R. David Edelman

Following a tumultuous period that changed where and how we work, the ways that we interact and care for one another, and the relationship between business and government in profound ways — nearly all of it was mediated by technology. What will the next decade look like, and how can you get ahead of the next tectonic shift? In this talk, Dr. Edelman illuminates how key technological inflections in AI, blockchain, robotics, cybersecurity, and 5G – as well as the new regulatory and geopolitical landscapes – will shape the future in ways big and small. Audiences will leave empowered to recognize and seize the changes that their businesses and careers will encounter not just during the next year but for the next ten.

The trade relationships between the United States, China, and European markets have never been more dynamic — or more fraught. How will trade disputes new and old affect the tectonic shifts in wireless connectivity, the technological supply chain, and the sharing of data that companies across the economy rely upon? In this talk, Edelman discusses the future of the Internet and all who do business on it, delving into the complex motivations of regulators in Beijing, Washington, and Brussels. From web censorship to IP protection, 5G to semiconductors, Edelman provides concrete insights on how “the new tech mercantilism” will shape tomorrow’s global economy in every sector and with ripple effects far beyond Silicon Valley.

With technology permeating every sector of the economy, our businesses, and our everyday lives, we are being asked to confront new and profound ethical questions. From ensuring data is used for and not against customers and employees, to creating cultures of compliance among not just people but the artificial intelligence systems they design, confronting these challenges is a must in navigating the 21st-century workplace. This timely discussion helps audiences understand the underlying technological trends forcing these new kinds of ethical dilemmas; provides them with the tools to manage them whether leading teams, writing code, or defining culture; and engages them with timely examples of how organizations and their executives have dealt with them — successfully and otherwise.

In an era when Fortune 100 CEOs and top politicians are finding their careers ended by cybersecurity incidents and consumer confidence relies on protecting customers’ precious data, fluency in this field is no longer optional. Gleaning insights from a decade at the forefront of cybersecurity from the Board Room to the White House Situation Room, Edelman identifies the key threats that businesses face and explains precisely what can (and can’t) be done to defend both reputation and the bottom line. Drawing from the real-life experiences of hundreds of companies who have navigated threats from competitors, criminals, and nation-states, this talk will help executives and enterprises stay ahead of the curve as cybersecurity transitions from just another cost of doing business to the cost of staying in business.

Is “cyberwar” on the horizon for the United States, Russia, or China? Can hackers 10,000 miles away really steal billion-dollar military innovations; pilfer sensitive medical records to aid their own research; turn your iPhone into a remote microphone; and even use social media to swing an election? What do these new digital threats mean for the future of American democracy and the global order? What does it mean when hackers can discredit high-ranking politicians, or cut off a state’s electricity, with seeming impunity? These questions, once hypothetical, are now at the core of great power politics and the competitiveness of the world’s largest economies. In this engagement, Edelman guides general and expert audiences alike through this period of unprecedented change, equipping them to navigate the most important overlooked area of the new economy — the intersection of innovation and geopolitics.

Artificial intelligence (AI) captures headlines nearly every day, but how well do you understand what the technology is, what opportunities it presents, and what challenges might lurk around the corner? As executives and boards increasingly demand data-driven decisions and actionable insights from the mountains of information available within every sector of the economy, Dr. Edelman helps audiences make sense of the commercial revolution in big data and AI transforming individual firms and upending entire industries. Explaining in concrete, accessible terms how data-driven insights are creating the next generation of corporate gazelles, Edelman also guides audiences through the most common, costly mistakes that might undermine how companies use data — and can cost executives their jobs. Participants will leave with a thorough, informed understanding not just of the state of artificial intelligence, but of the national and international forces that will shape minds and markets for years to come.