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Diagnostic Momentum: a term from medicine that marketers need to know

By Rory Sutherland,

President Emeritus of Ogilvy Consulting

In this thought-provoking keynote, Rory Sutherland challenged conventional business thinking by highlighting the power of experimentation, unconventional ideas, and cross-disciplinary mental models. Drawing inspiration from fields as diverse as medicine, psychology, economics, engineering, and behavioral science, he explored how organizations often become trapped by established assumptions and commonly accepted metrics. Rory examined the concept of diagnostic momentum and the risks of following prevailing logic without questioning its validity.

Through a series of stories, examples, and provocations, he demonstrated how competitive advantage often comes from recognizing asymmetries, reframing problems, and embracing alternative perspectives. The session encouraged leaders and marketers to look beyond purely rational analysis, balance logic with imagination, and create cultures where experimentation can uncover opportunities that traditional approaches frequently overlook.

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About the speaker

Rory Sutherland

President Emeritus of Ogilvy Consulting

Rory Sutherland is Vice Chairman of Ogilvy UK and a leading expert in behavioural science, consumer psychology and marketing. He is the author of Alchemy: The Surprising Power of Ideas That Don’t Make Sense and co-founder of Ogilvy’s Behavioural Science Practice.

With more than three decades of experience in advertising and communications, Sutherland is known for challenging conventional thinking and exploring the often-unexpected ways people make decisions. He has spoken at TED and numerous international business events, sharing insights on consumer behaviour, creativity, innovation and the hidden opportunities that can drive growth.

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Rory Sutherland — Diagnostic Momentum: a term from medicine that marketers need to know

A pricing assumption rarely dies of being wrong. It dies of being right once, then never being questioned again. Rory Sutherland, President Emeritus of Ogilvy Consulting, unpacks why the diagnoses commercial teams settle on early tend to gather their own momentum long after the conditions that justified them have changed, and what it actually takes to force a settled assumption back into question.

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