The right speaker can have a major impact on a business event. From setting the tone of the gathering to inspiring attendees and offering new perspectives, speakers play a crucial role in corporate event programming. 

To find out which speakers and what topics—such as artificial intelligence, employee connection, and sustainability—are currently most in demand at corporate events across the U.S., we asked some speaker bureaus and corporate event planners to share their thoughts on what’s hot right now.  

Bonny Ghosh, editorial director of business media company Inc.: 

"At Inc. we’re fascinated in understanding the entrepreneurial journey. Our constant goal is to [produce] the most timely and engaging events that spark a conversation and inspire founders and CEOs to spread ideas and share their insights. Since our events are driven by live journalism, what’s on the forefront of business thought leaders’ minds is what drives the topics in our events. 

At the moment, AI is top-of-mind amongst our community of business leaders and driving much of our programming, from the broader more conceptual standpoint of the ethical implications behind AI and the way it will forever change the way we operate our businesses to the more practical aspects of how to implement AI solutions in real-world applications.  

We curate a lineup of speakers from celebrity-founded brands (Seth Rogan’s Houseplant, Ryan Reynold’s MNTN, Naomi Watts’ Stripes), founders and CEOs from high-growth companies (Poppi, Oilipop), and companies who are making strides as pioneers in their industry. Ultimately, we look to include those dynamic founders who are making an impact by bringing fresh new ideas and voices to often crowded industries and marketplaces in our events.” 

Mollie Plotkin, president of Mollie Plotkin Group, a talent agency that specializes in keynote speakers, professional athletes, and thought leaders:  

“Our speakers are offering what meeting planners are looking for: new, innovative, and engaging content about connection. Planners are being asked to find speakers who can inspire their audiences to feel value and purpose in the work they do and within their personal and professional communities. 

Speakers are offering keynotes and workshops that promote working collaboratively and breaking the loneliness of silos that’s become all too common. There is a tremendous amount of science and data that speakers are using to show the decision-makers that employees who feel valued, find purpose in their work, and feel connected to each other do better at work, live healthier lives, and rate higher in overall happiness.” 

Rose Lanham, president of Players for Good Athlete Speakers Bureau:  

“Today’s top speakers aren’t just talking—they’re crafting moments. In 2025, event planners are no longer simply looking for entertaining speakers—they’re searching for transformative experiences that drive ROI. Whether it’s a corporate conference or an association event, planners are being evaluated on the long-term value their speaker choices bring to the organization. This has led to a strong shift toward keynotes that offer not only inspiration but also actionable insights and lasting mindset shifts. 

Planners are gravitating toward speakers who can deliver actionable strategies their audiences can immediately apply—moving beyond strictly motivation into measurable outcomes. Audiences are craving authenticity, personalization, and content that directly connects to their professional and personal lives during a very uncertain time. Impactful keynote speakers are able to share incredible life experiences and tie these back to the attendee’s struggles, creating a unique experience that is relevant to their pain points today.    

Elite athletes are naturally results-driven, resilient, and leaders. A skilled speaker can artfully translate life lessons from a Super Bowl moment to meaningful takeaways for any audience, whether that’s a team of financial advisors, tech entrepreneurs, an HR team, or healthcare leaders. 

College Football Hall of Famer David Pollack, for example, speaks on the power of focus and productivity, delivering a high-energy keynote packed with actionable strategies for peak performance. Similarly, three-time Olympic gold medalist Heather Mitts Feeley delivers her powerful “Gold Medal Mindset” keynote, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the mental training and resilience it takes to reach the top—despite facing adversity and setbacks along the way. 

Players for Good speakers often join a small client dinner or golf outing as part of their keynote contract, leading to deeper relationships with the management or top clients.” 

Rich Bracken, a professional speaker for corporate events, webinars, and workshops specializing in topics on emotional intelligence, motivation, and executive presence: 

“The topics I’m hearing most about are emotional intelligence and wellness, leadership during change and challenging times, change management, and communication across teams and generations. These are evergreen topics that can and should be discussed more because they’re constants in business and industries. The positive thing is that we're finally talking about topics like emotional intelligence and mental health/resilience more often because these are critical to professional and personal success. 

What I’m hearing the most though is that any and all speakers need to have a connection with the audience through engagement, interaction, entertainment, and empathy. Just getting up and delivering is table stakes these days as event planners and attendees want (and should get) an experience. If you're not bringing empathy, emotion, and engagement to your audience then you’re not providing an optimal delivery.” 

Corey Shapoff, president, SME Entertainment Group, A Live Nation Company: 

“Artificial Intelligence speakers are among the most in-demand voices on today’s speaker circuit. AI speakers help audiences navigate and understand topics like automation, ethics, and innovation, and how to apply this knowledge into everyday life.” 

He added that leadership speakers are also “highly sought after as organizations face rapid change, uncertainty, and the need for more adaptive, empathetic leaders. They provide valuable insights into navigating crisis, building resilient teams, and leading with purpose and authenticity in today’s complex world,” citing Simon Sinek, Jesse Itzler, and Mel Robbins as popular speakers in this area. 

Lead image of Rich Bracken courtesy of Your Face Is Rad photography

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