Josh Linkner Profile Picture

Keynote SpeakerJosh Linkner

Serial entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, and venture capital investor

Josh Linkner – a New York Times bestselling author – is a rare blend of business, art, and science. On the business front, Josh Linkner’s been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He’s... Read more

Biography

Josh Linkner – a New York Times bestselling author – is a rare blend of business, art, and science.

On the business front, Josh Linkner’s been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined value of over $200 million. He’s the co-founder and Managing Partner of Muditā (moo-DEE-tah) Venture Partners – an early-stage venture capital firm investing in groundbreaking technologies. Over the last 30 years, he’s helped over 100 startups launch and scale, creating over $1 billion in investor returns. He’s twice been named the EY Entrepreneur of The Year and is the recipient of the United States Presidential Champion of Change Award.

While proud of his business success, his roots are in the dangerous world of jazz music. He’s been playing guitar in smoky jazz clubs for 40 years, studied at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, and has performed over 1000 concerts around the world.

His experiences in both business and music led him to become one of the world’s foremost experts on innovation. Josh Linkner is the co-founder and Chairman of Platypus Labs, a global research, training, and consulting firm. Today, he’s on a mission to help leaders Find A WayTM through creative problem-solving, inventive thinking, and ingenuity.

“In today’s fiercely competitive global marketplace the most important resource any business has is the creative thinking of its people. Josh Linkner lays out a road map that will guide individuals, teams, and companies to higher levels of creativity. It is a journey that will lead to better ideas and breakthrough thinking.” Bill Ford, Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company
"When Josh speaks, business improves." Earvin "Magic" Johnson
We very much enjoyed your talk and workshop. You created just the right finish and exclamation point in our program. The feedback from our team – amazing, energizing messages, entertaining and humorous, actionable learnings, things people can do right away.” Sajeena Warrier, Managing Director, Intel Security
"Building a culture of innovation in large companies is critically important, and there’s no better way to learn than with a trusted roadmap of tools and real-life examples. Josh Linkner illustrates how innovative thinking is possible for every employee and business leader, so we can all unlock our full creative potential." Mike Kaufman, CEO, Cardinal Health
"Josh Linkner helps organizations discover and exploit their strengths in a changing business world. He clearly shows how to reignite innovation and unlock new business value such as speed, agility, persistence and partnership.” Alan Boehme, Chief Innovation Officer and Global CTO, The Coca-Cola Company
"Josh Linkner delivers a roadmap to help future generations of entrepreneurs and innovators push boundaries and explore the art of the possible. He provides a clear path to help you build an army of everyday innovators and turn ideas into action." Steve Case, Co-Founder and Former CEO, AOL, Chairman, Revolution Partners
“Josh, as always you are amazing. It is quite obvious that you took the time to prepare to bring everything you have. Thank you for your coaching and support throughout. I am sending you so much gratitude. You amaze me...always!” Kathy Twells, Vice President, The Coca-Cola Company
“Josh Linkner unlocks the techniques behind some of the world’s most remarkable innovations." Eric Schurenberg, CEO, Fast Company & Inc.
“Linkner hit the ball out of the park!” Marco Forte, Vice President, ABC Television
“We truly appreciate how your keynote talk set the stage for the day and inspired the audience with innovative ideas, empowered them with the knowledge we can all be creative, and how you customized your session so we all felt that you knew FedEx intimately and were talking directly to us. Great job! Really enjoyed it.” Leanne Logan, FedEx
“Terrific! Our people were very engaged and had some great takeaways. You definitely make an impact.” Vicki Ruiz, ESPN

Popular Talks by Josh Linkner

  • Big Little Breakthroughs
    The pressure to generate big ideas can feel overwhelming. We know that bold innovations are critical in these disruptive and competitive times, but when it comes to breakthrough thinking, we often freeze up. Instead of shooting for a $10 billion IPO or a Nobel Prize, the most prolific innovators focus...
  • The Music of Business
    The mysterious and dangerous world of jazz is a cauldron of spontaneous creativity. And in times of radical change and uncertainty, it serves as the perfect model for modern leadership. Professional jazz guitarist and prolific entrepreneur Josh Linkner connects the dots between jazz and business, helping to unlock the secrets...
  • Disciplined Dreaming
    In our modern AI-driven world, creativity has become the currency of success. It’s the one thing that can’t be outsourced or automated; the indisputable competitive advantage. We are all hard-wired to be creative, yet most of us have underdeveloped creative skills. And today, more than ever before, creative problem-solving and...
  • Find A Way
    As we enter a new era of business, 50% of leaders in the United States have lost confidence in their ability to make decisions in the face of uncertainty. The level of disruption, technology threats, and uncertainty can be paralyzing. We are in a leadership crisis and must embrace a...
  • Rethink. Reboot. Reinvent
    We’re living in a rate of change like none other in history. The hard truth is that we can no longer rely on the models of the past and expect the same results. In this energizing and actionable keynote, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of rapid change and how to...
  • The Innovative Leader
    The business you’re running today isn’t the business you’ll be running next year. In this moment of volatility and uncertainty, we are being called to lead in a radically different way… more decisive, creative, and adaptable. So how can we use this defining moment to ensure relevancy, sustainability, and success...
  • Innovation in the Age of AI
    In an era where artificial intelligence is not just a tool but a transformative force, Josh Linkner invites you on a thought-provoking journey into unlocking the synergies between AI and human potential for next-gen engagement, growth, and profitability. Josh Linkner, a prolific tech CEO, venture capital investor, and innovation expert,...