 Speech Topics
Carly Fiorina speaks on the most pressing issues facing business leaders, society and policy makers. Her talks draw not only on her corporate experience, but also from her experience advising governments over the last few years. Her work with U.S. Departments of Defense and State as well as the CIA has given her great insight into the power and frailties of bureaucracies and the difficulties policy-makers face. Her work with philanthropic organizations and not-for-profits has given her insight into the importance and impact of groups that are neither business nor government.
Limitless Possibilities – Creating Success in an Unpredictable Future
For all the complexities and challenges of this century, it is also a time of great promise. The twin change-drivers of globalization and technology create an environment where we can quite literally do anything we choose. But the world has fewer than 20 years of experience with globalization – its rapid evolution and impact continue to surprise us. Additionally, the power of technology, by becoming increasingly digital, mobile, virtual and personal, will make the improbable possible. In this environment, never has leadership counted more. Carly Fiorina looks ahead at how the drivers of change, globalization and technology will continue to affect us in unpredictable ways and what leaders can do to harness them.
Leadership Is About Change – It Starts with the People
Leadership is about changing the order of things and making a positive difference. Fear and resistance can derail those efforts, making change controversial, messy, difficult and perhaps even dangerous. Change, therefore, must be powered by collaboration and driven by leadership. Carly Fiorina came to the business world with a passion for unlocking people’s potential. She believes that business is really the story of people, the things that motivate and drive people, and getting people to work together. We sometimes think that rules are going to take care of everything – things will be better if we just have the right policies. The truth is nothing substitutes for values, ethics and judgment. Fiorina offers lessons she’s learned at Lucent, AT&T and H-P that will help leaders focus on what matters most when trying to effect change. She’ll show how to set the tone in their organizations, get buy-in and execute on the strategy for change.
Leading Organizational Transformation
Carly Fiorina says, “If change is greeted with unanimity – if everyone sees what’s obvious – it’s probably already too late.” And yet, pursuing change before all agree it is necessary has its own set of difficulties, as Fiorina can attest. Yet, in the end, her vision of a combined H-P/Compaq organization is now considered a stunningly gutsy and brilliant move. Rules-based bureaucracies aren’t built to address 21st Century challenges of rapid change and unpredictability. A tolerance for risk-taking and a "learn as you go" approach is more important than ever and yet, some things are even more important: judgment, perspective and character. Leaders must look to see the possibilities and then inspire others to seize those possibilities. Speaking from experience, Fiorina shows leaders how to take risks to create innovation – how to bolster the core of any transformation effort, what she calls the “software” of business: culture, values and leadership development – and how to foster an organizational leadership that aspires to a culture where all the tough issues are put on the table and talked about. Her point: if you never debate or disagree, you create a poor decision-making process. Conversely, if you never find common ground, you never move forward, as common ground is essential to the transformation of any enterprise.
The Challenge of Globalization
The world has about 15 years of experience with a truly global economy and the path of the future is still not clear. As business leaders struggle to stay on a course of steady growth, so to are policy-makers now engaged in a crash-course to understand the implications of trade, currency complexities and other subtleties heretofore not previously dealt with. Carly Fiorina looks at the unique challenges faced by business leaders – from Main Street to Wall Street – and the policy-makers who create the infrastructure for international business.
Keeping America Competitive in a Global Economy
Throughout history global political power has been based on economic might. Countries with the most capable workforce and resources dominate. As the global economy undergoes major shifts, it will take innovative policies to ensure the U.S. remains competitive. Fiorina is a remarkable American success story and one of the world’s great business leaders. As an advisor to presidents, political candidates and international leaders, her experience in business and government give her incredible insight into the economy. Separating fact from fiction Fiorina offers a sweeping view of the major economic policy decisions facing our country. From trade agreements to the tax system, she describes how political decisions will play out globally. Fiorina outlines how reform can turn the economic tide when combined with a commitment to increased transparency of financial markets. Business executives will gain an understanding of how to leverage the intersection of public policy and commerce to drive business growth.
Corporate Stewardship – Business and Citizenship
Over a billion people in the world, or roughly one in six, live in extreme poverty and live on less than $1 a day. Corporate leaders have an opportunity to redefine the role of the corporation and to improve millions of impoverished lives. Fiorina made great strides at Hewlett Packard, establishing community-based initiatives in each of the 183 countries where the company operated. Today she serves on a variety of global community organizations including Opportunity International that provides micro-lending and training to a million people to annually. She also periodically advises Dr. Muhammad Yunnus, the founder of the micro-lending movement.
Corporate Governance – Balancing Conflicting Interests
The goal of board members should be to build great companies – companies that can compete and win and endure on the world stage. In the process, they must make judgments that balance the demands of customers, employees, communities and investors. Boards need to act with appropriate speed, take real risks and consider a complex, rapidly changing set of challenges which are driven both by technology and globalization – all while considering the leading indicators of firm’s health: customer satisfaction, rate of innovation, diversity and ethics. Carly Fiorina has had extensive experience with boards in business, government and philanthropy. She looks at what the board should spend time on, how it should do its work and most important – who should be on the board? She cites examples of the dangers of “group think” and shows why boards need to deliberate and examine diverse points of view with rigor and always strive for unanimity.
About Carly Fiorina
One of the most high-profile business leaders in the world, Carly Fiorina passionately believes in the power of people to transform organizations and change the world.
Leading H-P’s Transformation: After a celebrated 22-year career at AT&T and Lucent Technologies, Carly Fiorina came to Hewlett-Packard with a mandate to transform the complacent firm during the technology industry’s deepest downturn in 25 years. The visionary Fiorina led others to see a different future and then inspired them to seize that opportunity – in the process, doubling revenue, achieving the highest rate of innovation in company history and securing leadership positions in every product line and market segment. And with the acquisition of Compaq, which is today undisputed as a gutsy and brilliant move, Fiorina stood up against conventional wisdom to become the architect of a new culture which set the stage for H-P’s record-setting 2007 achievement of becoming the world’s first $100B infotech firm.
A World of Possibilities: At Hewlett Packard Fiorina blazed new trails to ensure that the legendary company was not only an international market force, but a global model for community leadership. Her visionary leadership continues today as she serves in a variety of advisory roles for international community-based organizations included Opportunity International, a micro-lending organization, Vital Voices and the Initiative for Global Development.
Beyond the CEO: Ever a trailblazer, Fiorina remains firmly engaged in areas where the future is shaped. She advises business, government and not-for-profits – lending her experience and influence to help those organizations effect change. She sits on the boards of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Group, Inc. and Revolution Health, serves as a trustee for MIT and is a board member of a numerous non-profits, including the Initiative of Global Development, Freedom House, Business Executives for National Security and others. With ongoing involvement on the global stage in these multiple roles, she has unparalleled perspective on a world in transition and how leaders and organizations must adapt. Her insights are sought after by publications such as Forbes, FORTUNE, The Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal. Fiorina’s memoir, Tough Choices, was a bestseller worldwide, translated into 12 languages.
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