent to help you achieve your goals.
The time for action is now. Every organization and industry will be impacted by the next iteration of the Web and its radical interfaces, infrastructure, and investment models. The question for leaders is no longer what is the Metaverse, but rather, what is our plan for it?
In this keynote, attendees will learn:
- Successful case studies of how both existing brands and disruptive new entrants are leveraging Web3 technologies to reinvent customer experiences, create engaged communities, and unlock new value creation opportunities.
- What the Metaverse means for enterprises and how we work — whether it be personal avatars in hybrid workspaces, digital twins on the factory floor, or smart contracts in the supply chain.
- A Metaverse toolkit for leaders to understand and navigate emerging ethical and strategic issues like privacy, fraud, user safety, sustainability, governance, and control.
- Designing your Business for the 21st Century
Most companies are simply not designed to survive. They become successful on the basis of one big idea or breakthrough product — but then fail to evolve and change. One out of three public companies will cease to exist in their current form over the next five years. The companies that will thrive in the near future are the ones not only embracing change but breaking the rules.
Companies built to survive the future are no accident. They are a result of deliberate business design decisions smart leaders are making today. In his ongoing research on the world’s most innovative companies, Mike Walsh has organized these decisions into strategic priorities that he will explore with audiences as a roadmap for their own reinvention.
Walsh will outline the forces shaping the future of business and consumer behaviour, and the lessons learned from successful Fortune 500 companies on leveraging disruptive innovation, adopting a data-driven mindset, and leading change through digital transformation.
In this keynote, attendees will learn:
- How to leverage technology and data to become truly AI-powered.
- How to make culture your operating system and redesign the way your teams work.
- How to become a better data-driven decision-maker and reimagine your role as a leader.
- The Algorithmic Leader
We live in an age of wonder – cars that drive themselves, platforms that anticipate our needs, and robots capable of everything from advanced manufacturing to complex surgery. Automation, algorithms and AI are transforming not only business, but every facet of daily life. While many fear that robots will take their jobs, the rise of machine intelligence begs a more important question: what is the true potential of human intelligence in the 21st century?
In this inspiring keynote, Mike Walsh, futurist and author of The Dictionary Of Dangerous Ideas will present a vivid portrait of a brave new world orchestrated by machines that think, and how tomorrow’s leaders can upgrade their capabilities to survive and thrive in an age of accelerating technology.
Audiences will walk away with an insight into the companies, technologies and global forces shaping the age of machine intelligence, as well as a set of tailored next actions on how to redesign their organizations, reimagine their roles and reinvent the way they make decisions.
Video clips
Speaker testimonials
Mike’s presentation was great. He connected his content perfectly back to our vision for the week. His energy and enthusiasm for the content inspired the audience. We conducted a poll using our internal meeting app after the morning session and Mike’s presentation was selected as the most impactful by a landslide
Amazing! I have found that some futurists and speakers simply regurgitate other people’s work without much original thought. Mike’s session was the contrary – full of original insights and humour – it gave me a number of genuinely new insights. He was also on-point during the subsequent panel discussion and complemented the other speakers.
Thank you for speaking at our Ameriprise Financial National Conference. Your perspective on the rapid evolution of the way we interact and live was captivating and enlightening. Our financial advisors and their guests enjoyed your unique presentation, as did I. My sincere gratitude to you for sharing your thoughtful perspective with us.
For any company that wants to remain relevant and embrace change – Mike’s presentation will be of benefit. Mike’s presentation was thought provoking and very engaging. He provided examples that left us with some great take-aways which we’ve already started to implement in our daily work lives. I would highly recommend him.