Drew Thompson is an AI keynote speaker and human performance strategist, best known as the Founder of Signal & Scale and former Head of Learning at Real Broker. He has built AI enablement infrastructure for more than 30,000 professionals, helping organisations embed artificial intelligence into daily workflows with measurable impact. Drew speaks to executives, founders and enterprise teams who want practical adoption rather than theory, blending behavioural science, live demonstrations and commercial insight. His biggest achievement lies in designing and deploying large scale AI systems that move teams from curiosity to consistent, revenue linked usage.
Drew’s journey began in performance rather than corporate life. As a child actor on ‘All My Children’, he developed the communication skills and presence that now define his keynote style. He later trained at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts before earning a BA in Marketing from The Ohio State University, grounding creativity in commercial discipline. Early roles in corporate communications and digital marketing gave him hands on experience in brand building, storytelling and data driven growth. These formative years shaped Drew’s belief that technology succeeds only when people change how they think and work.
His career is marked by building and scaling systems. As Founder and CEO of 19ad4, Drew grew a marketing agency from zero to a multi person team serving national brands. At Coldwell Banker, where he rose to Vice President of Enablement and Performance, he launched the company’s first enterprise coaching and enablement programme across 52 offices, leading a distributed team of 23 coaches. He then became Head of Enablement and Learning and Development at Real Broker, delivering more than 60 keynote sessions nationwide and embedding AI workflows across a 30,000 strong professional network. In 2024, Drew founded Signal & Scale, advising private equity, financial services and legal organisations on governance light AI rollouts, prompt safety standards and measurable productivity gains.
Organisations hire Drew because he bridges ambition and execution. He shows leaders how to build AI first operating systems, create ‘digital twins’ that extend executive capacity, and reduce agency dependency by developing in house AI powered brand studios. Drew also speaks on emotional intelligence in times of change and the strategic use of humour to build trust and resilience. These themes resonate because most AI investments stall after initial enthusiasm, while Drew equips teams with repeatable frameworks that sustain adoption.
Drew Thompson’s official speaker topics are listed below:
The $0 Framework: How to Build a Business That Loves You Back
In this flagship keynote, Drew introduces a practical system for embedding AI into everyday workflows without increasing headcount or complexity. Drawing on his experience supporting 30,000 professionals, he demonstrates how to build a “digital twin”, implement core AI systems and measure adoption through tangible performance indicators. Audiences leave with a step-by-step blueprint for turning curiosity into capability, reducing wasted spend and creating sustainable leverage across teams.
The Humans Strike Back: Outsmarting AI Anxiety with Emotional Intelligence
This keynote reframes AI adoption as a leadership challenge rooted in psychology. Drew explains why resistance is emotional rather than technical and shares a clear playbook for guiding teams through uncertainty. Using behavioural science, real case studies and interactive exercises, he equips leaders to create psychological safety, accelerate experimentation and move employees from fear to fluency in fast-changing environments.
What the Top 1% Know About AI That No One’s Talking About
Aimed at ambitious organisations, this session explores how high performers think differently about AI. Rather than treating it as a tool, they build it into decision-making, creativity and communication. Drew outlines three practical shifts, Think AI-First, Build AI-First and Show Up AI-First, with examples from enterprise adoption. The result is a mindset that increases presence, originality and commercial value.
Permission to Laugh: Why Humour Is Your Most Underrated Business Strategy
Blending personal storytelling with performance insight, Drew demonstrates how humour accelerates trust and resilience. He shares techniques for using levity strategically in high-stakes settings, from leadership meetings to large conferences. Grounded in his upbringing and early acting career, this keynote shows how laughter strengthens influence, builds connection and sustains high performance during periods of change.
- 2025 - Delivered executive AI keynotes including “The Signal and the Noise” for ACG New Jersey
- 2024 - Founded Signal & Scale, AI enablement consultancy serving private equity and enterprise clients
- 2024 - Appointed Head of Enablement & Learning and Development at Real Broker
- 2023 - Promoted to Vice President, Enablement & Performance at Coldwell Banker
- 2017 - Founded and scaled marketing agency 19ad4
- 2014 - Completed advanced portfolio studies at School of Visual Arts
- 2010 - Appointed Director of Social and Digital Media at Dot The i Creative
How to hire Drew Thompson
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Drew Thompson for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
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