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Jim Harris speaker

Jim Harris

#1 International Best Selling Author; 2024 Speaker of the Year on AI, GenAI & Disruptive Innovation

Biography Highlights

  • Top Keynote Speaker on AI & Innovation: Named Speaker of the Year 2024 by TEC Canada and ranked among North America’s top ten speakers by Association Magazine.
  • Global Thought Leader & Consultant: Delivers 60+ international keynotes annually and advises executive teams at top organizations including Walmart, IBM, SAP, and the UK Cabinet Office.
  • #1 Bestselling Author: His book Blindsided! is published in 80 countries, selected as a top business book by Soundview, and praised by the Miami Herald as “Brilliant stuff!”

Biography

Jim Harris – Leading Global Voice on AI, Innovation and Disruptive Change

Jim Harris is one of North America’s foremost thinkers on AI, GenAI, disruption and innovation. He is one of the world’s leading keynote speakers presenting internationally at more than 60 in-person and virtual events a year. Association magazine ranked him as one of North America’s top ten speakers.

Jim also leads strategic planning sessions with executive teams. His clients include American Express, Barclays Bank, Canon, GM, IBM, SAP, Munich Re, the Top 200 CIOs of India, the UK Cabinet Office, Swiss Re, Walmart, Zurich Insurance.

In February 2024 Jim was recognized as the Speaker of the Year by TEC Canada. TEC is the largest CEO peer mentoring organization in Canada and part of Vistage the largest CEO mentoring group globally – with 45,000 CEOs. The award recognizes his presentations on AI which have been described as “mind blowing,” “riveting” and “eye opening.”

Jim’s last book, Blindsided!, is published in 80 countries worldwide and is a #1 international bestseller. Soundview Executive Summaries selected Blindsided! as one of the best business books of the year sending a summary to 80,000 executives globally. The Miami Herald calls Blindsided! “Brilliant stuff!”

As a management consultant, Mr. Harris works with leading businesses, Fortune 500 companies, and organizations aspiring to join these ranks. From 1992-1996 he represented the Covey Leadership Center – teaching Dr. Stephen Covey’s work, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.

Why Book Jim Harris?

Top keynote speaker on AI, innovation, and disruption, recognized as TEC Canada’s 2024 Speaker of the Year.

Helps executive teams lead with clarity and build strategies to navigate change and seize future opportunities.

60+ global speaking engagements annually, with clients including Walmart, IBM, and the UK Cabinet Office.

Author of Blindsided!, a #1 international bestseller published in 80 countries and praised as one of the year’s best business books.

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Speaking videos

Media, podcast appearances and interviews

Popular Talks

AI is transforming business, government and society as a whole

  • We’re seeing AI applications with 10X to 10,000X increases in productivity!
  • AI will add up to $4.4 Trillion of economic value every year by 2030
  • Many aspects of business, associations, government and society are being enhanced by this transformative technology.

This fast-paced, dynamic session will focus on proven, practical strategies, tactics, and actionable tools. It will highlight dozens of AI and GenAI apps and case studies focused on improving customer satisfaction, dramatically shortening cycle times, increasing sales and cutting costs. It will highlight benefits for many different functions within an organization: sales, marketing, customer service and finance.

In the US there are nearly 2 million job openings in health care alone. AI can save $386 billion a year if fully implemented in health care alone and while addressing the staff shortage.

Jim’s sessions have been described as “mind-blowing,” “riveting” and “eye-opening.”

The session will explore:

  • What are the implications for business leaders?
  • Where and how to begin?
  • What resources are available to begin your AI journey?
Available: In person, Virtually

Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA) – is the defining reality of modern business. For today’s executives, mastering VUCA is essential to navigating the turbulence and turning uncertainty into opportunity.

The Age of Accelerated Change
We are witnessing the fastest, most disruptive period in corporate history. Markets shift overnight. Technologies leapfrog decades. Consumer behaviors evolve in real time. The scale and speed of change are without precedent:

  • On April 3-4, 2025, US markets lost $6.6 trillion in value following President Trump’s announcement of tariffs on 90 countries. Five days later, after the decision was paused, markets rebounded by $5.4 trillion – a staggering single-day recovery.
  • On January 27, 2025, China’s DeepSeek unveiled its R-1 AI model, instantly disrupting global tech. U.S. high-tech firms lost $1 trillion in a single day. NVIDIA alone dropped $600 billion, the largest single-day market cap loss in US history.
  • It took the airline industry 68 years to reach 50 million users. It took Pokémon Go just 19 days.

These events aren’t anomalies – they’re signals of a world in permanent flux. Leadership strategies must evolve accordingly.

The Executive Imperative in a VUCA Landscape

For C-suite executives, this moment demands more than operational excellence. It requires visionary leadership, systemic thinking, and a willingness to experiment at scale. Key questions every executive team must address:

  • How can we adapt faster?
  • What systems will allow us to pivot, scale, and sustain momentum?
  • How do we build organizational resilience at every level?
  • How do we make bold, high-stakes decisions amid uncertainty?
  • What kind of leadership is required when there is no clarity?
  • How do we lead through crises (economic shocks, pandemics, geopolitical upheaval?
  • How do we keep our people engaged, aligned & inspired amid constant change?
  • How can we future-proof our business in the face of accelerating disruption?

VUCA as a Strategic Advantage

Leaders who understand the nature of VUCA don’t just survive—they thrive. They create adaptive organizations, nurture courageous cultures, and lead with both decisiveness and humility.

In a world where transformation not optional, mastering VUCA is essential. Those who develop the capacity it will outpace disruption—and shape the future of business.

Associated Topics

Geopolitics & Global Risk

  • Trade wars & tariffs (US-China)
  • Regional conflicts (Ukraine-Russia)
  • Sanctions & economic upheaval
  • Deglobalization
  • Shifts in global alliances
  • Supply chain

Technological Disruption

  • AI and automation (GenAI, job loss fears)
  • Cybersecurity & ransomware
  • Quantum computing
Available: In person, Virtually

The world and technology is changing faster than ever before. How can leaders keep up and keep their organizations relevant? In this thought provoking talk Jim discusses disruptive innovation and why being on the forefront of technology is only the beginning of it. Netflix changed the way people watch TV. Uber changed the way people get around. Amazon changed the way people buy things. Jim looks at the forces that are disrupting companies and industries and presents strategies for preventing it.

Available: In person, Virtually
Available: In person, Virtually
Available: In person, Virtually

Who is in charge of Wikipedia? No one. And yet more than 100 million of hours of labour have been invested by volunteers in creating the content. Most people believe that companies use less than 50% of the skills and motivation of employees. With millions of baby boomers retiring from the workforce over the next decade, new ways of engaging employees in collaborating will be essential for companies. How can organizations unleash more talent, creativity and innovation in their organization?

Available: In person, Virtually
Available: In person, Virtually
Available: In person, Virtually

Leaders today are paradigm pioneers who must understand the versatility of business and change with it. In the world of shifting paradigms, leadership has become more complex and more necessary. One of the greatest challenges of leadership has become problem-seeing, not problem-solving. Leaders have to become more adept at anticipating problems and perceiving opportunities to stay ahead of the competition and exceed customer expectations.

Available: In person, Virtually
Available: In person, Virtually
Available: In person, Virtually
Available: In person, Virtually
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