Rewire your thinking to reinvent your results.
Nils Vesk is a breakthrough thinker, renowned innovation specialist, international keynote speaker, extreme sportsman, respected author, and founder of the innovation agency Ideas with Legs.
Combining unorthodox idea generation, real-world problem-solving, and rapid execution, Nils’s work has helped thousands of individuals and companies across the globe upgrade their problem-solving, spark creativity, and accelerate business results. He challenges people to break free from predictable patterns, rethink what’s possible, and turn obstacles into opportunities—without overcomplicating the process.
Often rated the most popular speaker and referred to as one of the most practical educators in the innovation space, Nils was recognized by the University of Canberra for pioneering the application of Design Thinking in Australia.
Nils knows that thinking outside the box isn’t just for unicorn startups and billion-dollar boardrooms—it’s for the busy, the burnt-out, and the “I-don’t-have-time-for-this” professionals too. Between back-to-back meetings, never-ending emails, and that one project that just won’t die, who has time to think differently?
That’s where Nils comes in. He makes creative problem-solving ridiculously simple, fast, and (dare we say?) even fun. No fluff, no jargon—just practical tools to help you turn good ideas into great results without adding extra work to your plate.
With a knack for turning big ideas into “aha” moments, Nils delivers high-energy, story-driven keynotes that stick. Armed with sharp humor, real-world examples, and a touch of cheekiness, he transforms complex concepts into simple, actionable strategies that professionals can actually use.
Nils doesn’t just talk about unlocking next-level thinking—he makes audiences experience it. Whether it’s an unexpected analogy, a thought-provoking story, or a practical framework that gets people thinking differently on the spot, he ensures every session is as engaging as it is useful. His goal? To make sure people leave not just inspired, but equipped to put ideas into action—fast.
Looking for a keynote speaker, workshop powerhouse, or panelist who leaves a lasting impact? Nils delivers an electrifying experience that sparks ideas, fuels discussions, and drives real-world action—keeping audiences engaged long after the event is over.
Talking Points
Breaking Business As Usual™
In today's cutthroat market, where the business game evolves faster than a viral trend, pausing to ponder can mean playing catch-up.Breaking Business As Usual™
'Business as usual' (BAU) might just hand the baton to your competition. 'Breaking Business As Usual' is about harnessing the power of swift, strategic change to outpace the pack, not just keep pace.
In our most time-pressed, complex era ever (and let's not even start on AI), "Breaking BAU" is Nils Vesk's revolutionary keynote, honed over two decades as a catalyst for change.
- Strategies to pinpoint and eliminate the friction points anchoring you to the status quo.
- Rapid, dynamic solutions that don't just patch up issues but dissolve them entirely.
- How to harness your untapped pockets of excellence and catapult your success trajectory.
- Implement 'Momentum mechanisms’ to turn ambiguity, and uncertainty into actionable solutions
- Hit the sweet spot of change, where prioritisation, motivation, and integration converge.
Out of the Drawer and Out of the Door
Turning Ideas into Impact with Creative ProductivityOut of the Drawer and Out of the Door
Too many brilliant ideas and valuable projects never see the light of day—not because they aren’t worthwhile, but because they get stuck in endless planning, overthinking, or waiting for the “perfect” moment.
In this high-energy, practical keynote, Nils Vesk helps teams break through the barriers holding them back, turning stalled ideas into real-world results.
Blending creative productivity, problem-solving, and action-focused strategies, this session will equip you with the mindset and tools to move from hesitation to execution—finally getting those big ideas out of the drawer and into the world.
What You’ll Learn:
- The fastest and most effective ways to break through personal and organisational roadblocks that keep you stuck in limbo.
- How to unlock your latent creative genius to not only execute faster but radically improve your ideas and results.
- How to tap into AI as your secret execution weapon—letting it handle the heavy lifting while you focus on the high-value work.
- How to train your mind to work for you, not against you, so you stop second-guessing and start taking confident action.
- How to make rapid execution a fun, rewarding game—so momentum becomes effortless instead of a struggle.
Get ready to ditch the delays, outsmart perfectionism, and finally turn those backburner ideas into breakthrough results!
The 5min Innovator™
Everyday innovation for the time-poor.The 5min Innovator™
Innovation doesn't have to take long. In fact, we can innovate with as little as five minutes a day.
Now more than ever, innovative ideas are the currency for success. While we know innovation is valuable, it's a sad fact that too many people in organisations don't have the time to innovate... Or do they?
The good news is no matter how time-poor or how crammed our heads might be with traditional business management skills, with Nils' 5minute innovation techniques, anyone can start innovating to improve their results.
YOU'LL LEARN:
•Mental deck of quick practical processes to solve problems
•Redefine problems to discover the crux of a problem
•Use models to deconstruct & prevent mistakes
•Simple daily activities that generate improvements
"Absolutely brilliant. Put a new perspective on my thought process."
— Rory Muscat, Bankwest
Unthinkable
Insider secrets to change performance mindsetsUnthinkable
We live in a rapidly evolving world that needs people to be adaptive and open to changing how they think. Rethinking business and life challenges, and having the ability to think differently to create groundbreaking ideas that effect positive change.
Being able to 'un-think' how things used to be done and then rethink how things need' to be done in our evolving world are a must.
In this session, you will learn how to identify the habits and thinking that hamper your ability to contribute to game-changing thinking & how to rewire your mind in order to accelerate your success by thinking the unthinkable.
You'll Learn:
- How to break your limiting habits and beliefs
- How to start rewiring what you thought was possible
- Ways to eliminate unwanted behaviours
- How to deal with discomfort
- How to create valuable ideas effortlessly
Most people don’t realise that their biggest limits aren’t external—they’re in their own thinking.
“Unthinkable” challenges you to break free from outdated mental patterns, rewire your brain for bold ideas, and master the art of turning the impossible into reality—all with Nils Vesk as your guide.
The AI Advantage™
Ditch the Overwhelm -Using AI so you can work smarter and get more stuff done.The AI Advantage™
Ever tried to fly a plane with car keys? That's what using AI like just another software tool feels like! Nils Vesk is here to show you why this approach is not just failing, but spectacularly so.
Unlock the AI Puzzle with Nils Vesk: 3 Simple Steps to Mastery
AI Made Easy: Discover how to turn AI from a headache into a no-brainer. Nils shares insider secrets to make AI as painless as your favourite playlist.
Celebrate AI's Tune: Learn to fine-tune AI to your rhythm and make it a reason to celebrate, not commiserate.
The AI Payoff: Witness the transformation as Nils reveals how to measure AI's impact, boosting both personal satisfaction and organisational growth.
Ditch the Overwhelm: Most approach AI like playing darts blindfolded – a strategy doomed for dismal results. Nils Vesk changes the game. Think of AI not as a cumbersome tool, but as a Swiss Army knife – you're probably just using the screwdriver and missing out on the bottle opener!
AI: Your Invisible Powerhouse
Imagine every person in your organisation equipped with a world-class executive assistant – that's the power of AI harnessed right. It's not about doing more work; it's about working smarter, freeing up time for creativity and meaningful conversations.
Key Takeaways:
- The absolute FASTEST way to get onboard with using AI for better output, even if your people are tech-resistant.
- Freedom Finder: Identify AI solutions that liberate you from the mundane, making room for what truly matters.
- The secret sauce to merge AI with human innovation, minus the headaches.
- How to join the conversation your client is having in their head with the product or service you are selling
- How to measure the ROI of your AI workload without breaking a sweat.
- The Golden Balance: Strategies to maximise value without sacrificing the human touch.
Future Fix
Decode Market Trends—Before Your Competitors Even See ThemFuture Fix
Emerging trends hold the key to staying ahead of the competition, but most businesses struggle to identify and capitalise on them before it’s too late.
Future Fix reveals the key trends shaping the future and provides a simple, cost-effective method to spot and act on them—before your competitors do.
Blending foresight techniques with behavioural psychology, this keynote equips leaders and teams with a powerful playbook for recognising trends, predicting customer needs, and creating products and services that capture market demand.
What You’ll Learn:
- Key trends that will shape your industry and how to leverage them
- Behavioural techniques to decode what your customers really want
- How to create trend reports at a fraction of the usual cost
- Foresight principles to identify which trends are worth your attention
- How to distinguish real opportunities from fleeting fads
As a member of the World Future Society, Nils stays at the forefront of trend forecasting and business innovation—but what sets him apart from other futurists is his ability to bridge the gap between prediction and execution.
While others focus on long-term speculation, Nils delivers practical, real-world strategies that help businesses apply trends immediately to drive growth, innovation, and competitive advantage. His unique mix of creativity, commercial acumen, and proven methodologies ensures that audiences walk away with actionable insights they can implement the very next day.
This session will leave your audience equipped with the tools and mindset to outthink the competition, spot opportunities before they become mainstream, and position themselves as industry leaders.
Video
Nils Vesk | Innovation Expert & Keynote Speaker | Saxton Speakers
Nils Vesk has been applying, teaching, and researching innovation around the world for over 15 years. The key innovation problem he solves is that organisations have too few innovations and they are too far apart. Nils' research has identified that the major cause of this problem is that our biases get in the way of innovating. Simply put 'what we see changes what we see'. This is human nature, except it often results in us filtering and making decisions we're not even aware that we've made.Some words to describe what Nils Vesk did for us at our CBA conference. He led us, he guided us, he facilitated, he challenged us, and most importantly he helped us innovate and become thoug ... keep reading Commonwealth Bank
I highly recommend Nils Vesk as a speaker for your business. Nils presented to our entire agency and we received great feedback from all departments - from the creative teams to the 'suits'. He was an energetic and inspiring presenter who provided us with great ideas for how we can become more inventive. His ideation strategies would be applicable for any type of business - and I encourage any business leader who believes in the power of ideas to also get him involved in their business.
Absolutely brilliant. He put a new perspective on my thought process!
Nils' presentation was a highlight of our three day event. It created a buzz in the room which followed through into breaks and ongoing sessions. It set the scene for our information sharing, it got people talking, and it generated ideas in the audience which enhanced the outcomes of our event.
Nils you helped us think and get our heads around what we needed to do as one group moving forward. It was a great experience for all and you challenged our thinking, gave us practical tools and got us to open our minds to make the journey." "Your endless energy and fantastic facilitation skills got us to where we needed to be and gave us the momentum to develop actions and ideas which we have struggled with in the past. We now have a great strategy, ideas and actions to work towards and implement. Thanks for the experience and all your effort. We have been singing your praises to everyone, as outstanding and we have no hesitation in recommending you.
