Avril Haines
WSB Exclusive Speaker
President, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Former Director of National Intelligence (2021–2025)
From the Situation Room to the global stage, Avril Haines brings unparalleled insight on global risk, resilience, and decision-making, preparing organizations to thrive in uncertainty.
Avril Haines is one of the world’s foremost experts on intelligence, national security, and global strategy. As the first woman to serve as Director of National Intelligence (DNI) of the United States, she oversaw the 18-agency intelligence community during a period of unprecedented geopolitical disruption, cyber risk, and technological change. She was also the first woman to serve as the Deputy Director of the CIA, and as Principal Deputy National Security Adviser, during which she chaired the principal forum for formulating the U.S. Government’s national security and foreign policy. Known for her calm clarity in complex moments, she has advised Presidents, Cabinet members, Members of Congress, and corporate leaders on the evolving landscape of global competition, emerging threats, and the opportunities hidden within uncertainty. Today, that expertise carries into her next chapter as the President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
For audiences across industries, Avril brings a unique lens: how to anticipate disruption, navigate complexity, and make decisions when the stakes are high. Her talks are rooted in lived experience at the highest levels of government, and she consistently demonstrates how intelligence insights can translate into practical lessons for organizations facing volatility, technological disruption, and geopolitical uncertainty.
Hiring Avril is not just about hearing remarkable stories from behind the scenes of world events; it is about leaving with a sharper perspective on risk, resilience, and ethical leadership in a rapidly changing world.
Why Audiences Will Be Better Off:
- Sharper foresight into global risks and opportunities: Avril helps audiences see what is coming next, giving them the ability to anticipate and manage disruption rather than react to it.
- Stronger decision-making frameworks: She equips leaders with practical tools to make confident choices in high-pressure, uncertain environments.
- Actionable strategies for resilience: Audiences walk away with clear, applicable lessons on how to safeguard their organizations and thrive amid volatility.
Featured Videos
Avril Haines
How Organizations Can Mitigate Geopolitical Risk
Avril Haines’s Speech Topics
Intelligence Diplomacy in the Context of Ukraine
Drawing on her experience leading the Intelligence Community during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and over close to three years of the conflict, Avril describes how intelligence diplomacy was deployed as a strategic tool in support of policy. Avril further describes lessons learned during this process that may help institutions manage periods of crisis.
Building an Ethical Culture Around Decision-Making
Drawing on her experience managing decision-making processes for legal, policy, and intelligence matters, Avril explains how to inculcate an ethical culture for effective decision-making on controversial and challenging issues.
Global Instability and the Future of Business Strategy
Avril examines how shifting power dynamics, great-power competition, and geopolitical risk are redefining global markets. She outlines how organizations and leaders can better prepare for anticipated disruption, protect long-term growth, and position themselves to seize opportunities in an uncertain environment.
Leading Through Uncertainty: Frameworks for Better Decisions
Drawing on her experience advising Presidents and directing intelligence agencies, Avril shares actionable approaches for decision-making under pressure. She offers tools that help leaders cut through complexity, weigh competing priorities, think through potential scenarios, and make better decisions when information is incomplete.
Technology and the Next Era of Global Competition
Emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and biotechnology are not only reshaping industries, they are altering global power structures. Avril highlights what these changes mean for organizations, and how leaders can prepare to compete and thrive in this evolving landscape.
What other organizations say about Avril Haines
Avril went down a storm; the room was packed out! We had over 280 attendees and there was standing room only. Feedback has been great!
Financial Services
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