Planning an event often leaves you with the feeling that it shouldn’t end. There’s a unique joy in gathering like-minded people to make meaningful connections. As events evolve, planners are looking to amplify the impact of their events, particularly through speakers. Beyond the traditional keynote, new trends such as interactive Q&A sessions, gamification, and live polling are becoming popular, but is there more?
Keynote speakers offer a unique value because you can take their impact out the door to make a lasting change in attendees’ lives and a growing number of professional speakers are recognizing the need to deepen human connections through engagement.
Social Impact
Brandi Leifso is an international speaker and founder of Evio Beauty. She is focused on resilience and social impact and as part of her bookings she offers to conduct wellness workshops at a local women’s shelter. The event (and by extension the planners and attendees) are able to support local socially responsible efforts while raising awareness for domestic violence. Event manager Lindsey McLean, PMP, CCIP, emphasizes that true engagement goes beyond the stage, fostering a sense of community and authenticity. “Seeing our local women’s house organization benefit from this initiative was incredibly powerful. It wasn’t just about inspiration in the room; it was about action in the real world.”
Future Generational Impact
There is no better way to position your brand as a leader in the industry than working with youth initiatives. As an example, planners can enhance their investment with Jamie McMillan, a skilled trades visionary and motivational speaker. Jamie has specialized offerings to visit local educational facilities and conduct sessions to educate youth and young adults on sustainable opportunities to build future careers they love.
Community Give-back
Some speakers get creative with their give-back initiatives. For example, if 50 per cent of delegates complete surveys, the speaker can offer a donation to the event’s charity of choice. “Everyone immediately got on their phones because working together for the greater good adds value to the event, making the entire experience more impactful,” exclaimed Sarah McVanel, keynote speaker and international recognition, retention and culture expert.
Level Up The Theme
Connecting to an event theme at every turn creates that cohesive experience planners strive to establish. Your keynote speakers can 100 per cent take part in the fun. Sarah McVanel spoke at an 80s themed event, dressing up in 80s attire, and tailoring her presentation with that generation’s perspective.
Daniel Lewis, human-centric customer experience expert, customized his keynote to Club Managers of America’s “Wizard of Oz” event theme. He designed his entire presentation around “There’s no place like CMAA,” creating an energy that resonated on stage and through the rest of the event.
Immersive Fireside Chats
One underutilized format that can significantly deepen engagement is the cozy Fireside Chat. This intimate setting post-presentation encourages speakers to share deeper insights into their personal journeys and industry trends, providing audiences with richer, thought-provoking content. Fireside chats offer a more interactive and authentic way for speakers to connect with attendees beyond the traditional keynote.
Speakers Unique Offerings
Speakers can elevate their engagement by offering unique extras. For example, Daniel Lewis, who owns a tea company, can design custom tea bags for attendees with the event’s branding.
Your keynote speaker can work in tandem with you to go above and beyond. For example, Sarah McVanel has gone a step further by interviewing individuals within the client’s organization to tailor her keynote to their specific pain points. She has written articles for the client’s own publications to enhance the impact of her presentation. Sarah also provides additional value beyond the keynote through micro-courses, whitepapers, and infographics at no extra cost.
Authors among the speakers can offer take-home strategies through book giveaways or signings. For instance, Gregg Brown, an expert on leadership and being future-ready, provides up to 50 copies of his Amazon #1 Bestseller, Spark Action: How to Lead Change That Matters, offering attendees valuable post-event insights.
Field Trips
Some events like to incorporate local ‘field trips’ for attendees to experience and learn more about their event location. This is a perfect opportunity for a keynote speaker to immerse in the event experience beyond their presentation. Alongside attendees, Michael Kutcher, life purpose advocate who champions diversity, equality and inclusion talks, joined attendees while they toured a facility helping those in the community with disabilities.
The Heart of Successful Events is Human Connection
Whether virtual or in-person, speakers have the power to inspire transformational change through their words. By going beyond the keynote, event planners can enhance attendee engagement and create a more meaningful experience.
The future of speaker engagement is evolving, focusing on social impact, connection, and authenticity. Event planners now have the opportunity to work with speakers to elevate the impact of their events, bringing added value and joy to the process. When planning your next event, consider how speakers can deepen human connection and create lasting, positive energy beyond the stage.
Stephanie Hiltz is a meeting and event professional with 20 years of experience. Originally from Toronto, she lives in Costa Rica with her husband Jonathan and two children, Violet and Clark. She currently is a speaker strategist and event Specialist at TA Speakers Management, a boutique agency managing human connection keynote speakers. Event planning is one of her greatest passions along with travel, experiencing adventure, and trying new foods. She can be contacted at stephanie@taspeakersmanagement.com.
