Athena Peppes delivering an AI leadership keynote to senior leaders at the Global Marketing Summit

AI Leadership Keynote Speaker

AI keynotes, executive briefings and workshops from economist and futurist Athena Peppes, author of AI-Q

“Smart, commercially grounded and genuinely engaging. Highly recommend booking her for events, leadership teams or company sessions if you want someone who can make people properly think.”
Paul Armstrong, CEO, TBD Group and TBD Conference

AI leadership keynotes for senior leaders and executive teams

Athena Peppes is a London-based AI leadership expert and keynote speaker who helps boards, executive teams and senior leaders turn AI investment into measurable business value. She is the author of AI-Q and her talks draw on original research with more than 200 senior leaders.

Her appearances include international conferences such as SXSW, the Global Marketing Summit, KIMRA, and leadership forums such as The Forward Institute and Rialto’s Board Briefing series.

She is a regular radio and podcast guest, where she unpacks what AI and emerging technologies really mean for everyday life and business.

Athena Peppes, AI speaker, adviser and author of AI-Q

Watch Athena Peppes speak: AI leadership keynote showreel

Credentials at a glance

200+

Senior leaders researched
14 years

At Accenture

Working with Fortune 500 companies
4.6/5

Keynote rating
AI-Q

Author

Trusted by partners and clients including

Logos of organisations Athena Peppes has worked with, including Accenture, Microsoft, Bupa, EY, Harvard Business Review, World Economic Forum, Virgin, CBI, UCL, SXSW, ArcelorMittal, Centrica, RSA, UK Space Agency, Government Office for Science, Ibec, KIMRA, The ABI, F&M, ForgeFront, and the Global Marketing Summit

Formats

Keynotes for conferences and flagship events, typically 30 to 45 minutes.
Fireside chats and on-stage interviews, as guest or interviewer.
Panels, as contributor or moderator, keeping the exchange sharp and on point.
Executive and board briefings, closed-door sessions that apply the argument to your leadership team’s own context, typically 60 to 90 minutes.
Virtual keynotes and webinars, the same substance for a remote or hybrid audience, typically 30 to 60 minutes.
Copies of AI-Q for attendees, which can be added to any booking once the book is published on 12 January 2027, with signed copies on request.

Athena speaking at the Forward Institute Leadership Development program

Why book Athena Peppes?

Athena brings together original research, senior-leadership advisory experience and practical AI expertise. Her work on AI-Q draws on research with more than 200 senior leaders and examines what distinguishes the leaders and organisations getting measurable value from AI.

She spent more than a decade at Accenture working with Fortune 500 companies, and advises leadership teams on AI readiness, adoption and business value. Her keynotes translate that research into practical implications for boards, executive teams and senior leaders.

“A fabulous conference Chair, able to understand and articulate how complex technology megatrends may impact across a range of nuanced topics.”

Simon Burton, Managing Director, KIMRA Conference

“Smart, commercially grounded and genuinely engaging. Highly recommend booking her for events, leadership teams or company sessions if you want someone who can make people properly think.”

Paul Armstrong, CEO, TBD Group and TBD Conference

“Attendee feedback was very positive, and her keynote received a rating of 4.6 out of 5 for being ‘interesting, relevant with clear messaging’.”

Steve Cumming, Director of Strategy & Planning, MEDA

“Athena is an excellent host and speaker on the topic of AI readiness. We recently collaborated on a masterclass that had unanimously positive reviews. For anyone wanting to get ahead of the trends in the AI revolution, she is your person!”

Farrah Morgan, organiser for AI readiness masterclass

“We asked Athena to speak at our AI event for financial services leaders based on her invaluable insights from interviewing leaders for her book. She was outstanding at sharing relevant stories and shifting perspectives on the role we play as humans in the advancement and adoption of AI.”

Andy Ayim MBE, "AI, Humans and the Future of Financial Services" host

Most requested keynotes

Athena’s keynotes combine robust research with deep experience of business challenges. Inspiring and practical, all keynotes are tailored to your audience and your goals.

The secrets of high AI-Q leaders: why some get returns from AI and others stall

High AI-Q leaders are three times as likely to report a quantified business outcome from AI, even after controlling for role, company size and AI maturity.

Drawing on an original survey of nearly 200 senior leaders, Athena reveals the three mindsets, five abilities and five practices behind that difference, and the seven habits that sustain it.

Best for: boards and executive teams asked to show a return on AI spend.

Check availability

Beyond “drop and hope”: five practices that turn AI activity into business value

Individuals using AI is not the same as an organisation creating value with it.

Athena explains why handing people tools and hoping falls short, and the five practices that turn pockets of progress into measurable returns: start with the problem, draw red lines, enable experimentation, measure impact not adoption, and build bridges.

Best for: organisations stuck in pilots, or with high tool adoption but little impact.

Check availability

AI adoption and economic growth: are we measuring the right things?

Governments are betting on AI to boost growth, yet even central banks struggle to forecast its impact.

Drawing on her training as an economist, Athena explains why widespread AI use does not automatically translate into national productivity gains, and what policymakers and business leaders need to rethink about measurement, skills and investment.

Best for: economics and industry conferences, policymakers, trade bodies, boards and finance leaders.

Check availability

Podcasts & Interviews

Planning an event or looking for a speaker on AI leadership or the future of work?

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Speaking FAQs

Who is Athena Peppes and what does she speak about?

Athena Peppes is an economist and futurist who advises senior leaders and speaks internationally on AI leadership and the future of work. She is an AI leadership keynote speaker and the author of AI-Q: The New Leadership Imperative for the Human + AI Era. Her talks explore how leadership needs to change as AI becomes embedded in organisations, with a particular focus on AI readiness, human + AI collaboration and turning AI investment into measurable business value.

Is Athena Peppes an AI leadership keynote speaker for senior executives?

Yes. Athena specialises in AI leadership keynotes for boards, executive teams and senior leaders. Her talks focus on the leadership capabilities, decisions and practices required to create value from AI, rather than on technical implementation or product demonstrations. Her keynotes are particularly relevant for organisations moving from AI experimentation and adoption towards measurable business outcomes.

What makes Athena Peppes an AI leadership expert?

Athena Peppes combines original research with more than 200 senior leaders with a career spanning economics, strategic foresight and technology-led business change. She spent more than a decade at Accenture, has published in Harvard Business Review, is Head of AI Research at BossUp.AI and is the author of AI-Q. Her work examines what distinguishes leaders who are better prepared to create value where human and machine intelligence work together.

What is Athena’s approach to AI leadership?

Athena focuses on the leadership capability required to turn AI investment into value. Rather than starting with tools or technology, her work examines how leaders make decisions, build organisational readiness, decide what to delegate to AI and strengthen the human capabilities that become more important as AI advances. Her approach is grounded in the AI-Q framework developed through her research.

Why book Athena Peppes for an AI leadership keynote?

Athena brings together research, practical leadership frameworks and real-world business examples to help audiences understand what leaders need to do differently in the Human + AI era. Her keynotes are designed to move senior audiences beyond general AI awareness towards the questions that determine value: readiness, decision-making, leadership capability, human + AI collaboration and measurable outcomes.

Who are Athena Peppes’ keynotes designed for?

Athena’s talks are designed primarily for CEOs, boards, executive teams, senior leaders and leadership communities. They are particularly suited to leadership conferences, corporate events, executive offsites, client events, board briefings and organisations that have already invested in AI and are asking how to translate adoption into business value.

How is Athena different from a technical AI speaker?

Athena approaches AI through the lens of leadership and business value rather than coding, product demonstrations or technical implementation. Her talks focus on the strategic and organisational implications of AI: how leaders need to adapt their decision-making, capabilities and ways of working as human and machine intelligence increasingly work together. This makes her particularly relevant for senior business audiences rather than technical specialists.

What is AI-Q?

AI-Q is the capability to create value where human and machine intelligence work together. Athena developed the concept through original research with senior leaders and explores it through three dimensions: Mindsets, Abilities and Practices (MAP). AI-Q gives leaders a practical way to think about their readiness for the Human + AI era and identify where they need to develop.

What will audiences take away from an Athena Peppes keynote?

Audiences leave with a clearer understanding of how AI is changing leadership, why technology investment alone does not guarantee results and which leadership capabilities matter most in the Human + AI era. Athena’s talks give senior leaders a practical way to think about AI readiness, decision-making, human + AI collaboration and the actions required to translate AI adoption into measurable value.

Can Athena tailor an AI keynote to our organisation or industry?

Yes. Athena tailors her keynotes to the audience, sector and strategic questions behind the event. This can include adapting examples, case studies, research findings and discussion points to reflect the organisation’s AI maturity, industry context and leadership priorities. She can also shape the session around specific themes such as AI readiness, leadership capability, business value, future of work or human + AI collaboration.

Where does Athena Peppes speak and how can I book her?

Athena is based in London and speaks at events across the UK and internationally, both in person and virtually. She delivers keynotes, executive and board briefings, fireside conversations, workshops and moderated discussions. To discuss an event, share the date, location, audience, approximate number of attendees and what you would like the session to achieve through the enquiry form on this page.