Available to book
Paul Craven
Influence
Sales
Marketing
Transform decision-making with Paul Craven, speaker specialising in behavioural economics and psychology of influence. Paul works with organisations to optimise outcomes through practical behavioural insights, delivering expertise gained from Goldman Sachs, PIMCO and the Cialdini Institute.
Psychology
Entrepreneur
Thought Leader
Business Leader
Finance
Author
TEDx
CEO
Paul Craven is an expert in behavioural economics and decision making, specialising in the psychology of influence and human behaviour in business.
Drawing on three decades of experience in global asset management with Schroders, PIMCO, and Goldman Sachs, Paul has built a career understanding how people make decisions in real-world contexts and helping organisations optimise outcomes. Since founding Paul Craven Partners Ltd in 2014, Paul has dedicated his work to promoting behavioural economics, blending his deep financial expertise with cutting-edge psychological insights. He is also a founding member of the Cialdini Institute, an organisation focused on the principles of ethical persuasion and influence, and is certified to deliver its globally respected training programmes.
Paul's ability to translate complex behavioural theories into practical, actionable strategies has made him a much sought-after speaker, and he has delivered hundreds of talks to a diverse range of audiences, from entrepreneurs to investors to lawyers to tech companies. He weaves storytelling, real-world examples, and interactive elements into his sessions, often surprising audiences with extra insights drawn from his interest in the psychological techniques behind magic.
Beyond his work in behavioural economics, Paul serves as an adviser to the investment committee of a major UK pension scheme. He is also a visiting lecturer at the London Business School and his first book on behavioural science will be published in 2025.
Paul's engaging, personable and interactive approach ensures his talks resonate with audiences, leaving participants with not just new knowledge but also actionable insights to apply with immediate effect in their business and life.
Topics, sessions and talks
Paul Craven will explore ethical influence and persuasion, highlighting how psychology can enhance communication in sales, marketing, leadership, and team culture. He emphasises that success often hinges on our ability to encourage others to agree with constructive ideas. By applying the principles of ethical influence, attendees will learn to facilitate quicker and more frequent agreements, utilising the seven established Principles of Persuasion to foster win-win outcomes in various professional interactions.
Paul Craven will explore the impact of biases in investment and business decisions. He will discuss how cognitive biases can influence judgement leading to suboptimal outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into recognising these biases and strategies to mitigate their effects, ultimately enhancing decision making processes. By the end of the session, participants will have a deeper understanding of how to navigate biases effectively in their professional lives.
Paul Craven will explore the dynamics of group decision making in corporate settings. He will discuss the challenges and benefits of collaborative decision processes, highlighting how diverse perspectives can enhance outcomes. Attendees will gain insights into effective strategies for fostering productive discussions, managing conflicts, and ensuring that all voices are heard. By the end of the session, participants will learn how to improve their own decision making practices within their organisations.
Book Paul Craven to unlock the secrets of decision making and persuasion. His unique blend of behavioural economics, psychology, and business experience offers actionable insights to boost communication and sales skills. Discover how people make decisions and master the art and science of ethical persuasion through engaging, evidence-based strategies.
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frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Email paul.craven@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Paul's availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience.
Paul Craven structures his sessions around the application of established behavioural science frameworks — most notably the seven Principles of Persuasion from the Cialdini Institute, of which he is a founding member — drawing on three decades of experience in global asset management to ground psychological theory in real-world business contexts. He incorporates storytelling, case-based examples, and interactive elements, and is known to draw on psychological techniques from the world of magic to illustrate how influence and bias operate in practice.
Paul Craven speaks on ethical influence and persuasion, cognitive biases in investment and business decisions, and group decision-making in corporate settings. He draws on three decades in global asset management at firms including Goldman Sachs and PIMCO, and is a founding member of the Cialdini Institute.
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Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
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