John Winsor

About

About John Winsor - Innovator, Entrepreneur, Author and Speaker on The Future of Work:

John Winsor is an entrepreneur, thought-leader and global authority on the future of work, open talent and remote work. John’s ideas, expressed through his writing, speaking, and the companies he’s built, have placed him at the intersection of innovation, disruption and storytelling.

John is currently the executive-in-residence at Harvard Business School’s Laboratory for Innovation Science at Harvard (LISH), which studies AI and Workforce Transformation strategies, and founder and CEO of Open Assembly, a company that provides content, community, and strategic advising to organizations, people, and platforms to co-create the future of work.

Recently, he has been leading a global industry coalition made up 4000 global leaders in the open talent and innovation industry to start a non-profit trade association, The Center for the Transformation of Work with the goal of Transforming work for a billion people by 2025.

In his past life, John was the chief innovation officer of Havas, when Havas purchased his open advertising agency, Victors & Spoils, in 2015. Winsor founded V&S after introducing the advertising world to the practice of co-creation in his role as vice president and executive director of strategy and innovation at Crispin, Porter + Bogusky. Winsor had merged his company Radar Communications, the world’s leading open strategy and research company, with CP+B back in 2007. Other companies Winsor founded include Sports & Fitness publishing, sold to Conde Nast, and the Gravity Games, sold to NBC.

Winsor’s new book, “Open Talent: Leveraging the Global Crowd to Solve Your Biggest Challenges,” published by Harvard Business Press, comes out in the fall of 2023.

Winsor’s is also the author of “Beyond the Brand,” “Spark,” “Flipped,” and the best-selling “Baked In,” winner of the 2009 800-CEO-READ Business Book Award in marketing. Winsor is also an advisor to the Digital Initiative at Harvard Business School, and a regular contributor to the Harvard Business Review, The Guardian, Forbes and Digiday.

Winsor was an early digital nomad. Twenty years ago, he found a satellite dish, mounting it on his house in a village in Mexico and connecting in illegally to a network in Canada to communicate with the world. He has also worked on his skiing, surfing and climbing exploits from Fiji to Alaska.

Topics

What John Winsor Talks About:

AI and The Future of Work
The convergence of AI and the future of talent will redefine the way we approach work, unleashing untapped potential and fostering unprecedented collaboration. As AI continues to augment our capabilities, it becomes crucial for individuals and organizations to embrace a mindset of adaptability and lifelong learning to stay ahead in this rapidly evolving landscape. By harnessing the transformative power of AI, we can collectively unlock new opportunities, drive innovation, and create a more resilient and inclusive global workforce.

The Great Resignation
The Great Resignation has ignited a global awakening, challenging the traditional constructs of work and driving people to reimagine their careers. As we navigate this seismic shift, it’s imperative to recognize the potential of open talent, collaboration, and decentralization in creating a more fulfilling and sustainable future. Embracing these transformative ideas will be instrumental in shaping the next chapter of work and ensuring that the Great Resignation serves as a catalyst for positive change.

The Battle for Talent
The ongoing battle for talent has intensified in recent years, forcing organizations to reevaluate their strategies and embrace new paradigms for attracting and retaining top talent. In this hypercompetitive landscape, fostering a culture of openness, collaboration, and adaptability will be key to winning the hearts and minds of skilled professionals. By leveraging the power of open talent ecosystems and prioritizing employee well-being, companies can stay ahead in the talent race and secure a prosperous future in an ever-changing world.

Power of the Crowd
The power of the crowd represents a transformative force in the world of work, enabling organizations to tap into diverse perspectives, knowledge, and skills beyond their immediate sphere. By harnessing this collective intelligence, we can unlock unprecedented levels of innovation, problem-solving, and adaptability in the face of complex challenges. Embracing the crowd’s potential paves the way for a more connected, inclusive, and resilient future, where collaboration transcends boundaries and fuels our shared progress.

Organizational Transformation
Organizational transformation is no longer a luxury, but a necessity in today’s rapidly evolving world, as companies must continually adapt to stay relevant and competitive. This metamorphosis requires a holistic approach that embraces not only technological advancements but also fosters cultural shifts, empowering employees and nurturing collaboration. By placing people at the heart of transformation, we can cultivate an environment of continuous learning and innovation, driving organizations toward sustainable success in an ever-changing landscape.

Recent Publications

John is one of my mentors and is a statesman in the open talent community. John’s superpowers are thinking beyond the obvious and bring together a coalition of the inspired to solve large industry wide problems leveraging the power of communities.