Learn from Disruption & Innovation Speakers and Spark Change

We are living in an era of disruption. Companies are being displaced at an alarming rate by new technologies that are disrupting entire business models. In today's world, where the new corporate model is "disrupt or be disrupted," the key to success is innovation, and an innovation keynote speaker can bring your organization the insight it needs. Whether your group is looking for a keynote speech on disruptive new ideas, the keys to creating a culture of innovation, or ways to incentivize breakthroughs, our innovation speakers know what works and why. Take a look at our top disruption and innovation speakers before your next event.

Let us know if you are interested in one of our speakers for your event.

Innovator and CEO, Uncharted

Fees
  • Local: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US East: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • US West: $55,001 - $75,000*
  • Europe: $55,001 - $75,000*
  • Asia: $75,001 and up*

Jessica O. Matthews is the Founder & CEO of Uncharted, an award-winning energy and data technology company that develops infrastructure solutions for communities, facilities, and Internet of Things. The company was founded by Jessica when she was only 22 years old, relying on innovation and creativity. Jessica’s research and career centers around the intersection of disruptive technology, renewable energy, innovative ideas, human behavior, and the psychology of self-actualization. A dual citizen of Nigeria & the U.S. and Founder and CEO of her own company, Jessica has a degree in Psychology and Economics from Harvard University, an MBA from Harvard Business School, and is listed on over 10 patents and patents pending—including her first invention of the SOCCKET, an energy generating soccer ball, at the age of 19. One of the best speakers on innovation, Jessica is one of our most requested speakers and one of the top innovation keynote speakers.

Award Winning Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist, Best-Selling Author and 2x Emmy Nominated Media Visionary

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  • Local: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • US East: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • US West: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Europe: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Asia: $35,001 - $55,000*
Leonard Brody has been called “a controversial leader of the new world order” and was recently named one of Canada’s Top 40 Under 40. He is a highly respected entrepreneur, venture capitalist, best- selling author and a 2 time Emmy nominated media visionary. He has helped in raising millions of dollars for startup companies, been through one of the largest internet IPOs in history and has been involved in the building, financing and/or sale of five companies to date. In 2004, Leonard co-founded, and was CEO of, NowPublic.com which is a pioneer in the field of citizen journalism. Leonard also acts as an advisor to venture capital funds in the US, Europe and Asia.

Expert in Technology-Driven Innovation & Human Evolution; Stanford University Adjunct Professor; Futurist; Neuroscientist; and Technologist

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Poppy Crum works to bridge the gap between technology and insightful, effective human interaction. As an innovative strategist and a multi-dimensional advocate of empathetic technology, she builds technologies that best leverage human physiology to enhance our experiences and how we interact with the world. Poppy serves as the Chief Scientist at Dolby Laboratories and as an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University in the Center for Computer Research in Music and Acoustics and Program in Symbolic Systems. As a tech entrepreneur, business strategist, and one of the top innovators and innovation experts, Poppy is dedicated to the development of immersive technologies that leverage human physiology and perceptual realities to enhance our experiences and interactions in the world. She is a frequent speaker/author on topics related to the intersection of human experience, artificial intelligence, sensory data-science, and immersive technologies that will change the world.

World-Renowned Futurist; Founder & CEO of the Future Today Institute and Professor, Strategic Foresight at New York University Stern School of Business

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Amy Webb may not be a superhero – but she does have a powerful ability to anticipate trends and emerging technology that will disrupt tomorrow. And she can envision and help prepare for the impact they’ll have on business and society. Now she’s teaching others, including corporate leaders, innovators and governments, to do the same. Founder of the Future Today Institute, Webb is a renowned futurist and strategist. For her, it’s not simply an interest; it’s a profession and a passion. Nor is “forecasting the future” about creating fantastical scenarios. Webb doesn’t simply make speculations or predictions; her work is evidence based, drawn from mapping and modeling quantitative and qualitative data collected in the present to understand what’s coming (5-20 years from now). Named to the 2017 Thinkers50 Radar list of management thinkers most likely to shape the future – and winner of its 2017 Distinguished Achievement Award – Webb is already making an impact on today’s Fortune 500 and Global 1000 companies, government agencies, large nonprofits, universities and startups worldwide. Focusing on the intersection of technology, business and society, she takes a purposefully broad lens to her work. When thinking about the future, most only look at their industry and direct competitors. Webb is adamant about looking at multiple, adjacent landscapes. “You have to be able to see the top of the forest in order to see where all the trees are and how they connect,” she says.

Founder of OpenExO & ExO Works

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A globally recognized technology entrepreneur and renowned futurist, Salim Ismail is a sought-after exponential strategist who advises organizations of all sizes and across industries, as well as heads of state, on how they can turn cutting-edge ideas into viable business opportunities and apply inventive thinking to drive innovation and achieve their desired futures sooner. He is the Founder and Chair of OpenExO, a team of innovation experts who create customized solutions for corporations and organizations seeking to emulate the world’s fastest growing organizations.

Former President and COO of Nintendo of America Inc.

Fees
  • Local: $55,001 - $75,000*
  • US East: $75,001 and up*
  • US West: $75,001 and up*
  • Europe: $75,001 and up*
  • Asia: $75,001 and up*

An award-winning innovator and disruptor, Reggie Fils-Aimé is a top innovation speaker and proven expert on transforming companies, re-vitalizing brands, and reshaping industries to solve daunting challenges and achieve ‘the impossible.’ Most recently, he was the president and chief operating officer of Nintendo of America – the first American and African-American to hold this position. Internationally recognized and revered by business leaders and gaming fans alike, Fils-Aimé helped bring Nintendo’s greatest successes – including the Nintendo DS, the Wii, the Nintendo 3DS, Wii U, and the Nintendo Switch – to the global marketplace. Using his personal story of a leading futurist as an example, he shares with audiences his principles for effective and innovative leadership, including defining a vision, courage in decision-making, and “irrefutable integrity.”

Legendary Tech Pioneer & Operating Executive; Founding Executive Director, Stanford Program for Disruptive Technology & Innovation

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  • Local: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US East: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • US West: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Europe: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Asia: $35,001 - $55,000*
Michael (Mike) Steep is the founder and former executive director of Stanford Engineering School's Center for Disruptive Technology and Digital Cities and the former senior vice president of global business operations at innovation mega-hub, PARC Xerox. He draws on first-hand experience and anecdotes from time spent with the biggest names in Silicon Valley to instruct audiences on how to get ahead of disruptive innovation. Viewing new technology as opportunity, Mike highlights the importance of allowing innovation to trump company culture and legacies—and not the other way around.

Grammy-Nominated Creator of "Poetic Voice" & Inspirational Speaker

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  • Local: $55,001 - $75,000*
  • US East: $55,001 - $75,000*
  • US West: $55,001 - $75,000*
  • Europe: $55,001 - $75,000*
  • Asia: $75,001 and up*

A school teacher turned actor, musician, two-time national poetry slam champion, entrepreneur, and award-winning poetic voice, any given day may now find Sekou keynoting at a leadership conference, helping a Fortune 500 company with brand messaging, or even performing pieces for Barack Obama in Oprah’s backyard. Sekou is the creator of Poetic Voice, a new, award winning, cutting-edge speaking category that seamlessly fuses inspirational speaking with spoken word poetry to make messages more moving and memorable. For over 15 years, Sekou Andrews has been helping the world’s largest organizations deliver relevant information with riveting inspiration through an innovative, unconventional category of speaking called “Poetic Voice.”

Pragmatic Futurist, Agricultural Entrepreneur, Global Changemaker

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  • Local: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • US East: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • US West: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • Europe: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Asia: $20,001 - $35,000*
Samuel Bertram is an entrepreneurial visionary who has combined his robotics expertise with his passion for human wellness to bring innovative solutions for the world’s hunger challenges to life. He is the co-founder and CEO of OnePointOne, the mission-driven organization that is making breakthroughs in automation, artificial intelligence, and plant science to build the most advanced plant production system on Earth with the goal of growing the food, developing the medicines, and discovering the genetics to nourish and heal all of humanity.

Chair of the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Track at Singularity University

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Neil Jacobstein is the chair of the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Track at Singularity University, an organization whose founders hail from Google and the X PRIZE Foundation and has a goal “to educate, inspire and empower a new generation of leaders to apply exponential technologies to address humanity’s grand challenges.” Jacobstein, one of the best conference speakers, shares one of the most thoughtful and up-to-date looks at the future of technology and how it will impact a variety of industries. One of the top leadership experts, he explores innovation, disruption, and artificial intelligence through innovation keynotes as he offers audience a glimpse into the future and its real-world applications.

Co-Founders of AXIOS and POLITICO | New Media Speaking Duo

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Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen are two of the nation’s most influential journalists. For years, they worked together building the nationally renowned digital media company POLITICO, transforming it from a newcomer on Captiol Hill to the website and accompanying newsletter that all of Washington considered a “must-read.” Now, they are co-founders of disruptive media company Axios, delivering quick, punchy news and insights on politics, business, media, and technology to a smart and highly-engaged audience. The company has already proved a disruptive force in the digital media space, specializing in high-quality news and analysis easily shared across social platforms by the country’s influential readers.

Founder & CEO of Not Impossible Labs and Author of Not Impossible: The Art and Joy of Doing What Couldn't Be Done

Fees
  • Local: $55,001 - $75,000*
  • US East: $55,001 - $75,000*
  • US West: $55,001 - $75,000*
  • Europe: $75,001 and up*
  • Asia: $75,001 and up*
Mick Ebeling is an American film, television and commercial executive producer as well as an author, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was named as on one of the Top 50 Most Creative People of 2014, won the SXSW Innovation Award twice in a row (2014 and 2015), and was awarded the 2014 Muhammed Ali Humanitarian of the Year Award. He is the CEO of Not Impossible, an organization that develops creative technology solutions to address real-world problems.

Renowned Business Leader, CEO of EXOS the Performance Coaching Company, Former President of Equinox, Former Global President of Gatorade, Former Marketing Director at Nike and the Virgin Group

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Described by the media as everything from “Superwoman undercover” to “The Pied Piper of potential,” Sarah Robb O’Hagan is an executive, activist, entrepreneur, and founder of Extreme Living — a content platform designed to help individuals, teams, and organizations play to their highest potential. Currently, she is the CEO of EXOS, the leading performance coaching company that gets people ready for the moments that matter most in their work, sport, and daily lives. EXOS clients range from NFL players and Olympians to corporate executives, military personnel, and every day people looking to manage stressors and thrive in the new normal of fast-paced modern-day life. Drawing on her decades experience at some of the world's most influential brands, she shares practical takeaways including how to make failure your fuel, discover your most competitive playing field, get out of line rather than always following conventional wisdom, and bring out the “extreme" in others.

Social Robotics Expert & MIT Media Lab Research Specialist

Fees
  • Local: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • US East: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US West: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Europe: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Asia: $35,001 - $55,000*
A leading expert in robot ethics, Dr. Kate Darling is a research scientist at the MIT Media Lab, where she investigates social robotics and conducts experimental studies on human-robot interaction. Forever interested in how technology intersects with society, Kate has a background in law & economics and intellectual property, she explores the emotional connection between people and life-like machines, seeking to influence technology design and policy direction. Her writing and research anticipate difficult questions that lawmakers, engineers, and the wider public will need to address as human-robot relationships evolve in the coming decades. Dr. Darling’s work has been featured in international media, and she has authored multiple academic publications and contributed to industry publications from Vogue to Die Zeit to the BBC, and in 2017, the American Bar Association honored her legal work with the Mark T. Banner Award in Intellectual Property.

Founder of FUBU & Star of ABC's Shark Tank

Fees
  • Local: $55,001 - $75,000*
  • US East: $55,001 - $75,000*
  • US West: $55,001 - $75,000*
  • Europe: $75,001 and up*
  • Asia: Please Inquire
Daymond John is CEO and Founder of FUBU, a much-celebrated global lifestyle brand, and a pioneer in the fashion industry with over $6 billion in product sales. He is an award-winning entrepreneur, and he has received over 35 awards including the Brandweek Marketer of the Year, Advertising Age Marketing 1000 Award for Outstanding Ad Campaign, and Ernst and Young's New York Entrepreneur of the Year Award. His marketing strategies and ability to build successful brands has made him a highly influential consultant and motivation speaker. In 2009, he joined the cast of ABC's entrepreneurial business show Shark Tank.
What is Disruption in the Workplace?

Disruption, according to The Balance Small Business, is innovation that radically changes the way something operates. Specifically, disruption in the workplace refers to innovation that enhances and improves the way things are typically done. Being able to identify anything from simple, everyday tasks to big-picture, future-focused ideas that have the possibility of being performed better, are good candidates for disruptive innovation. Disruption scares some people, especially those that have been involved in organizations for a long time and have the mindset “we’ve always done it this way and we will continue to do it this way.” Disruption in the workplace is not something to be feared, rather, it should be embraced.

Why are Innovation Speakers so Popular?

What are disruption and innovation speakers? They’re some of the most popular types of speakers—and interest among audiences is only growing as technology advances. Speakers on disruption and innovation talk about the impact of emerging technology on business models and how innovation can help you get ahead of it. Additionally these innovation keynote speakers can cover topics such as emotional intelligence, workplace culture, social innovation, business creativity, and how to lead, innovate, and disrupt in today's work environment.

Why are our keynote speakers on disruption and innovation the most qualified for this topic? Some are emerging technology, disruption, and innovation experts while others have led companies that needed to adapt to counterbalance the impact of technology on their business model.

Why are our Innovation Keynote Speakers the Best?

Consider how Apple pioneered the streaming music game, or how Buzzfeed built itself on the rise of social media’s role in news. Our speakers were a part of these innovative companies and more, including Gatorade, Nike, and Trader Joe’s. And these innovation keynote speakers can be a part of your event.

Tech Entrepreneurs

Tech entrepreneurs are paving the way in how the world operates. Rapidly improving technologies make day-to-day tasks easier and allow humans to focus on big-picture projects that technology can’t do. Although technology may be capable to do the things we want it to do in the future, we need tech entrepreneurs to visualize and make these ideas come to life. Additionally, lots of the technology that we have today is thanks to other projects that has evolved to benefit the greater human good.

Nichol Bradford, a futurist and the founder of Transformative Tech, ignites new ways to use technology to expand beyond our perceived limits and reach our fullest potential. Poppy Crum, an expert in technology-driven innovation and human evolution, builds innovative technologies that leverage human physiology to improve the ways we interact with the world. These tech entrepreneurs and innovators are challenging businesses and organizations to analyze their current relationships with technology and determine new ways to utilize everyday technology.

Workplace Innovation Experts and Business Strategists

Workplace and business innovation is what most people typically think of when they hear the word disruption. Workplace innovation experts are those that see the way their current work environment functions and believes that work can be done better or more efficiently through a different process. On a broader scale, business strategists look at an entire company or organization and see a way that business can be greatly improved by being performed a different way. Jessie Hayes-Stallings, a beauty industry leader and founder and CEO of Skinphorea Facial Bar, is a business disruptor. She noticed a gap in the market for the on-the-go client with limited time for professional skincare services and created an express service that offers women a faster, best-in-class facial spa experience. Another example of a business strategist is co-founder and former CEO of StockX, Josh Luber. Luber turned his passion for sneakers into a billion-dollar industry by creating the world’s first “Stock Market of Things."

Leadership Experts

Leadership experts are key to ensuring that disruption and innovation happens successfully. A good idea is only as strong as the way that it is executed. Leadership expert Reggie Fils-Aimé, former President and COO of Nintendo of America Inc., knows this better than anyone. As an award-winning innovator and disruptor, Reggie helped bring the Nintendo DS, the Wii, the Nintendo Switch, and other products to the global marketplace. Leadership experts within the world of disruption empower innovators and disruptors to come up with new ideas and trust that they can get the work down. A strong leader believes in its employees and trusts those within their organization.

Other key leadership experts that are beneficial in sparking change within an organization are Jessica O. Matthews, Innovator and CEO of Uncharted; and Sarah Robb O'Hagan, a legendary business leader and disruption expert known for shaking up legacy products at big brands. Both of these speakers saw current products and practices that had the potential to be done better, and executed on these beliefs.

Deliver Innovation With The Best Speakers On Disruption

With the experience and know-how of our team of industry experts, we’ll help you find disruption and innovation speakers that meet your budget, theme, goals, intended audience, and other key factors. We’ll also take care of bundling event extras into your packages as desired and handle your speaker’s logistics.

Explore our curated list of leading disruption and innovation keynote speakers above and click on any of the speaker's names to see their individual speaker profile pages, find out more about their expertise and speaking topics, and watch their speaker video footage to see them in action.

Contact us for more information about our disruption and innovation speakers or if you have any questions.

If you're interested in receiving a curated list of our top keynote speaker recommendations customized specifically for your event and audience, you can either email us, call 1-800-SPEAKER, or live chat with a member of our team right now.