From Overconfidence to Coherence: Competing Like It Matters
Mark Kennedy’s flagship keynote on strategic competition in a divided and interdependent world
“Strategic competition today is not a single contest—it is a system-wide struggle to align power, shape norms, and define legitimacy across every domain of influence.”
Overview
- In this keynote, former Congressman, university president, and Director of the Wahba Institute for Strategic Competition (WISC) Mark Kennedy explores how democracies must marshal strategic coherence across systems—not just capabilities—to lead with credibility in a contested, multipolar world.
- Kennedy weaves personal stories, sports metaphors, and global insights to illuminate the difference between overconfidence and true readiness—and the urgent imperative to “compete like it matters.”
- Whether speaking to corporate boards, government leaders, university communities, or military officers, Kennedy brings not only clarity—but connection.
Strategic Lenses That Inform This Keynote
Throughout this talk, Kennedy draws on three original frameworks that shape his insights and provide audiences with a shared vocabulary for navigating complexity:
- ALIGN – A framework for closing the gap between vision and execution: Audit for consistency, Link vision to systems, Integrate across institutions, Gap-test under stress, Narrow focus to what builds trust and advantage
Together, these lenses form the 360° Strategic Coherence Frameworks—a practical foundation for leadership in today’s contested world.
Key Themes Covered
- Why the U.S.–China rivalry defines the current era—and why it’s not a Cold War redux
- Suggest: How power now projects through chips, code, and story—not just ships and tanks
- Why alliances, supply chains, and digital standards are now battlegrounds of strategic influence
- What leadership, trust, and systemic alignment mean in a divided yet interdependent world
- How the U.S. and its allies can avoid “decoupling by accident” while shaping global systems
Audience Takeaways
- A clear, coherent map of today’s fractured international order
- Insight into how companies, institutions, and governments can adapt to geopolitical headwinds
- Real-world examples that make complex dynamics understandable—and solvable
- Practical tools for aligning strategy, institutions, and implementation
Who This Is For
- Business leaders managing global risk
- Policymakers and military officials shaping deterrence and diplomacy
- Academic and policy audiences exploring grand strategy
- Civil society groups defending democratic norms
🎥 Watch Mark in Action
- “Strategic Competition: What It Means and Why It Matters”
- Wilson Center | January 2024
Tailored for Every Audience
- Every keynote is adapted to meet the audience where they are—whether the focus is business innovation, geopolitical alignment, national security, or institutional strategy. Kennedy’s delivery is engaging, informed, and pragmatic.
- While his prepared remarks are compelling, audiences consistently highlight the dynamic value of his interactive Q&A sessions. Kennedy’s Q&A sessions bring the frameworks to life—through candid conversation, sharp analysis, and real-time application.
Book This Keynote
- To bring this timely and thought-provoking keynote to your audience, contact:
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