Did you know that 74% of people feel more engaged and inspired after hearing a powerful keynote speaker? The right speaker doesn’t just fill a stage — they shape mindsets, spark innovation, and leave audiences thinking long after the applause fades.
As we step into 2025, the demand for authentic, transformative voices is stronger than ever. That’s why we’ve curated a list of the Top 10 Leading Speakers to Follow in 2025. These are the experts whose insights transcend trends and deliver lasting impact. Whether you’re an event organizer or a lifelong learner, these speakers will challenge your thinking and help you lead with purpose in an ever-changing world.
Without further ado, let’s discover more about them.
Mel Robbins
Did you know that 74% of people feel more engaged and inspired after hearing a powerful keynote speaker? The right speak
Mel Robbins is a global phenomenon in personal development, mindset mastery, and behavior change. With over 21 million online followers and a podcast ranked among the most successful in the world, The Mel Robbins Podcast, she’s earned accolades from TIME, USA Today, and The Hollywood Reporter. Her bestselling books—including The 5 Second Rule and The High 5 Habit—have sold millions and been translated into 50 languages. In 2024, her forthcoming release, The Let Them Theory, debuted at #2 on Amazon months before launch. As the founder of 143 Studios and a Forbes 50 Over 50 honoree, Robbins is a self-publishing powerhouse whose bold, science-backed frameworks inspire action worldwide—on stages, in boardrooms, and through billions of views online.
April Lewis
April Lewis, President and CEO of the A. Lewis Academy is a powerhouse in leadership development and workplace wellness. A combat veteran turned executive coach, April brings her “Human first, Employee second” philosophy to stages across the nation, helping healthcare and corporate teams overcome stress, burnout, and disengagement. Her proprietary Workwell System transforms organizations within nine months, reigniting motivation, resilience, and collaboration. A Certified NLP Practitioner and DISC Facilitator, April blends strategy with compassion, delivering practical tools that leaders can implement immediately. With a best-selling book, Fortune 100 clients, and a track record for measurable results, April is on a mission to create workplaces where people—and performance—thrive. Her message is clear: when employees feel well, they lead well.
Will Lukang
Will Lukang, founder of Kairos Executive Programs and award-winning author of Seeds of Leadership, is on a mission to help leaders grow into the mentors their teams deserve. Known for his engaging storytelling style and practical leadership frameworks, Will distills his talks into three powerful takeaways that leaders can implement immediately. With a passion for service and continuous learning, he inspires audiences to lead with intention and impact. From corporate events to academic keynotes like his upcoming BLU Talk at Simon Fraser University, Will brings a grounded, people-first approach to leadership development. His blend of real-world insight and actionable strategies makes him one of the most relatable and results-oriented speakers to watch in 2025.
Elizabeth McCormick
Elizabeth McCormick, founder of Soar 2 Success International and a Certified Speaking Professional, went from flying U.S. Army Black Hawks to helping leaders navigate life’s turbulence. After a career-ending military injury grounded her, Elizabeth discovered her true mission: encouraging others to rise with resilience, clarity, and courage. Known for her high-energy keynotes and actionable frameworks like the P.I.L.O.T. Method and Just FLY, she equips audiences not just with inspiration, but real-world tools to lead themselves through change and challenge. Elizabeth has earned honors including a U.S. Congressional Veteran Commendation and #13 on Global Gurus’ Top 30 Motivational Speakers list. Whether on stage, on paper, or at her upcoming “Speakers at Sea” Cruise, she is driven to empower people to lead themselves to better lead others.
Amanda Gore
Amanda Gore is a globally renowned keynote speaker, a Hall of Fame inductee, and a leading expert in social intelligence, communication, and workplace joy. With over 30 years of experience, she has spoken in 25+ countries, transforming audiences with high-energy, humor-driven, and science-backed keynotes. A master of nonverbal communication, Amanda takes “edu-tainment” to a new level, blending neuroscience, storytelling, and interactive experiences to create a lasting impact. Recognized with multiple industry awards, she will open Influence 2025, the premier speakers’ conference in the U.S. Her mission? To redefine leadership, connection, and engagement in the modern workplace and create joyful cultures.
Samantha Kris
Samantha Kris is an award-winning speaker, Certified Reinvention Practitioner, and best-selling author. Known for her ability to turn stories into catalysts for change, Samantha helps audiences navigate the uncertainty of personal and professional growth. She specializes in creating authentic, interactive experiences that inspire connection and propel action. Whether she’s speaking about reinvention, leadership, or her newest focus on “Liminal Space”—the often-isolating in-between of change—Samantha brings empathy, insight, and strategy to every stage. When she’s not speaking, she coaches executives and thought leaders to amplify their impact through their own stories, keeping her closely attuned to market needs and emerging trends.
Steve Acho
Steve Acho is a TEDx and keynote speaker, musician, and author who’s built his career around one simple measure of success: being useful to others. Known for blending thought-provoking insights with music, Steve shared a proven framework for rapid learning and created custom songs for each audience, turning keynotes into unforgettable, actionable, emotionally resonant experiences. With over 60 million streams of his music, global performances (including Japanese TV), and a reputation for simplifying complex ideas into actionable lessons, Steve helps individuals and organizations unlock motivation and potential. Whether through the books he’s written, weekly 60-second blog posts, or his dynamic talks, Steve’s mission is to inspire clarity, connection, and meaningful change.
Olga Lykova
Olga Lykova, founder of Rules to Thrive and Head of Partnerships for North America at monday.com, is a powerhouse speaker whose passion for creating revenue generating partnerships, creating leadership blueprint and focusing on empowering young professionals has earned her a place among Forbes Thought Leaders and A Named Top Women Leader of Miami for 2025.
As a former Global VP of Partnerships in the Salesforce ecosystem, Olga helped drive 60–80% of company revenue through partnerships. She played a key role in two acquisitions: Apttus ($715M, merged with Conga) and NewVoiceMedia (acquired by Vonage for $350M, later bought by Ericsson for $6.2B). As a Chief of GTM at Workspot, leading GTM strategy with Google Cloud, AWS, and Microsoft, resulting in 80% of company revenue through hyperscaler partnerships. Olga is now growing the monday.com partnership ecosystem in North America.
If you ask Olga what she does for a living, she will say that she helps people believe in themselves again and gives them the tools to thrive. Olga brings real-world strategies to life through powerful storytelling. Known for launching initiatives like “Seat at the Table” to empower women leaders, she continues to inspire through her Rules to Thrive podcast featuring Fortune 1000 leaders creating blueprints for people to build the careers and life they dream of.
Julie Winkle Giulioni
Julie Winkle Giulioni is a trailblazer in career development and a fierce advocate for workplace growth. Named one of Inc. Magazine’s Top 100 Leadership Speakers, she helps organizations tap their most valuable competitive advantage: their people. Julie’s bestselling books, including Promotions Are So Yesterday and the international hit Help Them Grow or Watch Them Go, have redefined how leaders approach career conversations. Through her keynotes, consulting, and award-winning training experiences with DesignArounds, Julie delivers practical strategies that empower employees and elevate organizational impact. Her insights—featured in Fast Company, The Economist, and Training Industry Magazine—are a must for leaders ready to foster real growth and retention in today’s evolving workplace.
Ramsey Bergeron
Ramsey Bergeron, Leadership Growth Strategist and founder of Bergeron Well-Being, turns resilience into real-world results. After two back surgeries to repair ruptured discs, he defied the odds to complete eight Ironman triathlons—proof that perspective can rewrite any story. His keynotes fuse vivid storytelling with research-driven tools such as the Energy Leadership Index™, plus unforgettable lessons from adventures like guiding a five-day trek on New Zealand’s Milford Track. Signature talk “Your Power Is in Your Perspective,” delivered to the U.S. Army’s 187th Medical Battalion at Wildcat Summit, shows leaders how to flip setbacks into comebacks. Author of the Amazon bestseller Cake on the Floor, Ramsey will expand his impact in 2025 with fresh workshops, a practical action guide follow-up book, and sought-after moderator roles at major leadership conferences—helping audiences reframe challenges and start a stronger story now.
