<p>Future-of-work strategist Heather E. McGowan helps leaders prepare their people and organizations for the Augmented Era– where the greatest competitive advantage comes from optimizing human performance. </p><p>As a keynote speaker, Heather gives lucidity to complex topics through her research rich, graphic frameworks, and powerful metaphors. LinkedIn ranked her as its #1 global voice for education and was listed as one of the Top 50 Female Futurists in <em>Forbes</em>. NYT columnist Thomas Friedman describes her as “the oasis” when it comes to insights into the future of work. McGowan is the coauthor of<em> The Adaptation Advantage (</em>April 2020) and <em>the Empathy Advantage</em> (March 2023).</p>
Future-of-Work Strategist; One of <i>Forbes'</i> Top Female Futurists
<ul><li><strong>Solve Tomorrow's Problems™</strong></li><li>Harness Human Ingenuity to Navigate What's Next</li><li>Think organizations can't change quickly? History proves otherwise. When naysayers said "it can't be done," humans accomplished the impossible—in weeks, not years. Each pivotal moment reminds us of humanity’s most underestimated asset: our ability to adapt in the face of seemingly impossible odds.</li><li>In this perspective-shifting keynote, Heather challenges the myth that we resist change using unforgettable stories about a mop, a burrito, and a hermit crab to demonstrate how we can tap into our natural curiosity and hardwired drive to collaborate to see and shape what’s next. </li><li><strong>The Augmented Advantage</strong></li><li>Unleashing Human Potential in the AI Era</li><li>Think you can't remember phone numbers like you used to? You're not alone. As we hand off more tasks to technology, some of our more-human capabilities will naturally fade. Yet while automation may lead to atrophy in some areas, augmentation opens doors to entirely new human capabilities—if we are intentional. The key isn’t only using AI to replace what we currently do by automating it, but transforming work as we know it. </li><li>In this eye-opening presentation, Heather cuts through the AI hype to demonstrate why thriving alongside AI isn't about having the right answers. Instead, it's about asking better questions, framing new challenges, and treating AI as our partner—enhancing our capabilities and expanding our cognitive horizons.</li><li><strong>The Curiosity Advantage</strong></li><li>Leading in the Age of Uncertainty Remember when being a leader meant having all the answers? Today's most successful leaders are asking better questions. In a world of unprecedented opportunity, they’re not the most certain, but the most curious. According to research, this shift in profile—from know-it-alls to learn-it-alls—means we may be overlooking the very leaders we need right now. </li><li>In this paradigm-shifting talk, Heather reveals why the future belongs to forward-thinking leaders who can navigate relentless change by activating their team’s innate potential to learn, adapt, and grow.</li></ul>