Dennis Geelen
Founder • The Uncanny Media
Canada •
$1,501 - $5,000
About
I use remarkable true stories to help leaders see their organizations differently
Speaking Topics
Signature Programs (3)
Innovation is often portrayed as brainstorming sessions, sticky notes, and breakthrough ideas. But history suggests something very different. In this keynote, Dennis tells the remarkable story of Cliff Young, a 61-year-old Australian farmer who entered an ultramarathon against elite athletes and won simply by refusing to accept the assumptions everyone else followed. Along the way, audiences discover why expertise can become a blind spot, why organizations overlook obvious opportunities, and how questioning hidden assumptions often leads to the biggest breakthroughs. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for challenging conventional thinking, recognizing opportunities others miss, and fostering innovation without relying on creativity workshops or brainstorming exercises.
Key Takeaways
- Recognize the hidden assumptions that limit innovation.
- Understand why expertise can sometimes become a disadvantage.
- Learn how questioning established practices can uncover new opportunities.
- Discover practical ways to encourage innovative thinking without brainstorming sessions.
- Develop a mindset that identifies opportunities others overlook.
Audience
Business leaders, entrepreneurs, managers, and organizations seeking practical approaches to innovation and challenging conventional thinking.
Format
Duration
30 minutes, 60 minutes, half day (workshop)
Delivery
We like to believe we think independently, make rational decisions, and see the world objectively. But some of the most famous psychological experiments in history suggest otherwise. In this talk, Dennis explores fascinating studies including the Dartmouth scar experiment, the Asch conformity experiments, and the Stanford Prison Experiment to reveal how perception, social pressure, and environment quietly shape the way we think and behave. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of mindset, workplace culture, leadership, and the hidden forces that influence decision-making every day.
Key Takeaways
- Understand how perception influences decision-making.
- Recognize the impact of social pressure and conformity.
- Learn how workplace environments shape behavior and culture.
- Identify hidden biases that affect leadership and team performance.
Audience
Leaders, managers, HR professionals, and teams interested in workplace culture, decision-making, and understanding the hidden influences on human behavior.
Format
Duration
30 minutes, 60 minutes, half day (workshop)
Delivery
Why do intelligent people and successful organizations repeatedly overlook opportunities that later seem obvious? Through remarkable true stories involving mistaken assumptions, unexpected discoveries, and costly blind spots, Dennis reveals how experience, expertise, and conventional wisdom can sometimes prevent us from seeing what is right in front of us. Drawing from psychology, business, and history, this keynote explores how hidden biases influence decisions, why organizations resist new ideas, and how curiosity can become a competitive advantage. Audiences leave with practical tools for improving decision-making, questioning assumptions, and identifying opportunities that others fail to recognize.
Key Takeaways
- Identify common cognitive biases that influence decisions.
- Learn why intelligence and experience can sometimes create blind spots.
- Develop strategies for challenging assumptions.
- Improve decision-making by asking better questions.
- Recognize opportunities that others fail to see.
Audience
Executives, business owners, and leadership teams looking to improve decision-making, challenge assumptions, and identify overlooked opportunities.
Format
Duration
30 minutes, 60 minutes, half day (workshop)
Delivery
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