Leo Tilman
Leo M. Tilman | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1971 |
| Alma mater | Columbia University (B.A., M.A. in mathematics); executive education at Harvard Kennedy School and Yale Jackson Institute |
| Occupation(s) | Financier, author, expert in strategy, risk intelligence, and financial matters |
| Years active | –present |
| Known for | Chairman & CEO of Agilion Systems; author of Financial Darwinism and Agility |
Leo M. Tilman (born 1971) is a prominent American financier, author, and expert specializing in strategy, risk intelligence, and financial matters. He provides guidance to corporations, governments, and investors worldwide and currently serves as Chairman & CEO of Agilion Systems, a firm focused on strategic advisory services and advanced technologies. Before establishing Agilion (originally Tilman & Company), Tilman held senior leadership positions at BlackRock and Bear Stearns and taught finance as an adjunct professor at Columbia University.
Tilman foresaw the 2008 financial crisis by highlighting the unsustainable global imbalances in his publication Financial Darwinism. His 2019 work, Agility: How to Navigate the Unknown and Seize Opportunity in a World of Disruption, co-written with General Charles H. Jacoby Jr., presented a model of organizational agility that encourages executives to effectively manage disruption—a concept that anticipated major global events such as the COVID pandemic and corporate collapses.
Among his numerous publications is Risk Management (2000), co-authored with Bennett Golub, co-founder of BlackRock. In 2010, he collaborated with Edmund Phelps on a Harvard Business Review article proposing the creation of a "First National Bank of Innovation" to enhance U.S. economic dynamism. Additionally, in a 2012 piece for the European Financial Review, Tilman redefined risk intelligence as an essential capability for businesses and investors.
Tilman played a key role in designing a public-private partnership that brought together the White House Rural Council, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Farm Credit System, successfully channeling billions in private investment toward innovative rural infrastructure initiatives.
Acknowledged as a "Business Visionary" by Forbes and designated a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, Tilman is recognized for his impactful contributions to shaping future business strategies.
Education and early career
Tilman holds both B.A. and M.A. degrees in mathematics from Columbia University, complemented by executive education programs at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the Jackson Institute for Global Affairs at Yale University. Prior to founding Tilman & Company, he was Chief Institutional Strategist and Senior Managing Director at Bear Stearns and began his professional journey at BlackRock.
Current appointments
- Chairman & CEO, Agilion Systems, Inc.
- Trustee, Denver Museum of Nature and Science
- Co-Founder and Board Member, Institute for Science and Policy
- Board Member, Center on Capitalism and Society, Columbia University
Former appointments
- Founder and CEO, Tilman & Company (now Agilion Systems)
- Adjunct Professor, Columbia University
- Executive Chairman, Capitol Peak
- Board Member, Atlantic Partnership
- Member, Colorado Forum
- International Advisory Board Member, British American Business
- Contributing Editor, The Journal of Risk Finance
Articles
- The most agile day - strategy+business
- Wanted: A First National Bank of Innovation - Harvard Business Review
- Risk Intelligence: A Bedrock of Dynamism and Lasting Value Creation - European Financial Review
- Taming Risk In a Volatile World - Directorship
- The New Risk Paradigm for Corporate Governance - Chief Executive
Tilman created the Corporate Risk Scorecard, which provides an integrated assessment of an enterprise’s business model alongside its risk exposure comparable to a food Nutrition Label (Barrons). He also co-developed the pioneering "Brain as a Business Model" concept featured in the European Financial Review in 2014.
Books
- Risk Management (2000)
- Asset Liability Management (2003)
- Financial Darwinism (2008)
- Agility (2019)
Agility
"Agility represents the critical element for effectively steering through the Fourth Industrial Revolution and realizing its potential benefits for humanity. In this significant and insightful work, Tilman and Jacoby deliver a thorough theory of agility alongside a practical roadmap for cultivating and leading agile enterprises." – Klaus Schwab, Founder & Executive Chairman, World Economic Forum
In a world marked by rapid disruption and unpredictability, organizations that can quickly evaluate and adapt to changes gain a distinct competitive advantage. While agility is vital for contemporary business success, many executives lack definitive strategies to consistently foster agile organizations.
Developing agility demands intentional decisions, proactive measures, and investment in both personnel and operational systems. It nurtures a mindset that reshapes how companies interpret their environment, make choices, assess risks and opportunities, nurture culture, establish strategic priorities, and execute with conviction. Leaders must first grasp and embody agility themselves before guiding their teams to integrate this mindset through collective practice.
Coauthored by Tilman and General Charles H. Jacoby Jr., Agility encourages leaders from all industries to embrace agility as an essential organizational competency. Entities committed to this approach cultivate lasting resilience, surpassing rivals by converting uncertainty into strategic leverage that advances long-term objectives.
Financial Darwinism
"Financial Darwinism offers the most insightful explanation of the profound transformations occurring in the investment landscape that I have encountered," states David M. Rubenstein, co-Founder of The Carlyle Group. "Anyone seeking to comprehend the recent upheavals in financial markets—and anticipate future developments—should study this crucial work by Leo Tilman."
In Financial Darwinism, Tilman contends that today’s intricate economic environment requires a fundamentally new perspective from corporate leaders, financial experts, regulators, policymakers, and investors alike. The global financial crises and the downfall of once-stable institutions underscore the necessity for a blueprint to navigate the emerging financial system and guidance on thriving within it.
The book examines key global forces driving sweeping financial changes over the last quarter-century while addressing challenges faced by financial institutions alongside their strategic responses. It is divided into two interconnected sections. The first introduces an evolutionary concept termed Dynamic Finance, which explains the causes and mechanisms behind these systemic shifts. Tilman emphasizes that comprehending modern financial institutions and capital markets hinges on recognizing a fundamental shift in how economic value is generated. With traditional financial businesses experiencing shrinking margins, active risk-taking increasingly dictates how firms create—or erode—shareholder value. To clarify this transformation, Tilman presents risk-based economic performance metrics that transcend outdated accounting-earnings models. This emphasis on dynamic risk management differentiates the current financial paradigm from its predecessor.
Operating contemporary financial institutions entails navigating vast uncertainty and complexity. The second section provides a practical decision-making framework designed to assist executives in managing ongoing challenges. Alongside the evolutionary thesis and risk-focused performance metrics, this framework demystifies financial complexity and equips leaders with tools to generate or improve economic value. It aligns strategic intent with customer orientation and risk-taking choices by integrating business strategy, corporate finance, investment evaluation, and risk management. Ultimately, it offers guidance on implementing this vision through sophisticated financial instruments—positioning risk management as the foundational language for strategic decisions.
In summary, Financial Darwinism acts as an introduction to risk intelligence, empowering financial firms and investors to achieve sustainable economic outcomes amid complex, uncertain, and shifting market conditions.