John McWhorter
Political Commentator, Linguist & Professor at Columbia University
John Ellis
Technology Futurist & IoT Expert | Former Global Technologist, Ford Motor Company | Author, The Zero Dollar Car
Few technology speakers can say they built the innovations they speak about — John Ellis can. As former Global Technologist at Ford and a senior executive at Motorola, he was an architect of the connected vehicle revolution. Author of the #1 Amazon bestseller The Zero Dollar Car, he helps organizations grasp what big data, IoT, and connected mobility mean for their industries before the disruption arrives.
Want to book John Ellis as a speaker for your event? Please provide the info below and we’ll get in touch within 24h:
John Ellis biography
John Ellis is a technology futurist, software expert, and management consultant whose career has taken him from the engineering floors of Motorola to the global technology strategy function of Ford Motor Company — and whose work has shaped how industries, cities, and organizations think about connected vehicles, big data, and the business models that emerge when everything becomes a sensor. He is Founder and Managing Director of jte Consulting, a global management consulting firm serving clients at the intersection of transportation, consumer technology, connectivity, and software, and previously founded Ellis & Associates, which he has led for more than two decades.
Technology speaker John Ellis built his credibility in the trenches of two of the most consequential technology ecosystems of the past thirty years. At Motorola — the company that gave the world the first car radio, the first mobile phone, and the first walkie-talkie — he held senior leadership roles developing wireless software products, mobile services, and an industry-leading open-source software program. He then joined Ford Motor Company as Global Technologist and Head of the Ford Developer Program, where he led teams responsible for a string of automotive industry firsts, most notably SmartDeviceLink, the open-source version of Ford’s award-winning AppLink technology that enabled seamless connectivity between mobile devices and vehicles. His tenure at Ford put him at the center of the connected car revolution at the precise moment the industry was being redefined by software, data, and platform thinking.
The Zero Dollar Car and the Data Economy
Out of that experience came The Zero Dollar Car: How the Revolution in Big Data Will Change Your Life — a #1 Amazon bestseller in the automotive category that laid out a provocative and prescient vision: that vehicle sensor data is so valuable to insurers, advertisers, governments, and technology companies that it could, in principle, offset the entire purchase price of a car. The book extended that logic across industries, examining how data-driven business models are quietly restructuring transportation, insurance, telecommunications, real estate, and urban infrastructure. Ellis has also presented this thesis at TEDx Wilmington, and speaks regularly to audiences across sectors about what the data economy means for their businesses and their customers.
As a speaker, John Ellis translates deep technical fluency into strategic clarity that non-technical audiences can act on. His keynotes on IoT, connected transportation, smart cities, big data monetization, and the future of mobility draw on real experience building the technologies he discusses — giving him a credibility and specificity that purely academic or analyst-driven perspectives cannot match. Audiences leave not just informed about what is coming, but equipped to make smarter decisions about the technology transformations already underway in their industries.
John Ellis Speaking Videos
Advertisers shape technology -- what that means for "smart" cars | John Ellis | TEDxWilmingtonSalon
ATP 2014 Keynote Speaker
John Ellis Keynote Topics
Vehicle sensors already collect extraordinarily valuable data about drivers, roads, and behavior — data that insurers, advertisers, governments, and tech giants are willing to pay for. In this keynote, John Ellis draws on his experience as Ford's Global Technologist and the thesis of his #1 bestselling book to show how data monetization is quietly restructuring business models across transportation, insurance, real estate, and telecommunications. The implications extend far beyond the automotive sector: any industry where connected devices generate data is facing the same fundamental shift. Audiences leave with a sharper understanding of where value is moving — and who will capture it.
The connected world is not a future scenario — it is the operating reality of the industries, cities, and supply chains your organization depends on. John Ellis unpacks the practical architecture of the IoT economy: how devices generate data, how that data flows through ecosystems of insurers, platforms, governments, and consumers, and how the organizations that understand these flows will outmaneuver those that do not. Drawing on two decades of work at the intersection of automotive, consumer, and connectivity technology, this keynote gives leaders a concrete map of where IoT disruption is already happening and where it is heading next.
Autonomous vehicles, smart infrastructure, and mobility-as-a-service are not just changing how people move — they are fundamentally redesigning urban space, public policy, and city economics. John Ellis has spent years advising cities, airports, and transportation authorities on how to prepare for and manage this technological influx. This keynote explores how connected transportation is reshaping curbs, parking, transit, and urban planning, and what it means for the public agencies, real estate developers, and private companies whose futures are tied to how our cities function.
Technology disruption does not arrive uniformly — it concentrates at the intersections of industries. John Ellis has spent his career at precisely those intersections: automotive and software, consumer devices and enterprise systems, mobility and data. This forward-looking keynote maps the technology trends most likely to reshape business strategy in the near term — from connected and autonomous vehicles to platform-based business models and the commoditization of hardware — and gives leaders a framework for distinguishing genuine disruption from noise. A grounding and clarifying talk for any audience navigating rapid technological change.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking John Ellis
Why John Ellis?
Booking John Ellis means bringing an exceptionally rare combination to your stage: a technology futurist who has actually built the innovations he speaks about. As former Global Technologist at Ford and a senior executive at Motorola, Ellis was an architect of the connected vehicle revolution — not a commentator on it. His keynotes on IoT, big data, connected transportation, and smart cities carry the credibility of someone who has led the teams, built the products, and navigated the business model transformations that most speakers only theorize about. For audiences in automotive, technology, manufacturing, government, insurance, or any industry touched by connectivity and data, John Ellis is a uniquely authoritative and provocative voice. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check his availability.
What is The Zero Dollar Car about?
The Zero Dollar Car is John Ellis's #1 Amazon bestselling book arguing that vehicle sensor data — collected by the microphones, cameras, accelerometers, and GPS units in modern cars — is so commercially valuable to insurers, advertisers, mapping companies, and governments that data-sharing agreements could theoretically reduce the purchase price of a car to zero. The book traces this logic across multiple industries, showing how a "zero dollar economy" built on data monetization is already reshaping business models in transportation, telecommunications, real estate, and beyond. It is both a practical primer on the data economy and a provocation about consumer privacy, data ownership, and corporate power.
What is SmartDeviceLink, and what was John Ellis's role in it?
SmartDeviceLink is the open-source version of Ford's AppLink technology — the platform that allows smartphone applications to integrate directly with a vehicle's in-dash display and controls. Under John Ellis's leadership as Global Technologist and Head of the Ford Developer Program, his team developed and released SmartDeviceLink as an open-source project, enabling a broader ecosystem of developers and automakers to build connected-vehicle applications on a shared standard. It remains one of the most significant contributions to the connected car ecosystem and a foundational piece of how vehicles integrate with mobile technology today.
What topics does technology speaker John Ellis cover in his keynotes?
John Ellis speaks on the Internet of Things, connected and autonomous vehicles, big data and data monetization, smart cities and urban mobility, the future of transportation infrastructure, software-driven business model transformation, and the strategic implications of connectivity for industries from automotive and insurance to real estate and government. His talks are ideally suited for technology conferences, automotive industry events, smart city and infrastructure summits, financial services gatherings, and corporate leadership forums navigating digital transformation. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to explore how John Ellis can sharpen your audience's thinking on the technology forces reshaping your industry.
How to book John Ellis as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book John Ellis as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about John Ellis'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 John Ellis or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is John Ellis speaking fee?
John Ellis 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 John Ellis 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 John Ellis.
How can I contact John Ellis?
We only work with John Ellis on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking John Ellis and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having John Ellis 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 John Ellis for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book John Ellis for a virtual keynote?
Yes, John Ellis is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book John Ellis for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
