Michael Jacobides

LBS Professor of Strategy, Ecosystems Expert & Market Innovation Specialist

Michael Jacobides headshot, strategy economist and keynote speaker

Michael Jacobides is a leading economist, strategist, and keynote speaker who studies how innovation reconfigures industries, competition, and power. He helps global organisations understand how value creation is captured in a landscape defined by platforms, interdependence, and ecosystems. Michael examines how new architectures of collaboration shift strategic advantage, revealing why many firms misjudge their position within these evolving systems.

He demonstrates that modern innovation is no longer about isolated products, but about shaping the rules and relationships that govern entire markets. He helps senior leaders identify bottlenecks and dependencies, providing the clarity needed to decide whether to orchestrate, participate in, or resist emerging business ecosystems.

On stage, Michael is rigorous and challenging, translating complex economic theory into actionable strategic insights. For C-suite executives his work offers a masterclass in breakthrough thinking, equipping organisations to lead in environments where traditional strategy tools no longer apply.

Signature Keynotes

  • Why value creation now depends on structure, interdependence, and power.

  • Understanding value capture in platform and ecosystem markets.

  • How leaders rethink competition when roles and rules are rewritten.

  • Why positioning matters more than efficiency in ecosystem-driven markets.

  • How organisations decide whether to orchestrate, participate, or resist.

The Jacobides Effect

Innovation is understood as system power, not just invention.

Audiences gain the ability to:

  • Understand how ecosystems reshape competition and control

  • Identify where value is created, and who captures it

  • Recognise hidden dependencies and strategic bottlenecks

  • Rethink industry boundaries and competitive positioning

  • Make better strategic choices in interdependent markets

Why Book Michael

Michael Jacobides is trusted by organisations that want to move beyond surface-level innovation thinking. His insight resonates with senior leaders who recognise that disruption today is structural, not episodic, and that strategy must evolve accordingly.

He brings academic depth without abstraction, helping leaders navigate ecosystems, platforms, and industry transformation with confidence and intellectual rigour.

Other Leading Innovation Thinkers

Professor Carissa Véliz: Privacy is Power & Prophecy Author, Oxford AI Ethics

Professor Costas Markides: Strategy & Innovation Expert London Business School

Dr Chris Brauer: AI Innovation Expert & Symmetry CIO, Goldsmiths Director

Chris Heemskerk: Innovation Strategist & Former Google Executive, AI Strategy Expert

Ruth Buscombe: F1 TV Analyst & Race Strategist, Leadership & STEM Speaker

Anne-Marie Imafidon: Stemettes Co-Founder & Tech Visionary