Who books innovation and future of work speakers
Executive offsites and strategy meetings
Leadership teams book future of work speakers to challenge their assumptions before planning. They want evidence and a framework, not trend lists.
HR and talent conferences
How people want to work, what newer generations expect, how hybrid and AI change jobs. Kian Gohar's reel speaks to this buyer directly: "You as leaders have to design the incentives and the collaborative models in order to succeed in this new era because the newer generations demand it."
Technology and CIO events
Technology buyers want speakers who understand tools and automation. Nick Sonnenberg's reel shows him building an AI agent in a meeting, which is the kind of proof these buyers look for.
Associations planning for change
Industry associations book these speakers when their members face disruption. They want practical next steps their members can take.
The beats an innovation or future of work reel has to prove
01
The ideas are grounded
Kian's reel cites a two-year research project with Harvard Business School and interviews with over 2,000 executives, entrepreneurs and change makers. Nick's hosts establish him as founder and CEO of Leverage. Show where your ideas come from in one or two beats.
02
A framework with a name
Kian's "radical adaptability" has four parts: collaboration, foresight, agility and resilience. A named framework gives a buyer a session title and tells them the talk is structured.
03
You are current
Nick's line "work has changed, especially in the last year with AI" and his AI agent clip show a planner the talk reflects today. Footage that references the latest shift is your best evidence.
04
It is practical
Kian opens with "I promise to make this talk very practical and relevant to everybody in the audience." Future of work buyers have sat through talks that never reached the "so what"; promise and show the practical part.
05
A line that points forward
"Rather than go back to work, let's go forward to work." A forward-looking close is what this topic is for.
Mistakes that cost future of work speakers bookings
A reel that dates you
This is the big one. A future of work reel that talks about the newest shift from three years ago tells a planner your material is behind. Kian's reel references the pandemic, hybrid work and the great resignation, which were exactly the right frames when it was cut. Speakers in this space should plan to update their reel whenever their material moves on.
Trend lists without evidence
"Five trends shaping work" is a blog post. Buyers want to know why you, specifically, can see where things are going. Research, client work and data are the answer.
All prediction, no action
Foresight is only useful if the audience knows what to do on Monday. Show the practical tool or question. Kian's "show me your cards. How are you doing that?" is a good example.
Too much jargon
Future of work talks attract buzzwords. Planners want a speaker who can explain change in plain language to a mixed audience. See what to include in a speaker reel.
Two reels, two kinds of evidence
- Kian Gohar, 3:00: research-led. A practical promise, Harvard Business School research, a four-part framework, and a forward-looking close, all in his own voice.
- Nick Sonnenberg, 2:49: practice-led. A pain everyone feels (the information scavenger hunt), an AI automation clip, a dose of personality, and a book that packages his methods.
One proves the future with research and the other with what he is building now. Both are short, because concrete ideas do not need long setups. If your talk is mainly about how teams work day to day, see productivity speakers; if it is about leading through change, see leadership speakers.
Innovation and future of work reels we have made
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Questions people ask
What should a future of work speaker reel include?
Where your ideas come from (research, client work, data), a named framework, current examples such as AI, a practical takeaway and a forward-looking close.
How often should a future of work speaker update their reel?
More often than most speakers, because the topic moves fast. Update whenever your core examples change. See how often to update your speaker reel.
Who books innovation and future of work speakers?
Executive offsites and strategy meetings, HR and talent conferences, technology and CIO events, and associations planning for change.
How long should a future of work speaker reel be?
Often around 3 minutes. Concrete ideas and evidence do not need long setups. Ours run 3:00 and 2:49.
Keep reading
Case study
Kian Gohar
A 3:00 research-led reel that promises a practical talk, proves it with Harvard Business School research, and names a four-part framework.
Case study
Nick Sonnenberg
A 2:49 productivity reel that names a pain every office worker has, makes it current with AI, and shows personality through chess boxing.
Speaker reels for
Productivity speakers
How a productivity keynote reel proves the talk is practical, current and not dry, with Nick Sonnenberg's reel as the example.
Speaker reels for
Leadership speakers
What corporate and association buyers need to see in a leadership keynote reel, with Ferrazzi, Gohar and Silverstein as examples.
Speaker reels for
Authors
How an author-speaker's reel proves the keynote is worth booking beyond the book, with Ferrazzi, Sonnenberg, Gohar and Silverstein as examples.
Guide
When to update your reel
The two-year rule of thumb, six triggers that mean update now, and refresh vs rebuild.
Your next stage
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One flat $3,000 per reel (50% to begin, 50% on completion). Edited from footage you already have, delivered in 2 to 3 weeks, with two rounds of revisions. Two minutes to see if you're a fit.