Kian Gohar
Kian Gohar is the founder and CEO of Geolab who advises senior leaders and organisations on innovation, the future of work, and human-AI collaboration.
- Founder and CEO of Geolab, a research and leadership development firm focused on innovation and the future of work
- Co-author of Competing in the New World of Work: How Radical Adaptability Separates the Best from the Rest, published by Harvard Business Review Press
- Former executive director associated with the XPRIZE Foundation and Singularity University
- Member of the Council on Foreign Relations
- Henry Luce Scholar with a placement in Shanghai, China
- Delivered a TEDx talk on trust and the future
Full Profile
Key speaking topics
- Future of work
- Human-AI collaboration
- Innovation strategy
- Radical adaptability
- Leadership in times of change
- Generative AI and team creativity
Ideal for
- C-suite executives and senior leadership teams
- Strategy and innovation leaders
- HR and talent development leaders
- Organisations navigating AI and workplace transformation
Audience outcomes
- Clear understanding of radical adaptability and its organisational implications
- Practical perspectives on integrating AI into team workflows
- Insights into innovation-driven leadership
- Greater clarity on building trust and collaboration in changing environments
Why organisations work with Kian Gohar
- Combines research, leadership development, and advisory experience
- Bridges innovation strategy with practical workplace application
- Brings executive-level experience from global institutions
- Provides commercially relevant insight on AI and organisational change
Biography
Kian Gohar works with senior leaders navigating innovation, workplace transformation, and the integration of artificial intelligence into organisational strategy. As founder and CEO of Geolab, he leads a research and leadership development firm focused on helping organisations adapt to structural change, rethink team performance, and compete in a rapidly evolving business environment.
His perspective is grounded in executive experience at globally recognised institutions. He previously held executive director roles associated with the XPRIZE Foundation and Singularity University, where he worked at the intersection of emerging technology, leadership, and large-scale innovation. He is also a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Kian is co-author of Competing in the New World of Work: How Radical Adaptability Separates the Best from the Rest, published by Harvard Business Review Press and widely recognised as a Wall Street Journal bestseller. His work explores how organisations build adaptability, integrate generative AI into team workflows, and sustain performance amid disruption. He has also contributed to Harvard Business Review on generative AI and team creativity.
A Henry Luce Scholar with a placement in Shanghai and a graduate of Northwestern University, Kian combines global perspective with strategic rigour. He has delivered a TEDx talk examining trust and collaboration in the future, further reinforcing his focus on how organisations build resilient, high-performing cultures in times of change.
Talks
Based on his Wall Street Journal bestselling book Competing in the New World of Work, this keynote presents practical steps organisations can take to build a successful hybrid workplace. Drawing on a two-year research project with Harvard Business School and interviews with more than 2,000 executives worldwide, Kian outlines the leadership traits, team behaviours, and organisational attributes required in the new world of work. He challenges outdated assumptions about work and introduces specific “High Return Practices” that support collaboration, inclusion, agility, resilience, and foresight.
Key takeaways:
- Clear understanding of the leadership traits and team behaviours needed for hybrid success
- Practical “High Return Practices” that strengthen adaptability and performance
- Insight into building nimble, radically adaptable teams equipped for the future of work
Drawing on his experience building moonshot initiatives at the XPRIZE Foundation, this keynote provides a step-by-step framework for shifting mindsets and pursuing ambitious goals. Kian explains how to identify audacious objectives, confront the most significant obstacles, challenge conventional thinking, and turn bold ideas into achievable outcomes. The session encourages audiences to rethink what is possible and take decisive steps toward their future.
Key takeaways:
- A structured approach to defining and pursuing ambitious goals
- Tools for identifying and overcoming critical obstacles
- Practical strategies for challenging conventional thinking and expanding possibility
This keynote explores how technology and innovation will shape organisations over the next decade. Kian highlights major technology trends emerging from leading labs and examines the convergence of AI, robotics, blockchain, web3, and crypto. Audiences gain practical insights to help them anticipate change and prepare their organisations for an exponential future.
Key takeaways:
- Awareness of major emerging technology trends affecting every industry
- Understanding of how converging technologies are reshaping business models
- Concrete perspectives to help organisations prepare for long-term technological change