Roger Spitz Profile Picture

Keynote SpeakerRoger Spitz

World-leading authority on strategic foresight, sustainable futures, and transformative change

Roger Spitz is a world-renowned authority on disruption, sustainability, and technology. He is the founder of two institutions that advise leaders on decision-making, agility, and driving change in complex, uncertain environments: the Disruptive Futures Institute and the Techistential Center for Human & Artificial Intelligence. As Global Head of Technology M&A... Read more

Biography

Roger Spitz is a world-renowned authority on disruption, sustainability, and technology. He is the founder of two institutions that advise leaders on decision-making, agility, and driving change in complex, uncertain environments: the Disruptive Futures Institute and the Techistential Center for Human & Artificial Intelligence.

As Global Head of Technology M&A at BNP Paribas in London, Paris, and San Francisco, Roger advised on more than 50 transactions with a combined value exceeding $25 billion. He serves as an expert advisor to the World Economic Forum’s Global Foresight Network and is the author of five bestselling books, including Disrupt With Impact: Achieve Business Success in an Unpredictable World.

Named by CNN as the world’s leading futurist on systemic disruption, Roger Spitz advises CEOs and boards on navigating the choppy waters of what he has termed “metaruptions” – the converging forces of climate change, artificial intelligence, geopolitical and societal shifts, and the breakdown of the information ecosystem. “There is no data on the future,” Roger warns; instead, strategic foresight provides clarity and resilience in driving change while safeguarding longevity and relevance. Roger developed the globally adopted AAA framework (Antifragile, Anticipatory, Agility) as a way of rewiring the mindset of business leaders in deep uncertainty. He shares this operating system as a compass for unpredictability, equipping leaders with tools for effective decision-making in the age of AI.

While AI may excel in stable, knowable environments, ceding decisions to machines can be dangerous in complex and uncertain systems. Roger Spitz sees this as a profound paradigm shift in which human and artificial intelligence are increasingly intertwined. For business and society alike, the challenge is to radically rethink education, risk, and anticipatory leadership. Roger believes that our most powerful asset in this intelligence shift is an informed worldview.

Roger Spitz has delivered over 500 keynotes in more than 40 countries, addressing global audiences on how to decode risk and uncertainty and understand the emerging forces reshaping our world. His insights blend rigorous analysis with practical application across topics including AI, geoeconomics, the new space economy, synthetic biology, restoring trust, and algorithmic learning.

Roger has addressed AXA, KPMG, Capgemini, EY, IBM, AmCham, and The Aerospace Corp amongst others. He is a Climatebase Fellow, board member of Lux Carbon Standard, and founder of the DFI Nature and Climate Academy, which provides executive education in climate foresight and the energy transition.

Born in South Africa, Roger has lived and worked in six countries across three continents and is fluent in English and French. He is also a venture capital partner at Berkeley SkyDeck and Vektor Partners, an AI columnist with MIT Technology Review, a Top Voice recipient, and one of the Top Ten speakers in Management Leadership (Thinkers360).

“Masterfully equips decision-makers for the steep slopes, crevasses and hazards of the world’s fast-changing environments.” Benedikt Böhm, Oberalp Executive Board, Dynafit CEO & Extreme Ski Mountaineer
“A roadmap to visionary leadership.” Michael J. Keegan, IBM Center for The Business of Government, Leadership Fellow
“Roger brought groundbreaking insights on how leaders can navigate our unpredictable world by embracing disruption, rather than fearing it.” Fabiana Calvinisti, Volcano Innovation Summit, Director of Operations and Speaker Manager
“Roger is always incredibly enlightening, contributing deep insights on the future of boards and anticipatory governance.” Valeria Café, Instituto Brasileiro de Governança Corporativa (IBGC), CEO
“His frameworks for analyzing innovation are extremely helpful, extremely valuable.” Alan Riddell, KPMG, Partner & Head of Deal Advisory
“We just received Roger Spitz, a world-leading authority in foresight… It is great to count on Roger to help us build our foresight capabilities.” Olivier Desbiey, AXA, Head of Foresight
“Undoubtedly the most innovative and thought-provoking speeches I have ever heard.” Arno Krug, Maple Bear Global Schools CEO & Grupo SEB MD
“Roger’s deep insights are very impactful, combining unique perspectives with deep knowledge of AI.” Abhivardhan, Indian Society of Artificial Intelligence and Law, Chair
“Roger is an invaluable source of wisdom for SkyDeck’s startup founders, translating complex ideas into clear, tangible strategies.” Sibyl Chen, UC Berkeley SkyDeck, General Manager
“Roger’s talk was nothing short of exceptional. His ability to distill complex concepts into actionable steps is truly commendable.” Gabriel Levesque-Tremblay, Orbillion, Founder & Board Member
“Roger provides crucial insights that are a perfect guide for today’s leaders and boardrooms.” CEO, Institute of Directors India
“Always the most original keynotes: inspiring, provocative, and very entertaining... Participants walk away with actionable antifragile strategies.” COO, StartSe

Popular Talks by Roger Spitz

  • The Mindset Shift: Anticipating Unpredictable Futures

    Change is slow – until it isn’t. Systemic shocks – from climate change to geopolitics and technology – can reshape the global economy overnight. Learn how to ditch the outdated playbook and scan the horizon for warning signs. This keynote challenges leaders to rethink how they approach change and shape...

  • The Intelligence Shift: The Future of AI & Decision-Making

    Decision-making, long the hallmark of human intelligence, is no longer our exclusive domain. As AI redefines fields once considered uniquely human, we risk losing our agency if we delegate too much to algorithms. In this hybrid future, how can human judgment retain its edge over technology? The answer lies in...

  • The Leadership Shift: Sustainable Value Creation

    Roger Spitz unpacks his AAA framework – Antifragile, Anticipatory, Agility – to create resilient, future-ready strategies. As systemic disruptions redistribute trillions of dollars in global value, forget prediction. Through anticipatory leadership, preparation is the key to avoid irrelevance and unlock hidden value.