Chris Riddell’s closing keynote at the Oracle OpenWorld Singapore ended the event on a high note and his presentation garnered great feedback from the audience.
Below is the presentation abstract and some comments from the audience:
THE FUTURE IS ALREADY HERE. THINK DIFFERENTLY
Business is rapidly entering a new era which is being dominated by two major forces – ‘Real-time’ and ‘Neural Networks’. The industry of mobility is in the midst of one of the biggest flips we’ve seen in history. Consumers today expect experiences to be instant, and absolutely frictionless, driven by exponential advances in augmented technology such as mobile and wearables. This flip means that your customers aren’t interested in product – they’re absolutely focussed on experience. And so should you be.
Our future isn’t simply an extension of the past, it’s a reinvention of everything we know.
We are now going through a fundamental shift in not just what we do, but how we do it. Traditional business must reinvent itself to behave like a network.
Leaders that are re-designing their organisations for beyond tomorrow are challenging everything from their structures, to the way they make decisions. They realise that a deep culture of real-time innovation and harnessing the power of exponential thinking is just the start of leading through chaos.
Leaders that will thrive Beyond Tomorrow must re-enable their businesses to behave like networks, and be able to adapt in real-time with technology, talent, and customers. They don’t wait for disruption to happen and catch them off guard, they challenge the rules and everything they once knew to be true.
Do you encourage and create a culture where failure is embraced and supported? Does your leadership team truly understand what the impact of changing customer experience means for your business? Is Analytics a Technology or Business function, and what lies beyond the buzzword of “Big Data”?
Most businesses that exist in our world today were built on structures that were relevant in our world hundreds of years ago. We’ve been hardwired to create strategies which focus around a product or thing. It is this very narrow thinking, will be the undoing of businesses into the world of Beyond Tomorrow. Change is critical and experience now wins over product.
-New World. New Rules. New Future.
-Radical Innovation is the new Punk Rock
-Our Future is Digital. Led by Humans
Photo credit: Chris Riddell’s linkedin

Chris Riddell is one of Australia’s most sought after futurists, and award-winning industry recognised keynote speaker on digital. He is also a renowned strategist and global emerging trend spotter for businesses and leaders in today’s disrupted world.
Chris Riddell has worked with some of the largest and most successful companies and brands in our modern world in the UK, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Kuwait, China, New Zealand, and lately Australia. He was the first ever Chief Digital Officer (CDO) for MARS Incorporated in Australia and New Zealand, and was responsible for the corporate digital strategy behind brands such as Whiskas, Pedigree, Wrigley, Starburst, Masterfoods, Snickers, and Maltesers.
Aside from working with massive businesses, Chris is also frequently called on by the media to speak on consumer technology trends. He has appeared on Australian television, including Channel 7’s The Daily Edition and Morning Show, Nine’s A Current Affair, and recently The Project on Ten.
Chris believes that ‘being a futurist isn’t simply about putting your finger in the air, and saying what the future might be’ rather ‘authentically embedding yourself into the very space from where true innovation, and disruption is taking place, analyzing future and emerging trends, then distilling them into a clear and meaningful keynote message, for business to be able to take affirmative and decisive action on’.
As an engaging speaker, Chris Riddell‘s keynote clients include Telstra, Schneider Electric, Castrol, CeBIT, AMP Financial Services, Foodworks, Southern Cross Austero, Isuzu, Marketo, Gartner, Ashurst Law Firm, Travellers Choice, The Institute of Internal Auditors, Reed Exhibitions, and Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Chris Riddell‘s speaking topics include:
- Customers and Experience: What does the future customer look like, and how do organisations create incredible experiences for them?
- Data and Analytics: Business Intelligence (BI), and Big Data have transformed the world. What’s next in this, and how can organisations embrace BI to drive growth.
- Digital and Technology: How do you succeed in the world of digital, and what are some of the areas businesses need to focus on for the future?
- Disruption and Change: With so much change how can you future proof your business? What do jobs of the future look like and how can you embrace change?
- Leadership and Culture: What are the new skills that leaders need to have in today’s busy world and how do you create a culture that brings people together?
- Trends and Innovation: What are some of the big trends around the corner, and what are the big innovation stories of today.
Contact us should you wish us to engage Chris Riddell to speak at your next event.