Paolo Taticchi

Leadership & Strategy

The Strategy Reset: Designing the Competitive Advantage of 2030

In a world where competitive advantage is increasingly fragile and short-lived, leaders must radically rethink strategy. In this keynote, Professor Paolo Taticchi offers a clear and provocative vision of how to guide businesses through times of turbulence and disruption, starting from a crucial question: which strategic choices will allow companies to remain relevant and competitive in 2030?

Through international case studies, research evidence, and practical tools, Paolo illustrates why traditional strategy models are no longer sufficient and how a new approach can be built, one based on resilience, speed, and experimentation. Leaders are encouraged to reflect on how to balance human creativity with artificial intelligence, how to rethink positioning and differentiation in the post-digital era, and how to develop a “strategic core” capable of continuous adaptation.

The central message is powerful: the winning companies will be those able to combine vision with flexibility, transforming uncertainty into opportunity and making experimentation a defining feature of their strategic identity. A keynote designed for those who aim not only to survive, but to redefine the rules of the game in the decade leading up to 2030.

The False Myths of Strategy: challenging the beliefs that hold back competitiveness

Many companies don’t fail for lack of strategy, but because they remain trapped in false myths that distort the way they understand competition. In this keynote, Paolo Taticchi dismantles some of the most common and dangerous beliefs – from seeing strategy as a rigid long-term plan, to assuming that speed alone guarantees innovation success, to viewing sustainability as a cost rather than a source of value. Another widespread myth is that competition is always a zero-sum game: in reality, in complex markets the future belongs to those who embrace coopetition, collaborating with rivals to create new value and differentiation.

Through concrete cases and global insights, Paolo shows how forward-looking leaders have overturned these myths and turned them into fresh opportunities for competitive advantage. A provocative and pragmatic keynote that urges leaders to rewrite the rules of competition in order to thrive in a turbulent and hypercompetitive world.

Ecosystems and Coopetition: the new art of competing

The business world is changing radically: industry boundaries are becoming increasingly blurred, linear models are giving way to interconnected value networks, and the logic of a “winner takes all” is no longer sustainable. In this keynote, Paolo Taticchi explores how ecosystem strategies and coopetition – collaboration with competitors – are redefining the rules of the game and opening new opportunities for growth.

Through concrete examples and international case studies, Paolo shows how the most innovative companies no longer limit themselves to competing, but learn to orchestrate ecosystems where customers, suppliers, partners, startups, and even competitors collaborate to generate shared value. These strategies make it possible to accelerate innovation, enter new markets, share risks and resources, and tackle global challenges – from digital transformation to sustainability – that no organisation can solve alone.

The central message is clear: the future of strategy will not be played out only on a company’s competitive position, but on its ability to connect, cooperate, and lead ecosystems. A visionary and pragmatic keynote that inspires leaders to move beyond old competitive logics and rethink strategy as the art of creating value through networks.

Workshop – Reinventing Business: ecosystems, coopetition and business model innovation

A practical lab that challenges leaders to rethink their company as a startup would: without constraints, with the freedom to redesign the business model from scratch. Guided by Paolo Taticchi, participants work with dedicated tools and canvases for strategic innovation, exploring how to build new models of value creation through ecosystems, platforms, and alliances with competitors in a coopetition logic.

The workshop blends theoretical insights, real cases, and group work, with the goal of helping participants identify new growth opportunities, design unconventional partnerships, and translate ideas into prototypes of innovative business models.

The result is an interactive experience that delivers not only insights but also tangible outputs: alternative business model concepts and clear guidelines for integrating them into existing corporate strategies. Ideal for leadership teams and boards seeking to develop a transformative vision and to experiment hands-on with how business model innovation can become the key lever for competing in 2030.

Leadership and strategy in disruptive times
In this enlightening keynote, Paolo Taticchi shares pivotal insights from his latest book “Disruption”. Drawing from influential studies published in the MIT Sloan Management Review Paolo introduces the evolving role of business leaders into “Chief Equilibrium Officers”, who navigate through globalisation, technological advancements, and environmental pressures, steering their companies towards resilience and growth.

Highlighting the shift towards a more flexible, remote work environment, Paolo touches on the critical balance between innovation and sustainability for enduring success. He presents actionable advice for adapting to change, including embracing a multidimensional customer journey and developing key future skills like entrepreneurial mindset and ethical intelligence. Conclusively, Paolo’s talk is a roadmap for business leaders to transform challenges into opportunities, guiding their organisations to a sustainable, profitable future amidst the innovation storm.

Strategy at Market Speed: Closing the Execution Gap

When everything accelerates, many strategies slow down – trapped by process, governance and multiplying priorities. In this keynote, Paolo Taticchi sets out a different way to think about and lead strategy in disruptive times: sharper decisions, a few goals that truly matter, decision rights pushed closer to the customer, and an operating rhythm that turns blockers into momentum.

Drawing on global examples, Paolo shows how to use speed as a competitive advantage: reallocate capital and talent more frequently, integrate AI and sustainability where they compress time-to-value and risk, and measure what predicts outcomes – not just what reports them after the fact.

The focus is executive: plain language, clear criteria to separate initiatives from distractions, and leadership choices that make execution run. For leaders who want to see strategy reach the last mile, faster and with greater impact.

Workshop – Agile Strategic Management: driving execution in times of disruption

In this workshop, Paolo Taticchi offers a playbook of agile strategic management to close the gap between strategy and execution when markets and technologies shift at high speed. Drawing on global case studies and his experience with companies around the world, Paolo shows how to translate vision into results through clear choices, an adaptive portfolio, and an operating model that enables rapid decision-making.

At the core: how to balance growth and resilience, integrate AI and sustainability where they truly create value, and establish an operating cadence that quickly removes blockers. From defining measurable goals and a few leading KPIs, to aligning incentives with strategy and setting effective execution rituals, participants receive ready-to-use tools.

The outcome is a pragmatic roadmap: a one-page strategy, a 90-day plan to test–prioritise–scale, and a light governance model that preserves focus and speed. Ideal for leaders who want to turn disruption into competitive advantage and ensure strategy reaches the last mile.

Competing with AI: the strategic guide for companies

In this keynote, Paolo Taticchi addresses a crucial theme: how artificial intelligence is becoming a strategic – not just technological – priority for companies. Drawing on the content of his new book, Paolo explains why AI can no longer be ignored and how it can generate tangible advantages in terms of revenue, efficiency, quality, and customer experience.

With a clear and pragmatic style, the keynote explores the main strategic pain points: the cost of not adopting AI, the new responsibilities of leadership and governance, data as the fuel of innovation, and the ethical and reputational risks that cannot be overlooked. Real cases from Italian and European companies are presented, along with practical tools and immediately applicable frameworks, designed to help define a credible business case and a realistic adoption roadmap.

The core message is simple: AI is already today a source of competitive advantage, but only if it is integrated into business strategy and guided with vision and responsibility. An inspirational and practical keynote that helps business leaders transform AI from a perceived threat into a lever for growth, resilience, and differentiation.

Sustainability / ESG / Green Transition / Sustainable Development

Sustainable Companies Win – and the reason is clear

In this keynote, Paolo Taticchi takes leaders on a journey that begins with today’s global challenges – climate change, resource scarcity, and inequality – and shows how these forces are already reshaping the playing field for business. Sustainability is no longer a line in the budget or an act of responsibility: it is a strategic lever that determines who will be competitive tomorrow.

With a direct style and concrete examples, Paolo explains how regulatory pressure, shifting social expectations, the war for talent, and the “green gold rush” are pushing companies to rethink their strategies and business models. He shares stories of organisations that have turned sustainability into a real advantage, strengthening reputation, efficiency, and the ability to attract capital.

At the heart of the keynote lies a simple but powerful reflection: the winners are not those who promise to be sustainable, but those who manage to translate sustainability into choices, innovations, and measurable results. An inspirational yet pragmatic keynote that leaves leaders with one clear conviction: by 2030, what will matter is what we have delivered – not what we have declared.

Workshop – Building the Business Case for Sustainability: strategic choices and competitive advantage

A high-impact format that helps leadership teams and boards develop a point of view on sustainability with the goal of defining a solid, compelling, strategy-centred decision case. Using Paolo Taticchi’s proprietary model, participants clarify the why-now, identify drivers of competitiveness (customer value, differentiation, cost position, speed to market, resilience, role in the ecosystem), and compare real options and trade-offs: focus vs diversification, build-partner-buy, centralisation vs local empowerment, standardisation vs customisation.

The workshop guides the coherent integration of sustainability and data/AI into the existing competitive strategy, setting a clear direction, execution principles, and a small set of success indicators. The outcome is a crisp, board-ready recommendation with a strategic narrative that reduces ambiguity and accelerates ESG decision-making.

AI and Sustainable Transformation
In this forward-thinking keynote, Paolo Taticchi delves into the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in driving sustainable change across industries and societies. The presentation explores how AI technologies can be harnessed to address some of the world’s most pressing environmental and social challenges, aligning with the goals of sustainable development. Paolo begins by setting the stage with an overview of the current global sustainability challenges, from climate change and resource depletion to social inequality and economic disparities. He then introduces AI as a pivotal tool in the quest for solutions, offering insights into how machine learning, data analytics, and smart automation can optimise resource use, reduce waste, and enhance decision-making processes.

The keynote further examines case studies where AI has successfully contributed to sustainable outcomes, such as in energy management, agriculture optimisation, and circular economy models. Paolo discusses the principles of designing AI systems with sustainability in mind, emphasising ethical considerations, transparency, and inclusivity to ensure that AI advances contribute positively to both the planet and its inhabitants. Looking ahead, Paolo envisions a future where AI and sustainability are intertwined, with AI acting as a catalyst for sustainable innovation and growth. He calls on leaders, policymakers, technologists, and change-makers to embrace AI as a tool for good, leveraging its capabilities to foster a more sustainable, equitable, and prosperous world.

Driving the Green Transition: The Role of Public Administrations and Business in Climate Action

The race to net zero is reshaping global economies – and it cannot be won by businesses alone. As climate-related risks intensify and the urgency of rapid decarbonisation grows, public administrations emerge as essential players in enabling, regulating, and co-leading the green transition.

In this keynote, Professor Paolo Taticchi (UCL School of Management), a global expert in sustainability and strategy, explores how climate transformation requires new forms of collaboration between the public and private sectors. The session blends the latest climate science and impact data with strategic insights, practical frameworks, and real-world case studies.

Key themes include the shared challenges and responsibilities of businesses and governments in climate action, a comparison of European and US approaches to net zero, green industrial policy and climate finance, and a strategic framework to scale decarbonisation through pragmatic leadership and cross-sector collaboration.

Balancing urgency with optimism, this keynote equips climate-conscious leaders with concrete tools to drive meaningful progress – whether from the boardroom, city hall, or national government.

Other topics

 The Future of Cities

In this insightful keynote, Paolo Taticchi shares his expertise on the evolving landscape of urban development, drawing from his extensive work with leading organisations in the urbantech field. He begins by outlining the pressing challenges that megacities face today, such as congestion, pollution, and social inequality, highlighting the urgent need for smarter cities that leverage technology and innovation to improve quality of life.

Paolo then delves into the importance of cities as hubs of economic growth and cultural exchange, advocating for intelligent urban planning that addresses key issues like sustainability and efficiency. He discusses the hurdles in implementing urbantech innovations, including regulatory and financial barriers, and the critical role of cross-sector collaboration in overcoming these challenges. Addressing entrepreneurs, Paolo emphasises the importance of understanding urban dynamics and engaging with communities to develop scalable, impactful solutions. He advocates for a holistic approach to innovation, one that prioritises sustainability and inclusivity, illustrated with practical examples and case studies of successful urbantech applications.

The Future of Global Manufacturing

In this forward-looking keynote, Paolo Taticchi provides a comprehensive perspective on the future of global manufacturing, charting the journey from past industrial revolutions to the dawn of Industry 5.0 and beyond. He begins by tracing the historical milestones that have shaped modern manufacturing, from early mechanisation to today’s digital and robotic advancements. Paolo then delves into the key disruption drivers, including globalisation, sustainability, and the integration of advanced technologies, that are redefining the manufacturing landscape.

Exploring Industry 4.0 and the shift towards Industry 5.0+, Paolo highlights the importance of a human-centric, adaptive, and sustainable approach to manufacturing. Through case studies and practical insights, he emphasises the strategic foresight, technological integration, and workforce transformation required to thrive amidst global challenges. The keynote underscores the competitive advantage of embracing sustainable practices and collaboration across sectors, inspiring leaders to steer their organisations towards resilience and innovation in the ever-evolving industrial landscape.

The Story You Don’t Read

In this engaging keynote, Paolo shares the story of his journey, offering insights that resonate with dreamers, achievers, and change-makers. Crafted to inspire high-potential leaders, early career researchers, and the youth, he highlights the resilience, hard work, and vision required to overcome challenges and achieve success. Through personal anecdotes, Paolo illustrates the nonlinear path of success, emphasizing the importance of learning from setbacks and the power of determination. Paolo aims to motivate and encourage individuals at the beginning of their careers or those pursuing ambitious goals, showing that perseverance and a clear purpose are key to making an impact. This keynote serves as a testament to the idea that every individual has the potential to drive change and achieve their dreams, regardless of the obstacles that may arise. In conclusion, Paolo hopes to leave the audience inspired, ready to tackle their own challenges with renewed vigor and confidence. This presentation is not just about his experiences, but a call to action for everyone to reflect on their journey and recognize their capacity to contribute to a better future.