University President, Former U.S. Congressman, Business Executive

Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000 Virtual Event: $5,000 - $10,000 More Fee Info

Mark Kennedy Biography

The only person to have served as a senior officer of a Fortune 100 company, a U.S. Congressman, and president of a flagship public research university, Mark Kennedy delivers keynotes that equip leaders to compete with clarity in an age of disruption.

As Founding Director of the Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition, Kennedy crafts policy strategies that align open societies against authoritarian threats—focusing on trusted technology alliances, resilient supply chains, and the digital rules that shape power. His GRIPS, PIVOT, and ALIGN frameworks help executives, policymakers, and educators to diagnose posture, reinforce systems, and convert strategy into execution. Through his Mind the Gap series, Kennedy exposes how failure often results not from flawed ambition, but from misaligned systems—offering leaders a roadmap for building institutional coherence and trust.

He is also the author of "Shapeholders: Business Success in the Age of Activism" (Columbia University Press), which redefines how leaders engage those who influence an organization’s risks and opportunities—even without holding a stake in its success. Kennedy applied these principles firsthand while helping lead Federated Department Stores through what was then the largest non-oil merger and corporate reorganization in U.S. history—a transformation that created today’s Macy’s.

A first-generation college graduate, Kennedy’s career spans business, government, and academia. He has led through some of the 21st century’s most defining disruptions: navigating the aftermath of 9/11 as a member of Congress, guiding the University of North Dakota through a major oil bust, and steering the University of Colorado system through the COVID-19 pandemic. Across each, he earned trust by aligning shapeholders and systems toward mission-first resilience.

He has engaged leaders and learners alike in more than 45 countries—meeting with heads of state, senior ministers, civic leaders, and students in settings ranging from world capitals to war zones, refugee camps, military bases, and aircraft carriers at sea.

His keynotes blend geopolitical foresight with institutional insight, equipping audiences to navigate disruption with clarity and courage. Mark Kennedy delivers more than a speech—he delivers a 360° lens for leadership in a contested world.

BOOK Mark Kennedy

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 07/22/2025.

Mark Kennedy Speaking Topics

  • From Overconfidence to Coherence: Competing Like It Matters

    Flagship Keynote on Strategic Competition

    In a world of fractured alliances and rival tech ecosystems, strategic competition isn’t a single fight—it’s a system-wide test of alignment, trust, and execution. In this powerful keynote, Mark Kennedy explains why winning today’s geopolitical contest requires more than capability—it demands coherence.

    Audiences will walk away with a shared language for navigating complexity, grounded in Kennedy’s GRIPS, PIVOT, and ALIGN frameworks. Whether in boardrooms, ministries, or universities, Mark delivers a roadmap for leading with clarity in a contested, interdependent world.

    Audience Takeaways: • How democracies can compete without fragmentation • Why trust, not just strength, defines strategic advantage • A practical framework to align strategy, systems, and execution

  • Geoeconomic Statecraft: Power Through Markets, Rules, and Infrastructure

    The New Toolkit of Global Influence

    Markets have become battlegrounds. In this provocative talk, Kennedy shows how finance, trade, and development are now frontline tools of global power. From supply chain controls to infrastructure finance, he explores how open societies can lead through aligned geoeconomic strategy.

    This is a must-hear for leaders navigating sanctions, export controls, new trade regimes, or the rise of alternative financial blocs.

    Audience Takeaways: • Why rules-based trade must be strategic—not just liberal • How to harness infrastructure and investment for alignment • What economic resilience looks like in a multipolar world

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Mark Kennedy Videos

Statement from Incoming President Mark Kennedy

Statement from Incoming President Mark Kennedy

Mark Kennedy on May 2 was elected the 23rd president of the University of Colorado by a 5-4 vote by the Board of Regents.

CU Presidential Finalist Open Forum – Mark Kennedy

CU Presidential Finalist Open Forum – Mark Kennedy

CU Presidential Finalist Mark Kennedy will spend one day on each campus and at system administration.

Mark Kennedy Frontiers of Freedom Lecture featuring Dr. Hal Brands

Mark Kennedy Frontiers of Freedom Lecture featuring Dr. Hal Brands

The Honorable Mark Kennedy became the 12th President of the University of North Dakota on July 1st, 2016. Author of Shapeholders: Business Success in...

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  • What topics does Mark Kennedy speak about?

    Mark Kennedy is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Business, Business Growth, Business Leadership, College, Conservative, Education, Government, Leadership, Political, Republican
  • Where does Mark Kennedy travel from?

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Mark Kennedy is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as From Overconfidence to Coherence: Competing Like It Matters, Geoeconomic Statecraft: Power Through Markets, Rules, and Infrastructure, Alliances for the 21st Century: From Security Guarantees to Strategic Integration, Trusted Technology Alliances: Governing the Future Together and Tech Leadership in a Fractured World: Competing Without Losing Our Values. The estimated speaking fee range to book Mark Kennedy for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Mark Kennedy generally travels from and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Steve Largent, Kim Klacik, Shiza Shahid, Kay C. James and Ben Stein. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Mark Kennedy for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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