Martin Gutmann
Keynote Speaker: Transformational Leadership & Decision-Making Expert; Author of "The Unseen Leader"
-
Travels From:
-
Speaking Fee:
-
Categories:
Martin Gutmann Biography
Martin Gutmann is a globally sought-after keynote speaker who brings fresh and urgent insights into how leaders can understand and navigate today’s uncertain world. Combining history, sociology, and organizational psychology, he delivers engaging, story-driven talks that challenge conventional wisdom and offer practical takeaways for leaders and organizations. His ability to bridge the past with the present helps audiences rethink leadership, decision-making, and strategy in an era of rapid change.
A professor at the Lucerne School of Business and senior lecturer at ETH Zurich, Gutmann's research and thought leadership have reached over 60 million people through pieces in the New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, Forbes (where Martin is a regular contributor), Inc., Fast Company, and many other popular outlets, as well as appearances on leading management podcasts. His TED Talk, “Are We Celebrating the Wrong Leaders?”, has been viewed over two million times and he was recently recognized in the Thinkers50 Radar Class of 2026.
Gutmann is the bestselling author of "The Unseen Leader: How History Can Help Us Rethink Leadership." Adam Grant, organizational psychologist and thought leader, describes the book as a: “A provocative look at what history really teaches us about effective leadership. This book will challenge you to rethink some of your core assumptions about what it takes to align people around common goals.”
Born in Sweden, Gutmann has lived and worked in Japan, the U.S., Canada, Mauritius, Germany, and Switzerland. From 2016 to 2020, he was the founding Managing Director of the Swiss School of Public Governance, where he launched a program for future global public sector leaders. He holds a PhD in history from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, an Executive MBA from IE Business School in Spain, and higher education teacher’s training from Harvard University and ETH Zurich.
Gutmann has delivered thought-provoking keynotes for organizations such as Google, UBS, Swiss Re, Zurich, Fujitsu, and Dow, as well as major international conferences. His presentations resonate with audiences across leadership, HR, strategy, and innovation, inspiring them to rethink how they approach decision-making and organizational culture. Participants leave with actionable strategies, a fresh perspective on leadership, and practical tools to turn uncertainty into opportunity.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Martin Gutmann and other top speakers and celebrities.
Martin Gutmann Speaking Topics
What really drives high-performance teams? In this eye-opening talk, Martin Gutmann breaks with conventional wisdom to reveal the secret behind truly resilient, high-performing teams (hint: the key is balancing relationships and performance), the critical role leaders play in making this happen, and why this matters now more than ever. Drawing on exceptional teams from sports—such as the Chicago Bulls—and business, as well as cutting-edge research on psychological safety, team dynamics, and humble leadership, this talk delivers surprising insights and actionable takeaways that will change the way you think about leadership and team performance.
This isn’t a talk about AI strategy. It’s a talk about what it will take to lead through one of the most profound revolutions in modern business. Combining sharp historical insight, witty anecdotes, state-of-the-field research, and actionable foresight, Martin Gutmann delivers a powerful new lens for understanding AI, not as a technical challenge, but as a leadership imperative. Attendees will gain insights into the five concrete tensions they need to master to lead well in the age of AI: trust, productivity, meaning, clarity, and power.
In his keynote, Martin Gutmann examines the early pioneers of aviation and the 1927 race to fly across the Atlantic, drawing parallels to contemporary leadership amid uncertainty and rapid change. He highlights three enduring yet counterintuitive principles for effective leadership: subtract rather than add, use a compass instead of a map, and practice humility. Attendees will gain valuable insights into navigating today's complex challenges with confidence and clarity.
Based on the TED talk that became a global sensation, Martin Gutmann challenges your team in this keynote to reconsider their definition of effective leadership, highlighting that true greatness lies in preventing crises rather than responding dramatically to them. Drawing lessons from the disaster-prone explorer Ernest Shackleton and other similarly famous (but consistently unsuccessful leaders), he challenges conventional views and offers a fresh perspective on what makes a leader truly exceptional. Attendees will learn to appreciate the often-overlooked skill of crisis prevention and learn to cultivate the three universal traits of effective leaders: fluency in context, a balance of humility and confidence, and a pragmatic mindset.
In this sweeping and thought-provoking talk, Martin Gutmann unpacks the forces reshaping our world—from artificial intelligence to geopolitical upheaval and economic uncertainty. Drawing on historical parallels, he reveals three unexpected but essential predictions for how these disruptions will impact business and society. With clarity and insight, he highlights the key actions leaders must take to navigate volatility, build resilience, and seize new opportunities. Attendees will leave with a clear framework for understanding today’s most pressing global developments—and a roadmap for leading through uncertainty.
How do I book Martin Gutmann to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Martin Gutmann 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 Martin Gutmann, 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 Martin Gutmann or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Martin Gutmann for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Martin Gutmann, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Martin Gutmann are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Martin Gutmann, 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 Martin Gutmann speak about?
Martin Gutmann is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Leadership, Author, Business Authors, Political, Geopolitics, World Affairs, Personal Growth, Emotional Intelligence, Disruptive Thinking, Artificial Intelligence, Peak Performance, TED, Professors and European Heritage.
Where does Martin Gutmann travel from?
Martin Gutmann generally travels from Zürich, Switzerland and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Martin Gutmann?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Martin Gutmann 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 Martin Gutmann 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 Martin Gutmann 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.
Martin Gutmann is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Leadership, Author and Business Authors. The estimated speaking fee range to book Martin Gutmann for live events is $20,000 - $30,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Martin Gutmann generally travels from Zürich, Switzerland and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Yanis Varoufakis, Edward Tenner and Thomas Pogge. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Martin Gutmann for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Martin Gutmann Speaking Topics
-
The Secret to Leading High Performance Team
What really drives high-performance teams? In this eye-opening talk, Martin Gutmann breaks with conventional wisdom to reveal the secret behind truly resilient, high-performing teams (hint: the key is balancing relationships and performance), the critical role leaders play in making this happen, and why this matters now more than ever. Drawing on exceptional teams from sports—such as the Chicago Bulls—and business, as well as cutting-edge research on psychological safety, team dynamics, and humble leadership, this talk delivers surprising insights and actionable takeaways that will change the way you think about leadership and team performance.
-
Leadership in the Age of AI
This isn’t a talk about AI strategy. It’s a talk about what it will take to lead through one of the most profound revolutions in modern business. Combining sharp historical insight, witty anecdotes, state-of-the-field research, and actionable foresight, Martin Gutmann delivers a powerful new lens for understanding AI, not as a technical challenge, but as a leadership imperative. Attendees will gain insights into the five concrete tensions they need to master to lead well in the age of AI: trust, productivity, meaning, clarity, and power.
-
The Leadership Playbook for an Uncertain World
In his keynote, Martin Gutmann examines the early pioneers of aviation and the 1927 race to fly across the Atlantic, drawing parallels to contemporary leadership amid uncertainty and rapid change. He highlights three enduring yet counterintuitive principles for effective leadership: subtract rather than add, use a compass instead of a map, and practice humility. Attendees will gain valuable insights into navigating today's complex challenges with confidence and clarity.
-
Why Do We Celebrate the Wrong Leaders
Based on the TED talk that became a global sensation, Martin Gutmann challenges your team in this keynote to reconsider their definition of effective leadership, highlighting that true greatness lies in preventing crises rather than responding dramatically to them. Drawing lessons from the disaster-prone explorer Ernest Shackleton and other similarly famous (but consistently unsuccessful leaders), he challenges conventional views and offers a fresh perspective on what makes a leader truly exceptional. Attendees will learn to appreciate the often-overlooked skill of crisis prevention and learn to cultivate the three universal traits of effective leaders: fluency in context, a balance of humility and confidence, and a pragmatic mindset.
-
Decoding the Age of Disruption
In this sweeping and thought-provoking talk, Martin Gutmann unpacks the forces reshaping our world—from artificial intelligence to geopolitical upheaval and economic uncertainty. Drawing on historical parallels, he reveals three unexpected but essential predictions for how these disruptions will impact business and society. With clarity and insight, he highlights the key actions leaders must take to navigate volatility, build resilience, and seize new opportunities. Attendees will leave with a clear framework for understanding today’s most pressing global developments—and a roadmap for leading through uncertainty.
VIDEO
Martin Gutmann Videos
BOOKS
FAQS
-
How do I book Martin Gutmann to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Martin Gutmann 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 Martin Gutmann, 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 Martin Gutmann or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Martin Gutmann for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Martin Gutmann, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Martin Gutmann are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Martin Gutmann, 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 Martin Gutmann speak about?
Martin Gutmann is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Leadership, Author, Business Authors, Political, Geopolitics, World Affairs, Personal Growth, Emotional Intelligence, Disruptive Thinking, Artificial Intelligence, Peak Performance, TED, Professors and European Heritage. -
Where does Martin Gutmann travel from?
Martin Gutmann generally travels from Zürich, Switzerland and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Martin Gutmann?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Martin Gutmann 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 Martin Gutmann 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 Martin Gutmann 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.
BOOK MARTIN GUTMANN
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.
We respond to most inquiries within 4 hours. Under special circumstances, it may take up to 24 hours.
We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.
Gauge Interest and check availability for appearances, speaking engagements, or corporate events.
Provide you with speaking fee to book Martin Gutmann or other celebrity appearance fees
Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities
Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process
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.
