Josh Linkner Speaker Biography
NY Times Best-Selling Author, Tech Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist and Innovation Expert
Josh Linkner stands out as a top innovation in the age of AI speaker, known for fusing creativity with pragmatic business strategy. Beginning his career as a jazz guitarist, Linkner translated the improvisational skills of music into the world of entrepreneurship. He founded and led five tech companies to successful exits, collectively valued at over $200 million. While many innovation speakers focus solely on theory, Linkner brings real-world experience and infectious energy. His dynamic presentations explore how AI and human ingenuity can work together—not in competition, but in harmony. Through stories, tools, and actionable frameworks, he empowers audiences to unlock dormant creativity and drive breakthrough results. As industries face rapid transformation due to artificial intelligence, Linkner’s insights on innovation, adaptability, and leadership feel especially urgent. Accordingly, organizations across the globe—from startups to Fortune 500 companies—seek his guidance on thriving in today’s AI-powered economy.
Books
Josh Linkner is also a prolific author, having penned five influential books that redefine the innovation playbook. His New York Times bestsellers Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention offer practical strategies for fueling creativity and embracing disruption. Moreover, his recent works—Hacking Innovation and Big Little Breakthroughs—focus on how small shifts in thinking can yield exponential results. These books have become essential reading for business leaders navigating change and uncertainty. Notably, Big Little Breakthroughs emphasizes that innovation isn’t just for the C-suite; it can emerge from anyone, anywhere. Beyond writing, Linkner serves as Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners, backing over 100 startups with mentorship and investment. As a top innovation in the age of AI speaker, his books and venture work consistently reinforce his belief that innovation must be democratized. Every team member can contribute to breakthrough thinking, especially in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
Accolades and Awards
Josh Linkner’s accomplishments have earned him top honors and widespread recognition. Twice named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, he was also awarded the Champion of Change distinction by President Barack Obama. Additionally, he writes regularly for Forbes, Inc., and The Detroit Free Press, where he shares insights on creativity and AI-fueled disruption. His work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Harvard Business Review, and The New York Times. Despite his tech and business acclaim, he still performs as a jazz guitarist—a nod to his roots and creative core. This balance between innovation and artistry makes his thought leadership unusually compelling. As industries grapple with artificial intelligence and fast-moving change, Linkner’s blend of rigor and imagination offers real value. Audiences consistently praise him not only for his ideas but for his delivery: fun, sharp, and deeply human.
Innovation Keynote Speaker
As a keynote speaker, Josh Linkner energizes audiences by making innovation accessible and AI less intimidating. Drawing from his eclectic background, he illustrates how creativity can be embedded into everyday workflows. His talks offer more than inspiration; they spark action. Whether addressing a conference of global executives or a small team retreat, he equips listeners with practical tools to catalyze growth. Furthermore, he emphasizes that in the age of AI, human creativity is not obsolete—it’s more essential than ever. With each presentation, he helps companies foster cultures of curiosity, courage, and continuous improvement. Leaders and teams leave his keynotes ready to tackle challenges with a fresh mindset. As a top innovation in the age of AI speaker, Linkner reframes disruption as opportunity. He helps people see that innovation isn’t a department—it’s a daily mindset shift. His engaging, story-driven style ensures that his ideas stick long after the event ends.
Detroiter
Josh Linkner’s passion for innovation is matched only by his commitment to Detroit. A lifelong Detroiter, he plays a major role in the city’s revival, using entrepreneurship as a force for urban renewal. Through Detroit Venture Partners, he invests in startups that drive both economic growth and social progress. His dedication to his hometown demonstrates that innovation isn’t just about profit—it’s also about purpose. Moreover, his civic involvement underscores his belief that big change often starts small and local. This mindset has shaped his broader work as a speaker and strategist. In fact, his Detroit story adds an authentic, relatable layer to his global message. It reminds audiences that anyone—regardless of location or resources—can be a changemaker. Whether mentoring startups or speaking to global audiences, Linkner’s message is clear: creativity, courage, and community can drive transformation, especially in this pivotal AI era.
Josh Linkner Speaking Topics
BIG LITTLE BREAKTHROUGHS: How small, everyday ideas drive gigantic results
The pressure to generate big ideas can feel overwhelming. We know that bold innovations are critical in these disruptive and competitive times, but when it comes to breakthrough thinking, we often freeze up. Instead of shooting for a $10 billion IPO or a Nobel Prize, the most prolific innovators focus instead on Big Little Breakthroughs – small, creative acts that unlock massive rewards over time. By building a daily habit of creativity, leaders and organizations not only enjoy a high volume of small wins, but also the daily practice of micro-innovations — the fastest route to discover the massive breakthroughs we seek. How did a convicted drug dealer use a Big Little Breakthrough to launch and scale a massively successful fitness company? Why was a nurse practitioner able to use daily micro-innovations to solve healthcare problems that the biggest corporations couldn’t crack? How did a tattoo lead to a 30% boost in performance for a publicly traded restaurant company? Big Little Breakthroughs isn’t just for propeller-head inventors, fancy pants CEOs, or hoodie-donning tech billionaires. Rather, it is a simple yet effective method for all of us to cultivate the power of human creativity. Focusing on a simple and deliberate approach to daily practice, the system enables people from all backgrounds, training, and walks of life to expand their creative skillset and mindset. It helps everyday individuals and leaders unlock inventive thinking and harness innovation to tackle tough challenges and seize bold opportunities. The Big Little Breakthroughs framework provides a specific and practical approach to unlocking dormant creative capacity. Instead of wild, risky and expensive moonshots, participants learn to unleash small, daily creative acts to drive gigantic results over time. In fact, cultivating high volumes of micro-innovations not only de-risks the creative process, it builds the much-needed skills that lead to colossal transformations...and the creative confidence to take responsible risks.
Find A Way: A proven innovation framework to solve problems, accelerate opportunity and sustain growth.
As we enter a new era of business, 50% of leaders in the United States have lost confidence in their ability to make decisions in the face of uncertainty. The level of disruption, technology threats, and volatility can be paralyzing. We are in a leadership crisis and must embrace a new model to meet today’s challenges. Prolific entrepreneur, venture capital investor, and innovation expert Josh Linkner helps you Find A Way™ through his proven 5-step innovation framework for cultivating full-organization ingenuity. Whatever outcomes you crave the most — from sales growth to competitive advantage to employee engagement — you’ll walk away with specific tools to drive sustainable success. The Find a Way™ framework prioritizes agility over brute force, creativity over hustle, and improvisation over perfect planning. Leaders who embrace the model are inspired and better equipped. They feel confident to move forward into the darkness and have a newfound capacity to win consistently, no matter the circumstances.
RETHINK. REBOOT. REINVENT. An innovative framework to navigate volatile times
The COVID pandemic sent shock waves through our economy, supply chain, and workforce, ringing in a new era of accelerated transformation. The successful models of the past have been rendered obsolete, requiring leaders to rethink their strategy in this defining moment. In this inspiring and actionable keynote experience, 5-time tech entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, venture capitalist, and world-renowned innovation expert Josh Linkner helps leaders respond to volatility with creative confidence. Exploring the core mindsets, habits, and tactics of the most innovative leaders on the planet, Linkner leaves audiences with an elevated capacity for inventive thinking and creative problem-solving through his battle-tested Reinvention Framework.
THE MUSIC OF BUSINESS: Problem solving, collaboration and agility from the dangerous world of jazz music
Be prepared to be amazed. Josh Linkner, a jazz guitarist since age 14, credits a musical background for giving him a different way of looking at business. In this stunning interactive presentation, a live jazz performance by Josh and his band is woven with stimulating dialogue. You’ll actually hear, through their music, fresh ways to unleash your organization’s creative mojo. In jazz, 99% of the notes are improvised; created in real-time. Yet it’s the structure of a jazz combo – not the inherent talent of individual musicians – that allows for such breathtaking creative expression. In today’s business landscape of dizzying speed, exponential complexity, and ruthless competition, we can no longer just play the notes on the written page. You will learn powerful lessons inspired by jazz musicians (a/k/a “real-time innovators”) to help you.
THE INNOVATIVE LEADER: A modern framework to lead with confidence in the face of uncertainty and change
The business you're running today isn't the business you'll be running next year. In this moment of volatility and uncertainty, we are being called to lead in a radically different way… more decisive, creative, and adaptable. So how can we use this defining moment to ensure relevancy, sustainability, and success in the future? In this inspiring and practical keynote, battle-tested CEO, venture capital investor, and leadership expert Josh Linkner delivers a modern and accessible framework to help leaders thrive in the face of uncertainty and leverage their skills to move into uncharted territory with confidence. You’ll learn how to unlock inventive thinking, creative problem-solving, and ingenuity in every box of the org chart. The most successful leaders today help everyday people become "everyday innovators." They make sure that innovation is an everyday business. This can’t-miss session goes way beyond the future of work. This is the future of growth, the future of relevancy, the future of leadership, and the future of success.
DISCIPLINED DREAMING: A proven system to drive breakthrough creativity
In our modern AI-driven world, creativity has become the currency of success. It’s the one thing that can’t be outsourced or automated; the indisputable competitive advantage. We are all hard-wired to be creative, yet most of us have underdeveloped creative skills. And today, more than ever before, creative problem-solving and inventive thinking are crucial to overcoming obstacles and seizing opportunities. Based on the breakaway New York Times bestselling book published in 19 languages and globally recognized by over 2 million readers as the definitive work on applied creativity, author and creativity expert Josh Linkner takes the audience on a journey to unlock their dormant creative capacity. Inspiring stories, surprising truths, and instantly-applicable solutions make this keynote both energizing and actionable.
Josh Linkner Books
Big Little Breakthroughs: How Small, Everyday Innovations Drive Oversized Results
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Hacking Innovation: The New Growth Model from the Sinister World of Hackers
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Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity
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The Road to Reinvention: How to Drive Disruption and Accelerate Transformation
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Josh Linkner Articles
Josh Linkner Speaker Testimonials
“Josh … I’m sure I speak for everyone in the GEICO IT organization when I say that we thoroughly enjoyed your presentation. Your talk was both inspiring and motivational; and far exceeded our expectations. Thank you again for doing a great job and it was a pleasure to meet you.”
- | GEICO University
“Josh Linkner made a huge impact on our organization. His message on creativity and innovation was spot-on and his work has had a lasting effect. After hiring him for one conference where he was voted the top speaker by far, we promptly invited him back to present to a larger audience. His keynote was high-energy, interactive, and left us with specific tools and techniques to improve our creative output.”
- | Mercedes Benz
“Josh has unmatched ability to embrace innovation. At his repeated visits to Viacom, Josh has consistently offered the strategic ideas and practical techniques necessary to drive creative thinking.”
- | Viacom
“Josh, everyone had nothing but great things to say about your presentation. You did a wonderful job at entertaining and enlightening the crowd with your message. Thank you so much!”
- | Visa
