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Heather McGowan-9652-2.jpg

HI, I'M HEATHER.

One of Forbes' Top Futurists, Heather E. McGowan brings fresh energy and actionable insights to the future of work. A sought-after strategist, keynote speaker, and 2x bestselling author, she equips organizations to navigate relentless change by activating their most critical resource: their people. 

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Heather’s audiences range from startups to publicly traded Fortune 500 companies, including Google, JPMorgan Chase, Mastercard, and Kaiser Permanente. Through data-driven insights and powerful visual frameworks, she helps leaders and teams transform their distinctly human capabilities—adaptability, empathy, and curiosity—into strategic advantages. 

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Often quoted in The New York Times, with Thomas Friedman calling her an "oasis" for her insights, Heather’s bestselling books include The Adaptation Advantage and The Empathy Advantage, which was named a Top 10 Business Book of 2023. 

By teaching people to ask better questions, she enables them to adapt at the speed of possibility to Solve Tomorrow's Problems™. 

One of Forbes' Top Futurists, Heather E. McGowan brings fresh energy and actionable insights to the future of work. A sought-after strategist, keynote speaker, and 2x bestselling author, she equips organizations to navigate relentless change by activating their most critical resource: their people. 

​

Heather’s audiences range from startups to publicly traded Fortune 500 companies, including Google, JPMorgan Chase, Mastercard, and Kaiser Permanente. Through data-driven insights and powerful visual frameworks, she helps leaders and teams transform their distinctly human capabilities—adaptability, empathy, and curiosity—into strategic advantages. 

Often quoted in The New York Times, with Thomas Friedman calling her an "oasis" for her insights, Heather’s bestselling books include The Adaptation Advantage and The Empathy Advantage, which was named a Top 10 Business Book of 2023. 

By teaching people to ask better questions, she enables them to adapt at the speed of possibility to Solve Tomorrow's Problems™. 

SOLVE TOMORROW’S PROBLEMS™: Harness Human Ingenuity to Navigate What's Next 

Tuesday, April 7, 8:45 AM

Think organizations can't change quickly? History proves otherwise. 

When naysayers said "it can't be done," humans accomplished the impossible—in weeks, not years. Each pivotal moment reminds us of humanity’s most underestimated asset: our ability to adapt in the face of seemingly impossible odds. 

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In this perspective-shifting keynote, Heather challenges the myth that we resist change using unforgettable stories about a mop, a burrito, and a hermit crab to demonstrate how we can tap into our natural curiosity and hardwired drive to collaborate to see and shape what’s next.

 

Drawing from her bestselling books “The Adaptation Advantage” and “The Empathy Advantage,” Heather reveals how leading organizations thrive when they place adaptability at their core, allowing them to find breakthrough opportunities where others least expect them. 

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The audience will leave with: 

* A powerful understanding of how to frame the right question 

* Practical approaches to optimize how they adapt to new realities 

* Clear frameworks for mapping the past to navigate the future 

* The leadership mindset shifts that guide team success in uncharted territories 

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USA TODAY Top Workplaces 2026 Conference Policy

​​All cancellation request must be submitted in writing via email to justin.libak@usatoday.com.

 

Confirmed registrants may cancel and receive a full refund minus a $150 cancellation fee for general attendees through February 27, 2026. Cancellation request received from February 28, 2026 through March 20, 2026 are nonrefundable but can be transferred to another member within your organization. Cancellations on or after March 21, 2026 are nonrefundable and transfers are not permitted.    

 

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