Guy Katz is an Economist, Entrepreneur, Professor of International Business Management at Munich University of Applied Sciences, who moved from Israel to Germany in 2004.
Guy Katz brings extensive experience from various industries: from government organizations, startups, non-profit organizations, and consulting firms to global corporations. Always in search of the optimal blend of science and practical advice, he balances his roles as a father of two wonderful boys, a professor of negotiation, the owner of a globally operating consulting and training company, and a flight instructor.
Guy Katz Lecture topics
- The Power of Positivity – The Competitive Edge for Business and Leadership
In a world filled with uncertainty, constant change, and high-pressure environments, the ability to stay positive isn’t just about mindset – it’s a business strategy. Science proves positive leaders drive innovation, increase productivity, and inspire loyalty. Teams with a positive culture perform significantly better, are more creative, and make better decisions.
In this powerful, engaging, science-backed keynote, Guy Katz – a business professor, negotiation expert, and TEDx speaker – shares how positivity fuels success, leadership, and resilience. Through compelling real-world stories, behavioral science, and business insights, he reveals how leaders and teams can use positivity to influence, increase productivity, and sustain growth.
What Makes This Keynote Stand Out?
- A powerful personal story – How Guy Katz’s grandfather survived Auschwitz by embracing positivity and how the same principle applies to leadership today.
- Cutting-edge research – Why happiness precedes success, not vice versa (based on studies from Harvard, Yale, and top business firms).
- Practical tools & strategies – How to optimize first impressions, master communication, and reframe challenges into opportunities.
- Interactive and inspiring – Not just a theory, but a highly engaging talk that leaves the audience with actionable insights.
Key Takeaways for Your Organization:
- Leadership & Influence: A positive mindset builds trust, credibility, and impact.
- Performance & Productivity: Why happy employees are 31% more productive and make 37% more sales than their disengaged colleagues.
- First Impressions & Presence: How to instantly control non-verbal cues and sensory inputs (such as body language, voice, and even scent) to build strong relationships.
- The Science of Resilience: How leaders and teams can stay positive under pressure and turn adversity into a competitive advantage.
- Communicate like a secret agent
What can we learn from the communication and negotiation strategies of agents from one of the world’s most secretive intelligence services? In his lecture, Guy Katz explains the “Ten Commandments” of intelligence work, shares true stories, and bridges these insights to practical tips that managers can use in their work. Get ready for surprising insights (and let’s hope you can keep secrets, or else…)
- Negotiate like a car salesman
Car salespeople are considered masters of negotiation. After working with thousands of them worldwide, as well as with jewelers and real estate agents, Guy Katz has uncovered the most important tips and tricks for how to sell anything to anyone! With humorous stories and easy-to-apply tactics, you’ll learn how to negotiate better and have a lot of fun – even if you’re just bargaining on eBay.
- Taking the nerves out of our (online) communication
Studies show that each of us receives up to 120 emails a day. But have we ever really learned how to write them effectively? With just a few basic methods, you can optimize your workday and ensure that your communication – whether online or offline – hits the mark. And the best part: you’ll have fun doing it!
- Your first flight lesson: What managers can learn from pilots
“What do all these indicators mean?” is often the first reaction when looking at an airplane cockpit. Each aircraft has some essential instruments – and, interestingly, they are always arranged in the same way. Guy explains why this is, how they work, and what experienced managers can learn from new pilots. Because without a functioning cockpit, you could easily crash.
Who is Guy Katz “The Flying Professor”?
He acquired his expertise in communication and negotiation early on as an intelligence officer during his military service. He later earned his doctorate at LMU Munich, specializing in the challenges of intercultural negotiations. Since 2013, he has been one of the few professors of negotiation in Germany.
He has continuously deepened his theoretical knowledge and has trained thousands of people worldwide through seminars and consulting. His clients include well-known companies from over 50 countries, from Paulaner and Merck to Swiss private banks and luxury brands like Rolex. For BMW Motorrad and BMW M GmbH, he is now responsible as a “Master Trainer” for non-technical training concepts worldwide.
Guy Katz is convinced that positive communication and negotiation without pressure can lead to great results – a belief he has often demonstrated in his collaborations with and for his clients worldwide.