William Conerly Ph.D.

Presentations Prepare for Perpetual Change: Capture Opportunities and Avoid Risk in an Uncertain World Companies are beset by continual changes in the economy, technology, social attitudes, government regulation and competition. Top leaders help their team members adjust smoothly to enable the organization to seize opportunities and avoid risks. Key Takeaways: How a leader prepares the organization for change. Action steps to develop a culture that changes smoothly. Best business practices to thrive in an ever-changing environment. Developing employees who succeed in a changing world. The audience hears examples from Dr. Conerly's latest book, The Flexible Stance: Thriving in a Boom/Bust Economy. These illustrations come from companies large and small, in a variety of industries. The presentation works well with substantial audience interaction; activities are adjusted to fit audience size. Business in an Uncertain Economy: The Best Strategies for Profitability in an Ever-changing World Business rises or falls with the economy. Business leaders want to know what the future holds, and they also need to be ready for the unexpected. Key Takeaways: Outlook for major sectors of the economy, inflation and interest rates. How to keep your business ready for expansion while protecting against recession. The role of contingency plans, both upside and downside, in a thriving business. This presentation blends "Conerly on the Economy" with "Prepare for Perpetual Change." This is best for meetings with limited time. For longer meetings, consider each of the two programs at different points in the agenda. Some audience interaction is common in this program, and it can be dialed up for those groups interested in more. Conerly On The Economy: Your Company's Opportunities and Risks in the Evolving Business Cycle Every business is impacted by the economy; it's always top of mind for small business owners and corporate executives. Dr. Conerly uses common-sense explanations and simple graphics rather than tedious statistics and complex theories. Key Takeaways: Outlook for major sectors of the economy, with emphasis on those most important to the audience. (For example, lumber companies hear more about housing starts, while credit unions hear more about consumer spending and borrowing.) How the global economy will evolve, and what that means for audience members. Forecast for inflation and major commodity prices. (Again, with emphasis on those costs most important to the audience.) The risk of recession and how businesses can protect themselves. Politics? Dr. Conerly never uses the platform to push his own party, but he discusses critical political issues from the perspective of "What does this mean for your business?" Normal customization emphasizes those sectors of the economy of greatest impact on the audience. Regional audiences hear "an outsider's perspective" on the local economy. Audience interaction is flexible; discuss your preferences with Dr. Conerly. Leadership in Today's Tight Labor Market: Retaining and Recruiting High Productivity Employees The tight labor market is the greatest business challenge today, and it will continue for a decade. Key Takeaways: The secret of employee retention - and it's not money. Finding new employees: where the fish are biting. Hiring, retaining and motivating millennials. In 2008, in the middle of the recession, Dr. Bill Conerly projected a tight labor market in the next decade and began offering advice on employee retention and recruitment. He identified the best business practices in research for his book, The Flexible Stance: Thriving in a Boom/Bust Economy. The Next Decade: What Businesses Should Do TODAY to Prepare for Tomorrow Most business leaders spend time on urgent matters, but not much time on the big picture of how the world is changing. Having some key trends in mind helps executives make better day-to-day decisions. Key Takeaways depend on the audience - here are some possibilities: Demographics and worker availability: what to do now to prepare for when the Baby Boomers retire. Borrowing will be very cheap for those with great financials, but unavailable for others. How to protect your business's access to credit. Your future taxes will be higher due to upcoming growth of the federal deficit; how to incorporate this into your business and personal financial planning. Business cycles will be more extreme than in recent years; how to protect your company from recessions, and how to gain all you can in booms. Technology, costs and customers: how new capabilities will allow you to clean your competitors' clocks--or risk having your own clock cleaned. Globalization: Will changing political attitudes about foreign trade take us back to less globalized business? What you should do now to protect your overseas sales or supply chain. Dr. Conerly is a futurist who avoids excessive speculation and uncertainty. Emphasizing the most likely paths, he provides action steps that business leaders can take today to prepare for the coming decade. Specifics are adjusted for the particular audience. This topic can include some audience interaction. Tailored Speeches Dr. Conerly creates specialized content upon request. Previous Topics Include: Log Exports to the Far East Foodservice and the Economy Adapting Your Consulting Expertise to an Uncertain Future The Future of Manufacturing Biography Dr. Bill Conerly connects the dots between the economy and business decisions. He has the unique combination of a Ph.D. in economics from Duke University and over 30 years' experience helping companies adapt to changing economic conditions. He has worked in economics and corporate planning at two Fortune 500 corporations and at a major bank, where he was senior vice president. He has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. Companies have used Dr. Conerly's expertise to help with decisions regarding capital expenditures, inventory levels, expansion into new markets, pricing, business models and financial structure. Bill Conerly has spoken to over 1300 business audiences in four countries and 31 states. He was awarded the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation from the National Speakers Association. Dr. Conerly is an online contributor to Forbes.com and the author of The Flexible Stance: Thriving in a Boom/Bust Economy (2016) as well as Businomics (2007). He had been interviewed on the News Hour with Jim Lehrer, CNN and CNBC. He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, and USA Today.