FERRY HOES.
    Keynote Speaker

    AI keynotes for conferences and corporate events

    Talks on Brand Humanizing, the future of work, and AI leadership. No death-by-PowerPoint. Just stories, insights, and practical ideas that spark real conversations.

    Ferry Hoes mid-keynote on stage

    Mid-flow on stage.

    “No ‘Death by PowerPoint,’ but a smooth and captivating story that got us as an IT organization thinking. Ferry is second to none at keeping his audience engaged.”
    Laurens, Atos
    • ~40keynotes a year
    • EN & NLon stage
    • Exclusivevia Speakers Academy

    I've had the pleasure to work with great brands like

    Atos
    Vodafone
    Unilever
    GlaxoSmithKline
    Toshiba
    American Marketing Association
    Ziggo
    Chubb Fire & Security
    a.s.r.
    UWV
    Ministerie van Financiën
    Gemeente Eindhoven

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    Based in the Netherlands. Speaking at conferences and corporate events across Europe, the US, and worldwide. Available in English and Dutch.

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    Ferry Hoes behind the scenesFerry Hoes presenting on stage
    About

    Meet Ferry

    Ferry spent over a decade at the intersection of technology, marketing, and human behaviour before stepping onto stages worldwide. He built the concept of Brand Humanizing from scratch. Not borrowed, not adapted. He has spent years stress-testing it with global organisations.

    His talks are built around one provocation: technology should make you more human, not less. Audiences leave with a clear idea of what to do on Monday morning.

    What I talk about

    Keynote topics

    Each talk is tailored to your audience, industry, and event goals.

    01

    Brand Humanizing: become irreplaceable in a world of AI

    AI can copy your content, your processes, even your customer service. What it cannot replicate is the distinctly human qualities that make people trust, follow, and buy from you. In this keynote Ferry unpacks the Brand Humanizing framework and shows how organisations can turn their human edge into an unassailable competitive advantage.

    Best suited for

    Leadership teams, marketing directors, and brand strategists navigating AI adoption.

    Key takeaways

    • A practical framework for identifying what makes your brand irreplaceably human
    • How to use AI to amplify (not replace) your distinctive qualities
    • Real-world examples of organisations that turned their human edge into growth
    02

    The Human Era of Work

    The AI hype has settled. The real question now is how to lead organisations where humans and machines work side by side without losing what makes work meaningful. Ferry explores the skills, culture, and leadership choices that separate thriving organisations from ones that merely survive the transition.

    Best suited for

    HR directors, L&D leads, and C-suite leaders shaping the next era of work.

    Key takeaways

    • The human skills that will define value creation in the next decade
    • How to design roles and teams that use AI without hollowing out culture
    • Why the 'now what' moment after AI is a leadership problem, not a tech problem
    03

    AI without the noise: the biggest AI mistake organisations are making right now

    Organisations are racing to adopt AI without first asking the most important question: what problem are we actually solving? Ferry shares real-world examples of costly missteps and offers a practical framework for making sure your AI investments solve the right problems in the right order.

    Best suited for

    Strategy teams, digital transformation leads, and boards overseeing AI investments.

    Key takeaways

    • The most common and costly AI adoption mistakes, and how to avoid them
    • A step-by-step framework for prioritising AI use cases by real impact
    • How to prevent solution-first thinking from derailing your AI strategy

    Also available

    04

    Leading when AI has a say

    When algorithms recommend who to hire, what to prioritise, and how to allocate resources, the leader's role fundamentally changes. This talk explores what human-centred leadership looks like when machines have a seat at the table, and why the best leaders will be those who know when not to listen to the data.

    Best suited for

    C-suite leaders, HR directors, and anyone managing teams in an AI-augmented environment.

    Key takeaways

    • Why algorithmic recommendations require a new kind of leadership judgment
    • How to maintain trust and accountability when decisions are data-assisted
    • Practical guidelines for knowing when to override the algorithm
    05

    From AI law to AI advantage: literacy as a strategic foundation

    The EU AI Act is not just a compliance exercise. It is an opportunity to build organisational AI literacy from the ground up. Ferry explains what the regulation requires in plain language and shows how the smartest organisations are using it as a catalyst for strategic advantage rather than a bureaucratic burden.

    Best suited for

    Compliance officers, legal teams, and leadership responsible for AI governance.

    Key takeaways

    • A plain-language overview of what the EU AI Act requires from your organisation
    • How to turn compliance into a competitive advantage through AI literacy
    • Concrete steps to build an AI-literate organisation before the deadlines hit

    Your topic, our expertise

    Don't see what you're looking for?

    Ferry regularly develops custom keynotes tailored to specific industries, themes, or internal challenges. Whether it is a board retreat, a leadership offsite, or a large-scale conference, let's explore how we can create something that fits your event perfectly.

    Discuss a custom keynote
    FAQ

    What Ferry speaks about

    Everything you need to know about working with Ferry.

    Ferry

    I speak about the human side of technology. Most often that means AI, the future of work, leadership, and how organizations design systems where technology strengthens human judgment instead of replacing it.

    My core theme is Brand Humanizing. It's about staying distinctive and human in a world where tools become available to everyone.

    For event organisers

    What to expect when booking Ferry

    Pre-event alignment call

    Ferry schedules a call with your team to understand the audience, objectives, and context so the talk hits the right notes.

    Fully customised content

    No copy-paste keynotes. Every talk is tailored with industry-specific examples, relevant case studies, and audience-appropriate depth.

    Professional delivery

    Engaging, energetic, and visual. Ferry uses slides that support the story, not replace it, and keeps audiences engaged throughout.

    Post-event follow-up

    After the event, Ferry is available for a brief debrief and happy to share key resources or frameworks with your team.

    Testimonials

    What organisers say

    Feedback from event organisers who have worked with Ferry.

    “Ferry took us on an inspiring journey, with the topic perfectly tailored to our audience. He engaged participants effectively and left more than enough room for questions.”
    AAvans Hogeschool
    “From our very first meeting with Ferry, the collaboration was wonderful. He's incredibly enthusiastic, flexible, and loves thinking along about both content and practical matters. The day itself was a great experience too! Participants of the keynote and the in-depth workshop said they felt inspired and gained new insights about ChatGPT and AI. In short: we're enthusiastic about Ferry!”
    AAbelAestate
    “Ferry is a fantastic speaker. He adapts perfectly to the audience and showed during the workshops that he's highly flexible and alert to reactions from the room. We're very happy with the collaboration and he gave our clients plenty of inspiration they can put into practice.”
    AAlmerASR
    “We booked a speaker through Speakers Academy for our event, and the experience was very positive. Communication was smooth, and they actively helped find a speaker who matched our needs. The speaker made a strong contribution to the success of our event and engaged the audience brilliantly. We're very satisfied with the collaboration.”
    RRianneShared
    “Energetic, positive, funny. It was a wonderful session and we received a lot of positive feedback about Ferry's talk. Communication was pleasant, and in the absence of the regular contact person it was seamlessly picked up by a colleague. The aftercare was neatly arranged too. We're happy!”
    CCPM Nederland
    “Ferry is a knowledgeable and approachable speaker. You could tell at our event from the extensive Q&A, where many questions came from the audience about developments in AI. With his expertise on the synergy between humans and technology, Ferry was a strong keynote opening for our event.”
    AACES Direct
    “Ferry was well prepared and it was great having him as our moderator. He thought along and took action where needed. The reactions from the audience were positive.”
    EElsTriade Vitree
    “I recently organized a workshop where Ferry Hoes and the Brand Humanizing Institute delivered a lecture on the Ethics of AI. No 'Death by PowerPoint,' but a smooth and captivating story that got us as an IT organization thinking. Ferry is second to none at keeping his audience engaged. I received a lot of positive feedback about his contribution to our workshop and wholeheartedly recommend him.”
    LLaurensAtos
    “Ferry has the gift of explaining complex theory in an accessible way. The AI experience among participants varied widely, from no experience at all to employees who already use it daily. Even those without any experience came out of the workshop surprised and very enthusiastic.”
    MMaudChubb Fire & Security
    01 / 09

    Ready to inspire your audience

    Ferry replies personally within two working days. For formal bookings he is exclusively represented by Speakers Academy.

    Book Ferry

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