Kate O'Neill, professional global keynote speaker

As a globally recognized keynote speaker and thought leader, I deliver transformative insights at the intersection of technology, business, and human experience. My talks inspire and equip leaders to navigate digital transformation while creating meaningful human experiences at scale.

Selected speaking engagements demonstrate impact across sectors:

- GLOBAL LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION
    - United Nations: Multiple keynotes on data-driven innovation and human experience
    - World Government Summit (Dubai): Future of work presentation to world leaders
    - Amsterdam's Future-Readiness Initiative: Strategic city transformation
- FORTUNE 500 & ENTERPRISE
    - Executive keynotes for Google, IBM, Adobe, Microsoft, Cisco
    - Digital transformation strategies for Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Charles Schwab
    - Innovation workshops for HCA Healthcare, Northwestern Mutual
- SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE
    - Tech Innovation: Talks at Google series, Etsy Engineering Day
    - Academic Leadership: Guest lectures at Cambridge, Harvard, Yale
    - Industry Events: INBOUND, O'Reilly Strata + Hadoop World London

Speaking topics include:

- • The Tech Humanist Approach to Digital Transformation
- • AI Ethics and Responsible Innovation
- • Future-Ready Leadership in a Tech-Driven World
- • Creating Meaningful Human Experiences at Scale

Available for keynotes, executive workshops, and strategic advisory sessions. Past audiences have included C-suite executives and senior leaders from Fortune 500 companies, tech innovators, and global organizations committed to responsible digital transformation.

Professional Keynote Speaker

The Tech Humanist Show

The Tech Humanist Show is a multi-format program exploring how data and technology shape the human experience. Available as both a podcast and video series, the show features in-depth conversations with influential thinkers and leaders in ethical AI, privacy, and emerging technology. Distinguished guests have included Dr. Rumman Chowdhury (former Twitter Director of ML Ethics), David Ryan Polgar (Founder of All Tech Is Human), Dr. Safiya Noble (author of "Algorithms of Oppression"), and Yanis Varoufakis (former finance minister of Greece and author of “Technofeudalism”), among other visionary voices shaping the future of technology and humanity.

Creator, Host, Executive Producer

KO Insights

KO Insights is a premier strategic advisory firm transforming how global organizations navigate the intersection of technology and humanity. We specialize in human-centric digital transformation, AI ethics, and meaningful innovation at scale.

Our expertise delivers measurable impact through executive advisory services, transformative keynotes, and strategic workshops. We help organizations harness emerging technologies while prioritizing meaningful human experiences and responsible innovation.

Select client engagements showcase our impact across sectors:

- Guided a FORTUNE 50 TECH GIANT in developing ethical AI frameworks and human-centric product strategies
- Partnered with a GLOBAL CONSUMER BRAND LEADER to revolutionize their digital customer experience across 100+ markets
- Led digital transformation strategy for a MAJOR HEALTHCARE NETWORK, focusing on patient experience optimization
- Advised a LEADING SMART CITY INITIATIVE on human-centric IoT implementation
- Facilitated strategic innovation workshops for MULTIPLE FORTUNE 100 EXECUTIVE TEAMS

Our client portfolio includes Fortune 100 corporations, global tech leaders, prestigious universities (including Harvard, Cambridge, Yale), major healthcare institutions, government agencies, and the United Nations. We've worked with recognized brands such as Google, IBM, Adobe, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, and McDonald's, delivering transformative insights that drive both business success and human benefit.

We share our insights globally through books, articles, and thought leadership collaborations with major organizations. My upcoming book "What Matters Next: A Leader's Guide to Making Human-Friendly Tech Decisions in a World That's Moving Too Fast" (2025, Wiley and Thinkers50) continues this tradition.

Founder & CEO / Chief Tech Humanist (Expert Consultant/Advisor, Author, Speaker)

Professional Global Keynote Speaker

Leading Authorities, Inc.

BigSpeak Speakers Bureau

Keppler Speakers

London Speaker Bureau

Faith Popcorn's BrainReserve

Have consulted on strategy projects for Fortune 500 clients, including go-to-market consumer strategy for a new pharmaceutical device, as well as providing expert input on trends for client projects from time to time.

Consulting Strategist / Member of "TalentBank" Panel of Experts

Deep Focus

Stepped in temporarily to lead strategy definition for a client roster including household-name consumer brands and global organizations.

Strategy Consultant

Known globally as the "Tech Humanist," Kate O'Neill is a leading voice on AI ethics, responsible tech, and human-centric digital transformation. As a sought-after expert, she advises Fortune 500 leaders and speaks at high-profile events worldwide on navigating our tech-driven future while prioritizing human experiences.

Kate's unique blend of "Strategic Optimism" and tech expertise has made her an in-demand consultant for organizations facing complex challenges in emerging technologies, climate change, and rapid digital transformation. Her insights help businesses innovate responsibly, balancing technological advancement with human values.

Career highlights:

- Author of six books, including the forthcoming "What Matters Next: A Leader's Guide to Making Human-Friendly Tech Decisions in a World That's Moving Too Fast"
- Shortlisted for the prestigious Thinkers50 Digital Thinking Award
- Featured expert on BBC, WIRED, NPR, and other major media outlets
- Pioneering roles: First content management position at Netflix, built Toshiba's first intranet

With over 25 years of cross-functional expertise in technology, strategy, and innovation, Kate has consistently been at the forefront of digital industry practices. Her work spans from data analytics and IoT to AI and machine learning, always with a focus on creating meaningful, scalable human experiences.

Recognized as "Technology Entrepreneur of the Year" and "Strategist of the Year," Kate continues to shape the global conversation on how businesses can thrive in the digital age while making a positive impact on humanity.

For more information, visit: http://www.koinsights.com/about/about-kate-oneill/

Latest book available for pre-order at: 
https://www.amazon.com/What-Matters-Next-Human-Friendly-Decisions/dp/1394296428/

Kate O'Neill

Whrrr.work

My passion is ignited by those seeking to improve the ways that people connect with work.  My joy comes when from the 'whrrr' that you hear after doing the hard work necessary to set the corporate flywheel into motion.

As a 30+ year staffing industry veteran, I made a purpose driven shift from a traditional employment model to one that prioritizes managing a portfolio of responsibilities.
 
Today as the Chief Exec at Whrrr.work, I enagage as a Fractional Executive, designing and deploying workforce solutions for companies and governments around the world.  My current portfolio includes a variety of roles including:

> Workforce strategy advisor to G2000 businesses, governments, investment firms, and workforce
      technology startups

> Hands on operational work as an Expert in Residence at multiple organizations including Xpheno, the
      Contingent Workforce Institute (CWI), Quintessence Finances, and Open Assembly

> President of the Velocity Charitable Foundation

> An engaging and provocative keynote presenter on topics related to the Future of Work

Chief Executive

Xpheno

What is your India strategy?  For companies feeling the pinch of locating and engaging talent - and tech talent in particular - setting up operations to leverage the breadth and depth of talent across India is as critical to your growth strategy as is having a workforce strategy that is aligned with your business strategy.

Xpheno is an India based company that has carved out a unique niche in supporting companies who are developing a captive operations team (GCC/GIC/GBS/COE) in India. 

Xpheno means "Extend your Expression" and was founded on a belief in people's abilities and the impact they can have on the world.  I am proud to have worked with their co-founder in the past and look forward to helping them bring their message to those in need.

Armed with a remarkable set of data regarding Skill, Speed, Scale, State, and Price, Xpheno has carved out a unique capability to help clients establish operations from 25 to 250, to 2500 resources.

Expert in Residence

VITALIZE Venture Capital

VITALIZE Venture Capital is an early-stage VC investing in WorkTech, which includes enterprise platforms that transform workflows, infrastructure for the freelance economy, and AI driven HR tech. VITALIZE is investing out of a $25M Fund II and a 500-person angel community. The Venture Partners are an elite group of nearly 50 CHROs, CPOs, HR tech execs, and future of work experts who convene quarterly to share insights and trends on cutting edge WorkTech.

VITALIZE Venture Partner

World Employment Confederation

The World Employment Confederation (WEC) is the voice of the employment industry at global level, representing labour market enablers in 50+ countries and the largest international workforce solutions companies. It brings unique access to and engagement with international policymakers (ILO, OECD, World Bank, IMF, IOM, EU) and stakeholders (trade unions, academic world, think tanks, NGOs).

The traditional way of verifying a job seeker’s credentials is full of friction. Within the scope of responsibilities is my remit as chair of a taskforce that seeks to remove two weeks from the process of connecting people with work by aligning on the standards and processes that will harness the potential of responsible AI and Web 3.0 tools to make it easier for people to enter and re-enter the workforce.

http://www.wecglobal.org/

Vice President; Chair, Taskforce on Digitalisation

Center for the Transformation of Work 

Oversee strategic initiatives and workstreams, collaborate with ecosystem partners, and help grow membership as part of our mission to transform work for a billion people by 2025. 

If you value the democratization of access to opportunity and believe that digitally enabled marketplaces can help your career or your business, come and be part of the community. If you’re unsure, hear from those who have already discovered! transformationofwork.org

Managing Partner & Expert in Residence

Kelly

Established the function to define  and execute strategic projected and drive transformational change both internally and across Kelly's G2000 client portfolio.  To leverage the unique ability to identify patterns and see around corners to activate teams and enable organizations to capitalize on growth opportunities. 

Worked actively with all levels of participants in the workforce solutions ecosystem defining new markets and disrupting those that we operated in, improving the ways that people and work connect, witness their lives enriched, and help companies achieve their corporate objectives through their talent. 

Conducted focus groups and design thinking workshops to identify value streams across four key dimensions related to how people and work connect - the workforce, the workplace, technology and social norms. I am an evangelist for DEI and for sustainable and agile labor markets globally.
  
Previous roles at Kelly:
> Global Talent Supply Chain - VP & Managing Director
> APAC OCG - VP & MD of Operations
> VP & Talent Supply Chain Strategist
> Project - seconded into external CPO office, Brisbane, AU
> VP, Enterprise Workforce Solutions
> VP, Channel Partner Solutions
> VP, Corporate Accounts & Global Sales
> National Sales Director, Kelly Technical Services Group  
> Branch Manager, Kelly Technical - Carolina's Region

Vice President & Managing Director, Office of the Future of Work

Westend Group

Executive Search - IT Industry; MWBE Certified

Partner

MRG Search & Placement

IT Recruiter specialized in mid-range technologies - HP3000, IBM sys38/AS400.  Specializing in niche market segments in the NE corridor.

Information Technology Recruiter

Fractional Executive and outspoken advocate, designing the most relevant ways for people to connect with work and executing those improvements every day.

Having spent more than thirty years developing and deploying workforce solutions in labour markets throughout the world, John is a recognized thought leader and practitioner in the evolving world of work.  

As a champion for responsible behavior and cross-industry collaboration in the evolving world of work, he established the taskforce on digitalisation at the World Employment Confederation.

After a distinguished career in the staffing industry, John made a purpose driven shift from a traditional employment model to one that prioritizes managing a portfolio of responsibilities.

Today as the Chief Exec at Whrrr.work, John is
•	an independent workforce strategy advisor to Global 2000 businesses, investment firms, and workforce solution and technology ventures,
•	an Advisor and Expert in Residence at Open Assembly, CWI, and Xpheno,
•	the President of the Velocity Charitable Foundation
•	a Board member of the Public School Forum of North Carolina

John is a life-long learner, with passion in areas ranging from workforce ecosystems, open innovation, consumer behaviors, people analytics, and the role of education in achieving human agility.

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Kate O'Neill

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