In The News

As more speakers expand the ways in which they can be booked and event planners adjust to a landscape with more booking options than ever before, many planners still assume going directly to the speaker creates a competitive advantage or leads to a better deal. In reality, the process is usually far more standardized than many realize, and working with a trusted agency partner often creates a stronger overall event experience.

National Hospital Week (May 10–16) is a time to recognize the extraordinary dedication of healthcare professionals—and to reflect on the evolving challenges and opportunities facing hospitals today. From frontline providers to executive leadership, healthcare teams continue to navigate complex demands while striving to deliver compassionate, high-quality care.

Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is a time to recognize the rich histories, diverse cultures, and lasting contributions of AAPI communities—and to create space for meaningful conversations about identity, belonging, and inclusion. Across industries, organizations are increasingly prioritizing opportunities to elevate diverse voices and foster deeper cultural understanding. AAPI Heritage Month offers a powerful moment to engage audiences in conversations that inspire empathy, challenge perspectives, and build stronger, more inclusive communities.

During National Nurses Month, we celebrate the professionals who are often at the heart of patient care—providing not only clinical expertise but also compassion, advocacy, and leadership. As the healthcare landscape continues to evolve, nurses are playing an increasingly vital role in shaping patient outcomes, team culture, and organizational success.

National Women’s Health Month is a time to elevate conversations around prevention, early detection, emotional well-being, and the unique health challenges women face. More than ever, organizations are recognizing the importance of supporting women’s health—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time to elevate conversations, reduce stigma, and create spaces where people feel safe seeking support. Organizations across every industry are recognizing that mental health is essential to overall well-being. The keynote speakers below—from nationally recognized medical leaders to courageous recovery advocates—share personal stories, research-backed insights, and practical strategies that leave audiences informed and empowered.

COVID reshaped how planners think about timing when booking keynote speakers. During the shift to virtual events, booking one to two months out became normal because, without travel, it was often doable. That mindset has carried over into in-person events. We’re seeing more and more planners assume the same flexibility applies, only to realize late in the process that availability, travel, and logistics require significantly more lead time. The result is a narrower pool of speakers and fewer opportunities to align the right voice with the moment.

Observed annually on April 22, Earth Day serves as a global reminder of the responsibility shared by governments, businesses, and individuals to protect the environment and build a more sustainable future. This year’s focus highlights the accelerating impacts of climate change—from extreme weather events to biodiversity loss—while underscoring the importance of policy leadership and collective action in addressing these challenges. Take a look at some of our top voices for Earth Day!

One of the most important decisions in event planning isn’t just who you bring in as a speaker, but how you structure the session. Some speakers are at their best delivering a traditional keynote, building a clear throughline that inspires and energizes an audience from start to finish. But when a speaker’s content spans multiple ideas, areas of expertise, or perspectives that don’t naturally fit into one linear flow—or when you want the speaker to cover several topics within a single session—a different format can create a stronger, more cohesive experience. We’re seeing more planners lean into moderated conversations or fireside chats in these moments, allowing the content to unfold with more focus, flexibility, and clarity.

One of the biggest shifts in today’s events landscape is that organizations aren’t just looking for a keynote, they’re looking for something their audience can actively engage with and remember. That shift is showing up in how programs are built. More speakers are incorporating real-time interaction, whether that’s audience participation, reflection moments, or simple exercises that help people apply ideas on the spot. We’re seeing more and more planners choose interactive formats over traditional keynotes, prioritizing programs where audiences can engage with and apply ideas in real time.