Talks In Ten
Fast, focused and full of ideas. Talks in Ten delivers a series of sharp 10-minute presentations designed to spark thinking, not drain energy. Expect big ideas, bold perspectives and practical takeaways — all in a rapid-fire format that keeps things moving and minds engaged. Perfect for planners who want inspiration without information overload.
Presentation One: Dr Paula Smith - The science and strategy of influential communication
Influence isn’t about being the loudest or the most confident person in the room. It’s about understanding how people actually think, feel and make decisions. Influence is a skill. In this fast-paced 10-minute keynote, Dr Paula Smith distils the science behind influential communication into practical strategies busy professionals, leaders and presenters can use immediately. Drawing on neuroscience, psychology, and real-world leadership communication, this session reveals why some messages cut through—and others quietly disappear. You’ll discover:
- How the brain decides whether to trust, engage, or ignore a message
- The small communication shifts that dramatically increase influence
- Why clarity, confidence and competence matter too
This keynote challenges outdated assumptions about “good communication” and replaces them with a smarter, evidence-based approach—helping leaders speak with intention, influence with integrity, and be remembered for all the right reasons.
Presentation Two: Brice Digeyter
Presentation Three: The Silent Killers of Innovation in an AI Economy, Nicky Verd
This session explores the hidden forces that kill innovation in the age of AI… fear disguised as caution, tool obsession without thinking, leadership that delegates AI away from decision-making, and cultures that reward certainty over experimentation. The Silent Killers of Innovation in an AI Economy shifts the conversation away from technology itself and back to people, power and culture. It challenges leaders to confront uncomfortable truths about how fear, legacy thinking and misplaced incentives undermine creativity in the very moment it’s needed most. This is not a talk about building more AI products but about removing the invisible blockers that stop people from imagining, challenging and creating in an AI-driven world.
