Trends

David Allison
Human Values Expert, Bestselling Author, and Founder of The Valuegraphics Project
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David Allison: Human Values Expert | Founder of the Valuegraphics Project | Bestselling Author
Understand What People Value. Change What Happens Next.
David Allison helps organizations look past demographic labels to the human values people share. As the founder of the Valuegraphics Project, he turns research on values into practical ideas for reaching customers, engaging employees, and building stronger connections.
Why Book David Allison?
David gives audiences a fresh way to understand why people act. He shows leaders how to use insight into human values when they communicate, sell, lead, or create a sense of belonging.
His keynotes are especially useful for organizations with plenty of customer or employee data but too little clarity about what will truly engage people.
What Makes David Different?
• Original global research into the values that influence decisions
• An approach that looks beyond broad demographic assumptions
• Relevant applications for sales, marketing, leadership, and workplace culture
• A way to connect data with more human communication
• The ability to tailor the conversation to the audience an organization wants to engage
Why Is David Right for Your Audience?
David is a strong fit for leadership conferences, sales and marketing events, association meetings, and organizations working to strengthen culture. He is particularly valuable when a team needs to understand its customers, employees, or community more deeply before trying to influence them.
Book David when your audience needs to:
• Understand what matters most to the people it serves
• Build stronger connections with customers and colleagues
• Make messages more relevant and persuasive
• Lead teams with a better grasp of shared motivations
• Strengthen belonging without relying on stereotypes
• Turn audience insight into practical decisions
Audience Takeaways
Attendees will leave:
• Clearer on the difference between who people are and what they value
• Ready to ask better questions about the audiences they want to reach
• Equipped to connect messages and decisions to shared values
• More confident using values to improve engagement and trust
• Motivated to put human insight alongside the data they already use
Keynote Programs
Boosting Sales by Being Human
David shows sales and marketing teams how understanding customer values can help them communicate more effectively and build stronger relationships. Ideal for sales kickoffs, customer experience events, and marketing conferences.
The Science of Values-Based Leadership
David explores how leaders can identify the values their people share and use that understanding to improve communication, collaboration, and engagement. Ideal for leadership meetings and organizations navigating change.
The Blueprint for Belonging
David challenges audiences to move beyond assumptions based on demographic labels and examine the values that help people feel understood and included. Ideal for workplace culture and people leadership events.
Why Contact The Sweeney Agency Now?
Tell us about your audience and the outcome you want. We’ll help you assess which of David’s programs is most relevant, discuss customization, and confirm his availability and current fee.
Is David Right for Your Event?
Tell us whose decisions you hope to influence, which relationships you want to strengthen, and what you want your audience to do differently. We’ll help you assess David’s fit and plan the next step.
To check availability and fee of this speaker, call 1-866-727-7555 or email [email protected].

Amplify Your Sales
5 Tips on Sales to make 2021 better than ever
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Click here to receive your Customized List of the Best Speakers on Sales
Our Sales Speakers have used their knowledge to adapt and create actionable and engaging presentations on how organizations can pivot to embrace the opportunities presented by the pandemic.
Ranging from Virtual Keynotes to Fireside chats, all with interactive elements, let our Sales Speakers help your 2021 Sales Conference.
We work with some of the best Sales Speakers in the speaking world and asked them all the same question:
What is your number 1 sales tip? 
Here’s how they answered:
1. Say Yes to Misfortune – Scott McKain

Saying “yes” implies a course of positive action. The predictable expletive, “No!” can fill up our time and energy because saying “no” is
frequently a commitment to an unproductive struggle that reinforces helplessness and inertia.
Responding positively to problems is the prerequisite to overcoming bad things that occur so we can break down our challenges and move forward.
People thrive on challenges, and are the winners who get things done.
Scott McKain is a Dynamic Speaker on Innovation, Sales & Customer Service.
 
2. The 80/20 Rule – Tim Sanders

Some great advice we received from Tim Sanders, VP of Customer Insights for Upwork just after starting The Sweeney Agency:
“Don’t think about sales or closing deals, just position yourself so that whenever you can help someone you help them, without any expectations. 20% of the people you help you’ll never hear from again, but that won’t matter because you will certainly hear back from the other 80%. They will remember you and your incredible help and that will create such great relationships
that you will build both a great business and a great life.”
Tim Sanders is a renowned Communication and Leadership Speaker.
3. A Vision of the Future – Ryan Estis

Communicating compassionately, consistently, confidently and courageously is precisely what is required during a crisis. Our research has found that two of the biggest drivers of engagement and commitment from employees are confidence in their senior leadership and confidence in the future of the
organization.
Now is the time to model scenarios to create a long-term plan and vision for your business, fully aware that you will be agile enough to adapt when new information is available or the landscape suddenly changes.
Ryan Estis speaks on Business Performance, Leadership and Sales.
 
4. Be Indiana Jones – Sterling Hawkins

At the climax of Indiana Jones & The Holy Grail, the Nazis are turned to dust after selected a gem studded chalice they believe to be the Holy Grail. Indy chooses a simple wooden cup that is in fact the true Holy Grail.
In the context of business, most of us scramble to have the “right” message on social media or want to make things look a certain way. The same optics that make the false grail so beautiful.
This is a powerful lesson: the substance of something, is ultimately infinitely more important than what it looks like. Optics may present a short term gain but will always lose in the long run and at a macro level.
Sterling Hawkins is a leading speaker on Breakthrough Innovation, Tech Entrepreneur and Leadership Expert.
5. Ask Open-Ended Questions – Diana Kander

Your customers’ natural inclination is to be nice, not honest. Open-ended questions give your potential customers the option to respond very honestly and to fully explain the problems they’re
facing (that your product may or may not solve).
Ask leading questions that broadcast the answer you want to hear, such as:
• “Are you…”
• “Will you…”
• “Won’t you…”
• “Didn’t you…”
• “Can’t you…”
Diana Kander is an Entrepreneur, Author, and Speaker on Innovation.
Get in touch to book your next great sales speaker.

Simon Anderson
Founder of Venture Foresight, Futurist, Award-winning Author and Global Speaker on Trends & Technology.
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Simon Anderson: Futurist | Applied Foresight Expert | Founder of Venture Foresight
Be Ready for What Comes Next
Simon Anderson helps organizations answer that question. He makes emerging trends and technology understandable and gives leaders a practical way to prepare for the opportunities and challenges ahead.
Why Book Simon Anderson?
Simon helps audiences turn uncertainty into better decisions. His Future Ready Framework™ organizes foresight into three actions: Attention, Anticipation, and Action. It gives leaders a way to recognize meaningful signals, consider what they could mean, and decide what to do next.
His presentations connect broad change to the choices facing a specific organization or industry.
What Makes Simon Different?
• A practical foresight framework leaders can use in their next meeting
• Clear explanations of AI, technology, and emerging change
• A focus on early signals and decisions leaders can make now
• Industry-specific examples that connect trends to the audience’s work
• Tools for questioning assumptions and acting before change becomes urgent
Why Is Simon Right for Your Audience?
Simon is a strong fit for executive meetings, industry conferences, strategy sessions, and leadership teams facing rapid change. He is especially valuable when people know their sector is shifting but need a shared way to separate significant developments from noise.
Book Simon when your audience needs to:
• Spot changes that could affect its industry
• Understand what AI and emerging technology could mean for its work
• Challenge assumptions built for a different environment
• Balance improving today’s business with preparing for tomorrow’s
• Turn trend discussions into decisions and experiments
• Build a more proactive approach to change
Audience Takeaways
Attendees will leave:
• Equipped to use Attention, Anticipation, and Action as a planning framework
• Better able to distinguish meaningful signals from passing noise
• Ready to examine assumptions that may be limiting their options
• Clearer about emerging opportunities and potential challenges
• Motivated to take practical steps toward a more future-ready organization
Keynote Programs
Beyond Resilient: How to Be Future Ready® in an Age of Constant Change
Simon introduces his Future Ready Framework™ and shows leaders how to notice important shifts, think through their implications, and act early. Ideal for leadership and strategy events where change is a central concern.
The Future Is Here. Now What?
AI attracts attention, but it is one of several technologies changing how organizations work. Simon helps audiences decide which developments deserve attention, what they could mean for their industry, and when to act.
Leading into the Future of Your Industry
In this customized keynote, Simon examines the trends reshaping the audience’s sector and applies his framework to potential opportunities. Ideal for industry associations, client events, and executive teams looking for relevant foresight.
Why Contact The Sweeney Agency Now?
Tell us about your industry, your priorities, and the decisions your leaders need to make. We’ll help you identify the most relevant Simon Anderson program, discuss customization, and confirm his availability and current fee.
Is Simon Right for Your Event?
Tell us what is changing around your organization and what you want your audience to do differently afterward. We’ll help you assess Simon’s fit and plan the next step.
To check availability and fee of this speaker, call 1-866-727-7555 or email [email protected].

Rohit Bhargava
Expert on Marketing, Branding, Trends & Disruption, Innovation, Storytelling
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Rohit Bhargava:  Keynote Speaker on Innovation, Future Trends & AI | Founder of the Non-Obvious Company | 3-Time Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author | Georgetown University Professor
See What Others Miss. What if your biggest competitive advantage was simply learning to see what everyone else overlooks?
For more than a decade, Rohit has studied emerging trends and human behavior to help leaders understand what's changing—and what they should do about it. His Non-Obvious approach challenges audiences to look beyond predictable ideas, connect unexpected dots and recognize opportunities before they become obvious to everyone else.
Why Book Rohit Bhargava?
Rohit doesn't simply predict the future. He teaches audiences how to become better at anticipating it themselves.
His approach combines trend research, human behavior, business strategy and memorable storytelling to help people recognize patterns and opportunities they might otherwise miss.
Most importantly, Rohit makes complex subjects accessible, entertaining and actionable. Whether he's talking about AI, innovation, changing consumer behavior or the future of business, his focus is on helping audiences understand what these shifts actually mean for them.
What Makes Rohit Bhargava Different?
• Creator of Non-Obvious Thinking — teaches people how to see what others miss
• 3-time Wall Street Journal bestselling author — with eleven books on trends, innovation, marketing and the future
• Founder of the Non-Obvious Company — dedicated to helping leaders become more open-minded and innovative
• Experienced global keynote speaker — has presented in 32 countries
• Former global brand strategist — spent 15 years at Ogilvy and Leo Burnett
• Georgetown University professor — brings an educator's ability to make ideas understandable
• Human approach to AI — explores how people can benefit from AI without overusing it
• Highly entertaining — known for fast-paced, surprising and “non-boring” presentations
Why Is Rohit Right for Your Audience?
Rohit is an outstanding choice when you want your audience to look beyond what's obvious, anticipate what's coming and turn emerging change into opportunity.
He is particularly effective for leadership conferences, association meetings, sales kickoffs, innovation summits, marketing conferences and executive events.
Book Rohit when your audience needs to:
• Anticipate emerging trends
• Think more creatively and innovatively
• Understand how AI is changing work and business
• Identify opportunities others may overlook
• Challenge conventional thinking
• Better understand changing customers and consumers
• Build trust in an increasingly skeptical world
• Prepare for disruption without getting overwhelmed by it
Audience Takeaways
Attendees will leave:
• Better equipped to recognize important trends before they become obvious
• Understanding how to connect seemingly unrelated ideas
• More confident separating meaningful change from hype
• Better prepared to think creatively about business challenges
• Understanding where human judgment matters in an AI-driven world
• More aware of changing customer expectations and behaviors
• Equipped with practical techniques for becoming a more non-obvious thinker
Rohit Bhargava Keynote Programs
How to Be a Non-Obvious Thinker. What if creativity and innovation were skills anyone could learn?
Rohit introduces audiences to his approach to Non-Obvious Thinking and demonstrates how people can become better at noticing ideas, connecting unexpected dots and seeing opportunities others miss.
Using his SIFT method and entertaining real-world examples, he gives audiences practical habits they can use to become more creative, curious and innovative.
Ideal for: Leadership conferences, innovation events, executive meetings and organizations looking to challenge conventional thinking.
Trends Shaping the Future Normal. Which trends will actually matter—and which ones are simply noise?
Drawing on more than a decade of trend research, Rohit explores the emerging ideas, technologies and behaviors already shaping the next decade.
Rather than simply presenting predictions, he helps audiences understand why these trends matter, how they connect and what leaders should be thinking about now to prepare for what's next.
Ideal for: Executive conferences, industry associations, strategy meetings and organizations preparing for disruption.
Thriving in an AI-Disrupted World. How do we use AI without overusing AI?
Rohit offers an optimistic and distinctly human perspective on artificial intelligence and the future of work.
Rather than delivering a technical presentation, he explores how people and organizations can use AI intelligently while protecting the human capabilities—judgment, creativity, empathy and understanding—that become even more valuable as technology advances.
His central message is powerful: in times of disruption, the people who understand people have an advantage.
Ideal for: Leadership conferences, AI events, corporate meetings and organizations navigating digital transformation.
Non-Obvious Marketing: Earning Trust in a Skeptical World. How do you earn attention and loyalty when customers are increasingly skeptical of what brands tell them?
Rohit explores how organizations can become more believable, human and trustworthy in a world filled with distraction.
Through unexpected examples and practical ideas, he shows audiences how to earn attention, strengthen trust and create deeper customer relationships.
Ideal for: Marketing conferences, sales meetings, customer-experience events and brand leadership teams.
Why Book Rohit Bhargava Through The Sweeney Agency?
Rohit Bhargava combines future trends, innovation, AI and human behavior with one of the most engaging approaches to business thinking—but the real value comes from identifying which part of his message is most relevant to your audience.
The Sweeney Agency can help you:
• Confirm Rohit Bhargava's availability and current speaking fee
• Determine which Rohit Bhargava keynote best fits your audience
• Discuss customization around your industry and event objectives
• Coordinate format, timing and event logistics
• Compare Rohit with other leading futurist, innovation and AI keynote speakers
Is Rohit Bhargava Right for Your Event?
Tell us what's changing in your industry—and what you need your audience to see differently.
We'll help you determine whether Rohit is the right fit, confirm availability and fees, and make the booking process simple.
Planning a leadership conference, innovation summit, association meeting or corporate event? Contact The Sweeney Agency today [email protected] to discuss booking Rohit Bhargava as your keynote speaker.
 

Book Your Next Great Speaker in 5 Easy Steps
5 Tips to Book your Next Great Speaker
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Did last year's speaker knock your socks off? Not sure where to go next? Let our team of experienced professionals help you find your next great speaker. 
Here's a quick guide to help you get started:
Find A Theme
Decide on a theme or topic for your event.
Going through a period of transition? Looking to shake up your creative? Building trust within your teams? We have great speakers on all of those topics.
Having trouble? Check out our IDEA GENERATOR for inspiration.

Get in Touch
Get in touch with your Event Date & Theme.
We will ask you some key questions to find the perfect speaker for your live or virtual event.
We pride ourselves on our personal touch. We are small team of dedicated professionals with over 20 years experience. When you call us, you speak to us directly... and quickly.
 
 
Shortlist
By now, we have a great idea of what you are looking for and will send you a shortlist of exceptional speakers.
Each speaker will be vetted with YOUR event in mind, along with our personal thoughts on how that speaker can inspire your attendees.
Let's talk

From the shortlist, you've narrowed it down to two great speakers. Let's discuss your needs to help make the final decision.
With over 20 years experience, you can trust us to provide all of the information you need to choose the right speaker.
We work with you to find the best format for your presentation, including live streams, Q&A sessions and even follow up programs to ensure maximum engagement for your key stakeholders.
The Details
We will facilitate a call with your leadership team & our speaker to do a deep dive into your business to make sure their presentation really hits home.
As trusted experts, you can rest easy knowing our experience will guide you every step of the way.
get in touch
Get in touch to book your next great speaker.

Roger Bootle
British Economist and Weekly Columnist for the Daily Telegraph
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Roger Bootle is one of Britain's best-known economists and Chairman of Capital Economics, one of the world’s largest independent macroeconomics consultancies, which he founded in 1999. Roger is also an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries. He was formerly Group Chief Economist of HSBC and a Visiting Professor at Manchester Business School. Under Chancellor Kenneth Clarke he was appointed to the Government’s panel of Independent Economic Advisers, the so-called “Wise Men”. From 1997 to 2017, he was a Specialist Adviser to the House of Commons Treasury Committee. In 2012, Roger was named Economics Commentator of the Year and, together with a team from Capital Economics, he won the Wolfson Prize, the second biggest prize in Economics after the Nobel.
Roger Bootle studied at Oxford University and then became a Lecturer in Economics at St Anne’s College, Oxford. Most of his subsequent career has been spent in the City of London.
Roger has written many articles and several books on economics. His latest book, Making a Success of Brexit and Reforming the EU, is the 4th edition of The Trouble with Europe. This book follows The Trouble with Markets and Money for Nothing, which were widely acclaimed. His earlier book, The Death of Inflation, published in 1996, became a best-seller and was subsequently translated into nine languages. Initially dismissed as extreme, The Death of Inflation is now widely recognized as prophetic. Roger is also joint author of the book Theory of Money, and author of Index-Linked Gilts. Mark your calendars for Sep 5, 2019, the anticipated release date of Roger's upcoming book The AI Economy: Work, Wealth and Welfare in the Robot Age - in which he examines the economic implications of Artificial Intelligence and addresses the concerns of both businesses and ordinary people about how the future will look as robots and AI proliferate. In contrast to much of the literature on robots and AI, this book is profoundly optimistic about what they imply for the human condition.
Roger appears frequently on television and radio and is also a regular columnist for The Daily Telegraph.

Daniel Burrus
Futurist Expert and Speaker on Business Strategy, Technology, Innovations & Their Impact
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• Trusted by Industry Leaders – Advisor to Google, Microsoft, Deloitte, and top global organizations.

• Disruptive Innovation Expert – A leading authority on AI, automation, and exponential technologies shaping the future.

• Strategic Foresight & Innovation – Actionable insights to anticipate disruption and create competitive advantages.

• Author of seven books,  including The New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-seller Flash Foresight; One of the world's leading futurists who the New York Times called “…one of the top three business gurus in the highest demand as a speaker…”

• Master of Hard Trends – Navigate uncertainty with confidence using proven anticipatory strategies.
Click Here to Watch Daniel's Virtual Presentation
Daniel Burrus is considered one of the World’s Leading Futurists on Global Trends and Disruptive Innovation. The New York Times has referred to him as one of the top three business gurus in the highest demand as a speaker.
He is the author of seven books, including the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller Flash Foresight and his latest Amazon No. 1 bestseller, The Anticipatory Organization.
He has delivered over 3,000 keynote speeches worldwide and is a strategic advisor to executives from Fortune 500 companies, helping them to develop game-changing strategies
based on his proven methodologies for capitalizing on technology innovations and their future impact. His client list includes Lockheed Martin, Verizon, Microsoft, VISA, Deloitte,
Google, Procter & Gamble, KPMG, Honda, FedEx and the U.S. Department of Defense.
Burrus is an innovative entrepreneur who has founded six businesses, four of which were U.S. national leaders in the first year. He is the CEO of Burrus Research, a research and consulting firm that monitors global advancements in technology-driven trends to help clients profit from technological, social and business forces that are converging to create enormous, untapped opportunities.
He is the creator of the Hard Trend Methodology, the Anticipatory Organization® Business Model, used by leading organizations worldwide, and he is a founding member of the
Department of Defense Joint Services Futures Group.
His accurate predictions date back to the early 1980s, when he became the first and only futurist to accurately identify the 20 exponential technologies that would become the driving
force of business and economic growth for decades to come. They included digital electronics, AI, distributed computing, genetic engineering, lasers, optical storage, photovoltaics,
fiberoptics and nanotechnologies to name a few. Since then, he has continued to establish a worldwide reputation for his exceptional record of predicting the future of technology-
driven change and its direct impact on the business world.
Burrus is a featured writer, reaching millions of monthly readers with his insights on disruptive innovation, exponential change and the future. His work is featured across various platforms, including LinkedIn, where he is a member of an exclusive invitation-only group of experts. On LinkedIn alone, he has built a following of over 1.2 million professionals.
He has been the featured subject of several PBS television specials and has appeared on programs such as CNN, Fox Business and Bloomberg. Burrus has been quoted in a variety
of publications, including Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Fortune and Forbes.

Geoff Colvin
Senior Editor-at-Large, Fortune and Best-selling Author Helping Leaders Confront Trends Driving Disruption
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• In this keynote, Geoff leverages nearly 40 years at Fortune to arm audiences with valuable perspectives on the trends driving business disruption, revealing how top leaders are confronting them right now.

• Audiences leave with unparalleled insights in terms on how to win in business today through extraordinary leadership acting on the best intelligence it can find.

• Geoff Colvin is one of business journalism’s sharpest and most respected commentators on leadership, management, globalization, government regulation, corporate governance, competition, the economy, the infotech revolution, human performance, and related issues. International bestselling author of Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else

• Past clients include: Boston Consulting Group, Certent, Coca-Cola, McRock Capital, Microsoft, Putnam Investments, and SEI
Click Here to Watch Geoff's Virtual Presentation
Experience counts in serious times. For four decades at Fortune, Geoff Colvin has covered the economic, political, technological, and competitive forces disrupting business and how top leaders and companies adapt and transform to win in spite of them. The big takeaway, Geoff says, is that winning companies and leaders summon the courage to act –they stop protecting the past and start inventing the future –and they confront this reality faster than the competition. As business leaders face their biggest challenge ever, Geoff Colvin is the voice of experience who shines a light –revealing a clearer path for an uncertain future. His columns and cover stories for Fortune have earned him millions of loyal fans. Many of them also hear him dispense critical business insights on the CBS Radio Network, where he reaches seven million listeners each week. Geoff’s bestselling books include The Upside of the Downturn, Talent is Overrated, and Humans are Underrated. A keynote speaker with compelling content, Geoff Colvin is also a brilliant panel moderator and interviewer.
As Fortune‘s senior editor-at-large, Geoff Colvin is now in his fourth decade at Fortune. He is one of business journalism’s sharpest and most respected commentators on leadership, management, globalization, government regulation, corporate governance, competition, the economy, the infotech revolution, human performance, and related issues.
In addition to his daily CBS Radio Network segments (he’s done over 15,000 since 1995), Geoff has appeared on Today, Good Morning America, Squawk Box, CBS This Morning, ABC's World News Tonight, CNN, PBS's Nightly Business Report, and dozens of other programs. He also served as anchor of Wall $treet Week with Fortune on PBS.
In addition to speaking, Geoff is also a brilliant panel moderator, emcee, and interviewer whose subjects have included Madeleine Albright, Ben Bernanke, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, Bill Gates, Timothy Geithner, Alan Greenspan, Henry Kissinger, Henry M. Paulson, Colin Powell, Robert Reich, Condoleezza Rice, Desmond Tutu, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, Jack Welch, Janet Yellen and many others.
Geoff is a respected author whose groundbreaking international bestseller, Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else, has been published in a dozen languages. The Upside of the Downturn: Management Strategies for Difficult Times was named “Best Management Book of the Year” by Strategy + Business magazine. Geoff’s latest book is Humans are Underrated: What High Achievers Know That Brilliant Machines Never Will. It’s based on the idea in his wildly popular Fortune article “In the Future Will There Be Any Work Left for People to Do?” It looks at the trend of advancing technology performing ever more tasks better than people perform them, and the ways humans will create value for their organizations and their careers in the changing economy. The ideas he shares have profound implications for every business and industry.
A native of Vermillion, South Dakota, Geoff Colvin is an honors graduate of Harvard with a degree in economics and has an M.B.A. from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Conference Plans Changed?
How to Plan a Great Virtual Event
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Click Here to Receive Your Customized List of Speaker Ideas
Virtual Events can:
1. Reach a wider audience
2. Offer a great experience at a much lower cost
3. Create long term impact with recorded elements that allow for content to be watched over a period of time
4. Have an increased impact over time, as viewers re-watch, discuss and connect over social media and other channels
And, most importantly: offer the ability for inspiring and impactful presentations to connect in a one-on-one way, directly to the attendee.
WHO is your audience?
Who are your virtual event attendees? Are they across a specific group within your organization, or are you serving clients across a wide range of levels? Determining who you are speaking to will help you determine a format for your event that will captivate your audience.
WHAT is your key message?
Are you focusing on change? Innovation? Leadership?
Creating a single focus or mission will allow you to hone in on the type of speaker(s) you need to engage your audience and help event producers to format the event into a dynamic program that balances inspiration with information and audience interaction.
WHAT type of event suits your audience?
• Virtual Conference
• Webinar
• Hybrid Event
Virtual event technology has come a long way over the last few months, offering a huge range of different options from pre-recorded webinars, to multi-day virtual conferences, to hybrid events with some attendees in the audience while the event is live streamed.
OUR ADVICE
A COMBINATION of live and pre-recorded elements will allow your virtual event to run smoothly and stay on time.
Many of our clients are also opting for multi-day virtual conferences with shorter segments spaced over a few days.
This allows some flexibility for attendees in different time zones and accommodates different teleworking situations for attendees, allowing them to tune in when it is convenient.
WHERE? It’s all about Tech.
Virtual meeting technology has exploded over the last few months as teleworking became the norm.
Consider your needs:
• Interactive elements like breakout rooms, polls & Q&A
• Seamless blend of live & pre-recorded elements
• Ability to replay segments
• Live tech support
If you plan for rain, it’s likely the sun will shine…
Tech isn’t perfect so don’t forget to test, rehearse and have a back up plan ready to go for your virtual event.
Pro Tip: Think of a virtual presentation like a podcast. Viewers can view the content multiple times and refer back to it.
  WHEN? A Date… or Dates?
As we have all noticed, our attention spans for meeting in real life versus meeting online are a lot longer.
When deciding on a date, consider spreading your virtual event out over a few days, with a variety of speakers, interactive elements and information.
The benefits of a multi-day format:
• Viewers watch content fresh for a short period every day
• Allows attendees in different time zones to stay on top of the content
• Attendees can review & re-engage with content
Virtual Event Checklist:
Is your event?
• Interactive?
• Informative?
• Able to be rewatched?
WHY? Pandemic 2020
Just because you are online instead of in person, it doesn’t mean you are missing out on connection.
Using the technology that we have become so accustomed to over the last few months, our keynote speakers have the ability to connect to your viewers one-on-one, in a way that was impossible in live events.
FIND YOUR WHY…
What do you want the audience to leave thinking at the end of the presentation?
Apply this question to all the presentations and segments in your event to create a cohesive, impactful virtual event.
  HOW? Virtual Event Checklist
To wrap it all up
• TECH: Find the right tech platform & don’t forget to test drive before your event
• AGENDA: Use a mix of live and pre-recorded segments, mixed with interactive elements, to ensure a smooth flow of events & audience engagement
• ANTICIPATION: Build up your event with emails, teasers and sneak peeks into what content will be offered
• NETWORKING: Create and encourage online chat functions, an event specific hashtag or even a dedicated event page to allow attendees to network virtually. Maximize the networking opportunities offered by your tech platform.
• EXTEND YOUR IMPACT: A dedicated social media page is a great place for attendees to connect after an event to discuss ideas and implement some of the learnings from the event.
Offer a password protected, limited time recording of keynote presentations to continue the conversation long after the virtual event has ended.
Continue the conversation with post-event touch points like emails or questions based on the key presentations.
To find a GREAT Speaker for your Virtual event, get in touch.

Dr. Joseph Coughlin
Director of MIT AgeLab, Keynote Speaker, Esteemed Researcher on How Longevity is transforming business & society
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Dr. Joseph Coughlin, or as he is most often referred to, “Dr. Joe,” leads the Massachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab. Researcher, teacher, advisor, and speaker – his work explores how global demographics, technology and changing behaviors are transforming business & society.
He teaches in MIT’s Department of Urban Studies & Planning. Coughlin advises major companies worldwide, the World Economic Forum, OECD, and has served on advisory committees for the White House and several federal agencies. Coughlin’s current focus is on how longevity and service innovation will transform the business of advice to help people prepare for 100 good years of living. He was named as one of “100 Most Creative in Business” by Fast Company Magazine, and one of Investment News “Icons & Innovators.”
Coughlin is a Senior Contributor to Forbes and writes regularly for the Wall Street Journal and MarketWatch. His recent book, The Longevity Economy: Unlocking the World’s Fastest Growing, Most Misunderstood Market – was named a CEO READS Best Seller and is on the required reading lists of Fortune 500 corporate boards and executive leadership at firms such as Ally Bank, Best Buy, Humana, Marriott International, Lowe’s, Pulte Group, and others. His new book, with MIT AgeLab colleague Luke Yoquinto, is Longevity Hubs: Regional Innovation for Global Aging.
 

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Get Your List Now
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Kian Gohar
Founder & CEO of Geolab, Keynote Speaker on Innovation, Disruptive Technologies, & The Future of Work
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Kian Gohar: Founder and CEO of Geolab | Bestselling Co-Author of Competing in the New World of Work | Speaker on Human–AI Collaboration and Innovation
Why Book Kian Gohar?
A former executive director at XPRIZE and Singularity University, Kian brings ambitious thinking into practical team conversations. His keynotes connect emerging possibilities with the behaviors needed to pursue them—helping audiences examine how they collaborate, adapt, and turn ideas into action.
Why Is Kian Gohar Right for Your Audience?
Kian is a strong fit for leadership conferences, innovation summits, HR events, and company gatherings focused on AI or team performance. He is especially relevant when an organization wants employees to explore new tools while strengthening the collaboration that makes those tools useful.
Book Kian when your audience needs to:
• Explore practical ways to collaborate with AI
• Strengthen teamwork across roles and departments
• Adapt how it works as expectations change
• Challenge assumptions that limit innovation
• Turn ambitious goals into a plan for action
• Build confidence experimenting with new approaches
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
• Better informed about the skills involved in human–AI collaboration
• Ready to identify opportunities to improve team workflows
• More aware of behaviors that support trust and shared ownership
• Equipped with a framework for approaching ambitious challenges
• Motivated to test new ideas and learn from the results
Keynote Programs
The Future of Human + AI Collaboration
Kian explores how teams can use generative AI to support creativity, productivity, and decision-making. Ideal for leaders and employees seeking practical insight into AI at work.
The Art of Teamwork
Kian examines the practices behind adaptable, effective teams, including communication, trust, and peer collaboration. Ideal for company events and teams seeking to improve how they work together.
Leadership in the New World of Work
Drawing on his bestselling book, Kian challenges established assumptions about work and explores how leaders can build more resilient, inclusive teams. Ideal for executives, managers, and HR audiences.
How to Build a Moonshot
Kian draws on his XPRIZE experience to guide audiences from an ambitious goal toward concrete steps and solutions. Ideal for innovation conferences, entrepreneurs, and teams pursuing a significant challenge.
Is Kian Gohar Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the challenges it needs to solve, and what you want people to try after the event. We can help select Kian’s most relevant program, discuss customization and workshop options, and confirm his availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.

Garry Golden
Academically Trained Futurist and Speaker on Emerging Trends
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• Talks about: Finding the Future – Tomorrow’s Emerging Trends, and How to Anticipate and Act on Them for Success

• Garry works with municipal and investor owned utilities seeking to embrace the integration of new solutions ranging from new customer experiences to distributed energy resources.

• Author of   Designing Your Future, and The Age of Adaptive Experiences

• Past clients include: Alliant Energy, Chartwell, Sunoco, Eversource, Haliburton, Xcel Energy, Reliant Energy, Duke University EDGE, Direct Energy Business, The Energy Authority (TEA), ElectriCities of North Carolina, American Public Power Association (APPA)
Garry Golden is a professionally trained futurist who writes, speaks, and consults about issues that will shape society and business in the 21st century. His uncanny sense of what will hit—and what won’t—can be seen in futurethink’s research and heard in his international keynotes and corporate leadership seminars. His insights on how to align talent development to coming industry and market transitions have been shared with and implemented by such organizations as the McGraw-Hill Companies, Goodyear, S&P, and Reliant Energy.
Garry serves as Adjunct Lecturer on the Future of Energy and Environment for the University of Houston. He has consulted on projects as diverse as the future of utilities; transportation and supply chains; food safety and health; financial services; and sustainable retail packaging. He is the co-author of the inspiring book Designing Your Future, and author of the upcoming book titled The Age of Adaptive Experiences.
Garry attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received his Futures Studies degree from the University of Houston. He is a past board member of the Association of Professional Futurists (APF) as well as an aspiring collector of street art (which will likely be huge in the year 2040.) If left to his own devices at a museum gift shop, odds are a micro-machine or geological piece will be finding itself a future home.

Ron Insana
CNBC Senior Analyst & Contributor, Trailblazing Financial Journalist, Best-Selling Author and Financial Industry Expert
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• 40-year veteran, financial news reporting

• CNBC senior analyst & commentator

• Host, the market score board report

• CEO and founder, the Insana Entertainment Group

• Author of four books on investing and financial markets trends

• Past clients include: Adecco. Deltek, Xerox Corporation, Prudential Financial, Morgan Stanley, Merrill Lynch and Cobank.
Click Here to Watch Ron's Virtual Presentation
In the midst of the chaotic forces impacting business and the economy, Ron Insana delivers clear insights business leaders and financial professionals can use to make smarter decisions. A pioneer in television financial news reporting, Ron is currently senior analyst and commentator at CNBC. He also hosts The Market Score Board Report, a daily nationally syndicated radio program. As CEO of iFi AI, an AI-powered stock research platform created in partnership with IBM watsonx, Ron has a front row seat to the transformative AI revolution. He is also founder and CEO of The Insana Entertainment Group, a film and TV production company. Ron is author of four books on investing and financial markets dynamics. In his speeches, Ron makes sense of the business, economic, technological, and political news – distilling it into actionable insights his audience can use to navigate change, protect what they have, and spot fresh opportunities. Besides keynoting, he is also an outstanding moderator and interviewer.
Ron’s career in financial reporting was a total accident. He had graduated from college with a degree in film production when a producer friend at the Financial News Network hired him on as a freelance producer in 1984. FNN was the first television network devoted exclusively to financial news. One day in 1985 the network’s only two anchors got sick on the same day and Ron found himself on the air for a full eight-hour shift. That launched Ron’s financial broadcasting career. When the Financial News Network merged with CNBC in 1991, Ron became a regular anchor there and a frequent presence on other NBC News shows.
Ron was named one of the “Top 100 Business News Journalists of the 20th Century” and was nominated for a news and documentary Emmy for his role in NBC’s coverage of 9/11.
His four books on investing include: TrendWatching: Don't Be Fooled by the Next Investment Fad, Mania, or Bubble; The Message of the Markets: How Financial Markets Foretell the Future--and How You Can Profit from Their Guidance; Traders' Tales: A Chronicle of Wall Street Myths, Legends, and Outright Lies; and How to Make a Fortune from the Biggest Bailout in U.S. History: A Guide to the 7 Greatest Bargains from Main Street to Wall Street.
Ron is a highly regarded speaker on domestic and global economics, financial markets, economic policy issues, and technology trends impacting business. He graduated with honors from California State University at Northridge.

Katty Kay
Senior Editor and Executive Producer, OZY Media; Award-winning Journalist & Former BBC America Lead Anchor; and Bestselling Author
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Katty Kay: BBC Studios U.S. Special Correspondent | Bestselling Co-Author of The Confidence Code | Speaker on Global Affairs and Confidence
Why Book Katty Kay?
Katty also helps women build confidence and act on their ambitions. As co-author of The Confidence Code and The Power Code, she draws on research, interviews, and her own experience to explore what holds people back—and how they can move forward. Her range makes her a compelling keynote speaker and an experienced moderator for important conversations.
Why Is Katty Kay Right for Your Audience?
Katty is a strong fit for executive meetings, association conferences, client events, and women’s leadership programs. Choose her political analysis when your audience needs perspective on a changing world, or her confidence program when the goal is to encourage professional growth and action.
Book Katty when your audience needs to:
• Understand developments in Washington and their wider implications
• Put global events into a clearer context
• Examine the forces changing international relationships
• Build confidence to speak up and pursue opportunities
• Move beyond perfectionism and fear of failure
• Engage in a thoughtful discussion with leaders or expert panelists
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
• Better informed about the political developments relevant to their work
• Ready to ask more useful questions about global change
• Clearer on how confidence develops through action
• More willing to take thoughtful risks and learn from setbacks
• Equipped with fresh perspectives for leadership and career decisions
Keynote Programs
Decoding DC
Katty examines developments in Washington, helping audiences understand policy shifts and their potential significance. Ideal for executive, business, and association audiences.
A World in Flux
Katty explores geopolitical tensions, shifting international influence, and pressures on democracies. Ideal for leaders seeking a broader perspective on global affairs.
The Confidence Code
Drawing on her bestselling work with Claire Shipman, Katty explores self-doubt, risk-taking, and the relationship between confidence and action. Ideal for women’s leadership and professional development events.
Moderator, Discussion Leader & Interviewer
Katty brings her journalistic preparation and interviewing experience to panels, executive conversations, and fireside chats. Ideal for events that need a skilled host to draw out relevant insights and keep the discussion engaging.
Is Katty Kay Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the questions you want explored, and the outcome you want from the session. We can help select a relevant keynote or discussion format, discuss customization, and confirm Katty’s availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.

Daniel Levine
Consumer Marketing and International Social Trends
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• Daniel Levine is an international social trends expert with an uncanny ability to help consumer-oriented brands and businesses be more relevant, innovative and profitable.

• Audiences leave inspired by an understanding of the trends that are shaping the way consumers shop and live in real time, and looking at the world in which you live and work in a smart new way.

• Daniel is an award-winning speaker and presenter, and the Executive Director of the Avant-Guide Institute (AGI) where he is the hands-on leader of a huge international team of trend-hunters.

• Past clients include: Deutsche Telekom AG, Satchi & Satchi, NBC, HBO, Mastercard and South African Tourism.
Daniel Levine is an international social trends expert with an uncanny ability to help consumer-oriented brands and businesses be more relevant, innovative and profitable.
A well-known expert on both travel marketing and global cultural trends, Daniel Levine is the author of over a dozen best-selling travel-related books, he is regularly featured in newspapers and magazines worldwide, and he is often on television and radio as trends expert. For over a decade Daniel has been the Executive Director of the Avant-Guide Institute (AGI) where he is the hands-on leader of a huge international team of trend-hunters - over 10,000 spotters who track the latest ideas and experiences from around the globe.
A wide variety of businesses seek out Daniel when looking to understand the impact of forthcoming social and cultural trends and to hip up their image. MasterCard selected Daniel to be the spokesperson of a major television campaign to reach stylish spenders. South African Tourism chose Daniel to be the face of a major campaign to attract business tourism. Deutsche Telekom AG asked Daniel to help them understand what's happening in the world of tourism, restaurants, nightlife and retail. Samsonite teamed with Daniel when launching their style-driven Black Label line. Saatchi & Saatchi tapped Daniel to be the judge of their first ever Lovemarks holiday contest to help give it credible cool. Both HBO and NBC turned to Daniel when they needed an exceptionally well-connected expert to produce international segments for primetime lifestyle shows.
Daniel is an award-winning speaker and presenter who is known for delivering highly praised keynotes for select major businesses and conferences worldwide, including World Travel Market (England), Mandarin Oriental Hotels (Worldwide), BrandMarker (Europe), International Luxury Market (France), Jumeirah (Dubai), EIBTM and others.
While Daniel's presentations are inspirational and packed with captivating visuals, the focus is on the practical. Using inspirational and enlightening examples of where culture is headed, he utilizes the full resources of the Avant-Guide Institute to demonstrate how creative businesses from around the world are reaping major benefits by responding to real-world trends in innovative new ways. Then he demonstrates how you too can immediately take advantage of these same trends to transcend market challenges, win customers and dramatically increase sales.

Greg Lindsay
Speaker and Author on the Future of Travel, Technology, and Urban Development
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• Greg talks about how cities‐as‐a‐service are changing how we live, work, move, and more – and the new real estate, services, and business model opportunities this creates.

• Audiences leave with an understanding of how to recognize the changes technology and innovation have brought to urban environments and how to leverage the opportunities these disruptions have created.

• Greg Lindsay is a journalist, urbanist, futurist, and speaker, director of applied research at NewCities and director of strategy at its mobility offshoot CoMotion. He is also a non-resident senior fellow of the Atlantic Council’s Foresight, Strategy, and Risks Initiative, a visiting scholar at New York University’s Rudin Center for Transportation Policy & Management, and co-author of Aerotropolis: The Way We’ll Live Next.

• Past clients include: Intel, Samsung, Starbucks, Audi, Chrysler, Hyundai, Tishman Speyer, British Land, André Balazs Properties, Emaar, and Expo 2020.
Greg Lindsay is a non-resident senior fellow of MIT’s Future Urban Collectives Lab, Ari­zo­na State University’s Threat­cast­ing Lab, and the Atlan­tic Council’s Scow­croft Stra­te­gy Ini­tia­tive. He was the foun­ding chief com­mu­nica­tions offi­cer of AlphaGeo and remains a senior advi­sor. Most re­cen­tly, he was a 2022-2023 urban tech fellow at Cor­nell Tech’s Jacobs Insti­tute, where he ex­plo­­red the impli­cations of AI and aug­men­ted rea­lity at urban scale.
Greg speaks about the future of cities, mobility, tech­no­logy, security, and work, inclu­ding appea­ran­ces at 10 Down­ing Street, the United States Mili­tary Aca­de­my, San­dia Natio­nal Labo­ra­to­ries, Orga­ni­sa­tion for Eco­no­­mic Co-oper­a­tion and Deve­lop­ment, Har­vard Busi­ness School, MIT Media Lab, and Aspen Ideas Festival.
He also speaks to companies (Micro­soft, Deloitte, Gensler, Ford, Star­­bucks), orga­ni­za­tions (U.S. Confe­ren­ce of Mayors, Canada Council for the Arts), mem­ber asso­cia­tions (ULI, NAHB, NAI­OP, SIOR) and uni­ver­sities (Harvard, Yale, Prin­ce­ton, NYU, McGill).
He’s been cited as an expert by The New York Times, The Washing­ton Post, The Wall Street Jour­­­nal, The Guar­dian, USA Today, CNN, NPR, BBC, and CBC Radio.
Greg’s also a part­ner at the advi­sory firm Future­Map, and has advi­sed Intel, Sam­sung, IKEA, Star­bucks, Audi, Hyun­dai, Tish­man Spe­yer, Brit­ish Land, André Ba­lazs Proper­ties, Aldar, Emaar, and Expo 2020, along with nume­rous G20 govern­­ment entities. Pre­viously, he was urbanist-in-resi­den­ce at BMW MINI’s urban tech acce­le­ra­tor, URBAN-­X, as well as direc­tor of applied re­search at New­Cities and foun­ding direc­tor of stra­te­gy at its mobi­lity-focused off­shoot, Co­Motion.

Jacob Morgan
4x Best-selling Author, Keynote Speaker, Futurist, and Co-founder of The Future of Work University
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• Jacob talks about why employee experience is the next big area of investment, what the top companies are doing – and how you can go about creating an Experiential Organization.

• Audiences leave understanding what some of the world’s most forward thinking organizations are doing and how leaders can create strategies to design and create employee experiences based around three environments: culture, technology, and the physical workspace.

• Jacob Morgan is a trained futurist and one of the world’s leading authorities on the leadership, employee experience - and the future of work. He is a best selling author of 4 books on leadership.

• Past clients include: Unilever, Cisco, MasterCard, Nestle, Best Buy, SAP, KPMG, T-Mobile, and Schneider Electric.
Jacob Morgan is a trained futurist and one of the world’s leading authorities on the leadership, employee experience - and the future of work. He speaks in front of tens of thousands of people each year and his content is seen over a million times a year.
After graduating with honours in business management economics and psychology from the University of California Santa Cruz, Jacob was excited to join the corporate world. At his first job he was told that he’d be travelling the country, meeting with executives and entrepreneurs - and doing all sorts of exciting work. A few months in, he was stuck doing data entry, cold calling - and PowerPoint presentations. One day the CEO came out of his nice corner office, handed Jacob a $10 bill and said “I’m late for a meeting, go grab me a cup of coffee - and get something for yourself as well.” That was the last corporate job he ever had.
Jacob is the best-selling author of four books: The Future Leader (2020), The Employee Experience Advantage (2017), The Future of Work (2014), and The Collaborative Organization (2012). He speaks at over 50 conferences a year including TED Academy - which is one of the largest TED events in the world. In addition, Jacob provides advisory and thought leadership services to various organizations around the world.
Jacob created “The Future If” a global community of business leaders, authors and futurists - who explore what our future can look like IF certain technologies, ideas, approaches and trends actually happen. The community looks at everything from AI and automation to leadership and management practices to augmented reality and virtual reality, the 4th industrial revolution - and everything in between.
His work has been endorsed by the CEOs of: Unilever, Cisco, MasterCard, Nestle, Best Buy, SAP, KPMG, T-Mobile, Schneider Electric - and many others.
In addition, Jacob hosts The Future of Work Podcast - a weekly show where he speaks with senior executives, authors, and business leaders about how the world of work is changing. His Youtube channel explores the latest concepts and ideas around the future of work - with inspiring and educational 2-3 minute videos.
He has also contributed to - and been cited in publications such as Cosmopolitan, The Wall Street Journal, NPR, CNN, Glamour, the MIT Sloan Management Review, USA Today - and The Harvard Business Review.

Erica Orange
Leading Futurist & Speaker on Global Trends
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Erica Orange: Futurist | Author of AI + The New Human Frontier | Speaker on AI, Human Judgment and Change
Why Book Erica Orange?
Her message is especially relevant as AI changes how teams work and evaluate information. Author of AI + The New Human Frontier and co-founder of Wake the Future, Erica explores how people can strengthen independent thinking, curiosity, and judgment. She gives audiences a reason to engage with change and a fresh perspective on the human capabilities they need to develop.
Why Is Erica Orange Right for Your Audience?
Erica is a strong fit for leadership conferences, strategy retreats, association events, and organizations preparing for technological change. She is particularly relevant when leaders want to move from discussing disruption to examining their assumptions and deciding how to respond.
Book Erica when your audience needs to:
• Put emerging trends into a business context
• Consider the human implications of AI
• Challenge assumptions behind established ways of working
• Strengthen critical thinking in uncertain conditions
• Explore how to maintain credibility and trust
• Start a more thoughtful conversation about future priorities
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
• With a clearer perspective on the changes affecting their work
• More aware of assumptions worth revisiting
• Ready to ask better questions before making decisions
• Better prepared to discuss the role of human judgment alongside AI
• Motivated to identify where their organization needs to adapt
Keynote Programs
AI + The New Human Frontiers
Erica explores how leaders can preserve independent judgment and a clear sense of purpose as AI becomes more capable. Ideal for leadership, talent, and technology audiences considering the human side of transformation.
Think Like a Futurist
Erica challenges audiences to reconsider habits and assumptions that may limit their view of what comes next. Ideal for strategy retreats, innovation events, and teams preparing for change.
The Trust Paradox
Erica examines credibility and authenticity in a world of synthetic content and misinformation. Ideal for leaders, communicators, and organizations exploring how to build trust with employees and customers.
Is Erica Orange Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the changes it faces, and the questions you want people to explore. We can help select Erica’s most relevant program, discuss customization, and confirm her availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.

Joseph Pine
About Joseph Pine – Bestselling Author & Keynote Speaker on Transformation Economy: B. Joseph Pine II is a leading authority on business innovation, customer experience, and economic value creation. He is the coauthor of the landmark bestseller The …
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B. Joseph Pine II is a leading authority on business innovation, customer experience, and economic value creation. He is the coauthor of the landmark bestseller The Experience Economy, which redefined how companies engage customers and create economic value. His latest book, The Transformation Economy: Guiding Customers to Achieve Their Aspirations (February 2026), introduces a bold new set of ideas for helping people become who they want to become — the ultimate competitive advantage for businesses in today’s evolving marketplace.
Pine speaks at and consults with leading companies around the world. He is a Lecturer in the Strategic Technology Leadership program at Northeastern University’s School of Business and co-founded both the World Experience Organization (WXO) and the European Centre for the Experience & Transformation Economies.
Since 1994 and in over 1000 presentations worldwide, he has been the leading voice on how businesses win in today’s economy by mass customizing, staging experiences, guiding transformation offerings, and creating value beyond goods and services.

Peter Ricchiuti
Investment Expert, Professor of Finance and Keynote Speaker
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Peter Ricchiuti has taught finance at Tulane University since 1986. His humor and insight have earned him numerous teaching awards at Tulane University where he created and runs the nationally acclaimed Burkenroad Reports (www.burkenroad.org) student stock research program.
Peter is a graduate of Babson College and began his career with the investment firm of Kidder Peabody in Boston. He later managed Louisiana’s $3 billion investment portfolio while serving as the assistant state treasurer.
In 1993, Peter created the nationally acclaimed Burkenroad Reports Stock Research Program.
Peter has addressed more than 1500 groups in 47 states and several countries. He has been featured in BARRON’S, Kiplinger’s, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. He also hosts a popular weekly business show on National Public Radio in New Orleans called “Out To Lunch.”
Peter is a husband, dad and author who has attended baseball games at all 30 current major league ballparks

Jeremy Rifkin
Futurist, Best-selling Author and Speaker on Economic Changes & Trends, Renewable Energy Transition & Green Economy
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Jeremy Rifkin is an American economic and social theorist, writer, public speaker, political and geopolitical advisor and activist. Rifkin is the author of 20 best-selling books about the impact of scientific and technological changes and trends on the economy, the workforce, society and the environment. The books have been translated into more than 35 languages. His most recent books include the international best-sellers, The Zero Marginal Cost Society (2014), The Third Industrial Revolution (2011), The Empathic Civilization (2010), The European Dream (2004), The Hydrogen Economy (2002), The Age of Access (2000), The Biotech Century (1998), and The End of Work (1995). His latest book was released in the U.S. on 10-September-2019: The Green New Deal: Why the Fossil Fuel Civilization will Collapse by 2028, and the Bold Economic Plan to Save Life on Earth  (St. Martin's Press). The German, French, Italian and Spanish translations are expected in October - followed by Chinese, Japanese, Korean and other translations into the new year.
Jeremy Rifkin has been an advisor to the leadership of the European Union since 2000. He has advised three presidents of the European Commission: Romano Prodi, Jose Manuel Barroso and the current President, Jean-Claude Juncker - as well as the European Parliament, and numerous EU heads of state, including Germany's Angela Merkel, on the ushering in of a smart green Third Industrial Revolution economy.
Mr. Rifkin’s New York Times bestselling book, The Third Industrial Revolution, provided the blueprint for the economic transition to a post-carbon ecological society across the EU. According to The European Energy Review, "perhaps no other author or thinker has had more influence on the EU's ambitious climate and energy policy than the famous American 'visionary' Jeremy Rifkin." In the words of Vice Chancellor and Economy Minister of Germany, Sigmar Gabriel, Jeremy Rifkin "is the economic and ecological worldwide ambassador of the energy transition… Rifkin presents a grand scenario for the future: a visionary approach unlike anyone has dared to put forward in the last fifty years that will boost our thinking and help with our orientation.”
Mr. Rifkin is also advising the leadership of the Peoples Republic of China on the build out and scale up of the Internet Plus Third Industrial Revolution infrastructure - to usher in a sustainable low-carbon economy. The Huffington Post reported from Beijing on October 29th 2015 that "Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has not only read Jeremy Rifkin's book, The Third Industrial Revolution, and taken it to heart - he and his colleagues have also made it the core of the country's thirteenth Five-Year Plan..." The Huffington Post goes on to say that "this blueprint for China's future signals the most momentous shift in direction since the death of Mao and the advent of Deng Xiaoping's reform and opening up in 1978."
Mr. Rifkin is President of the TIR Consulting Group, LLC - comprising many of the leading renewable energy companies, electricity transmission companies, engineering companies, construction companies, architectural firms, ICT and electronics companies, transport and logistics companies, advanced manufacturing companies, and economic modelers.
Mr. Rifkin is ranked 123 in the WorldPost/HuffingtonPost 2015 global survey of "The World's Most Influential Voices." Mr. Rifkin is also listed among the top 10 most influential economic thinkers in the survey. The survey was prepared at Massachusetts Institute of Technology - and used collective intelligence to correlate the rankings.
Since 1995, Rifkin has lectured at the Wharton School’s Executive Education Program at the University of Pennsylvania - where he instructs CEOs and senior management on transitioning their business operations into sustainable economies.

Michael Rogers
Author, journalist and futurist on future trends and the economy.
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• Michael talks about new efficiencies and surprising new intelligent services that will change the very nature of work and challenge us to think differently about technology & innovation.

• Audiences leave with inspired with ideas on how technology and innovation can help leaders identify potential new products, new customers and new challenges.

• Michael Rogers is a best-selling author, technology pioneer and futurist, who most recently served as futurist-in-residence for The New York Times.

• Past clients include: Coca Cola, Chanel, Discover, Pfizer, Oracle, Prudential and Shell.
Michael Rogers is a best-selling author, technology pioneer and futurist, who most recently served as futurist-in-residence for The New York Times. He has worked with companies ranging from FedEx, Boeing and NBC Universal to Microsoft, Pfizer and Siemens, focusing on how companies can think about the future in useful ways.  He speaks to audiences worldwide and is a regular guest on radio and television.
Rogers began his career as a writer for Rolling Stone magazine. He co-founded Outside magazine and then launched Newsweek’s technology column, winning numerous journalism awards. For ten years he was vice president of The Washington Post Company's new media division, leading both the newspaper and Newsweek into the new century and earning patents for multimedia technology. He is also a best-selling novelist whose books have been published worldwide, chosen for the Book-of-the-Month club and optioned for film.
Rogers studied physics and creative writing at Stanford University, with additional studies in finance and management at the Stanford Business School Executive Program. He lives in New York City and is currently working on book and television projects.

Ross Shafer
Emmy Award-Winning Network Talk Show Host, Best-selling Author, and Hilarious Change Expert
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• Ross talks about how professional and personal success follows from one's commitment to being accountable--when we are the architect of our own life, we will have more time, money and happiness.

• Audiences learn that they can no longer blame “government regulation,” “the economy” or “the competition” – or “changes in management" -- for their discontent. Focus on what you can control. Personal growth and opportunity always emerge from realizing that nobody cares more about your career and success than YOU do. Be accountable – and you won’t have to wait for anybody to elevate your position in work and life.

• 6-time Emmy Award Winning TV host, comedian, and writer; Author of 9 Business Books & Entrepreneur

• Past clients include: ACE Hardware, Aflac, Hilton Hotels, Hyundai, iPipeline
As a popular headline comedian and 6-Time Emmy Award winning TV host, Ross Shafer has been a lifelong student of human nature. He says, “I have been eternally fascinated by the laughter and tears business.”
To date, Ross has hosted (5) network TV shows, (Match Game on ABC, Love me, Love Me Not on USA, The Late Show on FOX, Days End on ABC, and Almost Live on NBC).
As a serial entrepreneur, Ross has rescued (23) businesses from bankruptcy and turned them around for a tidy profit. To that end, he has leveraged his business savvy to write and produce (14) Human Resource training films on Customer Service, Motivation, Leadership, and Peer Pressure, and has authored (11) books; Cook- Like-A-Stud, Nobody Moved Your Cheese, Customer Empathy, The Customer Shouts Back, Are You Relevant? No More Customer Friction, Grab More Market Share, Absolutely Necessary (coauthored with Michael Burger), Behave Like a Startup, Success, It’s on You, and Rattled (co-authored with Allison Dalvit).
Today, Ross is the funniest and most sought after corporate keynote speakers on the subjects of Customer Friction, Personal Growth, Reinvention, Resilience, and Market Relevance.
Ross is the beaming father of three children and “Papa” to four grandchildren.
Click Here to Watch Ross' Virtual Presentation

Jacob L. Shapiro
Distinguished Geopolitical Analyst and Speaker on International Affairs
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About Jacob L. Shapiro - Distinguished Geopolitical Analyst and Speaker on International Affairs:
Jacob Shapiro holds a master’s degree with distinction from Oxford University and a bachelor’s degree in Near Eastern studies from Cornell University. He lives in New Orleans with his wife and two daughters. When he’s not tweeting at 4 a.m. about the latest international developments or commodities prices, you might find him at a basketball court near you doing his best Larry Bird impersonation at a pickup game.

Peter Sheahan
About Peter Sheahan – Bestselling Author on Innovation & Accelerating Growth
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• Talks about accelerating growth through transformation that outpaces the external changes that are constant in the business environment.

• Audiences learn how to increase operational and organizational agility by compressing the time between becoming aware of necessary changes to be competitive, and implementing them.

• Founder of the global business growth consultancy, Karrikins Group, with employees in 23 cities across 7 countries

• Past clients include: AT&T, Apple, Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, and Wells Fargo
About Peter Sheahan - Bestselling Author on Innovation & Accelerating Growth:
Having grown his own companies by accelerating the growth and transformation for clients that include: Apple; Chick-fil-A; DeBeers; and AT&T — Peter will provoke you to get bigger, by getting better! When leaders are true to their purpose, they gravitate towards doing work that matters and solving higher-order problems. The journey to get there requires that they have the courage to tell themselves the truth, take intelligent risks, and assume ownership for driving the alignment necessary to build an organization which behaves in ways worthy of its leadership position.
In being true to his own ambitions and relentless pursuit of growth, Peter has published seven books, built three global companies and delivered more than 2,500 presentations in 40+ countries. Today he and his team at Karrikins Group are focused exclusively on inspiring leaders to do the hard work required to accelerate growth and transformation.
Click Here to Watch Peter's Virtual Video

Jay Shetty
Former Monk & Award-winning Digital Strategist
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Meet Jay Shetty the British-born, former monk & award-winning digital strategist turned captivating host, storyteller and viral trend content creator. Since launching his video channel in 2016, Jay’s viral wisdom videos have garnered over 4 billion views and he has gained over 25 million social media followers globally.
Jay was named in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Class of 2017 for being a game-changer and influencer in the world of Media. Jay aims to deliver educational and insightful content in an entertaining, uplifting format -- with the mission of making wisdom go viral. His inspirational video reach is known to skyrocket upwards of 100 million views within days of launch. He has created content for and partnered with the likes of Snapchat & Facebook and serves on the National Geographic Chasing Genius Council.
After meeting a monk at the age of 18, Jay sought to redefine personal success. He was inspired by a life of service, impact and passion as opposed to money, fame and power. After graduating with a first-class BSc (Hons) Degree in Behavioral Science from Cass Business School, he turned down lucrative job offers from prestigious companies, moved to India and lived as a monk. He traded his suits for robes, shaved his head, slept on the floor and lived out of a gym locker. Jay meditated for 4-8 hours a day and studied ancient philosophy. Half the day was spent on personal growth and the other on helping others. This included everything from personal and collective meditation, study and reflection to teaching and philanthropy. For three years, Jay helped build sustainable villages, food programs distributing over one million meals per day and coached Millennials throughout India and Europe.
Jay received a proposal from his guru who believed he could share what he had learnt if he left the path. Jay moved back to London with his parents, in massive debt with no recognizable skills on his resume. Fortunately, his friends, now working for the largest organizations in the world yet experiencing tremendous stress and pressure, invited Jay to coach them on well-being, purpose and mindfulness. Jay began sharing his experiences as a monk in the world's largest corporations including EY and Nasdaq.
Driven by a desire to share his learnings with as many people as possible, he re-engaged with the world and dove head first into learning about the tools and techniques that might allow knowledge to spread as fast as entertainment. He joined Accenture, helping them build their digital division while learning about the forces shaping the new digital landscape. He quickly became their #1 social media influencer, having advised over 150 executives on their personal brands, which provided a very broad base with which to test theories. He leveraged his findings to launch his own Facebook page in 2016.
Jay’s videos were spotted by Arianna Huffington, who asked him to create a series for HuffPost. His first four videos hit over 50 million views -- the highest HuffPost had ever received. Arianna invited Jay to New York to be a Senior Host & Producer for HuffPost Live where he created #FollowTheReader. The Facebook Live Daily Talk Show, featuring authors and life changing ideas, became #1 for audience engagement -- with themes that include passion, purpose, mindfulness, resilience, failure and communication.
These days, Jay continues to expand his brand through his viral video agency, group coaching & workshops. He's also been diligently working on his forthcoming book Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day (Simon & Schuster) to be released on 14-April-2020. Mark your calendars for this highly anticipated work.

Anders Sorman-Nilsson
Author of Thinque Funky, Speaks on Future Thinking, Innovation, and Generational Trends
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• Anders talks about how organizations can prepare themselves for a world facing new technologies, disruptive innovation and new customer demands.

• Audiences leave inspired by fascinating case studies and best practices from smart brands that understand how intelligent technologies can amplify customer service, create compelling customer experiences, remove friction and transform our lives.

• Anders Sörman-Nilsson (LLB / EMBA) is a global futurist and innovation strategist who helps leaders decode trends, decipher what’s next and turn provocative questions into proactive strategies.

• Past clients include: Apple, Cisco, Mercedes Benz, Hilton, SAP, Gartner and Macquarie Bank.
Anders Sörman-Nilsson is a visionary futurist and a global authority at the intersection of digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and sustainability. As the founder of the avant-garde think tank, Thinque, Anders offers data-driven insights and strategic foresight to global brands, helping them navigate the complexities of the modern world.
With an impressive client roster that includes industry giants such as Apple, Meta, Google, McKinsey, Lego, and Rugby New Zealand Anders is trusted by leaders across four continents to provide guidance on the cutting edge of technology and innovation.
Holding a Global Executive MBA and an LLB, Anders' unique blend of strategy and entrepreneurial acumen, combined with his forward-thinking approach, makes him a sought-after and awarded Keynote Speaker of the Year. He specializes in decoding complex trends and turning challenging questions into actionable strategies, inspiring audiences to embrace change and future-proof their organizations.
Anders is the acclaimed author of three pivotal books on digital transformation and innovation: 'Aftershock' (2020), 'Seamless' (2017), and 'Digilogue' (2013). He is a Brand Ambassador for Adobe, and his thought leadership extends to impactful trend reports like "How Artificial Intelligence is Powering Australian Retail," commissioned by Microsoft, and the creation of marketing award-winning tools like the Adobe Creative Intelligence test, and brand collaborations with Meta, ING Bank, Jaguar Land Rover and Zurich.
A recognized figure in global thought leadership circles, Anders is a member of TEDGlobal and the Entrepreneurs Organization, where he serves as the Leadership Impact Chair for the Sydney Chapter. His nomination to the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders in 2019 underscores his influence and commitment to shaping a sustainable future.
Anders' insights have been featured in prestigious publications such as the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and the BBC, establishing him as a leading voice in the realm of futurism. As the host of the 2nd Renaissance Podcast and the Entrepreneurs Organization's Scaling Impact podcast, he continues to explore and share revolutionary ideas that expand minds and inspire a change of heart.
Engaging Anders Sörman-Nilsson for your next event guarantees an enlightening experience that will leave your audience equipped to sustainably lead in an ever-evolving digital and AI-driven landscape.
Click Here to Watch Anders' Virtual Presentation

Jack Uldrich
Global futurist, sought-after business speaker on technology and trends.
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No one can predict the future, but Jack Uldrich can help you prepare for it. Jack is a global futurist, speaker, and author of 13 books, including award-winning best sellers, who helps organizations gain the crucial foresight they need to create a successful future. His talks land at the intersection of advancements in technology, change management and leadership and are styled to educate, inspire and entertain.
Jack speaks over 50 times a year especially on the transformation of finance, health care, agriculture, education, energy, retail and manufacturing. He argues that creativity and action are more powerful and versatile than knowledge. He professes the transformational principles of unlearning, or freeing yourself from obsolete knowledge and assumptions, as a strategy to survive and thrive in an era of unparalleled change.
Jack is a former naval intelligence officer, Defense Department strategic planning official and served as the director of the Office of Strategic and Long-Range Planning under Minnesota Governor Jesse Ventura.
Jack is inspired by the role he is meant to play to help businesses pivot toward a new future. The publishing arm of Fast Company (Greenleaf Book Group) secured him to write two books in 2020: Business as Unusual and The Rise of Generation RE. Jack’s remarks are always customized for your industry and speak to your audience’s particular issues and concerns.

Jared Weiner
Leading Futurist & Speaker on Global Trends, Co-Founder + Creator at Wake the Future
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Jared Weiner is Co-Founder + Creator at Wake the Future. Wake the Future is a content and thought leadership platform built to wake people up to the realities of a chaotic future, and to ultimately empower humans in an age of AI. Jared considers himself a “reformed futurist,” inspired to apply his experience and learnings toward a renewed purpose – one that is more authentic to who he is, and what matters most to him personally: his family.
Jared has been a futurist and global keynote speaker for nearly two decades. Over that period, he’s served as Partner at The Future Hunters, a futurist consultancy and industry pioneer. Jared has long helped senior leaders prepare for what’s ahead. His speaking has taken him to Colombia, Turkey, Australia, Hong Kong, Morocco, Panama and Poland.
Jared is past Chairman of the Board of the World Future Society. And he served on American Express OPEN’s Digital Advisory Board. He holds a B.A. from the University of Rochester (UofR), and an M.B.A. from the Simon Graduate School of Business at the UofR.
Jared is a New York City native and will always have big city DNA. But he and his wife (+ business partner) Erica, along with their son, now live near her hometown of Rochester NY, where they first met in college. Jared’s biggest passions are travel and 80s music. He also enjoys hiking, basketball, history, wine and suffering through being a NY sports fan.
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