Dubbed “Mr. Creativity” and a “Serial Innovator” by The Economist, John is a thought leader, practitioner and activist, who has played a leading role in the fields of innovation and emerging technologies for three decades. He is a trusted advisor to leaders of companies, startups and nations and likes nothing more than to support those who are on the hot seat to transform their business models and achieve breakthroughs.

John’s unique perspective draws from an eclectic body of experiences as a business academic, entrepreneur, CEO and board chair, musician, author, expert facilitator, psychiatrist, and Tony-nominated producer. Highlights:
o Former Harvard Business School professor who developed MBA and executive learning experiences on innovation and entrepreneurship. Visiting faculty at MIT’s Media Lab and Stanford University.
o Past chair of the World Economic Forum’s Global Innovation Council o Cofounder and executive Chairman of ThayerMahan, Inc., a world leader in the integration of robotics, advanced sensors and AI for ocean intelligence
o Cofounder of milliondoors.ai, an early stage venture seeking leverage from AI/data science to revolutionize upskilling and the cultivation of human potential in an era of disrupted labor/talent markets
o Active in creative industries. Production executive on sex, lies and videotape (Palme d’Or, Cannes) and executive producer of Mr. Baseball (Universal Studios). Tony nominated producer of Golden Child. Yamaha Music Corporation’s “innovation artist.”

John’s received BA and MD degrees from Yale and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He also completed a residency in psychiatry at the McLean division of Massachusetts General Hospital. His work has received coverage in such publications as The New York Times, The Economist, CNN, and The Colbert Report.

In the summer of 1969, he apprenticed to rock legend Frank Zappa. In his spare time, he plays jazz piano.