In an era when AI tools can write speeches and avatars can deliver them, the keynote industry is facing a reckoning. Yet for leadership keynote speaker and futurist Nick Jankel, this is not a crisis; it’s an invitation to adapt, evolve, and become even better at the craft.
Jankel, a globally recognized leadership keynote speaker and futurist speaker, raised in London and now based in California, has built a career not just on delivering ideas but transforming audiences. “I think the industry has to add more value than mere information, which people can discover using AI,” he explains. “That is why I am pushing the boundaries of what a keynote speaker can do, from informative > motivational > inspirational > transformational.”
With more than 1,000 keynotes under his belt, Jankel knows the weight of standing before a crowd. He has spoken at No. 10 Downing Street (the UK Prime Minister’s headquarters), advised governments, and worked with global giants such as Microsoft, Google, and Unilever. Still, he believes the real impact of a leadership or futurist keynote speaker comes from offering more than insight. It comes from transformation.
Pushing the Boundaries of the Stage
Jankel started speaking when he was just 15. Over the years, he’s grown into a globally respected leadership keynote speaker, developing a unique methodology that blends neuroscience, systems thinking, futurism, emotional agility, and storytelling. “If you understand how to share thought leadership with inspiration and influence on stage, on TV, and in books, you can make a real difference to people’s lives,” he says.
That philosophy powers his consultancy, Switch On Leadership, where he leads transformational leadership programs and breakthrough innovation initiatives. His BTX® Method, backed by neuroscience, helps leaders navigate rapid change and unlock personal and organizational transformation as fast as humanly possible.
Far from viewing AI as a threat, Jankel embraces it as a creative partner. As a leadership keynote speaker and thought leader, he uses AI to enhance and accelerate book writing and content production (blogs, video edits, imagery, etc), all while ensuring the work remains original, relevant, and deeply human.
Most of all, he constantly sharpens his on-stage presence so he can not just inform and inspire but actually catalyze change.
Keynotes as Catalysts
The traditional keynote format, Jankel believes, is ripe for disruption. “I balance the need to be a thought leader with my capacity as a transformation catalyst and large group facilitator,” he explains. He’s pioneered interactive formats, immersive journeys, and even gamified elements to shift how audiences engage.
“Audiences are sick of smart people standing on stage telling everyone else what to think,” Jankel notes. His solution? Engaging people with puzzles, music, and live facilitation techniques that invite participation and drive mindset shifts in real-time.
As a leadership keynote speaker and futurist, Jankel’s focus is not just predicting what’s ahead. It’s helping leaders shape it. Whether guiding companies through digital transformation or challenging industries to rethink innovation, his work centers on what he calls “leadership futurism”, not just reacting to the future but proactively forging it.
Most keynote speakers are able to talk about geopolitical risks or leadership thinking or digital transformation or high-performance cultures or today’s AI capabilities and opportunities or the future of work/leadership/business.
Because of his unique career path, from scientist to strategist to catalyst, Jankel’s leadership keynotes integrate futurist-style geo-political risks, AI deployment, high-performance cultures, future-fit leadership skills and tools, and industry-specific growth and innovation opportunities into a coherent journey.
From Burnout to Breakthrough
Like many in the industry, Jankel has faced his share of pain and burnout. A few years ago, he even questioned whether keynote speaking was still his calling. But instead of stepping back, he reconnected with his deeper purpose and did what he invites his clients to do: turn lemons into lemonade.
“I metabolized the feelings of despondency and tiredness into a major breakthrough, which has had me fall back in love all over again with keynote speaking and thought leadership,” he reflects.
That renewal now powers his new book on transformative public speaking, a TV show in development, and a growing online presence. It also sharpens his work as a futurist keynote speaker, serving clients who want more than just a performance; they want a paradigm shift.
An Inspiration, Guide, and Motivator for Leaders In An AI World
Nick Jankel’s story highlights the evolution of the speaking industry and the need for transformation in the age of AI. As he looks ahead, his mission is clear: to continue pushing the boundaries of what a leadership keynote speaker and futurist can offer, helping leaders and teams not just adapt to the future, but create it.
For more information about Nick and his work, visit nickjankel.com or follow him on LinkedIn.
Written in partnership with Tom White
