Section 01. Speaker Evaluation
Red Flags vs. Green Flags
Your audience can tell the difference between someone who's done the work and someone who's memorized the slides. Here's how you spot it before you book.
🔴
They can't name a specific result from their own AI deployment
If the speaker only references other companies' case studies, they're a researcher, not an operator. Your audience needs someone who's built it.
🔴
Their talk description is full of buzzwords and empty of specifics
"Leveraging synergies in the AI ecosystem" tells your audience nothing. Look for concrete: "How we cut proposal time from 3 hours to 8 minutes."
🔴
They only do keynotes, no workshops or Q&A
Speakers who avoid interactive formats often can't go deeper than their script. Real operators welcome hard questions.
🟢
They've run a P&L, built a team, or managed a transformation
Operator-speakers bring pattern recognition that academics and pundits can't. They know what breaks and what actually ships.
🟢
They customize the talk for your audience
A great speaker asks who's in the room before they build the deck. Generics bore. Specificity transforms.
🟢
Attendees implement something the week after the talk
The gold standard: your audience doesn't just feel inspired; they take action. Ask past clients for this metric specifically.
Section 02. Due Diligence
8 Questions to Ask Before You Book
These questions filter out the motivational-poster speakers and surface the ones who will make your event unforgettable.
Question 01
What's one specific result your audience implemented after your last talk?
This separates inspirational speakers from operational ones. You want proof of downstream action, not just applause.
Question 02
How will you customize this talk for our specific audience?
Generic talks feel generic. A speaker willing to tailor content signals they care about impact, not just the fee.
Question 03
Can you share a reference from a similar event in the past 6 months?
Recent references matter more than a long bio. Speaking is a perishable skill, and you want someone who's sharp right now.
Question 04
What's your experience running a business, not just speaking about business?
Your audience trusts operators more than theorists. Especially on AI and leadership, real P&L experience is non-negotiable.
Question 05
Do you offer a workshop or breakout session in addition to the keynote?
Workshops extend value beyond the main stage and give attendees hands-on takeaways. Speakers who offer both are typically stronger.
Question 06
What resources or follow-up do you provide after the event?
The best speakers provide frameworks, templates, or guides that attendees can take back to their teams. Impact extends past the stage.
Question 07
Are you comfortable with a live Q&A?
Live Q&A is where depth is tested. Speakers who embrace it are confident in their expertise beyond the prepared content.
Question 08
What's the one thing you want our audience to do differently after your talk?
If they can't answer this in one sentence, the talk probably doesn't have a clear thesis. Great talks change behavior.
Section 03. What's Trending
High-Demand Speaker Topics for 2026-2027
Based on what event organizers are booking right now, these are the topics filling rooms and getting standing ovations.
AI & Business
The 60-Day AI Transformation
How companies are deploying AI in 60 days, not 18 months. Real case studies, real numbers, real implementation playbooks.
Best for: Corporate offsites, tech conferences, CEO summits
AI & Business
GenAI Strategy for Leadership Teams
An interactive session that takes executives from AI awareness to a 90-day action plan with use case prioritization.
Best for: Executive retreats, board offsites, PE portfolio events
Women & Leadership
From Employee to Empire Builder
The real journey from Fortune 100 executive to entrepreneur: identity shift, tactical pivots, and mental rewiring.
Best for: Women's conferences, MBA programs, ERGs
Women & Leadership
Own the Room: Stepping Into Power
Personal brand, presence, negotiation posture, and the psychology of ownership for accomplished women who still dim themselves.
Best for: Executive development, diversity initiatives, women's summits
Personal Growth
The Reinvention
Building a new life while the old one is still standing. Raw, real, and redemptive, for audiences navigating major transitions.
Best for: Wellness summits, faith-based events, life-stage conferences
Finance & Wealth
Her Money, Her Rules
Financial education for women who were taught to manage a budget but never taught to build wealth. Investment vehicles, equity, and ownership.
Best for: Financial services firms, sororities, wealth conferences
Looking for a Speaker?
Book Lynn for Your Next Event
Lynn is booking keynotes and workshops for 2026-2027. Topics include AI strategy, women in leadership, empire building, and strategic philanthropy.