Jim McCormick

Founder and President of the Research Institute for Risk Intelligence, author, organizational risk expert and a World Record skydiver.

Expert on

  • Thought Leadership
  • Leadership
  • Corporate Culture
  • Risk Management
  • Innovation
  • Empowerment

Fee Range

$7,500–$12,500

Travels from

CO, US

Biography

Jim McCormick is one of America’s premier organizational risk experts, a noted author, Founder and President of the Research Institute for Risk Intelligence, and a World Record skydiver. As an in-demand speaker, Jim has addressed some of the most distinguished executive audiences ranging from Accenture, AFLAC, Bank of America, CDW, FedEx, GlaxoSmithKline, Hewlett-Packard, PepsiCo, The Clorox Company, Siemens, Unilever, Verizon, Wells Fargo; governmental institutions such as the FBI and US Army; and academic institutions such as Rutgers University, San Jose State, University of California at Irvine, and the National World War II Museum.

Jim maintains that all business is about utilizing risk effectively. He has spoken internationally to organizations about how they can to harness risk to be more competitive and innovative. The result is organizations that are responsive to changes in the market, the competitive environment and opportunities. In his keynote presentations, “The Intelligence of Risk – Unleashing Organizational Courage” and “The Intelligence of Risk – Unleashing Professional Courage,” Jim reminds audiences that risking well is not an option. It is a necessity. And done well, it produces more agile and profitable businesses.

Jim has lived this vision in settings as diverse as The White House as a member of a Presidential administration; various executive level positions in the real estate, construction, and architecture industries; and as a holder of six skydiving World Records. He is a thought-leader in the field of organizational risk practice, and the author of Business Lessons from the Edge, The Power of Risk and The First-Time Manager.

Jim lives outside of Denver, Colorado.

THE INTELLIGENCE OF RISK - UNLEASHING ORGANIZATIONAL COURAGE

Jim engages the audience by evoking joyous memories of their early risks. With positive thoughts of risk in mind, the discussion turns to the perceptions we have been given about risk. Examples of risk done well and poorly by organizations lead the presentation to the Risk Imperative, the Risk/Judgment Imbalance and Group Polarization.

Central to the presentation is a vital concept developed by Jim called the Organizational Risk Posture (ORP). The necessity to identify the ideal ORP for each element of the organization is emphasized along with how to instill it effectively into the organizational culture.

Five key action steps are presented that can be implemented immediately along with access to proprietary on-line tools that can be used to advance the discussion of the intelligence of risk.
The presentation concludes with Jim’s drawing from his experience as a member of the international team that set the current skydiving World Record. This extraordinary story reinforces the message that has been presented and leaves the audience inspired to pursue their own records.

Target audience: Leaders, future leaders and key individual contributors

THE INTELLIGENCE OF RISK - UNLEASHING PROFESSIONAL COURAGE

Professional performance improvement starts with the courage to leave your comfort zone. This story-based presentation centers on using intelligent risk-taking as a performance improvement strategy. Jim draws on insights from research and his experiences as a World Record and North Pole skydiver to share how to overcome performance limiting fear. Audience members receive four clear steps they can use to harness risk for the benefit of them and their organization.