What Should a Keynote Speaker Talk About? Top Futurist Offers Some Thoughts

As the centerpiece presentation at any major conference, convention or corporate event, a keynote speech carries immense importance. Attendees have high expectations of finding value, insights and inspiration from this marquee speaker. But determining precisely what a keynote speaker should address is both an art and a science.

At its core, the keynote topic should align with the core themes, objectives and key takeaways of the overall event itself. The speaker’s message must be pertinent and additive to the reasons people showed up in the first place. Their unique insights, stories and viewpoints should expand upon and elevate the main topics and conversations at the heart of the event.

Beyond broad relevance to the event subject matter, the most impactful keynotes tend to focus on few powerfully resonant themes rather than trying to comprehensively cover an entire topic area. Whether it’s sharing contrarian ideas that challenge assumptions, offering a revelatory vision of the future, or equipping the audience with specific strategies and frameworks, great keynotes introduce novel ways for people to level-up their thinking.

Some of the most common rich veins that keynote speakers frequently mine include:

Industry Foresight
Articulating where a particular field, sector or the broader business landscape is heading allows the keynote to serve as a catalyst for future-preparedness. Audiences want a compass for the changes and disruptions on the horizon.

Customer/Audience Obsession
Exploring important audience perspectives, needs, motivations and desires provides value-rich takeaways that increase relevance and retention.

Peak Performance
Who doesn’t want to up their game? Keynotes that equip people with proven frameworks for enhancing individual, team or organizational performance are extremely popular.

Innovation Mindset
In today’s ever-evolving world, any keynote that spurs new innovative mindsets, behaviors and processes tends to get rave reviews.

Change Mastery
The only constant is change itself. Audiences desperate for change management and navigation tools flock to keynotes that deliver this knowledge.

Transformational Mindset
From tactical self-actualization techniques to purpose articulation to personal reinvention, keynotes that leave audiences seeing themselves and their potential in a new transcendent light are incredibly impactful.

Of course, the very best keynotes will fuse many of these elements into an overarching visionary narrative that awakens new ways of seeing problems, opportunities and one’s own ability to influence their circumstances. But regardless of the specific framing, the goal is creating an indelible experience that shifts worldviews, unlocks potential and propels action.