One of the world’s foremost experts on strategy and innovation, Rita McGrath is consistently ranked among the Thinkers50 top 10 management thinkers. A trusted advisor to leading global companies, she helps organisations anticipate strategic inflection points, reinvent themselves and “see around corners” in times of disruption.... Read more
Rita McGrath with Rory Sutherland on why big companies kill their best ideas
Navigating Continuous Transformation in Organizations with Rita McGrath | The Octopus Organization™
48th IC | RITA MCGRATH – Professor at Columbia Business School
In a dematerializing economy, one of the most critical leadership tasks is to select and maintain a center for your organization. That’s a coherent organizing principle that provides clarity, guides resource allocation and enables fast permissionless action.
Beyond the headlines about generative AI, Rita examines how AI is transforming business models, competitive advantage, workforce productivity, and decision-making. She explains why some organizations are creating lasting value while others risk falling behind despite significant investment.
In an economy defined by rapid technological change, geopolitical uncertainty, and shifting consumer expectations, traditional sources of competitive advantage are disappearing. Rita explains why organizations must continuously reinvent themselves and how leading companies stay ahead through strategic renewal.
From tariffs and supply chain disruption to inflation and changing global markets, businesses are navigating unprecedented uncertainty. Rita explores how resilient organizations continue to innovate, invest strategically, and uncover growth opportunities even during periods of volatility.
Today’s executives face pressure from AI, activist investors, workforce transformation, cybersecurity, and global instability. Rita discusses the strategic decisions that distinguish leaders who successfully navigate disruption from those who merely react to it.
Rita McGrath, one of the world’s top experts on strategy and innovation, is consistently ranked among the top 10 management thinkers in the world by the prestigious Thinkers50 and won their #1 award in strategy. She is a trusted partner and strategic advisor in the C-suites of many of the country’s biggest and most well-known companies, especially as they work to grow, evolve, reinvent themselves and see around corners.
Rita is considered one of the world’s foremost experts on strategic inflection points and is the author of six books on leadership, business and organizational management, including the bestselling The End of Competitive Advantage: How to Keep Your Strategy Moving as Fast as Your Business and Seeing Around Corners: How to Spot Inflection Points in Business Before They Happen. Her work on discovery-driven growth was praised by the late legendary management thinker Clayton Christensen as offering “some of the most important ideas of management and strategy that have ever been developed.” Her forthcoming book, Strategic Centering, is scheduled for publication in 2027.
Known for her energy, positivity, storytelling and ability to connect with audiences, Rita is a sought-after corporate speaker and a long-time professor at Columbia Business School, where she is Academic Director in Executive Education. She leads the popular Executive Education course Leading Strategic Growth and Change, guest-lectures in a number of other courses and is active in initiatives including the Think Bigger Innovation Hub. She also acts as faculty director for custom programmes designed specifically for individual organisations.
One of the most frequent contributors to Harvard Business Review, Rita also publishes regularly in other premier journals such as MIT Sloan Management Review. She was awarded the C. K. Prahalad Award from the Strategic Management Society for scholarly impact on practice and has received numerous other awards for her work and impact, including the Theory to Practice Award from the Vienna Strategy Forum, the Best Paper Award from the Academy of Management Review and multiple best book awards.
Rita hosts the popular Thought Sparks podcast and newsletter, where she regularly sits down for in-depth conversations with leading authors and business leaders. She also shares her insights across social media and hosts Fireside Chats with leaders on YouTube and LinkedIn Live.
A graduate of Barnard College (B.A.), the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania (PhD) and Columbia’s School of International and Public Affairs (M.P.A.), Rita is also co-leader of the Silicon Guild, a group of thought leaders and bestselling authors who write about trends in business, society and culture.
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You can book Rita McGrath through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Rita's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Rita McGrath's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Rita tailored to your event.
Rita McGrath speaks on Business & Management, Digital Trends, Facilitators & Moderators, Future, Global Trends. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Rita to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Rita McGrath for events worldwide, subject to Rita's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Rita McGrath is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Rita can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Rita McGrath on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Rita can offer.
Rita McGrath delivers keynotes in English. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Rita McGrath's areas of expertise include Business & Management, Digital Trends, Facilitators & Moderators, Future, Global Trends. To get a clear sense of Rita's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Rita McGrath can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Business & Management, Digital Trends, Facilitators & Moderators, Future, Global Trends is relevant. Details of Rita's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Rita McGrath is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Rita McGrath, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Rita's current availability for your dates.