2025 MEMS Conference | General Sessions

December 2 | 1:00 PM ET

Opening General Session: Eric Barker

• 

  Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of Barking Up the Wrong Tree & Plays Well with Others

  Wall Street Journal bestselling author and former Hollywood screenwriter Eric Barker uses research and compelling stories to challenge common myths about success and relationships, inspiring audiences with bold new insights on how to avoid burnout, collaborate better as teams, and be more productive.
  
  His first book Barking Up The Wrong Tree challenged the maxims about success we’ve been told, using research to uncover the best methods of improving resilience, productivity, and networking. It sold over half a million copies and been translated into 19 languages. Named a top business book by The Financial Times, Business Insider, Fast Company, and Entrepreneur Magazine, it even became the subject of a question on “Jeopardy!” Wharton professor Adam Grant described it as, "Delightfully puckish, evidence-backed and full of insight, this book answers questions about success that have puzzled us for far too long."
  
  Barker’s most recent book Plays Well with Others gave the Mythbusters treatment to the maxims about relationships we all grew up with, looking at the science to get us the answers we need to connect better with others. It instantly hit multiple bestseller lists upon release in May of 2022. Science writer David Epstein said, "Reading Plays Well With Others is like having a hard conversation about relationships with your smartest, funniest friend. Eric Barker's wit and explanatory powers shine through every page."
  
  In both his books, Barker delivers revolutionary ideas that impact workers in business, healthcare, innovation, education, and technology. What he’s found is that it’s often the stories we tell ourselves about the world that make the critical difference between success and failure in the areas of teamwork, resilience, and productivity. Drawing on domains as varied as Navy SEALs, astrophysics, wilderness survival, and the organization structure of pirate ships, Barker makes clear that, handled correctly, our perspectives and narratives not only shape our goals and trajectories but end up leading us to higher achievement, greater adaptation to challenges and more fulfilling, harmonious connections with coworkers.
  
  Barker has spoken in the US and abroad on the science of improving performance, teamwork, and resilience at a diverse group of leading institutions such as the Olympic Training Center, Google, MIT, the Aspen Ideas Festival, and the United States Military Central Command (CENTCOM).
  
  Barker rose to prominence via his groundbreaking blog, “Barking Up The Wrong Tree” which has been syndicated by Time Magazine, The Week, and Business Insider. Over 500,000 people have subscribed to its weekly newsletter. His work has been covered by The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Financial Times, and others.
  
  A former Hollywood screenwriter, Barker brings humor and engaging storytelling to his presentations, sculpted from years of writing for Walt Disney Pictures, 20th Century Fox, Spider-Man creator Stan Lee and others. He holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA from Boston College, and an MFA from UCLA.
  
  Drawing on engaging tales and insights from diverse arenas and peer-reviewed research, Barker illuminates fundamental insights that make the difference between success and failure in any environment. Whether it’s how teams can communicate and build morale, to how individuals can revitalize their energy and commitment in the toughest of environments, Barker delivers actionable takeaways wrapped in mesmerizing stories that audiences can use to perform better, feel better and connect deeply with those around them to achieve concrete results.