Gerd Leonhard | Keynote Speaker

Gerd Leonhard | Keynote Speaker

Gerd Leonhard is a globally recognised futurist, humanist and keynote speaker who helps organisations navigate rapid technological change. Advising leaders across business and government, he challenges audiences to balance innovation with ethics, sustainability and what it means to remain human in a machine-driven world.

Sample Talks

  • People, Planet, Purpose and Prosperity: Designing The Good Future
  • AI vs Humanity: Technology, Ethics and What Makes Us Human
  • The Future of Work, Skills and Leadership in the Age of AI
  • Beyond GDP: Rethinking Capitalism for a Sustainable World
  • Digital Ethics, Regulation and the Risks of Unchecked Technology

Watch Gerd Leonhard in Action

What people say about Gerd Leonhard as a speaker

Biography

Introduction

Gerd Leonhard is one of the world’s most influential futurist and humanist keynote speakers, advising organisations on the future of technology, business and society. Known for his bold thinking and provocative insights, he helps leaders prepare for profound change while keeping human values at the centre of progress.

Professional Background & Credentials

Over the past two decades, Gerd Leonhard has delivered nearly 2,000 keynote engagements across more than 60 countries, reaching a combined audience of over 2.5 million people. He has been recognised by Wired as one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Europe and described by The Wall Street Journal as one of the world’s leading media futurists.

Gerd is the CEO of The Futures Agency, a global network of futurists, speakers and thought leaders advising enterprises, governments and NGOs on future readiness, resilience and foresight. His client portfolio includes Fortune 500 companies, global institutions and public bodies such as SAP, Microsoft, Google, VISA, Accenture, Deloitte, Siemens, Unilever, the BBC, WWF, the European Commission and numerous national governments.

Originally trained as a professional musician, Gerd won Berklee College of Music’s prestigious Quincy Jones Award before spending 12 years as a guitarist, composer and producer. In the mid-1990s, he became an internet entrepreneur in Silicon Valley, founding and leading several digital media start-ups before returning to Europe and establishing himself as a leading futurist and author.

Speaking Style & Audience Value

Gerd Leonhard is renowned for his highly engaging, visually immersive and thought-provoking keynote performances. His delivery is energetic, candid and often deliberately challenging, combining humour, storytelling and sharp analysis. He presents in keynote, virtual keynote, fireside chat and advisory formats, both in person and online.

Audiences value his ability to translate complex technological and societal trends into clear, actionable insights. Delegates leave with a deeper understanding of AI, digital transformation, sustainability and leadership, and, crucially, with a renewed focus on ethics, resilience and human purpose in an increasingly automated world.

Books & Publications

Gerd Leonhard is the author of the international bestseller Technology vs Humanity, now available in multiple languages worldwide. He is also the co-author of The Future of Music and has written several other influential books exploring technology, culture and societal change.

Media & Thought Leadership

Gerd is a regular contributor and sought-after interviewee for leading global media, including the BBC, CNN, The Guardian, Harvard Business Review, Wired UK and Business Insider. He is also a featured expert in numerous international documentaries examining the future of technology and its impact on society.

Awards & Affiliations

Gerd Leonhard is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) in London. In addition, he serves as an advisory board member for several international research institutes.

Contact us now for more information on how Gerd can support your organisation in navigating technological change, strengthening future-ready leadership and shaping a more human-centred, sustainable future.

Books by Gerd Leonhard

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