Location
United States
Areas of Expertise
Expert Bio Marian Cook is a visionary strategist, educator, and consultant with over 30 years of experience at the intersection of emerging technologies, digital transformation, and organizational change. She leads a global team of executive education experts at 2U, a world leader in online education, and serves as Head Program Instructor for MIT Sloan School of Management and Yale University on courses covering artificial intelligence, blockchain, digital transformation, and leadership. She is also an Adjunct Professor of digital transformation in the Executive MBA program at Illinois Institute of Technology and a management consultant to Fortune 500 companies, startups, and governments. Earlier in her career, Marian was appointed by the Governor of Illinois as Chief Strategy Officer for Innovation and Technology, where she co-led the creation of the nation's first statewide "Smart State" vision, applying Smart Cities concepts across an entire state through transformation in policy, talent, technology, and innovation ecosystem partnerships. A highly rated keynote speaker and learning facilitator, Marian is known for her expertise in exponential thinking, innovation, and leadership, helping organizations navigate the shift from a linear to an exponential world.
Sessions Introduction to Exponential Thinking
The landscape of tomorrow is unfolding right before us. Each day seems to herald a groundbreaking tech advancement, a seismic shift, or a market-shaking innovation that threatens to rewrite the rules of established industries. The rate at which technology advances is unprecedented in the annals of humanity, and given the predicted leaps in computational capabilities, it's only going to accelerate from here.
Thriving in this whirlwind of change demands a new way of thinking — a departure from the mindset that brought us to this defining juncture. We need a thought process that not only lets us conceptualize the transformative potential of emerging technologies but also equips us to maneuver through an intricately interconnected world. We'll explore the concept of an "exponential mindset:" what it is, why it is important, and how to develop it.
Organizational Transformation for the Digital Age
Disruption is not a future possibility; it's a present reality. No organization is immune. The game is changing faster than ever, and the very abilities that once made your company a winner might now be your Achilles' heel. So how do you future-proof your organization in an environment where change is the only constant? We're going to explore the structural, technical and cultural shifts vital for navigating the rapids of disruption. We'll dissect what it really takes for your company to not only survive this new landscape but to seize it as an unprecedented opportunity for massive growth.
Exponential Organizations, Future Forecasting, Corporate Innovation, Change Management, Strategy
No matter what industry you're in, the pace of change isn't slowing down; it's accelerating. And if you're trying to steer the ship using yesterday's map, you're sailing towards irrelevance. Most companies are guilty of this, investing energy into incremental improvements when the whole system demands an overhaul.
In this session, we will dive deep into the essentials of exponential leadership, showcasing the vital competencies your organization needs to not just survive, but thrive in this disruptive era. You'll walk away with actionable insights on how to scrutinize and re-engineer your organization through the lens of exponential possibilities. You'll leave better equipped to identify and implement those paradigm-shifting opportunities that can redefine your business model in a world of constant uncertainty and complexity.
Innovation and Innovation Ecosystems
In an increasingly connected and accelerating world, leading corporations are becoming more valuable by reaching outside their boundaries and engaging with the larger innovation ecosystem. Breaking silos to become more innovative is not just an internal effort. Recognizing that the organization itself is a silo, corporations can have powerful and profitable partnerships with incubators, universities, government, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and others. Forward thinking leaders can use the power of open innovation ecosystems to find and launch the next breakthrough idea.
In this session, we will delve into questions such as: What is an innovation ecosystem? Who are the major stakeholders and their roles? What are the ways companies can exchange value within an ecosystem? What potential partners would be valuable to connect with, and why? How can we create a high value culture of sustainable, resilient and exponential innovation in your organization?
Corporate Innovation and Innovation Ecosystems
In an increasingly connected and accelerating world, leading corporations are becoming more valuable by reaching outside their boundaries and engaging with the larger innovation ecosystem. Breaking silos to become more innovative is not just an internal effort. Recognizing that the organization itself is a silo, corporations can have powerful and profitable partnerships with incubators, universities, government, venture capitalists, entrepreneurs and others. Forward thinking leaders can use the power of open innovation ecosystems to find and launch the next breakthrough idea. In this session, we will delve into questions such as: What is an innovation ecosystem? Who are the major stakeholders and their roles? What are the ways companies can exchange value within an ecosystem? What stakeholders do you think would be valuable to connect with, and why? What is the benefit and value exchange you are looking for? How can we create a culture of sustainable and resilient innovation in your organization?
The future is urban. As millions migrate to the cities and digital systems become pervasive within them, urban change is going from linear and local, to exponential and global. Within just a few decades, 80% of the world's population will live in massive, interconnected cities. Accelerating technological change will be more intensive and disruptive. The city is being transformed by smart technologies, changing how it runs and manages public services, and responds with resiliency to emergencies large and small.
Cities aren't all about technology however. They are about our social, physical, mental, economic and environmental health. They are manifestations of our humanity. They are innovation ecosystem hubs. In this discussion we will cover important questions such as: What will that future look like? Where can we glimpse it today? How can we prepare for it? What might be the unintended consequences? And how can we get it right?
Future of Work with Marian Cook
In this talk, we examine the fundamental meaning of work — starting with a historic look of why humans work, then overviewing key mega-trends (such as technology, demographics, urbanization, climate change) that are disrupting the very norms of work today. The bulk of time is spent on discussing the future of work and its implications to individuals, organizations, governments and society. We explore questions such as: What will work look like in the future? Who will it be done by? Where will it take place? How will organizations attract, retain, develop talent in the future? What can organizations do to prepare for the future now? How can we build resiliency in our workforce? We conclude with practical insights to equip attendees to rethink and reshape their role in the future of work.
