Joseph Kopser

Speaker, Author, Investor, Innovation Expert
Joseph
Kopser

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Keynote
Virtual Presentation
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Panelist
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Fee ranges

Domestic In-Person (USA):

$10,001 - $20,000*

International In-Person:

Please inquire

Virtual:

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Other:

* Ranges are presented as a guideline only. Speaker fees vary by engagement type and are subject to change without notice. For an exact quote, please contact Gravity Speakers.

Traveling from

Texas, USA

About

Joseph Kopser helps leaders make high-stakes decisions under uncertainty because he has made them himself: in combat, in a venture-backed startup, and in one of the most-watched congressional races in the country.

A West Point graduate with a master's from the Harvard Kennedy School, Joseph served 20 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He is Ranger qualified, served two combat tours in Iraq, earned the Bronze Star, and worked as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Army.

After the Army, he co-founded RideScout, a multimodal mobility platform that won the U.S. DOT Data Innovation Award and was acquired by Mercedes-Benz/Daimler in 2014. The White House named him a Champion of Change for veterans advancing clean energy. In 2018 he ran for Congress in Texas, coming within three points in a district few thought competitive.

Today Joseph is President of Grayline Group, an advisory firm focused on strategy amid disruption, and co-author of Catalyst: Leadership and Strategy in a Changing World. He serves as Special Advisor for Military Leadership and Strategy Policy at The University of Texas at Austin and on the boards of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico (NYSE: PAC) and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. In 2025 he received the CleanTX Service & Leadership Award and addressed the National Defense Industrial Association's Fall Manufacturing Division meeting. He writes the weekly newsletter US Tomorrow from Austin, Texas.

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Topics

Topics

Leadership and Strategy in a Changing World

In Leadership, People Will Be What They Can See

Mentorship: Not Everybody Gets It, But They Should

How the Military Taught Me When to Lead, Follow, or Get Out of the Way

Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7X0xIMf5YUI&t=2s
Joseph Kopser Keynote Highlights
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrAT9hYnQBA&t=2s
Leadership in 90 Seconds: People Will Be What They Can See
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz-xFDbObM8
Catalyst TALKS: Future of Work with Joseph Kopser the impact of technology, globalization and COVID
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsRz2hYaPW0
SAFE-- Securing America's Energy Future with Fred Smith and T. Boone Pickens in the audience
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm5nVexWqSM
Joseph Kopser - PBS NewsHour

Articles

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Books / Movies As an Amazon Associate, Gravity earns from qualifying purchases.

Testimonials

Joseph is always entertaining and knowledgeable. I have seen him speak dozens of times and audiences love him. His range of expertise — energy, transportation, security, leadership, innovation, entrepreneurship policy, and public service—is astonishing. He is my go-to guy when I am organizing a public event and I need a keynote speaker to share insights in an engaging way.

M.W.
Chief Science and Technology Officer,, ENGIE

We recently hosted large transportation technology summit as a part of CES in Las Vegas using Joseph as our facilitator and lunchtime speaker. I am still receiving comments from attendees about how AMAZING he was. The amount of research and effort he put into learning about our community, our industry, and our speakers' bios was unlike anything I have experienced. I was nervous about the event because it was our first of such magnitude, but within 10 minutes of him starting the program, my heart was bursting with pride. I knew right away it was going to be a successful day due wholly to his energy, competence, and communication skills.

T.Q.
CEO, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada

I've had the honor to work with over 400 of some of the most amazing entrepreneurs, NY times best selling authors, and thought leaders from around the world. Joseph stands out among the top of all public speakers I have encountered! His passion and honesty comes through in his words, and those in the audience can just tell he has a huge heart. And at each of the multiple events I have invited him to speak, he is the same person backstage as he is on stage. Even better than his military career, his entrepreneurial successes, it's clear in his presentations that he is a passionate dad and husband, I think he would connect with all audiences. I can't wait to invite him to speak again.

P.R.
Founder, American Dream U

I worked very closely with Joseph Kopser when he served as Chair of the Department of Military Science in the ROTC program at the University of Texas at Austin. Joseph was extraordinarily effective in inspiring the Army cadets to be leaders and to achieve excellence in all aspects of their lives and careers. I was especially moved by his successful efforts to instill in the cadets an appreciation for a strong liberal arts education.

R.D.
Dean, College of Liberal Arts, University of Texas at Austin

Joseph was recently a panelist at our University's Don Edward Lecture Series. We only bring in top notch and nationally known speakers for this venue; speakers who have the experience and knowledge to make a contribution to not only our students, but the community in which our University resides. Joseph performed beyond expectations. He deftly spoke to the audience about veterans issues and synchronized his comments with those of the preceding panelists without a break in the theme of the program. I know his speech was well received because after the event, students and veterans from the community approached him to thank him for delivering such a heartfelt and motivating talk and to ask more questions and continue to engage him more. As an educator hosting an education lecture series, I couldn't have had a better outcome.

L.L.
Professor of Public Administration and Faculty Fellow, San Jose State University

I have collaborated closely with Joseph for many years in the area of sustainable mobility in my role at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a pioneer and leader in many areas. I have had the great pleasure to be on several conference panels with him over the years and have greatly enjoyed our interactions on stage and off. He is passionate about making a positive contribution to society, and this is evident when he speaks to a group. He is a talented connector and communicator.

S.S.
Co-director, Transportation Sustainability Research Center, UC Berkley

I have had the pleasure of knowing Joseph Kopser for nearly 10 years. I've also had the opportunity to see him speak in person repeatedly. Joseph is a crowd-pleaser, delivering content that is on point, and in a dynamic way that will leave your audience wanting more.

J.Y.
President, Sabot Development, Ltd

I have known Joseph for going on ten years and have heard him speak many times. As a keynote speaker, as part of a panel at a conference, as a moderator of said panels, and as an emcee at some very large events. In fact, Joseph moderated a panel of former Austin Technology Incubator graduate companies just a few weeks ago at our 400 person ATI 30th Anniversary event and was outstanding. Joseph brings high energy and thoughtfulness to any conversation he's a part of, especially on stage. And the key to any speaking engagement is holding the audience’s attention of which Joseph is a master.

M.J.
Executive Director, Austin Technology Incubator, University of Texas

Joseph is one of the most compelling speakers we've ever had present at the Austin Forum on Technology & Society in our 13 year history. His ability to convey the societal importance of technologies to audiences with a huge range of technical backgrounds—from novice to expert—and have everyone come away feeling both informed and inspired is remarkable and rare.

J.B.P.
Executive Director, Austin Forum on Technology and Society

Joseph Kopser was an integral part of the early years of the Longhorn Startup Program at the University of Texas at Austin. This is a highly regarded engineering/computer science course where I was one of the three instructors for several years. In his formative days at RideScout he shared space with our student startups and was a valuable role model and mentor. We ended each semester with a heavily attended Demo Day in the LBJ Library to honor our students and supporters. In one of these which I emcee'd, we asked Joseph to warm up the crowd and talk about his progress in business and life. He was spectacular in doing so, and he set the tone for quite a celebratory evening. I personally would welcome the chance to hear him speak at any time. He brings boundless enthusiasm to his important words of wisdom.

Joseph Kopser was an integral part of the early years of the Longhorn Startup Program at the University of Texas at Austin. This is a highly regarded engineering/computer science course where I was one of the three instructors for several years. In his formative days at RideScout he shared space with our student startups and was a valuable role model and mentor. We ended each semester with a heavily attended Demo Day in the LBJ Library to honor our students and supporters. In one of these which I emcee'd, we asked Joseph to warm up the crowd and talk about his progress in business and life. He was spectacular in doing so, and he set the tone for quite a celebratory evening. I personally would welcome the chance to hear him speak at any time. He brings boundless enthusiasm to his important words of wisdom.

B.D.
Entrepreneur in Residence, Morris, Manning & Martin, Llp

Joseph has held key moderator and speaking roles at a number of our past events, providing high-energy and informed delivery of business, technology and policy topics. His combined entrepreneurial and military background provide an ideal foundation to manage most any program with passion and intelligence. Engaging Joseph into your program will strengthen your story and motivate your community. Highly recommended!

M.L.
Ceo and Co-founder, Techconnect Innovation

Joseph Kopser is an accomplished motivational speaker who fully engages the audience in a dynamic dialogue of exciting concepts. Joseph's presentation will not soon be forgotten but folded into the lives of his listeners.

D.K.
Founder/CEO/Headmaster, Sarasota Military Academy

Joseph is one of the best public speakers you will ever experience. His energy, enthusiasm, and inspiration fills the entire room, big or small. You will leave that room feeling ready to take on the world. He can speak at a very high level about important trends in business, politics, and beyond, but he will also speak with great detail and nuance about your group or company.

C.C.
General Partner, Moonshots Capital