Corporate speaking is a powerful way to inspire, educate, and motivate your audience, whether they are your employees, customers, partners, or stakeholders. Corporate speakers can bring fresh perspectives, insights, and stories that can help you achieve your goals, overcome challenges, and seize opportunities.

But what are the top trends and topics in corporate speaking for 2024? What are the most relevant and impactful themes that will resonate with your audience and make a difference in your organization? Here are some of the key trends and topics that we expect to see in corporate speaking for 2024, based on our research and analysis.

Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation

Artificial intelligence (AI) and digital transformation are not new topics, but they are becoming more important and pervasive than ever. AI and digital transformation are reshaping every industry, every function, and every aspect of work and life. They are creating new possibilities, challenges, and risks that require new skills, mindsets, and strategies.

Corporate speakers who can explain the implications and applications of AI and digital transformation for your organization, industry, and society will be in high demand in 2024. They can help you understand the current and future trends, opportunities, and threats of AI and digital transformation, and how to leverage them for your competitive advantage. They can also share best practices, case studies, and lessons learned from successful and failed AI and digital transformation initiatives. 12

Some of the top speakers on AI and digital transformation are:

• Kai-Fu Lee: A world-renowned AI expert, investor, and author, Kai-Fu Lee is the founder and CEO of Sinovation Ventures, a leading venture capital firm that focuses on AI and digital transformation in China and globally. He is also the former president of Google China and a former vice president of Microsoft and Apple. He is the author of the New York Times bestseller AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order, which explores the impact of AI on geopolitics, business, and society. 3
• Erik Brynjolfsson: A professor and director of the Stanford Digital Economy Lab, Erik Brynjolfsson is a leading authority on the economics of digital transformation and innovation. He is also a co-founder of the MIT Initiative on the Digital Economy and a former professor at MIT Sloan School of Management. He is the co-author of several books, including The Second Machine Age: Work, Progress, and Prosperity in a Time of Brilliant Technologies, which examines the opportunities and challenges of the digital revolution. 4
• Rana el Kaliouby: A pioneer and visionary in the field of artificial emotional intelligence, Rana el Kaliouby is the co-founder and CEO of Affectiva, an AI company that analyzes human emotions and facial expressions. She is also a professor at the American University in Cairo and a former research scientist at MIT Media Lab. She is the author of the memoir Girl Decoded: A Scientist’s Quest to Reclaim Our Humanity by Bringing Emotional Intelligence to Technology, which chronicles her personal and professional journey of creating empathetic AI. [5]

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) are not only moral and social imperatives, but also strategic and competitive ones. DEI are essential for attracting and retaining talent, fostering innovation and creativity, enhancing customer loyalty and satisfaction, and improving performance and profitability.

Corporate speakers who can address the importance and benefits of DEI for your organization, industry, and society will be in high demand in 2024. They can help you understand the current and future trends, challenges, and opportunities of DEI, and how to implement effective and sustainable DEI initiatives. They can also share inspiring and empowering stories, insights, and advice from their own personal and professional experiences of overcoming bias, discrimination, and adversity. 12

Some of the top speakers on DEI are:

• Ibram X. Kendi: A professor and director of the Boston University Center for Antiracist Research, Ibram X. Kendi is one of the world’s leading scholars and activists on antiracism and racial justice. He is the author of several books, including How to Be an Antiracist, which offers a comprehensive and radical approach to combating racism at the individual and institutional levels. He is also the founder and editor of The Antiracist, a newsletter that provides news, analysis, and commentary on antiracism and racial justice. [6]
• Malala Yousafzai: A Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a global icon of courage and resilience, Malala Yousafzai is the co-founder and board member of Malala Fund, a nonprofit organization that advocates for girls’ education and empowerment. She is also a student at the University of Oxford and a UN Messenger of Peace. She is the author of the bestseller I Am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, which recounts her remarkable story of surviving a brutal attack by the Taliban and becoming a global leader for girls’ rights. [7]
• Adam Grant: A professor and organizational psychologist at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Adam Grant is an expert on how to create and sustain a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. He is also a bestselling author, a TED speaker, and a host of the podcast WorkLife with Adam Grant. He is the author of several books, including Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don’t Know, which explores how to embrace doubt, curiosity, and humility to rethink and improve our beliefs, decisions, and actions. [8]

Mental Health and Well-Being

Mental health and well-being are not only personal and individual issues, but also organizational and collective ones. Mental health and well-being affect the happiness, productivity, creativity, and performance of employees, as well as the culture, reputation, and profitability of organizations.

Corporate speakers who can address the importance and benefits of mental health and well-being for your organization, industry, and society will be in high demand in 2024. They can help you understand the current and future trends, challenges, and solutions of mental health and well-being, and how to promote and support them in your workplace and beyond. They can also share practical and proven tips, tools, and strategies for enhancing your own and others’ mental health and well-being. 12

Some of the top speakers on mental health and well-being are:

• Brené Brown: A professor and researcher at the University of Houston, Brené Brown is a leading authority on the topics of vulnerability, courage, shame, and empathy. She is also a bestselling author, a TED speaker, and a host of the podcast Unlocking Us with Brené Brown. She is the author of several books, including Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts., which reveals how to cultivate a culture of courage, connection, and innovation in the workplace. [9]
• Arianna Huffington: A founder and CEO of Thrive Global, a media and technology company that helps individuals and organizations improve their well-being and performance, Arianna Huffington is a pioneer and advocate of the well-being movement. She is also a co-founder and former editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, a bestselling author, a TED speaker, and a member of the World Economic Forum. She is the author of several books, including Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder, which challenges the conventional definition of success and proposes a new way of living and working that prioritizes well-being. [10]
• Dan Harris: A co-anchor of ABC News’ Nightline and the weekend edition of Good Morning America, Dan Harris is a journalist and a meditation enthusiast. He is also a bestselling author, a TED speaker, and a host of the podcast 10% Happier with Dan Harris. He is the author of two books, 10% Happier: How I Tamed the Voice in My Head, Reduced Stress Without Losing My Edge, and Found Self-Help That Actually Works–A True Story, which chronicles his journey of discovering meditation after having a panic attack on live TV, and Meditation for Fidgety Skeptics: A 10% Happier How-to Book, which offers a practical and humorous guide to meditation for beginners and skeptics. [11]

These are just some of the top trends and topics in corporate speaking for 2024, but there are many more to explore and learn from. Corporate speakers can help you stay ahead of the curve, inspire your audience, and transform your organization. Which one would you like to hear more about?