Rocky Ozaki

Rocky Ozaki

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

Kelowna, British Columbia

Future of Work | Workforce Engagement | Technology & Innovation Expert

  • Videos
  • Expertise
  • Future of Work
  • Business Transitions
  • STEM
  • Process & Systems
  • Global Business Solutions
  • Tech trends
  • Future Trends
  • Leadership and Change
  • Communication

ROCKY OZAKI BIOGRAPHY

Rocky Ozaki is one of North America’s leading business culture transformation experts on the future of work. Rocky is the Founder & CEO of a business transformation firm whose primary focus is helping leaders build future-proofed, resilient teams that are anchored on cultures of innovation and agility. He couples a decade of senior leadership roles in large organizations, with 10 years in start-up tech to form what he believes is the culture and operational DNA of all modern companies.

Previously, Rocky Ozaki held the role of Vice-President and Head of Corporate Innovation for the BC Tech Association and was the Founder of Pondr. Pondr is an innovation software that guides and measures organizations’ innovation journeys as a strategic priority which captures ideas, then guides the innovation journey,. The concept was developed to ensure that innovation was prioritized as a part of the business process, so teams develop the habit of ideating, validating, testing, learning, and measuring the return on their innovation investments.

Through his experience as an entrepreneur and business leader, Rocky has always been at the forefront of digital transformation. As a successful entrepreneur, Rocky Ozaki shares the basics around corporate innovation, defining key terms & frameworks used in the innovation world, and provides tactics to begin, or re-energize your organization’s transformation journey.

Rocky Ozaki first heard the term, “the Future of Work” in 2010. Rocky Ozaki watched tech companies, mostly in Silicon Valley, co-designing a new paradigm of work (and life) that compelled him to leave the corporate world and join the startup tech scene in Vancouver, Canada. At first, Rocky Ozaki called BS on ping pong tables, Friday @ 4, “holacracy”, unlimited vacation, flip-flop-wearing CEOs, and the hyper-personalization and democratization of anything startups could solve with code.

Within three months, he was converted. Not only did he believe in this “Future of Work”, but it also became clear to him that every company would one day operate as a technology company.  By 2013, Rocky Ozaki estimated that 99% of companies were still stuck in an outdated industrial age mindset and were facing inevitable disruption.

Once Rocky Ozaki equipped himself with years of startup & scale-up tech experience and entrenched himself in the innovation scenes across North America, He founded an organization with Eric Termuende, which had a clear focus to prepare organizations for the future through generational and accelerated change. The problem to solve was clear – people and companies were not ready for an exponential world.

The information/digital age has exploded beyond most people’s wildest imagination. A team, equipped with the culture and operational knowledge of both (necessarily bureaucratic) large corporations and scrappy (necessarily innovative and agile) startup tech, could bridge the gap and help organizations thrive in a rapidly changing world. The global pandemic may have forced organizations to challenge all their assumptions, but it’s also rapidly given birth to new products and services. Innovation is now a table stakes of every modern organization

Throughout the years, Rocky became an expert at identifying trends in the market and for the internal operations within organizations across all sectors. Through implementing new systems, process and by understanding the trends for employee’s needs, wants and expectations, Rocky started the Now of Work, which was and still is at the forefront of reshaping originations to redesign their business purpose, that is inclusive for all stakeholders of the company.

Rocky Ozaki delivers keynotes and other presentations with a hyper-focus on creating naturally innovative and agile teams capable of thriving in our exponential times. Rocky specializes in helping executives build futureproofed resilient organizations that attract the right employees and retain top talent in a competitive environment. Rocky Ozaki shares a unique perspective with a hyper-focus on creating naturally innovative and agile teams capable of thriving in exponential times through great resignation.

Rocky Ozaki is a keynote speaker, corporate trainer & consultant with a hyper-focus on creating innovative, agile and capable teams through complex transitions, while mitigating and implementing strategy based on future trends. In years past, Rocky Ozaki had success as a speaker during his Disrupt HR Talks, which shared new innovative approaches for people first cultures to strategize for the future of work.

Rocky empowers executives to build futureproofed and resilient organizations that attract the right employees to bring organizations to new foundations of thinking and operating for business success. He assists organizations through what he calls “The Rise and Fall of HR” which focuses on how critical it is for organizations to become 21st Century ready.

Rocky Ozaki Related Media

Media Interview

Your Workplace

Mark Franklin

Interview: Rocky Ozaki
View

Media Interview

Business in Vancouver

SBC

HR in the time of COVID-19: In conversation with NowOfWork founder Rocky Ozaki
View

Podcast

One Degree Shift

Play

Eric Termuende

Episode 32: The NoW of Work with Rocky Ozaki

Podcast

Exponential Minds

Play

Nikolas Badminton | Futurist Speaker

Rocky Ozaki talks to Nikolas Badminton about COVID-19 killing the paradigm of work

Podcast

Exponential Minds

Play

Chief Futurist Nikolas Badminton

S2: Ep11 - Rocky Ozaki talks about COVID-19 killing the paradigm of work, and the awakening we need

Rocky Ozaki Related Content

Articles & Magazine Feature

DISRUPTHR VANCOUVER: INTERVIEW WITH ROCKY OZAKI, RISE

THE HR GAZETTE

Rocky Ozaki is Director of People & Culture at Rise (formerly Paysavvy). Rocky argues that the mainstream way we lead our employees needs drastic change and its inevitable that new solutions with continue to change what HR used to represent.
View

Rocky Ozaki Topic Presentations

The Future of AI and Ml in Workplace Cultures: Creating the Perfect Blend of Technology and Human Ingenuity

  • Virtual PresentationKeynote PresentationWorkshop SessionHalf Day TrainingFull Day Training
  • In this topic, Rocky Ozaki explores the future of workplace cultures in the context of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). He looks at how organizations can blend these technologies with human input to create the perfect balance of efficiency, productivity, and creativity.

    Rocky discusses the latest trends and developments in AI and ML, including natural language processing and deep learning, and how these technologies are transforming the way we work. He emphasizes the need for organizations to stay ahead of the curve and incorporate these technologies into their business operations to remain competitive in the future.

    At the same time, Rocky stresses the importance of maintaining a human-centric approach to workplace culture. He highlights how technology can enhance human creativity, collaboration, and empathy, rather than replace it. He provides practical advice on how organizations can create a workplace culture that blends the best of both technology and human ingenuity to maximize their potential.

    Throughout his presentation, Rocky Ozaki emphasizes the need for organizations to foster a culture of innovation and experimentation that embraces these new technologies while ensuring that human values and ethics remain at the forefront. He provides insights into how the best workplace cultures will be a mix of both technology and human input, creating a seamless integration that maximizes efficiency and creativity.

    This topic is highly relevant to organizations looking to navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of workplace cultures and technology. Rocky’s deep knowledge of AI and ML, combined with his expertise in leadership development and organizational culture, brings a unique and progressive perspective for any organization seeking to create the perfect blend of technology and human ingenuity in their workplace culture.

Maximizing the Potential of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Implications

The Future of Work Is Now: Thriving in A Rapidly Changing Business Landscape

Design Thinking: Unleashing Creativity and Innovation for Organizational Success

Innovation in A Changing World: Navigating the New Era of Business Transformation

Disruptive Innovation: Navigating the Changing Landscape of Business

Building A Resilient and Modern Organization: Identifying Your Archetype and Leading Practices

Cross-generational Culture: Bridging the Gap To Win Talent and Stakeholder Engagement

The 4-day Work Week: Embracing A New Era of Work-life Balance

Boardroom Interactions: Aligning Leaders To Drive Organizational Transformation

Rocky Ozaki Speaking Testimonials

Rocky has spoken at two of our annual conferences (New Orleans and Chicago) and always brings top quality content with unbeatable enthusiasm. He is an expert on innovation and is such a pleasure to work with.

Kelly Wong

Marketing & Events
Achievers

Rocky was one of the best presenters on the future of work that I’ve ever seen. His energy and passion kept the room engaged while his expertise and insight ensured everyone left with concrete takeaways they could apply to their own teams.

Dany Richard

President
ACFO-ACAF

Rocky has a natural gift to challenge, inspire and guide organizational leaders on how to thrive in these exponential times. He has the expertise and is a true authority on the Future of Work, and is masterful at demystifying Innovation and Agility in the context of the modern people-centric company culture. Our entire people leadership team walked away from his keynote and breakout sessions better equipped, and eager to elevate their contribution to our organization’s audacious strategic journey. We are living in a rapidly changing operating environment and I could see how many companies would benefit from hearing his passionate, inspiring and action-oriented message!

TJ Schmaltz

Chief People & Legal Officer

Rocky brings passion, energy and unquestionable expertise on how organizations must modernize to remain relevant in our exponential times.

Nancy MacKay

CEO
MacKay CEO Forums

Rocky’s keynote was both thought-provoking and inspiring, and his insights on how we can best future-proof our business will help shape our strategic plans going forward.

Greg Shepherd

CEO
Pharmasave Drugs

Rocky is an energetic and knowledgeable presenter. His perspective on innovation and how organizations and CEOs can embrace it for success should be on everyone’s must listen to list.

Michael McKnight

CEO
United Way BC

Rocky Ozaki Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

Rocky Ozaki Keynote Speaker delivers customized and tailored keynote presentations, workshops, and training sessions on a wide variety of topics. Each presentation is unique and are designed for a variety of audiences, industries, conferences, and event formats.

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FAQ

How to book Rocky Ozaki for an event?

Rocky Ozaki keynote speaker is an expert presenter and has a wide range of experience speaking to a wide variety of audiences and organizations. Rocky Ozaki delivers keynotes, workshops & training sessions. They may also host or emcee events. Hire Rocky Ozaki from Kelowna, British Columbia for your event to inspire the audience to take action and make change in their work and their lives. Your workplace will benefit from our keynote speaker and their keynote talks and speeches will shift the mindsets or behaviours for the audience members in Canada. 

Interested in booking Rocky Ozaki for an event?

Are you looking to hire Rocky Ozaki for your event? Rocky Ozaki Kelowna, British Columbia is a dynamic and engaging speaker that offers audiences researched content paired with expertise and a dynamic speaking ability. Rocky Ozaki is also a Canadian corporate consultant and coach and facilitates workshops and training sessions for a corporate audience. Rocky Ozaki is an expert keynote presenter and speaks on wide variety of topics. Hiring a great speaker for your event is important and working with a thought leader like Rocky Ozaki from Speakers Canada's roster will engage audiences into the content of the presentation to bring awareness and a fresh perspective for their approach to their work and their lives. Book Rocky Ozaki to educate, motivate and activate the audience through an interactive and entertaining presentation at corporate meetings and gatherings.

Known as a popular key note speaker in Canada, Rocky Ozaki creates life changing experiences for the participants with practical insights and strategic advice they can implement right after the session. Working with one of our leading expert speaker like Rocky Ozaki from Kelowna, British Columbia offers organizations a fresh perspective to assist the people of the organization. No matter if it is a government, association, or business crowd, Rocky Ozaki is a perfect speaker for your event. Through unique practical insights for trending topics and years experience speaking to different organizations, Rocky Ozaki focuses on changing individuals to make better decisions at work and their lives. No matter if you are holding an in person or virtual event, having an influential speaker such as Rocky Ozaki will engage, motivate, and activate the audience to make a change in their lives and inspire action for results to meet organizational goals. Your workforce will benefit from Rocky Ozaki's presentations and speeches, with measurable results set to shift the people of the organization and core direction of the company. Book Rocky Ozaki speaker for your annual general meeting, conference, summit, or convention in Canada.

How much does it cost to hire Rocky Ozaki for a keynote presentation or virtual event?

Rocky Ozaki is an expert professional key note speaker with a lot of experience speaking and delivering engaging talks to organizations and audiences in Canada. Each of Speaker Bureau Canada's talent have different ways to assess their fees, and Rocky Ozaki speaker fee ranges depending on the size of the audience, event format (in person or virtual), event location, and if the organization booking them is a non profit, association, government department/government agency or business/corporation. The speakers we work with are flexible with their fees, and it is important for us to learn more about your event before we approach them, as it is our role to work for you, and to help you find a speaker within budget. 

Please contact Speakers Bureau of Canada and provide us with your event details so that we can contact Rocky Ozaki to check availability or confirm the pricing and associated costs to hire a great speaker like Rocky Ozaki for your event. As Rocky Ozaki's agent and as a Canadian top speaker bureau and talent agency for speakers, we are able to propose each event opportunity from each host organization's behalf to try to help you get in touch with Rocky Ozaki and confirm them for your in person or online meeting/event. We can also provide and advise on the booking process and potentially negotiate their fee. Speakers Canada is a client focused speaker agency, and we work for you in finding good speakers for your team meetings and booking processes.

Rocky Ozaki Disclaimer

Speakers Bureau Canada assists companies and event planning teams seeking to hire talent like Rocky Ozaki for speaking engagements, virtual meetings, conference appearances, training sessions and workshops facilitations. Our Canadian speakers bureau does not claim to exclusively represent Rocky Ozaki, however they are represented by Speakers Canada, and we work with them closely for their Canadian speaking opportunities and bookings. As Canada's top speaker bureau, we represent Canadian motivational keynote speakers and professional guest speakers that will be available on your upcoming events date and location that are withing the budget. Our talented bureau speaker booking agency can help find business speakers or celebrity speakers that aligns with each organization, audience, event theme and the topic themes you hope for the speaker to address in their presentation. 

When SBC receives a request to book Rocky Ozaki we provide you with their speaker fees, travel costs and check their schedules. We work closely with the host organization's event planning team and the speaker to handle the logistics and to relay or negotiate associated costs. Our talented team members then will work with our talent directly or their agent/manager/assistant to confirm the Canadian speaker fee and travel expenses, so that event planning teams can receive an official quote for the speaker appearing at the event. Speaker fees and travel costs vary per speaker and our role is to contact Rocky Ozaki about your event, after we have connected with the event organizers to learn all the event details and/or conference program. Each booking request is unique since session durations and audience sizes can vary which may affect the speaker's fees. If you are looking to hire Rocky Ozaki, we recommend filling out the booking request form so a booking agent from Speakers Bureau Canada can get in touch with our talent to help you coordinate with your team to engage the speaker for a successful event.