Edgar Perez Speaker Biography

Best‑Selling Author & Leading Futurist on AI, Quantum Computing, and the Future of Global Business

Edgar Perez is a globally recognized business futurist, keynote speaker, and author whose insights help organizations navigate the intersection of leadership, strategy, and emerging technologies. Renowned for his dynamic presentations and clear, actionable guidance, he inspires executives worldwide to leverage artificial intelligence, deep learning, quantum computing, cybersecurity, and advanced financial technologies to drive innovation, growth, and competitive advantage. As a consultant for hedge funds, private equity firms, and multinational corporations, Mr. Perez advises on strategy, technology adoption, and risk management. He also serves as a Council Member at Gerson Lehrman Group, Guidepoint Global Advisors, and Internal Consulting Group.

Books

Mr. Perez is the author of several acclaimed works:

The AI Breakthrough: How Artificial Intelligence is Advancing Deep Learning and Revolutionizing Your World (2018) explores the transformative potential of AI across industries.
Knightmare on Wall Street: The Rise and Fall of Knight Capital and the Biggest Risk for Financial Markets (2013) provides an insider perspective on one of the most dramatic moments in financial history.
The Speed Traders: An Insider’s Look at the New High-Frequency Trading Phenomenon That is Transforming the Investing World (McGraw-Hill, 2010) examines the evolution of algorithmic trading and its global impact.

Keynote Speaking

Mr. Perez has delivered keynote presentations and corporate workshops to thousands of executives in cities including Beijing, Boston, Chicago, Hong Kong, Kiev, Kuala Lumpur, Lima, London, Miami, New York, Santiago, São Paulo, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Stockholm, Taipei, and Warsaw. His topics focus on artificial intelligence, quantum computing, deep learning, cybersecurity, financial markets, and the future of global business. He also contributes thought leadership to The New York Times and China’s Sina Finance.

Media Presence

A frequent media contributor, Mr. Perez has been interviewed on CNN’s Quest Means Business, CNBC’s Squawk on the Street, Worldwide Exchange, Cash Flow, Street Signs, and Squawk Box, FOX Business’ Countdown to the Closing Bell, Bloomberg TV’s Market Makers, CNN en Español’s Dinero, and numerous other international outlets. He has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Caijing, Xinhua, The Korea Times, Business Times, and leading financial media worldwide.

Affiliations and Speaking Engagements

Mr. Perez has presented at elite institutions and conferences, including the Council on Foreign Relations, Harvard Business School, MIT Sloan Investment Management Conference, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, CFA Singapore, Hong Kong Securities Institute, Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences at NYU, and Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University. He has also addressed leading global conferences such as Cyber Security World Conference (New York), Inside Market Data (Chicago), Emerging Markets Investments Summit (Warsaw), CME Group Global Financial Leadership Conference (Naples, FL), TradeTech Asia (Singapore), and FIXGlobal Face2Face (Seoul).

Career and Education

Mr. Perez has held senior roles at Citigroup (Vice President), IBM (Senior Consultant), and McKinsey & Company (Strategy Consultant). He also managed Operations and Technology for Peruval Finance. He holds a Bachelor’s in Systems Engineering from Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería, Lima, Peru (1994), a Master of Administration from Universidad ESAN, Lima, Peru (1997), and an MBA in Finance and Management from Columbia Business School, New York (2002). He is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society.

Beyond his professional achievements, Mr. Perez is an accomplished salsa and hustle dancer and lives in the New York City area with his wife Olga and their three children: Edgar Felipe, Svetlana Sofia, and Mary Olympia.

Edgar Perez Speaking Topics

Adaptability as a Survival Skill in the AI Era

In a world where AI is rewriting the rules of business, survival depends on one trait above all: adaptability. Edgar takes audiences on a compelling journey from his bold personal choice to move his family from New York to Beijing, to the lessons learned from guiding global leaders through digital transformation. He shows how embracing uncertainty unlocks growth, how cultural intelligence sharpens leadership, and how AI can become a partner for innovation rather than a threat. Participants will leave with practical frameworks to cultivate resilience, inspire agile teams, and lead confidently into the unknown. empowered to not just endure disruption, but to thrive because of it.

The Next Decade of Technology

From Generative AI and Quantum Computing to 5G and the Metaverse, the next decade will see a rapid acceleration of technological progress that will shape our lives in countless ways. Edgar will provide a visionary overview of the most important technological trends that are likely to dominate the next decade. Drawing on insights from his extensive experience as a thought leader in the tech industry, he will discuss the key technologies that will drive innovation and growth, and explore their potential impact on society and business. By the end of the speech, attendees will have a clear understanding of the major technological trends that are likely to define the next decade, and will be inspired to think creatively about the possibilities and implications of these trends for their own organizations and lives.

Money Matters: Blockchain, Cryptocurrency, and CBDCs and Their Impact on the Global Economy

Blockchain technology has been hailed as a revolutionary force that will transform the global financial system. It enables secure, transparent, and decentralized transactions without the need for intermediaries. Blockchain technology has also given rise to cryptocurrencies, which have attracted millions of investors and enthusiasts who see them as the future of money. However, blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies also pose significant challenges and threats, such as privacy, security, regulation, and volatility. In response, central banks and policymakers around the world are exploring ways to introduce Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs), which are the digital form of fiat money issued by central banks. In this keynote, Edgar will share his insights and recommendations on how to prepare for and embrace the emerging world of blockchain, cryptocurrencies, and CBDCs.

The Ultimate Business Disruptor: Quantum Computing

Classical computing was invented in the 1940s; the advent of Quantum Computing will make these computers look painfully slow. Calculations that would take longer than a human’s life span to work out on a classic computer can be completed in a matter of hours or minutes with Quantum Computing. Furthermore, it will enable solving a set of problems that couldn’t be solved before. Quantum Computing’s benefits include efficiently simulating new drug molecules and dramatically reducing the time complex financial calculations take, among many others. For optimization, sampling or search problems, this promises dramatic speedups. Edgar will reveal why Quantum Computing will disrupt companies in every industry.

Social Engineering: The “Weakest Human Link” in Cybersecurity

Social engineering involves tricking your employees into breaching security protocols or giving away information. Social engineering exploits human weaknesses rather than technology, preying upon people’s propensity towards trust. Often, these attacks are used to gather information to support a more targeted cyberattack, with the initial forays based on the premise of ‘little and often’ so as not to cause concern. Employees at all levels, including senior executives, are vulnerable. Edgar will explain why by improving employee awareness and introducing simple technical measures, organizations can improve their protection against social engineering techniques and the risk of a cyberattack.

Future-Ready Culture: How to Build Organizational Adaptability

True resilience in the AI era isn’t built on technology alone; it’s embedded in culture. In this powerful keynote, Edgar takes audiences behind the scenes of organizations that collapsed because they clung to old ways, contrasted with those that thrived by reinventing their DNA. With compelling stories and actionable insights, Edgar demonstrates how psychological safety, continuous learning, and decentralized decision-making empower companies to adapt faster than disruption can strike. Attendees gain a proven blueprint for embedding adaptability into every layer of their organizations, transforming uncertainty into opportunity and disruption into a launchpad for long-term innovation and success.

Edgar Perez Books

Knightmare on Wall Street: The Rise and Fall of Knight Capital and the Biggest Risk for Financial Markets

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The Speed Traders: An Insider’s Look at the New High-Frequency Trading Phenomenon That is Transforming the Investing World

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Edgar Perez Videos

Edgar Perez Articles

Edgar Perez Speaker Testimonials

“Thank you very much for your participation in Berlin at the European Institute CEO Roundtable. Your presentation was fascinating, a really informative session. The delegates seemed to hang off your every word! We greatly appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to join us for the event and look forward to working with you again in the near future.”

- Karen Litchfield, Director | European Institute & Global Fixed Income Institute

I would like to show my appreciation on your willingness to share your insights about cybersecurity. We would certainly have you in mind as we move forward to deal with this very important issue."

- Nik Hasyudeen, former President | Malaysian Institute of Accountants

"We were much honored to host you at our annual conference held at our Washington DC headquarters. The Market Abuse Unit investigates large-scale market abuses and complex manipulation schemes by institutional traders, market professionals and others. As such, we were focused on the discussion of these topics in your book The Speed Traders, copies of which we purchased for each of our unit supervisors. We really appreciated your first-hand impressions of the current trading world as well as your thoughts on how trading practices will evolve in the future."

- David Hawke, Chief, Market Abuse Unit | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (United States)

“Edgar can deliver insightful and compelling presentations to audiences at the highest levels. Thanks to his international entrepreneurial and consulting experience, Edgar can persuasively highlight current developments and critical trends on a variety of business and technology topics, from Artificial Intelligence to Quantum Computing, and from Cybersecurity to Fintech. His programs are undoubtedly lively and unquestionably inspiring. His unique insights, built over decades of rich industry experience, capture the undivided attention of CEOs and top executives.”

- Maggie Shen, Senior Manager, Elite Master of Finance | Fanhai International School of Finance, Fudan University (China)