Speaking

Speaking topics

Moonshot Thinking: A Radical Approach to Unleashing Innovation and Creativity in Organizations

 Obi led teams at Google X that employed “moon shot thinking”- the framework that led to the creation of some of the world’s most radical breakthrough technologies such as Waymo self-driving cars. In this speech, Obi introduces the audience to the principles of moonshot thinking and gives practical tips on how to make any organization more innovative. She explains X’s process of creating and managing innovation projects where 97% don’t work and 3% that make it can change the world, and how she helped teams manage through failure to success. In this speech the audience will learn:

• How to incorporate a culture of moonshot thinking throughout the organization
• How to bring the brightest, most diverse people to the table, help them learn fast and invent the future
• How leaders play a role in overcoming resistance and skepticism from those who are comfortable with the status quo
• How challenging widespread assumptions is essential for innovation, since they often lead to breakthrough thinking. A leader just has to be brave and vulnerable enough to ask seemingly naive questions!

Daring Greatly: Failing Gracefully on The Path of Innovation and Success

Obi discusses how to deal with failure and embrace it as necessary and inevitable on the path to innovation. She shares stories and lessons from her own failures and successes at Google, and and her startup, and how they shaped her mindset and approach to leadership. In this speech the audience will learn:

• How to deal with the failures that are inevitable on the path to success, such as setting “kill criteria”, celebrating lessons learnt, and separating personal from project success
• How to lead with vulnerability and honesty when things go wrong
• How to encourage teams to work on the hardest things first

The Future is Now: Embrace AI or Be Left Behind

Obi’s journey with artificial intelligence began back in the 1990s when she studied philosophy and psychology at Oxford University, where she explored the fascinating intersection of minds and machines. She joined Google in the mid-2000s, a time of explosive growth for AI with the emergence of deep learning. She collaborated with some of the brightest minds in the field, applying AI to real-world problems like machine translation and improving search quality. At Google X, she worked on applications of AI ranging from climate change to healthcare. Her mental health startup uses AI to empower humans. 

In this speech, Obi will share how AI is becoming a powerful tool poised to revolutionize every aspect of our lives with the advent of large language models, including the way we do business and even write our holiday cards. She will start by debunking some myths about AI and addressing the elephant in the room – the fear and skepticism that often surrounds this technology. 

• Myth #1: “AI will kill us all/save us all.” (Take your pick!) The truth is, AI is a tool, and like any tool, its impact depends on the hands that wield it. As humans, we are the ones who define the goals and values that guide AI development. We can choose to create AI that serves humanity, tackles our most pressing challenges, and propels us towards a brighter future. Or, we can let fear and ignorance dictate our path, leading to scenarios depicted in dystopian science fiction. The choice is ours.
• Myth #2: “AI will kill jobs and widen the wealth inequality gap.” It’s true that AI will change the job landscape, but to say it will simply “kill jobs” is a simplistic and inaccurate view. History has shown that technological advancements often lead to the creation of new jobs, requiring different skill sets. AI will undoubtedly automate some tasks, but it will also create new opportunities in areas like data analysis, AI development, and human-machine collaboration. The key is to prepare for this shift by equipping ourselves – and our children – with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in the AI-powered future.
• Myth #3: “AI is for tech companies, not businesses like mine.” AI is no longer just for the tech giants. Today, AI solutions are available for businesses of all sizes, across all industries. From optimizing marketing campaigns to streamlining logistics to personalizing customer experiences, AI can bring immense value to any business willing to embrace it.

In the second part, Obi will help you dive into the exciting possibilities that AI holds for your business. Obi will guide you through practical steps you can take to leverage AI and gain a competitive edge:

• Identify areas where AI can add value: Look for repetitive tasks, data-driven processes, and customer interactions that can be enhanced by AI.
• Start small and experiment: Don’t try to jump into full-blown AI implementation right away. Begin with pilot projects in specific areas to test the waters and learn from the results.
• Invest in your people: Upskill your employees to understand and work effectively with AI. Remember, AI is a tool to augment human capabilities, not replace them.
• Embrace transparency and ethics: As you incorporate AI, ensure transparency in decision-making processes and address ethical concerns to build trust with your customers and employees.

The Healthcare Revolution: AI, Mental Health, and the Future of Patient Care

Imagine a healthcare system where doctors can diagnose disease with 99% accuracy. Where patients receive personalized treatment plans tailored to their unique needs. Where mental health support is readily available to everyone who needs it. This isn’t science fiction; it’s the potential of the digital health revolution, powered by advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and big data.

Obi has been at the forefront of this technological revolution with her work at Google, as a board member at healthcare companies, and now as founder of Flourish Labs, a technology-enabled mental health services startup. At Google X, Obi Felten led a team that applied machine learning to wearable and brain data to better assess anxiety and depression, working closely with teams at Google Health, DeepMind and Verily. In her board roles at Springer Nature and Marathon Health, she advises teams on AI projects. Obi’s passion for using technology to improve health led her to create Flourish Labs, a healthcare company on a mission to scale professional peer support with technology including AI to address the youth mental health crisis. 

In this speech, the audience will learn about:

• The Digital Health Revolution: Healthcare is finally catching up with other industries in embracing digital tools. The healthcare sector is on the cusp of transformative changes. AI and big data hold immense potential to improve diagnosis, treatment, and overall patient care. There are also many pitfalls in implementing AI, from privacy to fairness.
• Curbing Healthcare Costs: Soaring healthcare costs in the US are unsustainable. Obi will explore how AI can be used to streamline processes, reduce errors, and ultimately bring down costs.
• AI and the Future of Doctors: AI won’t replace doctors; it will empower them. Doctors who leverage AI tools will offer better care and stay ahead of the curve.
• The Mental Health Crisis: Millions of Americans suffer from mental health issues, yet over half of those with a diagnosis lack access to proper care. Flourish Labs, Obi’s own venture, uses AI to increase provider productivity, ensure quality, manage risk and measure outcomes.

Igniting Innovation: Disruptive Ideas, Diverse Teams, and the Power of Collaboration

Many organizations yearn for innovation, yet often struggle to truly unlock its potential. They hire diverse individuals, but fail to create the environment where they can truly thrive. Obi is a seasoned leader who has spent her career building high-performing teams in the face of uncertainty. Obi’s secret weapon? Embracing disruptive ideas and nurturing diverse talent. 

In this speech, Obi will share her lessons learnt in her career in startups and some of the most innovative companies on how to build highly effective teams that thrive in high uncertainty. Obi’s insights are not just ideas; they’re blueprints for action.

• The key: Psychological Safety. Imagine a team where ideas, no matter how bold or unconventional, are met with open arms. Where curiosity trumps judgment, and vulnerability sparks collaboration. This is the essence of psychological safety. Obi will show us how leaders can cultivate this fertile ground: how to embrace vulnerability, encourage honest dissent, and create a space where “I don’t know” is not a weakness, but an invitation to collective exploration.
• Leading with Humility: The Power of Questions. In the realm of innovation, knowledge isn’t always king. Obi will challenge the belief that the leader must be the smartest person in the room. Instead, she champions the power of humility and leading with questions. By actively seeking diverse perspectives, we unleash the collective genius of our teams. Imagine the leader, instead of holding onto the reins, acting as a catalyst, asking the crucial questions that spark discussion, ignite debate, and propel the team towards uncharted territory. This is the leadership style that fosters true innovation.
• Launch Early, Iterate Often: Learning from Failure. In innovation, the perfect truly is the enemy of the great. Why wait for the final product when you can learn from the real world, even while things are rough around the edges? Waymo is quietly winning the self-driving marathon by driving hundreds and millions of test miles. Google Glass learnt why its first iteration was an abject failure by exposing it to the world. These are examples of embracing failure as a stepping stone, and iterating our way to success.
• The Symphony of Diversity: Respectful Disagreement. Innovation isn’t born from echo chambers, or a single genius inventor. Great innovations are made by great teams. Obi celebrates the power of multi-disciplinary, multi-identity teams, where respectful disagreement fuels creative friction and sparks the most brilliant ideas. Imagine engineers, storytellers, artists, and business people colliding, each challenging the assumptions of the other. This is the magic of truly inclusive teams.

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