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Dr. John Kao

Dr. John Kao

Keynote Speaker: Chairman, Institute for Large Scale Innovation, Bestselling Author of "Innovation Nation" and "Jamming: The Art and Discipline of Business Creativity"

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Dr. John Kao Biography

Dubbed a "serial innovator" and "Mr. Creativity" by The Economist, he has made a career out of helping organizations go from "getting" the importance of innovation to "getting innovation done". John has worked with a wide range of Fortune 500 companies, startups and government agencies around practical issues of strategic innovation and organizational transformation.

In addition to his other accomplishments, John is an entrepreneur, best-selling author, sought-after keynote speaker, Tony-nominated producer and business pioneer. For 14 years, he taught at Harvard Business School, where he developed courses, lectures and executive seminars that addressed the topics of entrepreneurship, venture management, innovation, leadership and organizational change. He has also been a visiting professor at the MIT Media Lab and is at present the Distinguished Visiting Professor of Innovation at the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey.

John is well known as a thought leader in the innovation field. He is author of "Jamming: The Art and Discipline of Business Creativity", a Business Week best-seller that has been published in 12 languages. He was recently named one of the 200 most creative Americans and one of the 200 top management authorities worldwide.

John has previously founded companies in life sciences, innovation and e-services, and feature film production. He has advised governments and companies worldwide. He also serves as Vice President of Arts & Business in the UK and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. John has produced both film and theatre; his credits include: production executive on sex, lies, and videotape, executive producer of Mr. Baseball and producer of Golden Child.

John's experience in the design field is multifaceted. He chaired the Aspen Design Conference in 1995, which took up the question of reinventing the relationship between design and business, and edited a monograph based on the conference called "Designing Business". He has collaborated with a variety of world renowned designers, including David Rockwell, Nigel Holmes and David Carson. His approach to innovation is strongly informed by the disciplines of design.

John has broad experience in public speaking and executive education. He has given keynote addresses for such organizations as IBM, Intel, Accenture, The U.S. Navy, Nokia, Milia, PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Government of Ireland, The U.S. Department of Commerce, The American Marketing Association, Fortune magazine, Forbes magazine, Business Week, Citibank, The World Economic Forum, Global Business Network, the TED Conferences, Columbia Pictures and the Government of Singapore.

John's keynote speeches on innovation are distinguished for their vivid call to arms as well as their practical and original frameworks for action. He has been known to illustrate the fundamentals of innovation (of "jamming", in his words) by playing jazz piano in a way that provides musical examples of the innovation process at work. He has "performed" such illustrations before audiences at Madison Square Garden and the Grand Ole Opry.

Born in Chicago, John Kao was trained in philosophy (B.A., Yale College), psychiatry (M.D., Yale Medical School; residency, Harvard Medical School) and business (M.B.A., Harvard Business School).

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Dr. John Kao Videos

John Kao - The beginner's guide to innovating
John Kao - The importance of purpose for innovation
2012 GSWS Keynote Speaker: John Kao

How do I book Dr. John Kao to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Dr. John Kao 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 Dr. John Kao, 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 Dr. John Kao or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Dr. John Kao for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Dr. John Kao, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $50,000 - $100,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Dr. John Kao, 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 Dr. John Kao speak about?

Dr. John Kao is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business, Sales, Business Leadership, Creativity, Innovation, Leadership, Motivational and Marketing.

Where does Dr. John Kao travel from?

Dr. John Kao generally travels from San Jose, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Dr. John Kao?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Dr. John Kao 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 Dr. John Kao 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 Dr. John Kao 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.


Dr. John Kao is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Business, Sales and Business Leadership. The estimated speaking fee range to book Dr. John Kao for live events is $50,000 - $100,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Dr. John Kao generally travels from San Jose, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Richard Florida, Chris Hughes and Peter Sheahan. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Dr. John Kao for an upcoming event.

Dr. John Kao Videos

John Kao - The beginner's guide to innovating
John Kao - The importance of purpose for innovation
2012 GSWS Keynote Speaker: John Kao
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