Chris Heemskerk Profile Picture

Keynote SpeakerChris Heemskerk

Innovation Management Expert, Ex-Apple & Google Innovation Labs USA

Drawing from over a decade of experience at leading technology firms, including Google and Apple, Chris Heemskerk showcases his vision on corporate innovation by heading The Innovation Alliance, a global network of tech executives and innovation leaders. As former Head of Scaled Acquisitions for Google in North America, Chris transformed... Read more

Biography

Drawing from over a decade of experience at leading technology firms, including Google and Apple, Chris Heemskerk showcases his vision on corporate innovation by heading The Innovation Alliance, a global network of tech executives and innovation leaders.

As former Head of Scaled Acquisitions for Google in North America, Chris transformed his business operation into a global center for innovation and operational excellence.

Hence, he was asked to serve as an advisor to Google’s Innovation Lab and established a partnership with Harvard Business School to document the lab’s endeavors in two HBS Case Studies, in which he features.

In pursuit of providing organizations the necessary resources to innovate consistently, he authored The Innovation Scorecard™, a comprehensive framework that enables firms to maximize their innovation capabilities and discover new growth opportunities.

He has been a sought-after innovation speaker and workshop facilitator both internally at Google and externally, including features at The United Nations in Rome and the Arizona Technology Council’s CEO Summit of 2023.

Chris’s educational journey is rooted in his passion for lifelong learning. He is a faculty member of The European Institute of Innovation for Sustainability (eiis.eu), and holds Executive Certifications in Innovation Leadership from Harvard Business School (HBS), and acquired sponsorship to attend the HBS High Potential Leadership Program of 2019. He’s certified in Design Thinking at Stanford University, and holds an MSc in Marketing from the London School of Business and Finance.

He alternates between Europe and The United States together with his wife and two-year-old son.

"Chris's session on building a culture of innovation was phenomenal. His wealth of experience and actionable insights deeply resonated with our Google team, leaving them energized and equipped to drive innovation in their daily work. Thank you Chris!" Octavio Buzo, International Growth Manager for Latin America at Google
"Chris is a great speaker on the topic of innovation. "He's able to both motivate diverse senior leaders and effectively convey a powerful, contextual message. I find him an amazing professional." Borislav Tadic, CPO & Member Of The Executive Board, 1&1 Versatel
"Your keynote was well received by all, and especially by our president. It elevated our event and perfectly fit in the innovation focused program. We truly appreciate you being part of this important R&D gathering." Milan Ivosevic, VP of Global R&D, CooperSurgical
"What an inspiring and insightful Masterclass! We have received great feedback from our audience. People want to learn more about the applications of the Innovation Scorecard to sustainable development, so we hope to have you back at The United Nations in Rome very soon!" Gladys Morales Senior Officer, Global Head of Innovation at United Nations - IFAD
"Chris has a keen ability to translate proven innovation strategies to any organization. He is an agile thinker and incredibly easy to work with. His passion and years of experience shine through all of his interactions. The Innovation Experience was invigorating, insightful, fun and useful. Thank you, Chris, for opening my mind" Odette W. Bakker, Honorary Consul of the Netherlands, Arizona

Popular Talks by Chris Heemskerk

  • Building a World-Class Innovation Culture

    In this keynote, audiences will gain insights into the art and science of innovation as practiced by the world’s leading organizations. We’ll explore what sets these innovation leaders apart and examine the lessons we can apply to our own organizations.
    The session will provide practical, actionable steps for embedding...

  • Building an AI-First Company

    This keynote introduces the foundational concepts of artificial intelligence (AI) and demonstrates how to leverage AI for transformational impact.
    – Understanding AI: Gain a clear understanding of AI fundamentals and explore real-world applications and use cases relevant to your organization.
    – Why AI Matters: Examine why AI is...

  • Innovation for CEOs

    This masterclass is designed for The C-suite and Senior Executives who want to embed innovation into their organization’s core strategy. Using The Innovation Engine framework and the proprietary Innovation Scorecard™, this session provides practical tools, real-world case studies, and a strategic roadmap to drive measurable innovation at scale.
    This...