Speaking Topics — Prof. Dr. Raphaël H Cohen

Track 1 of 6

🎯 Innovation & Pre-Project Track

Stop wasting resources. Master pre-project analysis and innovation portfolio management.

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01

Stop Wasting Resources: The Pre-Project Revolution

Most organizations waste millions on projects that should never have been approved. Raphaël reveals why traditional project selection fails and introduces the IpOp Model — the rigorous pre-project analysis framework now part of ISO 56007. Learn how to optimize a portfolio by choosing the right projects before investing, not after burning through resources.

Key Takeaways

Why traditional project selection wastes millions
The IpOp decision tree for rigorous selection
Portfolio optimization before committing resources
Real stories of projects saved and killed
Implementation governance system

Ideal For

Innovation managers, R&D leaders, project portfolio managers, executives, PMI professionals

Duration

45–90 minutes (customizable)

02

From Ideas to Impact: Mastering Innovation Portfolio Management

This keynote debunks common myths about innovation management and presents proven best practices that leading organizations use to select, prioritize, fund and execute initiatives that deliver measurable results.

Key Takeaways

Common myths about innovation management debunked
Proven practices from leading organizations
How to select, prioritize, and fund initiatives
Measuring real business outcomes
Portfolio balancing strategies

Ideal For

Innovation directors, portfolio managers, executives, R&D leaders, transformation teams

Duration

60–90 minutes

03

The Intrapreneurial Advantage: Building Innovation from Within

Why do most corporate innovation programs fail? Raphaël shares contrarian insights and frameworks showing how companies like Nestlé, Microsoft, and Airbus have cultivated genuine intrapreneurial cultures — not just innovation labs that produce limited measurable outcomes. Based on real experience enabling change agents inside and outside corporations.

Key Takeaways

Why most corporate innovation programs fail
Contrarian insights from leading organizations
Building genuine intrapreneurial cultures
Enabling and equipping change agents
Case studies: Nestlé, Microsoft, Airbus

Ideal For

Corporate innovation teams, executives, HR leaders, change management professionals

Duration

45–75 minutes

04

The Missing Link in Risk Management

Most organizations miss one essential aspect of managing uncertainties. Raphaël presents a novel field-tested approach that prevents the waste of considerable resources resulting from current practice while giving management more transparency on project status.

Key Takeaways

The missing aspect in risk management
Novel field-tested approach
Preventing resource waste
Increasing management transparency
Practical implementation framework

Ideal For

Project managers, risk professionals, executives, PMO directors

Duration

45–75 minutes

05

Entrepreneurial Thinking for Corporate Leaders

Bridge the startup–corporate divide. Drawing from experience as both entrepreneur and advisor to major corporations, Raphaël challenges conventional corporate wisdom and shows how leaders can adopt entrepreneurial mindsets without the usual platitudes. Practical, proven, and often surprising.

Key Takeaways

Bridging startup and corporate cultures
Challenging conventional corporate wisdom
Adopting entrepreneurial mindsets practically
Real stories from both worlds
Avoiding common platitudes

Ideal For

Corporate executives, business unit leaders, transformation teams, innovation managers

Duration

45–75 minutes

06

Digitizing the Pre-Project Analysis and Selection Governance

Theory without tools is just philosophy. Raphaël developed IpOpTools, the software platform that operationalizes the IpOp Model, showing how organizations can use AI-assisted digitization to accelerate pre-project analysis and portfolio management — and automatically capture pre-project knowledge. Perfect for organizations ready to move from spreadsheets to systematic governance.

Key Takeaways

Moving from spreadsheets to systematic decisions
IpOpTools platform overview
AI-assisted opportunity analysis
Pre-project knowledge capture
Implementation roadmap

Ideal For

Innovation directors, portfolio managers, CIOs, digital transformation leaders

Duration

60–90 minutes (includes demo)

Track 2 of 6

💡 Leadership & Engagement Track

Measure what matters. Transform performance through manager-fostered engagement.

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07

The Fostered Engagement Equation That Actually Works

Engagement is widely discussed — but rarely governed. Raphaël pioneers a novel measurement approach and reveals the Fostered Engagement framework — the levers managers can pull to transform team performance. Unlike typical engagement talks, this includes a complete governance system for implementation, not just inspiration.

Key Takeaways

Why engagement programs fail without governance
The Fostered Engagement framework
Levers managers control for fostered engagement
The Fostered Engagement Index (FEI) as a KPI
Complete governance system for implementation

Ideal For

HR leaders, executives, team managers, organizational development professionals

Duration

45–90 minutes (customizable)

08

Beyond Psychological Safety: The Implementation Gap

Psychological safety is the buzzword du jour — but how do organizations actually implement it? Raphaël challenges preaching approaches and provides a structured governance framework to truly embed psychological safety organization-wide. Based on real implementations, not academic theory. A rare differentiator: governance-based, not just advocacy-based.

Key Takeaways

Moving beyond advocacy to implementation
Structured governance framework
Organization-wide embedding strategies
Real implementation case studies
Measuring psychological safety impact

Ideal For

HR leaders, executives, organizational development teams, culture transformation leaders

Duration

60–90 minutes

09

Measuring What Matters: Fostered Engagement as a KPI

What if managers were assessed not just on deliverables, but on their ability to foster engagement? This thought-provoking keynote introduces a pioneering measurement methodology that reveals which managers leverage team potential and which hamper it — creating accountability where conventional surveys cannot.

Key Takeaways

Pioneering measurement methodology
Fostered Engagement Index (FEI) as a governance KPI
Distinguishing manager impact from general satisfaction
Creating managerial accountability
Implementation framework

Ideal For

HR leaders, executives, talent development teams, performance management professionals

Duration

45–75 minutes

10

Attracting and Retaining Next Generations' Talents

This keynote provides concrete tools for selecting and motivating talents from next generations who are compatible with existing teams and company culture — challenging conventional recruitment and management practices with forward-thinking, evidence-based alternatives.

Key Takeaways

Concrete tools for selecting next-generation talent
Bridging generational differences
Motivation strategies that work
Challenging conventional recruitment practices
Retention frameworks

Ideal For

HR leaders, talent acquisition teams, executives, team managers

Duration

45–75 minutes

11

Governance and Equity: The Unexpected Levers to Outperform by Attracting and Retaining Top Talent

Equity is more than a stated value — it requires governance. This keynote examines how organizations can move from aspirational commitments to structured, measurable equity practices embedded in their leadership and management systems.

Key Takeaways

The governance gap in equity programs
Structured approaches to embedding equity
Measurement and accountability mechanisms
Leadership behaviors that drive equity
Implementation roadmap

Ideal For

HR leaders, executives, DEI professionals, organizational development teams

Duration

45–75 minutes

Track 3 of 6

🛡️ Culture & Psychological Safety

Move from awareness to governance. Embed psychological safety at every level of the organization.

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12

Quickly Changing the Culture of the Organization

Changing company culture is usually a long and painful process. This keynote provides a concrete governance-based approach for accelerating cultural evolution — targeting leaders looking for sustainable change that extends beyond the current leadership team.

Key Takeaways

Governance-based approach to culture change
Accelerating cultural evolution
Sustainable change strategies
Beyond the current leadership team
Implementation roadmap

Ideal For

Executives, transformation leaders, HR leaders, change management professionals

Duration

60–90 minutes

13

The Engagement Equation: Unlocking Your Team's Full Potential

Based on his book, Raphaël reveals the science and practice of fostered engagement, combining the Fostered Engagement framework with real stories of transformation. Learn how to turn disengaged teams into high-performing innovation engines.

Key Takeaways

Science and practice of fostered engagement
Fostered Engagement framework
Real transformation stories
Turning disengaged teams around
Building high-performing teams

Ideal For

Team managers, HR leaders, executives, organizational development professionals

Duration

45–90 minutes

14

Your Secret Weapon: Pre-Project Tools for Successful Change and Digital Transformation

Transformation initiatives fail at an alarming rate — often because the projects driving them were never properly evaluated. This keynote shows how pre-project governance tools provide the missing foundation for successful change and digital transformation programs.

Key Takeaways

Why transformation initiatives fail
Pre-project governance as transformation foundation
Applying the IpOp Model to change projects
Reducing transformation risk through better selection
Real case studies

Ideal For

Executives, transformation leaders, CIOs, change managers, digital transformation teams

Duration

45–75 minutes

Track 4 of 6

🌟 Personal Development & Career

Unlock potential with proven tools, approaches, and mindsets for VUCA environments.

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15

Unlocking Your Potential

Raphaël explains the tools, approaches, and mindsets that can accelerate a career — the same ones that allowed him to go from average student to first of his class, to become a successful serial entrepreneur, an engaging professor at prestigious business schools, and the trusted advisor of C-level executives at global organizations. Personal, practical, and proven.

Key Takeaways

Tools and approaches for career acceleration
Mindsets that drive success
Personal transformation journey
Practical strategies
Real stories from Raphaël's career

Ideal For

Professionals at all levels, MBA students, aspiring entrepreneurs, career development programs

Duration

45–75 minutes

16

The Keys to Credibility and Influence for VUCA Leaders in the Age of AI and Next Generations

In volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous environments amplified by AI and generational shifts, credibility and influence have become the defining currencies of leadership. This keynote provides concrete frameworks for building them deliberately and sustainably.

Key Takeaways

What credibility means in a VUCA/AI context
Frameworks for building deliberate influence
Leading across generational divides
AI as amplifier — not replacement
Practical tools for sustainable leadership presence

Ideal For

Executives, senior leaders, high-potentials, MBA audiences

Duration

45–75 minutes

17

Leading in VUCA in the Age of AI and Next Generations: The Pitfalls to Avoid

Leadership in an AI-amplified, multigenerational VUCA world requires new frameworks, not just new skills. This keynote provides the governance perspective on what it means to lead effectively when the rules keep changing and the workforce is shifting.

Key Takeaways

VUCA leadership in the AI era
Managing multigenerational teams
Governance-based approach to uncertainty
Future-proofing leadership
Actionable frameworks

Ideal For

Corporate leadership, executive education, industry conferences

Duration

45–75 minutes

Track 5 of 6

🎓 Executive Education

A paradigm shift where measurable returns exceed the cost of training.

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Track 6 of 6

✏️ Custom Keynotes

A keynote built around your organization's specific challenges and context.

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Examples of Keynote Topics

These keynotes are designed for

Corporate Leadership

Innovation & R&D

Project Management

HR & Talent

Business Schools

Transformation Teams

Industry Conferences

Portfolio Optimization

🎯 Innovation & Pre-Project Track

Stop Wasting Resources: The Pre-Project Revolution

Key Takeaways

Ideal For

Duration

From Ideas to Impact: Mastering Innovation Portfolio Management

Key Takeaways

Ideal For

Duration

The Intrapreneurial Advantage: Building Innovation from Within

Key Takeaways

Ideal For

Duration

The Missing Link in Risk Management

Key Takeaways

Ideal For

Duration

Entrepreneurial Thinking for Corporate Leaders

Key Takeaways

Ideal For

Duration

Digitizing the Pre-Project Analysis and Selection Governance

Key Takeaways

Ideal For

Duration

💡 Leadership & Engagement Track

The Fostered Engagement Equation That Actually Works

Key Takeaways

Ideal For

Duration

Beyond Psychological Safety: The Implementation Gap

Key Takeaways

Ideal For

Duration

Measuring What Matters: Fostered Engagement as a KPI

Key Takeaways

Ideal For

Duration

Attracting and Retaining Next Generations' Talents

Key Takeaways

Ideal For

Duration

Governance and Equity: The Unexpected Levers to Outperform by Attracting and Retaining Top Talent

Key Takeaways

Ideal For

Duration

🛡️ Culture & Psychological Safety

Quickly Changing the Culture of the Organization

Key Takeaways

Ideal For

Duration

The Engagement Equation: Unlocking Your Team's Full Potential

Key Takeaways

Ideal For

Duration

Your Secret Weapon: Pre-Project Tools for Successful Change and Digital Transformation

Key Takeaways

Ideal For

Duration

🌟 Personal Development & Career

Unlocking Your Potential

Key Takeaways

Ideal For

Duration

The Keys to Credibility and Influence for VUCA Leaders in the Age of AI and Next Generations

Key Takeaways

Ideal For

Duration

Leading in VUCA in the Age of AI and Next Generations: The Pitfalls to Avoid

Key Takeaways