Martin Gutmann

This isn’t a talk about AI strategy. It’s a talk about what it will take to lead through one of the most profound revolutions in modern business. Combining sharp historical insight, witty anecdotes, state-of-the-field research, and actionable foresight, Martin delivers a powerful new lens for understanding AI, not as a technical challenge, but as a leadership imperative. Attendees will gain insights into the five concrete tensions they need to master to lead well in the age of AI: trust, productivity, meaning, clarity, and power.

Martin examines the early pioneers of aviation and the 1927 race to fly across the Atlantic, drawing parallels to contemporary leadership amid uncertainty and rapid change. He highlights three enduring yet counterintuitive principles for effective leadership: subtract rather than add, use a compass instead of a map, and practise humility. Attendees will gain valuable insights into navigating today’s complex challenges with confidence and clarity.

What really drives high-performance teams? Martin breaks with conventional wisdom to reveal the secret behind truly resilient, high-performing teams — the key is balancing relationships and performance. Drawing on exceptional teams from sports, including the Chicago Bulls, and business, as well as cutting-edge research on psychological safety, team dynamics, and humble leadership, this talk delivers surprising insights and actionable takeaways that will change the way you think about leadership and team performance.

In this sweeping and thought-provoking talk, Martin unpacks the forces reshaping our world, from artificial intelligence to geopolitical upheaval and economic uncertainty. Drawing on historical parallels, he reveals three unexpected but essential predictions for how these disruptions will impact business and society. Attendees leave with a clear framework for understanding today’s most pressing global developments and a roadmap for leading through uncertainty.

Based on the TED Talk that became a global sensation, Martin challenges audiences to reconsider their definition of effective leadership, highlighting that true greatness lies in preventing crises rather than responding dramatically to them. Drawing lessons from Ernest Shackleton and other famous but consistently unsuccessful leaders, he offers a fresh perspective on what makes a leader truly exceptional. Attendees will learn to appreciate crisis prevention and cultivate the three universal traits of effective leaders: fluency in context, a balance of humility and confidence, and a pragmatic mindset.