Sebastian MorgnerLeading with Purpose & Structure

Keynotes and workshops on leadership and AI

The more machines can do, the more leadership matters.

I explore the questions behind the technological shift: What do we want to work for in the future? What remains the work of people? And how do we lead teams in which people and artificial intelligence achieve results together?

I give keynotes on these questions — with personal stories, unexpected perspectives and concrete models for thinking. And I facilitate workshops in which leadership teams arrive at tangible results together.

Sebastian Morgner giving a talk to leaders

Inquiry

Which question should stay on people’s minds after the talk?

A good keynote doesn’t end with applause. It changes the conversations that follow.

In a no-obligation preliminary conversation, we clarify which keynote fits your occasion, which questions your leaders are grappling with, and which format will have the desired effect.

Leaders listening intently

The more answers machines provide, the more we need leadership that knows which question matters.

Workshops for leadership teams

A leadership team is at its strongest when it shares one picture.

A leadership team has the greatest impact when its members share a common view of the target picture they want to realize, of their shared levers of success, and of how they work together as a leadership team — effectively and in a common rhythm.

I have extensive experience facilitating workshops that enable a shared process of insight and lead, in a structured way, to a concrete result.

Four concrete results:

  • Jointly clarifying the target picture
  • Developing a strategic program
  • Developing a specific strategy
  • Building a strategic roadmap

If you want to design a workshop with your leadership team that delivers tangible results and helps you grow together as a team, I would be glad to hear from you.

Questions and answers

Frequently asked questions about talks and workshops

What is a keynote?

A keynote is a substantive talk meant to inspire leaders and give them genuine insight. It opens up new perspectives, makes sense of what is happening right now, and invites people to reflect on their own role. A good keynote does not hand out instructions; it changes how you see your own situation — and with it the conversations that follow.

How long does a keynote last?

Thirty to sixty minutes. Thirty minutes is a pointed impulse, forty-five the full dramatic arc, sixty an interactive version with a live poll and reflection. Interactive formats afterwards, such as a World Café or a Leadership Lab, are well worth it: they connect the content to your own organization and make it stick.

How does the collaboration work?

In five steps: a briefing conversation about the occasion, audience and company context; a proposal with format and sequence; clarification of technical requirements; a technical check on site or online; and the keynote itself. A short debrief follows, in which we discuss the effect and pick up any open threads.

What does a keynote cost?

From €4,000 per keynote, plus VAT and travel expenses. Deep-dive formats such as a World Café, future workshop or Leadership Lab are priced by scope. For associations, public institutions and non-profit organizers we usually find a workable arrangement.

Are the talks possible online?

Yes. Under certain conditions the talk and the interactive elements work digitally too: a stable connection, moderation in the background and a platform that allows polls and breakout rooms. For fully virtual formats I recommend a shorter arc and more participation.

What technical set-up is needed?

A projector or screen in 16:9, a headset or lapel microphone, sound from the lectern and a monitor for the speaker. For the live poll, mobile or Wi-Fi reception for participants is enough. A short technical check before the event is always part of it.

Are handouts or give-aways available?

On request: high-quality workbooks on the topic at additional cost, copies of the book “Expedition Zukunft”, or issues of Tiefgang, the magazine for strategy and leadership. After the event, the key insights can be documented on a few pages.

What makes a good talk?

Relevance for the audience, a clear structure and stories that stay with people. Add to that a link to the context and role of the audience, activating questions, interactive elements, and clarity rather than effect. And the courage to ask an uncomfortable question instead of repeating familiar answers.

In which languages do you speak?

In English and German, on site or online. The interactive elements, polls and materials are available in both languages.

What occasions are the keynotes suited to?

Leadership conferences, strategy days, customer events, new-year kick-offs, association meetings and events in the public sector. The keynotes address people with leadership responsibility, from middle management to the executive board.

How far in advance should I ask?

Three to six months ahead is the norm, because the briefing, the tailoring and the technical check take time. Short-notice dates are sometimes possible — simply ask.

May the talk be recorded?

On request and by agreement. We clarify beforehand what the recording will be used for and how long it stays available. Photography during the event is of course fine.