Rahaf Harfoush

Thriving in Times of Disruptive Change

The World Economic Forum recently declared that we are entering into a decade of increased disruption, volatility, and uncertainty. Change is happening faster than ever and it’s critical for leaders to have the tools and strategies needed to cope in this rapidly evolving landscape.  How can leaders thrive in these challenging circumstances? 

In this powerful and thought-provoking keynote, Rahaf will show you how to stay ahead of the curve and turn disruption into opportunity. You’ll learn how to build a culture of resilience and agility, the importance of cultivating an evolutionary mindset, and how to use digital tools to build a diverse network of perspectives. 

Constantly Connected: Leadership in Times of Infobeisity

Rahaf reveals how our educational system predisposes us to information overload, how the algorithms that control our social networks can impact our world views, and how the rise of the first global digital culture is creating new alliances that threaten the status quo of business, politics, and our own daily lives. Packed with fascinating case studies, Rahaf will show you how new technologies are shaping our behaviors and creating a new cultural paradigm.

With this talk, audiences will go beyond the trend to develop a deep, human-centric understanding of how technology is changing our relationship with the world, and will learn five key questions to ask when trying to make sense of our new constantly connected lives. Welcome to the age of unprecedented technological intimacy. 

AI, Algorithms, and Automation

Who teaches a machine what’s right? Should we tax robots? What if my child’s best friend is a chatbot? What does an algorithm ethicist do? Do smart machines need therapy? We are on the verge of one of the biggest technological disruptions our species has ever faced. As automation, algorithms, and artificial intelligence continue to advance at an exponential rate, technology is rewriting the rules of our society that have served us for decades. 

In this talk, Rahaf explores what it means to be human in a world where the features that differentiated us are now being replicated by machines. Google created an AI that started creating original works of art mere hours after it was programmed. A Japanese AI was finalized in a prestigious literary competition. Financial companies are investing in algorithms that can do the work of teams of analysts in mere seconds. 

Work is only the beginning. New technologies are redefining traditional friendships and relationships. Research suggests that by 2050 robot sex will be more popular than its human counterpart. What do all of these changes mean for our notions of intimacy, monogamy, parenting, dating, and social interaction? In this keynote, Rahaf dives into some of the ethical, cultural, and social questions that surround these technological advancements showing both the promise and peril of living in a constantly connected society. 

Designing Organizational Digital Culture

Just because you use Teams Or Zoom doesn’t mean your organization has a digital culture. While technology has made it possible to work from anywhere, it has also created a new host of leadership challenges. Managers are struggling to understand what their teams need to perform. Employees are feeling isolated and disconnected. Company culture is faltering. Not to mention the increased digital chatter that is creating conflicts and misunderstandings. 

With remote and hybrid working conditions becoming the norm, how can leaders create a cohesive culture when teams are separated by timezones, geographies, and computer screens? 

In this impactful keynote, Rahaf shares how digital tools have changed the way we build culture and how teams can leverage technology to amplify their cultural values. Leaders will learn how to develop a human-centric tech policy. Pulling in research from studying various online communities, successful remote companies, and emerging best practices, audiences will be given specific strategies designed to foster collaboration, build psychological safety, engage teams, and give people a sense of belonging through digital mediums. Technology can be used to create more transparency, equality, and connection.