Antonio Nieto-Rodriguez
World's #1 Project Management Thinker | Thinkers50 Awardee | HBR Author | Creator of the Project Economy
Costas Markides
Robert P. Bauman Chair of Strategic Leadership, London Business School | Bestselling Author on Strategy & Innovation
Costas Markides is a globally recognized authority on strategy, innovation, and business model disruption. Holding the Robert P. Bauman Chair at London Business School, he helps leaders understand how established firms can reinvent themselves amid disruption. His keynotes blend rigorous research with real-world examples, giving senior audiences actionable frameworks for building innovative organizations.
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Costas Markides biography
Business speaker Costas Markides is one of the world’s foremost authorities on strategy, innovation, and business model disruption. He holds the Robert P. Bauman Chair of Strategic Leadership at London Business School, where he has taught and conducted groundbreaking research for over three decades. His work focuses on how established organizations can pursue radical innovation, compete with dual business models, and build cultures of continuous reinvention.
Originally from Cyprus, Markides earned his BA and MA in Economics from Boston University before completing both an MBA and DBA at Harvard Business School. He joined London Business School and quickly established himself as a leading voice in strategic management. His books have earned global recognition, with All the Right Moves shortlisted for the Igor Ansoff Strategic Management Award and Fast Second shortlisted for the Financial Times/Goldman Sachs Management Book of the Year.
From Boardrooms to Social Impact
In recent years, Markides has expanded his research beyond corporate strategy to address pressing social challenges. His book Architects of Change examines how innovative solutions to problems like poverty, malnutrition, and drug-related crime can be designed for scalability. He explores how decentralized change processes can spread social innovations globally — applying the same strategic rigor used in business to humanity’s most urgent problems.
His latest book, Business Model Innovation, published by Cambridge University Press, provides a definitive framework for how established firms can navigate disruptive entrants and reinvent their competitive strategies. Other notable works include Game-Changing Strategies and Organizing for the New Normal, which tackles organizational transformation in an era of accelerating change.
As a speaker, Costas Markides delivers high-impact presentations that blend rigorous academic research with practical business examples. His ability to translate complex strategic concepts into actionable insights makes him a sought-after keynote for senior executives navigating competitive uncertainty and organizational change.
Costas Markides Speaking Videos
Costas Markides - Here's How To Retain the Best Talent
Professor Costas Markides - Preparing organisations for a journey of continuous transformation
Costas Markides Keynote Topics
In a hypercompetitive business environment, sustainable innovation is the ultimate source of competitive advantage. Yet innovation cannot remain the sole province of senior leadership or isolated R&D departments — it must be woven into the fabric of the entire organization. This keynote explores how companies can institutionalize innovation so that it occurs anywhere and at any time, across all levels and functions. Drawing on decades of research and real-world corporate case studies, Professor Markides reveals the leadership behaviors, organizational structures, and cultural elements that enable continuous innovation. Attendees leave with a practical framework for transforming their organizations into engines of relentless creativity and strategic renewal.
When disruptive innovators invade an established firm's market, the conventional wisdom often fails. This presentation draws on extensive academic research to identify the strategies that work — and dispel the myths that cloud executive decision-making around disruption. Using real-world examples from industries ranging from retail to airlines, Professor Markides reveals how incumbents can respond effectively to business model disruption without abandoning their core strengths. The session also examines common half-truths about disruption and equips leaders with evidence-based insights for protecting market position while embracing strategic change.
Some of the most transformative companies in modern business — from Amazon to EasyJet to Enterprise — achieved breakthrough growth not by following the rules, but by fundamentally rewriting them. This keynote explores the concept of strategic innovation: the art of redefining how an industry competes. Professor Markides examines how companies can successfully pursue this strategy, even when they already have a thriving existing business to protect. Through compelling real-world examples and evidence from strategic management research, attendees gain a clear understanding of how to identify, design, and implement game-changing strategies that create lasting competitive advantage.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Costas Markides
Why Costas Markides?
Costas Markides is one of the world's most respected authorities on strategy and innovation, bringing over three decades of research from London Business School to every keynote. His unique ability to translate complex academic frameworks into actionable business insights makes him an exceptional choice for senior executive audiences. On stage, Markides combines intellectual rigor with engaging storytelling, using real company case studies to show leaders how to institutionalize innovation, respond to disruption, and reimagine competitive strategy. His books, including the award-shortlisted All the Right Moves and Fast Second, are required reading in MBA programs worldwide. Book Costas Markides through Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring world-class strategic thinking to your next leadership event.
What is business model innovation according to Costas Markides?
According to Costas Markides, business model innovation is the process of fundamentally rethinking how an industry competes — not by improving existing products, but by redefining the rules of engagement. In his research and books, particularly Business Model Innovation and Game-Changing Strategies, he distinguishes this from product or process innovation. Business model innovation involves changing who you target, what you offer, and how you deliver value in ways that disrupt established competitors. Markides argues that established firms face a unique challenge: they must pursue radical innovation while protecting their existing business. His framework helps companies manage this dual mandate by identifying when to embrace disruption and when to defend their core.
How does Costas Markides apply management thinking to social challenges?
In his book Architects of Change, Costas Markides explores how the same strategic thinking used in business can be applied to pressing social problems such as poverty, malnutrition, and drug-related crime. His research examines how individuals and organizations can design innovative solutions that are inherently scalable — moving beyond pilot programs to achieve global impact. He also investigates decentralized change processes that allow social innovations to spread without top-down control. This work represents a natural extension of his career-long focus on how organizations can break established patterns and create new value through strategic creativity.
What can audiences expect from a Costas Markides keynote?
A Costas Markides keynote is a masterclass in strategic thinking, delivered with the rigor of a Harvard-trained academic and the accessibility of a gifted storyteller. Audiences can expect a deep dive into how organizations can foster continuous innovation, respond to disruptive competitors, and implement game-changing strategies — all illustrated with real-world company examples and grounded in decades of published research. Markides tailors his presentations to executive-level audiences, focusing on practical insights that leaders can apply immediately. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring Costas Markides to your next corporate event, leadership summit, or industry conference.
How to book Costas Markides as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Costas Markides as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Costas Markides's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Costas Markides or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Costas Markides speaking fee?
Costas Markides speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Costas Markides to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Costas Markides.
How can I contact Costas Markides?
We only work with Costas Markides on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Costas Markides and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Costas Markides speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Costas Markides for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Costas Markides for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Costas Markides is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Costas Markides for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
