Joachim De Vos

Why Innovation Fails & the 7 Keys to Success

Will change happen to you, or will it be led by you? That is the question.

Joachim De Vos’ keynote delivers a dynamic exploration of why innovation efforts often fail, drawing on my extensive business experience and the insights from my bestselling strategy and management book, Why Innovation Fails. Unlike presentations that rely solely on theoretical models, this keynote is grounded in practical, real-world experience and academic research, all translated into actionable insights. Joachim begin with a thought-provoking statement about our daily work activities and how they influence future success or failure, immediately capturing the audience’s attention. The keynote is structured around three core topics: Why Innovate?, What Is Innovation?, and Why Do We Succeed or Fail?

As Joachim guide the audience through the “7 Keys to Future Success,” they embark on an exciting journey to 2040 and back, learning how to prepare for uncertainty, build robust innovation structures, and determine whether they will drive change or simply react to it. The full version of this keynote includes an in-depth analysis of the misunderstood Kodak case, revealing that their downfall was not merely a technological issue but was deeply rooted in organizational dynamics. Joachim also draw parallels with current challenges faced by medium-sized and large corporations, making the lessons highly relevant for today’s business environment.

Audience Takeaways:

• Your audience will leave feeling highly energized and inspired about the future, with a renewed sense of urgency.
• The keynote offers a wealth of practical insights that will reignite your team’s passion for revisiting and refining your organization’s future strategies.
• Gain clear insights into the reasons for, methods of, and opportunities for innovation.
• Understand the key barriers to successful innovation within organizations and learn how to overcome them.
• Discover why many companies invest heavily in innovation but often struggle to achieve satisfactory returns.
• Acquire practical strategies for creating a future-ready organization that not only adapts to change but actively leads it.

Scenario Planning for Leaders: Preparing Your Company for Future Change

In today’s rapidly evolving world, where unpredictability is the new norm, the ability to anticipate and prepare for future change is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity.

This keynote dives deep into scenario planning, a cutting-edge tool that empowers leaders to navigate uncertainty and actively shape their company’s future. Imagine stepping into a day in your life in 2040, where the three key technological laws that have transformed our world continue to drive tomorrow’s innovations. This immersive experience sets the stage for a powerful exploration of how scenario planning can keep your organization ahead of the curve.

We begin by igniting a strong sense of urgency, illustrating the accelerating pace of change driven by technology and the unexpected twists that could redefine your industry. Joachim will challenge the status quo, demonstrating why traditional planning methods, still relied upon by many business leaders, often fall short in this fast-paced environment. We then delve into the core principles of scenario planning, revealing how you can leverage this approach to identify potential risks and opportunities.

Through compelling real-world examples and interactive exercises, you’ll learn how to craft multiple plausible future scenarios and strategically use them to make informed decisions that drive your organization forward. By the end of this keynote, you will be equipped with next-generation tools and insights to prepare your company for a wide range of possible futures, ensuring resilience and adaptability in the face of change.

For those seeking an even deeper dive, the extended version of this keynote showcases how generative AI is revolutionizing scenario planning, enabling the creation of dynamic early warning systems that help your organization stay relevant and capitalize on opportunities in the turbulent decade ahead.

Audience Takeaways:

• Master the fundamentals of scenario planning and understand how it outperforms traditional strategic planning methods in today’s dynamic environment.
• Gain practical tools for developing multiple future scenarios that proactively address potential risks and seize emerging opportunities.
• Explore how AI is transforming the way we create and work with scenarios, offering a new edge in strategic foresight.
• Learn how to leverage scenario planning to make informed strategic decisions and enhance your organization’s resilience.
• Discover real-world examples of organizations that have successfully navigated uncertainty through scenario planning.
• Leave with a clear, actionable roadmap for implementing scenario planning in your organization to prepare for future change.

A Journey to the Future: Welcome to 2035!

Embark on an exhilarating journey to the year 2035, where the future of business and technology unfolds before your eyes.

This keynote begins by unveiling the foundational technology laws that will shape our world in the coming decades, setting the stage for a vivid, immersive experience—a day in the life of 2035. As we step into the future, you’ll gain unique insights into the emerging needs, scenarios, and uncertainties that will define this new era.

But the journey doesn’t stop there. We will delve into how future ideas can often be misleading if not approached correctly. To illustrate this, we will engage the entire audience in an interactive future scenario exercise, designed to be both eye-opening and transformative. This exercise will reveal common pitfalls and demonstrate the critical importance of building future strategies that are grounded in reality and forward-thinking innovation.

Finally, we will bring it all together by constructing a robust future strategy tailored to your business needs. This isn’t just another keynote—it’s the most compelling future business experience you’ll ever have, designed to leave you not only inspired but also equipped with the tools to lead your organization into 2035 and beyond.

Audience Takeaways:

• Discover the technology laws that will drive the future and understand how they will impact your industry.
• Experience a day in the life of 2035 and gain actionable insights into future needs, scenarios, and uncertainties.
• Learn how to identify and avoid misleading future ideas, ensuring your strategies are both visionary and grounded.
• Participate in an interactive future scenario exercise that will transform your approach to strategic planning.
• Walk away with a powerful, actionable future strategy tailored to help your business thrive in the coming decades.