In a world obsessed with hyper-specialization, effective leadership demands something different: breadth. Drawing from research and stories in Range, DAVID EPSTEIN explores how the most adaptable and innovative leaders aren’t just experts in one domain—they’re generalists who connect ideas across fields, embrace experimentation, and thrive in uncertainty. This talk challenges traditional leadership development paradigms and offers actionable insights for cultivating range in leaders and teams.

 “David Epstein manages to make me thoroughly enjoy the experience of being told that everything I thought about something was wrong.” —Malcolm Gladwell

The secrets to success and high performance are not what we always thought they were. That’s why DAVID EPSTEIN’s #1 New York Times bestseller, Range, has sold more than a million copies worldwide and topped the major must-read and bestseller lists for business, leadership and entrepreneurship books—including Forbes, Inc., The Sunday Times, and The Washington Post, as well as Apple’s best audiobooks and Amazon’s best business books. Additionally, Range was one of only five books included in Bill Gates’ “Holiday Books List,” made Adam Grant’s “New Leadership Books to Read”  and was a finalist for The Financial Times/McKinsey “Business Book of the Year.” In this highly motivating talk, David draws upon his fascinating research on the world’s most successful athletes, artists, business leaders, musicians, inventors, forecasters, scientists, and more to shatter myths and provide actionable insights on the science of high performance. Did you know that athletes that sample different sports are more likely to succeed in the long term than those who specialized early (case in point: Roger Federer vs. Tiger Woods)? Or, that most Nobel Laureates have a hobby or dabble outside their primary area of research? David contends that in most fields—especially those that are complex, unpredictable and difficult to automate—generalists, not specialists, are primed to excel. Generalists often find their path late or juggle many interests rather than focusing on one. They’re also more creative, agile, and able to make connections their more specialized peers can’t see—making them much better forecasters in a constantly changing, unpredictable world. Be prepared to re-think all of your previous notions on paths to success as David Epstein unlocks the secrets to achieving high performance in any field or profession.

The post-pandemic world is changing at an unprecedented rate. New technologies such as AI and constant disruption demand that organizations and individuals become more resilient, agile, and equipped to tackle ambiguity on a daily basis. What was once a predictable, “kind” environment is now an uncertain, “wicked” one, requiring updated approaches to hiring, team formation, training, and creating resilient cultures grounded in diverse skill sets. In this impactful and empowering talk, DAVID EPSTEIN shares enlightening data, riveting research, and eclectic success stories (ranging from business leaders and legendary athletes to chess champions and NASA engineers) from his #1 New York Times bestseller, Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World. Audiences gain insightful, actionable takeaways that will inspire them to embrace change, break down silos, make better-informed decisions, re-invent their roles, re-tool their skills, and turn change, challenges, and setbacks into opportunities and triumphs.

In an organization with Range, there is a culture of constant learning and broadening of skills, and everyone can break out of silos to take a bird’s-eye view of their environment and competitive landscape. In such settings, change is embraced rather than feared, creativity flourishes, collaboration is optimized, and innovation abounds. In this game-changing talk, DAVID EPSTEIN recounts his experiences examining organizations ranging from 3M and NASA to the Girl Scouts and the United States Army to demonstrate how teams with diverse backgrounds, talents, and skill sets are best positioned to innovate. Audiences receive actionable takeaways that will inspire them to constantly learn and improve, and value perspectives and backgrounds different from their own. He also shares systems and organizational practices that innovative enterprises have used to foster meaningful collaboration and breakthrough results.