Dr Parag Khanna is a leading global strategist, famed as the Founder and CEO of Climate Alpha. Sitting at the helm of a leading AI-powered analytics company for real estate, insurance and asset management industries, Parag is leveraging machine learning and artificial intelligence to generate land and property forecasts, whilst factoring in climate scenarios. As well as being the Founder and Managing Partner of FutureMap, Parag is also a decorated author and keynote speaker – sharing his expertise on everything from climate adaptation to global scenarios and the future. When looking for a widely cited global intellectual to speak at your next event, make Dr Parag Khanna your first choice.
Following education in international relations and security studies at Georgetown University, Parag’s illustrious career began as a Research Associate for the Council on Foreign Affairs. Following this, Parag was appointed as the Director of the Global Governance Initiative for the World Economic Forum and a Global Governance Fellow of The Brooking Institution, before returning to education to achieve a PhD in International Relations from LSE. Putting his education to use, Parag then spent a period of time as a Senior Geopolitical Advisor for the US Special Operations Forces, before becoming a Visiting Fellow of LSE IDEAS. After becoming a Senior Fellow of the New America Foundation, Parag joined forces with his wife, Ayesha Khanna, to become the Co-Founder of the Hybrid Reality Institute – which focussed on the human-technology co-evolution.
With other prominent roles of Parag’s including being a Senior Fellow of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs and a Senior Research Fellow of the Centre on Asia and Globalisation of the Lee Kuan Yew School at the National University of Singapore, he is also highly acclaimed as a bestselling author. He has penned several titles that have been translated into over 20 different languages, including MOVE, The Future is Asian, The Second World and Technocracy in America. To further share his expertise, Parag has also contributed to global publications such as Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, McKinsey Quarterly, Harvard Business Review, The Washington Post and The New York Times. He is also frequently sought after to share his expertise on broadcasts for CNN, CNBC, the BBC and Al Jazeera, along with advising government officials everywhere from the United Arab Emirates and Finland to the Netherlands, Oman, Germany and the UK.
With a significant impact throughout the corporate and academic spheres, Parag is now highly sought after as a keynote speaker. Named a Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, featured on the WIRED Smart List and named as one of the 75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century by Esquire, Parag is a prolific entrepreneur whose impact is colossal. With his focus now on how AI can be harnessed to generate land and property value forecasts, Parag translates his focus to allow him to speak on all aspects of global trends, market strategies and digital disruption. Travelling to over 150 countries to share his industry-leading authority, don’t miss your opportunity to reap the benefits of Dr Parag Khanna’s expertise at your next event.
Books
Citizens of Everywhere: The Education of a Globalist
MOVE: Where People are Going for a Better Future
The Future is Asian: Commerce, Conflict and Culture in the 21st Century
Technocracy in America: Rise of the Info-State
Connectography: Mapping the Future of Global Civilization
Hybrid Reality: Thriving in the Emerging Human-Technology Civilization
How to Run the World: Charting a Course to the Next Renaissance
The Second World: How Emerging Powers are Redefining Global Competition in the 21st Century
Dr Parag Khanna’s official speaking topics are listed below:
- 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.
- Climate Adaption: 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 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.
- 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.
Official Feedback for In-Person & Virtual Events
Feedback for In-Person Events:
"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
"Parag is a brilliant, energetic and mesmerising speaker who carried the opening day at our recent symposium, the largest annual gathering of geospatial intelligence practitioners in the world. Our almost 4000 attendees bring wide-ranging areas of expertise regarding a myriad of 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
"Dr Parag is a prolific speaker, he captivated audiences by bringing simplicity to complex issues. His narratives are well thought and logical, and his effervescent nature is inspiring. Always a pleasure to hear his insights." - Dinesh, VP of Business Asia Pacific, FundCount
"Parag is a consummate professional, an absolute pleasure to work with and one of the finest keynote speakers on the circuit." - Patrick, Co-Founder, Oratorical
- 2021 - Founder & CEO of Climate Alpha
- 2018 - Managing Partner of FutureMap & Founding President of the FutureMap Foundation
- 2014 - Member of the Board of Directors of 21C Girls
- 2013 - Senior Research Fellow in the Centre on Asia & Globalisation at the Lee Kuan Yew School of the National University of Singapore & Senior Fellow of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs
- 2012 - Visiting Fellow of LSE IDEAS
- 2010 - Managing Partner of Hybrid Reality
- 2007 - Senior Geopolitical Advisor for the US Special Operations Forces
- 2006 - Senior Fellow of the New America Foundation
- 2002 - Global Governance Fellow of The Brookings Institution
- 2001 - Director of the Global Governance Initiative for the World Economic Forum
- 1991 - Research Associate for the Council on Foreign Relations
- Named as one of the 75 Most Influential People of the 21st Century by Esquire
- Featured on the WIRED Smart List
- Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum
How to hire Parag Khanna
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Parag Khanna for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
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