Dennis Geelen

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.

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.

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.