Innovation Speaker | Michael Tchong

One year ago, an “unknown viral pneumonia” began roiling our world. Michael’s latest book, “LOCKDOWN – True Story: How the novel coronavirus escaped Wuhan, China and terrorized the world” is a new “poli-sci” thriller that explains what happened behind the scenes.

Helpful Innovator Resources

In times of crisis, we all need help to get things done. To get you started, we created a few inspirational signs that you can print out and hang above your workspace or stick to your refrigerator door. 😊

Click on an image to download a PDF sign.

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Recent Innovations and Trends

Trends - Jul 18, 2020

Eye of the Storm: Fraunhofer’s New H.266 VVC Compression Codec

Data compression technology is rapidly advancing spawning more efficient algorithms, such as Fraunhofer’s new H.266 VVC codec, which help to speed up data transmission. Codecs lie in the eye of the Time Compression storm, helping accelerate life.

Trends - Jul 10, 2020

The Retail Apocalypse Is Turning Shopping Malls into “Grayfields”

The retail apocalypse continues unabated, leading to 45,000 store closures since 2007, and is now accelerating due to the pandemic, leading to deserted malls, called “grayfields.”

Innovation - Jun 30, 2020

lululemon Acquired this Interactive Mirror Startup for $500 million

Mirror positions itself as the “world’s first nearly invisible, interactive home gym that brings live and on-demand fitness classes right to your home.” It does so for $1,500 plus, just like Peloton, a monthly $40 fee. At least with Peloton you get an exercise bike. Wouldn’t your connected flat screen TV be a better and cheaper choice?

Trends - Jun 19, 2020

How Voyeurgasm Is Handcuffing America’s Police State

Incidences of police brutality captured on video made their debut with one of the most notorious cases of mistreatment of a black man by police, the beating of Rodney King. Bystander recordings are adding much-needed transparency to society.

Innovation - Jun 18, 2020

Live Roaches and Bloody Pig Face

They say truth is stranger than fiction and that’s certainly true of the strange case of six former eBay employees, who are accused of intimidating a blogger and her husband to keep them from writing “bad things online about eBay,” including sending boxes of live cockroaches and a Halloween mask of a bloody pig’s face. You will be forgiven if visions of Al Pacino muttering “You f...ing ‘cock-a-roaches’” immediately spring to mind. 🤯 We all know eBay deserves the critiscm, having spent the past 15 years repeatedly ignoring calls for innovation, instead giving Amazon free rein in...

Reviews - May 13, 2020

China disavows the Wuhan virus. Here’s a timeline.

The Chinese government claims that naming China as the origin of the novel coronavirus is “hasty and reckless and totally irresponsible.“ As this timeline shows, however, there is a 23-year history that lends credence to the theory that China is actually experimenting with coronaviruses for use in biological weapons.

Trends - Apr 22, 2020

The Collapse of Business Ethics

There is no question that moral behavior among business executives is on the decline. This trend was accentuated by the CARES Act’s Paycheck Protection Program, a forgivable loan plan, which was designed to let small businesses pay employees during the Covid-19 crisis but drew the greedy attention of multi-billion organizations, such as the Los Angeles Lakers, AutoNation, Penske Automotive Group, Shake Shack and many others. It continues a long tradition of business scams that have accelerated over these two past decades.

Trends - Apr 21, 2020

Eight Reasons Why Worker Wages Are Stagnant

After adjusting for inflation, average hourly earnings peaked more than 45 years ago. The $4.03-an-hour rate earned in January 1973 had the same purchasing power that $23.68 did in 2018. There are seven reasons why wages continue to stagnate to this day, including disappearing blue-collar jobs, China, the declining role of unions, a growing skills mismatch, process automation and the rising power of the female worker class.

Trends - Apr 20, 2020

Rich Americans Have Grown Their Share of U.S. Wealth by $19 Trillion Since 1989

How are you spending your time? Standing in line to buy groceries? Huddled at home sewing masks? While you try to survive, the rich are cleaning up due the Federal Reserve’s new “limitless” bond and ETF purchasing power. Between 1983 and 2016, the share of U.S. aggregate wealth held by upper-income families increased from 60% to 79%. In comparison, the share of wealth held by middle-income families has been cut nearly in half, falling from 32% to 17%.

Innovation - Mar 30, 2020

Ford and GE Healthcare to Build 50,000 Airon-licensed Model A-E Ventilators

Ford Motor and GE Healthcare announced plans to produce 50,000 ventilators in the next 100 days with the support of 500 United Auto Workers to help battle the novel coronavirus.

Doug Scholz

SVP, Marketing & Business Development California Grocers Association

“Michael Tchong’s presentation at this year’s CGA Strategic Conference was a huge hit. This was the second time I worked with Michael on this event. As a conference organizer, you often want to avoid rebooking speakers for fear of promoting a program that would be perceived by attendees as stale. However, Michael’s unique ability to keep his information fresh and his entertaining style, made this decision simple. That, along with comments such as ‘Best yet’ and ‘I could listen to Michael all day long’ makes it easy to recommend Michael to others.”

Janet Branton

Senior Vice President National Assoc. of REALTORS (NAR)

“Spot-on, funny and occasionally irreverent, Michael Tchong was easily the highest rated speaker at our 2007 Leadership Summit. As a ‘futurist,’ Michael has a way of delivering high-impact information in a low-key manner that makes people listen and learn, and laugh, through the whole program. I’m sure we’ll bring him back to NAR again, as I look forward to hearing him a third time!”

Cliff Robinson

Vice President, Field Operations , Chick-fil-A Inc.

“Michael helped our Planning Leadership Team broaden our perspective before entering a two-year planning cycle. He helped us to see what we could not see and to consider what we might have missed. As we are consumed with operating and executing in the present, Michael helped us to look into the future implications for our business.”

Jon Luther

Chairman and CEO Dunkin’ Donuts

“Michael was entertaining and engaging and brought a lot of substance to our meeting. He truly connected with the group and made us pause for a moment and look at things in a different light.”

Dom Perry

Senior Director, Ops Services, Chili’s

“Engaging, inspirational, educational, futuristic and ‘crying out loud’ funny are just a few things our attendees told us about Michael. He had us laughing and hanging on his every word as he gave us a glimpse into what the future could hold and the role we all will play in it.”

Don Reinke

Partner, Reed Smith

“Michael presented an intriguing look at the digital landscape that inspired our audience of financial experts and market watchers.”

Howard Brodsky

CEO, Carpet One

“The members really enjoyed you. You were a great speaker and showed much wisdom.”

Bernice Brubeck Wong

REALTOR, Brubeck-Wong Realtors

“Michael is entertaining, humorous, full of high energy and presents the real truth that is easy to understand and relates to every single person in everyday life. I have seen him twice and at every event, I learn more and more about the trends and where we need to go to succeed in our business. I love his attitude!”

Craig Spiezle

Executive Director and President, Online Trust Alliance

“Michael has the unique ability to engage entertain and energize an audience, getting them to re-look at their business, industry and consumer with a fresh perspective. Highly recommended!”

Andrea Hadley

Conference Director, Internet Marketing Conference Vancouver

“Michael, thank you for the wonderful keynote and for waking me up!”

Stephanie Pfeffer

Vice President, Luxury Portfolio Marketing

“Michael Tchong was absolutely a highlight of the Luxury Portfolio Summit. We positioned him as the opening speaker which was perfect as he set the tone with energy, enthusiasm and a strategic balance of terrific content and light-hearted entertainment. He definitely has his finger on the pulse of today’s fast-paced digital marketplace and its impact on consumers and was able to bring it to life for our attendees in an engaging and memorable way. We’d definitely book Michael again!”

Roger Bloss

CEO, Founder, President, Vantage Hospitality Group

“Your keynote address to the hotel owners and guests of Vantage Hospitality was truly amazing and the timing couldn’t have been better.”

Jay Witzel

President and CEO, Carlson Hotels Worldwide/Regent Hotels

“Michael offered compelling insights into the trends of global society, challenging our thinking about how to serve tomorrow’s customers. His style is entertaining and engaging.”

Cami Mattson

President & CEO, San Diego North Convention & Visitors Bureau

“What a treat it was to have you attend and speak at our annual meeting last week. You were a positive addition to our presentations and we have received numerous compliments. Not only was your material fresh and interesting, but your delivery was dynamic and entertaining.”

Joni Doolin

CEO, People Report Best Practices Conference

“Michael Tchong is a world class futurist, trendcaster and speaker. He left our audience simultaneously stunned and energized by his incredible presentation of the acceleration in technology and social media.”

Shirley Hastings

Professor and Associate Dean, University of Tennessee

“Michael was terrific. He kept the audience laughing and in awe of the new technology he discussed. People thought he was the best presenter! They are still talking about him. I wanted everyone to say WOW and they did. He is very high energy and had great visuals!”

Robert Gilbert

President & CEO Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International

“Michael has a way of grabbing the attention of conference participants in a way that really engages them and makes them think about the implications of the customer of the future.”

Erin Fredericks

Senior Director of Business Development, Innovate MR

”You were FANTASTIC! People were buzzing about you all day yesterday! I can only imagine how engaged your students are when you teach. Thank you for the motivation and innovation tips!”

Richard Antonietti

Vice President, Corporate Accounts - West, YRC Worldwide, Inc.

“I attended the RILA Conference this week in Orlando and absolutely loved your presentation. Made a positive impact on me and will make a difference with my company!”

David Perry

Writer, Furniture Today

“Some key trends shared by Ubercool Innovation’s Michael Tchong. Michael: You killed it!”