Rohit Bhargava speaking on stage

SPEAKING TOPICS: INNOVATION, TRENDS, FUTURISM, MARKETING, AI, DISRUPTION

BE A NON-OBVIOUS THINKER

Perspective-Shifting Keynotes from Rohit Bhargava, Founder of Non-Obvious

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Do you need a speaker that can help your audience
be more innovative and anticipate the future?

11
BOOKS
15+
YEARS
32
COUNTRIES
500+
EVENTS
10,000+
FIVE STAR REVIEWS

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For more than a decade, Rohit Bhargava has been inspiring audiences at NASA, Disney, Schwab, Microsoft, SXSW, Coca-Cola and hundreds of other clients with his signature non-obvious keynote presentations. He is a master at weaving recent stories into his talks in a way that helps audiences better understand the world today, while also preparing to lead the future.

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What Rohit Speaks About

Signature topics include...

THEMES: Innovation, Mindset & Creativity

How To Be A Non-Obvious Thinker

What if you could see the things that others miss?

Rohit on the SXSW stage

This generous and inspiring keynote will reveal how anyone can learn to be more creative and innovative. Using his signature fast-paced "non-boring" presentation style, trend curator Rohit Bhargava will take the audience behind-the-scenes of his groundbreaking SIFT method to illustrate how to see what others miss using the four specific habits of non-obvious thinkers. This keynote will share plenty of highly actionable tips that are sure to leave any audience with a clear picture of what exactly to do next in order to put the lessons from the talk into practice in their real lives.

KEYNOTE TOPIC DESCRIPTIONS (PDF)

THEMES: FUTURISM, TRENDS AND DISRUPTION

5 Non-Obvious Trends Shaping The Future Normal

What does it take to identify world changing trends that will actually last?

Rohit keynoting the Define The Future conference

In this candid and fast-paced session based on the bestselling book that has inspired more than 1 million readers, trend curator Rohit Bhargava will reveal the most powerful trends and instigators that are already shaping humanity’s next decade. This is a pull-no-punches, always entertaining, constantly surprising, highly actionable (and deeply optimistic) glimpse into what the future will look like ... and what you can do to win.

KEYNOTE TOPIC DESCRIPTIONS (PDF)

THEMES: MARKETING, SALES & STORYTELLING

The Art and Science of Non-Obvious Marketing

We are living in a time when it is harder to earn trust than ever before.

Rohit keynoting the National Association of Realtors conference

Be more believable, build trust and stand out from the competition. We are living through a modern believability crisis. To win in a skeptical world, you need to be more human. This funny and insightful keynote from award-winning marketing expert Rohit Bhargava will reveal the five secrets for earning attention in a world filled with distractions. Through a digestible collection of purposeful stories, Rohit will shine a spotlight on what actually works to command attention, build loyalty and generate real results.

KEYNOTE TOPIC DESCRIPTIONS (PDF)

THEMES: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, TRUST & LEADERSHIP

How To Use Non-Obvious Thinking To Thrive In An AI-Disrupted World

An optimistic talk on what it takes to adapt and win in a transformed world.

Rohit delivering a keynote in Las Vegas

How do we find the right balance between going irresponsibly deep on AI and letting the future pass us by? Based on a decade of research into trends and innovation, this highly optimistic talk will reveal how each of us can survive and thrive by shifting the way we think about AI. Inspired by stories of companies and leaders getting it right, this clear-eyed talk will remind you why in times of disruption, non-obvious human ideas still matter most.

KEYNOTE TOPIC DESCRIPTIONS (PDF)

Have a question or want to check availability? Fill out this form and get a response in 2 hours! Or use it to schedule a chat with Rohit.

Rave Reviews

What They’re Saying About Rohit

99%
Of Attendees Find Rohit’s Talks Valuable
98%
Would See Him Speak Again
10,247
Attendee Reviews Across 42 Events

Attendees Say Rohit’s Talks Are...

Engaging
96%
Inspiring
94%
Relevant
94%
Actionable
93%
Interactive
91%

Independently collected audience feedback, measured by Talkadot.

“Over and above being a fantastic speaker, booking Rohit also means you get a partner.”

Paul Treanor · Event Planner

“Rohit was fantastic on stage and great to work with! Our crowd loved him!”

Christina Baur · National Restaurant Association

“Rohit should think about marketing himself not just as a ‘speaker’ but as an ‘experience’, and a great one at that!”

Dawn Dovey · Sage Hospitality Group

“Rohit Bhargava has a rare ability to make big ideas feel accessible and actionable.”

Buddy Rizer · Loudoun County Economic Development

“I’ve been hearing nothing but positive feedback on Rohit’s talk.”

Becca White · LinkedIn

“Our community has been raving about Rohit and his message.”

Mitch Whitten · Visit Fort Worth

“Rohit was terrific! 94% top two boxes which is phenomenal.”

Event Planner · Large Global Bank

“He’s no Beyonce, but still worth standing in line for!”

Attendee · SXSW Austin

Beyond the keynote, Rohit also hosts signature event experiences including the Non-Obvious 7 Minute Meetup, Rapid Fire Sessions and Non-Obvious Dinners.

RESOURCES FOR EVENT PLANNERS

CONSIDERING ROHIT?

Speaking Brochure [PDF]Pitch Script [doc]Audience Feedback [LIVE]Keynote Descriptions [PDF]Bios & Headshots [ZIP]

ALREADY BOOKED ROHIT?

Bios (Multiple) [DOC]Headshots (Multiple) [URL]On Stage Intro [PDF]Bulk Book Buys [PDF]7 Minute Meetup [PDF]

MORE FROM ROHIT ...

7 Minute Meetup [PDF]Rapid Fire Q&A [PDF]Non-Obvious Swag [PDF]Event Planner Secrets [PDF]Cauliflower Confession [PDF]

HEADSHOTS FOR ROHIT BHARGAVA

Headshot: Rohit sitting in a libraryHeadshot: Rohit sitting, transparent backgroundHeadshot: Rohit speaking in actionHeadshot: Rohit in a blue suit and pink shirtHeadshot: Rohit standing in a suit, verticalHeadshot: Rohit in a suit, transparent backgroundHeadshot: Rohit standing, transparent backgroundHeadshot: Rohit in the Post-It Note suitHeadshot: Rohit having fun in Non-Obvious glassesHeadshot: Rohit against a brick wall, vertical

ROHIT BIOS IN MULTIPLE LENGTHS

ABOUT ROHIT – THE SUPER SHORT BIO (38 WORDS)

Rohit Bhargava is on a mission to inspire more non-obvious thinking in the world. He is the #1 WSJ Bestselling Author of eleven books, founder of the Non-Obvious Company and an adjunct professor of storytelling at Georgetown University.

ABOUT ROHIT – THE “TIGHT ON SPACE” BIO (UNDER 100 WORDS)

Rohit Bhargava is on a mission to inspire more non-obvious thinking in the world. He is the 3-time WSJ bestselling author of eleven books on marketing, innovation, trends and the future including his #1 bestseller Non-Obvious Megatrends. Rohit has been invited as a “non-boring” keynote speaker to events in 32 countries. He is a frequent contributor writing about non-obvious ideas for Inc, Entrepreneur and GQ magazines and is an adjunct professor of storytelling at Georgetown University. On a personal note, he loves the Olympics, actively hates cauliflower and is a proud dad of boys.

ABOUT ROHIT - THE "STANDARD" BIO (UNDER 200 WORDS)

Rohit Bhargava is on a mission to inspire more non-obvious thinking. He is the 3-time Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of eleven books and is widely considered one of the most entertaining and original speakers on trends, innovation and marketing in the world. Rohit has been invited to deliver “non-boring” keynotes and workshops in 32 countries around the world to change the way teams and leaders think at the World Bank, NASA, Intel, LinkedIn, Coca-Cola, Disney and hundreds of other well-known organizations. Prior to becoming an entrepreneur and founding the Non-Obvious Company and Ideapress Publishing, he spent 15 years leading marketing strategy at Ogilvy and Leo Burnett where he advised global brands on human behavior, marketing and storytelling. Outside his speaking and consulting, Rohit has taught persuasive speaking and global marketing as an adjunct professor at Georgetown University, is frequently quoted in the global media and has written for Inc, Entrepreneur and GQ magazines. Rohit lives in the Washington DC area with his wife and is a proud dad of two boys. He loves the Olympics (he’s been to six!) and actively hates cauliflower.

A yellow caution sign

SHHHH, THIS IS WHAT MOST SPEAKERS DON’T TELL YOU!

After speaking at hundreds of events, Rohit has seen the good, bad and ugly. Finally this year, he decided to compile his best and worst experiences into this non-obvious collection of do and don’t “secrets” for event planners & strategists. Feel free to share these tips ... or keep them to yourself.

DOWNLOAD SECRETS

Booking Rohit As A Speaker

Rohit Bhargava is a keynote speaker on innovation, trends and the future of business - a three-time Wall Street Journal bestselling author of ten books, founder of the Non-Obvious Company and an adjunct professor of storytelling at Georgetown University. He has been invited to deliver keynotes and workshops in 32 countries. Event organizers usually come looking for one of a few things: a futurist keynote speaker who can make what is coming next feel useful rather than abstract, an innovation speaker who can get a room unstuck, or a trends speaker who does more than read a list of predictions off a slide.

He is booked regularly as a sales kickoff speaker and as an opening or closing leadership keynote speaker at annual meetings, national sales conferences, franchise conventions, association events and executive retreats. For sales and revenue audiences the talk is built around what is actually changing in how buyers decide. For leadership audiences it is built around making better decisions in an AI-disrupted market. Marketing teams book him as a marketing keynote speaker on the strength of a decade of trend research and books including Personality Not Included and Likeonomics.

Every session is customized to the audience and the outcome, and can be delivered as a keynote presentation, a workshop, a virtual session or a moderated fireside chat. Common topics include future trends and megatrends, non-obvious thinking and creativity, artificial intelligence and the future of work, storytelling and persuasion, customer experience and building a culture of innovation.

  • Innovation Keynote Speaker
  • Futurist Speaker
  • Trends Speaker
  • Sales Kickoff Speaker
  • Leadership Keynote Speaker
  • Marketing Keynote Speaker
  • AI & Future Of Work Speaker
  • Business Book Author
  • Virtual Keynote Speaker

MORE NON-OBVIOUS EXPERIENCES

Rohit welcoming the crowd at the 7 Minute Meetup

The Non-Obvious 7 Minute Meetup

Designed to help attendees make more authentic connections with each other, this meetup transforms event experiences.

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Rohit taking questions at a Rapid Fire Session

The Non-Obvious Rapid Fire Session

A high-energy QA session designed to go after Rohit’s keynote where he answers audience questions with 20 seconds on the clock for every answer!

LEARN MORE
Guests at a Non-Obvious Dinner

The Non-Obvious Dinner

These dinner gatherings challenge people to share their biggest non-obvious idea for changing the world-and everyone votes for the winner.

LEARN MORE
Guests in pajamas at the Non-Obvious Pajama Party

The Non-Obvious Pajama Party

A fun light-hearted way to bring people together-this has become our signature event at SXSW and an attendee favorite.

LEARN MORE
A drawing of Rohit as a lego man in a Non-Obvious Curator shirt

AMA – ASK ME ANYTHING!

This section has a compilation of the most asked questions from event planners.

Q: What makes Rohit different from other speakers?
Good first question! Two things make me different. The first is that I always share non-obvious, non-cliche, and actionable ideas. From attendees, the two pieces of feedback I hear all the time after one of my talks is that they are HIGH ENERGY and ACTIONABLE. I don’t use canned presentations and always tailor my talk for specific audiences. The second thing is that I REALLY partner with an event team to make their event successful. Everything from helping people connect at the event to promoting the event ahead of time. At the event itself, I am always approachable off stage and make a point to be PRESENT at an event (instead of running to and from the airport). When I commit to an event, I am invested in doing everything I can to help make it successful, and always seek out innovative ways to deliver more value for an audience.
Q: How do I know Rohit understands my audience, region or industry?
Thanks to the past 15 years working in consulting groups and agencies, I have experience in almost every industry you can imagine. Here’s an example of some past audiences: medical device makers, CPAs, enterprise sales leaders, jewelers, rural broadband technicians, media executives, small business owners, higher education administrators, vodka producers, oil & gas industry executives, economic development boards, national governments and many others. For the past decade, I have never been focused on a single industry vertical or topic. As a result, the perspective I bring to your event is based on *some* industry knowledge of your space, combined with the ability to make relevant parallels to other industries and an informed outside perspective to your event.
Q: How customized will Rohit’s talk really be?
As you might expect, I do have some prepared stories that I reuse. Honestly, that’s better for everyone – since most event planners don’t want completely untested material. My aim is always to pair stories which have been tested to resonate with a live audience together with new original content. How much exactly is customized? I’d say most of my presentations have about 20% new and original content tailored specifically for an audience. That’s a guess, since we all know that 36% of all statistics are completely made up anyway … 🙂
Q: Is the pen really mightier than the sword?
While scholars have debated this question for many years – as an English major in college I have always believed in the power of stories to change culture. Swords don’t inspire people. Unless they are written into stories where they are pulled out of stones by kings.
Q: What types of events has Rohit spoken at?
I have performed on the big stage in front of audiences of 10,000+ financial planners as well as led a private executive trend briefing for a small room of 8 Latin Music executives right before a private performance by Latin superstar Juanes. I am also a regular at SXSW, where I once followed Elon Musk as a Featured Speaker (crazy story!) and have been invited to speak over the past decade at large and small events in 32 countries across the world.
Q: How big, exactly, is Rohit’s ego?
I’m glad you asked! Speakers naturally have larger than normal egos, otherwise they wouldn’t thrive on the time they spend on stage. So, yes, I do have an ego - but it is not fragile or demanding. I never expect anyone to treat me like royalty and I always take the time to listen and learn from the people I interact with. And above all else, I aim to remain down to earth, approachable, and live up to what my business card promises … that I am indeed a nice guy. Aside from making me easy to work with, it can be a lifesaver in the stress-filled environment of live event production. Need to find five extra minutes because your program is running long? No problem, I can shave a bit of time off my talk to get you back on schedule. Your MC had a last-minute flight cancellation? I can jump in to ad-lib and fill the spot. Looking for a speaker willing to try your sponsor's small batch tequila right before heading to the stage? I am up for it ... and yes, these are all REAL situations from past events. Ok truthfully, I might have volunteered for that tequila tasting. The bottom line is, I am ready to partner with your team to do whatever it takes to make your event successful.
Q: What is the Non-Obvious 7 Minute Meetup and why is it so popular?
Attendees love the idea of networking sessions at an event, but most people struggle to make authentic deeper connections. When the conversations stay on the surface, the networking is forgettable. The Non-Obvious 7 Minute Meetup is my solution, where I teach attendees a new way to start conversations with a different question: what’s something non-obvious about you? As part of a keynote talk, I am happy to host this session (no extra fee) and at over a dozen events it has been rated one of the favorite moments by attendees at any session.
Q: I know it’s not legal (or nice) to ask, but what is Rohit’s nationality and accent?
Don’t worry, I’m not offended! The short answer is – my accent is what one event planner described as “Global American.” In other words, I was born in India but moved to America when I was very young and grew up there. Then after graduating I moved to Australia for five years where I traveled extensively across Asia. As a result, I definitely have an American accent, but I tend to speak more clearly (and slower!) than most American speakers and more than once have been rated as the #1 speaker at global conferences because of my ability to use more international English, avoid hard to understand slang or America-centric stories, and handle the complexity of live translation.
Q: What if I need a 36 minute talk EXACTLY?
Ok, chances are you probably don’t. But no matter how long of a time slot you have open – that time is precious and there is nothing worse than a speaker who kills the flow of your schedule by going over time. You can expect I will stick EXACTLY to my time on stage (I often close with 20 seconds left on the clock!) and keep your event running smoothly.
Q: How often does Rohit speak at events?
In a typical year – I will usually deliver between 20 and 30 talks on stages around the world. This is on the lower end for professional speakers – and the reason is because I prefer to balance my speaking with my publishing, teaching and consulting work. I speak at events I have a passion for – but will sometimes decline a speaking opportunity or refer a fellow speaker if it’s not the best fit. Most of all, I do not speak so often that I’m likely to get burned out or force myself to resort to delivering canned, uncustomized talks.
Q: My audience has never heard of Rohit – isn’t that bad news?
Not necessarily! At many of the larger 4000+ person events I speak at, I may not have the same name recognition as a celebrity like Jay Leno or former NFL Quarterback, but I am regularly brought on at huge events as a second or third keynote speaker that can deliver an unexpected point of view. Not to put too much of a spin on it, but if your audience isn’t familiar with me – you can be the one who “discovered” me.
Q: What will Rohit never, ever do in a million years?
I pride myself on being flexible, but there are a few things you can expect me to never do. The first is that I’ll never use bullet points or pre-designed templates for my talks. I can use a customized branded cover, but my presentations are highly visual and don’t work on other templates. The second thing I’ll never do is sell from the stage. No one likes that.
Q: What if I need something other than a keynote presentation?
If you are looking for something more customized or interactive, I will often facilitate masterclass style sessions or immersive workshops. For teams that want something other than a solo keynote-style talk, get in touch and we can talk about how I might customize something to fit your needs.
Q: Can Rohit deliver the same energy in a virtual keynote session?
Over the past five years, Rohit has done more than 100 virtual sessions from his professional home studio. With updated stories (sometimes pulled from that morning’s news!), a charismatic delivery style, unique elements like a “choose your own adventure” format, hyper-lapse video, and audience polling – Rohit’s virtual keynote sessions are highly engaging and guaranteed to be MUCH more than just a traditional keynote talk delivered to video. Best of all, they are delivered in a friendly style that feels more like sharing a coffee with the audience ... with stellar audio and video quality, of course.
Q: What are Rohit’s travel requirements?
I live in the Washington DC area and travel from either DCA or IAD airports. For international event planners, I am a dual citizen of the United States and Australia. Please contact my team for information regarding travel fees for your specific event, as they may vary according to destination and time commitment.
Q: We don’t pay our speakers – most of them agree to speak for the networking and visibility. Does Rohit do that too?
I completely appreciate that model of event – but the truth is I have been doing less and less of these. The main reason is because speakers who focus on this type of event aim to use their time on stage to drive their own business opportunities. I know this because it’s what I used to do when I had a day job working at a large agency. My only goal now is to make sure your audience gets the most value … and not generating leads for myself. For that reason, with a rare exception, I typically don’t participate in events that are networking only.
Q: We are a nonprofit or educational institution – can we get a discount?
I would love to try and make something work and support nonprofit groups as often as I can with mentoring or presentation at their events. Two causes in particular that I believe in and frequently support are helping to mentor and support more women in business, and encouraging more young people to be entrepreneurs or choose careers in business and marketing. If your event or audience fits either of those categories – you have a better than average chance that I may be able to make something work. Just get in touch and I’ll be happy to see what I can do to support your efforts.
Q: What’s something non-obvious about Rohit?
You might have seen in my bio that I “actively hate cauliflower.” It is true that I generally find it disgusting … but that’s not the real reason why I choose to elevate it and make it a part of my bio. If you want to know the full story, you can read my cauliflower confession here >>

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