Bridging history, theory, and practice to advance insights on leadership, innovation, and strategy that equip you to excel in complex environments.
Professor Gautam Mukunda’s life’s ambition is to have the world’s most confusing resume. He might be most of the way there. Faculty at the Yale School of Management and the Harvard Kennedy School’s Senior Executive Fellows Program. Bestselling author. Senior advisor to the Chief of Naval Operations. Personally recruited to the Harvard Business School faculty by Clayton Christensen. World-renowned expert in leadership and innovation. Jeopardy Champion.
Whatever comes next, those unique experiences let him give keynote speeches that are an unparalleled combination of distinctive insights and engaging delivery. He has appeared on some of the biggest stages in the world and advised organizations ranging from the United States Navy to championship-winning professional sports teams to some of the world’s leading law firms.
“Thank you so much for your presentation. It was exactly what that audience wanted and needed. You were the first speaker addressing the issue of leadership in the 39-year history of the Conference. The feedback I have gotten has been excessively positive. I know already that the Conference owners intend to reach out for further engagements.”
— Conference Organizer
Gautam can be the highlight of your next conference, corporate retreat, or client event. He will work with your organizers to craft a presentation that’s perfectly tailored to your audience. Not sure where to start? Here are some suggested topics:
Why Do Great Companies Fail? The Financialization of the Modern Business Landscape
Can a company‘s soaring stock price be a sign of coming disaster? According to Yale School of Management lecturer Gautam Mukunda, Ph.D., when CEOs turn their focus from great products to immediate profits, even the most iconic companies are at risk. In this truly eye-opening presentation, he draws on recent real-world examples such as Boeing and Nike to illustrate the long-term consequences of a short-term obsession with profits. Mukunda shows how, if top Fortune 500 companies like these can fall victim to the pitfalls of financialization, all companies are at risk when executives aim for win-now Wall Street numbers over excellence in product quality and business reputation. Attendees will learn why “no great company was ever made great by cost cuts,” and will leave with new strategies for ensuring company health and ongoing positive financial performance by fixating on quality above all else.
From Presidents to CEOs: How to Choose the Best Leaders
Every four years, American voters are faced with one of the most consequential decisions in the world – picking a president. How can we ensure we’re choosing the most capable, qualified leaders, not just for the country but for companies as well? According to leadership expert and Yale School of Management lecturer Gautam Mukunda, Ph.D., the influence of those in charge can’t be understated. Organizationally, having the right leader at the right time can impact everything from the well-being of employees all the way to the resiliency of national economies. In this informative presentation, Mukunda draws on his bestselling book, “Picking Presidents” to provide both historical and contemporary examples that illustrate which leaders matter, when and why they do, and what we can learn from both their successes and failures. Audiences will leave with a practical framework for identifying individuals who will empower organizational thriving and effective competitive strategy, allowing innovation to excel while bolstering company resilience.
The New View of Disruptive Innovation for the Age of Breakthrough Technologies
The paradigm-shifting theory of disruptive innovation has had a massive impact on business strategy and investing over the last 30 years. But how have the exponential technology advancements in that period of time shifted how leaders and financial backers should think about today’s new market disruptions? According to business analyst and Yale School of Management lecturer Gautam Mukunda, Ph.D., technologies that weren’t on the radar in the ‘90s have vastly different effects than disruptive innovation theory originally accounted for. In this highly informative presentation, he explains how the unexpected market behaviors of breakthrough technologies like smartphones and large language models can in fact be predicted. Attendees will leave with an applicable understanding of how the qualities of revolutionary innovations, like product attributes and cost, can give investors a new lens for seeing how and where the next big market disruptor will make an impact.
Humanize AI and Defend Against “The Dark Arts”
Artificial intelligence tools are being widely adopted at a faster pace than ever. How can organizational leaders prioritize humanity while remaining educated about the technology, staying alert to those who intend to do their company harm? According to leadership expert and Yale School of Management lecturer Gautam Mukunda, Ph.D., it’s vital for managers to ensure trust while taking a deliberate, knowledgeable approach to AI implementation. In this revealing presentation, he explains that not being AI literate opens the door for non-ethical actors to easily use the technology against both individuals and organizations. Audiences will learn practical steps for upskilling knowledge while humanizing artificial intelligence. Following this session, attendees will be able to boost empathy and trust while defending against those who seek to leverage AI tools maliciously by enhancing their own understanding of the technology.