a keynote speech

Unsupported browser

This site was designed for modern browsers and tested with Internet Explorer version 10 and later.

It may not look or work correctly on your browser.

• Presentations
• Public Speaking

What Is a Keynote Speech? (+10 Speaker Tips to Deliver Powerfully)

• Bahasa Indonesia

Being asked to give a keynote speech can be a little intimidating, especially if you've never given one before. You may even be wondering: what is a keynote address?

Keynote speeches are important and being asked to give a keynote talk can be a great opportunity for you and your business. So, if you're asked, consider taking advantage of the opportunity. But first, you'll need to learn a little bit more about keynote speeches.

In this short tutorial, we'll cover what you need to know about giving a keynote message. We'll provide you with a keynote address definition. We'll provide you with some good keynote speech examples. Plus, we'll cover ten tips to help you become a better keynote speaker.

For valuable tips on how to create a top-notch presentation, be sure to download our free eBook:   The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations .  It'll help you master the complete presentation process.

What Is a Keynote Speech?

So, you're probably wondering what a keynote speech is and how it differs from any other speech you might give. A keynote address is typically given to set the theme for an event . Examples might include the main speaker at business conference or even a guest speaker at a graduation.

Keynote speakers are sometimes well-known figures or even celebrities. In other instances, depending upon the audience, they may just be someone who's very accomplished in their field. Keynote speakers are often paid for their services and a professional keynote speaker who is in demand can earn quite a bit. Even if you've never given a keynote message before, being asked to give one is both an honor and a great opportunity.

Keynote speeches are usually based on the speaker's own experiences and knowledge. They can also include motivational and inspirational elements. Effective keynote speakers often make use of storytelling as well. But the most important factor for keynote message success is audience engagement. The keynote speaker needs to capture and hold the audience's attention and set the tone for the entire event.

If you're trying to learn about a particular type of public speaking, hearing an example can help. One good example of a good keynote speech comes from Oprah Winfrey, who gave the keynote address at the 2018 commencement for the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. You can listen to her speech for yourself:

For even more examples of effective speeches, many of which could serve as keynote addresses, study this roundup of some of my favorite Ted Talks:

How to Make Your Presentation Stand Out With a Slideshow

If the keynote address you'll be giving will include a slideshow presentation, you need to make sure that slideshow is the best it can be. Part of making effective use of a slideshow is to make sure that your presentation design is attractive and eye-catching. Admittedly, this can be tough to do if you're not a professional designer.

Fortunately, there's any easy way to create an engaging slideshow even if you're not a designer yourself. Envato Elements is a great way to find beautiful presentation templates for any need. These professionally designed templates will help your slideshow to really stand out. Plus, you'll be able download stock photos, WordPress and web templates, graphics, and more—all for a single flat rate! Download as much as you need as often as you need it. This is just the type of service a busy professional needs.

 But even if you're sure you're only going to give the one presentation and you don't need any of the other assets available through Envato Elements, we've still got you covered. You can purchase an affordable, one-time download of a professional slideshow template through GraphicRiver.

Now that you know where to find good slideshow templates, you may be wondering which templates to pick. The template roundup below can help:

Now that we've discussed how to use a slideshow for your keynote message, it's time to examine some tips for giving a better keynote speech.

Speaker Tips for Giving a Keynote Speech

You're pulling your keynote message together and you need to make sure it's effective. But it's been a while since you've given a speech, or maybe this is your first one. How can you make sure your speech is a success?

Here are ten tips for public speakers that'll help you deliver a powerful keynote address:

1. Know Your Audience

Understanding your audience is vital for any public speaker, but it's especially important for keynote speakers since it's vital that they establish rapport with their audience and also because they set the tone for the entire event. So, as early in the speech preparation as possible, give some thought to who you'll speaking to. Tailor your speech to their needs and interests. Ask yourself these questions:

• Who'll be listening to this speech?
• What do they already know?
• What do they need to know?

What are these listeners interested in?

If you know nothing about your audience, try asking the contact person who invited you to speak.

2. Do Your Research

If you've been asked to give a keynote speech, there's a good chance that you're already quite familiar with your topic. But don't take that knowledge for granted. Double-check your facts. Also, look for recent developments and include any relevant updates to your material. Pay special attention to information that'll be useful to your listeners.

3. Tell a Story

Storytelling is a great way to connect with an audience. If you've got personal experiences that your audience can relate to turning those into a story can often help engage your audience. Even if you don't have personal experiences, you may be able to share the experiences of others. For example, sharing the story of how a client successfully overcame an obstacle may inspire your listeners—especially if they've faced a similar obstacle.

4. Consider Giving an Interactive Presentation

Adding an interactive element to your keynote message is another way to capture your audience's attention. There are several types of interactive elements you can add including getting audience feedback in real-time and incorporating a Q&A session into your presentation. To learn more about interactive presentations, review this tutorial:

5. Practice Your Speech

Like any other speech you might give, you should practice a keynote speech until you're very familiar with the material. Strive to know your speech topic so well that you could talk about it without your notes if you needed to. As you practice, use your presentation notes or outline as a prompt rather than reading your speech. If possible, practice the speech in front of a friend or family member who's willing to provide feedback. The following tutorial includes a checklist for practicing a speech that could be helpful:

6. Overcome Your Fear

Does the idea of getting in front of an audience and talking make you uncomfortable? Well, you're certainly not alone. Studies from the National Institute of Health (and other sources) have shown that as much as 77% of the general public may fear public speaking. With a keynote message the fear and pressure is sometimes greater since the presentation is such an integral part of the event. Fortunately, there are methods you can use to overcome the fear of public speak ranging from positive self-talk to body language and more. In the tutorial below you'll discover over 20 ways to fight the fear of public speaking:

7. Stay Focused on Your Goal

If you're giving a speech, it's easy to become distracted. Unfortunately, if you stray too far from your topic you're likely to lose the interest of your listeners. This is where your speaker notes can be particularly helpful. Make sure that your speaker notes are visible (and use a large enough font that you can read them easily). If you do lose your pace or feel you've gone off topic, don't be afraid of a brief pause while you check your outline. You can learn more about creating speaker notes to your presentation tool in these short tutorials:

8. Be Brief

Avoid overexplaining the topic of your keynote address. You can do this by stating each point once followed by your supporting detail for that point (including slides and other visual aids). Next, summarize the point and move on to the next point. If you expected the audience to react to a point and they don't respond in the manner you expected, resist the temptation to go back over the point. Finally, when your presentation is complete you can restate the main purpose of your talk. Being brief and being focused matter and the audience will appreciate you for it.

9. Get Enough Sleep

You probably already suspect that you're not at your best when you go without sleep. Now science supports what you've always suspected—lack of sleep negatively impacts your performance . So, do your best to get a good night's sleep before your keynote talk. But that may be easier said than done--especially if you're at a business conference where there's a temptation to stay up late socializing and visiting with colleagues and potential clients. There are some practical steps you can take, even when you're traveling, to improve your sleep. You'll find some of those steps in this tutorial:

10. Share It Online

Once your keynote address is over, you can still benefit from it. One way to do that is to share your speech online. Sharing your speech online helps you to reach a larger audience than you initially spoke too. There are a number of ways to share your speech online, including:

• YouTube.  This popular site is useful for sharing video presentations.
• Vimeo.  Another site that can help you to share a live presentation.
• Facebook live.  You can live stream your presentation through Facebook.
• Other social media . You can include a link to your presentation on most other social media sites.
• Your website . Including a video on your own website can be a great way to impress clients and prospective clients.
• SlideShare . If your keynote address included a slideshow presentation, you can share it on SlideShare.
• Email . You can also share links to your keynote speech through email.

To learn more about sharing your keynote address, study these tutorials:

Make Great Presentations ( Free PDF eBook Download )

We also have the perfect complement to this tutorial, which will walk you through the complete presentation process. Learn how to write your presentation, design it like a pro, and prepare it to present powerfully.

Download our new eBook:  The Complete Guide to Making Great Presentations . It's available for free with a subscription to the Tuts+ Business Newsletter.

Your Takeaways

You've just been given a keynote definition and some examples of great keynote speeches to follow. Now that you understand what a keynote address is and why it's important, you'll want to make your keynote message as good as possible. 

Even if you've never given a speech before, you can use the speaker tips in this article to give the best keynote address that you can. Once you've finished your keynote presentation, don't forget to share it for maximum impact. If you've enjoyed the tips in this tutorial, you may also enjoy our  Fundamentals of Public Speaking Learning Guide .

Have you given a keynote speech? What tips or advice would you add for others?

Editorial Note: This content was originally published in 2018. We're sharing it again because our editors have determined that this information is still accurate and relevant.

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Happiness Hub Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• Happiness Hub
• This Or That Game
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Education and Communications
• Communication Skills
• Public Speaking
• Speechwriting

How to Write a Keynote Speech

Last Updated: October 28, 2022 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Lynn Kirkham . Lynn Kirkham is a Professional Public Speaker and Founder of Yes You Can Speak, a San Francisco Bay Area-based public speaking educational business empowering thousands of professionals to take command of whatever stage they've been given - from job interviews, boardroom talks to TEDx and large conference platforms. Lynn was chosen as the official TEDx Berkeley speaker coach for the last four years and has worked with executives at Google, Facebook, Intuit, Genentech, Intel, VMware, and others. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 109,236 times.

A good keynote speech is gripping and inspiring. It sets the tone for the event, program, or conference, and it can really unify the audience. If you’ve been invited to write and give a keynote speech (congrats!), you might not be sure where to start, or maybe you’re looking for tips to elevate your speech to the next level. Either way, we’ve got you covered! This article will walk you through how to craft a memorable keynote speech from start to finish.

Brainstorming Ideas for the Keynote Speech

• If there is a theme of the event, you may use this as your purpose or inspiration for the speech. For example, if the theme of the event is “Social Responsibility,” the purpose of your speech may be to explore your experiences with social responsibility on a professional and personal level.

• For example, if your audience is within an age range of 20-30 and are social responsibility advocates, you may make the speech light, engaging, and full of specialized language that you know your audience will understand.

• For example, if you are writing a speech around the theme of social responsibility, you may focus on three key points: the history of social responsibility, the current state of social responsibility, and where social responsibility is headed next.

• You can find the top keynote speeches of 2016 at https://www.bigspeak.com/best-keynote-speakers-of-2016 .

Crafting the Keynote Speech

• For example, if you are writing a keynote speech on diversity in the classroom, you may tell a story about a student of color that you worked with in your classroom as a teacher.
• You may also look in the news for a story about a student of color who publicly spoke out about difficulties with diversity in the classroom, preferably a news story based in your area or country.

• For example, if the purpose of your speech is to discuss social responsibility in the corporate world, you may open with a fact about how consumers tend to buy more if a brand is socially responsible.

• For example, your purpose may appear as, “I am here today to talk to you about social responsibility, the theme of this conference and the theme of much of my professional work.”

• For example, you may make a funny aside that is self-deprecating, such as, “I wasn’t always a great teacher. Sometimes, I was known as the fun teacher or the angry teacher. Not always the great one.”

• For example, you may highlight terms like “unity,” “engagement,” and “social consciousness” in your speech by returning to them at least twice. You may begin the speech by mentioning these terms and then return to them again later in the speech.

• For example, you may use a funny saying that you use with your students in your classroom in the speech. Or you may use less formal words and terms to keep the tone of the speech conversational.

• For example, you may have a call to action that refers to the story or fact you used at the beginning of your speech: “Just like my student who reached out to a peer in need, I ask you all now to be vulnerable, to try to reach out to someone in your community who needs help.”

Polishing the Keynote Speech

• When you read the speech aloud, notice if you skip over any words. You may be able to remove any words you skip over for flow.
• If you read the speech aloud to others, you can ask them for feedback. Ask them if they found any parts of the speech boring or hard to follow. Be open to getting constructive feedback on the speech so it is at its best.

• Correct punctuation is especially important if you are going to read the speech aloud to an audience, as the punctuation will tell you when to pause or take a breath. Often, a comma means pausing in your speech and a period means taking a short breath.

• If there is a time constraint for the speech, you should also time yourself reading the speech to confirm it is within the limit.

Expert Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/brainstorming/
• ↑ Lynn Kirkham. Public Speaking Coach. Expert Interview. 20 November 2019.
• ↑ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mitch-ditkoff/post_3868_b_1868754.html
• ↑ https://professional.dce.harvard.edu/blog/10-tips-for-improving-your-public-speaking-skills/
• ↑ https://www.toastmasters.org/Magazine/Articles/Six-Rules-of-Humor
• ↑ https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffschmitt/2013/07/16/10-keys-to-writing-a-speech/#25d3cdba4fb7
• ↑ https://open.lib.umn.edu/publicspeaking/chapter/11-2-steps-of-a-conclusion/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/reading-aloud/
• ↑ https://www.unr.edu/writing-speaking-center/student-resources/writing-speaking-resources/editing-and-proofreading-techniques

About This Article

A good keynote speech is inspiring and can set the tone for an entire event. Start your speech with an engaging anecdote to grab your listeners' attention. The story can be from your own experience and should relate to the topic of the event. Then, tell your audience what the purpose of your speech is. You might say something like, “I am here to talk to you today about social responsibility, which is the theme of the conference and the theme of my professional work." Use a little humor and a light-hearted tone to keep the speech engaging and make it more memorable. Make sure to write the speech along the lines of how you normally talk so it sounds natural when read out loud. At the end of your speech, finish with a strong call to action. This part of the speech should compel listeners to do something to help the cause. For example, if you're giving a speech for a humane society, you may encourage listeners to volunteer at their local shelter. To learn how to polish your keynote speech, read more from our Writing co-author! Did this summary help you? Yes No

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Habila Abrak

May 6, 2021

Did this article help you?

Abubakar Baba Bashir

Oct 22, 2017

Jacob Babarinde

Jul 3, 2018

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

wikiHow Tech Help Pro:

Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve

What Is a Keynote? 5 Things You Should Know

• The Speaker Lab
• March 14, 2024

Table of Contents

Have you ever been so mesmerized by a speaker that their words stayed with you long after their speech ended? That’s the magic of a keynote . But what exactly is a keynote speech and why does it matter?

In essence, a keynote speech sets the tone for an event. It serves as its heartbeat, pulsating with ideas and insights that energize attendees. Picture yourself standing before an audience, delivering not just any speech but one where every word strikes like lightning, illuminating minds and sparking conversations.

This post promises to take you on a journey exploring captivating keynotes, dynamic speakers, and exciting events. Together, we’ll look at how keynotes influence everything from business success to social media activity; unveil strategies for creating impactful presentations; and provide tips on becoming an effective speaker yourself.

What is a Keynote?

A keynote is a defining presentation or speech centered around the main theme of an event. The term “keynote” in relation to speaking is based on the musical term “key note,” or the note around which the key is based. Just like a musical ‘key note’ defines the harmony of a composition, a keynote speech lays down the central theme or message of an event.

The Importance and Impact of Good Keynote Speakers

As one of the main highlights of an event or conference, keynote speakers are expected to inspire audiences with their unique perspectives and insights. A great speaker has the ability to not only communicate effectively but also engage with their audience in meaningful ways. This engagement forms the bottom line for successful presentations—it can make or break an event.

The Hallmarks of Professional Keynote Speakers

What sets apart good keynotes from merely average ones? The answer lies in several factors:

• An understanding of both their subject matter and audience : Top-tier keynote speakers know how to connect deeply with those listening while delivering high-value content that resonates long after they’ve left the stage.
• Dynamism and energy : Audience members are more likely to stay engaged when your presentation style mirrors your passion for what you’re discussing.
• A knack for storytelling : Narratives help us process information better; therefore good storytellers often leave lasting impressions upon their audiences.

Fostering Engagement Through Effective Speaking Techniques

Surely we’ve all attended lectures where, despite our best efforts, our minds wandered off mid-presentation. So what’s different about engaging speeches?

One major difference is novelty. Unique insights delivered compellingly pique interest. Professional keynote speakers know how to weave facts and figures into a captivating narrative that is relevant to the audience.

Additionally, good keynotes strike an emotional chord with listeners. This not only keeps them engaged but also helps in better recall of information presented. A great speaker uses storytelling techniques effectively for maximum impact .

Find Out Exactly How Much You Could Make As a Paid Speaker

Use The Official Speaker Fee Calculator to tell you what you should charge for your first (or next) speaking gig — virtual or in-person! 

Role of Keynotes in Events

As mentioned earlier, a keynote sets the stage for an event, serving as a compass that directs the overarching theme. Whether it’s delivered by national speakers or industry leaders, this keynote can ignite audience engagement and set the tone for what follows.

Opening vs. Closing Keynotes

While both have significant roles, there is a clear difference between opening keynotes versus closing ones.

An opening keynote often aims to energize attendees at the start of an event. It’s like turning on a lamp in an unlit area—suddenly, everyone can make out what is before them and where they are headed. This initial spark helps draw people into the experience and makes them eager to learn more.

In contrast, closing keynotes help solidify connections made during events, creating memorable moments that continue to resonate with attendees even when they’ve returned home or back to their desks. Professional keynote speakers are skilled at creating such lasting impressions through powerful storytelling techniques coupled with actionable takeaways.

Leveraging Keynotes for Business Success

Keynote speeches are more than just a way to kick off an event. They have the potential to become powerful tools in leadership development, client relationships, and attracting attendees. A good keynote speaker will help their audience visualize their own paths towards success.

The Role of Keynotes in Leadership Development

A keynote speaker has the power to ignite change within an organization or industry by providing new perspectives on established practices or unveiling innovative approaches to overcoming challenges. Their influence often extends beyond the stage as attendees continue discussing their ideas long after the event finishes.

This is particularly true when speakers share personal stories from their careers—experiences that demonstrate resilience during difficult times or highlight how unconventional thinking led them to unprecedented levels of success.

Creating Strong Client Relationships Through Keynotes

An engaging keynote speech also serves as a starting point for fostering strong client relationships. When a keynote speaker shares insights relevant to their clients’ industries or discusses issues close to their hearts, that speaker shows understanding and empathy. This resonates with audiences on both professional and personal levels, which can lead directly into fruitful partnerships down the line.

Drawing Attendees With Impactful Speeches

Beyond fostering connections with current clients, delivering compelling keynotes helps attract attendees too. Attendees are likely to show up if they hear a well-known figure in the industry is giving a talk. They look forward to learning from their insights and getting inspired by their journeys.

In conclusion, leveraging keynotes for business success involves understanding the multi-faceted role of these speeches in events. Whether it’s developing leadership skills among attendees or attracting potential clients, a powerful keynote can become your ticket towards achieving unparalleled growth and success.

Tips and Best Practices for Effective Keynote Speaking

Being a keynote speaker is no small task. To ensure a memorable presentation, there are several techniques to consider. Let’s explore some best practices.

The Power of Preparation

As any experienced public speaker will tell you, preparation is critical. Thoroughly understanding the subject matter helps build confidence, which translates into more effective delivery techniques. As a result, a keynote speaker needs to know what opinions are expressed in their field so that they’re able to anticipate questions from attendees and answer them competently during Q&A sessions.

Connecting With Your Audience

A successful keynote isn’t solely focused on delivering content; it’s also about making connections with the audience. By incorporating relatable stories or analogies, a good speaker will not only engage listeners, but also help simplify complex ideas for them. Want more storytelling tips? Check out this podcast episode with Ravi Rajani for more ways aspiring speakers can weave narratives into their talks for greater impact.

Constantly Improving: Asking for and Using Feedback

Although a keynote speaker may be tempted to pat themselves on the back after giving a talk, their job isn’t done yet. For any talk they give, it’s important to seek out constructive criticism in order to learn how best to improve. What worked? What didn’t? What did the audience find most engaging and why? The answers to all these questions are worth their weight in gold, and a good speaker knows it. By incorporating audience suggestions into his or her presentation, a keynote speaker ensures that they are at the top of their game.

The Digital Age and Keynote Speaking

As the digital landscape evolves, so does keynote speaking . Social media channels have become powerful platforms for speakers to reach event attendees and amplify their messages. In fact, these platforms are now a fundamental part of any successful speaker’s toolkit.

Online Presence of Keynote Speakers

Digital tools like social media offer than just exposure—they let speakers interact directly with potential audiences and industry peers alike, fostering relationships that transcend physical boundaries.

Live streaming options available on multiple social media platforms allow speakers to share their message with audiences near and far, while also providing attendees an unparalleled opportunity to connect with influential voices.

This broadened reach doesn’t only benefit the speakers themselves, but also enhances the overall experience for event attendees who get unprecedented access to their favorite thought leaders in real time.

Social Media as A Promotional Tool

The days when flyers were enough to attract attendees are long gone—we’re living in an age where captivating visual content reigns supreme. So, if you’re planning to deliver a keynote or organize an event soon, remember: your social media activity could be the starting point of creating buzz and anticipation around it.

Increasing Number of Digital Aids

From Canva to Prezi, there are now tons of digital tools designed for keynote speakers. This LinkedIn post provides a helpful list of these tools , as well as some pros and cons.

Ready to Get Your First (Or Next) Paid Speaking Gig?

Download our free 26-page guide and get the 14 exact steps you can follow to book a paid speaking gig right now!

FAQs on Keynotes

What is a keynote.

A keynote is a defining presentation or speech centered around the main theme of an event.

What is the purpose of the keynote?

The purpose is to energize, inspire, or challenge attendees to see things from a fresh perspective.

What is the difference between a keynote and a presentation?

A presentation shares information while a keynote aims to spark change. The latter inspires action through powerful storytelling around central themes.

What does it mean to give a keynote?

Giving a keynote means delivering an impactful speech that guides an event’s direction, motivates listeners, and provides valuable insights related to the core topic.

What qualifies as a keynote speaker?

A credible figure with expertise in their field who delivers engaging speeches inspiring change or providing new perspectives on pertinent topics usually qualifies.

The essence of keynote speaking lies in creating an overarching theme that captivates audiences from start to finish. Opening keynotes set the stage while closing ones wrap up event objectives with finesse.

Together, we’ve explored strategies for delivering engaging presentations and using social media for promotion.

Now you know that a great keynote isn’t about just standing before an audience; it’s about resonating with them long after you leave the stage. Remember this as you step onto your own path of public speaking !

• Last Updated: March 22, 2024

Explore Related Resources

Learn How You Could Get Your First (Or Next) Paid Speaking Gig In 90 Days or Less

We receive thousands of applications every day, but we only work with the top 5% of speakers .

Book a call with our team to get started — you’ll learn why the vast majority of our students get a paid speaking gig within 90 days of finishing our program .

If you’re ready to control your schedule, grow your income, and make an impact in the world – it’s time to take the first step. Book a FREE consulting call and let’s get you Booked and Paid to Speak ® .

About The Speaker Lab

We teach speakers how to consistently get booked and paid to speak.  Since 2015, we’ve helped thousands of speakers find clarity, confidence, and a clear path to make an impact.

Get Started

Let's connect.

[email protected]

Copyright ©2023 The Speaker Lab. All rights reserved.

Growth Tactics

What is a Keynote Speech: How to Leave a Lasting Impression

Jump To Section

As an event planner or someone responsible for organizing a conference or seminar, you understand the importance of finding the right keynote speaker.

A keynote speech sets the tone for the entire event, leaving a lasting impression on the audience. In this article, we will explore the world of keynote speeches and share insights on how to write and deliver a captivating keynote.

What is a Keynote Speech?

A keynote speech is a powerful presentation given by a keynote speaker at the beginning or end of an event.

It is designed to capture the audience’s attention, set the tone, and provide key takeaways that attendees can apply to their lives or work. A well-crafted and captivating keynote speech can inspire, motivate, and leave a lasting impact on the audience.

The Role of a Keynote Speaker

A keynote speaker plays a crucial role in the success of an event. They are experts in their field, often seasoned speakers who have honed their craft over years of experience.

A keynote speaker not only delivers a thought-provoking speech but also brings a unique perspective, shares personal stories, and engages the audience through humor, emotion, and relatability.

Writing a Captivating Keynote Speech

Writing a compelling keynote speech requires careful planning, organization, and a deep understanding of the audience. Here are some key steps to follow:

Understand Your Audience: Before writing your speech, spend time researching your audience. Who are they? What are their interests, challenges, and goals? Tailor your message to resonate with them.

Define Your Key Message: Every keynote speech should have a central theme or message that you want the audience to take away. Clarify this message and make it memorable.

Craft a Powerful Opening: Grab the audience’s attention from the start with a captivating story, intriguing statistic, or thought-provoking question. This will set the tone and create a sense of anticipation.

Organize Your Speech: Structure your speech logically and engagingly. Begin with an introduction, then move on to key points or stories, and end with a memorable conclusion that reinforces your key message.

Use Personal Stories: Personal stories are a powerful tool to connect with the audience emotionally. Share experiences or anecdotes that relate to your key message and make it relatable to the audience.

Incorporate Visuals: Visual aids such as slides or props can enhance your speech and make it more engaging. Use visuals sparingly to support your key points and avoid overwhelming the audience.

Practice and Rehearse: Delivering a flawless keynote speech requires practice. Rehearse your speech multiple times to ensure smooth delivery, confident body language, and effective use of pauses and intonation.

Engage with the Audience: Interact with the audience throughout your speech. Ask rhetorical questions, encourage participation, and create moments of connection. This will keep the audience engaged and make your speech memorable.

Tips for Giving a Motivational Keynote Address

Giving a keynote speech can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. You have the unique opportunity to captivate an audience, inspire them, and leave a lasting impression. In this section, we’ll share some valuable tips to help you deliver a powerful keynote speech that engages your audience, conveys your message effectively, and ensures a memorable experience.

1. Know Your Audience Inside Out

Understanding your audience is crucial to giving a successful keynote speech. Research their demographics, interests, challenges, and goals. This knowledge helps you tailor your message to resonate with them and ensures that your content is relevant and relatable.

Connect with your audience by addressing their specific needs and aspirations. By showing that you understand them, you’ll build trust and captivate their attention from the start.

2. Craft a Clear and Compelling Key Message

Every great keynote speech has a clear and compelling key message. Define the central theme or idea you want to convey to your audience.

Keep it concise and memorable so that it resonates long after your speech concludes. Your key message should guide the entire structure and content of your speech, ensuring a cohesive and impactful presentation.

3. Start Strong with a Captivating Opening

The beginning of your keynote speech sets the tone for the entire presentation. Capture your audience’s attention from the outset with a powerful, attention-grabbing opening.

Engage them from the first moment with a captivating story, intriguing statistic, or thought-provoking question. A strong opening creates a sense of anticipation and hooks your audience, making them eager to hear more.

4. Structure Your Speech for Impact

A well-structured keynote speech keeps the audience engaged and enhances their understanding of your message. Organize your speech in a logical and impactful manner.

Begin with an introduction that establishes your credibility and builds rapport with the audience. Then, present key points or stories that support your key message. Finally, wrap up with a memorable conclusion that reinforces your main ideas and leaves a lasting imprint on your audience.

5. Use Stories to Connect Emotionally

One of the most powerful tools in a keynote speech is storytelling. Personal stories create an emotional connection between you and your audience. Share experiences or anecdotes that illustrate the key points of your speech.

Make them relatable and highlight the lessons learned. Emotionally compelling stories will leave a lasting impact, making your message memorable and inspiring.

6. Engage and Interact with Your Audience

Keep your audience engaged throughout your keynote speech by actively involving them. Ask rhetorical questions, encourage participation, or create moments of interaction.

This can be in the form of brief audience discussions, polls, or exercises. Interaction fosters connection and helps to break up the presentation, making it more dynamic and enjoyable for your listeners.

7. Utilize Visual Aids Effectively

Visual aids, such as slides or props, can enhance your keynote speech when used effectively. Use visuals sparingly and purposefully to support your key points, helping to reinforce your message visually.

Ensure your visual aids are clear, easy to read, and visually appealing. Remember, your spoken words should always be the main focus, with visual aids serving as supporting elements.

8. Practice, Practice, Practice

Delivering a flawless keynote speech requires practice and rehearsal. Practice speaking your speech out loud multiple times, focusing on your delivery, timing, and body language.

Rehearse in front of a mirror, record yourself, or seek feedback from trusted colleagues or mentors. This process allows you to refine your speech, build confidence, and ensure a smooth and impactful delivery.

9. Embrace Authenticity and Passion

Authenticity and passion are key to delivering a compelling keynote speech. Be true to yourself, speak from the heart, and let your enthusiasm shine through.

Your genuine passion for your topic will captivate and inspire your audience. Avoid trying to mimic someone else’s style or delivery. Embrace your unique voice and let your authenticity be the guiding force behind your speech.

10. Leave a Lasting Impression with a Memorable Conclusion

The way you conclude your keynote speech is just as important as how you start it. Summarize your main points, reiterate your key message, and provide a clear call-to-action for your audience to take away.

End on a high note, leaving your listeners feeling inspired and motivated. A memorable conclusion ensures that your speech lingers in their minds and prompts them to take action.

Finding the Right Keynote Speaker

When hosting a successful event, finding the right keynote speaker is paramount. This individual will not only set the tone for your gathering but also leave a lasting impression on your audience.

In this section, we will delve into the important factors to consider when searching for the perfect keynote speaker who will elevate your event to new heights.

Experience Speaks Volumes

Experience is a key ingredient in the recipe for a successful keynote speech. Look for speakers who have a proven track record of captivating audiences and delivering impactful presentations.

Seek out those who have spoken at similar events or within your industry, as they will have a better understanding of your audience’s needs and interests. Experienced speakers bring a certain expertise and authority that can leave a lasting impression on your attendees.

Expertise in Your Industry

While experience is important, finding a keynote speaker with expertise in your specific industry is a game-changer. These speakers have a deep understanding of the challenges, trends, and opportunities within your field.

They can relate to your audience on a deeper level and provide insights and anecdotes that resonate. By selecting a speaker with industry expertise, you are ensuring that your attendees receive targeted and relevant information that they can apply to their own work or lives.

Communication Skills that Command Attention

A keynote speaker may have an impressive resume and extensive knowledge in your industry, but if they lack communication skills , their impact will be diminished. Look for speakers who possess excellent public speaking abilities.

They should be able to engage the audience, hold their attention, and deliver their message with clarity and conviction. Seek out speakers who can combine storytelling, humor, and audience interaction to create a memorable experience.

Aligning with Your Event’s Goals

Every event has its own unique goals and objectives. When searching for a keynote speaker, it is crucial to find someone who aligns with your event’s overarching purpose. Consider what you want your attendees to take away from the event.

Do you want them to feel inspired, motivated, or educated? Look for speakers whose message and style resonate with your desired outcomes. Review their past performances and testimonials to gauge if they can deliver the results you are seeking.

Recommendations and Reviews

One of the best ways to find a keynote speaker is through recommendations from trusted sources. Industry colleagues, friends, or even professionals who have previously worked with speakers can provide valuable insights and firsthand recommendations.

Additionally, online platforms and speaker bureaus offer reviews and ratings from past clients, allowing you to make an informed decision. By tapping into the experiences of others, you can gain a sense of a speaker’s trustworthiness and suitability for your event.

Interviewing Potential Speakers

Once you have narrowed down your list of potential keynote speakers, it’s time to conduct interviews. This step allows you to assess their compatibility, professionalism, and understanding of your event.

Prepare a list of questions that delve into their experience, approach to speaking, and familiarity with your industry. During the interview, observe their communication style, responsiveness, and willingness to collaborate. A successful partnership with your speaker is essential for a seamless and impactful event.

Reviewing Past Performances

Before making a final decision, take the time to review recordings or videos of the potential speakers’ past performances. This will give you a firsthand glimpse into their presentation style, stage presence, and ability to engage an audience. Look for speakers who exhibit confidence, charisma, and an authentic connection with the audience.

Pay attention to their ability to tell compelling stories, convey key messages, and create an energized atmosphere. Trust your instincts and select a speaker who resonates with you and your event’s vision.

A well-crafted keynote speech has the power to captivate, motivate, and inspire an audience. By understanding your audience, crafting a compelling message, and delivering it with passion and authenticity, you can leave a lasting impression on your audience.

The right keynote speaker can elevate your event, set the tone, and create a memorable experience for attendees. So, take the time to find the perfect fit and unleash the power of a captivating keynote speech.

Leave a Comment Cancel reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Here’s an Excellent Keynote Speech GUIDE: With 2 Great Examples

You’ve probably been asked to give a keynote speech and you are afraid of it. Well, if you’ve never done this before, then there’s no need to panic. Thankfully, you’ve come to the right place. Let’s start with the basics, shall we? 

So, what is a keynote speech? 

Being asked to give a keynote speech in front of a large audience can be a little intimidating. However, it’s the greatest honor to be selected as a keynote speaker. That said, you must deliver the best speech you possibly can. 

Now that we’ve covered what a keynote speech is, it’s time to key steps that you should take when preparing a keynote speech. 

How to prepare a keynote speech

Keynote speeches are very important. With that in mind, it’s one of the best opportunities for you and your business. Therefore, if you’ve been asked to be the keynote speaker, take advantage of such an opportunity. But, first, you will have to prepare your speech: 

1.     Find out the theme for the day

Basically, there are three main types of speeches. They include motivational, educational, and entertaining speeches. Start by deciding the type of speech you’d like to go with. But whatever your choice will be, remember that you are going up there to add value to your audience and not brag about your achievements and who you are. Therefore, if you are not going to motivate, educate, or even entertain your audience, then there’s no reason for you do go up there. Don’t do it, period!

2.     Outline your presentation

Before jumping into designing your presentation, the first step is to ensure you have a clear outline of your speech. The structure is vital to the design of your keynote speech and also to your delivery of it all. 

Sadly, most speakers always skip this part. And, it’s usually visible in their delivery and line of thought. The best way to handle this situation is by creating a sort of blueprint for your presentation which will include: 

3.     Now fill each section

Make sure that you are brief and clear when filling each section. More importantly, don’t crowd up your content. You will also need to ensure you have most of the keywords in your mind. This will save you the time you use to check on your keynote speech instead of maintaining eye contact with the crowd. 

4.     Make the work visually attractive

Without a doubt, you should always ensure that your work has some visual ideas that would be easy to interpret. Add graphs or charts where necessary, but only where necessary. Too much of anything will lead to you losing the attention of your audience. 

5.     Add personal stories

Play a game, add a question, or simply just maintain eye contact with your audience. This will help you gain their full attention throughout your speech. 

6.     Finally, rehearse

There’s no shortcut in this section. For you to present a killer speech in front of your audience without sounding nervous is through research. By rehearsing your speech several times, you can understand what it means to your audience and also see places where you can improve your speech. 

Now that you already know how to get ready for your speech, let’s take on how to open a keynote speech. 

The next points of discussion are: how to open a keynote speech, how long should a keynote speech be, and some great examples of keynote speeches. Before digging into that, let me add below some of the top related and interesting articles that can add to what you’re learning from this one. If any of the titles picks your interest, please click and open in a new tab, so you can check them out later. Enjoy!

8 THINGS YOU CAN DO TO ACE ANY JOB INTERVIEW

Top 7 core interpersonal skills in leadership.

At any time, a leader is seen as one who guides one or more people to fulfill something stipulated; today, however, we understand that this journey comprises the achievement of results and the evolution, in some way, of all who participate in the process. Leaders are people with high power to inspire those around them,…

An Easy Guide to All 15 Types of Speech

How to open a keynote speech.

The audience will lean in to try and hear your first few words. And at that moment, the audience will form their first impression of you with the first words you utter. An example of the first opening words include, ‘um, good evening everyone….I’m happy to be here in front of you. I will like to thank you so-so-so-so much…..’

To get the full attention of your audience, here are some quick tips on your opening statements. 

Before we go into how to open your keynote speech…

I would like to announce that you can get more insightful tips and how-to’s from our recently launched eBook, now available at Barnes & Noble , at $4.99. We tried to pack it with valuable information and price it below $5 to be as inclusive as possible with our pricing. Click below and Get a Copy!

Key tips on the opening statement in your keynote speech

How long should a keynote speech be.

You will know when the keynote does not last long enough when the message said by the speaker doesn’t have a deep effect on the audience. Additionally, the length of the keynote speech depends on the time allocated to the event. 

Examples of Excellent Keynote Speeches 

If you follow the instructions above, you won’t even need examples to sharpen your skills. However, here are some of the examples you can check out to give you a deeper understanding of keynote speeches

To wrap it all up…

A keynote speech is an incredible way to get over public speaking and be able to introduce yourself to the audience. It doesn’t matter the number of people in the gathering. Always remember to count every opportunity that comes your way. 

REFERENCES & FURTHER READING

Similar Posts

What makes a good presentation for a job interview 7 tips, 11 best body language tips for engaging presentations (#11 is underrated), how to analyze an audience, explanatory speech examples: 7 steps to an effective speech, 120 persuasive speech topics, 7 steps for writing an inspiring graduation speech .

Stay ahead of the AI revolution.

How to Write a Keynote Speech: A Step-by-Step Guide

Keynote speeches are an important part of many events, from corporate conferences and seminars to graduations and charity galas. If you have been tasked with delivering a keynote speech, you may be wondering where to start and how to create a presentation that will resonate with your audience. In this step-by-step guide, we’ll provide you with the tools and tips to help you write a compelling keynote speech that will leave a lasting impression on your listeners.

Understanding the Purpose of a Keynote Speech

A keynote speech serves as the foundation for the entire event. It sets the tone, establishes the main theme, and creates a connection between the speaker and the audience. Before you start working on your keynote speech, it's important to understand the various elements that make up a successful presentation.

When preparing for a keynote speech, it's important to consider the audience and their expectations. The speech should be tailored to the specific event and audience to ensure maximum impact. This means taking into account the demographics of the audience, their interests, and their level of expertise in the topic being discussed.

Additionally, a good keynote speech should be well-structured and organized. It should have a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should grab the audience's attention and set the tone for the speech. The body should provide relevant and interesting information, and the conclusion should summarize the main points and leave the audience with a memorable takeaway.

Defining a Keynote Speech

A keynote speech is a presentation that is intended to inspire, motivate, and engage an audience. It's an opportunity for a speaker to share their ideas, vision, and insights on a particular topic. Unlike other presentations, a keynote speech is designed to be memorable and impactful. Good keynote speeches are able to capture the audience's attention and keep them engaged throughout the presentation.

One of the key elements of a successful keynote speech is the ability to tell a story. People are naturally drawn to stories, and a well-crafted story can help to convey a message in a memorable and impactful way. The story should be relevant to the topic being discussed and should help to illustrate the main points of the speech.

The Role of a Keynote Speaker

The role of a keynote speaker is to act as a thought leader and inspire the audience by conveying a compelling message that is relevant and meaningful to the event. They represent the values and goals of the event, and their speech should be aligned with the overall theme of the conference or gathering. The speaker should also be able to connect with the audience on a personal level, creating a memorable experience.

Another important aspect of being a keynote speaker is the ability to engage the audience. This can be done through the use of humor, storytelling, and interactive elements. Engaging the audience helps to keep them interested and invested in the presentation, which can lead to a more memorable and impactful experience.

Setting the Tone for the Event

A well-crafted keynote speech sets the tone for the entire event. The speech should establish the main theme, outline the goals of the conference, and motivate the audience to become more engaged. The speaker must understand the challenges facing the audience and offer insights that will help them overcome those obstacles.

In addition to setting the tone, a keynote speech can also help to build excitement and anticipation for the rest of the event. By providing a memorable and impactful experience, the audience will be more likely to stay engaged throughout the event and take away valuable insights and information.

Overall, a keynote speech is an important element of any event. It sets the tone, establishes the main theme, and creates a connection between the speaker and the audience. By understanding the various elements that make up a successful keynote speech, you can create a presentation that is memorable, impactful, and tailored to the specific needs of your audience.

Knowing Your Audience

One of the key elements of a successful keynote speech is understanding your audience. The more you know about the people you are addressing, the better equipped you are to craft a message that will resonate with them.

Researching Your Audience

Before you start writing your keynote speech, it's essential to research your audience. You need to know what their interests are, what motivates them, and what challenges they are facing. This will help you tailor your message to their needs and create a connection with them.

Adapting Your Message to the Audience

Once you have researched your audience, you need to adapt your message to their needs. This means using language and examples that resonate with them. You want to craft a message that is not only relevant but also compelling and memorable.

Engaging the Audience

Engaging your audience is the key to a successful keynote speech. You want to connect with them on a personal level and create an emotional response. This can be done through the use of storytelling, humor, and interactive exercises. It's essential to keep the audience engaged throughout your speech, so they leave feeling inspired and motivated.

Crafting a Compelling Message

A keynote speech needs to have a clear and compelling message that resonates with your audience. You want to provide insights and offer a new perspective that will leave a lasting impact.

Identifying Your Main Points

Your keynote speech should have a clear structure that outlines the main points you want to convey to your audience. Identify the key messages you want to communicate and how they relate to the event's theme. Make sure these key points are relevant to your audience.

Developing a Strong Thesis

Your thesis statement is the central message of your keynote speech. It should be clear, concise, and compelling. Your thesis should capture the main idea of your presentation and should be an underlying theme throughout your speech.

Using Stories and Examples

Stories and examples are a great way to engage your audience and make your message relatable. Use real-life examples and stories to illustrate your main points and help the audience understand the impact of your message.

Organizing Your Keynote Speech

The structure of your keynote speech is essential to its success. Proper organization helps the audience follow your message and stay engaged from start to finish.

Creating an Outline

A clear outline is the foundation of your presentation. It helps you create a roadmap that outlines the key elements of your keynote speech and ensures that you don't miss any important points. The outline should be structured in a logical order that makes sense to your audience.

Structuring Your Speech

Your keynote speech should have a clear structure that follows your outline. Begin with an opening that captures the audience's attention and establishes the main theme. Move on to the body of your speech, which should be structured around your main points. Finally, conclude your speech by summarizing your message and leaving the audience with a clear call to action.

Balancing Information and Entertainment

The best keynote speeches strike a balance between providing valuable information and entertaining the audience. You don't want to overload your listeners with too much information, as they may become overwhelmed. Use humor, personal anecdotes, and real-life examples to keep the audience engaged and entertained.

ChatGPT Prompt for Writing a Keynote Speech

Chatgpt prompt.

Please craft a speech that will serve as the main address at an event, providing a comprehensive and engaging overview of the theme or purpose of the occasion. This speech should be well-crafted and thoughtfully written, incorporating a clear and compelling message that resonates with the audience and leaves a lasting impression.

[ADD ADDITIONAL CONTEXT. CAN USE BULLET POINTS.]

Writing a successful keynote speech takes time, preparation, and effort. By following these step-by-step guidelines, you'll be able to create a speech that is engaging, inspiring, and memorable. Remember, the key to a successful keynote speech is understanding your audience, crafting a compelling message, and delivering it in an organized and entertaining way. So, get ready to inspire and motivate your audience with your powerful keynote speech!

Recommended Articles

How to write a toast speech: a step-by-step guide, how to write a presentation speech: a step-by-step guide, feeling behind on ai, get the latest ai.

What is a keynote speaker? 7 things you need to know.

• Updated on January 12, 2024

• Written and edited by Wes Berry

When you ask yourself, “ What is a keynote speaker? “, imagine being at an event where one person not only captures but also elevates the entire audience’s energy.

This individual, known as the keynote speaker , plays a pivotal role in setting the tone and delivering a message that resonates long after the event concludes.

In this article, we’re going to unravel the mysteries behind keynote speakers.

We’ll look at their roles, the unique traits that make them so influential, and the significant impact they have on events.

Whether you’re an event organizer or simply curious about the art of keynote speaking, you’ve come to the right place.

Let’s begin our exploration into the captivating world of keynote speakers.

Defining a Keynote Speaker: An Introduction

When we think about the heart and soul of a major conference or event, the image that often comes to mind is of a captivating figure on the stage – the keynote speaker.

But what exactly makes a keynote speaker so integral to these events?

Let’s uncover this together.

More Than Just a Speaker

At first glance, a keynote speaker might seem like just another presenter.

However, they are so much more…

Let’s discuss:

• The Tone Setter: They set the overall tone and theme of the event.
• The Big Draw: Often, they are a major draw for attendees, sometimes being well-known personalities or experts in their field.
• The Message Carrier: Their speech is not just about conveying information but inspiring and motivating the audience.

The Art of Keynote Speaking

Keynote speaking is an art form.

It requires a blend of skills and attributes.

Here are 3 things I personally like to focus on when speaking to an audience:

• Storytelling: The ability to weave facts, anecdotes, and messages into a compelling narrative.
• Engagement: They don’t just speak; they engage with the audience, often leaving them with thought-provoking ideas or questions.
• Adaptability: Being able to connect with diverse audiences, tailoring their message to resonate with different groups.

The Impact of Their Words

The impact of a keynote speaker is far-reaching.

Think of it in terms like this…

• They can inspire change , encouraging individuals and organizations to think or act differently.
• Keynote speeches often become the highlight of events , remembered and talked about long afterward.
• They have the power to ignite innovation and spark new ideas among their audience.

Keynote Speakers in Various Fields

Keynote speakers come from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Below are just a few industries you can pull speakers from.

• Business leaders, sharing insights on leadership and management.
• Technology experts, unveiling the latest advancements and future trends.
• Motivational speakers, uplift and encourage personal growth and development.

Are you starting to understand what a keynote speaker is now?

A keynote speaker is more than just a person who stands on a stage and talks.

They are the essence of the event, infusing it with energy, inspiration, and direction.

As we continue to explore the world of keynote speakers in the next sections, we’ll take a deeper look into their roles, traits, and the unforgettable impact they leave behind.

History and Evolution of Keynote Speaking

The art of keynote speaking is not a modern invention.

It’s a craft that has been refined over centuries, influenced by great orators and changing societal needs.

Let’s take a brief journey through the evolution of keynote speaking.

Ancient Roots

The origins of public speaking can be traced back to ancient civilizations.

Greek philosophers like Aristotle and Socrates were early masters of rhetoric, using their oratory skills to educate and influence.

Roman statesmen like Cicero later elevated public speaking into an art form.

Their impact on the art of persuasion and public speaking is still studied today.

The Middle Ages and Renaissance

During the Middle Ages, the art of speaking took a more religious turn, with sermons and religious discourses becoming the primary form of public speaking.

However, the Renaissance reignited interest in classical rhetoric, and scholars began to study and teach the principles of Aristotle and Cicero once again.

The Rise of Keynote Speaking in Modern Times

As we moved into the modern era, the role of the public speaker evolved.

The Industrial Revolution and the rise of large-scale events brought a need for speakers who could captivate and inspire large audiences.

This era saw the rise of the keynote speaker as we know it today – a central figure, who sets the tone for events and conferences.

Today’s Keynote Speaker

Today, keynote speakers are a blend of educators, entertainers, and inspirers.

They are often chosen for their expertise, experiences, and ability to connect with an audience on a deeper level.

The digital age has also expanded keynote speaker’s reach, with speeches being broadcasted globally, transcending physical boundaries.

For a deeper dive into the history of public speaking and its evolution, check out this insightful article from History.com .

The journey of keynote speaking is a testament to the enduring power of the spoken word.

As we continue to explore this fascinating topic, we’ll uncover more about the roles, responsibilities, and lasting impact of keynote speakers.

Roles and Responsibilities of a Keynote Speaker

Understanding the roles and responsibilities of a keynote speaker is crucial to appreciating their impact.

A keynote speaker does much more than just ‘speak.’

Let’s explore the multifaceted nature of this pivotal role.

Inspiring the Audience

A keynote speaker’s primary role is to inspire and motivate their audience.

They bring energy and enthusiasm that can transform an event’s atmosphere, making their speech a memorable experience.

Setting the Event’s Tone

The keynote address often sets the tone for the entire event.

A well-delivered keynote can create a positive mood, establish the event’s theme, and provide a framework for the discussions that follow.

Providing Expertise

Keynote speakers are usually experts in their field.

They share valuable insights and knowledge, offering the audience a unique perspective on relevant topics.

Engaging with the Audience

Effective keynote speakers engage with their audience, creating a two-way dialogue.

They encourage participation, provoke thought, and often leave the audience with impactful takeaways.

To better understand the importance of these roles in successful events, read this insightful piece from Forbes on the importance of great keynote speakers at events.

As we take a closer look into the art and science of keynote speaking, it becomes clear that these speakers are much more than just voices on stage.

They are the catalysts for change, inspiration, and new ideas.

In the next section, we’ll explore the characteristics that make a keynote speaker truly effective and memorable.

Characteristics of an Effective Keynote Speaker

What transforms a good speaker into a great keynote speaker?

It’s a combination of several key characteristics.

Let’s explore these traits that make keynote speakers not just heard, but remembered.

Confidence and Charisma

• Confidence: Great keynote speakers exude confidence. They command the stage with assurance and poise, making their presence felt.
• Charisma: They possess a natural charm and charisma that captivates the audience, making their message more impactful.

Expertise and Knowledge

• Depth of Knowledge: They are often experts in their field, bringing a depth of knowledge that adds credibility to their message.
• Lifelong Learners: Effective keynote speakers are always learning and evolving, keeping up-to-date with the latest in their field.

Ability to Connect with the Audience

• Engagement: They know how to engage with the audience, making each listener feel like they are being spoken to directly.
• Empathy: These speakers can relate to their audience, understanding their needs and addressing them effectively.

Communication Skills

• Clear Messaging: They can convey their message in a clear, concise, and engaging manner.
• Storytelling: Great keynote speakers are also great storytellers. They use stories to illustrate their points and connect on an emotional level.

Adaptability and Flexibility

• Adapting to the Audience: They can tailor their message to resonate with different audiences.
• Handling the Unexpected: A skilled keynote speaker can handle unexpected situations or questions with ease and grace.

These characteristics combine to create a speaker who doesn’t just deliver a speech but creates an experience.

For more insights into what makes a keynote speaker stand out, check out this article from Psychology Today .

In the next sections, we’ll explore the impact these speakers have on events and how to choose the right one for your needs.

Stay tuned to uncover more about the incredible world of keynote speaking.

The Impact of a Keynote Speaker on Events

Throughout this article, we’ve explored what a keynote speaker is, their history, roles, and the characteristics that make them effective.

Now, let’s dive into the profound impact these speakers have on events and their audiences.

Setting the Event’s Atmosphere

• A keynote speaker often sets the tone for the entire event. Their energy, enthusiasm, and message lay the groundwork for what attendees can expect.
• As we discussed in the ‘Roles and Responsibilities’ section, the right speaker can transform the mood and feel of an event.

Inspiring Change and Action

• One of the most significant impacts of a keynote speaker is their ability to inspire change and action in their audience.
• As highlighted in the ‘Characteristics of an Effective Keynote Speaker’ section, their expertise and persuasive communication skills can motivate attendees to think and act differently.

Facilitating Networking and Discussions

• A compelling keynote speech can be a conversation starter, sparking discussions and networking among attendees.
• This aspect ties back to the importance of engaging with the audience, a trait we emphasized earlier.

Educating and Informing

• Keynote speakers often provide valuable insights and information, contributing to the educational aspect of the event.
• Their depth of knowledge, a characteristic we’ve previously discussed, helps in enlightening the audience on specific topics.

Leaving a Lasting Impression

• The message and delivery of a great keynote speaker often leave a lasting impression on the attendees, long after the event is over.
• This lasting impact is a culmination of the various roles and characteristics we’ve explored in the previous sections.

The impact of a keynote speaker extends beyond the confines of the event.

They ignite ideas, inspire change, and leave a lasting imprint on their audience’s minds.

To understand more about the influence of keynote speakers on events, consider reading this insightful article from TED Talks , a platform known for its powerful keynote presentations.

As we move towards the conclusion of our exploration into the world of keynote speakers, we’ll next look at how to choose the right keynote speaker for your event, tying together all the aspects we’ve discussed thus far.

How to Choose the Right Keynote Speaker for Your Event

Choosing the right keynote speaker is crucial for the success of your event. As we’ve seen in previous sections, a keynote speaker sets the tone, inspires change, and leaves a lasting impact.

Here’s a guide to help you select the perfect speaker for your event.

Understand Your Event’s Objective and Audience

• Identify the main goal of your event and the type of audience attending. This will guide you in finding a speaker whose message aligns with your objectives.
• Consider the demographic and interests of your audience to ensure the speaker can connect with them effectively.

Look for Expertise and Credibility

• Choose a speaker who is an expert in the field relevant to your event’s theme, as discussed in the ‘Roles and Responsibilities’ section.
• Check their credibility through past speaking engagements, publications, and audience feedback.

Evaluate Their Speaking Style and Ability to Engage

• Every speaker has a unique style. Watch videos of their past speeches to gauge if their style fits your event.
• As highlighted in the ‘Characteristics of an Effective Keynote Speaker’ section, their ability to engage and inspire the audience is crucial.

Consider Their Impact on Previous Events

• Research the impact they have had on previous events. Did they inspire change or spark new ideas?
• Feedback from previous event organizers can provide valuable insights into their effectiveness.

Ensure Logistical Compatibility

• Confirm their availability for your event dates and consider any logistical requirements like travel and accommodation.
• Discuss and agree on the fee and any additional expenses upfront to avoid surprises.

Selecting the right keynote speaker can elevate your event from good to unforgettable.

By considering these factors, you can find a speaker who not only delivers a great speech but also resonates with your audience and enhances the overall experience of your event.

For more detailed guidance on selecting keynote speakers, this article from Harvard Business Review offers great insights.

Having explored the various facets of keynote speakers, from their roles to their selection, we’re now ready to wrap up our journey with a conclusion that ties together all these insights.

Conclusion: The Unforgettable Impact of a Keynote Speaker

As we reach the end of our exploration into the world of keynote speakers, it’s clear that their influence extends far beyond the stage.

From the ancient roots of public speaking to the dynamic presence of today’s keynote speakers, their role in shaping events and inspiring audiences is undeniable.

We’ve discovered that a keynote speaker is much more than just a figure delivering a speech.

They are the tone-setters, the inspirers, and the catalysts for change.

Their unique blend of confidence, charisma, and expertise empowers them to connect deeply with their audience, leaving a lasting impression that resonates well beyond the event itself.

Choosing the right keynote speaker, as we’ve outlined, is a critical decision.

It involves understanding your audience, recognizing the speaker’s ability to engage and inspire, and ensuring their message aligns with your event’s goals.

The right speaker can transform an ordinary event into an extraordinary experience, igniting minds and sparking innovation.

As you reflect on the insights shared in this article, remember that the power of a keynote speaker lies in their ability to weave stories, share wisdom, and inspire action.

Whether you’re organizing an event or simply attending one, the presence of a skilled keynote speaker can make all the difference, turning an event into a memorable journey of inspiration and learning.

Hopefully, this guide is useful for helping you choose your next keynote speaker!

Where should we send your FREE copy of BIG THINGS HAVE SMALL BEGINNINGS?

Guide to Planning, Writing, and Delivering a Killer Keynote Speech

by Janice Tomich

• Presentation Planning & Public Speaking Skills

Being invited to deliver a keynote address is a great honor.

It’s exhilarating. A compliment to your expertise.

I’m a public speaking coach . A client of mine recently was asked to deliver the keynote address at a large women’s tech event. She was new to public speaking. This was her first high-stakes conference opportunity.

She’s a seasoned leader in an industry with few female colleagues. Although she loves her job, at times her career has been rough. The conference organizers asked her to share her perspective with young women new to the field to help them navigate the inevitable difficulties of being a woman in tech—and also give them advice on how to enjoy the ride.

Her excitement and nervousness were palpable. That’s how it feels when you’re asked to give the keynote.

Being asked means that others value your ideas, thoughts, and vision. You know it’s a big opportunity. A keynote speech provides an opportunity to inspire others like no other.

But if you’ve been asked to share what you’ve experienced throughout your career (or even lifetime) it can be a daunting ask.

With the honor of delivering a keynote comes the responsibility to deliver an address that will inspire your audience to take action.

Table of Contents

What Is a Keynote Speech?

A keynote speech stands above other public speaking opportunities because event organizers make it the highlight of the agenda. Large events often leverage the keynote speaker to attract attendees.

The theme of a keynote is usually set by the event’s theme.

For multi-day events like conferences the keynote is often (but not always) scheduled on the last day. Scheduling the keynote for the end of the event builds excitement and anticipation. Other times the keynote is scheduled near the beginning of an event, and in this case the role of the keynote speaker is to set the tone. Knowing when you’ll be speaking (at the beginning or at the end of the event) impacts the type of keynote speech you should create.

A keynote speaker is usually given a substantial amount of time to speak, often 45 to 60 minutes over dinner. Unlike a shorter presentation, keynote addresses give you a brilliant opportunity to go deep. TO show the breadth of your expertise. To invite your audience along through the ups and downs, ins and outs of a storyline. Your speech can be complex and include unanticipated twists and turns (while of course staying on track with your core message.)

If you’re lost and unsure about how to make your presentation compelling, I can help.

How Long Should A Keynote Be?

There are only a few hard and fast rules about the length of a keynote speech:

• The length of the speech is ultimately dictated by the amount of speaking time allocated by the event organizer.
• The length of the speech should be however long it takes you to clearly and concisely deliver a speech that inspires your audience.

Essentially, just enough time and not too much. 

P ro Tip: The amount of time allocated by the organizers is not always set in stone, especially in the early days of organizing an event. Keep the line of communication open with your organizer. The time frame might be open to adjustment or negotiation.

What Makes a Keynote Speech Compelling and Memorable?

An engaging, inspiring keynote presentation encourages the audience to envision what they are capable of. The best keynote speeches don’t just inform—they compel the audience to take action.

Keep two things top of mind as you plan:

• Focus on one main message (your throughline).
• Put yourself in the hearts and minds of your audience. Think of this as a research project as much as an exercise in empathy. Take the time to learn about what your audience wants to know. Learn how they need to hear it.

Going back to my example, the key message of my client who keynoted at the tech conference was resilience .

How did this key message turn into a speech?

She told funny, heart-wrenching stories, including some stories which were excruciating for her at the time they happened. These stories showed her drive to succeed. She spoke candidly about the problems she had come up against in her career. Then she revealed how she solved these problems and the benefits that transpired. Throughout the whole speech, she tapped back into her key message— resilience.

How Much Time Should You Devote to Preparation?

More time than you think.

I have never had a client tell me, “I wish I had spent less time preparing my keynote.”

They’re always glad they invested a good amount of time. Feeling completely ready in the days leading up to the event is worth it.

Nancy Duarte, the author of Resonate , works with industry giants on their keynote speeches. Duarte recommends you spend 30 hours on content creation for a 1-hour speech. (This doesn’t include building the slide deck or practicing the speech).

Here’s my breakdown of the time it takes to be fully prepared to step on stage to deliver your keynote address:

• 30 hours to research your speech and develop the keynote content
• 30 hours to create your keynote slide deck
• 30 hours of practicing your delivery

90 hours likely seems like a lot of time, but that’s what it takes to create and develop an inspirational, career-boosting keynote.

Your first rough draft will be just that … rough. Keynote speech writing is never a one-and-done process. To really nail it you need to get feedback and let the speech, slide deck, and delivery evolve over time. The results are worth it.

How Much Lead Time Do You Need?

Keynotes are a rich opportunity to give an audience perspective into who you are and what you know.

You should allow for 3 months (and a minimum of 2 months) of lead time before you deliver your keynote.

However, life does not always go according to plan. You may not have a lot of time left to prepare. I offer a presentation coaching service called Crunch Time for when you’ve been asked on short notice (a speaker may have become ill) or you have been consumed with other projects and need support to deliver an engaging speech.

Planning a Keynote Speech: Who is your audience? What is your intention?

Your goal should be to take your body of work and experience and use that to resonate with your audience. Inspire them to action. Your words of wisdom will become part of their life experience and create a legacy which will stick with them for years.

“It’s all about the audience—not about you.” These are wise words I’ve never forgotten, delivered to us on the first day of class of my communication degree.

In my work supporting clients through presentation planning, I’m always checking in to ensure that the audience will be able to understand What’s In It For Them (WIIFT in marketing terms). Remembering to center on WIIFT is crucial. It’s the foundation for a successful keynote.

Your intention is important too—equally important, actually. Why are you giving the keynote? What do you want to have happen because of it? Knowing your own “why” and how it relates to the needs of your audience puts you on track to engage and inspire.

How To Write A Keynote Speech

1. establish your throughline.

After you have a good understanding of who your audience is and what your intention is in delivering your keynote it’s time to establish your throughline. Identify which theme or concept you want to speak about.

My client who was keynoting the tech conference planned to speak on resiliency, which is a broad topic. I encouraged her to dig deeper. Upon reflection, she realized that much of her success stemmed from her commitment to creating and building relationships.

She evolved the throughline. The theme of the keynote became developing resiliency through relationships .

2. Brainstorm with an open mind and big wall

Once you’ve decided on your throughline it’s time to find an open wall and a stack of post-it notes.

In freewriting-mode write down any and all ideas that come bubbling up that will support your theme. Take lots of breaks. I promise you’ll come back with fresh ideas each time.

3. Step back and group ideas into themes

Stand back once your wall is filled with ideas. Notice common themes. Place similar ideas into three groups.

What you see is three arguments or points of proof that support your throughline.

4. Pare down to the best ideas

Now sweep through and dispense of any of your ideas that strike you as weak or you don’t feel passionate about.

5. Order your ideas

Place the ideas that remain into a logical order, so that they flow from one idea to the next. That’s your outline. Transfer these concepts to a Google Doc or put pen to paper. You’ve got the bones of a good keynote speech already.

Don’t write out a script word-for-word. Instead, think about what you want to speak about for each of your points. Flesh them out, making notes about what you want to say.

You’ve invested a large amount of time creating the content. Every component of a keynote is important. So now let’s focus on how you open, close, and title your keynote.

How To Open A Keynote Speech

I suspect you’ve been to at least a few presentations where you felt bored by the speaker after just a few minutes.

Too many speakers begin with a status quo opening such as citing their CV or meticulously outlining what they “want to talk with you about.”

You can do better.

My client started her keynote off with a dose of humor rooted in her own personal experience. She talked about the inappropriate clothes she wore to an interview and the hilarious story of what she did to gain access to the building.

Here are a few more ideas to open your keynote speech:

• Start your speech by addressing the elephant in the room to address a negative bias your audience may be thinking. Perhaps you are quite young and your audience is older. You could begin by saying, “You are probably looking at me thinking she’s twelve years old and what could she know. And you’d be right…”
• Quote a startling statistic. Often keynotes focus on living out dreams. This statement will have your audience’s interest piqued, “The average person has over 1,460 dreams a year”.
• Begin a story that you can use to weave and thread your presentation together. You could begin by sharing a story of how a mentor helped. Throughout your presentation continue the story dropping the nuggets of wisdom of what your mentor said and how she helped.

It’s crucial that you grab your audience’s attention right from the start – that you hook them with your first words.

How To Close a Keynote Speech

Finish your keynote with clarity and power. I’ve listened to too many speeches and keynotes where the ending was weak. They didn’t live up to the energy of the body of work.

My client decided to loop back to the chain of events that happened before her interview, narrating how she hung in there, even when things weren’t going according to plan.

Here are some excellent approaches to closing your keynote powerfully:

Loop back to how you began your speech. If you began your speech by talking about the elephant in the room, tag back to provide assurance that you have.

Wrap up a story you teased in your opening and then threaded throughout the speech.

If you began your keynote with a stat or quote reference it again at the end by summarizing how you proved it was true.

A tenet I firmly stand by that it’s not good enough to just leave your audience inspired . You must leave them inspired to do somethin g. Close your speech with a clear call to action to do something tangible that will make a difference to them and/or their community.

Choosing a Title for Your Keynote

Your title is your audience’s first introduction to what they will hear. Finding the ‘right’ title makes them want to listen.

If a compelling title comes to mind before or as you are developing and creating your speech, write it down. But don’t worry if you’ve planned out your whole speech and still don’t have a title idea. The best titles often come to us right at the end. You’ll have lots of ideas to play with when you’ve finished gathering your content.

Here is a trick while working with an editor at Inc.com: first craft a title, then play with variations of that title by using words that will get attention or have an inherent hook embedded within them.

Here’s an example of how I played with titles before settling on one for this article:

My initial ideas were

Both titles are merely functional. They’re lackluster and don’t reflect the complexity of the article itself, which goes beyond merely “writing” a keynote.

I rephrased it to expand on the topic and add a bit more punch:

Better, but I knew I could do better.

I liked it. It is more eye catching and it indicates a comprehensive “guide” that promises not just a “how to” article, but in-depth advice that speaks to creating an excellent keynote that will be well received.

Invest the time in finding just the right title. It’s worth it. It piques your audience’s interest from their first interaction with you.

How To Practice Your Keynote Speech

Don’t put off practicing until the last minute. Conversely, don’t over-practice until you sound like a robot and have diluted every ounce of passion out of your presentation.

Making good use of your practice time is easy.

I’ve written an extensive guide on how to rehearse for a presentation and I’ve also written on this topic for Inc.com . Read them for tips and techniques to learn your keynote speech easily so you can walk on the stage confidently knowing you’ll nail it. 

I have never had a client tell me they wished they had practiced less. I encourage you to practice only as much as you need to and not a second more.

P ro Tip: When you have a few spots that are giving you difficulties just practice those sections. It’s a poor investment of your time to practice your keynote over and over in its entirety if only a few sections are tripping you up.

​​​​Sucheta Misra Associate VP Inclusion & Diversity and Social Impact Leader

Tips For Creating Your Slidedeck or PowerPoint Presentation

My take on PowerPoint is that it’s a powerful tool that has been dropped into the laps of people who, more often than not, don’t have the training or experience to wield it effectively.

Before PowerPoint, marketing and communication teams would strategize over the best content for the slides. Graphic designers would create them.

These are the three most important things to know about your slide presentation:

• If slides won’t add or support your presentation don’t use them. 
• Create your slides so that they are primarily image-based with a limited amount of text. 
• If you are not a graphic designer hire one. It’s worth it for the stroke of elegance and professional edge they will add. A graphic designer will bring your deck to life. 

If you do decide to use a slidedeck ensure it helps your audience connect the dots and visualize what you are sharing with them.

What To Do Before You Deliver Your Speech

I’m often backstage supporting clients at their events. It’s exhilarating to feel the energy of speakers waiting to go on stage. You can feel the excitement … hearts pounding and voices warming up.

Here are a few tips and techniques professional speakers use to ready themselves, calm their nerves , and warm up their voice before giving a keynote speech:

• If you find yourself not sleeping well or experiencing anxiety in the days leading up to your speech try 4 – 7 – 8 breathing . Three or four rounds should have you feeling calmer and able to fall back to sleep. 
• Keep yourself hydrated. The day before your event up your water intake. This will keep you feeling energetic and your voice lubricated. 
• Make sure you get a good sleep before your keynote. Lack of sleep will knock you off your game. 
• Fifteen minutes before your keynote move your voice up and down through your natural register with vocal exercises so you can use your voice like the fine instrument it is. 
• Just as you are about to speak, if you suffer from dry mouth, take these lozenges to help you articulate with ease. 
• When you arrive at the podium take a few deep breaths, feel your feet on the floor, touch a favourite amulet such as a ring or necklace…and away you go! 

What You Should Do After Your Speech

When you end your speech you’re still not quite finished yet.

Connect with people from your audience. Gather feedback. Some of the richest relationships you will create will happen if you take the time to talk with people after your speaking event. If you have the opportunity, ask for presentation feedback to help you learn what worked and what didn’t.

Don’t ask if they enjoyed your keynote because the response will probably be, “It was great!” Instead, ask what they took away that will make a difference in their life. Ask them what nugget stuck with them. The answers to these questions will provide information to improve your next keynote.

Having your keynote recorded provides a brilliant learning opportunity. Many of my clients tell me they can’t/won’t watch a recording of themselves. I ask them to separate themselves from their egos and embrace the opportunity to learn. You can gain insight into what landed and what didn’t by your audience’s reactions.

Ask for presentation feedback from a trusted advisor. Don’t ask family and friends. A trusted advisor or mentor has the perspective to provide unbiased feedback that your family and friends won’t be able to. A trusted advisor will be able to expertly able to weigh in about your content, your delivery, and the effectiveness of your speech. ¯

Keynote speeches are complex. They have lots of pieces that need to fit together to create an easy, simple flow and to hold your audience in your hands so they will be inspired and learn from you.

Do you need help with your upcoming keynote speech to make sure your audience will leave challenged to take action and be inspired? Let’s chat and learn how I might help. Here’s access to my calendar to schedule a time to talk.

Share this post:

Related Posts

How Much Should I Charge to Give a Keynote Speech?

Someone has just asked you how much you charge to give a keynote speech. What should you answer? It depends. I’m a public speaking coach. That gives me an insider’s view of keynote speaking costs

7 Public Speaking Books Actually Worth Your Time

Most people dislike public speaking. In fact, the stats say 73% of people fear delivering presentations or talks. If you are one of the 73%, you don’t have to be. There is an abundance of standout books

Yes, Anyone Can Become a Charismatic Speaker. Here’s how.

Is it possible to become a charismatic speaker if you weren’t born with the talent?  Someone asked me that question at one of the first workshops I delivered as a public speaking coach. And it

Janice Tomich Site Map

Testimonials

Social Media

© 2023 Janice Tomich. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy   |   Terms of Use

Give the keynote. Without the nerves.

What Is a Keynote Speech & How to Deliver One With Impact?

Hrideep barot.

• Public Speaking

We’ve all heard about Keynote Speakers. They are all the rage given the pandemic and the hoards of webinars and conclaves and conferences that have come with it. They have also been a catalyst in spreading the assumption or myth that Keynote Speakers are celebrities or really famous people. However, that is not true! Sure, having a famous personality brings in the little extra “branded” tone to your event but it doesn’t really matter if your Keynote Speaker(s) have no substance or anything relevant to speak about.

Why is it called “Keynote” anyway?

If you are the curious type (like me) and usually loose track of time by going off on a tangent while researching about a topic, I’ve saved you some time:

Based on my research, a Keynote is the base note in Music which sets the tone for the track.

There you have it: The best way to explain what a Keynote Speech is!

A Keynote Speech, usually given at the beginning of the event, focuses on the central idea or theme for the event and elaborates on the same. It is given by someone noteworthy of presenting the same, like a professional or experienced scholar of the topic and sets the tone for the event.

Keynote Speeches could also have presentations and other visual aids. It is up to you and whatever your creative juices decide while preparing.

If you are interested in learning about presentations and how you can use it best in a speech, we’ve written an article just for that, check it out!: A Guide to the Techniques of Presentation

How to write a Keynote Speech?

Here’s the million dollar question (only if you are paying me to ask it)

Usually writing a speech is confusing business. With the transitions, delivery, tones, pitch, visual aids, and I could keep going but I don’t want you to begin fanning your armpits… yet!

The main thing, without it you have no speech. (duh!)

So how do you begin going about your topic? Easy, first things first: write down any keywords or points that you know about the topic.

Pro Tip: Always keep your ideation document different from your drafts (layout/colour wise). It may be helpful to have everything in one place but soon, your mind will get adjusted to using it as a rough ideation workspace and when you actually have to sit down and write your speech, it won’t come naturally and lo and behold – the writer’s block.

Once you have that, discard all the knowledge and running thoughts you have about the topic and open your browser and books. It is research time!

Learn whatever you can about the topic. If you find articles which are helpful (like this one) keep them open and close the rest of the tabs. If you are using books, use bookmarks or tabs or even highlighters if you are allowed to/comfortable using to mark all the points you found interesting and helpful.

Read through them again, now is the point where you start filtering information to decide if the content you liked is Keynote Speech worthy or not.

How do you know if it is worthy?

Simple: Can it lift Mjollnir? (For those of you who did not understand the reference, I got you: Search for – Thor’s Hammer.)

On a more serious note: Look out for points which are informative and something you can build on but ensure that they aren’t too complex. Why? Because, the time it takes for you to explain one point will take away the opportunity to touch base on the various other topics or points you would/are planning to cover.

This brings us to our next point:

How long should a Keynote Speech be?

If you have never given a Keynote Speech, or if you are reading this at 2:00 AM and have to deliver your speech today – Remember those speeches during webinars which you immediately slept after? My guess is, those speeches where the Keynote Speeches.

A Keynote Speech / Address can last anywhere between 15-60 minutes.

My Advice: Don’t let it cross the 30 minute mark. A Keynote Speech is expected to be a bit generic and revolve around the theme. If you keep talking about something generic and returning to the same point / theme, people tend to get bored, you unknowingly might become repetitive and overall, you might find someone else dozing off during your address.

PS: Different organisations have different plans of action, so it would be the safest to approach the organisers and find out how long they expect you to speak for and move ahead from there.

Content and Structure

You have researched your topic the best you can, you might have gone to the extent of the etymology as well, and filtered the clutter.

Now, what we need to do is, organise.

A great way to organise your content could be using this chart:

Introduction to the Main Theme Introduction to your area of expertise A few topics you find the most interesting / think that the demographic you are addressing to will find the most interesting* Future prospects about the industry Summary and Conclusion while rounding back to the main general topic.

*Targeting Demographic

Figuring out what your demographic would be interested in is a task! The easiest way to figure that out would be to divide them into three categories.

• Some Experience

How does this help?

Once you know what the majority of your audience’s demographic is like, you can tailor your content based on things they might be interested in.

For Freshers, you can add topics about future prospects and the career growth in the field.

For people who have spent some time in the industry but are still new, you can speak about the current trends, and how to navigate the various obstacles that may come with various deliverables.

If you are addressing a group of experts in the field, treat them like your equals and don’t dumb things down for them, some basic jargon can be allowed (usually it is a big no no in speeches) and it may even present you with the opportunity to segue into a joke about “back in our days.”

This is also a great opportunity to open the floor for discussions and take in points from the audience about the new and latest developments in your industry, because as experts, they would definitely have a well founded viewpoint and might even help you look at things from a new perspective – Who said you couldn’t grow and learn while giving a speech?

Opening a Keynote Speech

The beginning is where the audience decides if they want to listen to you. Creating an impression couldn’t be any easier!

You can start with one of the three Ss – Statement, Story or a Surprising Question.

Once Upon a Time, I used this phrase to begin my story in a speech and had the audience snoring by the next line!

The phrase “Once Upon a Time” may be classic, but remember it is a classic for bed time stories. Unless you are beginning a Fairy Tale or Folklore, steer clear of your temptations of using it.

Instead, begin with the setting of the story, fake or a real incident, it helps the audience picturise things better and relate and follow more closely.

To learn more about storytelling and how to use it in your speech, you can check our article on the same: 9 Storytelling Approaches for your Next Speech or Presentation

A statement, phrase or quote when used at the beginning of the speech, needs to be either controversial (who doesn’t love good tea?) or something powerful.

Make sure that if you use a quote or phrase it is in line or in some way related to your topic. Something which is completely different from the topic at hand would make it even more complex for you to get it back to the theme and what you want to talk about.

Surprising Question

When do you ask a question?

Did you answer this? Even if your answer was on the lines of: “How am I supposed to know that” It was still a response to the question.

This is what you can do with your audience as well. Anyone who hears a question, rhetorical or not, will answer it intuitively – be it a sarcastic answer, a rude one or an actual one. But there will be an answer and then there will an unconscious expectation of a response and there you have a hooked audience!

This was my take, if you want to explore deeper into figuring out your opening, check out our video on the same!

Tips for Writing and Delivery

Now that you know where you want to take your speech, here is a list of a few things which you can use to help you take your Keynote Address to the next level.

• Learn about your audience to tailor your speech to keep it relevant and relatable.
• Practice your speech, even if it is the 100th time you are giving one or talking about that specific topic.
• Embrace the nervousness but don’t let it be the better hugger.
• Be confident about your content. If you aren’t sure about a point, it is better to omit it rather than confuse the audience or provide them with poorly researched facts.
• Consider adding visual aids like a presentation or pictures to your speech.
• Connect with the audience, share your contact details and social media page with them via chat or on screen, and invite them to pick your brain. This way, you build your network and someone out there gets to learn and clarify doubts from an expert!
• Prepare. Preparation isn’t just practising your speech. It is checking your network connection (online), the stage and lighting and all the other tech support (offline), deciding what to wear, getting enough sleep and multiple other things like checking in with the organisers, etc.,.

Keynote Speech Examples

We’ve filtered through so many great speeches to bring you our top four, each cover a different aspect of a Keynote Speech and will help you gain a wider idea about what could work for your speech and what may be a possible new avenue you could take.

Oprah Winfrey – With Motivational Keynote Speeches being the most popular, the talk show host and entrepreneur spoke about following your passion and working on yourself. A great example of a good self-help and motivation Keynote Address.

Matt Damon – The actor spoke about this experiences in colleges and the financial difficulties he has faced. This speech is a great example of how you can connect to a younger audience and speak about a personal experience in a very engaging manner.

Sheryl Sanberg – A great example of mixing motivation with personal experiences and sensitive topics. This could help you with connecting various topics seamlessly and yet maintaining the umbrella topic/theme/genre.

Ken Robinson – To move into a more technical yet jargon free point of view on multiple topics and remaining objectively critical and motivational at the same time.

Keynote Speech Ideas

Often times, even though the theme of the event may be set, it can be a bit to vague, or the organisers might just tell you to talk about yourself, or anything you want!

One way to help you choose the perfect topic for you is:

Following the 3 KPI method. (No, not that KPI) KPI – Knowledge, Passion, Interest.

1. Knowledge

How much do you know about the topic? Is it something you can speak on without any or little preparation? Knowledge about the topic you’re speaking about builds your confidence, and it also shows the audience that you are a credible source of information! Another added benefit is that you will be able to explain really complex sections of the topic with ease and various examples – a great quality and it adds immense value to your speech since it makes it accessible to any demographic.

Why is being passionate about what you speak so important? Try out the below activity with someone.

1. Speak about a random story from the internet, it could be about a news article, social issue, facts, story, anything that is not your opinion or an opinion you particularly agree with. 2. Speak about any topic that you deeply care about, it could be the welfare of canines, politics, the impending doom of fast fashion, literally anything!

Ask your buddy to judge your delivery on both these occasions. Did you suddenly speak louder, clearer, and more well.. passionately?

When you speak about a topic you are passionate about, you tend to create that atmosphere around you that says “This is soo cool” and since humans generally have a herd mentality, their brain goes “This sounds cool, tell me more!” and there you have it, a room full of people who want to listen to you just because you made it sound “cool” .

3. Interest

If you’re passionate and know enough about your topic, I think it is safe to assume that you are interested in it. So, now enough about you, let’s think about your audience. Earlier in this article we spoke about how to gauge the demographic of your audience and based on that what sections of the topic you should pay attention to. The audience needs to find some value in your content to stick on till the second sentence. Work on building the quality of your speech by research and building your own knowledge. At the end of the day, you’ve learned something new and have a strong speech ready to provide your audience with a positive experience. Win-Win!!

If you would like to explore some more resources to gauge the best way to choose a topic, you can check out our video on the same:

To work on a speech with no real base is difficult, so we have gathered a few possible topics/themes you can cover in your Keynote Speech. These could also just be a simple, small section in your speech or you can base your speech completely on any of the following topics, the choice is yours!

• Technology and its affect/impact in your industry.
• Current Events – Eg: How the Pandemic has affected your industry.
• Leadership and Obstacles – The whole “Career in this Industry” package.
• Connecting your Niche to the theme.
• What you think about the future prospects of this industry and how to adapt to them.
• Multiple strategies and techniques which come in handy.
• Assess the Future and sharing your plans about a specific / general topic based on the industry / theme.

Being a Keynote Speaker is both an honour and an opportunity to learn. Remember to do your research and build your content the best you can. It is important to work on yourself and be patient with your process. If you are confident with your content, you could even do an improv on stage and still kill it!

Public Speaking is a skill that takes its own sweet time to develop and grow. Working on it is a constant process and can come in many forms! One step at a time and you won’t get exhausted or frustrated. Good luck!

Enroll in our transformative 1:1 Coaching Program

Schedule a call with our expert communication coach to know if this program would be the right fit for you

How to Brag Like a Pro as a Speaker

Less is More! Tips to Avoid Overwhelming Your Audience 

What does it mean to Resonate with the Audience- Agreement, Acceptance, Approval

• [email protected]
• +91 98203 57888

Get our latest tips and tricks in your inbox always

Copyright © 2023 Frantically Speaking All rights reserved

What Is a Keynote Speech? Plus 5 Steps to Help You Write One.

Eleni Kelakos August 24, 2020 Peak Performance , presentation skills training , public speaking training , speech coaching

You’ve been asked to deliver a keynote speech at an upcoming event.  And while you may be flattered by the request, you have a lot of questions, like: “What is a keynote speech anyway? What makes it different that other presentations?  How long should a keynote speech be? And how do I write a keynote speech

Before I answer those questions, let me congratulate you for having been asked to deliver a keynote speech.  Because being invited to give a keynote speech means that have developed a perspective, a public persona, or a big idea that is interesting enough to be featured in the spotlight. Professionally speaking, you have arrived! 

Typically, keynote speakers are experts in their field.  Some professional keynote speakers, like me and many of my colleagues in the National Speakers Association , are even paid to deliver their keynote speeches. Whether you are paid or not, giving a keynote address is both an honor and a fantastic opportunity to share your expertise what an appreciative audience.

What Is A Keynote Speech?

The answer to “What is a keynote speech?” is inherent in the very language of the question:  The words key and note .  Essentially, a keynote speech is a speech in which you establish and develop a main (key) theme and set an overall tone (note) for the event. Often, the subject of a keynote address or keynote speech is intended to reinforce—and rally the audience around– the event’s chosen theme.  For example, if the theme of an event is performing at your peak as a leader, there is a good chance that the keynote speaker will be delivering a speech that underscores that theme.

Keynote speeches can be informational, inspiring, entertaining, and motivating. The best keynote speeches contain a bit of each those elements, expertly woven together.   

What Makes A Keynote Speech Different Than Other Presentations?

One of the best ways to understand what makes a keynote speech different that other speeches or presentation is to understand what it is not :   A keynote speech is not a speech or presentation in which you teach skills or concepts on a deep, experiential, nuts and bolts level.  It’s a speech in which you are doing most of the work.

If you are asking your audience to do individual or group work in spoken or written form through more than half of your speech,  what you are delivering is either a training program or a workshop, but not a keynote speech.  This is not to say that keynote speeches can’t have interactive elements; many of the best do, but in doses small and simple enough to allow the members audience to ingest the lessons while maintaining a focus on the speaker. Overall, keynote speeches tease out their key theme at a much higher level of focus than more involved, granular, and usually more lengthy workshops, breakout sessions, or training programs ( like these ).

How Long Should A Keynote Speech Be?

A keynote speech is typically thirty to sixty minutes in length. 

Generally speaking, the shorter the keynote speech, the better.  This is especially true when delivering a keynote speech after lunch or dinner, when people are winding down over a meal (or even a cocktail or two) and have a shorter attention span.  Whatever time slot you’ve been given as a keynote speaker, it’s your job to stay within its parameters—even if the event is running late, and you have to shave ten minutes off your keynote speech.

How Do You Write A Keynote Speech?

The question “How do I write a keynote speech” is often the reason thought-leaders, speakers, and business leaders contact me for support in writing one.  Because, if you’ve never put a keynote speech together before, it can be daunting.  As I always tell my online group keynote coaching or individual keynote coaching clients, organizing and crafting a keynote speech is a creative process. This means your keynote speech will often dictate what it needs to be as you’re writing it. You must be willing to nudge it into being, and be patient as it unfolds.

If you’re wondering “So, how do you write a keynote speech?” I suggest you start by asking yourself the following five questions:

• Who are the people the audience you are speaking to? The more you know about your audience, the more you can create a keynote speech that is relevant and of service to them.
• What pain, problem or challenge are you there to shine a light on or solve on behalf of your audience?
• Based on your answers to the first two questions, what is your big idea, the “key note” you are there to expand upon in your keynote speech?
• What are the three main points, lessons, or takeaways you want make (and flesh out with stories, data, and other sticky evidence) that are in support of your big idea, and will make up the body of your keynote speech?
• What can you choose to do to begin and end your keynote speech in a way that is maximally memorable and engaging?

If you are struggling to put together your keynote speech, don’t despair. You don’t have to go it alone. There are professional keynote presentation coaches who can help you turn your big idea into a magical, moving, memorable speech. 

Fill Your Keynote Speech With Who You Are

Whether you write keynote speech by yourself, or with the help of a trusted keynote presentation coach , remember this: The greatest resources you’ve got to draw upon are your unique experiences, expertise, and stories.  Fill your keynote speech with who you are and what you know. Be human and relatable, so your audience can connect more deeply with you.

And when the time comes for you to step up to the podium and give your keynote speech remember: Your words matter. Use your words responsibly. Use your words with intention. Use your words to change your world.  

Need support putting together your signature keynote speech? Check out my Build a Brilliant Keynote Online Group Course .

Would you rather work with me on e -on-one explore my keynote presentation coaching options..

Words at Ease

6 Keynote Speaker Speech Examples

Are you preparing to deliver a keynote speech but feeling unsure about how to structure your message for maximum impact?

A well-written keynote speech can inspire, educate, and leave a lasting impression on your audience.

Keynote Speaker Speech Examples

As a seasoned speechwriter with 30 years of experience, I’ve had the privilege of writing speeches for a wide range of events and purposes.

In this article, I’ll share six keynote speaker speech examples that demonstrate effective techniques for engaging your audience and delivering your message with clarity and conviction.

1. The Power of Perseverance

Good evening, everyone. I stand before you today as a testament to the power of perseverance. When I started my business 20 years ago, I had no idea of the challenges that lay ahead. I faced countless setbacks, failures, and moments of self-doubt. But through it all, I held onto my vision and refused to give up.

The road to success is rarely a straight line. It’s filled with twists, turns, and obstacles that can make you question your abilities and your purpose. But I’m here to tell you that every challenge you face is an opportunity to grow, learn, and become stronger.

Perseverance is not about being perfect or having all the answers. It’s about having the courage to keep going, even when the path ahead is uncertain. It’s about believing in yourself and your vision, even when others doubt you. And it’s about embracing failure as a necessary step on the journey to success.

So today, I challenge you to embrace the power of perseverance in your own lives. Set big, audacious goals and pursue them with unwavering determination. When you face setbacks, don’t let them define you. Use them as fuel to propel you forward. And most importantly, never, ever give up on your dreams.

— END OF SPEECH —

Commentary: This inspiring speech about perseverance is perfect for motivating audiences to overcome challenges and pursue their goals relentlessly. It draws on the speaker’s personal experiences to convey a powerful message of resilience and determination.

2. The Future of Innovation

Innovation. It’s a word that gets thrown around a lot these days. But what does it mean? And more importantly, what does it mean for the future of our society?

As someone who has spent my career at the forefront of technological innovation, I can tell you that the pace of change is accelerating at an unprecedented rate. New technologies are emerging every day that have the potential to transform the way we live, work, and interact with each other.

But with great power comes great responsibility. As we push the boundaries of what’s possible, we must also consider the ethical implications of our actions. We must ensure that the technologies we create are used for the greater good and not just for personal gain.

So what does the future of innovation look like? I believe it will be defined by three key trends: sustainability, inclusivity, and collaboration.

Sustainability means developing technologies that are environmentally friendly and socially responsible. It means finding ways to reduce our carbon footprint and create a more sustainable future for generations to come.

Inclusivity means ensuring that everyone has access to the benefits of innovation, regardless of their background or socioeconomic status. It means creating technologies that are accessible, affordable, and user-friendly for all.

And collaboration means breaking down silos and working together across industries and disciplines to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. It means recognizing that no one person or organization has all the answers and that we’re stronger when we work together.

The future of innovation is not just about creating new technologies. It’s about using those technologies to create a better world for all. And that’s a future worth fighting for.

Commentary: This thought-provoking speech tackles the important topic of innovation and its implications for the future. It’s suitable for audiences interested in technology, sustainability, and social responsibility.

3. The Art of Leadership

Leadership. It’s a term that gets thrown around a lot, but what does it mean? Is it about having a fancy title or a corner office? Is it about giving orders and expecting others to follow?

In my experience, true leadership is about something much deeper. It’s about the ability to inspire, motivate, and guide others towards a common goal. It’s about having the courage to make tough decisions and the humility to admit when you’re wrong. And most importantly, it’s about putting the needs of your team and your organization above your own.

So how do you become an effective leader? Here are three key principles that I’ve learned throughout my career:

First, lead by example. As a leader, your actions speak louder than your words. If you want your team to be honest, hardworking, and accountable, you need to embody those qualities yourself. You need to be willing to roll up your sleeves and do the work alongside your team, rather than just giving orders from on high.

Second, communicate openly and transparently. Your team needs to know what’s expected of them, what the goals and priorities are, and how their work fits into the bigger picture. They also need to feel heard and valued, which means creating an environment where everyone feels comfortable speaking up and sharing their ideas.

And third, invest in your people. Your team is your most valuable asset, and it’s your job as a leader to help them grow and develop. That means providing opportunities for learning and advancement, recognizing and rewarding great work, and being a coach and mentor to those who need it.

Leadership is not about having all the answers or being perfect. It’s about being authentic, empathetic, and committed to the success of your team. It’s about inspiring others to be their best selves and working together towards a common purpose.

So as you go forward in your leadership journey, keep these principles in mind. Lead by example, communicate openly, and invest in your people. And most importantly, never lose sight of the fact that leadership is a privilege and a responsibility, not just a title or a position.

Commentary: This insightful speech offers practical advice on effective leadership principles. It’s ideal for inspiring current and aspiring leaders in various fields to lead with authenticity, empathy, and a commitment to their team’s success.

4. Finding Your Purpose

Have you asked yourself what your purpose in life is? It’s a question that has puzzled philosophers, theologians, and ordinary people for centuries. But I believe that finding your purpose is not some abstract, esoteric pursuit. It’s a deeply personal journey that starts with understanding who you are and what you value most.

So how do you find your purpose? Here are three steps that have helped me on my journey:

First, identify your passions and strengths. What are the things that make you come alive? What are the activities that you lose yourself in, where time seems to stand still? What are the skills and talents that come naturally to you? These are clues to your unique gifts and the areas where you have the most potential to make a difference.

Second, look for the intersection between your passions and the needs of the world. Your purpose is not just about what makes you happy, but also about how you can use your gifts to serve others and make a positive impact. Look for the problems that need solving, the people who need help, and the causes that inspire you. Find ways to align your passions with a sense of purpose and meaning.

And third, take action. Finding your purpose is not a one-time event, but an ongoing process of discovery and growth. It requires courage, vulnerability, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone. Start small, but start somewhere. Volunteer for a cause you care about, take a class to develop a new skill or reach out to someone who inspires you. The more you engage with the world and explore your passions, the clearer your purpose will become.

Finding your purpose is not easy, but it’s worth it. It’s what gives your life meaning and direction, and what allows you to make a difference in the world. So don’t be afraid to ask the big questions and follow your heart. Your purpose is waiting for you, and the world needs what you have to offer.

Commentary: This thought-provoking speech encourages audiences to embark on a journey of self-discovery to find their true purpose in life. It offers practical steps for identifying passions, aligning them with the needs of the world, and taking action to make a positive impact.

5. Embracing Change

Change. It’s a word that can strike fear into the hearts of even the most experienced leaders. But in today’s fast-paced, constantly evolving business environment, change is not just inevitable – it’s essential for survival and success.

So how do you embrace change and lead your organization through times of uncertainty and disruption? Here are three strategies that I’ve found to be effective:

First, cultivate a mindset of adaptability and resilience. Change can be uncomfortable and even painful at times, but it’s also an opportunity for growth and innovation. Rather than resisting change or trying to maintain the status quo, embrace it as a chance to learn, experiment, and evolve. Encourage your team to do the same, and create a culture where taking risks and trying new things is celebrated rather than feared.

Second, communicate early and often. Change can be unsettling for people, especially when they don’t understand the reasons behind it or what it means for them. As a leader, it’s your job to provide clarity, transparency, and reassurance throughout the change process. Share your vision for the future, explain the rationale behind decisions, and be honest about the challenges and opportunities ahead. Listen to your team’s concerns and feedback, and involve them in shaping the path forward.

And third, lead with empathy and compassion. Change can be emotionally taxing for people, and it’s important to acknowledge and support them through the process. Take the time to understand their perspectives and needs, and provide resources and support to help them navigate the transition. Recognize that everyone responds to change differently, and be patient and understanding as they work through their challenges and fears.

Embracing change is not easy, but it’s a critical skill for leaders in today’s world. By cultivating adaptability, communicating transparently, and leading with empathy, you can help your organization not just survive change, but thrive in the face of it.

Commentary: This practical speech offers strategies for leaders to embrace change and guide their organizations through times of uncertainty. It’s suitable for business audiences facing disruption and seeking to cultivate a culture of adaptability and resilience.

6. The Power of Storytelling

Stories have the power to captivate, inspire, and transform. They can transport us to different worlds, make us feel deep emotions, and connect us in profound ways. But stories are not just for entertainment – they are also a powerful tool for communication, persuasion, and leadership.

As a speaker, storytelling is one of the most effective ways to engage your audience and deliver your message with impact. Here are three reasons why:

First, stories are memorable. People may forget facts and figures, but they will always remember a good story. When you wrap your message in a compelling narrative, you make it easier for people to understand, relate to, and retain. You give them a hook to hang their understanding on, and a way to connect your ideas to their own experiences and emotions.

Second, stories are persuasive. Stories have the power to change minds and influence behavior in ways that logical arguments and data alone cannot. When you tell a story, you create an emotional connection with your audience that can break down barriers and open them up to new perspectives. You can use stories to challenge assumptions, highlight injustices, and inspire people to take action.

And third, stories are universal. No matter who your audience is or what your message is, stories have the power to transcend boundaries and bring people together. They tap into the shared human experience and create a sense of community and common purpose. When you tell a story, you invite your audience to see the world through your eyes and to empathize with your perspective.

So how do you become a master storyteller? Here are three tips:

First, know your audience. Before you craft your story, take the time to understand who you’re speaking to and what matters to them. What are their hopes, fears, and values? What challenges are they facing, and what solutions are they seeking? The more you know about your audience, the better you can tailor your story to resonate with them.

Second, be authentic. The best stories are the ones that come from the heart. Don’t try to be someone you’re not or tell a story that doesn’t feel true to you. Share your own experiences, vulnerabilities, and lessons learned. Be honest about your struggles and your triumphs. When you speak from a place of authenticity, your audience will sense it and connect with you on a deeper level.

And third, practice, practice, practice. Storytelling is a skill that takes time and effort to master. The more you do it, the better you’ll become at crafting compelling narratives, delivering them with confidence, and adapting to your audience’s responses. Seek out opportunities to tell stories in different contexts and formats, and get feedback from trusted peers and mentors.

The power of storytelling is within your reach. By understanding your audience, being authentic, and practicing your craft, you can become a master storyteller and use this powerful tool to inspire, persuade, and lead.

Commentary: This engaging speech highlights the power of storytelling as a tool for effective communication and leadership. It offers practical tips for crafting compelling narratives that resonate with audiences and inspire action, making it suitable for speakers and leaders across various fields.

Crafting a compelling keynote speech takes skill, practice, and a deep understanding of your audience and message.

By studying these six examples and incorporating the techniques they demonstrate, you can elevate your keynote speaking abilities and make a lasting impact on your listeners.

Remember, a great keynote speech is not about perfection, but about authenticity, connection, and the power of your ideas.

So be bold, be yourself, and let your passion shine through.

Your audience will thank you for it.

Become a Great Keynote Speaker – A Step by Step Guide

February 02, 2023

So, you’ve been asked to be a keynote speaker and give a keynote speech. How do you make sure your speech stands out and gets remembered? How do you become a good keynote speaker?

Writing and giving a keynote speech is a real skill.  and it’s a skill you can learn.  over the last 15 years we’ve helped hundreds of people with keynote speaker training. , do please call us and we’ll tell you about our conference keynote speaker coaching – it’s fast and good value..

These are the top speaker tips from the coaching team at Benjamin Ball Associates, based on our 15 years’ experience of supporting business leaders.

What is a Keynote Speech? What is a Keynote Speaker?

A keynote is more than an ordinary conference speech . Your keynote talk may be the reason people come to the event. It frequently sets the tone for the day. You’ll probably be the first speaker and that means your audience has high expectations .

Keynote speaking is also a powerful marketing opportunity. With these high stakes, the pressure is on you to deliver.

Learn how we can help – schedule a free consultation now

What makes a great Keynote speech?

You can only be a great event keynote speaker if you start with great content. That means writing a powerful keynote speech that your audience wants to hear. But what are the elements of a great keynote presentation? These keynote speech tips are some of the most important things to get right.

16 best keynote speaker tips: how to give a keynote speech

Let’s look at each of those Keynote Speaker tips in turn.

1. Know your audience

A top keynote speaker talks about their audience .  Whatever the subject of your talk, when preparing your keynote, you need to talk about what it means for them.  For example:

• If you are talking about new laws, then tell us how will these improve the lives of the audience. 
• If you are talking about changes in your business, what will that means for those in the audience. 

This means you write your speech for your audience and no one else.   See how Dan Gilbert involves his audience in his talk. “The Surprising Science of Happiness”

2. Have a clear intent to your keynote speaker speech

Great talks have a singular purpose . You should decide exactly what you want to achieve with your keynote. The clearer your intent in your keynote address, the more likely you will achieve this. For example, in his TED talk, Christopher Emdin uses his six minutes to achieve his one objective. 

How to do this? Write your intent on a post it note and keep this over your desk as you prepare your talk.  This should be your guiding light.

3. Prepare clear messages in your keynote presentation

Great talks are easy for your audience to listen to and understand. One way you can make it easy for your audience is by having clear messages that you want your audience to take away. We often use the TakeAway Test to check the clarity of our clients’ messages.

4. Tell stories when speaking

Storytelling is at the heart of any great talk . One of our top bits of advice for clients is that “Facts get forgotten; Stories get repeated.” You can use stories in many ways – to start; to connect with your audience; to give examples; to illustrate what you mean. See how Susan Cain uses stories in her TED talk The Power of Introverts.

You can learn more about powerful storytelling here

5. use all the tricks of great keynote speakers.

Speech writing is an art and a science. That’s why speech writing is a paid profession. Simon Lancaster, a well-known speech writer, talks about speech writing tricks including speaking in threes, using contrasts and metaphor in his TED talk. So, if you want help using these tools and turning your speech into an impressive Keynote address, please get in touch.

What mistakes do you need to avoid in a keynote?

In our experience, these are the biggest mistakes made by speakers over and over again. Read this and make sure you don’t fall into any these public speaking traps.

6. Don’t be boring as a speaker

It may sound obvious, but this is the key failing of keynotes. Because people don’t prepare properly, they deliver a mediocre speech. The good news is that it can be relatively simple to turn an ordinary conference talk into a powerful keynote .

We’d be delighted to transform your draft into a compelling Keynote with our public speaking coaching.

7. Don’t let your keynote speech be too formal

Great leaders speak using a conversational style. Short words, short phrases, simple words and colloquial phrases make a talk easy to listen to. Good writing is hard work, so keep at it until you know you have a great talk. Or use an experienced public speaking coach to help you draft your words.

8. A keynote speaker does not give a sales pitch

Some of the worst keynote speeches are promotional pitches . Much better is to grab attention and demonstrate how good you are, rather than tell people how good you are. Let your audience conclude that you are brilliant – don’t tell them.

9. Don’t say too much

It is easy to try and cover too much in your talk. A common mistake is to pack your talk with more information. But the best talks tend to be simple and focused. We’ve improved more talks by cutting stuff than by adding stuff. A great talk will say less, but say it better.

10. A keynote speech is not an essay

The spoken word and the written word are completely different. You need to write for the ear, not the page. You need to learn how to write a keynote speech. This is where a speech writer or a public speaking coach are so useful because they can help you translate your ideas into powerful spoken language.

11. Don’t rely on PowerPoint

Prepare a great keynote speech first. Only then decide if you need visual aids. And visual aids do not need to be PowerPoint. A PowerPoint presentation is not the same as a speech.

How to give a keynote address

Once you have written a great talk, you then need to deliver it well. If you have a bad speech, it will be hard to deliver and you will never look good. But with a well-written keynote and a carefully prepared speaker, you can be very impressive. These are some things that you need to consider:

12. Project your voice

The best Speaker is a performer. Speaking as you would in a small room will not work. You need to look and sound impressive to make an impact. What does this involve? You need to think about the energy you put into your voice; how you vary your pace and tone and how you command the room. Fortunately all these techniques can be learned. We do this every week for leaders giving keynote talks.

13. Use many pauses in your keynote

Pauses are the secret trick that the best speakers know. Pauses are powerful because they help your audience and they help you. As a rule of thumb, great speakers will use pauses every 5-10 words, and will frequently pause for somewhere between ½ – 2 seconds.

14. Own the stage

With your body language and your eye contact you can look impressive. A speaker will seen to be comfortable and will look as if being on stage is natural to them. All this is a trick. Many speakers feel nervous, but they have learned how to appear confident . We can help you look confident.

15. A great speaker will look the part

What you wear, how you behave and what you say must all link together. If what you are saying and how you say it do not match, you will lose your audience.

16. Practise

The one thing that distinguishes great business keynote speakers from ordinary ones is the time they spend rehearsing their speech . Obviously, the more public speaking you do, the better your will get. So if you don’t speak frequently, dedicate extra time to practising your talk.

And by practising, you should keep improving and refining what you say. Never be happy with the first draft of your speech. The best speakers are editing right up to the last minute. And of course, call us in to help. We can transform you from a nervous speaker into a confident, compelling communicator.

How to Deliver The Best Keynote Speech

So, how do you prepare your next keynote talk you are welcome to use all the advice above. or, to make it simpler, we could help you., before you give your next keynote presentation, get in touch. we’d be delighted to help you prepare and deliver a compelling speech. our keynote speaker training is fast and efficient. we’ve been doing this for over 15 years and have trained thousands of business executives., transform your presentation skills with tailored coaching.

We can help you present brilliantly. Thousands of people have benefitted from our tailored in-house coaching and advice – and we can help you too .

“I honestly thought it was the most valuable 3 hours I’ve spent with anyone in a long time.” Mick May, CEO, Blue Sky

For 15+ years we’ve been the trusted choice of leading businesses and executives throughout the UK, Europe and the Middle East to improve corporate presentations through presentation coaching, public speaking training and expert advice on pitching to investors.

Unlock your full potential and take your presentations to the next level with Benjamin Ball Associates.

Speak to Louise on +44 20 7018 0922 or email [email protected] to transform your speeches, pitches and presentations.

Frequently asked questions about keynote speaking, how do i become a keynote speaker, what is the purpose of a keynote speaker, is it keynote address or keynote speech, what should a keynote speaker say, how do you start a keynote speech, what are the first steps to becoming a keynote speaker, how can i improve my public speaking skills, how can i differentiate myself from other speakers, or read another article..., how to write a speech that matters – 10 top tips.

To write a speech that works, you need to know the tricks of…

Brilliant Presentation Skills Training for Business – 8 Top Tips

Great presenters stand out. They have had training in presentation skills.  You too…

How to Improve Your Executive Presence – 4 Tips

Learn how executive presence coaching can help you develop executive presence To succeed…

How to Scale your Business – 8 Low Cost Ways

How do you scale a business?  This is one of the big questions…

Contact us for a chat about how we can help you with your presenting.

What leaders say about Benjamin Ball Associates

Ceo, plunkett uk.

"Thank you so much for an absolutely brilliant session yesterday! It was exactly what we were hoping for, and you did an incredibly job covering such a range of issues with four very different people in such short a session. It really was fantastic - thank you!"

James Alcock, Chief Executive, Plunkett UK

Manager, ubs.

"Essential if you are going to be a spokesperson for your business"

Senior Analyst, Sloane Robinson

"Being an effective communicator is essential to get your stock ideas across. This course is exactly what's needed to help you do just that!"

CEO, Blast! Films

“Our investment in the coaching has paid for itself many times over.”

Ed Coulthard

Corporate finance house.

“You address 95% of the issues in a quarter of the time of your competitor.”

Partner International

“Good insight and a great toolbox to improve on my presentations and delivery of messages to not only boards, analysts and shareholders but to all audiences”

CEO, Eurocamp

“We had a good story to tell, but you helped us deliver it more coherently and more positively.”

Steve Whitfield

Ceo, ipso ventures.

“Ben did a great job on our presentation. He transformed an ordinary set of slides into a great presentation with a clear message. Would definitely use him again and recommend him highly.”

Nick Rogers

“Moved our presentation into a different league and undoubtedly improved the outcome and offer we received.”

Let's talk about your presentation training needs

+44 20 7018 0922, [email protected], our bespoke presentation coaching services, investor pitch coaching, executive presentation coaching, public speaking training, executive media training, new business pitch coaching, privacy overview.

The Tech Edvocate

• Advertisement
• Home Page Five (No Sidebar)
• Home Page Four
• Home Page Three
• Home Page Two
• Icons [No Sidebar]
• Left Sidbear Page
• Lynch Educational Consulting
• My Speaking Page
• Newsletter Sign Up Confirmation
• Newsletter Unsubscription
• Page Example
• Privacy Policy
• Protected Content
• Request a Product Review
• Shortcodes Examples
• Terms and Conditions
• The Edvocate
• The Tech Edvocate Product Guide
• Write For Us
• Dr. Lynch’s Personal Website
• The Edvocate Podcast
• Assistive Technology
• Child Development Tech
• Early Childhood & K-12 EdTech
• EdTech Futures
• EdTech News
• EdTech Policy & Reform
• EdTech Startups & Businesses
• Higher Education EdTech
• Online Learning & eLearning
• Parent & Family Tech
• Personalized Learning
• Product Reviews
• Tech Edvocate Awards
• School Ratings

How to Batch Rename Files in Windows 10

How to know if you need a new modem, today’s nyt connections hints, answers and help for aug. 30 #446, streisand effect: apple gets concept renderer to take down concept art for being ‘too realistic’, 5 takeaways from kamala harris and tim walz’s first joint interview since launching their campaign, spacex will provide internet service to users in brazil for free, analysts and industry execs say nvidia’s blackwell engineering challenges stem from combining two new processors and several memory components in a single chip (asa fitch/wall street journal), feds bust alaska man with 10,000+ csam images despite his many encrypted apps, sources: intel explores options to cope with historic slump, including a split of its product and foundry units and potentially scrapping some factory projects (bloomberg), starlink will now be free in brazil: musk, how to write a keynote speech: 14 steps.

1. Define your purpose: The first step in writing a keynote speech is to define your central message or theme. Consider the event’s objective and your personal insight on the topic to establish a goal for your address.

2. Know your audience: Understand the demographics, interests, and expectations of the people you’ll be addressing. This knowledge will help you tailor your speech to engage, inspire, and connect with your listeners.

3. Research comprehensively: To make your speech more authoritative and credible, research the subject matter thoroughly. This also equips you with relevant anecdotes, statistics, and facts for further engagement.

4. Create an outline: An organized structure for your speech is crucial in guiding its flow. Break down your major points into smaller topics and arrange them logically from the introduction to conclusion.

5. Start with a strong opening: Capture your audience’s attention right away with a captivating opening statement or anecdote that sets the tone for the rest of your speech.

6. Use storytelling techniques: Share personal experiences, anecdotes, or relevant stories from others to establish an emotional connection with the audience.

7. Engage with visuals: Supplement your verbal presentation with relevant images, graphs, or charts to help clarify and support complex ideas.

8. Provide value: Offer actionable advice, unique insights, or lessons learned on the topic based on both professional and personal experiences.

9. Be authentic and genuine: Your speech should reflect your personality and convictions. Be true to yourself and avoid trying to imitate someone else’s style or opinions.

10. Maintain clarity and simplicity: Speak in clear language that is accessible to everyone in the audience while avoiding jargon or overly complex terminology.

11. Pace yourself: Delivering a keynote speech effectively requires excellent timing. Practice speaking slowly and clearly while managing transitions between topics seamlessly.

12. Involve the audience: Encourage participation by asking questions, seeking feedback, or initiating activities that reinforce your key points.

13. Conclude with impact: End your speech on a high note by summarizing the main points and issuing a strong call to action or inspirational message.

14. Practice and rehearse: To ensure success, practice your speech multiple times, ideally in front of a mirror or with a trusted friend who can offer constructive feedback.

In summary, writing a captivating and memorable keynote speech demands a clear purpose, thorough research, and engaging delivery. By following these 14 steps, you’ll be better prepared to inspire and enlighten your audience.

How to Knit the Waffle Stitch: 9 ...

3 ways to deal with a terrible ....

Matthew Lynch

Related articles more from author.

How to Dive off a Starting Block

3 Ways to Make a Cheese Sandwich

3 Ways to Calculate Implicit Interest Rate

11 Ways to Attract a Leo Man As an Aquarius Woman

How to Be Shy at School: 15 Steps

4 Ways to Suppress Appetite

• All Categories
• Event Planning Software

8 Essential Keynote Speaker Tips You Should Know

In this post

• What is a keynote speaker?
• What is a keynote speech?

8 tips for delivering a keynote speech

Where to find good keynote speakers, how to book a keynote speaker, cost of a keynote speaker.

Some of the most gripping and inspiring speeches ever given are keynotes.

For example, Steve Jobs’ introduction of the iPhone (also called Stevenote); Barack Obama at the 2004 Democratic National Convention ; or Gary Vaynerchuk’s keynote speech at Inc 500 Seminar 2011 . They grip us. Move us.

What is a keynote speaker? 

But why are keynotes different from other speeches or presentations? Because they are the key moment of an event – often a conference. That’s why they are key notes .

In fact, the term stems from music: a capella singers need to hear a note to get the tune of a song right. That became the key note. The word carried over from music to the defining presentation at an event, and it’s supposed to move us – just like its origin.

Keynotes are also referred to as keynote addresses and are given to crowds at events like SXSW to commencement ceremonies. One of the most renowned commencement speeches comes from Steve Jobs. He was the keynote speaker at Stanford's 2005 graduation, the university he dropped out of years before.

A keynote speaker, often well-known in the field, gives the defining presentation of a conference and tunes the audience.

Some keynote speakers are professionals who do nothing else but speak. There is a certain art to that crossover between motivational and educational speaking. The best keynote speakers feel not only comfortable and confident on stage, they are also able to present an inspiring story or original idea within the context of the event.

Keynote speakers also play an important economic role: they raise interest in the event. Seeing someone famous is a great incentive to buy a conference ticket. I myself remember seeing Seth Godin, a great inspiration for me, for the first time at a conference I probably wouldn’t have attended if he hadn’t given the keynote. I then discovered other great speakers and presentations, but Seth was the door opener. He pulled me in.

On top of being great ticket-sellers, keynote speakers signal prestige. The more famous, the better. That means not just increased ticket sales the year of the event, but likely also the years that follow. Think about what it does for an event when Barack Obama gives the keynote. Not everybody can make that happen. It pulls a conference to the next level and makes interested parties more likely to purchase a ticket to your next conference in anticipation that you’ll bring big-name celebrities in to speak, thus increasing the overall value of your event.

Want to learn more about Event Planning Software? Explore Event Planning products.

What is a keynote speech .

A keynote is a principal presentation or speech that introduces an event and is usually given by a famous speaker. It sets the frame and tone of the event by introducing a novel or big idea. 

The best keynote speeches are all inspirational and cover an important idea. They are so rich you could write a book about them, which might be the reason so many writers give them. It’s not enough to just tell a funny anecdote or a joke. A keynote needs to teach something to the audience and move them.

Most keynotes are motivational speeches, but not all motivational speakers give keynotes.

Though it’s the most common setup, keynotes don’t always have to start an event. They can set the stage for following speakers speakers and discussions, so why not start with a bang?! Event coordinators can also organize the day with a keynote used to wrap up a conference or accelerate the moment midday. Either way, organizers and speakers need to understand that those are quite different from each other and demand different formats.

Writing a keynote speech is similar to writing a book. There’s no perfect recipe for it, but there are guidelines. If this is your first time, prepare to face high standards and putting in more work than for regular presentations. The following eight steps and tips at the end should prepare you well.

1. Find out what “keynote” means in context to the situation

Acknowledge that many organizers use the term “keynote” for different things. Clarify whether it’s really the main presentation you’re giving or something else.

2. Learn the intent of your keynote

Know the organizer’s goal/context. Is it to shock, excite, entertain, or inform? It’s often all of these things, but there has to be an emphasis on one. The organizer or event planner surely has a vision in mind, and it’s your job to understand what that looks like and how it overlaps with yours.

3. Understand your audience

Get a feeling for what moves the audience you’ll be speaking to and what’s top of mind, how to connect with them, and what their expectations are. Good keynotes tell a story that’s directly related to the context or the conference itself.

Some audience research ideas:

• Google the conference name and look for reviews or blog articles
• Look at conference hashtags on Twitter and Instagram to see who attended last year and what they said/shared
• Ask the organizer for audience reviews/feedback from past sessions/keynotes
• Ask your social media followers or email subscribers if they’re attending and what they expect

4. Do your research

Research previous keynote speakers of the event and find out what worked well and what didn’t. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time. Learn from those who came before you. Most event websites have that information and sometimes even videos of previous keynotes.

5. Plan your story

Think about the story you want to tell. It can be a personal anecdote, something that was big in the news, or a surprising outcome from research. Whatever it is, it should have at least one of these attributes: funny, entertaining, inspiring, gripping, or moving – or a combination – as long as it makes sense. 

TIP: How long should a keynote speech be? Keynotes rarely reach 60 minutes in length. The more common length is between 15 and 45 minutes (exceptions apply).

6. Internalize your presentation

Finish your presentation a couple of weeks ahead of the event so you can internalize it. Make sure you have some slack. As a regular speaker, nothing drives more sweat through your pores than finishing a slide deck a couple of hours before the event starts. Keynotes have very high requirements in terms of speaker quality, so make sure you leave enough time to refine your slides and really learn the content by heart. 

7. Connect with the audience at the event

Coffee breaks or breakfast are good opportunities for getting to know some of the attendees. Later on, when you stand in front of a mass, it will help you to address specific people and talk to them. You will probably feel more comfortable on stage and your presentation will be smoother.

8. Use social media to solidify the connections you made

Reconnect with the audience after your keynote on social media or in person. Make yourself available, answer questions, and discuss your material with attendees. That increases the chance of better feedback/reviews, creates advocates and new followers, and allows you to connect deeply with the people who gave their time and attention listening to you.

• Sketch out your story, sort your research and facts, and write down what you want to say before creating your slides. Do them last.
• Use strong pictures/images to underline your message
• Avoid text as much as possible 
• Work with simple charts 
• Cover no more than one idea per slide 
• Back your claims up with data 
• Practice your deck – a lot 

When planning out your presentation, you need to know the type of presentation software you intend to use. Even slight discrepancies in formatting, timing, and design can make a difference in how you present your keynote to your audience. Find the right solution first so you aren’t scrambling last minute. 

Now is the time to get SaaS-y news and entertainment with our 5-minute newsletter, G2 Tea , featuring inspiring leaders, hot takes, and bold predictions. Subscribe below!

A lot of “popular” speakers have a dedicated speaking section on their website. So, the first step would be to visit the website of people you know from the industry and want to book. But there are also agencies and speaker bureaus that specialize in keynote speakers and cover the whole process for you.

Be sure to stay flexible with your time and budget if you’re aiming for a big name. As it often goes, if you already have one famous speaker on board, it’s easier to get others to join. A lot of buzz will also make it easier to persuade a speaker to come and give a keynote. The audience size and sold (early bird) tickets are good door openers. Money and fame always works.

Keynote speakers can be booked directly or through an agency/speaker bureau. Many keynote speakers are represented by agencies that take a 20-30% cut from the speaking fee.

However, a growing trend is to run inquiries through a speaker's own website while self-manage gigs, depending on how famous speakers are in a certain niche. Agencies really only help with promotion and management, but that can be handled by the speakers themselves given the ease of access via internet. 

The average cost of a less experienced keynote speaker is between $1,500 and $5,000. Celebrities and famous speakers start at $25,000. Fees top out at around $100,000.

But money isn’t everything. There’s also fame, prestige, and promotion to be gained for keynote speakers. Giving the commencement speech at famous universities/colleges is a great honor, for example. It’s not uncommon for nonprofits to persuade good keynote speakers to speak for free if their cause is appealing.

Keynotes define an event and should be treated as such

Not to trigger your fear of public speaking , but keynotes should be original and unique. If you go for one as a speaker, the best way to not bomb out is to prepare an emotional story, collect interesting facts, and most importantly – practice, practice, practice.

However, that’s not just important to understand for the speaker, but also for the organizer. Set your speakers up for success by giving them all the information they need to be successful, especially about the audience. The worst-case scenario for a motivational and inspirational keynote is to be given to the wrong audience.

If it goes well, a keynote leaves the audience energized, inspired, motivated, and engaged. Whether the goal is to get them to come back next year as an organizer or making a name for yourself as a speaker, keynotes are a big deal and should be treated as such

Are you feeling inspired? Check out our list of the best TED talks to see examples of keynote speakers who blew the audience away. Keep your motivation high and help yourself create the greatest keynote speech of your life! 

Kevin Indig

Kevin is the formerr VP of SEO & Content at G2. He believes that technology can substantially improve our lives and wants to do everything in his power to make the right technology visible and available to the right people.

Explore More G2 Articles

How to Write an Effective Keynote Speech

Getty Images / Mikolette

• Sustainable Businesses
• Supply Chain Management
• Operations & Technology
• Market Research
• Business Law & Taxes
• Business Insurance
• Business Finance
• Becoming an Owner
• Western Washington University

It's an honor to be asked to deliver a keynote — you want to be at your best. The longer a speech is, the easier it is to get lost in the text. It might take a couple of hours or half a day to write a short speech , but a keynote can take weeks to draft, edit, and finalize. Organization and outlining can save you endless hours of revisions.

Writing a Keynote

There are four basic tenets to remember when you sit down to write your killer keynote.

• Understand your audience. Who are they and how do they relate to your subject matter? What are their hot buttons? How can you get them to not just be in the audience, but to listen and agree? What are the words, phrases, or information points that will get heads nodding in agreement?
• Start at the end . What do you want the audience to do? In a perfect world, what would every person be inspired to get up and do after listening to your speech? Everything in your speech should build up to that call to arms or point of resonance. If you bring the audience there in a straight line, or if you telegraph it, the speech will be boring. Try to add some humor.
• Split it up into three parts – and split those parts into three. It's tough to tackle a 30-minute speech, but by splitting it into three sections of 10 minutes apiece, then taking those three sections and dividing them each into three, you can work on the 10 three-minute segments independently until they're polished. This isn't an iron-clad rule, but a technique that's a good way to make sure each part of your speech is balanced. If you simply write out the entire text, the structure might get lost. You could spend 15 minutes describing a problem and two minutes on the solution without realizing it.
• Variety, variety, variety . If your speech is nothing but statistics, the audience may turn on you. Any sort of repetition must have a purpose. Too much of a good thing turns bad. A solid keynote speech has variety: stories about real people, examples from history, metaphors, interesting numbers, new ideas, and other exciting moments to keep the audience engaged .

Good vs. Great Speeches

A great speech doesn't simply string elements together. It weaves them like a tapestry and takes the audience on a roller coaster. Look at each section of the speech and ask yourself, "Which emotions will the audience feel? What about the section before and the section after?"

The speech shouldn't be random or repetitive. Even if you're talking about a tough issue, like hunger or disease or an economic downturn, there's a reason you're speaking — and that reason is hope for change. Thirty minutes of "this is a horrible, horrible problem" and "thank you for letting me speak" won't work.

Give the audience hope that they can make a difference or fuel for further contemplation on the topic, and offer concrete and specific courses of action, along with the rationale and expected outcome. Explicitly saying, "You can do something" is too direct. In Hollywood, they'd say that dialogue is "on the nose."

Tell real stories about average people, not billionaires or geniuses, who made a difference. Local people, if you can. Make it real to your audience.

There's probably somebody in the audience who will be affected by this issue or has worked as a volunteer or advocate. That person's story is rhetorical gold. Don't start with it, end with it.

• How to Give a Great Speech With Practice
• Public Relations: A Guide to Time, Money, and Words
• How to Write a Marketing Brief
• Aristotle's 3 Parts of Rhetoric and Types of Debates
• How to Write Talking Points
• Building a Marketing Strategy for Your Business
• The ABC's of Public Relations
• How to Write Your Brand's Positioning Statement
• Six Essentials for Planning an Effective Brochure
• Picking the Best Branding Strategy
• Why You Need a Creative Strategy In Your Marketing Plan
• What Is Industrial Advertising?
• How to Develop a Public Relations Plan
• How to Write a Fact Sheet
• How to Create Your Own Twitter Account
• Twitter: A Valuable Marketing Tool?

How to Present an Engaging Keynote Speech

Hosting & Hospitality Read time: 9 minutes

What is a Keynote Speech?

How long is a keynote speech, what makes a successful keynote speech, how to write a keynote speech - in 5 easy steps, how to start a keynote speech, how to end a keynote speech, tips for presenting an engaging keynote speech.

Keynote speeches are the heartbeat of any event, whether you're the event organiser delivering it or selecting a speaker to do so. They offer a chance to inspire and shape the event's narrative, leaving a lasting impact on delegates. The keynote's theme is typically aligned with the overarching theme of the event so crafting an engaging keynote speech is essential to connect with attendees and ensure the success of an event.

This guide will offer invaluable insights and practical tips for crafting, delivering, and perfecting a keynote speech from leading industry experts. Whether you're a seasoned pro or new to the art of keynote presentations, this guide will equip you with the knowledge and techniques needed to engage and inspire an audience.

A keynote speech is often the opening or closing address at an event and is designed to convey a central message, set the tone, and captivate the audience. In contrast to shorter presentations, keynote speeches provide an excellent opportunity to delve deeper into a subject matter and demonstrate the extent of the speaker’s expertise.

• The purpose of a keynote speech is to convey a central message, set the event tone and engage audiences.
• A keynote speech typically takes place during the opening or closing of a conference.
• Keynote speeches are usually delivered by a notable expert, celebrity or prominent figure within the field.

A keynote speech should typically be between 30 - 60 minutes long, with the ideal duration falling around 45 minutes. This time frame allows for a focused, impactful presentation without overwhelming the audience.

• Dedicate at least 60 minutes within the schedule for the keynote presentation.
• Event organisers should coordinate with keynote speakers to ensure their presentation fits the allotted time.
• You should always allow extra time within the schedule to accommodate audience engagement, questions, and potential overruns, as it's easier to fill extra time than to rush through a keynote speech.

A good keynote speech is characterised by its ability to inspire, educate, and engage the audience. It should have a clear message, captivating delivery, relatable stories, and a strong connection with the audience's needs and interests. Outstanding keynote speeches do more than just provide information; they inspire the audience to take action.

Here are the top three things to consider for a successful keynote speech:

• Preparation time - Preparation time is paramount for keynote success, as it allows for content refinement and effective delivery. Keynote speeches often require weeks to months of preparation to ensure a well-structured and impactful presentation.
• Audience research - In-depth audience research enables the speaker to tailor their content to meet the audience's expectations, making the speech more relatable and engaging.
• Clear purpose - A clear purpose, goals, and intentions provide a roadmap for the speech, ensuring that the message is focused, concise, and aligned with the desired outcomes, making the keynote more impactful and memorable.

When writing a keynote speech, structure the speech in three sections: an engaging opening to capture the audience's attention, a substantive body with key messages and supporting content, and a compelling conclusion that summarises the main points and leaves a lasting impression.

To contribute to this guide, the team at ICC Belfast have enlisted the help of event industry experts who have created five easy steps on how to write an effective keynote speech:

1. Develop a Throughline

A throughline is the central theme or narrative thread that runs consistently through a keynote speech. It serves to connect various elements of the presentation, providing coherence and helping the audience follow the topic by reinforcing the core message and making the speech more impactful and memorable.

More than 900 businesspeople from across Northern Ireland and beyond are set to attend the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry President’s Banquet 2023 in ICC Belfast. The evening will be a celebration of global business leaders players, commemorating the membership organisation’s 240th anniversary in the company of Ireland Captain Johnny Sexton , who is making his first appearance of this kind since returning from the Rugby World Cup in France. Those lucky enough to have secured seats will hear Johnny in conversation with broadcaster, Holly Hamilton with the central theme focusing on leadership and what it takes to be the best.

Petrina McAuley from NI Chamber shares her top tips for developing a throughline through a keynote speech:

Define the core message:

• When you identify the main message or theme you want to convey in your keynote speech, everything else falls into place. Decide on this from the outset and a structure will be set for your overall theme.
• Ensure that your core message is clear, concise, and relevant to your audience's needs and interests.
• Thread the core message consistently throughout your speech and this will provide focus both to you and attendees.
• Connecting anecdotes, examples, and bringing the content back to your central theme will always maintain a cohesive narrative and reinforce your throughline.

2. Brainstorm Ideas

Brainstorming ideas is crucial because it allows for the exploration of diverse perspectives and angles, helping to uncover unique themes and subtopic ideas. It enables a comprehensive understanding of the topic's full scope, facilitating the development of a rich and engaging keynote presentation that resonates with the audience.

The creation of ' The Virtual Delegate ,' a six-part digital event series, stemmed from a brainstorming session with ICC Belfast and international keynote speaker David Meade around the event industry's need to unite and address the widespread challenges during a period when in-person networking and substantial interaction were significantly limited. This initiative was watched by over 3,000 viewers on LinkedIn and was recognised with an Innovation Award as part of the annual Association of British Professional Conference Organisers (ABPCO) Excellence Awards .

David has become one of the most dynamic, engaging, and sought-after keynote speakers with a client list that features some of the world’s most successful organisations. His top tips when it comes to brainstorming ideas for a keynote speech:

Begin with mind mapping:

• I always start with a mind map because this creates a central theme or topic in the centre of a blank page. Mind maps allow you to branch out with related subtopics and ideas in a non-linear fashion and mean you can always connect them back to the central theme.
• I always like to expand each subtopic on the mind map with details, anecdotes, and supporting content and then refine later when I’m putting the final touches to my keynote speech.
• No man is an island so collaborate with a team or trusted individuals to generate a wide range of ideas. The Virtual Delegate was an excellent example of coming together with like-minded people, brainstorming an idea and creating something innovative that had never been done before.
• Brainstorming sessions will encourage open discussion and idea-sharing, and this creativity with diverse perspectives allows you to identify keynote themes and angles.

3. Choose Key Talking Points

Refining ideas and selecting the strongest three topics as key talking points is vital for maintaining focus and clarity in your keynote speech. It ensures that the audience isn't overwhelmed with information and can absorb the most impactful content, making your message more memorable and engaging.

In 2023, ICC Belfast hosted a gathering of senior leaders from across Northern Ireland, where they renewed their dedication to driving economic growth in the city. The event featured an interactive session with renowned international speaker, author, coach, and educator, Andy Fell . The ‘ What Winners Do’ session, which was delivered by Andy, focused on the importance of collaboration in advancing the shared objective of enhancing Belfast's reputation as destination for business events.

Andy shares his top tips for choosing key talking points:

Consider your audience relevance:

• As the keynote speaker you need to deliver something that is relevant and engaging and what I like to do is evaluate the potential topics and base my speech on the target audience's needs and interests.
• I also like to prioritise topics so that they address specific pain points or provide valuable insights that will engage and resonate with the audience.
• Assess the potential impact of each topic on the audience. Consider which topics are likely to leave a lasting impression and always make your message memorable.
• Remember to remove weaker topics that lack depth, resonance, or relevance, ensuring your speech is focused and compelling.

4. Decide on a Keynote Structure

Speech structure is crucial for maintaining a seamless flow and ensuring appropriate timing during a keynote presentation. A well organised structure helps the speaker transition smoothly between sections, making it easier to stay on schedule and engage the audience effectively.

As a member of Visit Belfast’s executive leadership team, Rachael McGuickin leads a multi-award winning team where she is currently Director of Business Development, Sustainability and Transformation. Rachael is responsible for promoting Belfast internationally as a leading business events, cruise and group tour destination and often delivers keynote speeches in order to attract inclusive and sustainable growth for the ‘ World’s Best Conference and Events Destination ’ 2023.

Rachael’s top tips when deciding on a keynote speech structure:

Use a three-act structure:

• I will always divide my keynote speech into three acts: introduction, body, and conclusion.
• The introduction captures attention, the body delivers key messages, and the conclusion summarises and leaves a lasting impression.
• Never underestimate the introduction, you have less than five minutes to grab and keep the audience’s attention or you lose them. I always use a story, an unusual fact or statement to try and keep the focus of the audience in the introduction section.
• Create an outline with clear signposts as this will guide the audience (and you!) through your speech.
• Use transition phrases, visuals, and summaries to indicate the start and end of each section as it brings structured to your speech and enables well-paced delivery.
• It will always take you longer than you think!
• It is so easy to take away from a great keynote by speaking for too long and your content will lose impact.
• It is a privilege to speak to an audience – never overstay your welcome.

5. Draft and Redraft

Creating a first draft allows you to capture your initial ideas and thoughts without the pressure of perfection, providing a foundation for your keynote speech. The refinement through editing enhances clarity, coherence, and impact, ensuring that your message is effectively conveyed and resonates with the audience.

One Young World ambassador, author and social impact officer for Education Authority , Aimée Clint , has an extensive portfolio when it comes to delivering speeches. In 2019 she was named Europe's Top Entrepreneur Under 20 after she pitched her idea at the event in London, and walked away with a £10,000 investment. In 2023, at the One Young World Summit in Belfast, she hosted 24 sessions on the Reckitt Accelerating Impact stage in Hall 2A .

Aimée’s top tips for drafting a keynote speech:

Create an initial draft:

• Begin drafting your speech by freely expressing your ideas and key points without worrying about perfection.
• The initial draft is all about getting your thoughts on paper and structuring the speech.

Follow an iterative editing process:

• Review your draft multiple times as this will refine your content, structure, and flow.
• Pay attention to clarity, coherence, and engaging elements such as storytelling and audience engagement.

Start a keynote speech with an engaging introduction. You could open with a captivating anecdote, a thought-provoking question, or a relevant quote. Capturing attention from the beginning is crucial, as it sets the tone, piques the audience's interest, and draws them into the speech, increasing the likelihood of them staying engaged throughout.

Here are some ideas for starting a keynote speech:

• Interesting fact - Begin your keynote with a surprising statistic or intriguing piece of information related to your topic. For instance, ‘Did you know that in the next five years, our world will generate more data than in the entire history of humanity?’
• Humorous statement - Lighten the mood by starting with a joke or anecdote that relates to your topic. For example, ‘They say the best way to survive a business meeting is with humour, so let's start with a joke.’
• Engaging story - Capture your audience's imagination by opening with a personal or relatable story that connects to your message. For instance, ‘Let me take you back 15 years in a small café in Ireland, where a chance encounter changed the course of my life.’

It's important to finish a keynote speech with a strong conclusion that leaves a lasting impact. You can wrap up by summarising key points, offering a call to action, or inspiring the audience. Ending on a high note ensures that your message resonates and motivates the audience to act or remember the core message.

Here are some ideas for ending a keynote speech:

• Summarise key points - Conclude your keynote by summarising the key takeaways of your speech, reinforcing the central message. For example, ‘In summary, we've explored the importance of collaboration, innovation, and resilience in today's ever-changing world.’
• Call to action - Inspire your audience to take action by providing a clear and compelling call to action. For instance, ‘Now, I challenge each of you to take the first step toward implementing these principles in your own lives and workplaces.’

ICC Belfast's top tips for presenting an engaging keynote speech cover four key areas:

• Maximise on storytelling - Storytelling resonates with audiences as it adds relatability and emotion to your message, making it more memorable and engaging.
• Utilise language - Employ various linguistic techniques, such as humour, metaphors, alliteration, and repetition, to keep the audience's attention and bring your concepts to life.
• Use more than words - Beyond content, consider the tone of voice, cadence, body language, and eye contact to enhance your keynote. Visual aids can also complement your message effectively.
• Recover from mistakes - Learn how to recover gracefully from any errors during your presentation through practice and preparation, ensuring a smoother delivery.

Presenting a Keynote at ICC Belfast

ICC Belfast provides expert support for keynote presentations during conference events:

• Flexible event spaces - ICC Belfast offers a range of versatile event spaces, from intimate seminar rooms to the impressive Main Auditorium , capable of accommodating up to 2,000 delegates. This diversity ensures that you can choose the perfect setting for your keynote presentation, tailored to your audience size and preferences.
• Award-winning production services - With state-of-the-art technology and award-winning  production services , ICC Belfast enables you to deliver impactful keynote presentations. High-quality sound and lighting, advanced AV equipment, and professional technical support ensure a seamless and engaging experience for both speakers and audiences.
• Flexible configurations - The venue's flexible space configurations and theatre-style seating options allow for optimal audience engagement, clear sightlines, and audiovisual setup to ensure your message reaches every attendee.

Browse Event Spaces

Sign up for news from ICC Belfast

Enquiry Form

Call us on +44 (0)28 9033 4433 or send us an enquiry below

• Pitch Decks & Investor Materials
• B2B Graphic Design
• Startup Consulting
• Trainings & Workshops
• Case studies
• Downloadable resources

7 Steps To Preparing A Great Keynote Speech

• Presentation design /
• Public speaking

We’ve talked a lot about how you can become a keynote speaker and we’ve also covered some key tips on how best to deliver a speech. One aspect that has been slightly overlooked is speech preparation. Today we’re going to list 7 key steps to prepare a great keynote speech.

Before we begin, this post is meant for speakers who are at the beginning stage of their speaking career, speakers ready to take their speaking business to the next level or just anyone interested in presenting a speech in front of an audience, however big. 

Also read: 17 Presentation Techniques For A Great Keynote

1. Choose a theme for your speech

If you’re a beginner, you’re probably given an indication of what the theme of your keynote speech should be. For experience speakers, the scenario might be more along the lines of “It doesn’t matter what you talk about, everyone will love it anyway!”. In both cases, you still have some serious planning to do regarding the theme of your speech.

There are three basic types of speeches: educational, motivational and entertaining. Begin by deciding which of these you want to accomplish as your general purpose. Whatever you choose, remember that you’re going there to offer value to your audience, not to brag about who you are, what you’ve done or how much you like yourself. If you’re not educating, motivating or entertaining your audience, in other words if you aren’t delivering any real value, don’t do it.

Select a core message that you want to convey, based on your theme. Make sure that it contains:

Clarity: Aim to express your core message in a single sentence. If you cannot do this, you need more clarity.Passion: Your core message must be something you believe in.Knowledge: What do you know about this core message? Can you draw stories from personal experience? Have you researched the topic?

2. Create a presentation outline

This is the first step we ask all of our clients to do before jumping into designing the entire presentation. Structuring your ideas is essential to both the delivery and the design of your keynote speech.

Many speakers, experienced or not, sadly skip this step more often than not. Like Andrew Dlugan points out, an outline is a blueprint for your presentation. That means:

It highlights the key logical elements. i.e. what points are being made to logically support the core message?It highlights the key structural elements. e.g. introduction, body, conclusion, stories, high-level conceptsIt links these elements together in a sequence, perhaps allocating very rough timings.It can also map out the transitions between elements, although this may be deferred to a later stage of preparation.

Also read: 18 PowerPoint Dos and Don’ts

3. Start filling in each section

Use keywords. This will help you convey a clear message and keep your audience’s attention. It’s also of great help to you when creating the flow of the presentation. Start with the topic of your presentation, your principal keyword will derive from that and will most likely be comprised in the presentation title. The structure of your presentation will give you another set of keywords.

Be brief and clear. Don’t crowd your slides. Instead, opt for no more than 2-3 sentences per slide and keep in mind your keywords. Think of them more like statements than sentences.

4. Make it visually attractive

Use visual elements to illustrate your ideas. Graphs and charts can help show relationships, comparisons, and change. Make sure to use these visual graphics to enhance your message and increase understanding. Too much of anything can lead to over stimulating your audience and losing their attention.

The relationships between the colors you’re using are also important. Limit the use of color to 2 to 4 colors/shades. Use colors that will stand out and will be easy on the eyes (dark backgrounds and light text is a good case practice.)

Featured Download:  10 Steps to Becoming a Keynote Speaker

Get your free copy

5. Tell stories

Tell stories and anecdotes to help you illustrate your ideas and your research. This will definitely make your presentation more effective and memorable. In a UCLA study , students were asked to recall a series of speeches they had heard. Only 5 percent remembered any individual statistic, while 63 percent remembered the stories presented in those speeches.

“Things are not what they seem. It’s that to get people to sit on the edge of their chair or to get them involved in your story, the audience has to constantly discover something new.”

Howard Suber, UCLA

6. Connect with the audience

Invite your audience to engage with you. This will get them emotionally invested and it will differentiate you from inexperienced, nervous speakers.

Plan an inclusion of the audience in your presentation somewhere. It can be a slide with a question, a game or just an empty slide to help you connect with people and re-gain their full attention. You can try different things, from a simple show of hands, to requests for brief personal input, to role playing and games, to small group exercises- and their merits.

7. Rehearse, Rehearse, rehearse

By rehearsing your presentation several times you’ll be able to put yourself in the shoes of your audience and see what improvements you can make.

You can even record yourself giving the presentation. This will enable you to also work on your speaking rate and body language. It’s also a useful exercise for people who get nervous when they speak in public.

You should also try these mobile presentation apps.

Are you ready to take your presentations to the next level?

Our team can help with everything from researching your project, writing the content, designing and building your slides, and even creating handouts.

Get in touch

Top articles

• Infographics
• Personal branding
• Pitch deck design
• PowerPoint tutorial
• Presentation design
• Uncategorized
• Visual communication

Sign up for our monthly newsletter

What a timely piece today! Thank you so much for such a fantastic post. I saw your books earlier, but this one I believe on of the the best, same as this one https://officialmorganparker.com/how-to-choose-a-research-paper-topic/ . How can you find so many details? I like the way you organize everything, since it’s truly easy to read. In general, I can recommend this article to everyone who’s interested in that topic.

It’s a very simple and precise article. Very helpful for everyone who is willing to be excellent in presentations. Thumb ups ?

Leave a Reply Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed .

Mobile Menu Overlay

The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500

Remarks by President   Biden During Keynote Address at the Democratic National Committee Convention | Chicago,   IL

10:27 P.M. CDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.) 

Thank you.  (Applause.) Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)  Thank you.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  We love Joe!  We love Joe!  We love Joe!

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  We love Joe!  We love Joe!  We love Joe! THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.) Thank you.  (Applause.) Thank you.  (Applause.) AUDIENCE:  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe! THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  (Applause.)  And I love you!  (Applause.)  Thank you. AUDIENCE:  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe! THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.) AUDIENCE:  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe! THE PRESIDENT:  That was my daughter!  (Applause.) AUDIENCE:  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe! THE PRESIDENT:  Well, thank you. AUDIENCE:  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe! THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  (Applause.) Thank you.  Thank you for — (applause) — I tell you what — (applause) — To my dearest daughter, Ashley, God love you.  You’re incredible.  Thank you for that introduction and for being my courageous heart, along with Hunter and our entire family, and especially our rock, Jill — (applause) — who — as those of you who know us, she still leaves me both breathless and speechless.  (Laughter.)  Everybody knows her — I love her more than she loves me.  (Laughter.)  She walks down the stairs and I still get that going “boom, boom, boom.”  (Laughter.)  You all who know me know I’m not kidding. 

Let’s give a special round of applause to our first lady, Jill Biden.  (Applause.) My dad — my dad used to have an expression, for real.  He’d say, “Joey, family is the beginning, the middle, and the end.”  And I love you all.  (Applause.) Folks — and, America, I love you.  (Applause.)

Folks, let me ask you — AUDIENCE:  We love Joe!  We love Joe!  We love Joe! THE PRESIDENT:  Let me ask you: Are you ready to vote for freedom?  (Applause.) Are you ready to vote for democracy and for America?  (Applause.) Let me ask you: Are you ready to elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz president and vice president of the United States?  (Applause.)

My fellow Democrats, my fellow Americans, nearly four years ago in winter, on the steps of the Capitol on a cold January day, I raised my right hand, and I swore an oath to you and to God to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution and to faithfully execute the office of the president of the United States.  (Applause.) 

In front of me — in front of me was a city surrounded by the National Guard.  Behind me, a Capitol that just two weeks before had been overrun by a violent mob.  But I knew then, from the bottom of my heart, as I do now: There is no place in America for political violence.  None.  (Applause.) 

You cannot say you love your country only when you win.  (Applause.) 

In that moment, I wasn’t looking to the past.  I was looking to the future.  I spoke to the work at hand, the moment we had to meet.  It was, as I told you then, a “winter of peril and possibility” — “of peril and possibility.”  We were in the grip of a once-in-a-century pandemic, historic joblessness, a call for racial justice long overdue — (applause) — clear and present threats to our very democracy. AUDIENCE:  We love Joe!  We love Joe! THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you. AUDIENCE:  We love Joe!  We love Joe!  We love Joe! THE PRESIDENT:  And yet — and yet I believed then and I believe now that progress was and is possible.  Justice is achievable.  And our best days are not behind us; they’re before us.  (Applause.) Now it’s summer.  The winter has passed.  And with a grateful heart, I stand before you now on this August night to report that democracy has prevailed.  (Applause.)  Democracy — democracy has delivered.  (Applause.)  And now democracy must be preserved.  (Applause.)

You’ve heard me say it before.  We’re facing an inflection point, one of those rare moments in history when the decisions we make now will determine the fate of our nation and the world for decades to come.  That’s not hyperbole.  I mean it literally.  We’re in a battle for the very soul of America. 

I ran for president in 2020 because of what I saw in Charlottesville in August of 2017: extremists coming out of the woods carrying torches, their veins bulging from their necks, carrying Nazi swastikas, and chanting the same exact antisemitic bile that was heard in Germany in the early ‘30s.  Neo-Nazis, white supremacists, and the Kl Klux Klan so emboldened by a president then in the White House that they saw as an ally, they didn’t even bother to wear their hoods. 

Hate was on the march in America — old ghosts in new garments stirring up the oldest divisions, stoking the oldest fears, giving oxygen to the oldest forces that they long sought to tear apart America. 

In the process, a young woman was killed.  When I contacted her mother, I asked about what happened.  She told me.  When the president was asked what he thought had happened, Donald Trump said, and I quote, there were “very fine people on both sides.”  My God. AUDIENCE:  Booo — THE PRESIDENT:  That’s what he said.  That is what he said and what he meant.  That’s when I realized — had to listen to the admonition of my dead son — I could not stay on the sidelines.  (Applause.)  So, I ran.

Because I had no intention of running again.  I’d just lost part of my soul.  But I ran with a deep conviction in America I know and believe — in an America where honesty, dignity, decency still matter — (applause); an America where everyone has a fair shot and hate has no safe harbor — (applause); an America where the fundamental creed of this nation that all of us are created equal is still very much alive. 

And a broad coalition of Americans joined with me.  Eighty-one million voters voted for us — (applause) — more than any time in all of history.  Because of all of you in this room and others, we came together in 2020 to save democracy.  (Applause.)  As your president, I’ve been determined to keep America moving forward, not going back; to stand against hate and violence in all its forms; to be a nation where we not only live with the — and — but thrive on diversity; demonizing no one; leaving no one behind; and becoming the nation that we profess to be.  (Applause.)

I also ran to rebuild the backbone of America: the middle class.  (Applause.) 

I made a commitment to you that I’d be a president for all Americans, whether you voted for me or not.  We have done that.  Studies show the major bills we have passed actually delivered more to red states than blue.  (Applause.)  Because the job of the president is to deliver to all of America.  (Applause.) 

And because of you — and I’m not exaggerating — because of you, we’ve had one of the most extraordinary four years of progress ever.  Period.  (Applause.)  When I say “we,” I mean Kamala and me.  (Applause.)

Just think about it.  COVID no longer controls our lives.  (Applause.)  We’ve gone from economic crisis to the strongest economy in the entire world.  (Applause.)  A record 16 million new jobs.  (Applause.)  Record small-business growth.  Record high stock market.  Record high 401(k)s.  Wages up.  And inflation down — way down — and continuing to go down.  (Applause.)  The smallest racial wealth gap in 20 years.  (Applause.) 

And, yes, we both know we have more to do, but we’re moving in the right direction.  More Americans have peace of mind that comes from having health insurance.  More Americans have health insurance today than ever before in American history.  (Applause.)  And after — as a young senator beginning to fight — beginning to fight for 50 years to give Medicare the power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices, we finally beat Big Pharma.  (Applause.)

And guess who cast the tie-breaking vote?  Vice President and soon-to-be President Kamala Harris.  (Applause.)

And now it’s the law of the land.  Instead of paying $400 a month for insulin, seniors with diabetes will pay $35 a month.  (Applause.)  The law we passed already includes, starting in January, every senior’s total prescription costs can be capped at $2,000, no matter how expensive the drugs they have.  (Applause.)  And what we don’t focus on and our Republican friends don’t seem to understand: Our reforms don’t just save seniors money; they save the American taxpayers money.  (Applause.)  You know what we just passed saves?  It saved $160 billion over the next decade.  (Applause.)  That’s not hyperbole.  It’s because Medicare no longer has to pay those exorbitant prices to the Big Pharma. 

AUDIENCE:  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe! THE PRESIDENT:  But, look — look — AUDIENCE:  Thank you, Joe! THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Kamala, too. AUDIENCE:  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe! THE PRESIDENT:  Look — folks, how can we have the strongest economy in the world without the best infrastructure in the world?  (Applause.)  Donald Trump promised “infrastructure week” every week for four years, and he never built a damn thing.  (Applause.) 

But now, because of what Kamala and I have done — remember we were told we couldn’t get it done?  Remember when we came into office, we couldn’t get anything passed?  But right now, we’re giving America an infrastructure decade, not week.  (Applause.) We’re modernizing our roads, our bridges, our ports, our airports, our trains, our buses.  We’re removing every lead pipe from schools and homes so every child can drink clean water.  (Applause.)  We’re providing affordable high-speed Internet for every American, no matter where they live, unlike — not unlike what Roosevelt did with electricity — and so much more. 

We are uniting the country.  We’re growing our economy.  We’re improving our quality of life.  And we’re building a better America.  (Applause.)  Because that’s who we are. AUDIENCE:  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe!

THE PRESIDENT:  How can we be the strongest nation in the world without leading the world in science and technology?  (Applause.) After years of importing 90 percent of our semiconductor chips from abroad, which America invented that — those chips, our CHIPS and Science Act meant that private companies from around the world are now investing literally tens of billions of dollars to build new chip factories right here in America.  (Applause.)  And over that period, they’ll create tens of thousands of jobs and many of those jobs in the so-called fabs they’re building to make the chips that are being constructed now.  And guess what?  The average salary in those fabs the size of a football field will be over $100,000 a year, and you don’t need a college degree.  (Applause.) 

Because of you and so many electeds out there, American manufacturing is back.  Where the hell does it say we wouldn’t lead the world in manufacturing?  Eight hundred thousand new manufacturing jobs.  (Applause.)

Our Republican friends and others made sure they’d go abroad to get the cheapest labor.  We used to import products and export jobs.  Now we export American products and create American jobs — (applause) — right here in America, where jobs belong.

With every new job, with every new factory, pride and hope is being brought back to communities throughout the country that were left behind.  You know.  You’re from them, many of you.  You know what it’s like when that factory closed where your mother, your father, your grandmother or grandfather worked.  And now you’re back, providing once again — proving that Wall Street didn’t build America; the middle class-built America, and unions — unions built the middle class.  (Applause.)

It’s been my view since I came to the Senate.  And that’s why I’m proud to have been the first president to walk a picket line — (applause) — and be labeled the most pro-union president in history, and I accept it.  (Applause.)  It’s a fact.  Because when unions do well, we all do well.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Union Joe!  Union Joe!  Union Joe!

THE PRESIDENT:  You got it, man.  You got it.

THE PRESIDENT:  I agree.  I’m proud.

Look, remember we were told we couldn’t get anything done because this — the — we couldn’t get anything done in the Congress?  Well, with your support, we passed the most significant climate law in the history of mankind — (applause) — over $370 billion.  Cutting carbon emissions in half by 2030.  Launching a Climate Corps similar to AmeriCorps and Peace Corps, creating tens of thousands of jobs for young people of the future who are going to make sure this continues.  (Applause.)  Creating hundreds of thousands of jobs in clean energy for American workers, including the IBEW installing 500,000 — 500,000 charging stations all across America — (applause) — and, in the process, reducing carbon emissions. 

And we’re seeing it — we’re seeing to it that the first beneficiaries of environmental initiatives are those fence-line communities that have been smothered by the legacy of pollution — in Louisiana and Delaware, Route 9 — all the factories — all those chemical factories are right next to the poorest neighborhoods.  They’re the ones we’re going to bring back.  (Applause.)

And how — how can we be the greatest nation in the world without the best education system in the world?  (Applause.)

Donald Trump and the Republican friends, they not only can’t think; they can’t read very well.  (Laughter.)  Seriously, think about it.  Look at their Project 2025.

AUDIENCE:  Booo —

THE PRESIDENT:  They want to do away with the Department of Education.

Well, during the pandemic, Kamala and I helped states and cities get back — their schools back open and we gave public school teachers a raise.  (Applause.)  We created apprenticeships with businesses in the communities, putting students on a path to good-paying jobs whether or not they go to college.  (Applause.) 

And, by the way, we’re making college a hell of a lot more affordable — (applause) — increasing Pell Grants by $900; over $15 billion to HBCUs — (applause) — minority-serving insti- — including Hispanic institutions and Tribal colleges.  (Applause.)

We kept our commitment to provide more student relief than ever by lifting the burden of [and] helping millions of families so they could get married, start a family, buy a home, and begin to build family wealth and contribute to the community and grow our economy.  (Applause.)

It’s not costing us.  It’s creating more wealth.

We’ve fundamentally transfored how our — transformed how our economy grows: from the middle out and the bottom up instead of the top down.  (Applause.) 

You know, my dad used to say, “There wasn’t a whole hell of a lot that dropped down on my kitchen table at the end of the month.”  I come from a basic middle-class family — three-bedroom house, four kids, a grandpop living with us; decent neighborhood, but never a penny to spare.

And, look, that top-down notion never worked.  A lot of Democrats didn’t think it worked — thought — thought it worked, but it doesn’t.

And when we did all that, what we’ve done, everybody can do well — everybody.  (Applause.)

Donald Trump calls America a failing nation. 

THE PRESIDENT:  No, I’m seri- — thi- — but think about this.  Think about this.

He publicly says to the whole world — I’m going to say something outrageous.  I know more foreign leaders by their first names and know them well than anybody alive, just because I’m so damn old.  (Laughter and applause.)  But I’m not joking.

Think of the message he sends around the world when he talks about America being a failing nation.  He says we’re losing. 

He’s the loser.  He’s dead wrong.  (Applause.) 

Many of you are very successful people who travel the world.  Name me a country in the world that doesn’t think we’re the leading nation in the world.  Without America — not a joke.  Think about it.  I’m being literal.  Who could lead the world other than the United States of America?  (Applause.)

Well, guess what?  America is winning, and the world is better off for it.  (Applause.)  America is more prosperous. 

In America, they’re safer today than when we were under Donald Trump.  Trump continues to lie about crime in America, like everything else.

Guess what?  On his watch, the murder rate went up 30 percent — the biggest increase in history.

Meanwhile, we made the largest investment — Kamala and I — in public safety ever.  (Applause.)  Now the murder rate is falling faster than any time in history.  Violent crime has dropped to the lowest level in more than 50 years, and crime will keep coming down when we put a prosecutor in the Oval Office instead of a convicted felon.  (Applause.)

And, folks, the distinguished senator from — deceased senator from California and I passed the first ban on assault weapons.  (Applause.)  And guess what?  It worked.

If we care about public safety, we need to prevent gun violence.  (Applause.) 

And what makes me ashamed when I travel the world, which I do: More children in America are killed by a gunshot than any other cause in the United States.  More die from a bullet than cancer, accidents, or anything else in the United States of America.  My God. 

That’s why Kamala and I are proud.  We beat the NRA when we passed the first major bipartisan gun safety law in 30 years.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE:  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe!  Thank you, Joe!

THE PRESIDENT:  I’m serious.  (Touches hand over his heart.)  And that comes from here.

And now it’s time to ban assault weapons again — (applause) — and demand universal background checks.  (Applause.)

It’s hard.  I never thought I’d stand before a crowd of Democrats and refer to a president as a liar so many times.  (Laughter.)  No, I’m not trying to be funny.  It’s sad.

Trump continues to lie about the border.  Here’s what he won’t tell you: Trump killed the strongest bipartisan border deal in the history of the United States —

THE PRESIDENT:  — that we negotiated with the Senate Republicans.  It took four mon- — four weeks. 

Once it passed and everybody acknowledged it was the most expansive border change in American history, he called senators to say, “Don’t support the bipartisan bill,” because he said it would help me politically and hurt him politically. 

My God.  No, I’m serious.  Think about it.  Not a joke.  Ask even the press who doesn’t like me; they’ll tell you that’s true.  (Laughter.)

Typically Trump — once again putting himself first and America last. 

Then I had to take executive action.  The result of the executive action I took: Border encounters have dropped over 50 percent.  In fact, there are fewer border crossings today than when Donald Trump left office.  (Applause.)

And unlike Trump, we will not demonize immigrants, saying they’re the — “poison the blood of America” — (applause) — “poison the blood of our country.” 

Kamala and I are committed to strengthening legal immigration, including protecting DREAMers and more.  (Applause.)

And here’s what else I believe in: protecting your freedom. 

Your freedom to vote.  (Applause.)

Your freedom to love who you love.  (Applause.)

And your freedom to choose.  (Applause.)

In its d- — in its decision overturning Roe v. Wade, as you heard earlier tonight, the United States Supreme Court majority wrote the following.  Quote, “Women are now without electrical — with no- — not allowed” — (inaudible) — “not without electoral — electoral” — (laughter) — “or political power.”  (Applause.)  No kidding. 

MAGA Republicans found out the power of women in 2022.  (Applause.)  And Donald Trump is going to find out the power of women in 2024.  Watch.  (Applause.) 

And where Trump and his MAGA Republican right-wingers seek to erase history, we Democrats continue to write history and make more history.  (Applause.)

I’m proud — I’m proud to have kept my commitment to appoint the first Black woman to the United States Supreme Court — (applause) — Ketanji Brown Jackson — (applause) — the symbol for every young woman in America that you can do anything.

I’m proud that I’ve kept my commitment to have an administration that looks like America — (applause) — and that taps in to the full talent of our nation; the most diverse Cabinet in history, including the first Black woman of South Asian descent to serve as vice president — (applause) — and who will soon serve as the 47th president of the United States.  (Applause.)

She is good.

Look —

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you, Kamala.

THE PRESIDENT:  Folks, I’ve long said we have many obligations as a nation.  But I got in trouble years ago for saying — and I make no apologies — we have only one truly sacred obligation: to prepare and equip those we send to war and care for them and their families when they come home and when they don’t.  (Applause.)

That’s why I’m so proud to have written and signed the PACT Act — (applause) — one of the most significant laws ever helping veterans and their families exposed to toxic materials, like burn pits and Agent Orange. 

I was around during the Vietnam war.  It’s hard when no one was able to prove that their illness was a consequence of Agent Orange.  And no one was able to prove initially that because they lived in burn pits, like my son n- — lived next to in Iraq for a year, that it was the cause of their illness.

But because of the PACT Act, a surviving spouse with two children is now eligible for a stipend of about $3,000 a month. (Applause.)  And those children who lost their — a parent are eligible for tuition benefits to go to college and to get job training.  (Applause.)

It’s already helping over 1 million veterans and their families just so far.  (Applause.)

AUDIENCE MEMBER:  (Inaudible.)

THE PRESIDENT:  Well, I love them.  And I’m — I’m so proud of my son’s service.  (Applause.)

We get it.  But guess who doesn’t get it and doesn’t respect our veterans? 

We know from his own chief of staff, a four-star general, John Kelley, that Trump, when in Europe, would not go to the gravesites — one of the — in France — the brave servicemembers who gave their lives to this country.  He called them “suckers” and “losers.” 

THE PRESIDENT:  Who in the hell does he think he is?  Who does he think he is? 

THE PRESIDENT:  There’s no words for a person — they are not the words of a person not worthy of being commander in chief, period.  Not then, not now, and not ever.  (Applause.) 

I mean that.  I mean that from the bottom of my heart.

Just as no commander in chief should ever bow down to a bic- — a dictator the way Trump bows down to Putin.  I never have, and, I promise you, Kamala Harris will never do it — will never bow down.  (Applause.)

When Trump left office, Europe and NATO was in tatters.  Not a joke.  “America First” doctrine changed our whole image in the world.

Well, I’ve spent — they gave the hours — about 190 hours sum total meeting with my counterparts or heads of state in Europe to strengthen NATO.  We did.  We united Europe like it hasn’t been united for years, adding Finland and Sweden to NATO.  (Applause.)

Ten days before he died, Henry Kissinger called and said not since — not since Napoleon has Europe not looked over their should at Russia with dread until now — until now.  (Applause.)

Well, guess what?  Putin thought he’d take Kyiv in three days.  Three years later, Ukraine is still free.  (Applause.)

When I came to office, the conventional wisdom was that China would inevitably surpass the United States.  If you haven’t noticed, no one is saying that now.  (Applause.)

And we’ll keep working to bring hostages home and end the war in Gaza and bring peace and security to the Middle East. (Applause.) 

As you know, I wrote a peace treaty for Gaza.  A few days ago, I put forward a proposal that has brought us closer to doing that than we’ve done since October 7th.  We’re working around the clock — my secretary of state — to prevent a wider war and reunite hostages with their families and surge humanitarian health and food assistance into Gaza now — (applause) — to end the civilian suffering of the Palestinian people and finally, finally, finally deliver a ceasefire and end this war.  (Applause.)

Those pro- — those protesters out in the street, they have a point.  A lot of innocent people are being killed on both sides.  (Applause.)

Just as we worked around the clock to bring home wrongfully detained Americans and others from Russia in one of the most complicated swaps in history — but they’re home — (applause) — Kamala and I are going to keep working to bring all Americans wrongfully detained around the world home.  (Applause.)  I mean it.

Folks, I’ve got five months left in my presidency, and I’ve got a lot to do.  (Applause.)  I intend to get it done.  (Applause.)

It’s the — it’s been the honor of my lifetime to serve as your president.  I love the job, but I love my country more.  (Applause.)  I love my country more.

And all this talk about how I’m angry at all those people who said I should step down, it’s not true.

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.

THE PRESIDENT:  I love my country more, and we need to preserve our democracy.  In 2024, we need you to vote.  (Applause.)  We need you to keep the Senate.  (Applause.)  We need you to win back the House of Representatives.  (Applause.) 

And above all, we need you to beat Donald Trump — (applause) — and elect Kamala and Tim president and vice president of the United States of America.  (Applause.) 

Look, they’ll continue to lead America forward, creating more jobs, standing up for workers, growing the economy, lowering the costs for American families so they just have a little more breathing room. 

We’ve made incredible process — progress, but we have more work to do.  And Kamala and Tim will continue to take on corporate greed and bring down the cost of food.  (Applause.) 

They’ll keep taking on Big Pharma, making insulin $35 a month not just for seniors but for everyone in America — (applause) — and capping prescription drug costs at a total of $2,000 not just for seniors but for everyone.  (Applause.)  And, folks, that’s going to save America, again, tens of billions of dollars.  (Applause.) 

Folks, they’ll make housing more affordable, building 3 million new homes, providing $25,000 down payment assistance for the first-time homebuyer.  (Applause.)  More than the 10 we approved.

Donald Trump wants a new tax on imported goods — food, gas, clothing, and more.  You know what that will cost the average family, according to the experts?  Three thousand nine hundred dollars a year in a tax.

THE PRESIDENT:  No, I — it’s a fact.

Kamala and Tim will make the Childcare Tax Credit permanent — (applause) — lifting millions of children out of poverty and helping millions of families get ahead. 

But you know what Trump has?  He put the cu- — he created the largest debt any president had in four years with his $2 trillion dollar tax cut for the wealthy.

Well, Trump has a new plan.  He wants to provide a $5 billion tax cut for corporations and the very wealthy to put u- —

THE PRESIDENT:  — read it — to put us further in debt. 

And, folks, you know we have a thousand trillion — bil- — we have a thousand billionaires in America.  You know what their average tax rate they pay?  8.2 percent.

THE PRESIDENT:  If we just increase their taxes we proposed to 25 percent, which isn’t the highest tax rate even, it would raise $500 billion new dollars over 10 years — (applause) — and they’d still be very wealthy.

Look, Kamala and Tim are going to make them pay their fair share.  (Applause.) 

They’ll protect Social Security and Medicare.  (Applause.)  Trump wants to cut Social Security and Medicare. 

Kamala and Tim will protect your freedom.  They’ll protect your vote to right — your right to vote.  They’ll protect your civil rights.  (Applause.)

And you know Trump will do everything to ban abortion nationwide.

THE PRESIDENT:  Oh, he will.

You know Kamala and Tim will do everything they possibly can — that’s why you have to elect the Senate and the House — to restore Roe v. Wade.  (Applause.)

The ancient Greeks taught us that character is destiny.  Character is destiny.  For me and Jill, we know Kamala and Doug are people of character.  It’s been our honor to serve alongside them.  And we know Tim and Gwen Walz are also people of great character.  (Applause.)

Selecting Kamala was the very first decision I made before I became — when I became our nominee.  And it was the best decision I made my whole career.  (Applause.)

We’ve not only gotten to know each other, we’ve become close friends.  She’s tough, she’s experienced, and she has enormous integrity — enormous integrity.  (Applause.)

Her story represents the best American story.  And like many of our best presidents, she was also vice president.  That’s a joke.  (Laughter and applause.) 

But she’ll be a president our children could look up to.  She’ll be a president respected by world leaders, because she already is.  She’ll be a president we can all be proud of.  And she will be a historic president who puts her stamp on America’s future.  (Applause.)

This will be the first presidential election since January 6th.  On that day, we almost lost everything about who we are as a country.  And that threat — this is not hyperbole — that threat is still very much alive. 

Donald Trump says he will refuse to accept the election result if he loses again. 

THE PRESIDENT:  Think about that.  He means it.  Think about that.

He’s promising a “bloodbath” if he loses, in his words, and that he’ll be a dictator on “day one,” in his own words. 

THE PRESIDENT:  By the way, this sucker means it.  (Laughter.)  No, I’m not joking.  Think about it.

If anybody else said that in the past, you’d think he was cra- — he is crazy, but you’d think it was an exaggeration.  But he means it.

We can’t let that happen. 

AUDIENCE:  No!

THE PRESIDENT:  Folks, all of us carry a special obligation — independents, Republicans, Democrats.  We saved democracy in 2020, and now we must save it again in 2024.  (Applause.)

The vote each of us casts this year will determine whether democracy and freedom will prevail.  It’s that simple.  It’s that serious.  And the power is literally in your hands.  History is in your hands.  Not hyperbole.  It’s in your hands.  America’s future is in your hands. 

Let me close with this.  Nowhere else in the world could a kid with a stutter and modest beginnings in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Claymont, Delaware, grow up to sit behind the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office.  (Applause.)

That — that’s because America is and always has been a nation of possibilities.  Possibilities.  (Applause.)  We must never lose that — never.

Kamala and Tim understand that this nation must continue to be a place of possibilities not just for the few of us but for all of us. 

Join me in promising your whole heart to this effort.  And where my heart will be: I promise I’ll be the best volunteer Harris and Walz, this cam- — have ever seen.  (Applause.)

Each of us has a part in the American story.  For me and my family, there’s a song that means a lot to us that captures the best of who we are as a nation.  The song is called “American Anthem.”  There’s one verse that stands out, and I can’t sing worth a damn, so I’m not going to try.  (Laughter.)  I’ll just quote it. 

“The work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day.  What shall our legac- — our legacy be?  What will our children say?  Let me know in my heart when my days are through.  America, America, I gave my best to you.”  (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT:  I made — I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my career, but I gave my best to you.  For 50 years, like many of you, I’ve given my heart and soul to our nation.  And I have been blessed a million times in return with the support of the American people. 

I’ve either been the — too young to be in the Senate because I wasn’t 30 yet and too old to stay as president.  (Laughter.)  But I hope you know how grateful I am to all of you. 

I can honestly say — and I mean this from the bottom — give you my word as a Biden — I can honestly say I’m more optimistic about the future than I was when I was elected as a 29-year-old United States senator.  I mean it.  (Applause.)

Folks, we just have to remember who we are.  We’re the United States of America.  (Applause.)  And there is nothing we cannot do when we do it together.  (Applause.)

God bless you all.  And may God protect our troops.  Thank you.  (Applause.)

11:19 P.M. CDT

Stay Connected

We'll be in touch with the latest information on how President Biden and his administration are working for the American people, as well as ways you can get involved and help our country build back better.

Opt in to send and receive text messages from President Biden.

Advertisement

Full Transcript of Kamala Harris’s Democratic Convention Speech

The vice president’s remarks lasted roughly 35 minutes on the final night of the convention in Chicago.

• Share full article

By The New York Times

• Aug. 23, 2024

This is a transcript of Vice President Kamala Harris’s speech on Thursday night in which she formally accepted the Democratic Party’s nomination for the presidency.

OK, let’s get to business. Let’s get to business. All right.

So, let me start by thanking my most incredible husband, Doug. For being an incredible partner to me, an incredible father to Cole and Ella, and happy anniversary, Dougie. I love you so very much.

To our president, Joe Biden. When I think about the path that we have traveled together, Joe, I am filled with gratitude. Your record is extraordinary, as history will show, and your character is inspiring. And Doug and I love you and Jill, and are forever thankful to you both.

And to Coach Tim Walz. You are going to be an incredible vice president. And to the delegates and everyone who has put your faith in our campaign, your support is humbling.

So, America, the path that led me here in recent weeks was, no doubt, unexpected. But I’m no stranger to unlikely journeys. So, my mother, our mother, Shyamala Harris, had one of her own. And I miss her every day, and especially right now. And I know she’s looking down smiling. I know that.

So, my mother was 19 when she crossed the world alone, traveling from India to California with an unshakable dream to be the scientist who would cure breast cancer.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

Prince Harry Gives Keynote Address at Mandela Day UN Celebration

By edith m. lederer • published july 18, 2022 • updated on july 18, 2022 at 2:54 pm.

Britain’s Prince Harry challenged people everywhere Monday to adopt Nelson Mandela’s spirit of hope in today’s divided world to reclaim democracies and leave a better future for children, movingly citing the inspiration of the anti-apartheid leader on his own life and his memories of his late mother, Princess Diana.

In a keynote and often personal speech to the U.N. General Assembly’s annual celebration Monday of Nelson Mandela International Day, the 37-year-old Duke of Sussex said a photo on his wall of his mother meeting Mandela in Cape Town in March 1997, just five months before her death, is “in my heart every day.”

He spoke about his first visit to Africa as a 13-year-old and how the continent has not only given him hope but become “my lifeline, a place where I have found peace and healing time and time again.”

24/7 New York news stream: Watch NBC 4 free wherever you are

“It’s where I’ve felt closest to my mother and sought solace after she died, and where I knew I had found my soul mate in my wife,” Harry said as his wife, Meghan, sat listening in the front of the vast General Assembly hall, filled with diplomats from many of the U.N.’s 193 member nations.

As the father of two young children — Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1 — the prince expressed concern about the planet they and millions of others will inherit.

Get Tri-state area news delivered to your inbox. Sign up for NBC New York's News Headlines newsletter.

The world is at “a pivotal moment,” he said, facing converging crises including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, a small number of people “weaponizing lies and disinformation at the expense of the many,” the “horrific” war in Ukraine and “the rolling back of constitutional rights here in the United States. ” That was an apparent reference to the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent decision reversing a woman’s constitutional right to an abortion.

Witnesses flip van, rescuing driver accused of hitting mom and toddler in Brooklyn melee

Mold closes NJ elementary school for months just days before start of year

“We are witnessing a global assault on democracy and freedom -- the cause of Mandela’s life,” the prince said.

Harry said people have a choice: become apathetic, angry and despair or do what Mandela did every day during his 27 years in prison and the rest of his life including as South Africa’s first Black president, which was to “find meaning and purpose in the struggle.”

He said parents he has met around the world are as determined as Mandela was “to give their children a better shot at a brighter future … because they know the price of inaction will be paid by the next generation.”

The General Assembly established July 18 -- Mandela’s birthday -- as an international day to honor him not only by celebrating his life and contributions but by carrying out the tradition of participating in a community service activity.

Harry challenged people everywhere to commit to celebrating Mandela day not just once a year but every day by carrying out acts of service to improve the world.

“We have an obligation to give as much -- if not more -- than we take,” he said. “Let’s seek out what we have in common, empower all people to reclaim our democracies, and harness the light of Mandela’s memory to illuminate the way forward.”

In January 2020, Harry and Meghan stepped down as senior members of the royal family and moved to the duchess’ native Southern California, citing the unbearable pressure of their roles and racist attitudes of the British media. They visited South Africa in 2019 with their son, Archie, on their first official tour as a family before they gave up royal duties.

This article tagged under:

• Admission |
• Student Finance and Financial Aid |
• Enquiries |
• Collaborate |
• Vacancies |

The University of Venda Vice-Chancellor and Principal delivers a Keynote Address at the 15th International Symposium on Chinese Language Teaching

The University of Venda Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Bernard Nthambeleni delivered a Key-note Address at the 15th International Symposium on Chinese Language Teaching at the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) on 20 August 2024. The Symposium was co-orga-nized by the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching and MUST. Professor Nthambeleni and the University of Venda delegation received a warm welcome to the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) in China. The Symposium aimed to examine the intricate challenges and explore the vast opportunities facing the expansion of Chinese lan-guage education – in both reach and depth – across diverse cultural landscapes.

Representing the Green Technology Confucius Institute (GTCI) at the University of Venda South Africa, he delivered a keynote address entitled “Chinese + Professional Skills” Education Model in the “One Belt One Road” Scope: A Key Concept of Green Technology Confucius Institute at the Uni-versity of Venda South Africa. Professor Nthambeleni’s keynote address discussed the topic from three perspectives: the introduction of UNIVEN and the Confucius Institute at UNIVEN, GTCI; the “Chinese +” Model and its background: the “One Belt One Road Initiative”; and the GTCI model of training interdisciplinary talents with Chinese + Green Technology talent skills.

Over two days, delegates engaged in active discussions, shared innovative research, and exchanged ideas that promised to redefine the boundaries of Chinese language education. The Symposium also investigated how regional and national nuances influence teaching methodologies and how these can be harmoniously incorporated into a comprehensive educational framework that respects diversity while celebrating commonalities. The GTCI was the only African Confucius Institute to present and represent the African Confucius institutes and the only institute in the world which include the Chinese + Green Technology Model.

The Symposium was attended by delegates from all walks of life representing universities hosting the Confucius Institutes on behalf of Chinese universities throughout the world. Over 2000 Con-fucius Institutes (CIs) have been established in the world and about 61 established in 46 African countries, according to a 2022 article “Behind the rising Chinese fever in Africa”. Unlike some re-gions of the world, all the African CIs are flourishing and making impact on the local communities in one way or another.

The first African Confucius Institute was set up in 2005 in the University of Nairobi, Kenya and the first one in South Africa was established in 2011 in Stellenbosch University. In South Africa, there are 7 Confucius Institutes and the one at the University of Venda – GTCI is the only one situated in a rural area with green technology feature, which means a bigger role for it to play in the area to benefit the local and nearby communities.

Issued by: Department Marketing, Branding and Communication University of Venda Tel: 082 868 2218 / 082 868 1811

Upcoming Events

2024 Spring Graduation Ceremony

ANNUAL INTERNATIONALISATION WEEK 2024 by UNIVERSITY OF VENDA, LIMPOPO

Latest news, 2024 volunteer placement, privacy overview.

Globally recognized innovation strategist working at the intersection of creativity, business, and technology,   Shawn Kanungo is a partner with Queen & Rook, where he advises leading organizations and executives on disruptive trends, and actively invests in early-stage ventures. Formerly an innovation expert for Deloitte, he has been recognized as  Avenue  Magazine's “Top 40 Under 40 and is also the author of the bestselling book,  The Bold Ones , a playbook for individuals to become bolder and push their careers and companies forward.  The Bold Ones  has been touted as one of McKinsey’s top decision-making books for leaders. 

On Sunday, September 22, Kanungo's keynote session, " The Age of Infinity-Generative AI and Our Future ," will include examples of hundreds of organizations on their journey to digital transformation. Hear his experiences leading complex projects incorporating artificial intelligence, cloud technologies, behavioral economics, Web3, and generative AI like ChatGPT to help companies and individuals move boldly into the future.

On Monday, be sure to catch Jason Dorsey's Monday keynote session, " Crossing the Generational Divide ," and learn how to further optimize your team based on different generational strengths.  

New, Reduced Membership Dues

A new, reduced dues rate is available for CAOs/ACAOs, along with additional discounts for those in smaller communities, has been implemented. Learn more and be sure to join or renew today!