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Keynote · conference moderator · masterclass

A speaker who brings energy to the room and gives senior leaders something to think about.

Clear enough for a broad audience, substantive enough for the boardroom. Laurens makes complex developments easy to grasp and connects them to decisions an organisation can actually take.

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Laurens Waling energetic during a keynote
Netflix says “Strong energy, a clear vision and a deep understanding of organisational challenges.”
What to expect

What organisers can expect

AI may be the starting point, but it is rarely the whole story. Laurens uses it to explore how organisations really work, how people respond to change and which human qualities matter more as automation grows. That is why his keynotes are as much about leadership, behaviour and meaning as about the technology itself.

01

A story that reaches the whole room

Clear language and recognisable examples that work for specialists, general audiences and senior leaders alike.

02

Interaction with a purpose

Live questions and audience input become part of the talk, not as a gimmick but to make the subject relevant to the people in the room.

03

A practical next step

Every session ends with a question, decision or experiment that helps the conversation continue inside the organisation.

Behind the scenes

What happens in the room?

Your audience doesn’t just hear what AI can do, they feel what’s changing. Through live research with the room, an unexpected match, recognisable examples and questions that make their own organisation visible. That’s how inspiration turns into a real conversation about what could be different tomorrow.

01

I surface an unexpected match

Live, with the room: from the baker who became an EV charging technician to examples from your own sector. Different jobs on paper, striking overlap in skills.

02

I break a role down into tasks and skills

A recognisable role from the audience, pulled apart into what someone actually does. That’s the moment people start seeing their own organisation differently.

03

I let the room feel the visibility problem itself

Through live audience research, your audience feels for themselves how much talent gets overlooked, rather than just hearing me say it.

04

I close with something for Monday

Not inspiration for its own sake. Every talk ends with a concrete experiment your audience can start on straight away.

I work at 8vance every day, but my keynote is not a product pitch. The real-world cases make the story concrete: they illustrate what’s changing, they are not a sales pitch.

Laurens on stage at 'the future starts here'
Laurens lecturing at Amsterdam UMC
Laurens leading an executive roundtable
Full theatre during a keynote by Laurens
Formats

From keynote to board table

Every format is tailored to the audience, the event and the outcome you want.

Keynote

Keynote

The main-stage story about AI, work and talent. Interactive, energetic and tuned to your sector: healthcare, government, HR, finance or business.

Conference moderation

A clear thread throughout the day

Laurens connects the speakers, keeps the programme moving and helps the audience see how the individual contributions fit together.

Working session

A working session

An interactive session for teams, senior leaders or HR professionals, using cases from their own organisation.

Executive roundtable

A candid senior-level conversation

A well-prepared discussion about the choices, tensions and consequences behind organisational change.

How it works

How we prepare the session

Introductory call

A short call about your event, audience and goal. Feel free to grab a slot in my calendar right away.

Shaping the content

We sharpen the story for your theme and sector. You know your audience, I bring the content.

On the day

On site well in advance, tech check and alignment with the host.

After the event

Slides and materials for your participants, and if you like: a follow-up for your organisation.

Watch Laurens in action

Want to see him first? Very sensible.

Thumbnail of the HR Morgen webinar on boosting intake and internal mobility with AI

More fragments, webinars and talk shows on YouTube @LaurensWaling.

Stages and clients

Where Laurens has spoken

Laurens has been speaking and moderating conferences since 2004. Below is a selection from recent years.

Businesses and large employers

AccentureAchmeaABN AMROa.s.r.AFASNetflixHeinekenRandstadIndeedAlbronBidfoodCenter ParcsConclusionDriessenDura VermeerHeadFirstMaandagYachtKirkman CompanyBoer & CroonDeloitte Fast 50

Healthcare and wellbeing

Amsterdam UMCUMCGMUMC+RadboudumcNFUSanquinMedisch Spectrum TwenteHumanitasFundisVariantZorgVGNZorg & ICTZWconnectZorg Management Groep

Government and public sector

Ministerie van EZRijkswaterstaatDefensieINDUWVCBSAutoriteit PersoonsgegevensRDIGemeente RotterdamGemeente Den HaagGemeente UtrechtWerkplein TwenteVNO-NCWAWVNVerbond van Verzekeraars

HR and recruitment events

Digitaal WervenWerf&Recruitment Tech EventAI & Recruitment CongresHR TrendcongresHR of TomorrowHR CommunityPeople Analytics CongresWFM CongresEmerce RecruitmentSchool of HRDe Nieuwe Arbeidsmarkt

International

UNLEASH · ParisZukunft Personal · CologneHR Tech Europe · AmsterdamHR Leaders Summit · BerlinHR of Tomorrow DACH · BerlinFuture Talent Summit · StockholmFuture Talent Council · VallettaCopetri · FrankfurtTalentPro · MunichEmbrace · BerlinJob Boards Connect · LondonGlobal Talent Intelligence Conference

Coming up

Integrale Skillspaspoort ConferentieDigitaal Werven Live · AmersfoortUNLEASH · ParisGlobal Talent Strategy & Intelligence Conference · AmsterdamFuture Talent Council · VallettaZukunft Personal Europe · Cologne
For event organisers

Short bio

Laurens Waling is a keynote speaker, change expert and Chief Evangelist at 8vance. He holds an MSc in Systems Engineering, Policy Analysis and Management from Delft University of Technology. He speaks about AI, talent, skills and the future of work, around one central question: how do we make hidden potential visible and actually get people moving? He previously founded Part-up. He has since delivered more than 300 talks in the Netherlands and internationally.

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Practical

Frequently asked questions

Which languages does Laurens speak?

Dutch and English, both at the same pace and with the same energy. International stages such as UNLEASH World and Zukunft Personal are done in English.

How is the talk tailored?

Every booking includes an intake. Laurens weaves your sector, current challenges and the language of your audience into the story. Specific examples and cases are available for healthcare, government and corporate audiences.

How interactive is it?

Quite interactive by default: live audience research, questions and conversation with the room. We tune the level to your programme. A room of 800 can be just as interactive as a management team of 8.

What is needed technically?

A headset or lapel microphone, a screen with HDMI or USB-C, and internet for the live interaction. Laurens brings his own laptop and presenter and arrives well before the start for the check.

How do booking and fees work?

Speaking engagements run via Speakers Academy: they handle fee, contract and logistics. For in-company sessions, masterclasses and roundtables you can also get in touch directly. You’ll quickly hear what’s possible.

Can the talk be recorded?

Almost always, in consultation. Fragments for your aftermovie or socials are no problem. For full recordings we simply agree on the use beforehand.

What clients say
“

Laurens brings energy and clarity into the room. During our HR & AI session he kept everyone engaged with concrete, recognisable examples and we went home with fresh ideas.

Joost SluijsHR Director, Radboudumc
“

Laurens brings an inspiring and refreshingly practical perspective to recruitment. He challenges comfortable assumptions and shows clearly what AI already means for hiring today. His talk prompts both reflection and action.

Sjoerd BurgerRecruitment Manager, Rijkswaterstaat
“

At the previous session I was still answering emails. During yours I did not look at my phone once. The pace was incredible and there was so much substance. A constant stream of useful ideas.

ParticipantHR Trendcongres 2025

Shall we pick a date?

Tell me about your event and your audience. You’ll quickly hear whether the date is free and how we tailor the story.

Tell me about your event →
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