Future-Proof Your Event with These Technology Innovation Keynote Speakers
Ignite Your Event with Technology Innovation Keynote Speakers
Technology innovation keynote speakers are expert presenters who specialize in emerging technologies, digital change, and future business trends. They combine industry knowledge with engaging presentation skills to inspire audiences and drive organizational change.
What a Technology Innovation Keynote Speaker Delivers Why It Matters Cutting-edge tech trend insights Helps organizations anticipate market shifts Digital change strategies Guides companies through technological change Innovation frameworks and methodologies Provides actionable approaches to creativity AI, blockchain, IoT expertise Demystifies complex technologies Customized industry perspectives Makes innovation relevant to your specific challenges
In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, staying ahead of technological disruption isn't just beneficial—it's essential for survival. As competition intensifies and digital change accelerates, organizations need more than just information—they need inspiration and practical guidance to steer change.
"Where the new corporate model is 'disrupt or be disrupted,' the key to success is innovation," notes one leading speaker bureau. This reality explains why technology innovation keynote speakers are in such high demand across industries.
The best technology innovation speakers don't just talk about abstract concepts—they provide frameworks, case studies, and actionable insights that attendees can implement immediately. They combine deep technical knowledge with the ability to communicate complex ideas in accessible ways, often using storytelling, humor, and interactive elements to engage audiences.
According to industry statistics, Trend Hunter's innovation keynote speakers have energized more than 750 events, inspiring over 500,000 people with insights distilled from analyzing 250 million people and 3 billion pageviews. This data-driven approach exemplifies the value that top speakers bring to corporate events.
Whether you're planning a conference, leadership retreat, or virtual event, the right technology innovation keynote speaker can transform an ordinary gathering into a catalyst for organizational change. They can help your team see beyond current challenges, accept emerging technologies, and develop the innovation mindset needed to thrive in an increasingly digital future.
Why Book a Technology Innovation Keynote Speaker
In today's rapidly changing business landscape, bringing a technology innovation keynote speaker to your event isn't just adding a talking head to your agenda—it's making a strategic investment in your organization's future. As digital change accelerates across every industry, these speakers provide the spark that can ignite transformative thinking throughout your company.
Think about it: when your team is deep in the trenches of daily operations, it's easy to develop blind spots to emerging opportunities. A fresh, expert perspective can shine light on possibilities that might otherwise remain hidden in plain sight. That outside stimulus is particularly valuable for established companies with rigid structures, where innovation often struggles to break through naturally.
"Booking a technology keynote speaker can help organizations stay informed on the latest trends, inspire innovation, and improve digital change, leading to increased productivity and competitiveness," explains Executive Speakers Bureau. The impact extends far beyond the event itself—organizations have reported opening entirely new market opportunities after implementing strategies shared during innovation keynotes.
Take The Tribune, for example. After working with a top innovation speaker, they transformed from bankruptcy to becoming their industry's most profitable player by putting key innovation frameworks into action. These success stories aren't flukes—they're the result of planting the right seeds of creativity and nurturing them with expert guidance.
In today's competitive talent landscape, showcasing your organization's commitment to forward-thinking can also become a powerful engagement tool. When your team members see leadership investing in cutting-edge insights, it signals you're serious about growth and staying relevant—a message that resonates with both current employees and prospective talent.
At Justin McKelvey, we've seen how the right speaker can transform an organization's approach to technology. These speakers excel at simplifying complex technological concepts and aligning them with business objectives, bridging the gap between theoretical innovation and practical implementation—precisely where our technology consulting services create the most value for clients.
How a Technology Innovation Keynote Speaker Transforms Mindsets
The most powerful impact of a technology innovation keynote speaker often happens beneath the surface—in the fundamental shift in how your team thinks about change and possibility. This mindset change typically unfolds across several dimensions:
Culture shift happens when organizations move from a risk-averse "that's how we've always done it" mentality to an experimental, forward-looking approach. As one head of insights shared after attending Jeremy Gutsche's keynote: "It truly helped us shift from a conservative, risk-averse organization to a forward-thinking, challenger business."
Rapid ideation capabilities develop as teams learn to generate, evaluate, and refine ideas more efficiently. Many speakers introduce frameworks that help streamline innovation pipelines, turning random creativity into systematic progress.
Leadership alignment emerges naturally when your executive team experiences the same inspirational content together. This creates a shared vocabulary and vision around innovation priorities, making it easier to coordinate strategic technology initiatives across departments.
Data-driven foresight replaces gut feelings with evidence-based trend analysis. Top speakers bring insights distilled from billions of data points, giving organizations more confidence in their innovation decisions and helping them spot emerging trends before competitors.
The beauty of this mindset shift is its multiplier effect throughout your organization. When key team members change their thinking, they influence colleagues, who in turn spread new approaches across departments. This organic diffusion of innovative thinking is what transforms a one-hour keynote into years of organizational benefit, creating lasting impact long after the applause has faded.
Jeremy Gutsche
When you’re searching for a technology innovation keynote speaker who truly electrifies a room, Jeremy Gutsche is hard to beat. As the founder of Trend Hunter—the world’s largest trend platform—Jeremy isn’t just tracking what’s next. He’s living it, breathing it, and, most importantly, making it accessible for all of us. His high-energy style and deep, data-driven insights have earned him the title of "#1 Most-Watched Innovation Keynote Speaker," with more than 35 million views (and counting).
What really makes Jeremy stand out isn’t just the numbers—though analyzing the behaviors of 250 million people and 3 billion pageviews is no small feat. It’s how he translates all that data into clear, practical frameworks that people can use right away. Jeremy’s talks are packed with actionable takeaways, but they’re never overwhelming. He knows how to make the complex simple, blending humor, storytelling, and sharp insights so that every audience member feels inspired and empowered.
Jeremy’s keynotes couldn’t be more timely. As we steer through today’s waves of technological disruption, he zeroes in on how AI and big shifts are changing business—especially in this new post-pandemic world. “Chaos creates opportunity,” he likes to say, reminding us that, right now, we’re standing at the doorway to the greatest window of opportunity in our careers. For organizations navigating their own “New Roaring 20s,” his message is both a wake-up call and a roadmap.
He often shares his proprietary frameworks—like the famous 6 Patterns of Opportunity and 18 Megatrends—to help people make sense of turbulent markets and zero in on real innovation opportunities. These aren’t just flashy buzzwords. They’re real-world tools that help you cut through the noise and see where your next breakthrough might come from.
But what truly sets Jeremy apart as a technology innovation keynote speaker is his focus on customization and real audience engagement. Every keynote is crafted to fit the industry and unique challenges in the room. He goes a step further by offering personalized Innovation Assessments—so attendees walk away with a 7-10 page report highlighting their innovation strengths and blind spots. (It’s like a personality test, but for your creative side.)
Attendees rave about his impact. One Innovation Manager from Ikea put it best: “Listening to Jeremy was one of the single most motivating moments of my existence. I got insights that I turned around into key success factors when I got home.” That’s exactly the kind of afterglow we love to see at Justin McKelvey.
How this Technology Innovation Keynote Speaker Sparks Creative Chaos
Jeremy Gutsche has a knack for turning “disruption” into something positive—what he calls creative chaos. His approach isn’t about random brainstorming or chasing shiny objects. Instead, it’s about using a structured process to harness the energy of change and channel it toward competitive advantage.
At the heart of his methodology are the Trend Hunter frameworks. They’re designed to help organizations spot real patterns in the marketplace—so you’re not just reacting, but acting with intention. The 6 Patterns of Opportunity give you a system for identifying innovation potential, whether you’re seeing divergence, convergence, reduction, acceleration, redirection, or cyclicality in your industry. His 18 Megatrends highlight the major forces shaping our world, from Artificial Intelligence to Gamification.
And then there’s the Innovation Assessment—that practical, customized report for each attendee. It’s a rare, personalized takeaway in keynote speaking.
What’s especially impressive is how these frameworks have been battle-tested by some of the world’s top organizations. NASA used them for the Journey to Mars. Google and Starbucks have used them in workshops to outpace their competition. And after the keynote, Jeremy’s breakout workshops help teams apply all this directly to their own challenges—so you leave with more than just inspiration.
At Justin McKelvey, we resonate with Jeremy’s approach. We believe in making big tech topics accessible and actionable, and Jeremy’s frameworks align perfectly with our own technology consulting philosophy. By making innovation practical and grounded in data, he helps organizations move from “aha!” to action—a journey every great technology innovation keynote speaker should support.
Want to learn more about how these frameworks apply to tech problem solving? Check out our deep dive on Tech Problem Solving Strategies.
And if you’re curious why over 1,100 brands rely on Jeremy Gutsche, watch this quick overview: playcircleoutlineLearn why over 1,100 brands rely on us.
Jim Carroll
If your organization is looking for deep, industry-specific insights—with a side of wit—Jim Carroll is a technology innovation keynote speaker who truly delivers. With three decades of experience and over 2,000 keynotes to his name, Jim has inspired more than 2 million people on five continents. His resume reads like a world tour of innovation, and his approach is as practical as it is engaging.
What really makes Jim stand out? It’s his obsession with research and customization. Before stepping onstage, he dives into 25-50+ hours of industry reports, research papers, and media coverage—tailoring every keynote to address the exact technological challenges his audience is facing. That means you’re not getting a cookie-cutter speech; you’re getting a roadmap built just for you.
Jim puts it simply: “I help CEOs, senior executives, and association leaders achieve their strategic objectives by aligning them with a disruptive, accelerating future.” In today’s world—where every industry is quickly becoming a tech industry and Moore’s Law keeps raising the speed limit—staying aligned with the future isn’t just smart, it’s necessary. As one audience member put it, “I could barely keep up with the blistering pace of the change that is coming at us.”
Jim’s approach centers on the reality that technology moves fast—and you have to move faster. He breaks down his insights into near-term (1-6 months), medium-term (6-24 months), and long-term (2+ years) horizons. This way, audiences walk away ready to tackle what’s next right now, while keeping their eyes on the bigger picture.
But it’s not all charts and forecasts. Jim brings humor and storytelling to every keynote, knowing that early-morning conference crowds need a little more than caffeine to wake up. His style is upbeat and approachable, making even the most complex trends feel accessible—and even fun.
Top Takeaways from this Technology Innovation Keynote Speaker
Jim Carroll isn’t about hype—he’s about action. His presentations leave audiences with real, practical strategies they can put to work right away.
First, he helps organizations spot and map opportunities. Jim’s method cuts through tech buzzwords, showing teams how to identify disruptive trends that actually matter for their industry. With his guidance, confusing tech chatter turns into a clear path forward.
Next, he focuses on building an agile culture. In Jim’s world, “the future belongs to those who are fast.” He shares simple frameworks for faster teamwork and decision-making, so companies can keep pace with change rather than chase it.
Most importantly, Jim introduces his Disruptive Trend Radar approach. Rather than dumping a list of trends and calling it a day, he equips teams with tools to keep scanning for what’s next—so they’re always ready, not just reacting. This ongoing radar mindset ensures the value of his keynote doesn’t end when the applause dies down.
What makes Jim’s takeaways extra powerful is his dedication to relevance. He tailors every example, story, and solution to your industry—whether you’re in broadcasting, transportation, legal, or anything in between. That level of customization means each audience hears exactly what they need to succeed in a tech-driven world.
At Justin McKelvey, we value Jim Carroll’s practical, no-nonsense approach. He takes the same philosophy we do: turning complex technology into clear, actionable strategies that help businesses thrive. If you want a technology innovation keynote speaker who will get your team laughing, learning, and ready to lead change, Jim Carroll is the name to know.
Kevin J. Surace
If you want to bring a serious dose of Silicon Valley energy and inventive thinking to your event, look no further than technology innovation keynote speaker Kevin J. Surace. He’s not just another talking head—he’s an inventor with 94 worldwide patents, a true pioneer who makes breakthrough technologies like generative AI feel accessible, even to the most tech-wary crowd.
Surace's superpower is turning tech buzzwords into plain English. His favorite reassurance? “Nothing to be scared of… it’s just math.” When he’s on stage, even artificial intelligence feels less like a sci-fi threat and more like a manageable, practical tool. That easygoing style, blended with deep know-how, makes his presentations as entertaining as they are educational. Or, to quote Michael Silverton, Head of Macquarie Capital: “Kevin did a sensational job. Edutainment is right.”
His background is the real deal. Surace helped create the first cellular data smartphone (the AirCommunicator), launched the first human-like AI virtual assistant Portico (eventually ONStar for GM), and even led the energy retrofit of the Empire State Building. Years before everyone was talking about ChatGPT, he was building generative AI tools for software quality—proving he’s far ahead of the curve, but always ready to bring the audience along for the ride.
What you get in a Kevin Surace keynote is much more than flashy predictions. He dives into the nuts and bolts of how large language models like ChatGPT actually work, what they can do for your business, and—importantly—what you can do with them today. He never shies away from tough questions about risk or intellectual property; instead, he offers practical, calming guidance that breaks down big issues into manageable steps.
Practical AI Moves from a Technology Innovation Keynote Speaker
What truly makes Kevin Surace a standout technology innovation keynote speaker is his insistence on real-world, immediately actionable advice. Audiences don’t just leave inspired—they leave with a plan.
For instance, when he talks about generative AI and large language models (LLMs), he shares LLM productivity hacks—the kind of prompts, workflows, and department-specific tools you can put to work as soon as you get back to your desk. These are not abstract ideas; they come straight from Kevin’s own years in the trenches, helping teams boost productivity in finance, HR, marketing, and beyond.
Surace also dives deep on IP safeguards. He knows that implementing AI isn’t just about what’s possible—it’s about protecting your company’s secret sauce. With Kevin, you’ll always get practical advice for managing intellectual property, so you can leverage cutting-edge tech without putting your data at risk.
And if you worry about where to even start, Surace lays out a quick-start action list custom to your industry. Instead of getting overwhelmed by AI’s possibilities, you’ll have a clear, manageable roadmap for making smart moves—right now.
It’s this focus on grounded, tactical insight that wins raves from event organizers and executives alike. As Maria Juliana Giraldo, Partner & Content Curator at KES, put it: “His talk on AI and the Future of Work was the right mixture of provocative content and engaging entertainment… one of the best reviewed events ever by our C-Level attendees.”
At Justin McKelvey, we share this passion for making advanced technology usable and friendly. Our consulting and Ultimate AI Toolkit for Businesses & Startups are designed to help organizations build on the kind of momentum Surace creates—taking immediate steps from inspiration to real-world results.
If you’re searching for a technology innovation keynote speaker who can bridge the gap between Silicon Valley and your boardroom, make complex ideas feel simple, and leave your team eager (and equipped) to innovate—Kevin J. Surace is your answer.
Vito Di Bari
If you’re searching for a technology innovation keynote speaker who can turn futuristic trends into real, hands-on experiences, look no further than Vito Di Bari. Named one of the world’s three most influential futurists, Di Bari is known for blending academic expertise—he’s taught at both Bocconi University and Milan Polytechnic—with practical insights that help organizations see where technology is headed and how it will impact their world.
What really makes Di Bari unique as a keynote speaker is his big-picture view of AI as the centerpiece of tomorrow’s tech landscape. He doesn’t treat artificial intelligence as just another buzzword. Instead, he weaves it together with IoT, extended reality, 3D printing, and robotics—showing how these forces multiply each other’s impact. “The AI market is expected to hit $500 billion by next year,” Di Bari points out, reminding us that this is no time to wait on the sidelines. If you want your organization to thrive, you need a solid AI strategy now.
Don’t expect a typical slide deck from Di Bari. His keynotes are described as “shows” rather than speeches. He uses custom video, live demos, audience interaction, and even symphonic music to bring his vision to life. This immersive format makes big, complex tech ideas stick—and it’s a lot more fun than a standard lecture.
One of Di Bari’s boldest predictions is the rise of “the seamless web.” Imagine nanoprocessors—tiny computers—hidden in everyday objects, letting you interact with your environment by voice. As he likes to say, “That chair would be intelligent. Tell it to move to the back row, and it will.” Suddenly, the future feels less like science fiction and more like something you can reach out and touch.
As a technology innovation keynote speaker, Di Bari is an expert at shifting how companies see new tech. Rather than ask, “What will technology replace?” (which usually leads to a lot of fear and worry), he encourages audiences to consider, “What will technology help us do next?” This mindset shift helps people see tech as an amplifier for what makes us human, not a replacement.
Why This Technology Innovation Keynote Speaker Makes Tech Tangible
Di Bari’s superpower is making technology real. He takes concepts that sound abstract—like AI or ambient intelligence—and brings them down to earth in ways audiences can truly understand.
He does this through multimedia storytelling, using videos and live demos that show smart objects and AI in action. It’s one thing to hear about AI-enabled furniture; it’s another to see it respond to voice commands live. These moments turn big ideas into “aha!” moments for everyone in the room.
Di Bari also creates experiential learning opportunities. He often draws parallels from history, like how Edison’s invention of electricity led to the leap from iceboxes to refrigerators. These relatable stories make it easier to grasp just how big the upcoming age of AI will be.
A favorite theme is our voice-driven future. In his talks, Di Bari invites audiences to imagine a world where you interact with technology simply by speaking. He often includes live demonstrations of voice-activated devices, letting audiences experience how seamless and intuitive human-computer interaction is about to become.
His approach is both memorable and inspiring. As Clark Mulligan of LPA put it, “Vito did a spectacular job. His video towards the end of his presentation was phenomenal. It was an insightful, eye opening, and passionate look into the very near future of just about everything in our daily lives.”
At Justin McKelvey, we love how Di Bari makes technology tangible—because that’s what we do every day for our clients. We know that for digital change to succeed, people need to see and feel the benefits, not just hear about them. That’s why we help companies not only understand new tech, but actually put it to work in clear, practical ways. If you’re ready to make the abstract real and spark a culture of innovation, a technology innovation keynote speaker like Vito Di Bari is a powerful place to start.
Terry Jones
When your organization needs a technology innovation keynote speaker who has truly walked the walk, Terry Jones is a standout choice. He’s not just a theorist or a futurist—he’s the real deal. As the founder of Travelocity.com and the founding Chairman of Kayak.com, Jones didn’t just predict industry change; he created it, building two unicorn companies and shaking up the way we travel. To put it in perspective, fewer than 0.01% of entrepreneurs pull off this level of disruption, especially in a trillion-dollar industry.
What makes Terry Jones so compelling on stage is his unique blend of practical know-how and next-level vision. He’s been a startup founder, a CIO at an enterprise (Sabre), and an active board member for over 20 companies with $10 billion in exits. He doesn’t just understand digital change from the sidelines—he’s been right in the thick of it, leading teams through uncertainty, scaling businesses, and seeing first-hand how technology drives results.
As Tom W. from the Federal Communications Commission put it, "Terry Jones is that rare combination of been-there innovator and captivating storyteller." Jones’s stories are packed with lessons—equal parts inspiration and hands-on advice. One CEO summed it up perfectly: "You challenged me more in 50 minutes than I've been challenged in the last 20 years." And honestly, that’s what you want from a technology innovation keynote speaker—not just facts and figures, but the spark that lights real change.
Jones’s presentations hit three big themes: how to use digital disruption to your advantage, how to succeed with AI, and how to build a culture of innovation that actually lasts. He shares frameworks and stories from his own journey launching digital products and leading change, always tying big ideas back to what really works in the real world.
His insights on AI are especially timely. After more than a decade of weaving AI into products and business processes, Jones helps leaders tackle the big questions: How do you actually bring AI into your organization? What data do you need? How do you keep it secure? What will it mean for your team? Jones makes AI approachable, stripping away the hype so leaders can see clear steps forward.
From Disruption to Execution with a Technology Innovation Keynote Speaker
What really sets Terry Jones apart as a technology innovation keynote speaker is his knack for turning bold ideas into practical actions. He knows that vision is just the start—execution is where the magic happens.
He helps organizations identify their "edge"—those crucial digital touchpoints where you connect with customers and partners. Jones believes you must own the edge if you want to stand out amid digital disruption. He offers clear strategies for finding these moments and making them work, so your organization isn’t just reacting to change but shaping it.
Building a steady pipeline of ideas is another Jones specialty. He talks candidly about the nuts and bolts: How do you create a safe space for innovation? How do you build a great team? Where do you find your next breakthrough idea—and how do you take it from a doodle on a napkin to a market-winning product? His advice is simple, honest, and shaped by his own experience leading teams and launching products that changed entire industries.
Jones is also passionate about workforce upskilling. He knows digital change is about more than new tech—it’s about people. He shares advice on building digital teams, fostering curiosity, and creating a culture where learning never stops. This is key to thriving in a world where AI and automation are always on the move.
At Justin McKelvey, we love Jones’s focus on execution. His approach fits perfectly with our own—helping clients not just plan for innovation, but actually make it happen, especially when it comes to business and technology solutions that drive real, measurable results.
If your event needs a technology innovation keynote speaker who’s as practical as he is inspiring—someone who’s lived through disruption, thrived on it, and can show your team the way forward—Terry Jones is someone you can trust to deliver.
Conclusion
Choosing the right technology innovation keynote speaker isn’t just about finding someone who can captivate a room—it’s about investing in your organization’s future. The speakers we’ve explored here—Jeremy Gutsche, Jim Carroll, Kevin J. Surace, Vito Di Bari, and Terry Jones—each bring something special to the table. Whether it’s data-fueled insights, humor and storytelling, practical AI tips, immersive demos, or proven startup wisdom, these experts can light a spark that turns into real, lasting change for your team.
The real return on this investment often goes far beyond the applause at the end of the keynote. As The Tribune finded after applying innovation frameworks presented by a top speaker, one powerful session can reset an organization’s course and even bring it back from the brink. When a keynote delivers the right idea at just the right moment, it can fuel a culture shift, spark new products, and boost engagement in ways that ripple across the business.
So, how do you pick the right technology innovation keynote speaker for your event? Start by making sure their expertise matches your organization’s specific challenges. Look for someone who doesn’t just inspire, but also provides hands-on frameworks and actionable ideas that your people can actually use. Customization is key—a great speaker will take the time to learn about your industry and tailor their message for your audience. And think beyond the keynote itself: the most effective speakers offer ways to keep momentum going, whether through follow-up workshops, innovation assessments, or practical resources.
At Justin McKelvey, we know that inspiration is just the beginning. Turning big ideas into action takes planning, support, and sometimes a little hand-holding (we’re good at that!). That’s why our technology consulting, AI automation, and execution services are designed to help you move from an “aha moment” at your event to real results back in the office.
Wondering how to maximize the impact of your event? A simple 30-day action plan can make all the difference. Start by sharing and discussing what you learned in Week 1. In Week 2, prioritize those new ideas and set clear plans. Week 3 is all about implementing quick wins—don’t let the energy fizzle out! And in Week 4, measure progress and adjust course so that momentum keeps building.
The future will reward organizations that can spot change early and turn it into opportunity. By bringing in a world-class technology innovation keynote speaker and partnering with experienced technology consultants like Justin McKelvey, you don’t just react to disruption—you get ahead of it, and even use it to your advantage.
Want more tips on thriving in a fast-changing world? Check out our podcasts for fresh insights and real-world strategies to help your business succeed—no jargon, just clear answers.
Ready to turn inspiration into action? At Justin McKelvey, we’re here to help you every step of the way.
