Thought Leader Keynote Speakers
Browse Thought Leader Speakers
Thought Leader keynote speakers inspire us to think differently. They can tap into psychology, emerging technology, innovations, and disruptions to deliver a message. Always in demand for fresh insight and practical future-focused strategies, GDA has many options of thought leader keynote speakers for your next event.
Keynotes: 5 Books: 6 Videos: 5
Shawn Achor Featured
New York Times Bestselling Author and Positive Psychology Expert
Shawn Achor has is one of the world’s leading experts on the connection between happiness and success and the NYT best-selling author of The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential. His Happiness Advantage training is one of the largest and most successful positive psychology corporate training programs in the world.
Keynotes: 8 Books: 0 Videos: 6
Kate Ancketill Featured
Global Thought-leader in Business Futurism
Kate is a leading authority in global business futurism. With retail, consumer,
brand, hospitality, and technology specialisation, making complex societal shifts and emerging technologies relatable for any audience.
Keynotes: 3 Books: 0 Videos: 1
Sun Ah Brock Featured
Speaker | Founder | Community Builder
Sun Ah Brock is a compelling entrepreneur and unforgettable storyteller. Abandoned in Korea at age four and adopted by a Canadian family, her journey is raw, powerful, and deeply human. Her talk resonates with anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider—moving audiences with authenticity, resilience, and an unshakable voice.
Keynotes: 1 Books: 2 Videos: 2
Jeff Bush Featured
Principal of The Washington Update; Authority on Nonpartisan Politics, Tax and Legal Policy, Finance and Economy
Jeff Bush’s unique insights help investors and financial advisors navigate the ever-changing landscape emanating from Washington. His presentation combines political and economic analysis with specific investment, wealth transfer, and retirement planning strategies.
Keynotes: 6 Books: 3 Videos: 15
Troy Hazard Featured
Street-smart business leader, bestselling author, franchise expert, and founder of 13 companies
There are few situations in the business world that Troy Hazard has not experienced and survived – from massive financial loss to stunning success. As a serial entrepreneur who has founded and nurtured thirteen businesses, Troy has been as consultant to some of the world's leading brands.
Keynotes: 3 Books: 4 Videos: 4
Robert Herjavec Featured
Leading Shark on ABC's Shark Tank and Founder & CEO Herjavec Group
Robert Herjavec is one of North America’s most recognizable business leaders. A dynamic entrepreneur, Robert has built and sold several IT companies to major players such as AT&T. He shares his expertise with other entrepreneurs each week as a leading Shark on ABC’s Emmy Award-winning hit Shark Tank.
Keynotes: 4 Books: 2 Videos: 4
Shama Hyder Featured
CEO of Zen Media, Best-Selling Author, Keynote Speaker, LinkedIn Top Voice in Marketing 4X
Shama is a trailblazing, award-winning entrepreneur who has built a global audience and is known for helping brands succeed in the digital age. Forbes, Businessweek, and Inc - Top 30 under 30 entrepreneurs in the field of marketing LinkedIn’s Top 10 Voices in Marketing for four years in a row.
Keynotes: 2 Books: 4 Videos: 9
Greg McKeown Featured
Author of the New York Times bestseller, "Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less." Host of the, "What's Essential" podcast.
Emerging as one of the most sought after speakers on leadership, peak performance, and business growth, Greg McKeown has trained at hundreds of events across the world including in the U.S., Australia, Bulgaria, Canada, China, England, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Norway and Singapore.
Keynotes: 2 Books: 1 Videos: 3
Bernard Baumohl
Chief Global Economist at The Economic Outlook Group
Bernard Baumohl is chief global economist at The Economic Outlook Group. He is well known for being ahead of the curve in assessing the direction of the U.S. and world economy.
Keynotes: 4 Books: 1 Videos: 4
Christian "Boo" Boucousis
Fighter Pilot, Human Behavior and Deep Performance Specialist
Boo is a force of nature who can start or close any event and engage an audience like none other, he is a genuinely aspirational keynote speaker. He’s energetic and charismatic, surprisingly inspiring, and his deep performance mindset will excite and motivate your teams to tackle disruption head-on.
Keynotes: 15 Books: 6 Videos: 4
Tina Payne Bryson, PHD
Co-Author of Two NYT Best Sellers - The Whole Brain Child and No-Drama Discipline
Dr. Bryson is a psychotherapist as well as the Founder and Executive Director of The Center For Connection and Play Strong Institute in Pasadena, California where she offers parenting consultations and provides therapy to children and adolescents.
Keynotes: 3 Books: 4 Videos: 4
Susan Cain
Chief Revolutionary of Quiet Revolution
Susan Cain is the Chief Revolutionary of Quiet Revolution LLC and the New York Times bestselling author of Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts and Quiet: The Power of Introverts in A World That Can’t Stop Talking.
Keynotes: 3 Books: 1 Videos: 3
Majora Carter
American Urban Revitalization Strategist; Environmental Justice Solutions
Majora Carter is a real estate developer, urban revitalization strategy consultant, MacArthur Fellow and Peabody Award winning broadcaster. She's responsible for the creation of numerous economic development, technology inclusion & green-infrastructure projects, policies and job training & placement systems. She is also a lecturer at Princeton University's Keller Center.
Keynotes: 6 Books: 4 Videos: 17
Geoff Colvin
Senior Editor-at-Large, Fortune Magazine, and Bestselling Author Arming Leaders to Confront Disruptive Change and Win
Experience counts! Fortune veteran Geoff Colvin gives audiences critical information and insights they need to win. The rules have changed. Winning demands courage to confront reality faster than the competition. Transformation, innovation, and reinvention are on every leader’s mind. Colvin identifies what top companies and leaders are doing to adapt.
Keynotes: 7 Books: 2 Videos: 9
Tiffany Dufu
Leadership Luminary, Founder & CEO The Cru, Author of DROP THE BALL
Named to Entrepreneur’s 100 Powerful Women and Fast Company’s League of Extraordinary Women, Tiffany is founder of The Cru. Launch team member to Lean In, CLO to Levo, and Former President of The White House Project. Featured in The New York Times, ESSENCE, O, The Oprah Magazine, and on NPR.
Keynotes: 5 Books: 10 Videos: 7
Ken Dychtwald
Renowned Visionary of the Age Wave and Longevity in America; Founder & CEO of Age Wave
Dr. Ken Dychtwald has emerged as North America’s foremost visionary and original thinker regarding the lifestyle, marketing, health care, and workforce implications of the age wave. During his career, Ken has addressed more than two million people worldwide in his speeches to corporate, association, social service, and government groups.
Keynotes: 4 Books: 3 Videos: 3
Tasha Eurich
Organizational Psychologist, Researcher, and New York Times Best-Selling Author
Blending scientific savvy, hands-on tools, and powerful stories of leadership transformation, Tasha's programs are packed with interactive discussion, real-world application, and experiential activities. Audiences don’t just walk away inspired and entertained—they are ready to transform.
Keynotes: 6 Books: 6 Videos: 2
Dan Heath
NY Times Best Selling author, Decisive, Switch and Made to Stick
Dan Heath is a Senior Fellow at Duke University's CASE center, which supports entrepreneurs who are fighting for social good. He is the co-author of Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard, which debuted at #1 on the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists
Keynotes: 3 Books: 6 Videos: 3
Rich Horwath
New York Times and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author on Strategy
The #1 most valued skill in business people today is strategic thinking. But only 23 percent of managers are strategic. Rich Horwath presents a simple framework for all business people to live strategically to reach their full potential.
Keynotes: 8 Books: 8 Videos: 1
Shep Hyken
Customer Service and Experience Expert
Have you ever walked away from an interaction with a company and thought, "Wow, that was an amazing experience," or "Those people were amazing!"? That is what Shep Hyken helps his clients achieve. Shep works with companies who want to build loyal relationships with their customers and employees.
Keynotes: 4 Books: 1 Videos: 5
Jia Jiang
Entrepreneur, Blogger and “Rejection Proof” Author
Jia Jiang (pronounced Jah Jahng) is an entrepreneur, blogger, TED speaker and an author. is the owner of Rejection Therapy and author. After he left a career in the corporate world to pursue life as an entrepreneur, he was soon confronted with everyone's biggest fear – rejection.
Keynotes: 6 Books: 0 Videos: 1
Omar Johnson
Culture, Diversity, Marketing and Branding Keynote Speaker, Former CMO at Beats by Dre, and Former VP Marketing at Apple
Omar Johnson is a top marketing and branding keynote speaker, entrepreneur, former CMO at Beats by Dre, and former VP Marketing at Apple. Adweek named Johnson a “Brand Genius,” and Business Insider named him one of the “Most Innovative CMO’s.” He was voted Top 100 Black Thought Leaders by BlackList100.
Keynotes: 9 Books: 7 Videos: 9
Thomas Koulopoulos
FUTURIST. AUTHOR. VISIONARY. INVENTOR. INC500 LEADER.
Tom Koulopoulos is a leading futurist, author of fourteen books including Gigatrends, Reimagining Healthcare, Revealing the Invisible; The Gen Z Effect; Cloud Surfing; and The Innovation Zone, and founder of Delphi Group, a Boston-based think tank named one of the fastest growing private companies in the US by Inc. Magazine.
Keynotes: 6 Books: 3 Videos: 3
Matthew Luhn
Top Storytelling and Creativity Speaker, Disney/Pixar Veteran behind Toy Story, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo and more, Fortune 500 Storytelling Consultant, Award-Winning Writer & Director
Matthew is an accomplished storyteller, instructor, and story consultant, with over 20 years’ experience creating stories and characters at Pixar Animation Studios. Matthew teaches Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, and other professionals how to tell stories that bridge the gap between business and heart to build stronger brands and business communication.
Keynotes: 5 Books: 3 Videos: 10
Heather E. McGowan
Future-of-Work Strategist, Author, Thought Leader, Keynote Speaker
As one of Forbes' Top Futurists, Heather E. McGowan is a future-of-work strategist who equips organizations to navigate relentless change by activating their most critical resource: their people. By teaching audiences to ask better questions, they can adapt at the speed of possibility to Solve Tomorrow's Problems™.
Keynotes: 3 Books: 5 Videos: 10
Rita Gunther McGrath
Professor, Columbia Business School
Rita Gunther McGrath is a world-renowned thought leader and a professor at Columbia Business School, where she directs the popular Leading Strategic Growth and Change program. She is widely recognized as a premiere expert on leading innovation and growth during times of uncertainty.
Keynotes: 3 Books: 5 Videos: 3
Lisa McLeod
Leading, Selling and Performing with a Noble Purpose
Lisa McLeod has rocked the house for giants like Google and Roche, as well as franchises, non-profits, and associations around the world. She has delivered programs in over 25 countries. She is a bestselling author and has been featured on NBC Nightly News and The Today Show.
Keynotes: 2 Books: 1 Videos: 8
Chad Pregracke
CNN Hero; Social Entrepreneur
Chad Pregracke embodies how one person can make a difference. Since the age 17, Chad has lead a movement for cleaner water through hard work and by mobilizing thousands of volunteers and corporations to join his cause. His presentation style is authentic, humorous, spontaneous, and inspires people to take action!
Keynotes: 5 Books: 5 Videos: 5
Erik Qualman
Top Technology and Motivational Speaker, #1 Bestselling Author & Futurist
Often called a Digital Dale Carnegie, Erik Qualman is the author of multiple bestsellers including Socialnomics: How social media transforms the way we live and do business. He is the producer of the "Social Media Revolution" videos, the most-watched social media video series in the world.
Keynotes: 6 Books: 2 Videos: 12
Jason Redman
Former Navy SEAL Officer, Author of Orange Wounded Warrior Sign at Bethesda Naval Hospital
Jason Redman joined the Navy on September 11, 1992 and spent eleven years as an enlisted SEAL. On September 13, 2007, outside of Fallujah, Iraq, Lieutenant Redman’s Assault Team came under heavy machine gun and small arms fire and he was severely wounded in the ensuing firefight.
Keynotes: 8 Books: 1 Videos: 4
Angela M. Sánchez
Formerly Homeless, Writer, Cartoonist, Magician, Education Advocate, First Generation Latino College Graduate
Angela M. Sánchez came of age in the Great Recession of the late 2000s and her work is informed by her experiences as a homeless high school student with aspirations to go to college.
Keynotes: 4 Books: 0 Videos: 1
Ann Sheu
Author, Entrepreneur, Facilitator, and Advocate for Empowering Growth-Oriented Leadership Teams
After years of punting her dreams into the future, Ann developed a tactical system to take back control. Ann broke free from living a life she needed a vacation from by defining one, big wild dream for the future that changed how she lived her day-to-day.
Keynotes: 2 Books: 6 Videos: 5
Shefali Tsabary
Clinical Psychologist, 3 x NYT Bestselling Author, CEO Conscious Coaching Institute
Best-selling author Dr. Shefali Tsabury discusses conscious parenting, creating an awakened family and raising confident children.
Keynotes: 5 Books: 4 Videos: 3
Jack Uldrich
World Renowned Futurist, Author, Expert on Change
Jack Uldrich speaks over 100 times a year to organizations, especially agriculture, education, energy, finance, retail, health care and manufacturing. He says creativity and action are more powerful and versatile than knowledge. He is energetic and full of thoughtful business and personal advice that will educate, entertain, and inspire audiences.
Keynotes: 0 Books: 1 Videos: 3
Jarrett Walker
Consulting Transit Planner
Jarret is an international consultant in public transit network design and policy. Has led numerous major planning projects in cities and towns of all sizes, across North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Author of Human Transit: How clearer thinking about public transit can enrich our communities and our lives.
Keynotes: 2 Books: 4 Videos: 11
Liz Wiseman
CEO of The Wiseman Group; Author
Liz Wiseman is a researcher and executive advisor who teaches leadership to top organizations worldwide. She is the CEO of the Wiseman Group, a leadership research and development firm. Some of her recent clients include Apple, AT&T, Disney, Meta, Google, Microsoft, Nike, Salesforce, Tesla, and Twitter.
Topic Index
Browse topics in this category
- 49 Artificial Intelligence
- 18 Big Data
- 49 Branding / Marketing
- 87 Business
- 116 Business Growth / Strategy / Trends
- 19 CEO
- 103 Change Management / Organizational Change
- 62 Communication
- 4 Conflict Resolution
- 76 Corporate Culture & Governance
- 11 Corporate Social Responsibility
- 33 Customer Relations
- 21 Disruption
- 2 Distribution / Supply Chain Management
- 63 Diversity and Inclusion
- 30 Emotional Intelligence
- 83 Employee Engagement
- 87 Entrepreneur
- 15 Ethics / Values
- 61 Futurists / Trends
- 3 Hospitality
- 36 Human Resources / Workforce Issues
- 20 Influence
- 108 Innovation / Creativity
- 12 IT
- 233 Leadership
- 25 Management
- 14 Moderator / Facilitator
- 8 Negotiation
- 6 Networking
- 22 Productivity
- 5 Real Estate
- 5 Risk Management
- 8 Safety
- 70 Sales
- 18 Social Media
- 33 Storytelling
- 22 Stress Management
- 8 Sustainability
- 104 Teamwork / Teambuilding
- 36 Thought Leader
- 7 Trust / Honesty
- 35 Work-life Balance