What Keynote Topics are Trending for 2025?

It’s common for businesses to search diligently for the perfect keynote. Having a compelling voice at the top of the ticket can be a powerful tool for event sales, day-of attendance and overall audience engagement. So, if you’re planning a banner event this year, it’s good to know what keynote topics are trending for 2025. You’ll also be able to review our suggestions for popular speakers who specialise in those areas and begin to create your shortlist.

Top trending types of keynote speakers in 2025

For 2025, AI speakers, technology speakers, motivational speakers and leadership speakers are trending. Leadership speakers or motivational speakers are typically always popular – offering rousing content and creating an emotional pull that keeps eyes glued to the stage. But in 2025, we’re seeing tech take the forefront even more. People are curious about innovations like artificial intelligence, machine learning and augmented reality. Audiences are enthralled by the advancements and often wonder how they’re used in both business and personal settings. Below, we’ll break down what areas these talks are shedding insight into and provide a few examples of superior talent in these spaces.

AI speakers & technology speakers

AI speakers & technology speakers usually focus on anecdotes, use cases and practical applications for their keynote addresses. Listeners want credibility and lived experience when thinking about technology, but there’s always a dash of futurism thrown into these conversations as well. Audiences are hungry for a glimpse at what 2030 might look like, so they can practise a little tech daydreaming of their own. AI ethics, machine learning advancements, generative AI, autonomous systems, AI in creative industries, AI regulations, the future of work, bias in AI and responsible AI development are all hot-button areas for 2025 keynote speeches and the best addresses weave a few of these concepts together.

If you’re looking at booking AI speakers or technology speakers for your next event, we recommend Zoe Kleinman, the BBC’s first-ever Technology Editor and groundbreaking investigative reporter who covered Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter, the Wild West of crypto and the Facebook-Cambridge Analytica scandal.

Alternatively, you might consider Georgia Lewis Anderson. She’s an award-winning AI Content and Prompt Engineering Strategist who has worked for Meta, Microsoft and Google, among others, crafting Cortana’s British personality at Microsoft and launching Google Assistant in the UK.

Motivational speakers & leadership speakers

When looking at motivational speakers & leadership speakers, their personal lived experience usually rises to the top. Audiences want someone they can relate to but who is also an aspirational figure. Overcoming adversity, resilience, developing a growth mindset, emotional intelligence, team building, productivity hacks, beating imposter syndrome, leading with empathy, corporate culture transformation, servant leadership and navigating uncertainty are all keynote topics that are trending for 2025. So, the best talks will incorporate a few of these ideas but be coloured by the personal experiences of the presenter themselves.

If you’re looking for motivational speakers or leadership speakers, we recommend Ayo Sokale, a civil engineer, who founded Tessellated Future Technology in 2023 and launched the AI-powered coaching app – Get Coached in 2024. Her uplifting, energetic presence and passion for innovation & sustainability engage audiences of all ages. Or, for a keynote address with great gravitas and tradition baked in, we recommend leadership speaker Sir Craig Oliver.

He’s the former Director of Politics and Communications to the British PM, former Controller of BBC Global and a trusted voice on leadership, communications and geopolitics in our “360-degree media world” during a time of extreme change and volatility.

Why moderators matter

Lastly, it’s not all just about the headliners that you book for your event. Experienced moderation can provide consistency and event flow control; ensuring your itinerary goes off without a hitch and everyone knows what’s happening next. The main roles of a professional moderator are ensuring smooth discussions while remaining neutral, managing the event timeline, handling any conflicts or audience outbursts, adding credibility to the event roster and looking after the welfare of participants.

In addition to selecting a speaker around one of the keynote topics that are trending for 2025, you may also want to book a moderator. We recommend Susannah Streeter. She’s one of Riva Media’s most popular moderators and comes from a background of flagship business show hosting on TV and radio. Susannah makes for a fabulous host or chair; specialising in events on macroeconomics, energy, sustainability, defence and artificial intelligence.

Her recent credits include The World Green Economy Summit in Dubai, the Global Fund Conference in Lyon, Arctic Frontiers in Tromso, the Global Air and Space Chiefs Conference in London, the Our Ocean Summit in Oslo, the Sustainable Finance Forum in Abu Dhabi and the EU Nuclear Forum in Prague; so you can be confident in her leadership and event oversight ability.

To book the top trending types of keynote speakers in 2025 and host an event your audience won’t soon forget, visit: www.rivamedia.co.uk today.