Noreena Hertz

Step into the world of one of Europe’s most extraordinary trailblazers and discover how she shattered the glass ceiling—and how you can too.

Noreena Hertz is one of the rare women in Europe to serve on the boards of multiple U.S. multibillion-dollar companies. She’s also a best-selling author, renowned academic, and fearless activist whose visionary ideas shaped Bono’s (RED) campaign and inspired Premier League footballers to donate a day’s wages for nurses.

In this empowering keynote, Noreena will share deeply personal stories and reflections from her remarkable journey—how she overcame challenges, stayed true to herself, and forged her own path in male-dominated industries. Alongside her insights, she’ll provide actionable strategies and tools to help women in business take control of their careers, amplify their influence, and lead with purpose.

Authentic, inspiring, and focused on results, this keynote is designed for women looking to break barriers, elevate their careers, and leave a legacy of impact.

President Trump is in office. Right wing populists in power across the globe. Russia and Iran increasingly cosy. China continuing to face challenges. There is continued instability in the Middle East and Ukraine. Trade tariffs are the new reality.

The rules of the game have fundamentally changed. The post Cold War consensus that dominated the past 35 years – in which peace was the norm, free trade the mantra, democracy a given and globalisation the accepted way forward – has irrevocably broken down.

This has huge consequences for society but also for business, the implications of which leaders must understand.

In this stimulating keynote Noreena helps her audience make sense of this radically different political, geopolitical and business environment—and offers a roadmap for how they can adapt their strategies to navigate these shifts to ensure that they successfully thrive in it.

Generation K (today’s 16–26-year-olds) makes up almost a third of employees and has almost $1 trillion in purchasing power. Yet how much do you really know them, a generation that is profoundly different to the millennials?

Did you know for example that they are the loneliest generation on record? And also the most anxious? That they are profoundly worried about their economic futures? And are reconfiguring their purchasing and workplace behaviours accordingly? That they seek agency in the office and also in the shopping mall and actively seek out both opportunities to connect but also to co-create. That they care passionately about a host of issues – but increasingly along gender lines. And did you know too the extent to which this generation distrusts traditional institutions whether we’re talking big business or Government?

By deploying her proprietary research on this generation – in this fascinating keynote Noreena helps leaders to both understand this generation but know how to connect with, inspire, engage and retain them – whether as employees or customers.

AI is already transforming business, healthcare and government. But how radical will the transformation be in business, economic and societal terms?

Who will be the winners? Who will lose out? What can businesses do to make sure that they thrive in this new age and fully leverage its capabilities? Whilst at the same time have a plan in place to address its downside risks?

And what will happen to us as individuals? Will AI take our jobs? Make us smarter or more stupid? How will it impact not only how we work but also how we vote? What will it mean to be human in the age of AI? And how do we influence its trajectory?

Combining historical analysis, personal anecdotes, and the latest thinking on where we are heading, Noreena will address these questions and more in this thought-provoking keynote.