Dan Gardner
Keynote Speaker: Award-Winning Journalist; Expert in Risk Management, Forecasting & Big Projects; Bestselling Author of "Risk," "Future Babble" & "Superforecasting"
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Dan Gardner Biography
Dan Gardner is a New York Times bestselling author, speaker, consultant, and freelance writer and editor. His books have been published in 26 countries and 20 languages, including "Risk," "Future Babble," "Superforecasting" (co-authored with Philip E. Tetlock), and "How Big Things Get Done" (co-authored with Bent Flyvbjerg).
Prior to becoming an author, Gardner was a newspaper columnist, talking head, and investigative journalist who won or was nominated for every major award in Canadian newspaper journalism (including the Michener, the NNA, and the CAJ Award) along with awards from Amnesty International Canada, the John Howard Society, the Department of Justice, and other organizations. Gardner's work also contributed to significant changes in Canadian public policy.
Gardner holds a law degree and a masters in modern history. He is an honorary senior fellow with the University of Ottawa’s Graduate School of Public Policy and International Affairs. Gardner also writes the Substack newsletter PastPresentFuture, about history, psychology, risk, and decision-making.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Dan Gardner and other top speakers and celebrities.
Dan Gardner Speaking Topics
The world’s largest database on major projects — with over 16,000 projects in more than 20 different project categories — revealed that fewer than half of projects (47.9%) finish on budget. Fewer than one in ten (8.5%) are completed on budget and on time. And a nearly invisible 0.5% of all projects are completed on budget, on time, and with the expected benefits. Worse, projects aren’t merely at risk of being a little off. Catastrophic failure is frighteningly common. Even home renovations can easily come in three or four times over budget. And the story is the same around the world.
If projects are so important, why are we so bad at them? In this talk, I draw on the book How Big Things Get Done to look at why failure is so common and why a rare few projects are triumphs. The mind-expanding lessons about how we conceive, plan, and deliver major projects apply to projects of every imaginable variety, at every scale, from home renovations to space exploration.
We sometimes worry about things we shouldn’t and don’t worry about things we should. Worse, we dismiss clear evidence that our risk perceptions are off the mark and we act in ways that may leave us poorer, unhealthier, and less safe.
In this stimulating and entertaining presentation, I show the explanation lies in our brain and the ancient environment that shaped it. The good news? Understanding how psychology can lead us astray is the first step to catching our mistakes about risk and making smarter decisions.
You’re sure you’ve got a risk figured out but the people on the other side of the table don’t believe you. You show them the data. They shrug. Doesn’t matter, they say. You are astonished. “But the data proves I am right! Look at the data!” They shrug. Not convinced, they say. This makes no sense. “Look at the data and stop being irrational!” Now they’re unconvinced and angry.
This scenario has played out a thousand times in a thousand places and it always ends badly. The problem lies in a failure to understand that while logic and numbers matter in people’s thinking, they often matter much less than we realize. In this presentation, I explore the fundamentals of how people perceive, think, and decide — then shows how we can speak to what really shapes people’s judgements with language that engages, informs, and changes minds.
Accurately forecasting the near- to medium-range future isn’t impossible. But it is hard. And doing it better than your competitors is that much harder.
In this presentation, I delve into the largest study of forecasting ever undertaken — a program sponsored by the United States Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Among the many revelations was the discovery of a small percentage of forecasters who were consistently outstanding.
What makes these “superforecasters” so good? They are well-informed, but superforecasters don’t owe their success to specialist knowledge or secret information. They are intelligent, but it isn’t their IQ that makes them the best. And they are numerate, but their accuracy isn’t the product of algorithms and arcane math.
What makes the difference is how they think. And that isn’t something they’re born with. The cognitive characteristics and mental habits of superforecasters can be learned, adopted, and practiced. With the right attitude and effort, any forecaster can become a superforecaster.
Big projects need a diverse array of people and organizations to come together and work as a team. Managers know that. They talk about teamwork constantly. They urge people to pull together. And yet big projects routinely fail to deliver as promised because too often people and organizations do not come together and become a real team.
In this talk, I draw on dramatic case studies to show how project leaders overcame common barriers to create a powerful sense of shared identity, purpose, and commitment to the project. By doing that, they created true teams. And those teams moved mountains.
Dan Gardner Videos
How do I book Dan Gardner to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Dan Gardner for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Dan Gardner, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Dan Gardner or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Dan Gardner for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Dan Gardner, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Dan Gardner are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Dan Gardner, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Dan Gardner speak about?
Dan Gardner is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Journalism, Authors, Psychology and Science.
Where does Dan Gardner travel from?
Dan Gardner generally travels from Ottawa, Canada and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Dan Gardner?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Dan Gardner for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Dan Gardner for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Dan Gardner or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Dan Gardner is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Journalism, Authors and Psychology. The estimated speaking fee range to book Dan Gardner for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. Dan Gardner generally travels from Ottawa, Canada and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Amelia Rose Earhart, Todd Purdum and Richard Brookhiser. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Dan Gardner for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Dan Gardner Speaking Topics
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Getting Big Things Done On Time and On Budget
The world’s largest database on major projects — with over 16,000 projects in more than 20 different project categories — revealed that fewer than half of projects (47.9%) finish on budget. Fewer than one in ten (8.5%) are completed on budget and on time. And a nearly invisible 0.5% of all projects are completed on budget, on time, and with the expected benefits. Worse, projects aren’t merely at risk of being a little off. Catastrophic failure is frighteningly common. Even home renovations can easily come in three or four times over budget. And the story is the same around the world.
If projects are so important, why are we so bad at them? In this talk, I draw on the book How Big Things Get Done to look at why failure is so common and why a rare few projects are triumphs. The mind-expanding lessons about how we conceive, plan, and deliver major projects apply to projects of every imaginable variety, at every scale, from home renovations to space exploration.
-
Risk Perception and Misperception
We sometimes worry about things we shouldn’t and don’t worry about things we should. Worse, we dismiss clear evidence that our risk perceptions are off the mark and we act in ways that may leave us poorer, unhealthier, and less safe.
In this stimulating and entertaining presentation, I show the explanation lies in our brain and the ancient environment that shaped it. The good news? Understanding how psychology can lead us astray is the first step to catching our mistakes about risk and making smarter decisions.
-
Communicating Risk
You’re sure you’ve got a risk figured out but the people on the other side of the table don’t believe you. You show them the data. They shrug. Doesn’t matter, they say. You are astonished. “But the data proves I am right! Look at the data!” They shrug. Not convinced, they say. This makes no sense. “Look at the data and stop being irrational!” Now they’re unconvinced and angry.
This scenario has played out a thousand times in a thousand places and it always ends badly. The problem lies in a failure to understand that while logic and numbers matter in people’s thinking, they often matter much less than we realize. In this presentation, I explore the fundamentals of how people perceive, think, and decide — then shows how we can speak to what really shapes people’s judgements with language that engages, informs, and changes minds.
-
From Forecasting to Superforecasting
Accurately forecasting the near- to medium-range future isn’t impossible. But it is hard. And doing it better than your competitors is that much harder.
In this presentation, I delve into the largest study of forecasting ever undertaken — a program sponsored by the United States Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Among the many revelations was the discovery of a small percentage of forecasters who were consistently outstanding.
What makes these “superforecasters” so good? They are well-informed, but superforecasters don’t owe their success to specialist knowledge or secret information. They are intelligent, but it isn’t their IQ that makes them the best. And they are numerate, but their accuracy isn’t the product of algorithms and arcane math.
What makes the difference is how they think. And that isn’t something they’re born with. The cognitive characteristics and mental habits of superforecasters can be learned, adopted, and practiced. With the right attitude and effort, any forecaster can become a superforecaster.
-
Building a Team that Delivers
Big projects need a diverse array of people and organizations to come together and work as a team. Managers know that. They talk about teamwork constantly. They urge people to pull together. And yet big projects routinely fail to deliver as promised because too often people and organizations do not come together and become a real team.
In this talk, I draw on dramatic case studies to show how project leaders overcame common barriers to create a powerful sense of shared identity, purpose, and commitment to the project. By doing that, they created true teams. And those teams moved mountains.
VIDEO
Dan Gardner Videos
BOOKS
FAQS
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How do I book Dan Gardner to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Dan Gardner for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Dan Gardner, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Dan Gardner or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Dan Gardner for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Dan Gardner, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Dan Gardner are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Dan Gardner, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Dan Gardner speak about?
Dan Gardner is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Journalism, Authors, Psychology and Science. -
Where does Dan Gardner travel from?
Dan Gardner generally travels from Ottawa, Canada and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Dan Gardner?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Dan Gardner for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Dan Gardner for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Dan Gardner or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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