Guest Profile

Rebecca Costa


Rebecca Costa is a sociobiologist whose unique expertise is to spot and explain emerging trends in relationship to human evolution, global markets, and new technologies. A thought-leader and provocative new voice in the mold of Jared Diamond, Thomas Friedman and Malcolm Gladwell, Costa is part biologist, psychologist and entrepreneur, whose insights result from examining the big picture. Her successful career identifying global trends, combined with her keen ability to perceive the unifying concept within diverse and interrelated fields, uniquely qualify her to present a multi-disciplinarian approach to complex, systemic issues affecting our world today.

A riveting and engaging speaker, Costa is a sought-after presenter and welcomed guest on panels whose topics range from economic trends and pop culture to education and environmental policy. Acting as a bridge between science and society, Costa has a unique understanding of sociobiology and the ability to translate highly technical information into language the man on the street can appreciate.

Retiring at the zenith of her acclaimed career, Costa spent five years researching and writing The Watchmans Rattle. In her new book, she explains how the principles governing evolution cause, and provide the solution for, global gridlock. When asked why the book has special significance in todays turbulent marketplace, Costa said, Every person I know, rich or poor, educated or not, wants to know why our government gets more in debt, our air and water more polluted, our jails more crowded, our security more tenuous, our children more violent. The Watchmans Rattle gives equal weight to the big and small picture and prescribes a way out of the mess.

A former CEO and founder of Silicon Valley start-up, Dazai Advertising, Inc. sold to J. Walter Thompson in 1997, Costa has a proven track record of introducing new technologies for over three decades. Her clients have included industry giants such as Apple Computer, Hewlett-Packard, Oracle Corporation, Borland, 3M, Amdahl, Seibel Systems and General Electric Corporation.

Raised in Tokyo, Japan, Costa lived during the Vietnam conflict in Vientiane, Laos, where her father worked in covert CIA operations. She attributes her natural ability to spot global patterns to a cross-cultural education and upbringing.

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