Ken Hughes
- Global Authority on New Consumer Values & Behavior
- Renowned Customer Experience Strategist
- Inspiring Speaker on Disruption, Change, AI and Innovation
Travels From
Ireland
Ken Hughes Speaker Biography
Ken Hughes is now acknowledged as being one of the world’s leading authorities on consumer and shopper behavior, blending his understanding of consumer & cyber psychology, digital anthropology, behavioral economics and retail futurology to explore the needs of the new consumer and predict the changes to come.
Ken advises some of the biggest brands in the world on customer experience, omnichannel strategy, shopper marketing, retail trends, the millennial and Gen Z shopper, the impact of Artificial Intelligence and the peer-to-peer economy. As an accomplished author, TED speaker, part-time university professor and actor, his performances are not only insightful and thought-provoking, but are also infamous for their sheer energy, entertainment and passion, not to mention his generous Irish wit.
Every year, Ken shares his thought-disrupting insight with tens of thousands of delegates globally as one of the most popular keynote speakers and event emcees booked on the international conference circuit relating to the future of consumerism, digital disruption, and the employee experience.
Love is a Verb: Embedding Customer Connection in a Digital World
Renowned customer experience strategist Ken Hughes lends his expertise in consumers and innovation to the most important subject of our lives: relationship and connection. Ken’s insightful and engaging style brings into play a wealth of experience unpacking some of the greatest questions facing businesses and brands today around customer experience and connection, and encourages us to meet these relationships with the same innovation, playfulness, and action-oriented approach we bring to our personal relationships.
The Joy of CX: The Blue Dot Consumer
This speech is a dynamic analysis of modern consumer values, teaching brands and businesses how to win the race for relevance and thrive in disruptive economies around a consumer centered approach. Ken Hughes entertains and enlightens audiences with this deep dive into consumer expectations, the emerging values of our new consumer and the critical need to balance digital with human connection.
The Innovation Engine: Creativity and Innovation
Self-proclaimed ‘play-ologist’ Ken Hughes invites us to look within for our unique spark of creativity in this speech adapted from his highly successful TED talk. With humor and impressive performance elements, this high-octane motivational experience challenges individuals and organizations to stimulate our creativity on a personal level, rewire perspectives and approaches, drive innovation, and maximize both our time and our possibilities.
The AI Consumer: Marketing to the Machine (Silicone v Soul)
AI and machine learning are game changers in terms of consumer behavior. AI and data continue to develop and it is only going to get faster. But what will the impact be on people, on shoppers, on consumer behavior? We have B2B and B2C strategies but are we ready for Business-to-Machine (B2M)? Will consumers step out of the decision making and comfortably hand that over to the algorithms and systems they learn to trust? This speech is a high-paced look at the values of the modern consumer and where data science will have the most impact. How AI and data need to be balanced with human connectivity in our CX strategies, why personalization is key and context remains critical.
Work 3.0: Why your Employee Experience is Everything
How do we best inspire and motivate employees in today’s society? How do we manage their expectations about wanting to be the CEO within 24-months without crushing their desire to lead? How do we cope with their need for immediate continuous feedback?
Work has changed. From the way we work, the hours we work, to the places we work. Yes, technology has driven a lot of these changes, but the actual expectations of the employee is now the step-change.
Why work needs to stay relevant to those we seek to recruit and retain, and what relevance means in the new economy.
This is work 3.0. It Is both exciting and scary, but then most worthwhile things are.
Emcee Squared
Ken’s reputation as one of the most sought-after keynote speakers is partly due to his sheer energy, charm and on-stage presence. Add relevant and bespoke content to the mix, short intelligent inter-speaker presentations all day, a powerful keynote address, significant time spent getting to know speakers before your event, gamification & interaction with the audience, and being a ‘Golden Thread’ that links the event from start to finish, you have a powerful Emcee presence.
