Gerd Leonhard is recognised as one of the world's top 10 futurist keynote speakers. The CEO of The Futures Agency, a global network of over 30 leading futurists, and a Fellow of the Royal Society for the Arts in London, Gerd is not just a futurist but also a passionate humanist, philosopher and musician. His love for technology is undeniable, but he firmly believes that technology, devoid of ethics, should never overshadow what makes us human. This belief is a cornerstone of his speeches, where he shares insightful knowledge and experiences from his career.
In 2004, Gerd was appointed CEO of The Futures Agency. His contributions to the field were recognised when he was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Europe by Wired magazine in 2006. Gerd's insights are frequently shared in major publications like The Guardian, Harvard Business Review, and Business Insider. He has also appeared on numerous TV networks, including BBC, CNN, and various European TV networks, further solidifying his influence. In 2014, he released his best-selling book Technology vs Humanity: The Coming Clash Between Man and Machine, which has been translated into ten different languages. He is also known for engaging keynote presentations, having performed at over 2000 events worldwide, reaching a combined audience of over 3.5 million. Gerd has also presented many popular TED Talks based on his industry insight, including The Good Future, which has 100K views.
In addition to his written works, Gerd creates films that explore the future of technology and humanity, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence. In 2021, he produced and released The Good Future, a film that addresses the future of humanity and the need for sustainable development. Gerd's diverse body of work has attracted a client list that includes some of the biggest organisations including Fortune 500 companies, governments, and NGOs. In 2023, he delivered keynotes at major conferences for organisations such as Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Visa, and Google. Gerd has also presented The Good Future at Emerson Exchange EMEA, Navigating the Future at IBM Tech 2024 in Dubai, and the UNG HOAG Lecture on AI, Education, and Humanity.
A highly regarded individual and global influencer, Gerd has advised and consulted several leading international organisations such as UBS, Mastercard and Unilever. He is a must-have speaker for any technology or futurism event and a leading global influencer in digital ethics. Gerd's presentations are not one-size-fits-all but rather tailored to his audience and event type. Gerd's versatility allows him to discuss many subjects based on the near future and actionable foresight in media, business, humanity, society, commerce, technology, and communications.
Recently, Gerd Leonhard was inducted into the Top Futurism Speakers to Hire, commending his achievements within the technology industry.
Social Media
Books
Technology vs. Humanity: The coming clash between man and machine
Friction is Fiction: The Future of Content, Media & Business
Reviews
Claire Lomas received a 5 star rating across 19 events in 2023.
AGENT RECOMMENDATION
"Gerd Leonhard is an outstanding speaker and futurist who never fails to captivate his audience. His talks on technology and its societal impacts are both insightful and engaging. Gerd's ability to simplify complex ideas and inspire innovation makes him a must-have for any event looking for a dynamic and thought-provoking experience."
How to hire Gerd Leonhard
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Gerd Leonhard 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.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
Gerd's official speaking topics are listed below.
- From transformation to humanisation
- Technology and humanity: the next decade
- The digital transformation of business and society
- The 10 megashifts: transforming your organisation
- Artificial intelligence - what's real?
- Digital ethics / the ethics of technology
- Practical wisdom: foresight and action
- The future of work
- Understanding the future: game-changers and megashifts
- How to do the future, today
OFFICIAL FEEDBACK FROM IN-PERSON & VIRTUAL EVENTS
“Gerd made a great contribution and was a pleasure to work with on our FODM event. His session was a fantastic addition to the programme and a great success." - Kelly, Econsultancy (London).
“Gerd was the opening keynote speaker at our social media and content marketing event and made a huge impact to all 400 listeners. People discussed and quoted him throughout the day and in many blog posts afterwards. We organisers were all very happy about this." - Sanna, PING Helsinki Event.
“Gerd provided amazing collaboration and partnership during our recent futurist-focused client event in Southern California… Our client was thrilled and the attendees took away a great wealth of information that will surely help them increase revenues and surpass their competitors using the technology-focused information provided during his presentation.” - Ron, IfOnly.
- 2024 - Presented The Good Future at Emerson Exchange EMEA
- 2024 - Presented Navigating the Future at IBM Tech
- 2024 - Presented the UNG HOAG Lecture on AI, Education, and Humanity
- 2021 - Produced and released The Good Future
- 2014 - Published Technology vs Humanity: The Coming Clash Between Man and Machine
- 2006 - Named one of the Top 100 Most Influential People in Europe by Wired Magazine
- 2004 - Appointed CEO of The Futures Agency
