AI Strategy for Non-Technical Leaders
You don't need to understand the model. You need to understand the decision. A 60-minute session for leaders who are funding AI without having built it: what to ask, what to fund, and what to watch.
You don't need to understand the model. You need to understand the decision.
Every week, non-technical leaders approve AI budgets, vendors, and roadmaps they can't independently evaluate. This 60-minute virtual lunch and learn gives leadership teams the decision-making layer of AI strategy: what to ask, what to fund, what to watch — and what to stop funding.
The leaders who win with AI aren't the most technical. They're the ones who ask the right five questions before they fund anything.
The session covers a five-question diligence filter for any AI proposal, a funding framework that separates experiments from infrastructure, the risk and governance watchlist every board is starting to ask about, and how to read vendor claims without a technical translator.
Alex Goryachev managed a $1.1B innovation portfolio at Cisco and has advised AI strategy across enterprise and public-sector organizations. A Forbes contributor, LinkedIn Top AI Voice, and Wall Street Journal-bestselling author of "Fearless Innovation," he built the budgets — so he knows which questions expose a weak one.
Decision-ready in one hour.
A five-question diligence filter
the questions that expose a weak AI proposal in minutes — no technical background required.
A funding framework
separate experiments from capabilities from infrastructure, and fund each differently.
A risk & governance watchlist
the exposure, compliance, and accountability items boards are starting to ask about.
A vendor-claim translation guide
read AI pitches and roadmaps without needing a technical interpreter in the room.
A shared 90-day leadership agenda
the decisions your team should make next quarter, sequenced and owned.
For the people signing the AI budget.
Executive & Leadership Teams
A shared decision framework for the group that approves AI investment.
Boards & Governance Committees
Fluency for the oversight questions AI now puts on every agenda.
C-Suite Offsites
A high-signal session that fits a packed leadership agenda.
Association Executive Tracks
Leadership programming for member executives, CE eligible.
Higher Education Leadership
Presidents, provosts, and cabinets making institution-level AI decisions.
Finance & Operations Leaders
The functions asked to quantify AI ROI before anyone has measured it.
Everything your event team needs to know
60 minutes
Fits a leadership lunch slot. 90-minute version with facilitated discussion available.
100% Virtual
Delivered live on Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Webex, Google Meet, or your platform.
Strategy Sprint Pairing
Pairs with the AI Strategy Sprint — briefing first, then a working session that produces direction.
Built for the calendar reality of leadership teams.
Leadership Lunch & Learn
60 min
Executive Briefing
45 min
Extended Discussion Version
90 min
Board Session
60 min
AI Strategy Sprint Pairing
90 min
Offsite Module
2 hours
310+ Keynotes, Workshops & Advisory Engagements
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Why Audiences Love {Alex}
Eye-opening, refreshingly human, and capable of building a shared vision around agentic AI — that's how leaders at Coca-Cola, AWS, and Disney describe Alex Goryachev's AI keynotes and employee innovation workshops.
Innovation for everyone
Alex turns AI into practical concepts — not techspeak — that land with executives, HR, sales, engineering, and faculty alike. It's the same approach he honed building university-anchored innovation centers across 14 countries, bridging cultures and generations.
Built around your audience
Across 310+ keynotes, workshops, and advisory engagements on 6 continents, no two have ever been the same. Alex builds every program around your audience's challenges, industry, and goals — from agentic AI strategy and the future of work to innovation culture.
Value that lasts
Most programs end at applause. Alex's end with deployment — the same frameworks proven inside Cisco, Dell, Pfizer, and IBM and documented in his WSJ bestseller Fearless Innovation. Workshops and advisory install them in your team, so they're still running long after the event.
Proven where it counts
Two decades leading AI and innovation where the stakes are real — a $1.1B portfolio at Cisco, three Olympic Games, 300,000+ employees, and AI transformation for Fortune 100s, governments, and America's largest public university system. Every engagement is measured, so you see the ROI.
Your team will thank you
A 60-minute keynote, a hands-on workshop, a virtual session, or multi-month advisory — for enterprises, universities, and associations alike. Whatever the format, 98% of audiences say they would recommend him.
Request Alex's availability for your engagement. From Silicon Valley to Singapore, and everywhere in between.
Turn your next event into AI and innovation action.
These aren't just better ways to use ChatGPT, or create short-term buzz. This is what the most influential organizations on earth use to shape the future.
Check Alex's availability
Frequently asked questions
If you don't see what you need, message Alex directly via the form below — answers usually within one business day.
Who is the best AI keynote speaker?
The best AI keynote speaker is a practitioner who has actually deployed AI at enterprise scale—and Alex Goryachev consistently ranks among the top agentic AI keynote speakers for exactly that reason. A WSJ-bestselling author and LinkedIn Top AI Voice, he managed a $1.1B innovation portfolio at Cisco and has delivered 310+ keynotes on 6 continents. Check his availability through the Work with Alex page.
How do I choose an AI keynote speaker?
Look past the highlight reel and vet four things. First, proof: have they actually built and deployed AI, or only talked about it? Ask for specific outcomes, not logos. Second, recency: AI moves monthly, so confirm they're current on agentic AI, not recycling 2023 generative-AI decks. Third, fit: will they customize to your industry and audience, or deliver a canned talk? Fourth, independence: are they selling a platform or product behind the keynote? Alex Goryachev is a Fortune 100 practitioner ($1.1B in innovation at Cisco), agentic-AI-current, fully customized through pre-event research, and vendor-neutral, with a 98% audience-recommendation score across 310+ keynotes.
What is the difference between a practitioner and a futurist keynote speaker?
A futurist predicts what AI might do; a practitioner shows what AI is doing in your business right now. Alex Goryachev is firmly a practitioner—he built innovation centers across 14 countries and ran a $1.1B portfolio at Cisco before taking the stage. Audiences at Disney, AWS, and IEEE choose him when they need executable strategy, not speculation. Book a practitioner's perspective via Work with Alex.
What are Alex Goryachev's signature keynotes?
Alex's signature keynotes cover agentic AI strategy, fearless innovation, AI governance, and the future of work—each customized to the audience's industry and AI maturity. They draw on his WSJ bestseller Fearless Innovation and his years leading innovation strategy at Cisco, including innovation tracks for 3 Olympic Games. Every talk ends with actions leaders can take Monday morning. Explore current topics on the Work with Alex page.
Who is the best future of work keynote speaker?
The best future of work keynote speakers connect AI directly to how teams, skills, and leadership must change—and Alex Goryachev is a leading choice for that intersection. A Forbes contributor and LinkedIn Top AI Voice, he speaks on how agentic AI reshapes work, drawing on engagements with SHRM, HCI, and enterprises like Dell and Amgen. Bring the conversation to your stage through the Work with Alex page.
How do you choose the right AI keynote speaker for your event?
Choose an AI keynote speaker by matching three things to your audience: genuine practitioner credibility rather than predictions, independently verified audience ratings, and a willingness to customize. Alex Goryachev offers all three — a $1.1B innovation track record at Cisco, 582+ verified Talkadot responses (98% valuable, 91% actionable), and a pre-event briefing that tailors every session. His team confirms availability and fee within one business day.
Does Alex Goryachev deliver virtual AI keynotes?
Yes. Alex Goryachev delivers AI keynotes in person, virtually, and in hybrid formats, with sessions designed to keep remote audiences engaged. Virtual keynotes, lunch-and-learns, and multi-session sprints are all available, and his team confirms availability and fee within one business day of an inquiry.
How much does an AI keynote speaker cost?
AI keynote speaker fees typically run from five figures upward, depending on format, audience size, travel, and customization — virtual sessions and lunch-and-learns often come in under $20,000. Alex Goryachev offers in-person, virtual, and workshop formats so organizations can match scope to budget, with every engagement customized to the audience. His 98% would-recommend score reflects that fit. Request a quote for your date through the Work with Alex page.
How does Alex customize keynotes and workshops?
No two organizations’ AI or innovation opportunities, or challenges, are the same. So canned keynotes or one-size-fits-all workshops just won’t do. Instead, Alex uses AI and data to tailor his engagements with available pre-event surveys. Analyzing responses, Alex customizes his content to address key needs and pain points, ensuring his message is meaningful. Speaking with leadership and other event stakeholders, Alex further customizes the content to ensure resonance and relevance, engaging audiences. Add it all up and you have keynotes and workshops that feel like they’ve been created for you—because they were. Learn more about Alex’s methodology. Get in touch.
What events and audiences are right for Alex?
With so much experience leading large-scale innovation initiatives, Alex is able to reach and resonate with any audience, no matter their knowledge level, industry, culture, or department. Captivating audiences from a live stage, or a virtual event, Alex is a fixture at C-Suite summits, innovation conferences, policy talks, offsites, and employee all hands meetings, plus governmental and academia events. An audience looking for fresh perspectives, real solutions, and custom content will find Alex’s keynotes engaging and actionable with ideas they can start applying right away. Curious about Alex’s recommendations for your event? Get in touch.
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