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Carlo at Richmond Events invited Matthew to give the opening keynote in Davos, Switzerland, part of their annual series together. His brief was the future of leadership in what many now describe as a VUCA-MAX world, where the only thing changing is everything and where uncertainty and ambiguity are increasingly the status quo.
The world faces a crisis of leadership, and many people and politicians believe we now live in a leaderless world. Matthew argued that there has never been a greater need for leadership that acts, inspires and moves the world forward.
"There has never been a greater need for leadership that acts, inspires, and moves the world forwards."Matthew Griffin, Davos, February 2025
He briefly set out the global, system-level changes under way and their impact. He then looked at what ambiguity and speed are doing to leaders' mental health and career longevity, and to the longevity and value of their companies.
With the scene set, Matthew shared the mindset and skills that leaders and leadership teams everywhere need to create new value, disrupt incumbents and build Centennial Companies: organisations with everything they need to see out their first century in business.
311 Intelligence
What this means for your leadership team
Plan for speed, not stability.
The session starts from the premise that uncertainty and ambiguity are now the status quo. Plans that assume a stable world age quickly, so leadership teams need shorter planning cycles and decisions they can revisit.
Treat wellbeing as a business risk.
Matthew linked ambiguity and speed to leaders' mental health and career longevity, and to the longevity and value of their companies. Protecting the people at the top protects the business.
Build for a century, not a quarter.
Centennial Companies create new value and disrupt incumbents instead of defending what they have. That starts with the mindset and skills of the leadership team.
Three questions for your next leadership meeting
Which of our plans still assume a stable world?
Who on the leadership team is carrying the most ambiguity, and what support do they have?
What would we need to change to still be leading our market in a century?
The trends and technologies behind this session
From the 311 Starburst, the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit’s map of the technologies and trends shaping the next 50 years.
What does a VUCA-MAX world mean for organisations?
Plans and structures built for stability age fast. Leadership teams need shorter planning cycles, the ability to change course quickly, and the mindset to create new value rather than defend old models.
How does the Leaderless World trend relate to this keynote?
The session opens with the crisis of leadership and the belief that we live in a leaderless world. The 311 Starburst tracks this as a trend where no single power is willing or able to lead on global problems.
How does Adaptive Leadership relate to this keynote?
Matthew's call for leaders who act and inspire under constant uncertainty matches the Adaptive Leadership trend: guiding teams by learning and adjusting rather than command and control.
How can 311 brief our leadership team on this?
Through a private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector, in person first.
Bring this to your leadership teamA private executive briefing or leadership workshop, tailored to your sector. In person first, anywhere in the world.
Analysis by the 311 Strategic Intelligence Unit, from Matthew Griffin’s session and 311 data.
If Matthew gave this session today
Build organisations that grow at the speed of change.
How to Build Exponential Enterprises re-invents innovation for the exponential era and sets out what it takes to build an organisation that grows at the speed of change, the foundation of a Centennial Company.
