Truth Never Goes Out of Fashion: The Truth Miracle
Philipp Kristian is a global voice on truth in humanity you've never heard of. He loves advising Fortune 500 C-Levels, unicorn founders and CEOs on the power of sharing truth, and truth in humanity.
Our reality isn’t a product of what’s true. It’s the result of what’s true to *us*. Getting on the same page in the digital age need no longer be a fight: With the help of digital and data, sharing truth is becoming safe, strategic and scalable.
This is the Truth Miracle – truth isn't universal, it's about our relationships with ourselves and the world. Welcome to a revolution of understanding.
Having spent 1000+ hours studying non-dual systems of philosophy, Phil loves pursuing truth in its infinite and iridescent forms.
As the author or The Trust Economy and RESET, Phil views sharing truth as the greatest enabler of human connection.
Formally, he's not unknown as a strategic digital innovation and startup ecosystem leader in Asia. With a proven track record shaping billion-dollar digital businesses in fast-paced and ambiguous environments, he believes in leading with truth and trust in humanity.
Beyond events, board briefings (e.g. YPO), and executive education faculty (e.g. INSEAD) work, Phil enjoys tackling complex change management challenges with global C-Suites.
Talking Points
A-I Don't Trust You
We are in love with AI and digital: It's led us to instant gratification of whatever we wish for. This gives us a paradox: Why is it so hard to digitally transform when we clearly want a digital future?A-I Don't Trust You
This programme highlights the problem and promise of trust issues in AI, data and digital transformation.
- Underestimation of irrational intention <> action gaps
- Leaving human-centricity out of the change equation
- Failure to unite and resolve universal pain points
- Hyper-rationality triggering resistance and friction
Philipp offers tangible and practical tools for pruning the slack and clearing obstacles to our digital future.
Trust as One, Get It Done
People are our greatest asset. We are talking people and purpose centricity, but our talent is walking. We can't unite across generations. Culture, productivity and brand suffers. Why isn't work working anymore?Trust as One, Get It Done
This programme raises the volume on what is amiss in workplace trust to untangle our future of work.
- Failure to connect purpose to individual contributions
- Falling into US vs THEM thinking - sabotaging oneness
- Lack of effective cross-generational collab/comms
- Fear of disorder from removing legacy structures
Philipp outlines how to restore trust in we-spirit and resolve people, purpose and productivity concerns.
E-S-Gosh this Isn't Easy
We know this is our planet, that we all have a stake in it and that we need to change our ways. Yet we really struggle to free ourselves of financial objectives that focus us on the short-term. Why can't we escape?E-S-Gosh this Isn't Easy
This programme tackles the trust gaps between ESG vision and corporate governance in a digital world.
- Lack of agency to shift governance to digital agility
- Paralysing complexity from excessive risk aversion
- Absence of courageous leadership role-models
- Tendency to force - fit reality into corporate worldview
Philipp reveals strategies for C-Level leaders to keep stakeholders and us happy and perform consciously.
THE TRUTH MIRACLE: Exploring the Digital Future of Human Connection
Stranger-danger no more. Technology, data, and AI are transforming how we connect, making collaboration safer, more strategic, and infinitely scalable. In the Trust Economy, these tools are reshaping trust and truth, creating unprecedented opportunities for leadership, innovation, and culture. The future of life, work, and humanity is supercharging human connection — inspiring a new era of purpose, productivity, and performance.THE TRUTH MIRACLE: Exploring the Digital Future of Human Connection
By the end of the session, you will feel confident about:
The Trust Helix: A method for harmonising truths and empowering extraordinary collaboration in the digital age;
Purpose-Driven Productivity: Understanding how purpose acts as the connective tissue of great leadership and culture;
Truth Leadership: Leveraging cognitive diversity, data, and AI for sharing truth and fostering decisive understanding.
DETOXING DOUBT: Rebuilding Digital Experiences for Trust and Humanity
Misinformation and fake news are no longer isolated issues; they’re rampant, threatening the very foundation of our digital experiences. With AI on the horizon, this shift isn’t marginal. It’s massive.DETOXING DOUBT: Rebuilding Digital Experiences for Trust and Humanity
Escalation of doubt in the digital world isn’t the end—it signals the dawn of a new era of human-technology interaction. Global technology can be described as two opposing movements: One seeing users as problems, the other understanding people as the purpose of having technology in the first place.
Adverse digital mindsets import outdated, controlling attitudes from the offline world, treating users as ignorant, irresponsible children in need of strict patronisation. Not only do these models violate established neuroscience on the universal need for psychological safety or autonomy. Outdated, controlling models are increasingly failing us in a complex and interconnected world.
The relationship between humanity and technology can’t be adversarial. It must be symbiotic—nurturing, empowering, and respectful. Futile attempts at “fool-proofing” must be repurposed into “failsafe” experiences that stand out, and stand the test of time.
By the end of the session, you will feel confident about:
Leading the Digital Inflection: Transforming rigid, adversarial digital mindsets into collaborative, nurturing ones that prioritise trust, respect user data and autonomy, and empower the sharing of truth;
Transforming Foolproof to Failsafe: Replacing digital patterns unknowingly patronising users by restoring healthy relationships and collaboration, reshaping our interactions with technology and challenging adverse belief systems about human nature;
Redesigning for Trust and Truth: Deploying digital experience systems respecting neuroscience, championing safety and simplicity, and fostering intuitive human-centred experiences.
UN-FRUSTRATING CHANGE: Liberating Change Management from the Past
**UN-FRUSTRATING CHANGE: Liberating Change Management from the Past**UN-FRUSTRATING CHANGE: Liberating Change Management from the Past
Change management doesn’t fail for rational reasons—it fails because we misunderstand human systems. Technocracy has trained us to think in linear, cause-and-effect terms, offering the comfort of predictability. But humans and organisations aren’t machines. They are living systems—complex, interdependent, and shaped by dynamic, mutually reinforcing relationships with their environments. Our global economy has been built on technocentric thinking, but this logic is insufficient for navigating the complexity of human systems.
This fundamental disconnect explains why most change efforts falter. Living systems cannot be explained or influenced by linear logic alone. True change happens when we meet people in their truth—not by opposing it.
The art of change lies in recognising the *time axis of communication*. Much of our language is backward-facing, dwelling on past grievances or losses, which triggers resistance. By contrast, forward-oriented language envisions a shared, desirable future. Change doesn’t fail due to lack of motivation. It fails because energy is trapped in conflicting cognitive and organisational patterns. Instead of forcing alignment, the science of change involves repurposing this energy, harmonising divergent perspectives, and allowing the future to emerge naturally.
One key pitfall is the way we ask *why*. Backward-facing *why* questions—*Why did this happen? Why did I choose that?*—are self-confrontational, creating internal conflict and resistance. Living systems don’t follow linear cause-and-effect logic; they operate in circular, interdependent relationships where every action is both cause and effect. This makes tracing a singular origin futile, turning backward *why* into an unanswerable and frustrating loop. The same applies to organisations clinging to outdated beliefs about the world. Companies stuck in obsolete truths lose their competitive edge today and compromise their future potential.
To thrive, organisations must embrace new paradigms that balance rational structures with the fluidity of human nature, enabling resilience, innovation, and sustained growth. This isn’t easy, but neither is failing the conventional way. The past and future are no longer what they used to be.
By the end of this session, you will feel confident about:
Applying the Science of Changing Living Systems: Introducing change effectively in complex, interdependent systems, repurposing resistance, and redesigning human-system interfaces;
Auditing and Re-Harmonising Perspectives: Rebalancing dysfunctional systems, understanding divergent truths, and shifting perspectives toward a shared, forward-looking vision;
Uncovering and Utilising Latent Potential: Methodology for discovering dormant resources within people through a guided process of “mental archaeology.”
Video
Unicorns, Wild Wisdom and the Ultimate Truth for ESOMAR Congress Athens, 2024 [Full Keynote]
In this keynote at the ESOMAR Congress Athens 2024, Philipp Kristian delves into the pivotal role of trust and truth in human progress and research. He introduces the “Trust Helix” model, a framework that highlights trust as essential for fostering knowledge, building relationships, and driving societal innovation. Drawing on historical examples such as Joseph Paxton’s creation of the Crystal Palace, Phil demonstrates how trust enables unconventional sources to drive groundbreaking ideas. He explores the generational shifts in trust attitudes, particularly in the age of artificial intelligence, and underscores the importance of simplifying interactions to encourage collaboration and creativity. Through practical strategies, he advocates for clarity, the use of metaphors, and the continuous pursuit of truth to cultivate trust and enhance human connections.Removing Barriers, Radical Honesty and Trust Economy for Hatch Board Meeting, 2024 [Full Keynote]
In his keynote for Hatch executive leadership, Philipp Kristian explores the critical role of trust in shaping innovation and organisational success. He argues that trust is inherently human and should be nurtured by simplifying complexities that inhibit natural trust-building. Drawing on historical examples, such as the story of Joseph Paxton and the NASA spider study, Philipp highlights how trust fosters extraordinary achievements, even in the face of societal norms. He addresses the shift from distrust to trust in organisations and society, advocating for a culture that prioritises curiosity and transparency. By embracing radical honesty and refining communication strategies, Phil demonstrates how simplifying interactions strengthens relationships and cultivates a trust-based economy. Key Takeaways: Trust is a fundamental human trait that drives connection and innovation, and it thrives when complexities are simplified. Mindfulness and shared experiences can enhance trust, even amidst diversity, reinforcing the idea that trust-building is a collective, human endeavour. Historical examples like the Crystal Palace and the NASA spider study show how trust enables unconventional ideas to flourish and lead to extraordinary outcomes. Trust shifts, both in society and organisations, are essential for fostering creativity and driving progress, particularly in the face of technological advancements. Building trust requires removing underlying distrust, creating environments that prioritise opportunities and curiosity rather than fear. Systems that embrace trust, such as Japan’s subway gantries, demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of trust-based models. Despite technological advancements, stagnating productivity can often be attributed to a pervasive culture of distrust, especially in traditional organisational structures. Younger generations’ comfort with digital collaboration offers an opportunity to reshape industries by embracing trust and minimisingZillow Keynote: Six Steps to Win With Trust and Digital Humanity (Las Vegas, United States)
Expand your mind. Open your heart. Illuminate your leadership: Philipp Kristian is a global voice on trust. He inspires us to trust the power of digital humanity. This flagship event by Zillow assembled thousands of partners for a landmark event featuring keynotes by Brené Brown and Philipp Kristian.Economic Times Fireside: A Fresh, Crisp Take on Trust – The Power of Digital Humanity
Philip Kristian, the global voice inspiring us to trust the power of digital humanity, is exploring the relationship between trust and money, highlighting their power to unite and separate people. He discusses the role of trust in running businesses and emphasizes the need for trust to drive unity and embrace diversity. Philipp also discusses different categories of trust, such as calculative trust, lazy trust, and wise trust, and emphasizes the importance of evolving from calculative trust to wise trust. He addresses the problem of bridging the intention-action gap in business transformation and emphasizes the importance of addressing emotional needs to build trust. Philipp also discusses the relationship between technology and trust, highlighting the need to treat technology with humanity. Finally, he emphasizes the importance of balancing trust and distrust in leadership and suggests a human-centered approach to business realisingthe power of digital humanity for all.Philipp Kristian Keynote for Personio 2022: Embracing the Future of HR and a Human Future of Work
Digital HR Forum Keynote: Trust the Power of Humanity in Digital Transformation (Penang, Malaysia)
EPF KWSP Keynote: Why Trust is Crucial to a Happy Future of Humanity (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Philipp Kristian, the global voice inspiring us to trust the power of digital humanity, shares thought-provoking ideas on how we can journey to a happy economy. He also stresses the importance of trust in shaping the future and explains why every business is in the business of trust. He further articulates that trust influences behavior and drives the choices that shape the future, whether it's in spending time or money. He also notes the role of technology in scaling and digitizing trust, but warns about the dangers of over-trust. To build a happy and trusted future, he advocates for bringing together the old economy and the digital economy, and using design thinking to promote user-centricity, speed, data, and intuitive interfaces. Finally, he emphasizes the importance of responsible use of data, transparency, and building a strategy for ESG, as doing good is good business. Overall, trust is the foundation of forming tribes, building social capital, and creating a better future for all.Philipp Kristian Diekhoner: "Zillow Premier Agent Forum 2018 Keynote (Excerpts)"
Philipp Kristian Moderation for SGInnovate 2021: Humanising Transformation in a Hybrid Normal World
Philipp Kristian Keynote for SIRM 2019 Reimagining Risk Through Human Transformation
Philipp Kristian Keynote & Fireside for Fujitsu 2019: The Trust Economy and a Trusted Digital Future
Audio
Your presentation caused a real mind shift for many as we all contemplate and plan for our Vision 2030. Your message set the tone for the conference, and we received fantastic reviews of you ... keep reading Business Process Enabling South Africa
Philipp is a rare talent. Vision, deep thinking, insight, connectedness and confident execution. He's proven all.
Philipp is one of the most creative yet astute thinkers I've met in many years as an investor and entrepreneur.
One of the most impressive visionaries I have had the pleasure of working with. Philipp Kristian is exceptionally skilled at not just technology, but the human element of innovation.
An absolutely brilliant and thought-provoking keynote on the impact of trust on the future of work. Loved it!
Thank you so very much for your amazing keynote speech at our Congress. Your talk was so appreciated by our audience. Truly thought provoking and inspirational and the feedback has been fantastic. Thank you, thank you THANK YOU!!
Working with Philipp was an absolute delight, and there were a few standout qualities that made him truly exceptional. Phil's dedication to tailoring his approach and content to suit our specific demographic of audience was remarkable. Phil's ability to adapt and say yes to new challenges was impressive. What truly stood out about Phil was his genuine desire to make a difference beyond the event itself. His contributions left a lasting impact on our audience.
You were surprising, thoughtful, quirky, challenging, true. Everything I wanted from a keynote speaker.
It’s an honour to join Philipp Kristian in the pursuit of authenticity, trust and purpose.
Tailor-made for us. You addressed lots of topics that are more than relevant for us, concrete enough to help us to elevate our leadership culture. Thank you again for a great event – we have continued on that agenda and feedback has been great…
We have received an outstanding feedback from all our viewers who have come back to us and shared how this has provided them opportunity to learn from the best in the world.
Philipp gave us a fresh, eye-opening lens to key topics. He bursts with energy, curiosity and insights.
Philipp is hands-down one of the most creative, energetic, and passionate innovators that I know.
