Jim Harris

Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA) – is the defining reality of modern business. For today’s executives, mastering VUCA is essential to navigating the turbulence and turning uncertainty into opportunity. The Age of Accelerated Change We are witnessing the fastest, most disruptive period in corporate history. Markets shift overnight.

Technologies leapfrog decades. Consumer behaviors evolve in real time. The scale and speed of change are without precedent:

• On April 3-4, 2025, US markets lost $6.6 trillion in value following President Trump’s announcement of tariffs on 90 countries. Five days later, after the decision was paused, markets rebounded by $5.4 trillion – a staggering single-day recovery.
• On January 27, 2025, China’s DeepSeek unveiled its R-1 AI model, instantly
  disrupting global tech. U.S. high-tech firms lost $1 trillion in a single day. NVIDIA
  alone dropped $600 billion, the largest single-day market cap loss in US history.
• It took the airline industry 68 years to reach 50 million users. It took Pokémon Go just 19 days.

These events aren’t anomalies – they’re signals of a world in permanent flux. Leadership strategies must evolve accordingly.

The Executive Imperative in a VUCA Landscape For C-suite executives, this moment demands more than operational excellence. It requires visionary leadership, systemic thinking, and a willingness to experiment at scale.

Key questions every executive team must address:

• How can we adapt faster?
• What systems will allow us to pivot, scale, and sustain momentum?
• How do we build organizational resilience at every level?
• How do we make bold, high-stakes decisions amid uncertainty?
• What kind of leadership is required when there is no clarity?
• How do we lead through crises (economic shocks, pandemics, geopolitical upheaval?
• How do we keep our people engaged, aligned & inspired amid constant change?
• How can we future-proof our business in the face of accelerating disruption?

VUCA as a Strategic Advantage Leaders who understand the nature of VUCA don’t just survive—they thrive. They create adaptive organizations, nurture courageous cultures, and lead with both
decisiveness and humility. In a world where transformation not optional, mastering VUCA is essential. Those who develop the capacity it will outpace disruption—and shape the future of business.

AI is transforming business, government and society as a whole.

• We’re seeing AI applications with 10X to 10,000X increases in productivity!
• AI will add up to $4.4 Trillion of economic value every year by 2030
• Many aspects of business, associations, government and society are being enhanced by this transformative technology.

This fast-paced, dynamic session will focus on proven, practical strategies, tactics, and actionable tools. It will highlight dozens of AI and GenAI apps and case studies focused on improving customer satisfaction, dramatically shortening cycle times, increasing sales and cutting costs. It will highlight benefits for many different functions within an organization: sales, marketing, customer service and finance.

In the US there are nearly 2 million job openings in health care alone. AI can save $386 billion a year if fully implemented in health care alone and while addressing the staff shortage.

Jim’s sessions have been described as “mind-blowing,” “riveting” and “eye-opening.”

The session will explore:

• What are the implications for business leaders?
• Where and how to begin?
• What resources are available to begin your AI journey?