All American Entertainment Named to Inc. Best Workplaces in 2022. Read more
AAE Named to Inc. Best Workplaces in 2022. Read more
Josh Linkner

Josh Linkner

Keynote Speaker: Five-Time Tech Entrepreneur; Hyper-Growth CEO; NY Times Bestselling Author; Venture Capitalist; Professional Jazz Guitarist & Host of the Creative Troublemakers Podcast

Josh Linkner Biography

Josh Linkner is a Creative Troublemaker.

He has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He’s an internationally recognized expert on innovation and is the author of four books on the subject including the New York Times Bestsellers, "Disciplined Dreaming" and "The Road to Reinvention."

Linkner is passionate about starting and building companies. He’s the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā Venture Partners - an early-stage venture capital firm - and was previously the CEO and founding partner of Detroit Venture Partners. Over the last 30 years, he's helped over 100 startups launch and scale.

Today, Linkner serves as Chairman and co-founder of Platypus Labs, an innovation research, training, and consulting firm. He has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is a recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.

Linkner is also a passionate Detroiter, the father of four, a professional-level jazz guitarist, and has a slightly odd obsession for greasy pizza.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Josh Linkner and other top speakers and celebrities.

Josh Linkner Speaking Topics

RETHINK. REBOOT. REINVENT. An innovative framework to navigate volatile times.

Over the past 24 months, the world as we knew it was turned upside down. The COVID pandemic sent shock waves through our economy, supply chain, and workforce, ringing in a new era of accelerated transformation. The successful models of the past have been rendered obsolete, requiring leaders to rethink their strategy in this defining moment.

In this inspiring and actionable keynote experience, 5-time tech entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, venture capitalist, and world-renowned innovation expert Josh Linkner helps leaders respond to volatility with creative confidence. Exploring the core mindsets, habits, and tactics of the most innovative leaders on the planet, Linkner leaves audiences with an elevated capacity for inventive thinking and creative problem-solving through his battle-tested Reinvention Framework:

  • Reset. Pause, take inventory, and reassess. Recalibrate vision, goals, customer needs, market opportunity, regulatory environment, and competitive threats.
  • Release. Let go of existing assumptions and beliefs. Challenge conventional wisdom, defy traditional approaches, and reexamine previous models.
  • Reimagine. Spark fresh ideas using proven tools for creative problem solving and inventive thinking.
  • Redefine. Establish new rules of engagement. Retool existing approaches, models, and systems.
  • Realign. Reengage and reconnect key stakeholders (team, partners, customers, suppliers, media, investors) to the new reality.
  • Relaunch. Put new models into action intentionally while refining and readjusting in real time.
  • Reclaim. This deliberate framework will allow your organization and leaders to regain confidence, market leadership, and momentum.

Participants (and their organizations) will leave the session…

  • Reenergized. Fueled with inspiration and energy to forge ahead in uncertain times.
  • Reequipped. Armed with a proven framework and specific tools to reinvent a new future.
  • Ready. Emboldened to meet the challenges of the day and drive sustainable success.

THINK AND ACT LIKE A STARTUP: How celebrity entrepreneurs generate game-changing solutions

Have you ever wondered how Oprah and Bill Gates think and act behind the scenes? How do the entrepreneurs we revere invent bold ideas, do more with less, and change the world as a result? What would happen if the founder of Snapchat or Zoom joined your organization?

Tech startups aren’t the only ones who can think differently. We can all use this same creative thinking in our own careers, companies, and communities.

In this energizing and surprising keynote, five-time tech entrepreneur and venture capital investor Josh Linkner demystifies startup thinking and shares a specific methodology that we can put into practice immediately. Audience members will learn to embrace the creativity, grit, and vision of a startup and then channel this approach to drive growth, innovation, efficiency, and customer delight. Participants get an insider’s look as Josh Linkner decodes startup thinking to help leaders of any size company in any industry or profession:

  • Understand how an entrepreneur would attack their organization with the specific goal of dislodging it
  • Reimagine their role through the lens of an entrepreneur
  • Harness the ferocity of entrepreneurial thinking
  • Embrace “startup speed” to increase velocity in their own organizations
  • Learn the five best approaches used by startups to create disruption
  • Avoid the weaknesses that plague entrepreneurs by exposing the four biggest startup death traps

THE CREATIVITY UPGRADE: Lead your team to the next level of innovation, growth, and sustainable success

On a regular basis, we upgrade our cars, software, and wardrobe. But when was the last time you upgraded your imagination? Isn’t it about time to give your team a boost of inventive thinking, creative problem solving, and everyday innovation to drive better outcomes?

From your upgrade, you will:

  • Learn and understand the mindsets of innovators
  • Grasp the need for – and urgency – of change
  • Become inspired to take action and forge a new path
  • Acquire specific techniques for creative problem solving
  • Leverage human imagination to outpunch the competition
  • Understand how and where to use inventive thinking to fuel growth
  • Discover fresh possibilities with heightened level of creative awareness
  • Recognize that we are all creative, and that everyday innovation is accessible for every role and job function
  • Demystify the creative process
  • Emerge with specific tools to close the Creativity Gap to achieve full potential
  • Launch a new version of you – as a powerful creative force

In this inspiring keynote, Josh will help your team grow, as both business leaders and as people. Your audience will learn to solve problems in creative, nontraditional ways and expand their creative capacity to drive growth and sustainable success.

Your group will laugh hysterically, feel thoroughly energized, get deeply inspired, and leave better equipped. Now that’s an upgrade that’s simply irresistible.

THE MUSIC OF BUSINESS: Problem solving, collaboration and agility from the dangerous world of jazz music

Live jazz is an art form that equates to real-time innovation. To even navigate through a single song, jazz musicians must collaborate, adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, and make decisions in the face of ambiguity. As the baton of leadership gets passed from one musician to the next, individual contributors are constantly course correcting, inventing, and creatively solving problems.

Sounds just like your organization, doesn’t it?

In this unique and memorable keynote, jazz guitarist and tech entrepreneur Josh Linkner uses a live musical performance as a metaphor for modern, innovative collaboration. Josh and his fellow musicians lead the audience on a musical journey, sharing an insider’s look at this stunning art form. Through the lens of a jazz musician, participants will gain a fresh perspective and new techniques for creative problem solving, improved collaboration, and real-time agility.

This mesmerizing session’s finale features live audience participation. After helping to ”compose” a new jazz song, three audience members join the band and perform their new composition live in front of their peers (no musical experience necessary). Participants are given handheld percussion instruments - along with some fun props and costumes - and together with Josh and his fellow musicians, the group performs for the audience. This live performance brings the key learning principles to life, always ending in a cheering crowd and terrific pictures for social media.

THE 5 MINDSETS OF INNOVATION: How the world’s most innovative leaders think and act

Having interviewed hundreds of top innovators, leaders and organizations around the world, New York Times bestselling author and tech entrepreneur Josh Linkner uncovered the five most powerful mindsets that are the building blocks for jawdropping innovation. In this high-energy keynote, your audience will learn to embrace these powerful approaches in order to conquer adversity and fuel growth.

How did an oddball idea save the cattle industry over $1 billion? How did a large hotel chain create a new revenue stream and drive competitive differentiation without investing a penny? How did the leaders of a small organization stave off a near-certain extinction, even when they were overwhelmingly outmatched by a powerful enemy?

Each mindset is reinforced through surprising, real-world examples, laugh out loud moments, and practical takeaways. The five mindsets are portable and can be applied immediately to any role, job function, or industry. This memorable session will leave your audience inspired, moved, and better equipped.

Josh Linkner Videos

Josh Linkner Virtual Demo Reel
Josh Linkner Innovation Keynote Speaker 2020 Preview

How to book Josh Linkner?

Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like Josh Linkner for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment for over 15 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers. Fill out a booking request form for Josh Linkner, 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 pricing information and check availability for Josh Linkner or any other celebrity of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Josh Linkner?

Booking fees for Josh Linkner, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. Pricing often varies according to the circumstances, including the talent's schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. Speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire Josh Linkner, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.

Who is the agent for Josh Linkner?

All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Josh Linkner for clients worldwide for more than 15 years. As a full-service talent 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. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Josh Linkner for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service talent booking agency?

All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent Josh Linkner or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for Josh Linkner or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.


Josh Linkner is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Innovation, Marketing and Business Growth. The estimated speaking fee range to book Josh Linkner for live events is $30,000 - $50,000, and for virtual events $20,000 - $30,000. Josh Linkner generally travels from Detroit, MI, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Erik Qualman, Daymond John and Eduardo Briceño. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Josh Linkner for an upcoming event.

Josh Linkner Speaking Topics

  • RETHINK. REBOOT. REINVENT. An innovative framework to navigate volatile times.

    Over the past 24 months, the world as we knew it was turned upside down. The COVID pandemic sent shock waves through our economy, supply chain, and workforce, ringing in a new era of accelerated transformation. The successful models of the past have been rendered obsolete, requiring leaders to rethink their strategy in this defining moment.

    In this inspiring and actionable keynote experience, 5-time tech entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, venture capitalist, and world-renowned innovation expert Josh Linkner helps leaders respond to volatility with creative confidence. Exploring the core mindsets, habits, and tactics of the most innovative leaders on the planet, Linkner leaves audiences with an elevated capacity for inventive thinking and creative problem-solving through his battle-tested Reinvention Framework:

    • Reset. Pause, take inventory, and reassess. Recalibrate vision, goals, customer needs, market opportunity, regulatory environment, and competitive threats.
    • Release. Let go of existing assumptions and beliefs. Challenge conventional wisdom, defy traditional approaches, and reexamine previous models.
    • Reimagine. Spark fresh ideas using proven tools for creative problem solving and inventive thinking.
    • Redefine. Establish new rules of engagement. Retool existing approaches, models, and systems.
    • Realign. Reengage and reconnect key stakeholders (team, partners, customers, suppliers, media, investors) to the new reality.
    • Relaunch. Put new models into action intentionally while refining and readjusting in real time.
    • Reclaim. This deliberate framework will allow your organization and leaders to regain confidence, market leadership, and momentum.

    Participants (and their organizations) will leave the session…

    • Reenergized. Fueled with inspiration and energy to forge ahead in uncertain times.
    • Reequipped. Armed with a proven framework and specific tools to reinvent a new future.
    • Ready. Emboldened to meet the challenges of the day and drive sustainable success.

  • THINK AND ACT LIKE A STARTUP: How celebrity entrepreneurs generate game-changing solutions

    Have you ever wondered how Oprah and Bill Gates think and act behind the scenes? How do the entrepreneurs we revere invent bold ideas, do more with less, and change the world as a result? What would happen if the founder of Snapchat or Zoom joined your organization?

    Tech startups aren’t the only ones who can think differently. We can all use this same creative thinking in our own careers, companies, and communities.

    In this energizing and surprising keynote, five-time tech entrepreneur and venture capital investor Josh Linkner demystifies startup thinking and shares a specific methodology that we can put into practice immediately. Audience members will learn to embrace the creativity, grit, and vision of a startup and then channel this approach to drive growth, innovation, efficiency, and customer delight. Participants get an insider’s look as Josh Linkner decodes startup thinking to help leaders of any size company in any industry or profession:

    • Understand how an entrepreneur would attack their organization with the specific goal of dislodging it
    • Reimagine their role through the lens of an entrepreneur
    • Harness the ferocity of entrepreneurial thinking
    • Embrace “startup speed” to increase velocity in their own organizations
    • Learn the five best approaches used by startups to create disruption
    • Avoid the weaknesses that plague entrepreneurs by exposing the four biggest startup death traps

  • THE CREATIVITY UPGRADE: Lead your team to the next level of innovation, growth, and sustainable success

    On a regular basis, we upgrade our cars, software, and wardrobe. But when was the last time you upgraded your imagination? Isn’t it about time to give your team a boost of inventive thinking, creative problem solving, and everyday innovation to drive better outcomes?

    From your upgrade, you will:

    • Learn and understand the mindsets of innovators
    • Grasp the need for – and urgency – of change
    • Become inspired to take action and forge a new path
    • Acquire specific techniques for creative problem solving
    • Leverage human imagination to outpunch the competition
    • Understand how and where to use inventive thinking to fuel growth
    • Discover fresh possibilities with heightened level of creative awareness
    • Recognize that we are all creative, and that everyday innovation is accessible for every role and job function
    • Demystify the creative process
    • Emerge with specific tools to close the Creativity Gap to achieve full potential
    • Launch a new version of you – as a powerful creative force

    In this inspiring keynote, Josh will help your team grow, as both business leaders and as people. Your audience will learn to solve problems in creative, nontraditional ways and expand their creative capacity to drive growth and sustainable success.

    Your group will laugh hysterically, feel thoroughly energized, get deeply inspired, and leave better equipped. Now that’s an upgrade that’s simply irresistible.

  • THE MUSIC OF BUSINESS: Problem solving, collaboration and agility from the dangerous world of jazz music

    Live jazz is an art form that equates to real-time innovation. To even navigate through a single song, jazz musicians must collaborate, adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, and make decisions in the face of ambiguity. As the baton of leadership gets passed from one musician to the next, individual contributors are constantly course correcting, inventing, and creatively solving problems.

    Sounds just like your organization, doesn’t it?

    In this unique and memorable keynote, jazz guitarist and tech entrepreneur Josh Linkner uses a live musical performance as a metaphor for modern, innovative collaboration. Josh and his fellow musicians lead the audience on a musical journey, sharing an insider’s look at this stunning art form. Through the lens of a jazz musician, participants will gain a fresh perspective and new techniques for creative problem solving, improved collaboration, and real-time agility.

    This mesmerizing session’s finale features live audience participation. After helping to ”compose” a new jazz song, three audience members join the band and perform their new composition live in front of their peers (no musical experience necessary). Participants are given handheld percussion instruments - along with some fun props and costumes - and together with Josh and his fellow musicians, the group performs for the audience. This live performance brings the key learning principles to life, always ending in a cheering crowd and terrific pictures for social media.

  • THE 5 MINDSETS OF INNOVATION: How the world’s most innovative leaders think and act

    Having interviewed hundreds of top innovators, leaders and organizations around the world, New York Times bestselling author and tech entrepreneur Josh Linkner uncovered the five most powerful mindsets that are the building blocks for jawdropping innovation. In this high-energy keynote, your audience will learn to embrace these powerful approaches in order to conquer adversity and fuel growth.

    How did an oddball idea save the cattle industry over $1 billion? How did a large hotel chain create a new revenue stream and drive competitive differentiation without investing a penny? How did the leaders of a small organization stave off a near-certain extinction, even when they were overwhelmingly outmatched by a powerful enemy?

    Each mindset is reinforced through surprising, real-world examples, laugh out loud moments, and practical takeaways. The five mindsets are portable and can be applied immediately to any role, job function, or industry. This memorable session will leave your audience inspired, moved, and better equipped.

Josh Linkner Videos

Josh Linkner Virtual Demo Reel
Josh Linkner Innovation Keynote Speaker 2020 Preview

Josh Linkner Reviews

  • You guys were so easy to work with and found us the perfect speaker for our conference!
    MyCase - Nov 17 2021

Josh Linkner News

How to book Josh Linkner?

Our booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure talent like Josh Linkner for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment for over 15 years. The team at All American Entertainment represents and listens to the needs of organizations and corporations seeking to hire keynote speakers, celebrities or entertainers. Fill out a booking request form for Josh Linkner, 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 pricing information and check availability for Josh Linkner or any other celebrity of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Josh Linkner?

Booking fees for Josh Linkner, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. Pricing often varies according to the circumstances, including the talent's schedule, market conditions, length of presentation, and the location of the event. Speaker fees listed on this website are intended to serve as a guideline only. In some cases, the actual quote may be above or below the stated range. For the most current fee to hire Josh Linkner, please fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak with an experienced booking agent.

Who is the agent for Josh Linkner?

All American Entertainment has successfully secured celebrity talent like Josh Linkner for clients worldwide for more than 15 years. As a full-service talent 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. Fill out the booking request form or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Josh Linkner for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service talent booking agency?

All American Speakers is a "buyers agent" and exclusively represents talent buyers, meeting planners and event professionals, who are looking to secure celebrities and speakers for personal appearances, speaking engagements, corporate entertainment, public relations campaigns, commercials, or endorsements. We do not exclusively represent Josh Linkner or claim ourselves as the exclusive booking agency, business manager, publicist, speakers bureau or management for Josh Linkner or any other speaker or celebrity on this website. For more information on how we work and what makes us unique, please read the AAE Advantage.


Josh Linkner is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Innovation, Marketing and Business Growth. The estimated speaking fee range to book Josh Linkner for live events is $30,000 - $50,000, and for virtual events $20,000 - $30,000. Josh Linkner generally travels from Detroit, MI, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Erik Qualman, Daymond John and Eduardo Briceño. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Josh Linkner for an upcoming event.

BOOKING INFORMATION REQUEST
JOSH LINKNER

We are happy to assist you with your interest in booking a speaker or celebrity for your event, your organization, and the type of talent you would like to secure, and an agent will be in touch shortly.

Fill out the form below to or call us at 1-800-698-2536 if need immediate assistance.

Tell us about your event!

We respond to most inquiries within 4 hours. Under special circumstances, it may take up to 24 hours.


This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

The 2022 Speaking Industry Benchmark Report