Jon Finer
Jon Finer on Geopolitical Negotiations
Jon Finer
Keynote Speaker
Principal Deputy National Security Advisor (2021–2025)
Jon Finer has been at the center of U.S. national security decision-making across two administrations, leading policymaking, diplomacy and crisis-response on the most pressing global challenges. As a top advisor and crisis manager for President Joe Biden during one of the most turbulent geopolitical eras in recent history, he helped steer the Administration through complex conflicts, build strategic alliances, and address critical national security threats.
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Beginning his career as a foreign correspondent in Asia, Europe, and the battlefields of the Middle East, Jon Finer brought firsthand experiences from the field to the making of American foreign policy, where he has served in a series of senior positions over the past 16 years. As President Biden’s Principal Deputy National Security Advisor, often referred to as one of the hardest jobs in government because of it’s leading role in crisis management and response, Finer helped shape every foreign policy decision and develop the U.S. approach to issues ranging from the Russia/Ukraine war, to conflicts in the Middle East, to competition with China, and the intersection of technology and national security. As Secretary of State John Kerry’s top advisor and chief of staff, he was an architect of every significant diplomatic negotiation and initiative and accompanied the Secretary to more than 100 countries. As the former Head of Geopolitical Risk at Warburg Pincus, a leading global investment firm, as well as a professor who has taught international affairs at Yale and Princeton, he clearly and compellingly translates experiences at the highest levels of government into lessons for a business or general audience.
His presentations provide insights and analysis on the most consequential global challenges and opportunities, drawing from thousands of hours spent in the Oval Office, the Situation Room, and high-stakes diplomacy around the world. They focus on lessons drawn from extensive experience personally managing the country’s most complex crises in recent years.
Areas of expertise include:
- Crisis management and decision-making at the highest levels of government, including from inside the White House Situation Room during the Ukraine war, conflicts in the Middle East, and global pandemics.
- The evolving role of U.S. leadership in an era of rising global competition — particularly with China and Russia — and how democratic nations can respond.
- The role of emerging technologies in national security and the future of tech-policy integration.
- Firsthand lessons from leading U.S. diplomacy and negotiations, including high-stakes multilateral engagements across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.
- Building and managing high-performing teams under pressure, and the essential skills required to operate in complex global environments.
Known for his strategic acumen, clarity, and deep operational experience, Finer brings audiences behind the scenes of major global events — offering practical lessons, sharp analysis, and a unique perspective on leadership in times of uncertainty.
Featured Videos
Jon Finer’s Speech Topics
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The Return of Global Politics: Real-Time Insights on the Conflicts, Crises, and Calamities that Shape the Modern World
Updated to reflect the latest developments, Jon Finer will share insights into the most impactful global challenges and opportunities, provide context on how they emerged, where they are likely headed, and how they are most likely to impact the core interests of the specific audience.
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Thriving in the Storm: Lessons for the Board Room from the Situation Room
Jon Finer will share direct personal experiences from leading crisis management of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the post-October 7th conflicts between Israel and Hamas, and a range of other challenges from terror threats to pandemics. The remarks will include lessons drawn from those experiences and tailored to apply to issues of greatest concern to the specific audience.
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