Laureen Knudsen is a globally recognized transformation leader, reinvention strategist, and keynote speaker specializing in helping professionals and executives navigate workforce disruption driven by automation and AI. As the author of Becoming Essential: The Proven Plan to Reinvent Your Career in the Age of Disruption, Laureen draws from her experience as Chief Transformation Officer for Fortune 1000 organizations, advising leaders on business model innovation, sustainable change, and workforce transformation. A member of the Forbes Technology Council, she has been honored as one of the Top 100 Women in Tech, Power50, and Most Powerful and Influential Women in Tech. Internationally sought-after for her forward-thinking perspective, Laureen has delivered standing-room-only presentations at corporations and conferences. Her Essential Professional Method has inspired hundreds worldwide, equipping audiences to turn disruption into opportunity.