BIOGRAPHY
The greatest risk today isn’t technology — it’s hesitation. In exponential times, leaders who wait for certainty risk irrelevance; those who act courageously define the future.
Julian Pistone is a globally recognised keynote speaker who equips leaders to thrive amid disruption. With two decades of international experience — including 10 years at Google — he has guided executives from McKinsey, IBM, YouTube, Uber, YPO, AB InBev, and the Gates Foundation to transform volatility into sustainable growth.
He is co-founder of Cor:age, a global impact network that unites senior leaders across business, government, philanthropy, and social impact to create legacies of systemic change, and creator of the Cor:age Series documentary, produced with National Geographic and Netflix cinematographers, and the creators of MTV 4REAL with Joaquin Phoenix. The series shares extraordinary stories of resilience from remarkable humans around the globe, revealing how adversity can unlock bravery and purpose.
Julian has spoken on stages worldwide — including Google, TEDx, Rio Innovation Week, LEAP, and the Harvest Series. His signature keynotes are not talks, but breathtaking cinematic experiences — created in collaboration with Pulitzer Prize–winning filmmakers — to immerse audiences in the reality of courage under pressure, where decisions define futures.
Drawing on research with UCLA, and informed by his own lived experience, Julian co-developed a neuroscience-backed framework that proves courage is not a soft skill but a decisive business capability.
Having overcome two life-altering illnesses, he speaks with authenticity and urgency: in a world of AI disruption, exponential technologies and geopolitical uncertainty, hesitation is the enemy. Courage is what fuels adaptability, unlocks innovation, and enables organisations to lead with agility in a future-ready world.
For more information on Julian Pistone’s speaking topics, availability and fees, contact leo@vbqspeakers.com
JULIAN PISTONE: SPEAKER
Dividing his time between The Americas and Europe, Julian speaks English, German, Spanish, Italian, and French, delivering keynotes worldwide that inspire leaders to pioneer forward when others pause — and to turn disruption into lasting progress.
Julian’s keynote topics include:
1. FORGING COURAGEOUS LEADERSHIP IN THE FACE OF UNCERTAINTY
Turn volatility into opportunity by making courage a daily leadership practice. AI disruption, geopolitical upheaval, and economic volatility demand leaders who act boldly when the path ahead is unclear. Those who hesitate risk irrelevance; those who lead with courage define the future.
In this practical keynote, Julian shares neuroscience-backed strategies to reframe fear, build resilience, and turn disruption into growth. Through his signature cinematic audiovisual storytelling, blending case studies with vivid narratives from the Cor:age Series documentary, audiences see what courageous leadership looks like in action. Participants leave with practical tools and the conviction to cultivate adaptability and bold decision-making across their organisations.
Key Outcomes:
– Replace hesitation with bold, decisive leadership in volatile times.
– Build teams that adapt quickly and stay resilient under pressure.
– Use the Path to CourageTM framework to turn uncertainty into opportunity and growth.
2. THE FUTURE WON’T WAIT: WHY COURAGE, NOT AI, DEFINES TOMORROW’S LEADERS
Courage is the ultimate differentiator in a machine-driven world.
The greatest risk today isn’t AI or disruption — it’s the lack of courage to act. In an age of exponential change, hesitation is the fastest route to irrelevance. In this future-facing keynote, Julian explores what leaders must become to thrive in a machine-driven world. Through cinematic global stories from the Cor:age Series, produced with Netflix and National Geographic filmmakers, combined with neuroscience insights, he reveals why courage — not technology — is the ultimate competitive advantage. Audiences leave inspired and equipped with both vision and practical tools to adapt quickly, act boldly, and build future-ready cultures.
Key Outcomes:
– Navigate exponential change with speed, clarity, and resilience.
– Replace hesitation with faster, braver choices in high-stakes environments.
– Harness courage to unlock adaptability and future-proof leadership in disruption.
3. THE POWER OF COURAGE: ACT DECISIVELY, SHAPE LEGACIES, DEFINE THE FUTURE
Transform adversity into growth and lead with impact that outlives disruption.
In times of constant disruption, leadership is not about certainty — it’s about courage. This keynote inspires leaders to reflect on the legacy they want to leave and empowers them to make bold, intentional decisions that shape the future. Through cinematic real-life stories of resilience, audiences discover how disruption can be transformed into opportunity and setbacks into growth. By blending neuroscience with human storytelling, Julian challenges participants to imagine not only the legacy they will leave, but the leader of the future — defined by adaptability, resilience, and decisive action.
Key Outcomes:
– Transform adversity into opportunity and disruption into growth.
– Align bold decisions with a lasting legacy of impact and meaning.
– Lead with resilience and adaptability when the path is unclear.
TESTIMONIALS
“Julian empowers leaders to embrace courage as a leadership trait and instil it within their teams — creating cultures equipped to handle the complexities of today’s world.”
— Mauricio Camargo | ex-Managing Partner, McKinsey | Co-Founder, Altra Investments
“Heartfelt, insightful, emotional and practical. A powerful combination for which I and everyone who attended Julian’s session are deeply grateful.”
— Shane Holland | Vice President Sales, Google
“This is not a keynote, it’s a life-changing experience — a multimedia journey of storytelling, neuroscience, and practical application.”
— Shelley Paxton | ex-CMO, Harley-Davidson | Lecturer at Northwestern University
“It’s rare to have a speaker gift you an experience rather than a presentation. But that is what he does. If you want the lightbulb of metamorphosis to turn on, work with Julian.”
— Shankar Desai | Managing Director, YouTube
“There are only a few people able to evoke emotion the way Julian does when he speaks.”
— Cezanne Maherali | Senior Director, Public Policy, Uber
“Inspiring, thought-provoking, and deeply human. Julian’s ability to capture the audience was profound, leaving us reflecting on how we can shape a future we’re proud of.”
— Jessica Harrison-Bolton | Director, IBM