Rocket Scientist turned Professor, #1 Bestselling Author, and Expert on Innovation and Creativity
Ozan Varol is a literal rocket scientist who moved from navigating the cosmos onto the bestseller lists and the keynote stage. Often celebrated as “one of the best speakers” audiences have ever witnessed, Varol is a globally recognized name for sparking creativity and reimagining the status quo.
"I've seen countless keynote speakers in action. Ozan was among the top 3 speakers I've ever encountered in my life. His keynote — full of relatable and engaging anecdotes — gave me practical tools I could implement right away to make a meaningful difference in my professional life as CEO."
Education Programs
When the stakes are high, the unknowns are threatening, and the problems seem insurmountable, you need a superhero — which means you need Ozan Varol.
DANIEL H. PINK
Ozan Varol is a literal 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. Varol helps organizations reimagine the status quo and launch ideas into orbits of their own.
Varol 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, Fast Company, and more, igniting sparks of inspiration for millions worldwide.
Audiences frequently call Varol the best speaker they’ve ever seen on stage.
Varol doesn’t just speak; he ignites minds, transforming complex ideas into unforgettable “a ha!” moments. He has the rare ability to get people to drop their phones and tune in, leaving his audiences with practical insights they can implement right away to make giant leaps in work and life.
Varol’s transformative journey—from arriving in the United States alone at 17 to becoming a globally celebrated thought leader—enables him to resonate deeply with varied audiences. His unique talent for weaving together a narrative of inspiration with actionable insights makes him a sought-after voice for those aiming to redefine the boundaries of possibility. He is trusted by leading institutions like Microsoft, Accenture, lululemon, Deloitte, Salesforce, General Electric, and Google X.
His books, Awaken Your Genius and Think Like a Rocket Scientist, aren’t just global bestsellers—they’re touchstones in the world of innovative thought. The books have been translated into 25 foreign languages and received numerous accolades, including being selected as:
One of Amazon’s Top 20 business books of the year
Adam Grant’s # 1 pick of his top 20 leadership books of the year
One of Inc.com’s “6 Business Books You Need to Read This Year (according to Bill Gates, Satya Nadella, and Adam Grant)”
One of 6 Groundbreaking Books of Spring 2020 (according to Malcolm Gladwell, Susan Cain, Dan Pink, and Adam Grant)
How Ozan’s Audiences are Applying Moonshot Thinking
Ozan Varol: Flying in the Face of Uncertainty
Ozan Varol: Are You at the Forefront of Change?
Ozan Varol’s Speech Topics
Reimagine the Status Quo with Moonshot Thinking
Moonshot thinking is a way of turning the seemingly impossible into the possible. It’s the key to leaving behind the baggage of history and fostering innovation.
Businesses that take moonshots perform better, attract and retain top talent, and inspire teams and customers. In times of unrelenting change and uncertainty, it’s moonshot thinking that sets apart industry-leading businesses from the rest.
In this keynote, Ozan reveals his 4-step moonshot model to help you launch your own moonshot, spot opportunities you couldn’t see before, and create an extraordinary advantage to shape the future of your industry. The keynote draws on Ozan’s #1 bestselling book, Think Like a Rocket Scientist, which has been called “dazzling” by Adam Grant and “must read” by Susan Cain.
You’ll learn:
How invisible assumptions constrain your business (and what to do about it)
How to abandon the “We’ve always done it that way” mindset and reimagine the status quo
Why obstacles and uncertainty present opportunities to innovate
The single principle SpaceX used to revolutionize rocket science (and how you can use the same principle to transform your business)
Why breakthroughs begin with a smart question—not a smart answer
How to nail your next product launch using an unstoppable astronaut training strategy
How to place little bets on innovative ideas without risking it all
Awaken Your Genius: Escape Conformity, Ignite Creativity, and Become Extraordinary
We say that some people march to the beat of a different drum. But implicit in this cliché is that the rest of us march to the same beat. We copy and paste from our peers and competitors, chase trends, and adopt the latest fad. We hide the creative genius of our employees under outdated modes of working.
An extraordinary group of organizations think and act with genuine independence. They stand out from the crowd because they don’t copy the crowd. They unlock the full creative potential of their employees and create a thriving workplace that attracts and retains top talent. They become remarkable in an increasingly competitive marketplace and generate raving customers.
In this keynote, which draws on Ozan’s bestselling book Awaken Your Genius, Ozan will share practical strategies that you can use to escape conformity, ignite creativity, and become extraordinary.
You’ll learn:
How to ignite the creativity of your team members and unlock their superpowers
How to discover your edge—the qualities that make your organization extraordinary
The secret to fostering an engaged and motivated workforce
Why brainstorming doesn’t work (and what to do about it)
What you can learn from Netflix’s biggest mistake
Why there actually are stupid questions (and how to ask better ones)
How to look where others don’t look and see what others don’t see
Why success creates complacency (and what to do about it)
What other organizations say about Ozan Varol
I am in my 40th year in this company, with 20+ years of executive conferences, and this was one of the best guest speaker segments I experienced. Practical, relevant, topical, and applicable—your points and presentation style was spot on.
Telecommunications
What other organizations say about Ozan Varol
I’ve seen countless keynote speakers in action. Ozan was among the top 3 speakers I’ve ever encountered in my life. His keynote — full of relatable and engaging anecdotes — gave me practical tools I could implement right away to make a meaningful difference in my professional life as CEO.
Education Programs
What other organizations say about Ozan Varol
Ozan was a runaway hit at our annual conference. Many attendees called him “the best keynote speaker” they had ever seen. His book, Think Like a Rocket Scientist, is one of my favorite business reads, and it was made even better by hearing Ozan personally speak about reimagining the status quo. A rising “star” himself, Ozan Varol is the real deal – so book him!
Education Programs
What other organizations say about Ozan Varol
Ozan’s speech to our team was insightful, thought-provoking, and most importantly, actionable. If you want to help your team open their minds to new possibilities, and not only dream about moonshots but also find ways to successfully land them. Ozan will deliver above expectations.
Financial Services
What other organizations say about Ozan Varol
Ozan’s presentation was fantastic! His content is thought provoking, challenging and compelling packed with pertinent examples to bring his concepts to life. Ozan was also a pleasure to deal with throughout developing our event. He was always responsive and worked with us to make sure his keynote would meet our needs. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Ozan as a speaker and author for teams looking to improve and challenge how they work and think.
Banking
What other organizations say about Ozan Varol
Ozan’s keynote was very well received. He customized his presentation so well to our industry (Pharma R&D). Many speakers during the rest of our two-day leadership retreat made references to the concepts he introduced.
Pharmaceuticals
What other organizations say about Ozan Varol
An exceptional keynote speaker who’s also gracious, humble, and enjoyable to work with. Speaking at our Annual Meeting, he delivered an insightful message that resonated with the civic, political, and business leadership of our community. A former Mayor referred to him as “the most on-point speaker we’ve had in 30 years.”
Chambers of Commerce
What other organizations say about Ozan Varol
Ozan spoke at our internal company kick-off events and was a revelation for many in the audience. His talk was inspirational, thought-provoking, and energizing. Ozan’s talk resonated with our employees so well that people continually referenced Ozan and “moonshots” for not only days but weeks afterwards! Highly recommend him a speaker.
Human Resources
What other organizations say about Ozan Varol
Ozan is well on his way to becoming a household name. He is incredibly bright, professional, easy to work with, responsive and kind. He speaks with ease and keeps his audience intrigued and engaged. His stories are fantastic.
Financial Services
What other organizations say about Ozan Varol
Ozan’s presentation rocked the house at Lawyernomics and got rave reviews from the attendees. Many called it the ‘highlight of the conference.
