Headliner

Innovation & Future of Work keynote speakers

Josh Linkner

Tech Entrepreneur & Innovation Author

Speaking feeTypically $30k–$50kIndicative only, confirmed on request
  • Keynote · Workshop
  • English
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Headliner can arrange a booking with Josh Linkner or their representative. This profile is compiled from public sources; availability and fees are confirmed on request. A listing here does not imply endorsement, affiliation, partnership, or exclusivity.

Signature keynotes

What your audience walks away with

  • Outcome

    Find A Way™ — The Innovation Framework

    His signature keynote and the basis of his 2026 Find A Way Field Guide. A proven, 5-step framework to solve problems, accelerate opportunity, and sustain growth — built on the ethos of agility over brute force, creativity over hustle, and improvisation over perfect planning. Practical, energizing, and built for any team navigating uncertainty.

  • Big Little Breakthroughs — Everyday Innovation That Compounds

    Based on his 2021 bestseller. Why the most prolific innovators don't chase expensive moonshots — they make small, daily creative acts that snowball into massive results. How to de-risk innovation, build creative confidence across the org, and turn everyday people into everyday innovators.

  • The Music of Business — Innovation, Live (signature experience)

    Part keynote, part performance. A Berklee-trained jazz guitarist, Josh uses live improvisation as a metaphor for collaboration, agility, and creating under pressure — and ends with the audience composing and performing a song in real time. The most memorable, most-requested format for events that want a true "you had to be there" moment.

  • The Innovative Leader — Leading Through Uncertainty

    A modern framework to lead with confidence amid constant change. How to unlock inventive thinking at every level of the organization and make innovation an everyday operating practice, not a once-a-year offsite.

  • Disciplined Dreaming — A Proven System for Breakthrough Creativity

    From his New York Times bestseller. A repeatable, 5-part process (Ask, Prepare, Discover, Ignite, Launch) to turn creativity from a mysterious "gift" into a reliable, on-demand business capability — with instantly applicable techniques.

  • Rethink. Reboot. Reinvent. — Driving Disruption & Transformation

    From The Road to Reinvention. A systematic approach to purposeful reinvention so you can disrupt yourself before the market does it for you — essential for any organization facing rapid change.

  • Innovation in the Age of AI

    How to apply timeless innovation principles to the AI era — augmenting human creativity rather than replacing it. Drawn from Josh's current work running a venture fund focused on AI-driven, "DeepHuman" companies.

The story

Who Josh actually is

Josh Linkner was born in Detroit in 1970 and started his first business at age 11. He went on to study jazz guitar at the prestigious Berklee College of Music and earned a degree in advertising from the University of Florida — an early sign of the blend of artistry and enterprise that would define his career.

Over the next two decades, Josh started, built, and sold five technology companies for a combined value of more than $200 million, creating over 10,000 jobs along the way. His best-known venture, ePrize, became one of the largest interactive promotion agencies in the world. In 2010 he co-founded and led Detroit Venture Partners — a venture capital firm rebuilding downtown Detroit through technology and entrepreneurship, alongside partners Earvin "Magic" Johnson and Dan Gilbert — before stepping down in 2014 to focus on writing and speaking. As an investor, he has helped launch 100+ startups and generated more than $1 billion in investor returns. Today he co-leads Mudita Venture Partners, a Detroit-based firm that launched a $125 million Fund II in 2025 focused on early-stage AI companies.

Josh is a 2× New York Times bestselling author. Disciplined Dreaming (2011) became a definitive work on applied creativity, published in more than a dozen languages and read by over two million people; The Road to Reinvention (2014) gave organizations a system for purposeful transformation. He followed with Hacking Innovation (2017) and Big Little Breakthroughs (2021), and in 2026 released The Find A Way Field Guide.

A genuine jazz guitarist with 1,000+ performances behind him, Josh is the rare speaker who can demonstrate his message — turning a keynote into a live act of collaborative improvisation. Named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year twice, a "Champion of Change" by President Obama (2011), and a multiple-time TEDx speaker, he has shared his innovation message with over two million people on stages around the world.

The receipts

Books & publications

  • Disciplined Dreaming

    2011

    a proven 5-step system (Ask, Prepare, Discover, Ignite, Launch) to make breakthrough creativity reliable and repeatable.

  • The Road to Reinvention

    2014

    how to drive disruption and reinvent before the market reinvents you.

  • Hacking Innovation

    2017

    the growth model borrowed from the hacker mindset, applied to corporate innovation.

  • Big Little Breakthroughs

    2021

    how small, everyday creative acts compound into oversized results, and how anyone can become an everyday innovator.

  • The Find A Way Field Guide

    2026

    the practical companion to his Find A Way™ innovation framework.

  • Leaning Forward

    2007

    his early collection on entrepreneurship and leadership.

Gravity

Career highlights & recognition

  • Credential

    5x tech founder

    started, built, and sold five companies for $200M+ combined; 10,000+ jobs created

  • Milestone2025

    Venture capitalist

    co-founded Detroit Venture Partners (with Magic Johnson & Dan Gilbert) and Mudita Venture Partners ($125M Fund II, 2025, AI-focused); 100+ startups launched, $1B+ investor returns

  • Recognition2026

    2× New York Times bestselling author

    Disciplined Dreaming, The Road to Reinvention (plus Hacking Innovation, Big Little Breakthroughs, and the 2026 Find A Way Field Guide)

  • Award

    2× Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year

    + EY Entrepreneur of the Year Hall of Fame

  • Milestone2011

    "Champion of Change"

    named by President Barack Obama (2011) for youth-entrepreneurship work

  • Recognition

    Crain's 40 Under 40

    · Detroit Executive of the Year · Automation Alley CEO of the Year

  • Milestone

    Professional jazz guitarist

    Berklee College of Music; 1,000+ performances

  • Milestone

    Multiple-time TEDx speaker

    featured in McKinsey Author Talks; columnist for Forbes, Inc., Fast Company

Booking with confidence

What to expect when you book Josh

  • 01

    Compiled from public sources

    This profile is built from public, verifiable material and stamped with the date it was last reviewed. Nothing here is a claim we cannot trace to a source.

  • 02

    Availability and fees, confirmed

    Tell us your date and brief, and we confirm Josh's availability and current fee on request. We never publish a fabricated figure or imply an exclusivity we do not hold.

  • 03

    Managed end to end

    From first inquiry to the day itself, Headliner handles briefing, contracting, and logistics, so your team can focus on the event.

Answers

Booking questions, answered

What is Josh Linkner's speaking fee?

Typically $30k–$50k (indicative; confirmed on request). Josh's fee varies by event, date, format, and location, so we confirm the exact figure for your booking. Share your brief for current pricing and live availability.

Is Josh Linkner available for my event date?

Availability changes with Josh's schedule and the season. Tell us your date and we'll confirm whether Josh is open, and hold the slot while you decide.

How do I book Josh Linkner for my event?

Josh Linkner is booked through Headliner. Tell us your event date, audience, and goals, and we'll confirm availability and the next steps — typically within four business hours.

How much does Josh Linkner charge to speak?

Typically $30k–$50k (indicative; confirmed on request). It depends on event, date, format, location, and whether the session is in person or virtual. Share your brief and we'll confirm the exact figure and availability.

Can I hire Josh Linkner for a corporate event?

Yes. Josh is represented for speaking engagements through Headliner on a non-exclusive basis and regularly takes corporate keynotes, conferences, and leadership events. Share your brief to check availability.

What formats does Josh offer?

Josh is available for Keynote and Workshop engagements. We'll match the format to your audience and run-of-show.

What does Josh speak about?

Josh's keynote themes include Creativity & Innovation. Each talk is tailored to your audience and outcomes.

What languages does Josh present in?

Josh presents in English.

Where does Josh travel from?

Josh is based in Detroit, MI and travels internationally for engagements; virtual sessions are also available.

Profile updated . Compiled from public sources — confirm current fees and availability with Headliner.

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