Innovation & AI
Keynote Speaker
Helping Organizations Breakthrough No Matter What
AI isn’t the strategy, your people are.
The biggest barrier to AI isn’t technology.
it’s human resistance.
Most Innovation Doesn’t Fail Because of Technology
Most companies don’t struggle with AI, strategy, or capability. They struggle because people resist what’s uncomfortable.
That’s where I come in.
I work with leadership teams, sales teams, and full organizations to:
Remove resistance and fear
Adopt new tools and innovation confidently
Execute faster
Break out of “wait and see” mode
Deliver real results, No Matter What
Innovation isn’t a knowledge problem. It’s a behavior problem.
And you’re in luck because, behavior can be changed.
Before I was speaking on stages around the world, I was building one of the first multi-billion-dollar retail tech startups.
We grew fast, raised significant capital, partnered with major brands… and then everything collapsed.
The company failed.
The money was gone.
My identity disappeared.
I moved back in with my parents with nothing but debt and doubt.
It was the darkest season of my life. But it’s also where everything changed.
I discovered a simple, universal truth:
Discomfort is not the barrier. Discomfort is the path.
Instead of avoiding hard things, I began leaning into them. Instead of hiding, I rebuilt. Instead of blaming circumstances, I changed myself, No Matter What.
That journey became my life’s work. And today, I help organizations and people do the same.
Meet
Sterling Hawkins
The Story Behind the Work
1+ Million
People impacted by the No Matter What Movement
Thousands
Of organizations transformed
No. 1
Best Selling Author
Discomfort Isn’t the Barrier. It’s the Path.
Sterling Hawkins is a globally recognized innovation and AI keynote speaker who has spoken in 50+ countries, worked with Fortune 500 companies, and reaches millions every year with his message of courageous change and breakthrough performance.
He has helped organizations like: Cisco, Amex, United Airlines, Henkel, US NAVY, Volkswagen and Kraft Heinz turn disruption into measurable results.
Audiences consistently rate his keynotes among the most impactful experiences of their careers. Contact Sterling today to learn more.
JOIN OUR CLIENTS CREATING GROWTH CULTURES
RAVE REVIEWS
TRANSFORMED OUR TEAM!
Sterling is not just a speaker, but a crucial part of hitting our company goals.
– JACK WILSON | CHEIF REVENUE OFFICER| BULLETPROOF
This Isn’t Motivation. It’s Mobilization.
When I speak, people don’t leave just inspired. They leave activated.
Your audience walks away with:
A new relationship with discomfort
Tools for courageous action
A framework for accountability
Confidence to adopt innovation and AI
Momentum that shows up in their work immediately
This is real-world transformation, not hype.
KEYNOTES
Innovating Through Disruption
Disruption isn’t slowing down, it’s accelerating. Markets are shifting, AI is rewriting old rules, and companies that wait for “certainty” get left behind.
This keynote shows audiences how to stop reacting to change and learn to create with it. Through real stories, behavioral science, and practical tools, Sterling demonstrates how individuals and teams can innovate faster, make smarter decisions under pressure, and move from hesitation to execution.
What Audiences Will Walk Away With:
Tools to take action when circumstances feel unclear
Confidence to make decisions without overthinking
A mindset that sees disruption as opportunity, not threat
Strategies to increase execution speed without burnout
Cultural habits that support innovation long after the event
The Human Side of AI & Innovation
AI isn’t held back by capability or resources, it's held back by people who are unsure, intimidated, or afraid to get it wrong.
This keynote transforms the emotional and behavioral side of AI adoption. Sterling shows audiences how to experiment, learn fast, and build courage around new tools. When people shift from avoidance to action, AI stops being overwhelming and begins producing real value organization-wide.
What Audiences Will Walk Away With:
A new mindset around change and technology
Real strategies to adopt AI tools with confidence
Less hesitation, more experimentation
Awareness of how fear and avoidance block innovation
Behaviors that make innovation and technology stick
Building a Culture of Action, Not Excuses
The organizations that win are not the smartest, they’re the ones that move.
This keynote breaks down the silent killers of execution: perfectionism, overthinking, risk-avoidance, and comfortable routines. Sterling gives teams the tools to stop waiting, start leading, and create visible momentum inside their roles, departments, and entire organization.
What Audiences Will Walk Away With:
Clear tactics for making progress every day
Communication habits that drive alignment and speed
Courage to make decisions without full certainty
A bias toward action—not excuses, not delay
A culture where people lead instead of wait
No Matter What: Thriving Through Change and Uncertainty
Every organization talks about goals. Very few build the belief, discipline, and courage to follow through. The No Matter What mindset shows individuals and teams how to stop negotiating with their limitations and start executing the hard things. This keynote isn’t motivational theory, it’s a behavioral change system that creates unstoppable teams ready to deliver under pressure.
What Audiences Will Walk Away With:
A proven framework for pushing through discomfort
Higher ownership and accountability at every level
More follow-through, less procrastination and avoidance
Personal confidence to take action—even under stress
A culture that doesn’t fold when things get hard
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Most AI speakers focus on tools, trends, and technology. Sterling focuses on people. Because AI adoption and innovation fail when teams avoid discomfort, change, or uncertainty. Sterling gives audiences the mindset, tools, and confidence to act, not someday, now.
-
Sterling believes growth happens only when we step into the unknown and the uncomfortable. His mission is to help leaders, teams and organizations confront those moments and unlock results they didn’t think possible – what he wishes was shared with him during some of his hardest times. It’s not about theory. It’s about creating transformational experiences that move people from inspiration into action delivered with both inspiration and clear action steps.
-
No, and that’s the point. Companies don’t need more technical information (YouTube is full of it).
They need people willing to use new technology, experiment, and execute.
Sterling unlocks the human side of AI: behavior, confidence, accountability, and follow-through.
ABOUT STERLING
-
Sterling’s keynotes are high-energy, deeply human, and rooted in his “No Matter What” framework. He challenges audiences to embrace discomfort, expand what’s possible, and achieve results in business and life.
-
Audiences leave with:
Higher engagement and momentum
Less fear around change or AI
Faster execution
Increased ownership and accountability
Real-world actions that show up immediately
Many organizations report measurable shifts in adoption, execution speed and culture within weeks.
-
Yes. Every keynote is tailored to align with your organization’s goals, challenges and audience. Sterling’s team conducts a discovery process to ensure examples, stories, and takeaways directly resonate with your group and are customized so that every audience can hear what he has to say.
-
Absolutely! Sterling speaks live on stages worldwide and also delivers interactive virtual keynotes for distributed teams and digital events.
-
Yes. Sterling is known for weaving interactive, experiential elements into his keynotes. From live audience interaction to real-time commitments. He helps audiences feel the message, not just hear it.
-
Sterling goes far beyond the stage. He leads transformational retreats in places like Peru, Tanzania, and the Italian Dolomites; runs corporate workshops and Breakthrough Labs; and hosts internal podcasts for leadership and culture development. Each experience is designed to help teams build trust, resilience, and breakthrough results.
-
The keynote is just the start of your own organization’s No Matter What Movement. And from working with countless organizations, Sterling and the team have developed materials and best practices including toolkits, follow-up calls, integration resources, and follow-on immersive workshops and programs to keep the momentum going long after the event. It’s an approach that reliably produces durable and long-lasting behavior change and breakthrough results.
-
Everything from:
Senior leadership off-sites
50-person executive retreats
500–20,000+ attendees at global conferences
Whether the goal is alignment, transformation, or culture change, Sterling adapts to the room.
ABOUT STERLING’S KEYNOTES
-
Yes. Sterling offers discovery calls with event organizers to understand your objectives, challenges, and audience, ensuring his message is the right fit.
-
Not at all. While earlier booking is recommended, Sterling and his team can often accommodate last-minute requests (our fastest turn-around was the day before!) Reach out directly to discuss availability.
-
Simple:
Check availability - click here
Request a proposal
Or speak directly with Sterling’s booking team
We’ll walk you through options, customization, and next steps.
Booking Sterling
Transforming Sales Teams.
See why Sterling Hawkins is a game-changer for sales teams worldwide. From powerful insights to real-world success stories, Sterling’s dynamic speaking style and proven strategies come to life, showing exactly how he equips sales professionals to achieve extraordinary results, no matter the circumstances.
Sales growth starts here. INQUIRE ABOUT SPEAKING
To inquire about pricing and program descriptions, please fill out the form below.