Speaking Topics

Global Scenarios for the Post-Pandemic World

The two words that best capture the post-pandemic world are “continental drift.” The global economy is rapidly becoming more regional. Globalization continues in many areas such as commodities, capital flows, and digital services, but from energy to electronics, North America, Europe, and Asia are becoming more self-sufficient through trade agreements and industrial policies aimed at controlling the supply chains. At the same time, a new era of competitive connectivity has begun as the tug-of-war heats up between China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the West’s “Build Back Better World” (B3W) agenda. Drawing on the copious research presented in his acclaimed book Connectography, Parag Khanna provides cutting-edge insights into the geopolitical, geoeconomic, and geo-technological shape of the future, with specific recommendations on how and where to invest in a volatile world.

The Global War for Young Talent

The lasting impact of the pandemic will be both demographic and geographic. We are reaching “peak humanity,” a global population not likely to cross nine billion people, but most of the world’s people are still young — and as they vote with their feet, they determine the winners and losers of the 21st century. Countries are now vigorously competing in a global war for youth to attract the taxpayers, workers, homeowners, and entrepreneurs of the future. Companies must do the same, even as workers of all ages are jumping ship in search of better options and lifestyles. In a remote working world, millennials and Gen-Z are moving targets. How can corporations attract young employees to headquarters while also building a decentralized workplace culture. Drawing upon insightful research from his book Move, Parag Khanna presents the world from the standpoint of the youth who will define it, guiding your talent acquisition and retention strategies for the years ahead.

Climate Adaptation:

Humankind’s Highest Priority

Deadly disasters are intensifying, with ever greater costs to societies everywhere. Rising sea levels and floods, droughts and heatwaves, cyclones, and forest fires cause upwards of $200 billion in damage annually. Climate refugees now outnumber political and economic migrants. The world will not only be hotter but also more violent, with conflicts over food and water, and uncontrolled mass migrations. That is why climate adaptation must be every nation and company’s foremost priority. This includes fortifying and redesigning our homes and buildings, investing in renewable energy and resilient food production, and relocating our businesses, citizens, and workers to more stable habitats. The climate will not adapt to us; we will have to adapt to it. Drawing up Climate Alpha’s proprietary software, Parag Khanna provides tailored analysis of the locations across the globe best suited to your business requirements and guides you in creating a tailored strategy for climate resilience.

The Future Is Asian:

Billions of People, Trillions of Dollars

Asia remains the world’s growth engine, representing more than half the world’s population and fifty percent of the global GDP. China is neck-and-neck with the US as the top destination for foreign investment and has accelerated its quest for technological autonomy and expanded the use of its currency. Meanwhile, the world’s largest trade agreement — Asia’s Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) — has come into effect. The next chapter of Asia’s economic story is also being written by the “fourth wave” regions of South and Southeast Asia, with countries such as India and Vietnam delivering the world’s fastest growth and taking the lead in new unicorn companies. As the author of the landmark book The Future is Asian, there is no better guide than Parag Khanna to the geography that drives the world economy. 

To request a keynote speech, boardroom briefing, corporate retreat, or other speaking engagement, please contact:

Creative Artists Agency (CAA)

Billy Hallock
[email protected]

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Dominic Evans
[email protected]

To request Dr. Khanna for a speaking engagement, please click on the link below.

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Testimonials

Parag is a brilliant, energetic, and mesmerizing speaker who carried the opening day at our recent symposium, the largest annual gathering of geospatial intelligence practitioners in the world. Our almost 4,000 attendees bring wide-ranging areas of expertise regarding myriad emerging technologies, including remote sensing, data analytics, and intelligence for national security. They were universally blown away by Parag’s talk, and the concepts he raised were grist for superb conversations and debates during the entirety of our event.

– US Geospatial Intelligence Foundation

Business speakers have an impossible challenge to advise, inspire and keep their audience at the edge of their seats. In looking for the right speaker, we have the added pressure to ensure our clients walk away with value for the time they set aside to listen. Parag’s presentation was thought provoking and stimulating for our sophisticated clients.

– CBRE Capital Markets

Parag brought a sophisticated and optimistic vision for the future of the world economy to our colleagues.

– Goldman Sachs Asset Management

Parag's insight and analysis on the crucial role multi-generational families play in the world economy, and the range of investible assets that present great opportunities for the years ahead, provided Campden Wealth’s community with a stimulating and essential contribution to our North American Family Investment Conference.

– Campden Wealth Management

Parag was a highly rated keynote speaker at our recent European conference. During a particularly challenging and volatile time in the markets, his speech focusing on the mega-trends shaping the macro environment offered a thought provoking and cutting edge perspective for our clients.

– Barclays

Parag's keynote was exactly the macro view we needed to stimulate conversations on the intersection of financial services and emerging digital technologies. Very stimulating for our executives and clients.

– SAS

UPS's clients are looking at logistics and digital solutions on a global scale. Dr. Khanna's concept of the 'supply chain world' and his detailed analysis of the current trends in globalization and obstacles to smoother integration was exactly what we were looking for.

– UPS

Volatility has returned to global markets, but Dr. Khanna made a very persuasive case for the huge continued long-term opportunities in emerging markets, especially Asia. His presentation on the growing attractiveness of infrastructure as an asset class was first-rate.

– Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan

I'm pleased that Parag was able to speak at our Sustainable Financing Forum. We have received exceptional customer feedback. Customers and other attendees made special mention of the quality of the speakers, the depth and breadth of insights shared and relevance of the subject matter. Please extend my thanks to Parag for his valuable contribution and for sharing his insights with such clarity.

– HSBC

Clyde & Co. is rapidly expanding worldwide in vital industries such as insurance, transport and infrastructure. Parag provided a sharp and rapid-fire perspective on how these crucial sectors are evolving in a volatile world and mapped out pathways that benefited all our partners. Our collective view was: 'Wow!'

– Clyde & Co.

Dr. Khanna was a 'home run' at this year's ECC Conference. His presentation on his original work in Connectography was a perfect fit for our conference theme of innovation. Parag was an excellent speaker with a unique presentation on taking a different perspective on world geography. His research and theories gave our conference some great insights on where we might best focus our efforts to insure sustainable future growth in global commerce.

– Albemarle Corporation

Dr. Khanna's opening keynote address at our recent foreign direct investment forum was engaging, insightful and stimulating for our diverse audience of senior decision makers from government and international corporations. His thought provoking perspectives set the scene perfectly for the day ahead.

– Financial Times Live

Investor AB's 100th anniversary celebration was a major milestone in one of Europe's leading family firms. Dr. Khanna's opening keynote speech was inspirational to our senior management and the heads of our many portfolio companies. His vision of the future is precisely what we believe all investors should focus on.

– Investor AB (Sweden)

Parag offered our members a knowledgeable and fascinating perspective on the ways in which an increasingly urban world will renegotiate the historical boundaries of our geopolitical landscape. The various visuals and extensive research he provided made for a fact-packed program that fully engaged everyone in the room.

– Economic Club of Chicago

FANTASTIC!  Parag Khanna was masterful, relatable, relevant, amenable and elegant!  What more could you want in a speaker – and did I mention, dynamic!

– Carmel Public Library Foundation

AMAZING! He was a hit! 100% we made the right choice.

– ServiceNow

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