There’s a familiar pattern that plays out in C-Suites and boardrooms in every industry around the world. Something big happens…an economic shock, a geopolitical event, a climate disaster, a technological leap, like ChatGPT or tomorrow’s big quantum event, and for a moment, everything feels…different. Urgent. Unavoidable. “We need to do something!” becomes the prevailing mantra. And then, almost quietly, we drift back into business as usual. Not because leaders don’t care. Not because they’re not paying attention. But because the…
Rotman School of Management: What it takes to thrive in ‘the Novel Economy’ – Q&A with Brian Solis
The biggest risk in 2026 is leaders using 2016 mindsets to lead…but mistaking it as a 2026 mindset. I’ve been meaning to share my interview with University of Toronto – Rotman School of Management Magazine. This is a “Novel Economy,” where disruption is constant, compounding, and *always* novel (AI, climate, geopolitics, quantum, spatial intelligence… all evolving, emerging, and colliding). And when leaders talk about a “new normal,” it’s often a tell: they’re trying to steer back to business as usual…
“We’re Not Building a Phone”: Steve Jobs’ Leadership Lesson for Reframing the Future
The beauty of this moment is that every one of us gets to be a leader of what’s next. Why now? Because the only playbook that exists is for yesterday. There is no playbook for tomorrow. No proven answers. No “best practice” to copy and paste. No “quick win” use cases that unlock new value. And that’s exactly the point. Right now, I define leadership in a simple (and slightly uncomfortable) way: a leader is someone willing to think differently…
Rethinking Leadership and Innovation in an AI-First World
Brian Solis recently spent time with David Kirkpatrick, CoreX, exploring the new world with AI and how leaders, at every level, can rethink their way forward. Artificial intelligence represents a new era of thinking. Few people capture this shift as sharply as Brian Solis, Head of Global Innovation at ServiceNow, bestselling author, and renowned digital anthropologist. With his latest book, Mindshift: Transform Leadership, Drive Innovation, and Reshape the Future, Solis challenges leaders to move beyond fear and efficiency toward curiosity, creativity, and reinvention….
Here’s What Makes Change Agents and Leaders Successful
I meant to share this from InnoLead….I hope it adds value to your day. In my work with change agents over the years, one thing has become clear: leadership is a decision you make about the future you are willing to fight for. When I wrote “The Digital Change Agent’s Manifesto” back in 2019, I interviewed leaders driving transformation at brands like The Coca-Cola Company, Starbucks, Samsung Electronics, Visa, and others. They were not always in big roles. Many were…
The Global Drucker Forum: Brian Solis on Mindshift, AI-Era Leadership, Value Creation, and the Power of Optimistic Innovation
Standing on the red carpet at the Global Peter Drucker Forum in Vienna with Franziska Graf, I was reminded why Peter Drucker’s ideas still matter… In this short conversation at the historic Hofburg Palace, we explore: 1) The importance of a “Mindshift” right now, and how rethinking our mindset is the starting point for meaningful change. 2) How AI demands a next-generation model of leadership (hint: AI doesn’t decide who loses their job, leaders do). 3) Why the true role of…
AI Adoption is an Act of Self-Disruption: An Interview with Invisible Machines
Brian Solis, is a digital anthropologist and futurist who serves as the Head of Global Innovation at ServiceNow and is the former Head of Global Innovation at Salesforce. Brian is a bestselling author of Mindshift, which helps leaders learn how to see emerging trends, harness disruptive forces, and use them to fuel growth. Brian joins Robb and Josh, the authors of Invisible Machines, to talk with us about the importance of self-disruption in AI adoption. With so many genAI projects…
What Would AI Do? Rethinking Transformation from Procurement to the Enterprise at DPW
Live from the floor of DPW in New York, I had the privilege of joining my long-time friend Mark Perera on the DPW podcast. We explored the future of technology, business, and leadership, while also looking back to our roots in Silicon Valley during the rise of Web 1.0, Web 2.0, Social Media, and smartphones. What made it truly special wasn’t just the set, it was the conversations I had with procurement leaders, innovators, and partners before stepping up to…
Brian Solis Selected as Featured Speaker at SXSW Sydney 2025
Brian Solis is excited to announce that he’s joining SXSW Sydney 14 October. His session: “AI as the Mindshift for a New Leadership Paradigm” is open to all who welcome the opportunity to explore how AI unlocks new paths forward. Please add his session to your agenda.
Leadership needs a mindshift: A conversation with Brian Solis
So many things are changing right now, except our mindsets. To thrive in this renaissance, future leadership requires a mindshift. If you haven’t met NTT DATA’s Tammy Soares yet, this is a good time. I had the absolute pleasure of spending time with her on the Catalyst podcast to talk about why the time is now to challenge your own thinking, your current mindset. We often think that change is for others, when in fact, change is for all of…
