APB Weekly: Featuring Industry Insights, Speaker Spotlights & More! (Nov 13)
13 Nov 2026
Industry Insight
Current trends, expert insights, and best practices across the speaking industry.
From Access to Expertise
At last week’s Global Speaking Industry Association (GSIA) annual meeting, one of the major conversations among attendees centered on a simple question: Where does a speaker bureau provide the most value today?
For decades, access to talent was one of the primary reasons event planners worked with bureaus. Today, AI, social media, and direct-to-speaker marketing have made discovery easier than ever. Planners can find hundreds of potential speakers without ever contacting an agent.
But finding speakers and knowing which speaker to hire are two very different things.
As discovery becomes easier, the value of a bureau increasingly lies in helping planners make better decisions. That means understanding which speakers are strongest onstage, how their presentations differ, where they may or may not be the right fit, and how their experience aligns with the audience, goals, and expectations of an event.
Technology can give you more options. An experienced bureau partner can help you understand those options and determine where to invest your time and resources.
Takeaway:
The role of the speaker bureau is evolving from providing access to providing expertise. As the number of speakers and ways to discover them continue to grow, trusted guidance and informed recommendations become even more valuable.
Speaker Spotlight
Timely highlights, notable achievements, and impactful voices shaping today’s conversations.
APB Lists: Top 10 Communication Keynote Speakers for Corporate Events and Conferences and Top 10 Economy & Finance Keynote Speakers for Corporate Events and Conferences
APB Lists continues with two new resources designed to help event planners discover speakers addressing some of the most important challenges facing organizations today. Each list offers a curated look at voices bringing practical expertise, fresh perspectives, and real-world experience to corporate and association audiences.
This edition features the Top 10 Communication Keynote Speakers and Top 10 Economy and Finance Keynote Speakers for Corporate Events and Conferences. Together, these lists spotlight experts helping organizations strengthen communication, build trust, and improve collaboration, as well as leading economic and financial voices who help audiences understand global markets, identify opportunities, and make informed decisions in an evolving economic landscape.
+ Learn more about APB's Top 10 Communication Keynote Speakers for Corporate Events and Conferences
Rye Barcott’s Courage Can Save US Featured Among Financial Times’ Best Politics Books
Rye Barcott’s bestselling book, Courage Can Save US: Ten Extraordinary Americans and the Fight for Our Future, has been featured among the Financial Times’ best politics books. Through the stories of five Democrats and five Republicans, Barcott explores the role of courage, duty, and moral leadership in an era of political division and declining public trust. His work offers audiences a timely perspective on leading with conviction, finding common ground, and making difficult decisions in service of a greater purpose.
+ Learn more about Rye Barcott
Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld Receives 2026 Joseph M. Heyman, MD Award for Contributions to Organized Medicine
Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld has been named the 2026 recipient of the Joseph M. Heyman, MD Award for Outstanding Contributions to Organized Medicine by the Massachusetts Medical Society. The award recognizes his leadership and contributions to organized medicine at the local and national levels, as well as his commitment to improving patient care and the practice of medicine. This recognition reflects Ehrenfeld’s longstanding dedication to physician leadership, advocacy, and innovation, bringing valuable perspectives to audiences navigating the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of healthcare.
+ Learn more about Dr. Jesse Ehrenfeld
Rebekah Taussig Named One of Variety’s 10 Screenwriters to Watch for 2026
Author, disability advocate, and educator Rebekah Taussig has been named one of Variety’s 10 Screenwriters to Watch for 2026 for her work on the upcoming film Being Heumann, which she co-wrote with Academy Award-winning filmmaker Siân Heder. Originally joining the project as a consultant, Taussig brought her research, personal perspective, and storytelling expertise to the film about pioneering disability rights activist Judy Heumann. The recognition highlights an exciting new chapter in Taussig’s career and her continued commitment to bringing disability history and experiences to wider audiences.
+ Learn more about Rebekah Taussig
Rave Reviews
Event feedback, audience reactions, and memorable moments from the stage.
Kelly Corrigan moderated a compelling discussion between fellow APB speaker Dr. Nadine Burke Harris and Dr. Joel Bervell at a major healthcare association’s annual meeting, engaging an audience of 2,500 academic medicine leaders, faculty, and students. Her exceptional ability to guide the conversation earned rave reviews from attendees and made such a strong impression on event organizers that they have already invited her back.
Before a near-capacity audience of more than 900 at a Texas college, Dr. Eddie Glaude Jr. delivered a powerful lecture marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, followed by an engaging discussion with Dr. Peniel Joseph. From his thought-provoking seminar with students to his evening lecture, Glaude made a lasting impression on the campus community, earning enthusiastic praise and making the event a tremendous success.
John King delivered a timely presentation on the U.S. midterm elections for an intimate audience of executives, investors, and high-net-worth clients as part of a major financial services organization’s thought leadership series. His data-driven analysis, on-the-ground reporting, and thoughtful engagement with attendees earned high praise from the client, who valued the expertise and perspective he brought to the conversation.