Erik Qualman: AI Digital Leadership

Keynote Speaker who helps leaders turn digital and social disruption into clear strategy and measurable growth with practical leadership habits.

Quick Facts:

Highlights:
  • Known for his high-energy, interactive keynotes, Erik leaves audiences with actionable takeaways and a clear understanding of the digital landscape.
  • Erik has held leadership positions at Yahoo and Travelzoo, gaining hands-on experience in digital marketing and strategy.
  • He has delivered keynote presentations in over 55 countries, earning accolades for his engaging style and thought-provoking content.

Formats Available: Keynote (45–60 min), Executive Briefing, Half-day Workshop, Breakout Session, Virtual Masterclass
Preferred Audience Sizes: Leadership teams (25–150); Conference keynotes (200–2,500)
Outcomes:
  • Clear, actionable framework to turn digital disruption into measurable business initiatives.
  • Practical leadership habits teams can adopt to boost engagement and execution.
  • Roadmap to prioritize digital investments and speed time-to-impact.
5/5
5/5 (2 reviews)

Travel & Fee Range:**

  • Travels from: Austin, Texas, United States
  • **Fee range: $35,001 - $50,000

Keynote Topics

We don’t have a choice on whether we team-up with AI, the choice is how well we do it. As a leading futurist, practitioner, professor, author, and speaker, Erik Qualman is at the forefront of the AI revolution and the impact it’s having across all sectors: business, education, healthcare, government, and beyond.

In entertaining fashion, Qualman will cover these 3 critical organizational outcomes:

  • How AI is revolutionizing the way we live and work and how your organization can harness AI to drive innovation, enhance customer experiences, and streamline operations.
  • Overcoming the challenges these new technologies present including: successfully navigating ethical implications, job adjustments, algorithmic bias, privacy, security, and more.
  • Striking the right balance between AI and Eye-to-Eye (Jetsons + Flintstones).

This entertaining, educating, and empowering experience will provide you with the tools and knowledge needed today, and tomorrow, to harness the power of AI to drive growth and innovation. Your audience will learn how to stay a year ahead of your competition but never a year ahead of your market.

THE FOCUS PROJECT: SIMPLE AND DOING LESS

Welcome to The Focus Project, a keynote designed to provide answers and solutions to the challenge of focusing in an unfocused world. Combining street science and institutional research alongside his own personal focus project, Qualman delivers practical advice on doing the important things instead of a bunch of things.

The following is a guide to pursuing less in order to achieve more—both personally and professionally. We will realize that leading an overly busy life is a choice, but it’s not a wise one. Being overscheduled isn’t something to be proud of, it’s something to avoid at all costs. Instead, we should choose to focus on what matters most.

This choice determines our success, happiness, health, and fulfillment. Successful and happy people understand it’s not about getting more things done, it’s about getting more of the big things done.

Leaders this digital decade are made—not born. The key is understanding the balance of offline and online. Using profound and practical research, Qualman showcases the 5 Habits that drive success & happiness for employees, partners and customers in a WiFi World.

Qualman reveals new techniques including Posting-It-Forward, Being FLAWsome, and other insights to positively impact and transform your audience & organization.

To ensure you are the disruptor versus the disrupted, you must understand societal shifts and instill a culture of creativity around them. This session looks at key future trends and their impact on your organization.

Qualman provides the roadmap for your organization’s digital transformation. Leap over the pitfalls of incremental change and land on a foundation of progressive and practical innovation principles. Future forward!

Based on his #1 Bestseller, Qualman dives into the powerful concept of Socialnomics. Word-of-Mouth is on digital steroids and has transformed into World-of-Mouth.

Organizations must learn the new rules of social, mobile, and beyond or they will miss this once-in-a-generation opportunity to earn customers’ loyalty and drive long-term success. Socialnomics is the key to winning customers’ hearts, minds, and wallets.

Talent Short Bio

Erik Qualman (aka “Equalman”) is a bestselling author, digital leadership expert, and internationally sought-after keynote speaker who helps organizations convert digital disruption into strategic advantage. Over his career, Erik has studied and advised how leaders and brands should adapt to the rapid shifts in technology, social behavior, and customer expectations. He translates complex digital trends into practical, repeatable leadership habits and frameworks that teams can implement immediately, not someday.

Erik’s work blends research, real-world case studies, and engaging storytelling to show executives how to spot trends early, make faster decisions, and create measurable business outcomes from social and digital initiatives. His presentations are high-energy, evidence-based, and built to move audiences from confusion to clarity: he covers strategy prioritization, cultural change to support digital transformation, and practical tactics for improving customer experience and growth.

He’s known for clear frameworks that leaders can adopt during workshops or one-hour keynotes and then scale across teams. Erik’s content is ideal for companies seeking pragmatic next steps, not theory, and for conference audiences who want bold insight with usable takeaways. His style blends humor, urgency, and concrete tools, making his sessions equally effective for leadership offsites, executive briefings, and large-scale conferences.

Erik Qualman, also known as “Equalman,” is a renowned keynote speaker, bestselling author, and digital leadership expert who has made a significant impact in the realms of digital transformation and social media. With a unique blend of storytelling, humor, and actionable insights, Erik has captivated audiences worldwide, helping organizations navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape. His work has influenced leaders from Fortune 500 companies to small startups, and his dynamic presentations leave a lasting impression on all who experience them.

Erik Qualman is a pioneer in the field of digital leadership, having authored several bestsellers, including “Socialnomics,” which has been translated into multiple languages and featured on the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestseller lists. His other notable works, such as “Digital Leader” and “What Happens in Vegas Stays on YouTube,” have further solidified his reputation as a thought leader in the digital age. Erik’s expertise lies in his ability to demystify complex digital concepts and present them in an engaging and relatable manner.

Qualman’s career began in the tech industry, where he held leadership positions at companies such as Yahoo and Travelzoo. His hands-on experience in digital marketing and strategy provided him with a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that businesses face in the digital era. This practical knowledge, combined with his academic background—Erik holds an MBA from the University of Texas—enables him to provide valuable insights and strategies that are both theoretically sound and practically applicable.

As a keynote speaker, Erik Qualman has delivered presentations in over 55 countries, earning accolades for his engaging style and thought-provoking content. His ability to connect with diverse audiences, from C-suite executives to college students, sets him apart as a speaker who can inspire and motivate individuals at all levels. Erik’s keynote speeches are known for their high energy, interactive elements, and actionable takeaways, making them a favorite among event planners and attendees alike.

Erik Qualman’s influence extends beyond the stage, as he is also a prominent figure in the world of online education. He has developed numerous online courses and training programs that help individuals and organizations enhance their digital skills and leadership capabilities. His educational initiatives, such as the “Digital Transformation” and “Social Media University” courses, have empowered thousands of learners to succeed in the digital age.

In addition to his speaking and educational endeavors, Erik is a sought-after consultant and advisor to major corporations and government agencies. His insights into digital trends and strategies have helped organizations like IBM, Google, and the National Guard to develop effective digital initiatives and stay ahead of the competition. Erik’s consulting work is characterized by a holistic approach that considers the unique needs and goals of each client, ensuring customized solutions that drive real results.

Moreover, Erik’s extensive experience as a speaker means that he is adept at tailoring his content to suit the specific needs and interests of different audiences. Whether it’s a corporate conference, a university commencement, or a government symposium, Erik can customize his presentation to address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by the audience. This level of customization ensures that each keynote is relevant, relatable, and impactful.

Erik Qualman’s reputation as a digital leader and his proven track record of success make him a trusted and credible voice on the topic of digital transformation.

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Talent FAQ's

Q: Is virtual or hybrid available?

A: Yes — fully virtual with interactive elements, or hybrid with live audience + streamed attendees. Reliable internet required for virtual.

A: Lapel mic, stage monitor confidence screen, projector/LED backdrop, robust venue Wi-Fi; for virtual, a 5–10 Mbps upstream connection.

A: Minimum 6–8 weeks for domestic bookings, 8–12 weeks for international. Yes — Erik customizes talks using a client brief and recent examples to make it immediately actionable.

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