Poppy Harlow

We all have a Day 2. Whether planned or unexpected, these life-altering transitions define the human experience.

Day 2: A new Keynote with Poppy Harlow explores the universal moments when everything shifts—when a career change, the birth of a child, deep personal loss, enduring a diagnosis, the end of a marriage, an organization going through radical change and navigating uncharted territory, a second chance after incarceration, or a bold and exciting new beginning force us into uncharted territory. This is about what happens the day after— and how we navigate, explore, and ultimately thrive in the face of change.

Poppy shares her own Day 2 story as well as inspiring stories of transformation from remarkable people that teach us that it is in the exploration that we learn, grow, and ultimately thrive.

Target Audience:
The beauty of Day 2 is that it is relevant to everyone – at all stages of life. No one is left out. This keynote speaks as much to the stay-at-home mother as it does to a CEO or a professional athlete. It speaks to those on the coasts, and those in the middle of America. It is a keynote about what unifies us – change and transition in our lives.

Poppy Harlow is an award-winning journalist who was an anchor and correspondent at CNN for nearly 20 years. Her decades in journalism have taught her the power of curiosity and of asking the right questions at the right time. In this talk, Poppy explores how she went from asking lengthy, detailed questions to learning that “tell me more” is often the most powerful question one can ask. Poppy teaches us the elements of forming the best questions for key moments in work and life. Teams get better and stronger when we learn how to ask each other the most impotent questions with empathy, understanding and candor. Questions are powerful tools to unite. Poppy guides the audience in the art of question asking.

*NOTE: This keynote topic can also be made into a corresponding interactive workshop with conference attendees where we explore how the art of asking questions.

Poppy Harlow has had a front row seat to history for two decades as an award-winning journalist and CNN anchor. She has conducted headline interviews with many of the greatest leaders of all time (GOATs) – in business, sports, and politics. In this keynote, Poppy shares the unique and unexpected lessons she has learned from leaders including Warren Buffett, Melinda French Gates, Jamie Dimon and Indra Nooyi.

You can ask anything with a smile: Why getting candid and compelling answers is all about how you ask a question.
The power of the handwritten note: Warren Buffett taught Poppy the importance of writing handwritten thank you notes after their first interview together.
The power of brevity: Why saying less often wins you more.
Early is on-time: Why treating other people’s time as their most precious asset is key to winning.
Let your heart break: Why empathy is a superpower in negotiation and conversation. As Melinda French Gates taught Poppy, you must let your heart break.
Get in the kitchen: How kicking off your shoes and getting in the proverbial kitchen helps create key bonds in business and life.

Poppy Harlow’s 20-year career at the top echelons of journalism have made her an expert at moderating live conversations in front of audiences of thousands. From the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland to SXSW and beyond – Poppy leads meaningful and engaging conversations with the most respected leaders from the business world to sports, Hollywood, politics and beyond. She imparts her deep economic knowledge by interviewing the world’s top CEOs including Warren Buffett, Jamie Dimon, Melinda French Gates, Sundar Pichai, among others. She has also interviewed Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and moderated two CNN Presidential Town Halls. As a journalist she has had a front row seat to history for more than two decades. Her long career as an anchor and correspondent has given her the opportunity to travel around the world and witness humanity show the best of itself while learning about the human condition. It has taught her the power of empathy and vulnerability – and the unparalleled power of a story.