Mike Maddock

Mike Maddock considers himself an entrepreneurial anthropologist whose purpose is “to inspire and empower curiosity.” He gives leaders the confidence to take action by providing the inspiration, tools, and connections they need. He is an entrepreneur, a keynote speaker, a writer, and an Idea Monkey.

He calls himself an Idea Monkey because he loves to solve problems with disruptive ideas. This passion for problem-solving led him to establish Maddock Douglas, Inc. in 1991. Maddock Douglas has become an internationally recognized innovation consultancy that has helped more than 25 percent of the Fortune 100 create and launch new products, services, and business models. It is the perfect place for Idea Monkeys and the Ringleaders who keep them on track.

Mike has launched six successful businesses. He also co-chairs the Gathering of Titans Entrepreneurial Conclave at MIT, he is past Chapter Chairman of Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO) and Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO), both located in Chicago.

A doodler turned cartoonist turned author, Mike has used words and pictures to get laughs and build ideas his entire life. Today, Mike is the author of four books: “Free the Idea Monkey…to focus on what matters most!”; “Brand New: Solving the Innovation Paradox”; “Flirting With the Uninterested: Innovating in a Sold, Not Bought Category” — and, finally, “Plan D,” his latest book about Disruptors. He is also a featured innovation columnist for Forbes where he writes about entrepreneurship.

The Future of Professional Advice – 5 Bold Predictions

As the saying goes, “All of us, are smarter than any of us.” Mike uses the wisdom of the crowd to predict the post-pandemic future of professional advice. This presentation is based on the data from two, privately commissioned, prediction market studies. The studies reveal shocking and critical insights about the future of professional advice. Who will we go to for advice when we make our important financial decisions? How, when, and why will we pay for advice? How do advisors and consumers view the role of technology in the future? Which industries will expand and why?  How do Millennials, Boomers, Gen-X and Advisors see the future differently?

Mike uses humorous stories backed by fresh data to reveal an unexpected but opportunistic future for innovative advisors, consumers, and companies.

Key takeaways include:

• Learn how dramatically different Boomers and Millennials will engage with advisors
• Advisors are now expected to expand their services––learn how and why
• Technology just became more important than your brand. Advisors tell you why.

The Crisis Cocktail

The Crisis Cocktail is a speech based on Mike’s newest book (due out early 2023). It is a guide to how leaders make deliciously difficult decisions.

Key takeaways include:

• Learn the three most destructive and constructive roles leaders play in decision making
• Understand the simple prioritization process leaders employ to work on the essential, not the urgent
• Understand how to establish the “Creator’s Impulse” when your company, your team or your family needs a leader the most.

Balancing Imagination & Execution

Is your team better at creating big ideas or masterful execution? This fun and interactive keynote speech is based on Mike’s bestselling book Free the Idea Monkey to focus on what matters most. Your team will see how the most successful companies manage the healthy and essential tension between the divergent and convergent thinkers on your team; The Idea Monkeys and the Ringleaders. In the end, they will realize that everyone is a hero in this story.

Key takeaways include:

• How to identify the ideas that will create the biggest impact
• Simple processes to maintain the proper balance between ideas and execution
• Why Idea Monkeys and Ringleaders are both essential to create disruption
• The innovation portfolio model that leading companies use to maintain balance
• Techniques to get the most out of your visionaries and operators

Plan D – Empowering Disruptors

What do Oprah Winfrey, Elon Musk, Richard Branson and Walt Disney have in common? They are all Disruptors, which means they know how to blow sh** up for the good of the whole.

Do you?

Boxer Mike Tyson famously said, “Everyone has a plan until you get punched in the mouth.” Today, leaders are being “punched in the face” by the confluence of game-changing technology, aggressive entrepreneurs and impatient consumers. This leaves winning leaders with three choices: They can be the Disruptors themselves, partner with Disruptors, or learn how to manage Disruptors even better.

This keynote presentation is based on Mike’s best-selling book Plan D. It is a highly entertaining talk that focuses on the unexpected, amusing and replicable superhero powers of business Disruptors. Mike will teach you how to dream, drive and deliver like the “crazy ones.”

Key takeaways include:

• The three keys to being the Disruptor—not the disrupted
• Disruptor frameworks that you can easily “parallel engineer” (read: steal)
• How Disruptors find a yin for their yang
• Why Disruptors believe in ghosts (and you should too)