Ozan Varol

  • Global authority on Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Innovation
  • Former Rocket Scientist
  • Award-Winning Law Professor
  • Best Selling Author of "Think Like a Rocket Scientist: Simple Strategies You Can Use to Make Giant Leaps in Work and Life"

Today, thinking like a rocket scientist is a necessity. Learning to embrace uncertainty and thrive in the unknown will be the lifeblood of the most successful leaders and organizations for years to come. Those who can tackle these challenges with a mindset that combines extraordinary thinking with a practical, proven moonshot process, will achieve extraordinary results. As Ozan poignantly shares in his keynotes, “It is only when we sacrifice the certainty of answers and embrace uncertainty, that breakthroughs happen.” As a former rocket scientist, and the #1 Bestselling Author of Think Like A Rocket Scientist, there is arguably no one better than Ozan Varol to help audiences understand the process behind Moonshot Thinking, which can help businesses launch their own moonshot, spot opportunities they couldn’t see before, and create an extraordinary advantage to shape the future of their industry. Ozan has been called a “true original” by Adam Grant and dubbed a “superhero” by Dan Pink. His work has been described as “must read” by Susan Cain and featured in the Wall Street Journal, Time, BBC, CNN, Washington Post, and more. He has helped numerous large and small organizations reimagine the status quo with moonshot thinking, including Microsoft, Intel, General Electric, Google X, Adidas, Lloyds Bank, among many others.

 

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Ozan Varol Highlights Reel [4:38] - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Ozan Varol
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Reimagine the Status Quo with Moonshot Thinking

Moonshot thinking is a way to imagine the unimaginable and solve the unsolvable. It’s the marriage of idealism and pragmatism, a mindset that combines extraordinary thinking with a practical, proven moonshot process for achieving extraordinary results. In this time of unrelenting change and uncertai ...

Moonshot thinking is a way to imagine the unimaginable and solve the unsolvable. It’s the marriage of idealism and pragmatism, a mindset that combines extraordinary thinking with a practical, proven moonshot process for achieving extraordinary results. In this time of unrelenting change and uncertainty, it’s moonshot thinking that sets apart industry-leading businesses from the rest. Ozan will reveal his 4-step moonshot process to help businesses launch their own moonshot, spot opportunities they couldn’t see before, and create an extraordinary advantage to shape the future of their industry. When you learn how to apply moonshot thinking, you won’t just change the way you view the world. You’ll be empowered to change the world itself.

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • The single principle Elon Musk used to revolutionize the aerospace industry (and how you can use the same principle to transform your business)
  • What sets apart top performers when it comes to solving complex problems
  • How invisible rules constrain your business (and what to do about it)
  • How to reframe questions to generate better answers
  • What George Costanza and rocket scientists have in common, and what you can learn from both in starting your next project
  • How to nail your next product launch using an unstoppable astronaut training strategy

Future Proof: How Businesses Can Fly in the Face of Uncertainty

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed what has always been true: The world around us is evolving at dizzying speed, and the ground we stand on is never solid. Business leaders of all kinds are trying to keep the train on the tracks, while reacting to a multitude of new frontiers: remote work, declined d ...

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed what has always been true: The world around us is evolving at dizzying speed, and the ground we stand on is never solid. Business leaders of all kinds are trying to keep the train on the tracks, while reacting to a multitude of new frontiers: remote work, declined demand, and disrupted consumer behavior. Former rocket scientist, acclaimed professor and bestselling author Ozan Varol will share how your business can fly in the face of uncertainty and thrive in a world of constant change. 

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Discover how to leave behind the baggage of history and reinvent yourself. 
  • Cultivate agility, which is the business superpower that will enable you to define the future. 
  • Learn strategies from rocket science where people routinely tackle seemingly insurmountable challenges while the clock is ticking. 
  • Understand how the world’s elite companies not only endure market shifts and global changes, but leverage them to their advantage.

Think Different: The Power of Cognitive Diversity

Many businesses strive to promote a diverse and inclusive workplace. But an often-overlooked aspect of the issue is cognitive diversity—which is based on differences in viewpoint or perspective. According to cutting-edge research, cognitive diversity can promote problem-solving and increase innovati ...

Many businesses strive to promote a diverse and inclusive workplace. But an often-overlooked aspect of the issue is cognitive diversity—which is based on differences in viewpoint or perspective. According to cutting-edge research, cognitive diversity can promote problem-solving and increase innovation by bringing a wide variety of perspectives to the table.Most businesses stifle cognitive diversity. As a result, groupthink and conformity pop up even in institutions whose lifeblood is creativity. Employees hide their best selves rather than go against the grain. In this keynote, Ozan will share a lively, anecdote-filled roadmap that business leaders can use to promote a thriving corporate culture that harnesses cognitive diversity. 

 

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • Learn two reasons why most modern workplaces stifle cognitive diversity and undermine creativity.
  • Understand how conformity led to the biggest disasters in rocket-science history (and what businesses can learn from these disasters).
  • Learn why the best ideas come from great teams, not great individuals 
  • Understand how to harness the power of diversity while maintaining team unity.
  • Promote psychological safety where employees feel free to speak up.

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Books by Ozan Varol
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Press & Media
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Biography

Ozan Varol is a rocket scientist turned award-winning professor, #1 bestselling author, and internationally acclaimed speaker. He is one of the world’s foremost experts in creativity, innovation, and critical thinking. 

Ozan has been called a “true original” by Adam Grant and dubbed a “superhero” by Dan Pink. His work has been described as “must read” by Susan Cain and featured in the Wall Street Journal, Time, BBC, CNN, Washington Post, and more.

A native of Istanbul, Ozan grew up in a family of no English speakers. He learned English as a second language and moved to the United States by himself at 17 to study astrophysics at Cornell University. He served on the operations team for the 2003 Mars Exploration Rovers project that sent two rovers to Mars. He built stuff that went to the red planet and wrote code that snaps photos of the Martian surface. He then pivoted and became a law professor to influence others to make giant leaps on Earth. 

Ozan is the #1 bestselling author of Think Like a Rocket Scientist. In the book, he reveals nine simple strategies from rocket science that you can use to make your own giant leaps in work and life. Today, thinking like a rocket scientist is a necessity. We all encounter complex and unfamiliar problems in our lives. Those who can tackle these problems—without clear guidelines and with the clock ticking—enjoy an extraordinary advantage. Think Like a Rocket Scientist is:

  • One of Inc.com’s “6 Business Books You Need to Read in 2020 (according to Bill Gates, Satya Nadella, and Adam Grant)"
  • An Amazon Best Book of April 2020
  • Adam Grant’s # 1 pick of his top 20 leadership books of 2020
  • One of 6 Groundbreaking Books of Spring 2020 (according to Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Dan Pink, and Adam Grant).

Ozan’s diverse personal background allows him to connect with wide-ranging audiences. He’s delivered keynote speeches to small and large crowds at conferences, start-ups, and Fortune 500 companies across numerous industries. He’s trusted by institutions like Microsoft, Intel, adidas, the U.S. Department of State, and the U.S. Navy.

Ozan is consistently ranked one of the top speakers at conferences and private events. Audiences love Ozan’s blend of big ideas, witty stories, and down-to-earth humor. He’s a master at simplifying complex topics and delivering numerous “a ha!” moments. Ozan has the rare ability to get people to drop their phones and leave them with practical insights they can implement right away to level up in work and life.


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