Adrian Wooldridge Keynote Speaker

  • Global Business Columnist, Bloomberg Opinion
  • Author of 'Aristocracy of Talent: How Meritocracy Made the Modern World' (2021)
  • Accomplished speaker on the war for talent, family businesses, entrepreneurship and globalisation

Adrian Wooldridge's Biography

Dr. Adrian Wooldridge speaks on a wide range of subjects from management to politics to globalisation and the economy.  Since January 2022 he is the

Previously he worked with The Economist for many years.  His last role there was as Political editor and he wrote the Bagehot Columnist.  He also has served as their Management editor, Washington Bureau Chief, Los Angeles Correspondent and Social Policy Editor (specialising in education and health care).

He is the author or co-author of eleven books on a variety of issues.  In his latest book, ‘Aristocracy of Talent: How Meritocracy Made the Modern World’ (2021), Adrian traces the history of meritocracy forged by the politicians and officials who introduced the revolutionary principle of open competition, the psychologists who devised methods for measuring natural mental abilities, and the educationalists who built ladders of educational opportunity.

Of the book, Steven Pinker from Harvard University said – “This unique and fascinating history explains why the blame now being piled upon meritocracy is misplaced—and that assigning responsibilities to the people best able to discharge them really is better than the time-honored customs of corruption, patronage, nepotism, and hereditary castes. Wooldridge upends many common assumptions and provides an indispensable back story to this fraught and pressing issue.”     Gideon Rachman listed this book as one of his recommended reads for Summer 2021.

Adrian’s prior book, ‘Capitalism in America: A History‘ (co-authored with Alan Greenspan in 2018) was listed for the Financial Times/McKinsey Best Business Book of the Year.’Capitalism in America‘ is the full, epic story of America’s evolution from a small patchwork of threadbare colonies to the most powerful engine of wealth and innovation the world has ever seen. Adrian unfolds a tale involving vast landscapes, titanic figures, triumphant breakthroughs, enlightenment ideals as well as terrible moral failings. Every crucial debate is here — from the role of slavery in the antebellum Southern economy to the real impact of FDR’s New Deal to America’s violent mood swings in its openness to global trade and its impact.

Adrian is the co-author (with John Micklethwait) of seven books including, ‘The Wake-Up Call: Why the Pandemic has Exposed the Weakness of the West, and How to Fix It’ (2020) – this is an urgent and informed look at the challenges America and world governments will face in a post Covid-19 world.  Previous books with John include ‘The Fourth Revolution: The Global Race to Reinvent the State’, ‘The Right Nation: Conservative Power in America’, and the bestselling ‘The Witch Doctors’.

Adrian wrote several key Economist surveys on entrepreneurship, the global search for talent, as well as on telecommunications, education, multinational companies and management consultancy.  He has also written public policy papers on education, on meritocracy and classless society.

Read More

Adrian Wooldridge's Speaking Topics

Meritocracy - a way to safeguard competitiveness

Competing in an age of disruption

The Global War for Talent

The Talent Economy and the Competition of Universities

Political risk equals business risk: India vs China

A future imperfect - why globalisation went wrong

Read More

Articles, Media & Podcasts

Books by Adrian Wooldridge

The Aristocracy of Talent: How Meritocracy Made the Modern World
Capitalism in America - a History
The Wake-Up Call: Why the pandemic has exposed the weakness of the West - and how to fix it
The Fourth Revolution - The Global Race to Reinvent the State

Check Adrian Wooldridge's speaking fees and availability

    Sending your message…

    Please wait, this can take a moment

    Message sent…

    Close

    Please provide your details and we’ll get in touch as soon as possible.

    We can only respond to requests for professional speaking engagements. We are unable to respond to requests for autographs, shoutouts and personalized messages.

    View our related Speakers

    Andrew Sheng
    Andrew Sheng Speaker
    Exclusive
    Andrew Sheng
    Expert on Banking & Finance in Asia
    Ramesh Srinivasan Speaker
    Exclusive
    Ramesh Srinivasan
    Expert on how ethical technology solutions can support innovation, diversity, equity and inclusion.
    Robin Harding Speaker
    Exclusive
    Robin Harding
    Economist and Asia Editor, Financial Times
    Jennifer Eberhardt Speaker
    Exclusive
    Jennifer Eberhardt
    MacArthur "Genius" Grant Recipient
    Mike Berners-Lee Speaker
    Exclusive
    Mike Berners-Lee
    Expert and author on climate change and sustainability
    Jillian Kowalchuk smiling
    Jillian Kowalchuk Speaker
    Exclusive
    Jillian Kowalchuk
    Award-winning Tech Entrepreneur, Keynote Speaker, Author
    Sara Sabry Speaker
    Exclusive
    Sara Sabry
    The First Egyptian Astronaut and first Arab woman in space
    Matthew Kroenig Speaker
    Exclusive
    Matthew Kroenig
    Vice President and Senior Director of the Atlantic Council’s Scowcroft Center for Strategy and Security
    Henry Curr Speaker
    Exclusive
    Henry Curr
    Economics Editor, The Economist
    Sarah Sands Speaker
    Exclusive
    Sarah Sands
    Editor of BBC Radio 4 Today Programme