Dr. David De Cremer Speaker Biography
Renowned Leadership Advisor, Digital Transformation Strategist and AI Expert
Professor David De Cremer is a world leading thought leader and behavioural scientist with a special interest in managing and leading individual and organizational transformations in the AI era.
Artificial Intelligence Authority
Currently he is the Dunton Family Dean of D’Amore-McKim School of Business (DMSB) at Northeastern University in Boston (US). He is also a professor of management and techhnology at DMSB and an advisory board member at EY for their global AI projects. Before moving to Boston, he was the Provost Chair and professor in management at National University of Singapore (NUS) Business School, the director and founder of the Centre on AI Technology for Humankind (AiTH), and a member of the scientific committee of AI Singapore. Before Singapore, he was the the KPMG endowed professor at Judge Business School and a fellow at St. Edmunds College, University of Cambridge.
Awards
He received many career awards for his scientific work, which made him one of the most prolific scholars of his generation. He was named the most influential economist in the Netherlands (2009-2010), a Global Thought Leader by the Trust Across America (2016) – Trust Around the World organization, whose annual list recognizes people for efforts “in elevating societal trust, one of the World’s top 30 Management Gurus and Speakers in 2020, a Thinkers50 Radar 2021 (one of the 30 global thought leaders to watch) and is consistently included in the World Top 2% Scientists.
Books
His specific expertise concerns developing knowledge and applications to understand more deeply how leaders can be effective and transforming in the new technology era, how building trust can be used as business asset, and why ethics-based compliance and governance is key in driving human-centered tech transformations. His research in these areas has led to several best-selling books including Leadership by Algorithm: Who Leads and Who Follows in the AI Era and The AI-Savvy Leader: 9 Ways to Take Back Control and Make AI Work.
Keynote Speaker
He is a widely sought after corporate speaker and consultant, has considerable experience in executive teaching and is an advisory board member at Ernst & Young for several global AI projects.
Dr. David De Cremer Speaking Topics
Mastering AI Leadership: Transforming Business with a Human-Centered Strategy
Smart leaders know that the real challenge in digital transformation lies not in the acquisition of the latest technology but in its strategic implementation. According to David De Cremer, author of “The AI-Savvy Leader: Nine Ways to Take Back Control and Make AI Work,” many organizations commit the majority of their budget to adopting AI, only to find that without proper integration, these investments fall short. De Cremer, a leading expert in digital transformation, addresses this critical gap with a practical playbook for executives to navigate AI integration effectively. His approach focuses on human-centered AI, viewing it as a coworker, a tool, and a driver of value creation, rather than just a means of replication or replacement. Through his insights, leaders learn to balance empathy, sympathy and strategic foresight — elements AI alone cannot provide. An exceptional speaker, De Cremer not only equips business leaders to make AI work for them but also transforms their mindset for successful digital transformation.
The Future of Asia and Its Impact on Global Leadership
How will Asia influence the way companies around the world do business in the coming decade and beyond? In the next five years, 88% of the world’s new middle class will reside in Asia, underscoring the reality that global business and leadership will be colored by Asian values, approaches and strategies in significant ways. In this presentation, based on his book, On the Emergence and Understanding of Asian Global Leadership (July 2021), renowned leadership advisor, digital transformation strategist and technology futurist David De Cremer explores how these factors will impact business and society, and explains why organizations will increasingly focus on needs, values and strategies that are uniquely Asian, requiring us to redefine our notion of global leadership.
Leadership, Algorithms and the Future of Work
How can leaders keep technology human centered as machines and AI become an integral part of the workplace? In this presentation, based on his 2020 book, Leadership by Algorithm: Who Leads and Who Follows in the AI Era, renowned behavioral scientist, digital transformation strategist and technology futurist David De Cremer reveals key areas where algorithms will likely collide with human skills as AI becomes a bigger part of the workforce. Drawing on his own research findings, and those from thought leaders around the world, he shares fascinating insights into the challenges that an automated work environment will pose for organizations in the future and explains how leaders can be preemptive by adopting new technologies in ways that leverage the strengths of both AI and humans.
The Ethical AI Paradox: Only Humans Can Ensure Algorithmic Decisions Are Ethical
Fears around robots and machines taking our jobs are real, as are ethical concerns about devices, computers and social media algorithms governing our decisions and invading our privacy. What does this mean for the role of humans in a world increasingly dominated by AI? The idea that we can teach AI to make ethical, unbiased algorithmic decisions is misleading, says renowned behavioral scientist, digital transformation strategist and technology futurist David De Cremer. Drawing from his June 2021 research paper, The Ethical AI Paradox, De Cremer explains why better technology requires more – not less – human input. He emphasizes the importance of training managers to recognize human biases embedded in machine decisions so the results can be used as a learning tool. Such protocols allow organizations to recognize their own blind spots and biases so they can course correct, while also enhancing their ability to develop and use technologies responsibly.
Finding Your “Real” Leadership
In these volatile and uncertain times, leaders are confronted more than ever with the task of creating meaningful and supportive work environments. What does this mean for leaders when it comes to motivating, inspiring and empowering their people, and how do they navigate and balance their own concerns and needs with those of their teams? To deal with these challenges effectively, leaders need a strong backbone that is based on a clear set of values derived from a strong sense of self-awareness regarding their own leadership identity. Based on his own research and a series of exercises that David De Cremer designed and tested across several cultures and continents, he helps participants identify what it takes to be an effective purpose-driven leader, emphasizing the importance of taking better care of oneself along the journey.
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Dr. David De Cremer Speaker Testimonials
David De Cremer, one of the top gurus in corporate culture, provides unique insight in ‘Leadership by Algorithm’ as to what leadership means in the AI age. Ignore at your peril!
- Alexandros Papaspyridis, Director of Higher Education | Microsoft Asia Pacific Japan
Prof. David De Cremer has provided in-house training and education seminars for the executive committee of Exmar Shipmanagement NV since 2013. He was instrumental in developing the necessary strategic tools to grow in our position as a market leader in offering complex but elegant logistic solutions to the oil and gas industry. Apart from being a well-published and astute academic he’s also a fun person to be with. His thought-provoking insights are a must-have for every company involved in value-based entrepreneurship.
- Capt. Marc Nuytemans, FNI – CEO, Member of the Executive Committee of EXMAR NV | Exmar Shipmanagement NV (EXM:BRU)
David De Cremer sees through the hype surrounding AI and absolutely nails the key drivers behind AI failures, walking leaders through what they need to do to achieve AI’s promise for their organizations. This is an essential read for business leaders who want to thrive in the AI economy. He shows us how we need human leadership more than ever!”
- Linda Avery, Former CDAO Verizon | Federal Reserve Bank of New York
