Jim Carroll

Jim Carroll is widely regarded as one of world’s most respected keynote speakers on artificial intelligence & technology.

Jim Carroll is recognized as the world’s leading futurist, trends and innovation experts, with a massive global blue-chip client list. Over the last 30 years, more than 2 million people have shared his insight at his events. Jim’s global client list gives him a front-row seat to the high-velocity change that is occurring as disruption comes to take hold of every industry and every organization. 

With that insight, and the customized research that he undertakes for every engagement, he helps to transform growth-oriented organizations into high-velocity innovation heroes! Jim provides high energy keynotes for audiences of 50 to 5,000, as well as intimate, customized strategic  planning sessions for CEO/CxO, board, and senior management meetings.

He has researched key innovation success factors for dozens of organizations and industries including life sciences, health care, insurance, automotive, manufacturing, agriculture, technology, education, government, consumer products, retail, banking and countless others.

He has been invited in by NASA (twice) to share his insight on the future of the space industry; by Disney, to advise on new strategies for creativity and innovation; by the PGA of America for his thoughts on how to accelerate the golf industry; by Pfizer for insight on the future of medical science; by the World Bank for his thoughts on opportunities for economic development; and by the Wall Street Journal for his perspective on disruptive trends.

Jim Carroll is an author, with numerous books including Now What?, Think Big, Start Small, Scale Fast;, Surviving the Information Age, The Future Belongs To Those Who Are Fast, Ready, Set, Done: and What I Learned From Frogs in Texas.

2025 Jim Carroll Speaker Presentations:

A.I. & TECHNOLOGY
ENERGY
CREATIVITY
INNOVATION
TRENDS
LEADERSHIP

Jim Carroll is known for the highly customized, industry-specific keynotes that he delivers, each of which is based on original research. His clients include NASA, Disney, the World Bank, Mercedes Benz, the PGA, Blackrock, the Wall Street Journal, Oracle, Volvo, Pfizer, Dupont, Deloitte, SAP, VISA, Microsoft, Cisco, and over 2,000 more.

AI KEYNOTE TOPIC

AI FOR LEADERSHIP TEAMS
Strategic Clarity on the Disruptive, Transformative Challenges and Opportunities That Really Matter +

Leadership teams require a good foundational understanding of the promise and perils of AI and insight into the opportunities and challenges. They don't need hype.

That’s why strategic clarity on the impact of AI is necessary. Jim Carroll has provided dozens of global leadership teams with highly customized, industry-specific keynotes that give deep insight into the impact of AI on the company and the industry. --

ENERGY KEYNOTE TOPIC

TRANSFORMING ENERGY
Why Accelerating Science & Technology is Disrupting the Future of Energy, Faster Than You Think! +

The future belongs to those who are fast! That’s the mantra of futurist Jim Carroll — and nowhere has this become a reality faster than in the world of energy and utilities.
There is no doubt that the next phase of the world of energy involves the convergence of a variety of trends, each of which is significant on its own, but combined, provides an opportunity for massive disruption — and opportunity! We will see more change in the energy industry in the next 10 years than we have seen in the last 100 – are you ready?
Jim's keynote will provide clear, up-to-the-moment insight based on the most recent developments and trends; a key overview of the challenges and opportunities these trends present; and a strategic pathway forward based on his key mantra that right now, in the midst of disruptive transformation, that it is an important time to ‘think big, start small and scale fast!

The energy industry is being rapidly disrupted by tech companies. The era of massive hyper-connectivity at an industrial, commercial, and residential level as a result of the acceleration of the Internet of things. The rapid advancement of energy science, particularly with battery storage, alternative energy sources, and other leading-edge technologies. Business model disruption through the fast arrival of technologies that support personal and local energy microgrids through backyard wind, solar, biomass, and other forms of energy generation. New demand and infrastructure requirements arise from such significant trends as smart cities, electric vehicles, and intelligent highway infrastructure. And then there are simple light poles — which are now becoming ‘fitbits for cities’ with embedded environmental sensors, car-charging technologies, Wi-Fi hotspot capability, and traffic management technologies!

But wait — there’s more! At M.I.T. they are even in the midst of research as to how to grow solar cells from plants!
That’s why no less than the Edison Energy Institute has stated that going forward, “The threats posed to the electric utility industry from disruptive forces, particularly distributed resources, have serious long-term implications for the traditional electric utility business model and investor opportunities.”

Leading energy organizations worldwide have been booking global futurist Jim Carroll for his insight on the accelerating trends which are redefining the global energy and utility sector at a blistering pace today. We will see more change in the energy industry in the next 10 years than we have seen in the last 100 – are you ready? His keynote will provide clear, up-to-the-moment insight based on the most recent developments and trends; a key overview of the challenges and opportunities these trends present; and a strategic pathway forward based on his key mantra that right now, in the midst of disruptive transformation, that it is an important time to ‘think big, start small and scale fast! --

CREATIVITY KEYNOTE

BEING UNIQUE
Simple Strategies for Finding Your Creativity, Accelerating Innovation, and Getting to Your Future Faster! +

Conformity stifles creativity and prevents great ideas from flourishing. Uniqueness is the superpower that lets creativity flow! Embracing uniqueness is crucial for innovation and taking initiative, which is essential for navigating the future.

Your unique perspective and ability to think differently will empower you to create change and shape a better tomorrow. It sets you apart from others and lets you achieve your full innovation potential!

Based on his 2025 book of the same name, Jim shares with teams the key methods by which they can accelerate their creative, innovative capabilities! --

DISRUPTIVE LEADERSHIP

THINK BIG, START SMALL - SCALE FAST
Jim Carroll’s transformative concept for moving forward in the era of accelerating change! +

Customized with detailed research for specific industries, including agriculture, finance, banking, insurance, retail, supply chain, construction, manufacturing and more.

Every industry is being redefined at blinding speed by technology, globalization, the rapid emergence of new competitors, new forms of collaborative global R&D, and countless other challenges! The speed with which these changes occur are now running up against the traditional culture, organizational structure and leadership methodologies that once worked well in the past – but don’t align to today’s fast moving realities. --

FUTURE TRENDS KEYNOTES

Leading in Uncertainty: Aligning to Opportunity When Volatility is the New Normal!
Innovative organizations succeed by mastering the pace of the new high-velocity economy. +

In an era of economic challenge, they develop a relentless focus on chasing opportunity!

Jim Carroll knows from experience that organizations that focus on staying ahead of fast-paced economic trends in an era of volatility are best positioned for long-term success. He’s been sharing this critical insight with leadership teams since the dot.com collapse-induced recession of 2001!

In 2025, it’s pretty volatile out there and uncertainty rules our future. In the context of that, it’s important to focus on the long-term goal, not the short-term volatility. Because history tells us so!

Jim’s keynote focuses on how to lead through uncertainty. He shares powerful insight gathered during and after the 2001 and 2008 economic downturns, as well as subsequent periods of volatility and uncertainty. Here’s the key message – long-term winners are those who chose not to participate in the downturn! It seems simple but is pretty critical – when uncertainty stares you in the face, double down on innovation and transformation, and refocus on the long-term view! --

Your world & the future of everything
The future demands that you think BIG, be bold, and relentlessly pursue opportunity. +

Companies that do not yet exist will build products not yet conceived, with materials not yet in existence, using methodologies not yet developed – and these will be sold to consumers who do not yet know that these new products and services will become a critical part of their lives!

That’s the perspective that Futurist Jim Carroll brings to his keynote presentation at association events and corporate leadership meetings - and with that theme in mind, will provide you with a customized, concise overview of the trends that matter into tomorrow. --

CEO & CxO Leadership Events +

Many CEO/CxO’s find it necessary to bring their teams together for a corporate offsite event to discuss, strategize, and align to a faster, transformative future.

A fast future demands that organizations pick up the pace when it comes to their strategies, actions, and innovation efforts.

Jim is known for his presentations at these events which involve highly customized insight, extensive pre-event consultations, a global track record, and detailed industry experience! --

Client & Customer-Oriented Events +

Mindshare matters. In a complex and fast competitive landscape, positioning your product or service offerings to your customer or client has become more of a challenge than ever before.

That’s why organizations continue to invest in large-scale or intimate customer-client events. It’s an opportunity to tell your story, position your products, put in perspective your value proposition, and build relationships.

Countless numbers of organizations, including hi-tech firms, professional services firms, financial and legal organizations, telecom companies, and manufacturing organizations have engaged Jim to provide an opening keynote message for their event that is carefully aligned with their key message.

Companies like Microsoft, SAP, Cisco, Oracle, Toshiba, and many more have had Jim provide his insight on the future and disruption with a highly customized keynote that aligns to their overall customer event message. Professional service firms like KPMG, Ernst Young, and Baker McKenzie have arranged for Jim to speak at critical client events on topics ranging from the acceleration of business to the emergence of new legal risk issues. Zurich Insurance recently arranged for Jim to share his thoughts on the future of risk at a global risk management summit in Switzerland. Schneider Electric engaged Jim to open a user group conference, with a message focused on the future of manufacturing including the impact of the Industrial Internet of Things.

Whatever your message and however specific your topics, Futurist Jim Carroll has proven to be a reliable event partner with a keynote message that is based on customized research, extensive consultation, and detailed trends insight backed by a compelling stage presence. --

To inquire about Jim Carroll's speaking schedule & booking Jim Carroll, contact us. Extremely SERIOUS inquiries only.