Sally Dominguez

Every organization possesses extraordinary human intelligence. Few have focussed on the capability to systemically convert their collective intelligence into enterprise value. As organizations race to unlock the efficiencies of AI, many are overlooking the asset that will increasingly differentiate them: the originality, judgment, and ingenuity of their people.

Very few organizations have built the infrastructure to harness their current human ingenuity and organisational intelligence and make it compound.

We have experienced the transformations of physical, information, digital, cloud and now AI infrastructure. The next strategic enterprise capability is Human Intelligence Infrastructure. Your distinct value. Your pathway to growth. The compounding trajectory that competitors cannot copy.

Human Intelligence Infrastructure is the set of systems, tools, and technologies that systematically capture, connect, develop, value, and compound human originality across an organization. This is a mindset that prioritizes idea-sharingas an enterprise capability; a leadership philosophy that treats human originality as an asset. An ecosystem that uses machine learning to accelerate the exploration, evaluation, and realization of original thinking. As AI accelerates execution it is the decisions made, and the judgement exercised, that will differentiate an organization.

When everyone has access to AI, knowledge becomes abundant. Originality is becoming scarce, and scarcity creates value. Human Intelligence Infrastructure is how organizations systematically create and compound that value. In an era of abundant AI, organizations will be defined not by the intelligence they acquire, but by the original thinking they cultivate, and the judgement they apply.

For more than a century, we have designed our economies around a simple model: extract, manufacture, consume and discard. It delivered extraordinary growth—but also unprecedented waste, fragility and inequality. The accelerating energy and water demands of big data will be the tipping point: A new economic architecture is now emerging.

Driven by advances in renewable energy, AI, materials science and distributed manufacturing, we are entering an era where energy, products and even industries can become regenerative rather than consumptive. Circular thinking is no longer simply an environmental strategy—it is rapidly becoming one of the greatest drivers of innovation, resilience and economic opportunity.

Decentralized and miniaturized data processing will offer heat saving and passive income to home owners. Carbon black added to cement makes every concrete building and bridge a super capacitor. Hydrogen, stored at room temperative in blocks of metal, made from saltwater or sewerage, will revolutionize decentralized energy and water storage.

Inventor, futurist and innovation strategist Sally Dominguez explores how circular systems and decentralized energy are converging to redefine prosperity itself. Drawing on her work designing circular green hydrogen systems for the Inter-American Development Bank, future urban mobility concepts for IKEA, circular retail systems with Coach, and award-winning sustainable product innovations, Sally demonstrates how organizations can rethink the relationship between energy, waste, manufacturing and value creation.

Rather than asking, “How do we become more efficient?”, Sally poses a far more provocative question:

What becomes possible when waste becomes a resource, every building becomes infrastructure, and energy is abundant, local and regenerative?

This hands-on activated keynote explores the synergistic relationship between human creativity and artificial intelligence (AI) to foster trust, promote idea-sharing, and seed continuous  innovation and growth. In an era of profound disruption, this keynote provides those tasked with leading and educating with the tools to spread optimism and enhance productivity in the workplace.

Adventurous Thinking, designed by Sally Dominguez, is a proactive innovation strategy that leverages human creativity and imagination. It encourages users to think in the realm of possibility by using a series of lenses to push thinking outside their expertise and prior knowledge, provoking divergent thinking and challenging conventional perspectives. Taught at tertiary level in the USA and Brazil, used at NASA and by businesses including SONY, Honeywell, Roche and Citi, Adventurous Thinking can be used to identify new creative approaches that can then be analyzed, refined and tested using machine learning techniques. This synergy of human and machine leads to innovative solutions that are imaginative, data-backed and inclusive.
In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, integrating AI with human ingenuity is crucial for staying competitive and innovative. This keynote emphasizes a human-centric approach, ensuring that AI implementation enhances rather than replaces human roles. Understanding this balance is vital for organizations aiming to maintain trust, foster creativity, and drive meaningful progress.

Leaders will gain insights into the inclusive implementation of AI, using a proprietary framework for redefining workplace strategies to promote a culture of continuous innovation and adaptability. The AT lenses practiced during the session may include Negative Space, Thinking Sideways, Thinking Backwards, ReThinking and Parkour, depending on the client brief. This keynote is invaluable for business leaders, innovators, and strategists looking to harness the power of AI in their organizations. Those responsible for driving innovation, organizational growth, and cultural transformation will find practical strategies that synergize minds and machines for unparalleled innovation and growth.

Outcomes: 

• An understanding of how to approach the inclusive implementation of AI
• a reconsideration of future workplace, our roles and positive strategies
• Defining and structuring the role of creative thinking and machine learning to achieve community, innovation and growth within an organization

This activated keynote outlines the fundamental differences between linear and exponential thinking, emphasizing the metrics crucial for success in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. An understanding of exponential technologies and the exponential (10X) mindset is crucial knowledge for business leaders navigating rapid change and creating future-forward strategy. This keynote not only highlights the common characteristics of exponential technologies and organizations, focusing on the importance of authentic purpose and inclusive innovation in an era of exponential change, but ends with an activation of the possibility mindset.

In understanding the human response to exponential change participants will learn to think multifariously, rather than with a singular viewpoint. This session examines the business-agnostic nature of exponential technologies, notes their tendencies to converge, and introduces tools to enhance a multifarious, multifaceted viewpoint to better strategize in an exponential environment. A multifarious viewpoint is a powerful tool for gaining a deep, well-rounded understanding of complex issues.Participants will learn the Adjacent Opportunities Mapping tool, and will practice the Adventurous Thinking Parkour Tool, activating possibility thinking in every audience member and introducing a mindset capable of continuous innovation and adaptability.

Invaluable for business leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and strategists, this keynote is particularly beneficial for those responsible for driving organizational growth, innovation, and cultural transformation. Attendees will leave equipped with the knowledge and tools to implement exponential strategies and embrace a future-oriented mindset.

Outcomes: 

• An understanding of exponential systems
• an experience of possibility thinking
• Adjacency Mapping Tool, a tool for exploring convergence

An understanding of exponential systems is crucial knowledge for business leaders navigating rapid change. An exponential system experiences accelerated growth as it evolves, harnessing exponential technologies to enhance connection and relationships,  amplify authentic purpose,  and achieve significant impact.

Change in our world has outpaced traditional linear thinking and planning. Adapting to this paradigm requires a shift in how strategies are developed, focusing on agility, scalability, and embracing continuous innovation in a balance of human and machine learning. In an era of increasing distrust, a successful, human-focussed exponential system will bolster customer loyalty and information exchange while also increasing operation efficiencies.

This interactive keynote explores the elements of successful exponential systems, discusses the application of inclusive innovation strategies including prosumer models and real-time data sharing, and practices proactive strategies like pretotyping, Adjacent Opportunities Mapping, and purpose activation. Participants will examine the customer, brand and operational benefits when  B2B and B2C models converge, and will practice a mapping tool to identify areas of potential accelerated convergence within their industry.

Offering an exponential system framing structure and practical tools, this keynote empowers business professionals to master exponential systems and leverage them for success. Business leaders, their teams, entrepreneurs, and innovators across B2B and B2C sectors—particularly those focused on strategy, innovation, organizational growth, and cultural transformation—will find this keynote and its tools invaluable. By integrating these insights, attendees will drive their organizations toward sustained exponential growth and innovation.

This keynote explores the pivotal role of Purpose and Trust in guiding strategic direction through exponential change. It explores how Purpose can stimulate moonshot thinking and strategic vision, emphasizing the importance of including every stakeholder for consistent and sustainable growth. Participants will learn to lead with hope and optimism, driving their organizations forward in an era of rapid evolution.

Vision, purpose, and inclusion are foundational to exponential leadership. Vision provides the strategic direction necessary for navigating exponential change. It inspires and motivates teams by aligning efforts toward a common goal, transforming routine tasks into meaningful work, which boosts engagement and productivity. Purpose acts as the organization’s North Star, guiding decision-making and maintaining focus amidst rapid changes. It resonates deeply with consumers, building trust and loyalty, and differentiating the brand in the marketplace.

Inclusion leverages diverse perspectives, fostering innovation and creativity. It ensures that all voices are heard, leading to more comprehensive solutions and higher employee engagement and retention, driving productivity and loyalty.

Participants will use dedicated tools to provoke and develop purpose, consistent moonshot thinking, and organizational growth. They will explore how to use purpose as both a personal and organizational North Star, motivating and including all stakeholders to create meaningful impact. The session will provide strategies for structured idea sharing, more inclusive meetings, and effective group work, all aimed at leading with hope and fostering a culture of innovation.

Business leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, and aspiring leaders will benefit from this session. Attendees will leave equipped with actionable insights and tools to lead with vision and inclusion, ensuring their organizations thrive in an era of exponential change.

Sally Dominguez, an expert in moonshot thinking and innovative leadership, coaches SONY leadership and has a career dedicated to activating creative confidence and leadership potential in others. Her methodologies help organizations develop a resilient, adaptive culture capable of navigating and succeeding in today’s rapidly evolving business landscape.

By participating in this keynote, attendees will gain practical tools and insights to lead with vision, purpose, and inclusion, driving their organizations towards sustainable and impactful growth.

In today’s volatile business environment, marked by consumer distrust, supply chain disruptions, and climate concerns, adopting comprehensive circular systems offers unparalleled strategic benefits. These systems enhance trust and brand loyalty, ensure supply security, and drive operational efficiencies while delivering substantial ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) benefits. Business leaders must recognize the vast opportunities that circular systems present for both customer service and physical product models.

 Circular systems transform customer service by fostering a community where customers feel safe and inspired. This dynamic growth model encourages customers to invite like-minded individuals, enriching the customer experience and building long-term loyalty. In the realm of physical products, also known as cradle-to-cradle systems, every component is designed with its entire lifecycle in mind. Emphasizing sustainable design, energy looping, and upcycling, these systems significantly reduce waste and conserve resources. By continuously asking, “What else can we do?”, businesses can innovate relentlessly, adding value and creating a resilient customer base.

Sally Dominguez, a pioneer in circular system design and implementation, brings extensive experience that spans customer journeys and cradle-to-cradle thinking. Her track record includes developing renewable green hydrogen solutions for the Caribbean, designing a circular vehicle for IKEA, and conducting workshops for Coach on circular retail systems tailored for Generation Z. Sally’s expertise is further enriched by her work with leading organizations like SONY Corporation, Honeywell, and Abbott, where she integrates Purpose and Moonshot Thinking strategies.

This keynote, ideally presented as a co-creative workshop, equips business leaders, innovators, and strategists with the tools and insights to leverage circular systems for sustainable growth and efficiency. Participants will leave with strategic outlines tailored to their organizations, empowered to implement systems that ensure sustainable and resilient growth. Adopting circular thinking is crucial for businesses of all scales, driving innovation and securing a competitive edge in an era of exponential change

Sally Dominguez, an inventor working at the cutting edge of renewable technologies, shares her pioneering insights into the future of green energy. Sally has worked with innovations in wave energy, non-lithium ion battery technology, and, her particular passion, affordable decentralized green hydrogen. This presentation explores the latest advancements in battery technology, bleeding edge energy storage solutions, and circular economy innovations, offering a comprehensive vision for the future of transportation and building energy systems.

Sally explores the critical importance of resilience and decentralized energy solutions, challenging the traditional emphasis on efficiency and centralized energy providors. She poses a provocative question: With abundant renewable resources for energy generation, can we shift our focus from mere efficiency to effectively serving a broader population?

 Participants will gain an overview of current research in green hydrogen, wave energy, kite energy and offshore wind, along with the latest thinking on energy storage options, including circular lithium, sodium ion innovations and other, less known alternatives. The keynote provides valuable insights into designing circular energy systems at various scales and explores the transformative potential of decentralized systems and micro-factories.

This session an be extended to introduce powerful tools for driving energy innovation:

• ReThinking: Encourages a reconsideration of scale in energy innovation, promoting a broader, more impactful approach.
• Adjacency Mapping Tool: Explores the integration of circular systems, identifying new opportunities for sustainable development.
• Thinking Backwards: Maps a robust, economical, and accelerated pipeline for deploying renewable energy technologies.

This keynote is designed for business leaders, innovators, and strategists seeking to understand and harness the power of renewable energy technologies. Attendees will leave equipped with actionable knowledge and a visionary perspective on building a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive energy future. This keynote offers a roadmap to a bright green, circular energy future that prioritizes sustainability, innovation, and equitable access to energy resources.

Outcomes: 

• An overview of current research in green hydrogen, wave energy, offshore wind
• An overview of current thinking around energy storage options with an emphasis on either circular lithium, or Li-alternatives
• Insights into designing circular systems at various scales
• Insights into the potential of decentralized systems and micro-factories

This new era of relentless exponential change has left many people feeling powerless, overwhelmed, even inconsequential. In the rush to celebrate 10X technology the human element has been neglected.  But in the Singularity, Machine Intelligence is met with Human Ingenuity.  Human ingenuity is that unique, underexplored ability that every human brain has to make unexpected connections and imaginative leaps and to delve in the realm of possibility. Human creativity is unparalleled.

Modern business has generally valued knowledge and rational thinking over imagination, possibility and moonshot thinking.  As the Fourth Revolution upends traditional business practices around the world, unleashing the creative power of our human capital is the key to consistent growth. The future of work is not prediction and analysis, it is imagination and creation.  The future of leadership is not control and hierarchy, it is trust, transparency, and inclusion.  Living with relentless change means cultivating the personal resilience, mental and physical, to constantly work at the edge of chaos – and flourish.  This new era requires a new way of thinking and a new way of being.

Every person deserves the chance to level up their ingenuity and creativity,  and to reignite their curiosity. 10X Humans wielding 10X technology will achieve incredible things.

Outcomes: 

• Activated 10X Mindset
• Optimism
• An understanding of how inclusion and innovation will drive growth
• An understanding of frugal innovation and prosumer outreach
• Best practice in failing forward
• An outline of how to structure for inclusive innovation

As a multi-award-winning inventor, and a futurist, researching and practicing innovation, Sally’s work places her firmly at the convergence of many future-forward industries. She has pioneered plastics innovation, co-created Diversity & Inclusion frameworks, co-hosts TheNextBillionCars, wrote a Circular Green Hydrogen Roadmap for the Caribbean and recently designed a hydrogen-fuel cell house/vehicle hybrid transporter. Sally adds new information to every keynote to ensure that the content is immediate. Importantly, Sally ensures that her audience understands their active role in creatively envisaging future uses for exponential technologies.

Outcomes:

• Overview of exponential technologies, systems and directions 
• Optimism
• An understanding of frugal innovation’s “creativity before capital”
• Many ideas