Martin Gutmann is a speaker, author and scholar interested in how the past can illuminate today's most pressing leadership challenges. He is a professor at the Lucerne School of Business, a lecturer at ETH Zurich, and the best-selling author of The Unseen Leader: How History Can Help Us Rethink Leadership.
Born in Sweden, Martin has also lived and worked in Japan, the US, Canada, Mauritius, Germany, and Switzerland. From 2016 to 2020, he was the founding Managing Director of the Swiss School of Public Governance, where he launched a programme for future global public sector leaders.
His writing and thought leadership pieces have reached over 60 million people through pieces in top business magazines, such as Forbes, Big Think, Fast Company, and Minute Hack, and appearances on well-known management podcasts, such as Phronesis, The Leadership Podcast, and We Are Human Leaders.
Martin delivers story-driven talks centred on vibrant cases and historical anecdotes, anchored in evidence from modern organisational psychology and management science presented memorably with actionable takeaways on leadership and management. His recent TED Talk, “Are We Celebrating the Wrong Leaders?” has had over 1 million views.
As a management thinker and writer, he is best known for his book The Unseen Leader: How History Can Help Us Rethink Leadership, which challenges the "Action Fallacy", our mistaken belief that great leadership requires a propensity for action. Adam Grant, organisational psychologist and thought leader, says: “A provocative look at what history really teaches us about effective leadership. This book will challenge you to rethink some of your core assumptions about what it takes to align people around common goals.”
Martin holds a Ph.D. in history from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, an Executive MBA from IE Business School in Spain, and higher education teacher’s training from Harvard University and ETH Zurich.
Historian Martin Gutmann urges us to reconsider our definition of effective leadership, highlighting that true greatness lies in preventing crises rather than responding dramatically to them. Drawing lessons from the disaster-prone explorer Ernest Shackleton, Martin challenges conventional views and offers a fresh perspective on what makes a leader truly exceptional. Attendees will learn to appreciate the often-overlooked skill of crisis prevention in leadership.
Martin Gutmann explores the 1927 race to fly across the Atlantic and Charles Lindbergh’s successful flight, highlighting Lindbergh’s lack of a fuel gauge and forward windshield. He parallels this historic event and today’s leadership challenges, defined by VUCA, BANI, and Poly-crisis. Gutmann introduces three enduring leadership principles: subtract rather than add, use a compass, not a map, and focus on how new technologies interact. Attendees will learn timeless strategies for navigating crisis and uncertainty.
Martin Gutmann explores why history is valuable for leadership insights, highlighting better sources, a neutral perspective, evident long-term outcomes, and a broad range of challenges. He introduces leaders from varied times and places: Toussaint Louverture, Roald Amundsen, Gertrude Bell, and Winston Churchill. Gutmann identifies three universal leadership traits: fluency in context, a balance of humility and confidence, and a pragmatic, iterative approach. Attendees will learn to cultivate these essential traits in their leadership.
In his talk, Martin draws on examples from outstanding sports teams and successful businesses, alongside cutting-edge research, to illustrate that fostering happy and healthy teams is essential for sustained productivity. He presents a compelling argument and provides practical strategies for achieving this goal. Attendees will learn to cultivate a positive team environment that enhances well-being and performance.
In his talk, Martin explores the parallels between historical and technological disruptions and the rise of Artificial Intelligence. He presents three unexpected predictions regarding AI's impact on business and society, offering insights into how leaders can effectively prepare for these changes. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of AI's implications and actionable strategies for navigating the evolving landscape of organisational leadership in this new era.
