“Grayscale - Why Black and White Thinking is Fatal”
Paradox and contradiction are the cradle of creativity. Innovators live in the same world as followers, but they look at things differently. Specifically, they aren’t addicted to black and white thinking — they crave diversity, complexity and paradox.
In his keynote presentation, Eric Kaufmann examines the essence of innovation leadership — navigating the paradoxical world of creating new results. A simple yes or no feels good, but could hold you back. So, how do you make good decisions, add value, and bring growth and new results to your organization? By learning to harness the creativity within paradox!
About Eric Kaufmann
Eric Kaufmann brings a unique mix of professional and personal experience to his work of developing executive wisdom and guiding leaders to better decisions and achievement of superior results.
Born in Israel, Kaufmann lived and worked in South Africa and has two decades of experience in sales and management at Lanier/3M and Corning Clinical Laboratories. In 1999, he began a new chapter of his professional life, launching a consulting business in which he works with individuals and teams in senior management of Fortune 1,000 companies; firms such as Sony, T-Mobile, Alcon, Genentech, Petco, Cox Communications, and Quest Diagnostics.
When working with CEOs and managers, Kaufmann assists them in clarifying their corporate goals and vision; assessing the strengths and weaknesses of their management team; and identifying and eliminating obstacles to collaboration, trust, and productivity. Ultimately, his contribution leads to better decision-making and greater team engagement.
Along with his real-world business experience, Kaufmann brings a range of other skills and perspectives to his roles as management consultant, executive coach, and keynote speaker. Kaufmann is a lifelong practitioner of Zen meditation, a licensed hypnotherapist, and a master scuba diving instructor.
Kaufmann’s book, “Leadership as a Hero’s Journey,” explores the four traits shared by successful, passionate and creative business leaders. The book describes how they navigate through uncertainty and anxiety in order to improve the lives and livelihoods of those around them.
Kaufmann’s experience in corporate sales and management, as well as his personal growth through meditation and his educational background in international business and clinical psychology, all inform the work he does today in the corporate sphere.
He once spent a year in silent meditation, living in a cabin he built himself in a remote area of New Mexico. His quest for clarifying his lenses of perception, deepening his insight, and widening his capacity to care continues through regular meditation and five-day meditation retreats each spring, summer and winter.
His professional affiliations include serving as an instructor at San Diego State University and Cal State San Marcos, a speaker with Vistage International and a member of the Institute of Management Consultants and National Speakers Association.
Kaufmann lives in San Diego with his wife, Shayna, and their two daughters.