Rita McGrath
Transform strategic innovation with Rita McGrath, speaker and strategy expert. Rita works with organizations to navigate inflection points and build sustainable innovation capabilities, ranking consistently among Thinkers 50's top 10 management thinkers globally.
New York, United States
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As well as being a professor and Academic Director in Executive Education at Columbia Business School, Rita is the founder of the Rita McGrath Group and innovation platform Valize, translating cutting-edge research into actionable business insights.
Rita ranks consistently among Thinkers 50's top 10 management thinkers globally, earning their #1 award for strategy. Author of five acclaimed books including "Seeing Around Corners," her work on discovery-driven growth was praised by Clayton Christensen as offering "some of the most important tools of management and strategy ever developed."
Organizations facing disruption and uncertainty turn to Rita for practical frameworks that drive results. Her expertise helps leadership teams identify strategic inflection points before they become obvious, transform innovation from theater into capability, and develop the agility needed in today's volatile business environment. Rita's C-suite advisory work spans industries, bringing proven methodologies for sustainable growth.
Audiences leave Rita's presentations with concrete tools for spotting market shifts early, frameworks for building innovation proficiency beyond surface-level efforts, and actionable approaches to strategic growth amid uncertainty. Her engaging, customized delivery combines academic rigor with real-world applications.
Book Rita McGrath to equip your organization with the strategic foresight and innovation capabilities essential for thriving in an increasingly unpredictable business landscape.
Topics, Sessions And Talks
Rita McGrath discusses the gradual emergence of significant business shifts and how leaders can identify early signs of change before they become apparent. By focusing on proactive strategies, she helps organizations prepare for disruption rather than react to it. With her clear and engaging approach, McGrath provides practical tools for navigating uncertainty and making informed decisions. Attendees will learn how to anticipate change and position their organizations for competitive advantage.
Rita McGrath challenges the notion of sustainable competitive advantage, offering a new framework for navigating constant change. She critiques traditional strategies that fail in today's dynamic environment and introduces models for achieving transient advantage through continuous renewal. By blending academic insights with practical applications, McGrath equips leaders to rethink their strategic approaches. Attendees will learn how to adapt their strategies to thrive in ever-evolving markets.
Rita McGrath presents a systematic approach to planning in uncertain environments, challenging traditional forecasting methods. Drawing from principles that inspired the lean startup movement, she emphasizes structuring initiatives with limited information and prioritizing learning over prediction. This approach helps leaders minimize risk while fostering innovation, making it particularly valuable for organizations in volatile or rapidly changing markets. Attendees will learn how to effectively navigate uncertainty and enhance their strategic planning processes.
Rita McGrath emphasizes the importance of insights often overlooked in large organizations, urging leaders to focus on peripheral activities. She presents eight thought-provoking questions designed to reveal hidden risks and opportunities that may escape top executives. Through her unique combination of storytelling and analysis, Rita guides organizations in developing systems that identify critical signals early. Attendees will learn how to enhance their strategic awareness and make informed decisions that drive success.
Rita McGrath emphasizes that innovation can become a consistent and reliable process when the appropriate tools are utilized. She highlights the importance of implementing effective strategies to foster creativity and drive results. Attendees will learn how to identify and leverage the right tools to enhance their innovation processes, ensuring they can replicate success and adapt to changing market demands.
Looking for a custom keynote or workshop designed around your company’s goals and culture? The expert will create a tailored, interactive session that aligns with your objectives, values, and strategic priorities. From leadership and innovation to wellbeing and collaboration, each experience is built from the ground up to deliver measurable impact and lasting change.
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Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. We work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.
We do not accommodate requests for birthday messages or any other personal, non-commercial contact with the speakers, comedians or entertainers.
We work with speakers across a variety of fee ranges, giving you the flexibility to choose someone who fits your event's needs. Virtual keynote fees in the UK and Europe typically start at £2,000, while in-person top-tier speakers can reach £25,000. In the US, virtual in-person fees range from $5,000 to over $100,000, depending on the speaker and format, such as after-dinner talks, conference keynotes, Q&As, or podcasts. Comedians generally start at £1,500 or $2,000 for a 20-minute set.
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Partnering with PepTalk means elevating your events with our curated roster of top motivational speakers, industry experts, delivering punchy keynotes that leave a lasting impact. From talent selection, to contracts and logistics, we handle it all. We have global expert network, with over 3000 speakers from over 33 countries on our line-up.
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