Keynotes

An interview with Peter van Hees by Ari Coale. #iykyk

Finding a keynote speaker who delivers actionable signal, not just entertaining hype, is crucial for organizations navigating disruption. Peter van Hees has become that sought-after voice, translating complex future trends into strategic imperatives. But what truly lies behind this demand for his insights?

To dissect the substance, renowned journalist Ari Coale of The Threshold—whose pen is feared and questions precise—met with the architect himself. When the journalist famed for dismantling hype confronts the author of AI Agents: They Act, You Orchestrate, the result isn't a casual chat. It's a high-velocity exchange aimed squarely at the signal beneath the noise.

Let's jump into the interview...

Signal vs. Noise * Cutting Through the Hype

Ari: Peter van Hees. The name surfaces frequently now. First, the manifesto—They Act, You Orchestrate. Now, the keynote circuit. The demand seems... significant. Let’s cut through the standard bio. What exactly are you selling from the stage? Hope? Hype? Or something with actual utility?

Peter: Signal, Ari. The market drowns in hype. My function is to provide signal – clear, actionable insight into the forces reshaping technology, society, and business before they hit the mainstream. It’s not about predicting the future; it’s about architecting a response to the forces already in motion. AI Agents are a dominant current, yes, but the landscape includes shifts in planetary health, quantum, identity... The talks provide the strategic map.

The Mechanism of Clarity * Architecting the Keynote

Ari: A map. Most keynotes offer fog. You claim clarity. How? What’s the mechanism? You step on stage – then what happens?

Peter: It starts with the audience. Every keynote is architected for the specific room, the industry, the strategic questions they refuse to ask themselves. Pre-packaged content is intellectual malpractice. I deliver fast-paced, visually dense narratives. Think less lecture, more high-bandwidth data stream designed to bypass ingrained assumptions. The goal isn’t applause; it’s the quiet click of realignment in the audience's strategic thinking. It’s about igniting curiosity that lasts long after the lights come up.

Precision and Connection * The Human Element in the Doctrine

Ari: "Curiosity-fueled." "Honest, human." Your promotional material uses surprisingly… un-weaponized language. Is this the same architect who advocates for 'economic brutality' in his writing? A softening of the blade for the public square?

Peter: Precision doesn’t preclude humanity, Ari. The style is direct, yes. It has to be. But the purpose is connection. These aren’t product pitches. They're explorations, grounded in research but delivered through story. We dive into complex territory—agentic systems, yes, but also the future of work, planetary shifts, synthetic media. The honesty is the edge. People trust signal delivered without anesthetic. They respond to a narrative that respects their intelligence and challenges their comfort zone.

Deploying the Signal * Where Insight Meets Urgency

Ari: So, who is paying for this strategic discomfort? Where does this signal get deployed? Boardrooms? Tech festivals? Where does the message find its highest point of leverage?

Peter: The venues vary, but the objective is consistent: impact. I’m brought into Innovation Summits, Tech Conferences, Strategy Off-Sites, Leadership Retreats. Banks, healthcare firms, mobility companies – organizations staring down disruption. Sometimes it's internal inspiration days, getting entire teams aligned on the new physics. The common thread isn’t the industry; it’s the urgency. They know the ground is shifting. They need a clear-eyed assessment of the new topography.

The Conversion Event * From Observer to Orchestrator

Ari: Assessment is passive. You talk about inspiring action. Define the delta. Someone sits through your keynote. What are they equipped—or compelled—to do differently when they walk out? What’s the conversion event?

Peter: The conversion is from observer to orchestrator. The goal is to shatter complacency. They should leave asking harder questions. Questioning their own operational models. Seeing connections between trends others missed. The action isn't a prescribed checklist; it's the initiation of strategic re-architecture. It’s moving from reacting to the future to actively building it. If they leave merely impressed, I've failed. If they leave ready to dismantle something that no longer serves them, the mission succeeded.

The Value Proposition * Why Invest Attention Here?

Ari: A high bar. Many claim to challenge assumptions; few deliver the tools for genuine reconstruction. Final question: The market is noisy. Why should an organization invest its most valuable asset – its leadership's time – listening to you?

Peter: Because avoiding the future is more expensive than confronting it. Because signal has a higher ROI than hype. Because the Agent-First Era, among other disruptive forces, isn't waiting for an invitation. If you're looking for a keynote that doesn't just describe the storm but helps you architect the ark, then a conversation is warranted. No hard sell. Just a direct line to the strategic realities ahead.

Ari: Reality. A rare commodity.

Peter: Indeed.

Contact Form * Book Your Keynote

The future doesn't wait for consensus. If your organization requires a strategic briefing that delivers signal over noise and equips your team to act, not just react, the conversation starts now.

Contact Peter van Hees via the form below to explore architecting a keynote tailored to your specific strategic challenges and opportunities. It's time to move from understanding the shift to commanding it.