2021 KEYNOTE SPEECH AND INTERACTIVE WORKSHOP THEMES
All topics are available in various formats, virtual or (when it is feasible again) in person:
Keynotes (20 minutes to 45 minutes, with optional Q&A addition)
Interactive Workshop versions (90 minutes to full-day, depending on your needs)
Board Retreat (1 hour to half-day)
Executive Education (90 minutes to full-day)
YOUR RISK FINGERPRINT:
A New Way to Think about Uncertainty and Change
Is sitting still or making a bold move the bigger risk in business and life? Do you see opportunity where a colleague sees danger or vice versa? Do you look before you leap or just take the plunge? When you see an obvious problem, do you face it head on or do your best to ignore it? These questions shape every choice you make and every risk you take and identify you as distinctively as a fingerprint. Recognizing why you answer them the way you do can help you to make better decisions in your career and life. Understanding how those around you see and respond to risk will help you to better connect with your clients and collaborate with colleagues. In this talk, you will learn about some of the surprising reasons —like what you had for lunch or the mix of people in the room— that affect how people see and respond to the risks around us, and put that knowledge to work for you. Recognize how risk stereotypes can trip you up. Understand the feedback loop between your personality and habits, your workplace culture, and the risks you can and cannot control. Finally, learn how to build on your strengths and when to turn to others to optimize your risk relationship.
“This was one of our BEST sessions. Michele was amazing, personable and engaging. The topic was so apt especially with the ever-changing environment around us.” –Corporate Client
GRAY RHINO-PROOFING YOUR FUTURE
(Customized to Your Industry or Firm)
(Can be adapted for virtual breakout sessions, read-out, and follow-up)
Gray Rhino events are highly probable, give clear warnings and have high impact. Yet all too often, leaders fail to plan for, recognize, or respond to obvious dangers, whether personal, organizational, civic, or global. Successful organizations identify and confront Gray Rhino threats instead of letting themselves be trampled. Michele’s provocative talk lays out a framework for recognizing Gray Rhinos and the pitfalls and opportunities at each of their five stages, from denial to action –not just to avoid highly obvious dangers, but to see opportunities where others do not. She customizes each talk to your industry or organization’s needs. In the workshop version, she applies her five-stage gray rhino analytical framework to facilitate reflections and conversations leading to actionable strategies that turn challenges into opportunities. Topics have included climate change, industry disruptions, re-skilling, and personal leadership development.
“I received so many warm comments from your master class. Everything from “highly relevant” and “practical” to “greatly informative and instructional” to “expert,” “right on point” and “eye-opening.” – Anthony Vlahos, ExecuNet
“I was at dinner with one of the participants last night who was explaining enthusiastically to her boss, how the session had helped her clearly see her gray rhino and what she needed to do to move forward. So the concept clearly resonated.” –Corporate Client
GRAY RHINOS AND GREEN SWANS: The New ESG Imperative
Environment and climate are global, obvious, “gray rhino” challenges that impact supply chains, agriculture, property values, and finance. Yet progress in dealing with these challenges has been painfully slow. Amid increasingly extreme weather and recognition that global supply chains depend on addressing climate change, calls are rising for action. This has huge implications on capital flows, investment, and operational strategies. Companies are waking up on environment, social, and governance (ESG) issues — not for political reasons, but because it’s a business imperative. What does the ESG rallying cry mean for your business and investments? How do you sound the alarm loud enough to get your company and partners on board? What behavioral tools help? What are the right change metrics to follow?
“Many thanks to you for a fantastic presentation. The feedback and comments were all extremely positive, and it was great for our members and guests to have you provide your thoughtful and detailed overview.” –Trade Group Client
RISK AND THE FUTURE OF WORK
The age of automation and artificial intelligence is here, with profound implications that decision makers ignore at their peril. Businesses must adapt to disruption or perish; workers must prepare for dramatic change; policy makers must provide an ecosystem to ease a difficult transition; and workers must adapt.
For one thing, experts predict that as technology takes over more takes and re-shapes the workplace, the most successful careers will involve the kinds of skills that humans possess but machines do not: strategy, empathy, teamwork, and creativity. Every single one of these is tied closely to how we view risk. Creativity and innovation are closely tied to how well a person tolerates uncertainty and ambiguity. Risk-reward calculations are central to forming strategies and making good decisions. We need empathy to understand how employees and team members feel about risk, and thus to make sure that their different profiles strengthen the team instead of feeding conflicts.
As the number of people working for themselves increases, our definition of career risks is changing. Platforms like Upwork, fiverr, AirBNB, and Lyft and Uber have supported the new freelance based “gig economy” even as traditional companies have cut back on the benefits they offer workers and turned to machines and algorithms to do work that humans once did.
”Both of your sessions were very well received by our audience and were a great success! 🙂 Book signing as well, of course!” –Corporate Client
Email us for pricing information based on a workshop fee and per-participant charge for materials. For bulk book purchases, the workshop fee can be discounted depending on the number of books.