Suneel Gupta: Digital Strategy

Sunil Gupta is a global authority on digital strategy and transformation, guiding leaders in leveraging technology, customer behaviour, and strategic innovation to build future-ready organisations.

Quick Facts:

Highlights:
  • Edward W. Carter Professor at Harvard Business School and Chair of the General Management Program.
  • Co-chair of Driving Digital Strategy, a top global executive program.
  • Author of two influential books, including the award-winning Managing Customers as Investments.
  • Published 80+ articles, cases and papers on digital transformation and customer strategy.
  • Recipient of the O’Dell Award (1993, 2002, 2009) and Paul Green Award (1998, 2005).

Formats: Keynote speaker and global digital strategy expert.

Audiences: Executives, digital leaders, transformation teams, innovation strategists and organisations seeking competitive advantage in a digital-first world.

Outcomes:
  1. A clear strategic framework for leading digital transformation.
  2. Actionable tools for aligning technology with customer and business value.
  3. Insight into digital business models that drive long-term growth and competitive advantage.
Reading time: 2 min
Reviews: (0 reviews)
  • Travels from: Boston, MA
  • **Fee range: On Request

Talent Services

Keynote Topics:

We can’t create more time – but we can elevate our energy. Understanding that is the first step to increasing our capacity – personally and professionally – to build momentum and keep up with daily demands without succumbing to exhaustion. “People who fall short of their goals rarely run out of time or talent – they run out of energy,” says Suneel Gupta. As founding CEO of RISE (now part of Amazon), Suneel helped thousands overcome challenges with physical and mental health. Now, he’s committed to bringing a sustainable solution to the energy crisis at work. Grounded in his exclusive teachings at Harvard Medical School as well as over a decade of studying the work habits of extraordinary leaders, Suneel delivers insights about the “why” and “how-to’s” of strategic energy management – showing people practical ways to unleash momentum crucial to performance, innovation, collaboration, and overall well-being.

Sample takeaways tailored for each audience:

  • Why managing energy is as important as managing time.
  • 4 ways to build “emotional runway” and avoid burnout using science-based practices.
  • Master everyday habits to boost momentum, engagement, and morale.
  • Reframe failure as a pathway to success.
  • Remain resilient and balanced in the face of constant change.

Leadership has changed. To get things done and drive bottom-line results, leaders must embrace a striking truth: they don’t just impact people’s work, but their overall health and well-being. Leaders who understand how physical, mental, and emotional health drives business performance will build trust, become magnets for exceptional talent, and elevate overall productivity.

More than ever before, people are struggling to find meaning in their work. In this talk, Suneel Gupta helps people reset, reignite, and re-engage through a timeless practice called Dharma. Simply put, Dharma brings “who you are” and “what you do” into alignment. When we’re not aligned, we become exhausted, depleted, and burned out. When we are aligned, we feel creative, energized, and lit up.

For groups looking to go deeper, Suneel offers highly engaging, interactive sessions that extend the keynote’s momentum and turn insights into action. These can be delivered as a post-keynote workshop (ranging from 45 minutes to 2 hours) or as a longer-term leadership development series offered virtually and/or in-person. Content is customized based on the group’s objectives, with a core focus on helping foster personal and organizational growth.

Talent Short Bio

Suneel Gupta is the Edward W. Carter Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and one of the world’s most influential thinkers on digital strategy, digital transformation, and technology-driven business models. As Chair of the General Management Program and co-chair of Harvard’s renowned Driving Digital Strategy executive program, Suneel has shaped the strategic approach of senior leaders across industries, equipping them to navigate disruption with clarity and competitive foresight.

His research explores how digital technology reshapes consumer behavior, business strategy, and organizational growth. With over 80 published articles, book chapters and case studies, his work has earned the field’s highest honors, including multiple O’Dell Awards, Paul Green Awards and Marketing Science Institute recognitions. His award-winning book, Managing Customers as Investments, remains a cornerstone in marketing strategy education worldwide.

A prolific case writer, Suneel has analyzed leading digital disruptors and incumbents such as Amazon, YouTube, TripAdvisor, Groupon, Hulu, Adobe, Bank of America and The New York Times. His insights help organizations rethink value creation, customer engagement, business model design and digital innovation.

Suneel Gupta is one of the world’s foremost thinkers on digital strategy, transformation, and the future of business. As the Edward W. Carter Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School and Chair of the General Management Program, he has shaped the strategic mindset of global executives, advising organizations on how to thrive amid accelerating technological disruption.

A trailblazer in digital innovation, Suneel co-chairs Harvard’s acclaimed Driving Digital Strategy executive program, guiding CEOs and senior leaders through the strategic, operational, and cultural shifts required to compete in a digital-first world. He has taught thousands of MBA and AMP executives, influencing leaders across industries with his rigorous yet pragmatic approach to digital transformation.

Suneel Gupta is internationally recognized for his research on digital technology, consumer behavior, platform economics, and the future of business models. His body of work includes two influential books and more than 80 published articles, cases, and book chapters, many of which have earned the field’s highest honors including the O’Dell Award (1993, 2002, 2009), the Paul Green Award (1998, 2005), and multiple Marketing Science Institute Best Paper Awards.

His book Managing Customers as Investments won the Berry-AMA Prize for the year’s best marketing book, cementing his reputation as a thought leader capable of turning complex research into actionable business insight.

A prolific case writer, Suneel has analyzed the digital strategies of leading disruptors and incumbents alike from Angry Birds, Groupon, and Hulu to Amazon, YouTube, Adobe, Bank of America, BBVA, and The New York Times. His case studies form the curriculum for business schools worldwide and shape executive strategy conversations in boardrooms across the globe.

Suneel’s practical influence matches his academic leadership. He advises some of the world’s most respected organizations including American Express, IBM, Heineken, MasterCard, McKinsey, Novartis, Pfizer, Telefonica, Unilever, and Vodafone helping them accelerate innovation, reimagine customer value, and build competitive advantage in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

A sought-after global speaker, Suneel Gupta has appeared on CNN, CBS, NPR, BBC, and in The New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company, and The Washington Post, consistently bringing clarity to the complexities of digital evolution.

Before Harvard, Suneel Gupta served as the Meyer Feldberg Professor at Columbia Business School and previously taught at UCLA. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University, an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management, and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from IIT.

Today, Suneel Gupta stands as a defining voice in digital transformation, equipping leaders with the strategic foresight and practical tools to not only navigate technological disruption—but to lead it.

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Talent Videos

Suneel Gupta Speaker Reel: Transforming Performance Through Purpose, Momentum and Well-Being

A high-energy showcase of Suneel Gupta’s core teachings on purpose, performance and personal momentum, revealing how individuals and organisations build resilience and achieve meaningful success.

In this speaker reel, Suneel Gupta introduces the central themes that define his work: building sustainable performance, strengthening personal momentum and reconnecting individuals with a sense of purpose. He begins by challenging traditional ideas around burnout, motivation and success, arguing that high performers often struggle not because they lack drive, but because they lack renewal. Success, he explains, depends on a disciplined balance between energy output and energy restoration.

Suneel highlights research from his bestselling book Backable, sharing insights on how great innovators persuade others without authority. He shows that “being backable” is not about charisma, but about framing ideas around conviction, storytelling and authentic purpose. Throughout the reel, he blends personal stories with organisational case studies that demonstrate how small behavioural shifts create significant performance gains in workplaces.

He discusses the concept of “micro-habits” that build momentum and reduce stress, noting that modern workers are often overwhelmed by constant change. Restoring momentum, he says, starts with redefining daily practices, setting boundaries and reconnecting with the work that matters most. Suneel also underscores the role of belonging as a driver of performance, explaining that environments built on empathy and psychological safety consistently outperform those built on pressure alone.

The reel captures clips from his keynote stages, illustrating his ability to translate behavioural science into practical tools for leaders. Through humour, clarity and research-backed insights, Suneel shows how teams can perform at a high level without sacrificing well-being. By the end, the viewer sees a cohesive picture of his message: sustainable performance comes from a foundation of purpose, presence and meaningful connection to others.

Key Moments

  • 00:40 Why high performers struggle: the gap between energy output and renewal.
  • 01:29 Insights from Backable on persuasion, conviction and influence.
  • 02:31 Micro-habits that strengthen personal momentum.
  • 03:42 The link between belonging, psychological safety and performance.

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Keynote speeches typically range from 30 to 90 minutes, with the duration determined by the speaker’s expertise, the event’s agenda, and audience preferences. Keynote speeches often include a combination of inspirational stories, practical insights, and actionable advice tailored to the event’s theme or objectives.

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  • Virtual speaking appearances are a cost-effective alternative to high speaking fees, often 10-50% cheaper than in-person rates.
  • There is typically no difference in fee for a 15-minute speech versus a 60-minute speech.
  • Some motivational speakers are open to discounting their fee if hired for more than one event by the same organization.
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