Dr. David De Cremer Speaker Biography
Renowned Leadership Advisor, Digital Transformation Strategist and AI Expert
Dr. David De Cremer is a renowned scholar with considerable global leadership experience, keynote speaker, a futurist, and a published author. Today, his mission is to educate future business leaders and inform organizations about why AI is the next great leadership challenge and how to work with that reality, so you can lead your organization into the future by turning emerging technologies into real “holistic” value creators. To this purpose, he founded and directed “The Center on AI Technology for Humankind (AiTH) in Singapore, is an advisory board member for EY’s global AI projects, sits in the board of directors of tech start-ups, and is building the “AI-savvy Leader Experience” (ALE) Academy.
Academics
David held prestigious academic at leading institutions such as Cambridge University (UK; KPMG chaired professor in management), National University of Singapore (Singapore, Provost chaired professor in management), China Europe International Business School (China, CEIBS), and was a visiting teaching and research professor at London Business School (UK), Harvard University (US) and New York University (US). Currently the is the Dunton Family Dean of D’Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University (US) where he is also a professor in management and technology, and an affiliate researcher at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at the Center of Collective Intelligence
Awards and Honors
His scholarly work has received several Early- and Mid-Creer Awards, celebrating his academic achievements in the fields of psychology, management and organization. His research work has revealed significant impact within society and the corporate world, which led him to be named one of the World’s top 30 management gurus and speakers by the organization GlobalGurus, one of the “Thinkers50” list of 30 next generation business thinkers”, a nominee for the Distinguished Award in Digital Thinking by Thinkers50 (a bi-annual competition that the Financial Times deemed the “Oscars of Management Thinking”). In addition, he has been included in the World Top 2% of scientists since this ranking was published for the first time in 2020, was named the best behavioral economics researcher in the Netherlands (2009) and ranked as the best psychologist researcher in Singapore (2023).
Books
He has published several popular books, with his last two books being best-sellers. His 2020 book Leadership by algorithm: Who leads and who follows in the AI era?, topped the charts of the kindle version at amazon.com, was named as one of the books to read in April-June 2020 by the Financial Times and identified as one of the 15 leadership books to read in Summer 2020 by Wharton. His newest book The AI-savvy leader: 9 ways to take back control and make AI work is published by Harvard Business Review Press, was a #1 new release on Amazon.com, named book of the month June by the Financial Times and selected as a must-read book by the Next Big Idea Club and Adam Grant.
Media and Publications
David’s work has been discussed in international media including the Scientific American, Bloomberg News, The Economist, Forbes, Financial Times, Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, South China Morning Post, The Straits Times, The Business Times and many more. He is a sought after keynote speaker and consultant who has worked with a broad range of organizations across the globe, including Novartis, Barclays, AB Inbev, HSBC, Bank of Singapore, OCBC, DBS Bank, Apple, KPMG, Ericsson, US Treasury Department, Vodafone, Nestle, PwC, EY, Citigroup, Mizuho, IBM, Standard Chartered Bank, Rabobank, ING, Bayer, Cisco, and Astrazeneca.
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.
Dr. David De Cremer Books
Leadership by Algorithm: Who Leads and Who Follows in the AI Era?
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The AI-Savvy Leader: Nine Ways to Take Back Control and Make AI Work
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Dr. David De Cremer Articles
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
