Jim Harris Speaker Biography
AI, GenAI & Disruptive Innovation Expert | #1 Bestselling Author | 2024 Speaker of the Year (TEC Canada)
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. 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.
Clients
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. And his sustainability clients include IBM, Walmart, Cleantech, numerous governments, universities and colleges and property developers.
Award
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.”
Affiliations
He is the Program Director for the Centre of Excellence in Sustainability and Innovation at the Schulich Executive Education Centre (SEEC) at the Schulich School of Business at York University.
Books
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!” Mr. Harris’ second book, The Learning Paradox, was nominated for the National Business Book Award, and has appeared on numerous bestseller lists. Books for Business ranked it as one of the top 10 business books in all of North America. There are now over 40,000 copies in print. The Learning Paradox argues that “job security” as we knew it is gone. Individual and organizational security is now based on learning, changing and coping with uncertainty. Paradoxically these are what we as adults fear most! His is also co-author of national bestseller The 100 Best Companies to Work for in Canada.
Management Consultant and Innovation Keynote Speaker
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
- Jim Harris is one of North America’s top keynote speakers on AI, disruption, and innovation—named TEC Canada’s Speaker of the Year in 2024. He helps executive teams navigate change and lead with clarity.
- Future-proof your business with Jim Harris—#1 international bestselling author, innovation strategist, and one of North America’s top ten speakers on AI and disruptive change.
- Jim Harris speaks at 60+ global events each year, helping organizations like Walmart, IBM, and the UK Cabinet Office lead through change. His bestselling book Blindsided! is published in 80 countries.
Jim Harris Speaking Topics
The AI Revolution: The Most Transformative Tech of Our Time Creating Trillions of Value
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?
Leading in Turbulent Times VUCA: Building Agility & Resilience
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.
Collaboration & Engagement
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 work force 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?
Creativity
Most organizations need to innovate – but no one wants to change! It’s the paradox of our time. A staggering 88% of CEOs say that innovation is essential to growth and profitability, but only 33% are happy with the results that they’re getting. But innovation doesn’t just happen on its own. Jim has worked with Fortune 500 companies worldwide, India’s top 200 CIOs and the UK Cabinet Office’s top management program teaching innovation, creativity and change. Why innovation is essential to for 21st century organizations.
Futurist: Trends that Are Changing Your Business
Since 1990 Jim Harris has been helping organization focus on the future. He was honoured to be the closing keynote speaker for the World Future Society conference which brings together the leading futurists from around the globe. He will customize his presentation for you organization and industry that will have people talking, thinking and acting differently long after your event.
Thriving in the Era of Disruptive Innovation
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 at 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.
Jim Harris Books
The Learning Paradox: Gaining Success and Security in a World of Change
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Blindsided! How to Spot the Next Breakthrough that will Change Your Business Forever
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Jim Harris Articles
Jim Harris Speaker Testimonials
“Jim’s session was one of the most highly rated and I am certain that we will work with him in the future. What was particularly noteworthy was the accessibility and relevance of his material. Jim’s friendly, open style is critical in encouraging participants to take the material on board and shift their thinking.”
- Geoff Merchant | Centre for Management & Policy Studies, UK Cabinet Office
“In the fast-paced global business environment, the possibility of being blindsided by a competitor or new market entrant is very real, even for businesses that appear most secure. Jim Harris offers real-life examples that will cause the reader to stop, think and question whether he or she is doing everything in his or her power to avoid being blindsided. A must-read for all senior executives.”
- Clare Hart | President & CEO of Factiva, a Dow Jones & Reuters Company
“Having attended countless sessions over the years, I am very selective. I am especially proud that one of the best messages I’ve heard at MPI was delivered by a Canadian – Jim Harris.”
- Marjorie Hamilton | Past Intn’l President, Meeting Professionals International
“You initiated a shift in strategic thinking within our plant management.”
- Richard Jensen | P.Eng, GM, Manufacturing, CXY Chemicals
