Brett Schklar

Brett Schklar is a leading AI adoption futurist, CEO of AI-First Leadership, and author of ‘AI Without the BS’. As a keynote speaker, Brett is widely recognised for cutting through hype and jargon, giving leaders clarity on how to harness artificial intelligence as a core business driver. His greatest achievement is the creation of the AI-First Leadership framework, a practical roadmap built on more than 1,000 hours of experimentation that equips CEOs and executives to scale smarter, innovate faster, and lead with confidence in the AI-powered era. Known for his engaging style, Brett transforms fear and uncertainty about AI into clear, actionable strategies that empower business leaders to succeed.

Brett’s early career began with hands-on experience in customer engagement and marketing at AT&T, where he rose to become Regional Internet Sales Manager and later Product Marketing Manager, earning the Vice President’s Award for Excellence. His talent for aligning technology with customer needs quickly became apparent, laying the foundation for his leadership journey. He then joined IBM Internet Security Systems, where as Director of Offer Management he played a pivotal role in integrating newly acquired services and developing profitable managed security solutions that achieved 300% growth in under a year. At Q1 Labs (later acquired by IBM Security), Brett was hired as employee number three and served as Vice President of Product & Marketing, successfully branding the company, securing more than $18 million in financing, and positioning it as a market leader recognised by Gartner and Forrester. These formative years gave him a deep understanding of how to take innovative technologies from concept to market leadership.

Throughout his career, Brett has consistently built and scaled businesses with remarkable results. As Vice President of Marketing at Vericept Corporation, he delivered a 420% ROI and $43 million in new pipeline revenue within his first year. He went on to found and serve as Chief Marketing Officer and Managing Partner of Market Creation Group, where he led a team of 18, worked with 230 clients, and saw 23 successful client exits. The company was twice ranked in the Denver Business Journal’s Fastest Growing Private Companies and ultimately achieved a successful acquisition in 2018. Brett was also recognised as one of Denver’s Forty under 40 and has received multiple accolades, including the BMA B2B Best Practices Award. His influence has extended beyond the boardroom as Vice Chairman of SoftwareColorado and Adjunct Professor of MBA Marketing at the University of Denver, cementing his status as both a practitioner and educator. Today, he continues to guide companies as a Vistage International Speaker, consistently earning ratings above 4.7 out of 5 for content, delivery, and applicability.

Now, as the driving force behind AI-First Leadership, Brett helps CEOs and leadership teams embrace what he calls “CEO 2.0” and “Leadership 2.0,” ensuring that organisations do not simply adopt AI as a side project but integrate it as a central business strategy. He speaks on topics such as AI leadership, digital transformation, and building high-performance, AI-ready teams, making complex ideas simple and actionable. His sessions provide immediate takeaways, from accelerating decision-making to enhancing customer experiences and optimising productivity across operations. Companies that hire Brett benefit not only from his deep expertise but also from his ability to make AI accessible, engaging, and inspiring. With humour, energy, and clarity, he helps leaders see the opportunities that AI presents and equips them with the tools to seize them. For organisations looking to outpace competitors and thrive in the age of Generation AI, Brett is the speaker who can turn possibility into progress.