TOP 100 GLOBAL AFFAIRS SPEAKERS KEYNOTE: HIRE POLITICAL EXPERTS FOR CORPORATE EVENTS

Top 100 global affairs speakers, political keynote pros and geopolitics futurists observe that in an interconnected world defined by shifts in politics, economic flux, technological breakthroughs, cultural transformation, and social movements, awareness is important. What’s more, the best Top 100 global affairs speakers list choices note that the capacity to understand international developments has never been more vital.

Today’s most influential futurist keynote experts bring firsthand insight into how nations interact, industries evolve, societies change, and individuals lead with purpose on the world stage. As you might imagine, international Top 100 global affairs speakers bridge diplomacy and industry, storytelling and strategy, moral clarity and pragmatic action. All can be found helping audiences understand worldwide issues, anticipate trends, and engage with differing nations and cultures more effectively.

A common sight in the field is Scott Steinberg, a 21st Century Icon Award-winning geopolitical futurist, consulting expert and keynote speaker for 3000 brands, who’s on the Top 100 global affairs speakers lineup and also the #1 bestselling author of 30 books. The consultant’s research focuses on decoding global trends, innovation ecosystems, cultural evolution, and the strategic forces impacting business and society. Steinberg helps leaders across sectors anticipate disruption, build resilience, and harness change as a strategic advantage—a critical capability in the field.

We look at Top 100 global affairs speakers and highlight both typical names and influential actors, musicians, authors, athletes, political leaders, and founders/CEOs from banking, credit cards, travel, transportation, CPG, retail, hospitality, finance, insurance, technology, AI, and other spaces. Each of these individuals brings perspective, credibility, and impact to conversations about geopolitics, whether through policy, innovation, cultural influence, or leadership in a rapidly evolving world.

1. Scott Steinberg

Geopolitics Futurist, Consulting Expert & Keynote Speaker for 3000 Brands — Trends, disruption, technology, strategy, future shifts, and strategic foresight

Political Leaders & Statespersons

Broad global perspective on diplomacy, security, and international policy.

2. Barack Obama — Former U.S. President
3. Angela Merkel — Former German Chancellor
4. Justin Trudeau — Onetime Prime Minister of Canada
5. Jacinda Ardern — Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
6. Emmanuel Macron — President of France
7. Ursula von der Leyen — President, European Commission
8. Narendra Modi — Prime Minister of India
9. Volodymyr Zelenskyy — President of Ukraine
10. Amina J. Mohammed — Former UN Deputy Secretary-General
11. António Guterres — Former UN Secretary-General
12. Christine Lagarde — President, European Central Bank
13. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala — Former Director-General, WTO
14. Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan — President of UAE
15. Sanna Marin — Former Prime Minister of Finland
16. Yoshihide Suga — Former Prime Minister of Japan
17. Cyril Ramaphosa — President of South Africa
18. Sheikh Hasina — Former Prime Minister of Bangladesh
19. Mark Rutte — Secretary General of NATO
20. Olaf Scholz — Former Chancellor of Germany

Business Visionaries (CEOs & Founders)

Driving global markets, innovation, and industry transformation.

21. Satya Nadella — Microsoft
22. Sundar Pichai — Alphabet/Google
23. Tim Cook — Apple
24. Andy Jassy — Amazon
25. Jensen Huang — NVIDIA (AI leadership)
26. Marc Benioff — Salesforce
27. Jane Fraser — Citi
28. Michael Miebach — Mastercard
29. Thasunda Duckett — TIAA
30. Dara Khosrowshahi — Uber
31. Brian Chesky — Airbnb
32. Stephen Squeri — American Express
33. James Quincey — Coca-Cola
34. Rosalind Brewer — Walgreens Boots Alliance
35. Emma Walmsley — GSK
36. Ajay Banga — Mastercard (Chair)
37. Brian Moynihan — Bank of America
38. Reshma Kewalramani — Vertex Pharmaceuticals
39. Corie Barry — Best Buy
40. Jennifer Morgan — Siemens (Co-CEO)

CEOs in Travel, Transportation & Logistics

Expertise on global mobility, commerce, and supply chains.

41. Oscar Munoz — Former CEO, United Airlines
42. David Calhoun — Boeing
43. Stephen Johnson — DHL Express
44. John Pearson — FedEx Logistics
45. Guillaume Faury — Airbus
46. Pieter Elbers — KLM
47. Darren Woods — ExxonMobil (Energy & infrastructure)
48. Jim Farley — Ford Motor Company
49. Henrik Ehrnrooth — Konecranes
50. Matthias Müller — Former CEO, Volkswagen
51. Raj Subramaniam — FedEx Corp
52. Oscar de Bok — Lufthansa Cargo
53. John Holland-Kaye — Heathrow Airport
54. Akbar Al Baker — Qatar Airways
55. Carsten Spohr — Lufthansa Group
56. Dieter Zetsche — Former CEO, Daimler AG
57. Henrik Andersen — Vestas Wind Systems
58. Andrew Witty — Former CEO, UnitedHealth Group
59. James Hackett — Former CEO, Ford

Influential Authors & Thought Leaders

Voices driving cultural, economic, and policy discourse through writing and research.

60. Fareed Zakaria — Global affairs analyst
61. Thomas Friedman — Foreign affairs columnist
62. Yuval Noah Harari — Historian & futurist
63. Malcolm Gladwell — Cultural insight
64. Anne Applebaum — Historian & geopolitical analyst
65. Zadie Smith — Literary voice on culture
66. Isabel Wilkerson — Social historian
67. Francis Fukuyama — Political theorist
68. Niall Ferguson — Historian
69. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie — Cultural commentator
70. Ta-Nehisi Coates — Social justice voice
71. David Thomas — Cultural insight
72. Thomas Piketty — Economist
73. Aric Dromi Jankov — International relations
74. Ryan Holiday — Strategy & mindset
75. Taylor Tresatti — Globalization analyst
76. Nicholas Kristof — Human rights voice
77. Dambisa Moyo — Global economics
78. Peggy Noonan — Political commentary
79. Walter Isaacson — Biographer & innovation chronicler

Celebrity Influencers, Artists & Athletes

Cultural figures have global reach and speak to cross-border values, identity, and unity.

80. Beyoncé — Cultural impact & empowerment
81. Taylor Swift — Global engagement
82. Lady Gaga — Creativity & activism
83. Drake — Cultural voice
84. Rihanna — Entrepreneurship & philanthropy
85. Jay-Z — Business & culture
86. Zendaya — Youth voice & representation
87. Chris Hemsworth — Global media presence
88. Lupita Nyong’o — Cultural identity
89. Lin-Manuel Miranda — Art & diversity
90. John Legend — Global advocacy
91. Billie Eilish — Gen Z cultural insight
92. LeBron James — Sports & social impact
93. Serena Williams — Excellence & equity
94. Lionel Messi — Global sports diplomacy
95. Naomi Osaka — Athlete & mental health advocate
96. Simone Biles — Peak performance & advocacy
97. Keanu Reeves — Humility & global appeal
98. Ryan Reynolds — Storytelling & resilience
99. Oprah Winfrey — Media leadership
100. Angelina Jolie — Humanitarian diplomacy

Book & Hire Keynote Talks for Events

Top 100 global affairs speakers remind that it is not the domain of diplomats alone—it is driven by leaders in government, business, culture, and thought whose decisions and voices influence societies worldwide. From dealing with geopolitical conflict and economic integration to advancing human rights and technological innovation, thought leaders keynote and bring insight, context, and vision that empower audiences to understand the world’s challenges and opportunities more deeply.