Dr. David Bray

Dr. David Bray Speaking Topics

• The Future of Work, Governance, and Leadership in an Exponential World

  We face unprecedented technological change—the next 7 years will see more change than the last 20 years combined, with ripple effects on organizations, societies, and nations. Unlike past revolutions, this digital revolution will likely improve organizational productivity without needing more productive humans. Yet jobs matter immensely—if humans sense too large an imbalance, they'll destabilize national marketplaces and regimes globally. This talk explores debates about the future of work if exponential trends continue, ripple effects on societal governance, and new strategies leaders need to employ. Come prepared to learn and share thoughts on hard society-level questions for our shared exponential future.

  Attendee Results:

  • Understand job creation and destruction trends in the AI era
  • Learn strategies for managing workforce transitions
  • Develop governance approaches for networked societies
  • Gain insights into leadership evolution for exponential change
  • Create action plans ensuring equitable technological benefits

• Ushering in the Future: Tactical Steps Forward for Exponential Organizations

  Organizations often feel adrift in rapid technological and global changes, at a loss for tactical steps leaders can take. All of us can do something small: start talking about these issues with a bent towards creative problem-solving. Don't admire the issue—put forward possible suggestions as a team, and even if they're only initial steps, move forward with benevolence, boldness, and bravery. Organizations can usher in the future by overcoming barriers to action, innovation, and initiative. This talk provides tangible steps leaders can implement immediately to navigate exponential change and empower their teams as positive #ChangeAgents.

  Attendee Results:

  • Learn tactical steps for navigating exponential change
  • Overcome organizational barriers to innovation and action
  • Develop creative problem-solving approaches for your team
  • Gain frameworks for bold, brave, and benevolent leadership
  • Create immediate action plans for organizational transformation

• Megatrends in Data, Tech, Space and Geopolitics for 2026-2036

  Given our rapidly changing world, C-Suite leaders have an imperative to be positive "change agents" and help their organizations go beyond the status quo. From 14 billion networked devices in 2015 to a forecasted 55+ billion by 2026—relative to only 8.2 billion people—our exponential era is creating unprecedented challenges and opportunities. By 2026, we'll generate more data than three times all conversations in human history. This talk provides leaders with awareness of potential trends across data, tech, AI, cybersecurity, space, and geopolitics for 2026-2036

  Attendee Results:

  • Understand exponential technology trends shaping the next three decades
  • Learn action-oriented strategies to be bold, brave, and benevolent
  • Gain insights into geopolitical implications of technological change
  • Develop frameworks for leading through exponential disruption
  • Create strategic foresight capabilities for your organization

• Where Will We Be in 2035? Leading in Turbulence with AI, the Internet and the Future of Data

  This people-centered talk considers opportunities and challenges occurring globally as we move further from remembering World War II's lessons. Despite advances in technology and social progress, we're returning to "zero sum" thinking. Without careful attention, we risk repeating the build-ups to 1914 or 1939—though conflicts will take different forms. This keynote focuses on how technology changes impact human societies and how positive "change agents" can make meaningful differences. Communities worldwide need hopeful, non-zero-sum narratives for 2025, 2030, and beyond—and must work to ensure social inclusion in delivering those visions.

  Attendee Results:

  • Understand the intersection of technology and societal stability
  • Learn to develop non-zero-sum narratives for the future
  • Gain strategies for social inclusion in technological transformation
  • Recognize warning signs of divisive technological impacts
  • Create action plans for positive change agency

• A Practical Ethical Framework for Our Exponential Era: The OARS Approach

  Our exponential era presents entrepreneurs and organizational leaders with challenges of unintended consequences—even for companies meaning to do good. This talk provides a brief history of professional self-regulation and introduces the OARS framework for addressing unintended consequences proactively: (1) Obligations in this Context—principles about stakeholder relationships, (2) Acknowledgements in this Context—"known unknowns" tied to transactions and relationships, (3) Responses to Obligations—actions based on expressed obligations, (4) Safeguards to Acknowledgements—protections based on expressed acknowledgements. Organizations must become learning, adaptive, and resilient while using this framework to navigate ethical challenges.

  Attendee Results:

  • Learn the practical OARS ethical framework
  • Understand how to identify and address unintended consequences
  • Develop stakeholder-centered ethical approaches
  • Create safeguards for known unknowns in your operations
  • Build organizational capacity for ethical decision-making