Heather E. McGowan

Heather E. McGowan

Keynote Speaker: Future of Work Strategist, Keynote Speaker & Two-Time Bestselling Author

Heather E. McGowan Biography

One of Forbes’ Top Futurists, Heather E. McGowan brings fresh energy and actionable insights to the future of work. A sought-after strategist, keynote speaker, and two-time bestselling author, she equips organizations to navigate relentless change by activating their most critical resource: their people.

McGowan’s audiences range from startups to publicly traded Fortune 500 companies, including Google, JPMorgan Chase, Mastercard, and Kaiser Permanente. Through data-driven insights and powerful visual frameworks, she helps leaders and teams transform their distinctly human capabilities— adaptability, empathy, and curiosity—into strategic advantages.

Often quoted in The New York Times, with Thomas Friedman calling her an “oasis” for her insights, McGowan’s bestselling books include "The Adaptation Advantage" and "The Empathy Advantage," which was named a Top 10 Business Book of 2023. By teaching people to ask better questions, she enables them to adapt at the speed of possibility to Solve Tomorrow’s Problems™.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Heather E. McGowan and other top speakers and celebrities.

Heather E. McGowan Speaking Topics

SOLVE TOMORROW’S PROBLEMS™: Harness Human Ingenuity to Navigate What's Next

Think organizations can't change quickly?

History proves otherwise.

When naysayers said "it can't be done," humans accomplished the impossible—in weeks, not years. Each pivotal moment reminds us of humanity’s most underestimated asset: our ability to adapt in the face of seemingly impossible odds.

In this perspective-shifting keynote, Heather E. McGowan challenges the myth that we resist change using unforgettable stories about a mop, a burrito, and a hermit crab to demonstrate how we can tap into our natural curiosity and hardwired drive to collaborate to see and shape what’s next.

Drawing from her bestselling books "The Adaptation Advantage" and "The Empathy Advantage," Heather reveals how leading organizations thrive when they place adaptability at their core, allowing them to find breakthrough opportunities where others least expect.

The audience will leave with:

  • A powerful understanding of how to frame the right question
  • Practical approaches to optimize how they adapt to new realities
  • Clear frameworks for mapping the past to navigate the future
  • An understanding of what it takes to spot unseen opportunities

THE AUGMENTED ADVANTAGE: Unleashing Human Potential in the AI Era

Think you can't remember phone numbers like you used to? You're not alone. As we hand off more tasks to technology, some of our more-human capabilities will naturally fade. Yet while automation may lead to atrophy in some areas, augmentation opens doors to entirely new human capabilities—if we are intentional. The key isn’t only using AI to replace what we currently do by automating it, but transforming work as we know it.

In this eye-opening presentation, Heather E. McGowan cuts through the AI hype to demonstrate why thriving alongside AI isn't about having the right answers. Instead, it's about asking better questions, framing new challenges, and treating AI as our partner—enhancing our capabilities and expanding our cognitive horizons.

The audience will leave with:

  • A clear understanding of what to automate vs. augment—and why it matters
  • Practical ways to learn from AI as a collaborative partner
  • Fresh insights on how to build on uniquely human advantages in an AI world
  • Necessary leadership shifts to drive optimal human performance

LEADING IN THE AGE OF UNCERTAINTY: The Curiosity Advantage

Remember when being a leader meant having all the answers? Today's most successful leaders are asking better questions. In a world of unprecedented opportunity, they’re not the most certain, but the most curious. According to research, this shift in profile—from know-it-alls to learn-it-alls—means we may be overlooking the very leaders we need right now.

In this paradigm-shifting talk, Heather E. McGowan reveals why the future belongs to forward-thinking leaders who can navigate relentless change by activating their team’s innate potential to learn, adapt, and grow.

Drawing on her bestselling books "The Adaptation Advantage" and "The Empathy Advantage," along with compelling research and real-world examples, she demonstrates how exceptional performance depends on empowering rather than managing, building trust rather than enforcing processes, and harnessing collective intelligence for breakthrough results.

The audience will leave with:

  • Practical tools for activating their team’s collective potential
  • Clear methods for building high-trust environments where curiosity is encouraged
  • Frameworks for transforming management into performance enablement
  • Real examples of how curious leaders unlock performance

CLEAR ON PURPOSE: Turning Purpose into Performance Through a Shared Vision

In an era of unprecedented social division, our professional success hinges not on discussing politics at work, but on mastering the tools of constructive dialogue—active listening, intellectual humility, and genuine curiosity—to create environments where diverse perspectives transform friction into fuel for innovation.

The ability to bridge divides through emotional intelligence and skilled communication may be our most valuable professional competency in today's interconnected world. When organizational purpose aligns with human potential, extraordinary things happen.

In this inspirational keynote drawn from her most recent book, "The Empathy Advantage," Heather E. McGowan reveals how purpose can become your organization’s most powerful performance driver.

Through compelling research and real-world examples, she demonstrates how a shared vision can create the trust, belonging, and motivation needed to transform individual potential into collective impact—through increasing engagement, reducing turnover, and unleashing performance.

By getting clear on purpose, we don't just adapt to change—we shape the future.

The audience will be able to:

  • Foster brave dialogue that transforms differences into innovation
  • Link individual roles to organizational purpose through clear vision
  • Transform purpose into measurable actions and celebrated outcomes
  • Make necessary leadership shifts to build shared vision

START WITH TRUST: The Lifeblood of High-Performing Teams

Despite disruptions like technology shifts and social changes, businesses today have a unique opportunity to tap into measurable advantages when it comes to engagement, innovation, and profitability—and it all begins with TRUST.

Just as humanity's greatest achievements arose from collective effort, cohesive teams innovate faster, adapt more effectively, maintain higher engagement, experience lower turnover, and consistently outperform their peers.

In this powerful presentation drawn from her two most recent books "The Adaptation Advantage" and "The Empathy Advantage," Heather E. McGowan shares proven tools audiences can use to activate their natural collaborative strengths so they can achieve extraordinary results, gain a competitive advantage, and drive sustainable growth.

The audience will leave with:

  • Tips to intentionally build trust, belonging, and a shared sense of purpose
  • Practical strategies to build cohesive, high-performing teams
  • Tools for maintaining focus and cohesion during rapid change
  • Leadership mindset shifts to establish authentic relationships and trust

Heather E. McGowan Videos

Heather McGowan Showreel
Keynote Speaker Heather E McGowan introduction
Thriving in the Augmented Era

How do I book Heather E. McGowan to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Heather E. McGowan 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 Heather E. McGowan, 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 Heather E. McGowan or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Heather E. McGowan for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Heather E. McGowan, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Heather E. McGowan are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and $20,000 - $30,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Heather E. McGowan, 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 Heather E. McGowan speak about?

Heather E. McGowan is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business Growth, Human Resources, Corporate Culture, Change Management, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Influential Women, Women in Business, Communication, Business Leadership, Leadership, Futurism, Female Leadership, Business, Psychology, Social Sciences, Future of Work, Economy, Innovation, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Ethics & Integrity, Resilience, Personal Growth, Emotional Intelligence, Motivational, Inspirational, Peak Performance, Virtual and Women in Tech.

Where does Heather E. McGowan travel from?

Heather E. McGowan generally travels from Boston, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Heather E. McGowan?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Heather E. McGowan 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 Heather E. McGowan 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 Heather E. McGowan 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.


Heather E. McGowan is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Business Growth, Human Resources and Corporate Culture. The estimated speaking fee range to book Heather E. McGowan for live events is $30,000 - $50,000, and for virtual events $20,000 - $30,000. Heather E. McGowan generally travels from Boston, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Erica Dhawan, Zack Kass and Erik Qualman. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Heather E. McGowan for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 24/06/2025.

Heather E. McGowan Speaking Topics

  • SOLVE TOMORROW’S PROBLEMS™: Harness Human Ingenuity to Navigate What's Next

    Think organizations can't change quickly?

    History proves otherwise.

    When naysayers said "it can't be done," humans accomplished the impossible—in weeks, not years. Each pivotal moment reminds us of humanity’s most underestimated asset: our ability to adapt in the face of seemingly impossible odds.

    In this perspective-shifting keynote, Heather E. McGowan challenges the myth that we resist change using unforgettable stories about a mop, a burrito, and a hermit crab to demonstrate how we can tap into our natural curiosity and hardwired drive to collaborate to see and shape what’s next.

    Drawing from her bestselling books "The Adaptation Advantage" and "The Empathy Advantage," Heather reveals how leading organizations thrive when they place adaptability at their core, allowing them to find breakthrough opportunities where others least expect.

    The audience will leave with:

    • A powerful understanding of how to frame the right question
    • Practical approaches to optimize how they adapt to new realities
    • Clear frameworks for mapping the past to navigate the future
    • An understanding of what it takes to spot unseen opportunities

  • THE AUGMENTED ADVANTAGE: Unleashing Human Potential in the AI Era

    Think you can't remember phone numbers like you used to? You're not alone. As we hand off more tasks to technology, some of our more-human capabilities will naturally fade. Yet while automation may lead to atrophy in some areas, augmentation opens doors to entirely new human capabilities—if we are intentional. The key isn’t only using AI to replace what we currently do by automating it, but transforming work as we know it.

    In this eye-opening presentation, Heather E. McGowan cuts through the AI hype to demonstrate why thriving alongside AI isn't about having the right answers. Instead, it's about asking better questions, framing new challenges, and treating AI as our partner—enhancing our capabilities and expanding our cognitive horizons.

    The audience will leave with:

    • A clear understanding of what to automate vs. augment—and why it matters
    • Practical ways to learn from AI as a collaborative partner
    • Fresh insights on how to build on uniquely human advantages in an AI world
    • Necessary leadership shifts to drive optimal human performance

  • LEADING IN THE AGE OF UNCERTAINTY: The Curiosity Advantage

    Remember when being a leader meant having all the answers? Today's most successful leaders are asking better questions. In a world of unprecedented opportunity, they’re not the most certain, but the most curious. According to research, this shift in profile—from know-it-alls to learn-it-alls—means we may be overlooking the very leaders we need right now.

    In this paradigm-shifting talk, Heather E. McGowan reveals why the future belongs to forward-thinking leaders who can navigate relentless change by activating their team’s innate potential to learn, adapt, and grow.

    Drawing on her bestselling books "The Adaptation Advantage" and "The Empathy Advantage," along with compelling research and real-world examples, she demonstrates how exceptional performance depends on empowering rather than managing, building trust rather than enforcing processes, and harnessing collective intelligence for breakthrough results.

    The audience will leave with:

    • Practical tools for activating their team’s collective potential
    • Clear methods for building high-trust environments where curiosity is encouraged
    • Frameworks for transforming management into performance enablement
    • Real examples of how curious leaders unlock performance

  • CLEAR ON PURPOSE: Turning Purpose into Performance Through a Shared Vision

    In an era of unprecedented social division, our professional success hinges not on discussing politics at work, but on mastering the tools of constructive dialogue—active listening, intellectual humility, and genuine curiosity—to create environments where diverse perspectives transform friction into fuel for innovation.

    The ability to bridge divides through emotional intelligence and skilled communication may be our most valuable professional competency in today's interconnected world. When organizational purpose aligns with human potential, extraordinary things happen.

    In this inspirational keynote drawn from her most recent book, "The Empathy Advantage," Heather E. McGowan reveals how purpose can become your organization’s most powerful performance driver.

    Through compelling research and real-world examples, she demonstrates how a shared vision can create the trust, belonging, and motivation needed to transform individual potential into collective impact—through increasing engagement, reducing turnover, and unleashing performance.

    By getting clear on purpose, we don't just adapt to change—we shape the future.

    The audience will be able to:

    • Foster brave dialogue that transforms differences into innovation
    • Link individual roles to organizational purpose through clear vision
    • Transform purpose into measurable actions and celebrated outcomes
    • Make necessary leadership shifts to build shared vision

  • START WITH TRUST: The Lifeblood of High-Performing Teams

    Despite disruptions like technology shifts and social changes, businesses today have a unique opportunity to tap into measurable advantages when it comes to engagement, innovation, and profitability—and it all begins with TRUST.

    Just as humanity's greatest achievements arose from collective effort, cohesive teams innovate faster, adapt more effectively, maintain higher engagement, experience lower turnover, and consistently outperform their peers.

    In this powerful presentation drawn from her two most recent books "The Adaptation Advantage" and "The Empathy Advantage," Heather E. McGowan shares proven tools audiences can use to activate their natural collaborative strengths so they can achieve extraordinary results, gain a competitive advantage, and drive sustainable growth.

    The audience will leave with:

    • Tips to intentionally build trust, belonging, and a shared sense of purpose
    • Practical strategies to build cohesive, high-performing teams
    • Tools for maintaining focus and cohesion during rapid change
    • Leadership mindset shifts to establish authentic relationships and trust

Heather E. McGowan Videos

Heather McGowan Showreel
Keynote Speaker Heather E McGowan introduction
Thriving in the Augmented Era
A Case for Optimism
The Importance of Curiosity in Building Organizational Capacity

Heather E. McGowan Reviews

  • Career Education Colleges and Universities - Jun 04 2025

  • Heather was fantastic!
    Crum & Forster (USFI) - May 21 2024

  • Heather was fantastic!
    Acuity - Nov 02 2023

  • How do I book Heather E. McGowan to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Heather E. McGowan 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 Heather E. McGowan, 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 Heather E. McGowan or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Heather E. McGowan for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Heather E. McGowan, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Heather E. McGowan are $30,000 - $50,000 for live events and $20,000 - $30,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Heather E. McGowan, 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 Heather E. McGowan speak about?

  • Where does Heather E. McGowan travel from?

    Heather E. McGowan generally travels from Boston, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Heather E. McGowan?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Heather E. McGowan 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 Heather E. McGowan 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 Heather E. McGowan 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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