Paul Craven Keynote Speaker

Paul Craven is an international speaker in behavioural science – or, as he puts it, “how real people make real decisions in the real world.” His work centres on ethical influence, decision-making and the psychology of perception, helping audiences think more clearly and communicate more effectively.

With almost 30 years’ experience in the City of London – including senior roles at Schroders, PIMCO and as Head of European Business at Goldman Sachs Asset Management – Paul combines deep commercial understanding with an ability to bring human behaviour to life. Since 2014 he has also served on the £2bn Akzo Nobel pension scheme’s Investment Committee, giving him hands-on insight into decision-making under pressure and uncertainty.

A founding member of the Cialdini Institute, Paul specialises in the psychology of ethical influence – why people say “yes” and the conditions that make it more likely. His approach rests on three deceptively simple questions:

• How are you cultivating a relationship?
• What’s the simplest way to reduce uncertainty?
• Which cues will genuinely motivate action?

Drawing on behavioural science and decades of real-world experience, Paul also brings an additional perspective as an accredited member of the Magic Circle, using occasional moments of psychological insight to show how easily our assumptions shape what we see. His aim is simple: that everyone leaves the room wiser, clearer and better equipped than when they arrived.

Paul’s sessions are engaging, relevant and firmly practical. He focuses on small behavioural shifts that deliver outsized gains, particularly in building trust, improving conversations and shaping better decisions. His forthcoming book, Chameleon Thinking, explores these themes in greater depth.