Videos
-
Harvard professor discusses how AI is impacting the way knowledge is taught and learned -
The AI Republic | Mark Esposito | Talks at Google
-
The Great Remobilization, IIPP in conversation with Mark Esposito
-
Looking Ahead to What’s in Store for Tech in 2025 With Futurist Mark Esposito
-
The Age of Fragmentation | Mark Esposito | TEDxAntwerp
-
Mark Esposito: The future of work
-
The Circular Economy: Society's last chance? - Mark Esposito, at USI
-
#TheIndiaDialog Conversation with Mark Esposito
-
Understanding the Future as it Unfolds: The Power of Megatrends - Mark Esposito, at USI
-
The Great Remobilization: Strategies and Designs for a Smarter Global by Olaf G. Mark E. Terence T.
-
DRIVE Framework: The Trailer
-
Future of Business Forum
Learn More About Mark Esposito
As emerging technologies like generative AI spread throughout organizations and public calls for more sustainable business practices grow louder, how can leaders turn these external challenges into internal capabilities that ensure growth and success in the years ahead?
A trusted advisor to multinational businesses and world leaders alike, Mark Esposito, Ph.D. is a multidisciplinary expert who helps leaders build an agile mindset and find incredible possibilities for the future, even in times of adversity and uncertainty. Notably, he is the Chief Economist at micro1, an AI (unicorn) lab, and a faculty affiliate of Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for International Development, Harvard’s Institute for Quantitative Social Science, the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies and the Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society,
An economist by training and co-author of the award-winning, bestselling book, “The Great Remobilization: Strategies and Designs for a Smarter Global Future” (The MIT Press, October 2023), his latest book “Becoming AI Native: Charting the Next AI Frontier” (Chapman & Hall, February 2026), illuminates how to leverage AI to address real-world business challenges. Esposito teaches leaders how to identify trends and build the future with foresight. With expert insights on leading in times of disruption, he shows executives how to make sense of the seismic shifts ahead to create risk mitigation strategies and build the capabilities of tomorrow.
“A lot of the work I do is about demystification,” explains Esposito, an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. “From understanding the power AI has to make a positive impact, to climate transition and the circular economy, I help leaders think in terms of moonshots, radically transforming what needs to be transformed while considering the challenges ahead.”
An academic, tech entrepreneur, and true citizen of the world whose global and multi-cultural perspective allows him to connect with a variety of leaders and audiences, Esposito’s research zooms in on emerging technology and AI, sustainable business models and how these advancements will vastly influence the future of how economies relate to people and society. Developer of the DRIVE framework for harnessing the power of today’s megatrends, he provides practical tools that empower leaders to illuminate blind spots and reveal exceptional opportunities.
Create Value with Machine Learning by Demystifying AI
Co-author of “The AI Republic: Building the Nexus Between Humans and Intelligent Automation” (2019), Esposito is co-founder and Chief Learning Officer of Nexus FrontierTech, an AI scale-up venture and research lab. Equipped with the practical experience of running an emerging tech startup and an ability to cut through disinformation and demystify AI, he helps business and government leaders understand the future of AI and how it can become a force for good.
“What if AI was designed to lift us up and empower human capability?” proposes Esposito, who teaches an award-winning executive education course on AI at Harvard’s Division of Continuing Education. “I help people cross that bridge of what AI is and how we can use it to augment humans in our existing infrastructure.”
Esposito – an adjunct professor of public policy at Georgetown University where he works with public leaders to shape global policy options on competitiveness and digital governance – helps leaders navigate the challenges of the “Human 2 Machine Era” by providing accessible tools for creating value with machine learning and embedding AI into their firm’s core strategy.
Circular Business Models: Rethinking Sustainability in a World in Constant Flux
According to Esposito, a resident fellow and professor of economic policy at Mohammed Bin Rashid School of Government in the United Arab Emirates, one of those opportunities is the imperative to act now in creating sustainable business models. One of the most cited scholars on the circular economy, Esposito urges leaders to change their thinking from the traditional “take, make, dispose” model of production to one that can harness technology to accelerate sustainable transitions and the preservation of our natural resources.
“Since the industrial revolution, we have been able to depend on natural resources to achieve economic growth and development and raise the standard of living,” explains Esposito, a Professor of Technology Policy and Fellow at the Center for Emerging Markets at Northeastern University. “But as these resources become scarcer and more expensive, and the over utilization of these resources is having a negative impact on the environment, we need to find new ways to create a more sustainable economic growth model that generates more employment and improves competitiveness.”
The imperative grows for leaders to make AI an ingrained part of their business processes and for organizations to equally prioritize sustainable business models. By showing how to gain self-power to think differently, Mark Esposito activates the ability for leaders to break the entrenched politics of an organization and turn external forces such as AI and sustainability into powerful internal capabilities.
###
Mark Esposito, Ph.D. is recognized internationally as a top global thought leader in matters relating to The Fourth Industrial Revolution. A global expert for the World Economic Forum, he has been recognized by Thinkers50 as one of the most prominent rising business thinkers in the world and was shortlisted for the 2023 Strategy Award. His academic journey culminated with a doctoral degree in Business and Economics from Ecole des Ponts Paris Tech, one of France’s esteemed Grande Ecole.
An accomplished entrepreneur, he co-founded Nexus FrontierTech, an influential machine learning research firm, as well as The Chart ThinkTank and the AI Native Foundation. Recognized by Thinkers50 Radar in 2016 as one of the world’s top 30 business thinkers, he is a widely published author with over 150 publications, both peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed, and 14 books. Notably, “Understanding How the Future Unfolds” (2017) and “The AI Republic” (2019) are Amazon bestsellers. His forthcoming books include “Becoming AI Native: Charting the Next AI Frontier” (Routledge, 2026), “Tectonic Shifts: How Technology is Remaking Global Power Dynamics” (Penguin Random House, 2026), “Global Visions (Bloomsbury, 2026), and “Who Rules the Internet? Polycentric Governance and the Political Economy of the Digital Commons” (Routledge, 2027).
From 2015-2019, Esposito served under the mentorship of Michael E. Porter as Institutes Council Co-Leader in the Microeconomics of Competitiveness program at Harvard Business School’s Institute of Strategy and Competitiveness. He was a Founding Research Fellow of the Circular Economy Center at the University of Cambridge’s Judge’s Business School from 2016 to 2020.
Mark Esposito is available to advise your organization via virtual and in-person consulting meetings, interactive workshops and customized keynotes through the exclusive representation of Stern Speakers & Advisors, a division of Stern Strategy Group®.
Lead Through Uncertainty: Strategically Calibrate AI for Organizational Resilience
As artificial intelligence becomes deeply embedded in our business ecosystems, how can leaders ensure AI serves as a catalyst for resilience rather than disruption? According to Harvard Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society faculty associate Mark Esposito, Ph.D., in this data-driven era, organizations face not just technological but also ethical, social, and strategic imbalances. In this fascinating presentation, Esposito leverages insights from emerging scholarship on Strategic Calibration (SC) to explore how companies can align AI tools with dynamic market conditions, human judgment and societal values. By incorporating Explainable AI (XAI) and feedback-driven adaptive systems, leaders will gain actionable strategies for real-time decision-making, ethical innovation and systemic adaptability. Attendees will leave equipped to calibrate their AI-driven strategies, maximize value creation under volatility and future-proof their organizations in an era of constant flux.
Create Value with Machine Learning by Demystifying AI
With the unprecedented rise of artificial intelligence, how can organizations leverage it to productively augment humans in existing infrastructures? According to co-founder and Chief Learning Officer of Nexus FrontierTech, Mark Esposito, Ph.D., great organizational value can be harnessed from machine learning (ML) and the latest AI technology by turning it into a force for good. Drawing on his books, “The AI Republic: Building the Nexus Between Humans and Intelligent Automation and “Becoming AI Native: Charting the Next AI Frontier,” he cuts through disinformation and demystifies AI to leave audiences with accessible tools for creating value with ML and embedding powerful AI into their firm’s core strategy. Attendees will be empowered to nimbly navigate the challenges of the new “Human 2 Machine Era,” to lift organizations up and accelerate human capacity.
Identify Trends to Build Tomorrow’s Capabilities by Constructing the Future
What are the secrets to creating the capabilities of tomorrow to construct a successful organization of the future? According to Harvard Kennedy School Center for International Development faculty affiliate Mark Esposito, Ph.D., the future is nothing more than a construction that can be molded to radically transform the road ahead. With executives and high potential managers in mind, Esposito draws on his book, “The Great Remobilization: Strategies and Designs for a Smarter Global Future,” to teach leaders how to build the future with foresight. Providing expert insights on identifying trends and leading in times of disruption, he shows audiences how to make sense of the seismic shifts ahead to create practical risk mitigation strategies. Following this highly engaging presentation that highlights Esposito’s DRIVE framework, leaders will be emboldened with an agile mindset and practical tools for illuminating blind spots and revealing the exceptional opportunities of tomorrow.
Save the Environment Through a Circular Economy Business Model
In a time when the old “take, make, dispose” model of production is no longer practical, how can businesses and governments act now to create more sustainable business models? According to Mark Esposito, Ph.D., it’s vital for leaders to change their thinking from relying solely on natural resources to one of facing climate change head-on and supporting the environment through a circular economy. One of the most cited scholars on the circular economy, Esposito will provide audiences with real-world strategies and practical tools for harnessing technology to accelerate sustainable transitions that will preserve our natural resources now and for the future.
The Great Remobilization: Strategies and Designs for a Smarter Global Future
(The MIT Press, October 2023)
The Emerging Economies Under the Dome of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Elements in the Economics of Emerging Markets)
(Cambridge University Press; New Edition, August 2022)
The AI Republic: Building the Nexus Between Humans and Intelligent Automation
(Lioncrest Publishing, June 2019)
Understanding How the Future Unfolds: Using Drive to Harness the Power of Today's Megatrends
(Lioncrest Publishing, March 2017)
Interoperable, Agile, and Balanced: Rethinking Technology Policy and Governance for the 21st Century
(Brookings Institution, January 2022)
Demystify AI, Create the Future and Face Climate Change
Mark Esposito, Ph.D., tech entrepreneur and Harvard Kennedy School Center for International Development faculty affiliate, is one of the world’s leading experts on demystifying technology and its vast influences on all aspects of business and society now and into the future. A trusted advisor to multinational businesses and government leaders alike, his global perspective and multidisciplinary expertise helps leaders create strategies to leverage artificial intelligence, identify trends and build future capabilities, and utilize circular economy business models to activate sustainable transitions. Esposito is available to discuss any or all of the following topics during board meetings and consultations plus small group and one-on-one advisory meetings. Each program can be customized to meet the needs and goals of your organization with the added option of meeting virtually or in-person.
- Lead Through Uncertainty: Strategically Calibrate AI for Organizational Resilience
- Create Value with Machine Learning by Demystifying AI
- Identifying Trends to Build Tomorrow’s Capabilities by Constructing the Future
- Save the Environment Through a Circular Economy Business Model
- Leveraging Foresight for Senior Leaders and High Potential Managers
- The Fourth Industrial Revolution and its Influence on Today’s Major Economic, Technological and Sustainability Trends
Praise for "Becoming AI Native"
"This book brilliantly frames the evolution we’re witnessing firsthand at micro1—where traditional recruiters are becoming AI Recruiter Operators, empowered not only to oversee but to strategically command powerful AI systems. Terence, Mark, Danny and Paul insightfully highlight this shift toward an ‘AI native’ world, underscoring how professionals are evolving from task-driven roles into strategic bosses of AI-driven workflows. Anyone looking to thrive, rather than just survive, in this AI-native era should read this essential guide."
"Mastering the business of AI is no longer just a corporate goal, it is a cornerstone of our economic future—this book provides the blueprint."
"Insightful and action-oriented, this book bridges the gap between AI theory and real-world transformation—a must-read for executives who aim to lead with vision and agility."
"The transition to an ‘AI Native’ world is the defining challenge of our generation; 'Becoming AI Native: Charting the Next AI Frontier' is the essential map for navigating it wisely."
"'Becoming AI Native: Charting the Next AI Frontier' is like a crash course in smart digital leadership. It gives you a super practical game plan for going all-in on AI—perfect for any company that wants to crush it in the next wave of innovation."
"With AI now serving as the ultimate competitive edge, this book is an essential guide for leaders. It offers a road map to rethinking and transforming organizations for a smarter, more digital future."
"As artificial intelligence reshapes every facet of society, this book provides the strategic compass we urgently need. 'Becoming AI Native: Charting the Next AI Frontier' distils complexity into actionable insight for leaders, thinkers, and builders of the AI era."
"Excellent overview of the evolution of AI over the years and the pathways towards an AI native future. A forward-looking and practical framework for forward-thinking practitioners and senior executives to shape their organization's digital transformation."
"Forget AI road maps. This book quietly asks the essential: in becoming AI-native, what part of our nature are we rewiring and what does embracing AI mean for those who seek to lead amid the unpredictable human-driven evolution of intelligence itself."
"'Becoming AI Native: Charting the Next AI Frontier' is a timely and indispensable guide for anyone seeking to understand and leverage the transformative power of artificial intelligence. The authors successfully bridge the gap between traditional AI and the emerging landscape of generative AI, providing a practical and deeply informed roadmap for business leaders, technologists, and policymakers alike. What sets this book apart is its comprehensive approach—not only demystifying the technical foundations of AI but also exploring the strategic, societal, and ethical dimensions of becoming truly ‘AI native.’ From the solid grounding in rule-based systems and machine learning to the dynamic world of autonomous agentic AI, the authors provide a rare combination of clarity, foresight, and actionable insight. In a world increasingly shaped by algorithms and uncertainty, this book is both a compass and a call to action. It challenges readers to think beyond hype cycles and take ownership of AI’s role in shaping our collective future. It is one of the must-reads for those ready to lead responsibly in the age of intelligence."
"'Becoming AI Native: Charting the Next AI Frontier' captures the urgency and opportunity of this moment. It’s a timely guide for leaders and organizations across the Asia-Pacific—and beyond—to turn AI potential into economic impact."
"I highly recommended this excellent book, written lucidly by academia and practitioners, for AI novices like me who desire to be informed of the various AI technologies out there—their evolution, their abilities, and their limitations. At APS, we have developed with the assistance of Nexus FrontierTech an AI Fundamental ESG System, which has helped us make better investment decisions. I expect more AI solutions in our lives, business, etc. as the technology improves."
"Artificial intelligence is not magic. Despite the incessant hyperbole, there are no shibboleths that turn water into wine or hay into gold. Yes, AI can be transformative to your business, but effective AI takes work: careful, disciplined engineering of the necessary infrastructure with well-governed data curation and then, and only then, the application of still-evolving AI algorithms. 'Becoming AI Native: Charting the Next AI Frontier' does an excellent job of articulating this foundational truth. Terence, Mark, Danny and Paul lay out the history, the intellectual underpinnings, and, without apology, the difficult homework that makes the effective implementation of contemporary artificial intelligence possible. Any CEO who needs artificial intelligence in his business—which is all of us—should read this book before committing to a major investment. It will save him time and improve the likelihood that the AI he buys will generate the results he needs."
"In an era where organizations are seeking clear guidance, 'Becoming AI Native: Charting the Next AI Frontier' will prove as an indispensable guide for executives who are seeking to understand the benefits and pitfalls of AI and will use it to help navigate their organizations through an inevitable period of material change."
