Mark Kennedy
Keynote Speaker: University President, Former U.S. Congressman, Business Executive
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Speaking Fee:
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Mark Kennedy Biography
The only person to have served as a senior officer of a Fortune 100 company, a U.S. Congressman, and president of a flagship public research university, Mark Kennedy delivers keynotes that equip leaders to compete with clarity in an age of disruption.
As Founding Director of the Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition, Kennedy crafts policy strategies that align open societies against authoritarian threats—focusing on trusted technology alliances, resilient supply chains, and the digital rules that shape power. His GRIPS, PIVOT, and ALIGN frameworks help executives, policymakers, and educators to diagnose posture, reinforce systems, and convert strategy into execution. Through his Mind the Gap series, Kennedy exposes how failure often results not from flawed ambition, but from misaligned systems—offering leaders a roadmap for building institutional coherence and trust.
He is also the author of "Shapeholders: Business Success in the Age of Activism" (Columbia University Press), which redefines how leaders engage those who influence an organization’s risks and opportunities—even without holding a stake in its success. Kennedy applied these principles firsthand while helping lead Federated Department Stores through what was then the largest non-oil merger and corporate reorganization in U.S. history—a transformation that created today’s Macy’s.
A first-generation college graduate, Kennedy’s career spans business, government, and academia. He has led through some of the 21st century’s most defining disruptions: navigating the aftermath of 9/11 as a member of Congress, guiding the University of North Dakota through a major oil bust, and steering the University of Colorado system through the COVID-19 pandemic. Across each, he earned trust by aligning shapeholders and systems toward mission-first resilience.
He has engaged leaders and learners alike in more than 45 countries—meeting with heads of state, senior ministers, civic leaders, and students in settings ranging from world capitals to war zones, refugee camps, military bases, and aircraft carriers at sea.
His keynotes blend geopolitical foresight with institutional insight, equipping audiences to navigate disruption with clarity and courage. Mark Kennedy delivers more than a speech—he delivers a 360° lens for leadership in a contested world.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Mark Kennedy and other top speakers and celebrities.
Mark Kennedy Speaking Topics
Flagship Keynote on Strategic Competition
In a world of fractured alliances and rival tech ecosystems, strategic competition isn’t a single fight—it’s a system-wide test of alignment, trust, and execution. In this powerful keynote, Mark Kennedy explains why winning today’s geopolitical contest requires more than capability—it demands coherence.
Audiences will walk away with a shared language for navigating complexity, grounded in Kennedy’s GRIPS, PIVOT, and ALIGN frameworks. Whether in boardrooms, ministries, or universities, Mark delivers a roadmap for leading with clarity in a contested, interdependent world.
Audience Takeaways: • How democracies can compete without fragmentation • Why trust, not just strength, defines strategic advantage • A practical framework to align strategy, systems, and execution
The New Toolkit of Global Influence
Markets have become battlegrounds. In this provocative talk, Kennedy shows how finance, trade, and development are now frontline tools of global power. From supply chain controls to infrastructure finance, he explores how open societies can lead through aligned geoeconomic strategy.
This is a must-hear for leaders navigating sanctions, export controls, new trade regimes, or the rise of alternative financial blocs.
Audience Takeaways: • Why rules-based trade must be strategic—not just liberal • How to harness infrastructure and investment for alignment • What economic resilience looks like in a multipolar world
Redefining Partnership for the Age of Systems Rivalry
Alliances must evolve from last-resort defense pacts into full-spectrum partnerships—spanning tech, trade, regulation, and governance. Mark Kennedy draws on high-level policy experience to reveal how alliances like NATO, AUKUS, IPEF, and the Quad must modernize for resilience and relevance.
Ideal for summits, foreign ministries, or industries embedded in alliance-driven ecosystems.
Audience Takeaways: • The future of alliances: not just defense, but direction • Lessons from digital cooperation and Indo-Pacific frameworks • The strategic role of industry in alliance modernization
Digital Trust as a Strategic Asset
From AI standards to semiconductors and data flows, Kennedy reveals how technology is the frontline of modern competition—and why democracies must shape interoperable, values-based digital ecosystems. This keynote speaks directly to public and private actors navigating a shifting digital order, offering clarity on policy, alignment, and responsible innovation.
Audience Takeaways: • How democracies can lead through digital governance • Why trust, not dominance, defines tech power • Real-world playbook for building tech alliances that last
Winning the Tech Race Without Becoming What We Fear
Can democracies lead in AI, chips, and cloud without compromising their identity? In this inspiring talk, Kennedy lays out how to embed values in tech strategy—balancing innovation, security, and civil liberties.
It’s not just about speed—it’s about what kind of future we’re building. This keynote is ideal for conferences at the intersection of tech, ethics, and national strategy.
Audience Takeaways: • Why values are strategic assets in digital leadership • How to embed resilience into AI and infrastructure • Strategies to avoid decoupling while competing boldly
Mark Kennedy Videos
How do I book Mark Kennedy to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Mark Kennedy 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 Mark Kennedy, 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 Mark Kennedy or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Mark Kennedy for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Mark Kennedy, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Mark Kennedy are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Mark Kennedy, 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 Mark Kennedy speak about?
Mark Kennedy is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business Leadership, Government, College, Business, Business Growth, Education, Conservative, Republican, Leadership and Political.
Who is the agent for Mark Kennedy?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Mark Kennedy 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 Mark Kennedy 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 Mark Kennedy 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.
Mark Kennedy is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Business Leadership, Government and College. The estimated speaking fee range to book Mark Kennedy for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Mark Kennedy can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Steve Largent, Michael Steele and Kim Klacik. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Mark Kennedy for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Mark Kennedy Speaking Topics
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From Overconfidence to Coherence: Competing Like It Matters
Flagship Keynote on Strategic Competition
In a world of fractured alliances and rival tech ecosystems, strategic competition isn’t a single fight—it’s a system-wide test of alignment, trust, and execution. In this powerful keynote, Mark Kennedy explains why winning today’s geopolitical contest requires more than capability—it demands coherence.
Audiences will walk away with a shared language for navigating complexity, grounded in Kennedy’s GRIPS, PIVOT, and ALIGN frameworks. Whether in boardrooms, ministries, or universities, Mark delivers a roadmap for leading with clarity in a contested, interdependent world.
Audience Takeaways: • How democracies can compete without fragmentation • Why trust, not just strength, defines strategic advantage • A practical framework to align strategy, systems, and execution
-
Geoeconomic Statecraft: Power Through Markets, Rules, and Infrastructure
The New Toolkit of Global Influence
Markets have become battlegrounds. In this provocative talk, Kennedy shows how finance, trade, and development are now frontline tools of global power. From supply chain controls to infrastructure finance, he explores how open societies can lead through aligned geoeconomic strategy.
This is a must-hear for leaders navigating sanctions, export controls, new trade regimes, or the rise of alternative financial blocs.
Audience Takeaways: • Why rules-based trade must be strategic—not just liberal • How to harness infrastructure and investment for alignment • What economic resilience looks like in a multipolar world
-
Alliances for the 21st Century: From Security Guarantees to Strategic Integration
Redefining Partnership for the Age of Systems Rivalry
Alliances must evolve from last-resort defense pacts into full-spectrum partnerships—spanning tech, trade, regulation, and governance. Mark Kennedy draws on high-level policy experience to reveal how alliances like NATO, AUKUS, IPEF, and the Quad must modernize for resilience and relevance.
Ideal for summits, foreign ministries, or industries embedded in alliance-driven ecosystems.
Audience Takeaways: • The future of alliances: not just defense, but direction • Lessons from digital cooperation and Indo-Pacific frameworks • The strategic role of industry in alliance modernization
-
Trusted Technology Alliances: Governing the Future Together
Digital Trust as a Strategic Asset
From AI standards to semiconductors and data flows, Kennedy reveals how technology is the frontline of modern competition—and why democracies must shape interoperable, values-based digital ecosystems. This keynote speaks directly to public and private actors navigating a shifting digital order, offering clarity on policy, alignment, and responsible innovation.
Audience Takeaways: • How democracies can lead through digital governance • Why trust, not dominance, defines tech power • Real-world playbook for building tech alliances that last
-
Tech Leadership in a Fractured World: Competing Without Losing Our Values
Winning the Tech Race Without Becoming What We Fear
Can democracies lead in AI, chips, and cloud without compromising their identity? In this inspiring talk, Kennedy lays out how to embed values in tech strategy—balancing innovation, security, and civil liberties.
It’s not just about speed—it’s about what kind of future we’re building. This keynote is ideal for conferences at the intersection of tech, ethics, and national strategy.
Audience Takeaways: • Why values are strategic assets in digital leadership • How to embed resilience into AI and infrastructure • Strategies to avoid decoupling while competing boldly
VIDEO
Mark Kennedy Videos
FAQS
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How do I book Mark Kennedy to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Mark Kennedy 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 Mark Kennedy, 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 Mark Kennedy or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Mark Kennedy for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Mark Kennedy, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Mark Kennedy are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Mark Kennedy, 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 Mark Kennedy speak about?
Mark Kennedy is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business Leadership, Government, College, Business, Business Growth, Education, Conservative, Republican, Leadership and Political. -
Who is the agent for Mark Kennedy?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Mark Kennedy 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 Mark Kennedy 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 Mark Kennedy 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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