Paul Sloane

  • The definitive authority on lateral thinking, innovation and creativity

  • Practical techniques to improve leadership and innovation

  • “King of Lateral Thinking Puzzles” as described by The Independent

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About

Paul Sloane is an entertaining, thought-provoking and motivational keynote speaker. He writes and speaks on lateral thinking and the leadership of innovation. As a recognised expert, he has written over 20 books on lateral puzzles, creativity, innovation and leadership. Titles include The Leader’s Guide to Lateral Thinking Skills, The Innovative Leader and Lateral Thinking for Every Day. Over 2 million copies have been sold and he was described in The Independent as the ‘King of Lateral Thinking Puzzles’.

His career has encompassed roles as Marketing Director, Managing Director, VP International and CEO of software companies giving him an enormous source of experience and wisdom in management and leadership. Paul worked for 11 years at IBM, where he was part of the team that launched the IBM PC in the UK. He speaks at conferences and facilitates workshops for corporate clients like Airbus, Bertelsmann, Microsoft, Nike, Swarovski, Unilever and more.

He has over 25,000 students for his online courses on Udemy. He is a visiting lecturer at Cambridge University, Lancaster Business School, Henley Business School and the Mumbai Institute of Technology. He is a recognised thought leader on innovation topics and has 40,000 followers on X. His Tedx talk on Youtube has over 170,000 views. It is entitled ‘Are You Open-Minded?’

Speech Topics

Paul Sloane presents after dinner talks, keynote addresses and workshops. They are motivational, challenging and fun but with strong takeaway messages, for example on how to achieve a climate of creativity so that your organisation becomes a hothouse of innovation.

He uses humour, interactive exchanges and startling real-life examples to inspire audiences to take a fresh view and approach issues from new directions.

Keynote Presentations
Most business leaders want to see more agility, entrepreneurial spirit and innovation in the organisations they lead. They are frustrated that their businesses can’t move quickly enough in finding new and better ways to meet customers’ needs. So, what is stopping innovation and what can be done about it? In his keynote speech, Paul Sloane explains how to unlock the inventiveness in your team and turn it into profitable innovation. He uses stories, examples, tips and practical advice.

You will discover:
• What is impeding innovation in most businesses today.
• How assumptions limit our ability to conceive better solutions.
• How innovative leaders think and act
• How to use lateral thinking at work.
• Why we must welcome failure.
• How leaders empower their people.
• How to be an arsonist and a fire fighter!
• Practical steps you can take to boost agility and innovation.

Paul Sloane’s motivational and keynote speech topics include:
The Four Golden Rules and One Magic Sentence of The Lateral Leader
The Vision, Culture and Process of Innovation
Cultivating a Climate of Creativity
Lateral Leadership in Sales and Marketing
Great Ways To Crush Creativity

Creative Ideas Workshop
Half-day, one day or two days: This is a focused, practical course designed to unleash the creativity of your team. Delegates use a variety of Paul Sloane’s powerful techniques for idea generation, evaluation and implementation. They produce a wealth of great ideas for the business issues that you select. Usually run for single organisations, the workshop is tailored to your requirements. The preferred group size is from 12 to 20 people.

Techniques are chosen to best suit the issues that you specify.
The workshop is stimulating, intensive, interactive and fun. Participants develop creative skills that they can put into immediate effect. They learn by using a variety of problem-solving techniques on real business issues. They generate radical ideas for your organisation.

Videos

Exclusive interview with Paul Sloane

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Testimonials

Your session was first rate; amusing, informative and thought provoking.

Qinetiq

You managed to blend the factual information with the original jokes to incredible effect. What impressed me most was the way you interpreted my brief to the letter.

BT

We have had a number of guest speakers over the years but none of them has really hit the mark in the way that you did. Your session was the highlight of the conference.

Archant

Thank you for a very entertaining and informative presentation. Our clients thoroughly enjoyed your examples of lateral thinking and I am sure they found it very thought provoking.

Prudential Corp

Everyone enjoyed and was impressed with your ideas and especially the way they were delivered.

The AA

Thank you for a very entertaining and informative presentation. Our clients thoroughly enjoyed your examples of lateral thinking and I am sure they found it very thought provoking.

Prudential Corp

Paul Sloane gave a fresh, thought provoking and entertaining insight into creating and managing change, focussing on the use of lateral thinking.

Businesslink, Kent

Paul Sloane did a great job as a keynote speaker at our conference.

Microsoft

Books and DVDs

Clients often ask about purchasing books for giveaways and delegate packs. Below you’ll find a selection of products by Paul Sloane. Click the images to view on Amazon's website. For bulk orders, please speak with your Booking Agent.

How to book Paul Sloane for your event

To book Paul Sloane, please submit an online enquiry to booking.agent@nmp.co.uk or contact one of our booking agents on +44 (0)20 3822 0003.

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you made the whole process of finding and engaging our speaker very easy.
Julie Smith, Head of HR - Hastoe Group
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Bookings and enquiries
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