Keynote Speaker on AI, Education & Human-Centered Leadership
Michael Hernandez is an award-winning educator, author, and international keynote speaker who helps educators, leaders, nonprofits, and organizations navigate AI, rethink practices, and turn change into opportunity. His talks combine storytelling, research, and practical strategies audiences can use right away.
Rethink what’s possible—and turn uncertainty into opportunity.
Michael's keynotes help audiences explore questions such as:
• How do we adapt and thrive in the age of AI?
• How can leaders navigate rapid change without losing sight of what matters?
• What should schools, organizations, and teams hold onto—and what practices are ready to change?
• How can curiosity, creativity, storytelling, and human-centered leadership help us prepare for an uncertain future?
Trusted by / Featured at
Apple, Google, PBS, National Geographic, SXSW EDU, ISTE, ASCD
Watch Michael Hernandez's keynote speaker reel
See Michael Hernandez speak to educators and organizational leaders about artificial intelligence, change, authentic learning, leadership, and innovation. His keynotes combine storytelling, research, humor, and practical strategies designed to leave audiences inspired and equipped to act.
Michael speaks at school district events, education conferences, leadership conferences, corporate events, nonprofits, professional learning events, and organizational retreats.
His work focuses on topics including:
• Artificial intelligence and the future of learning and work
• Leading through change and uncertainty
• Human-centered leadership
• Innovation and organizational transformation
• Authentic learning and assessment in the age of AI
• Storytelling, creativity, curiosity, and purpose
Michael has worked with organizations including Apple, Google, Adobe, National Geographic, and PBS, and has appeared at events including SXSW EDU, ISTE, ASCD, and international conferences around the world.
This speaker reel features highlights from Michael’s keynote presentations along with reactions and testimonials from audience members.
Looking for a keynote speaker for your next conference, leadership event, school district gathering, or organization?
Learn more about Michael’s keynote presentations and book a conversation:
Keynote topics
For educators, leadership, and community
Uncheatable Assessments:
Authentic Learning in the Age of AI
This keynote explores one of education's most urgent questions: how can educators know what students actually understand when AI can produce essays, presentations, and answers in seconds? Michael shares research, classroom-tested case studies, and practical assessment strategies that strengthen academic integrity while making learning more meaningful.
Think Again: Reimagining Education
in a Changing World
In this engaging and highly visual keynote, Michael explores how technology, culture, and changing expectations are reshaping education. Through stories from classrooms, creativity, innovation, and everyday life, he helps educators separate the practices they have inherited from the values they want to preserve.
Human-Centered Leadership
in the Age of AI
AI is changing how organizations work, make decisions, and define expertise. Michael helps leaders separate enduring values from outdated practices so teams can adapt without chasing every new trend. Drawing from education, technology, culture, and storytelling, this keynote gives leaders a practical framework for navigating change while protecting what matters most.
Beyond Screentime: Digital & Civic Literacy in the Classroom
Is ed tech skepticism a moral panic or justified concern? Move beyond binaries with these strategies that ensure ethical, intentional use of technology. Learn how to design engaging and equitable learning experiences that leverage tech as a way to amplify existing curriculum and scale student potential, including strategies that foster inquiry, research, authorship, and responsibility.
What audiences are saying about Michael
He really knows how to capture the entire room, the entire audience and really take them to the place of inspiration, and reignites their passion for the field that they’re in.
Transformational.
The presentation gave me and my team hope that there are actual productive solutions for dealing with AI and larger struggles where they don’t feel in control normally.
Michael understands the practitioner’s struggle.
It was a proactive and practical approach for solutions, and people really want solutions.
Michael is an incredible speaker. He is so dynamic, interactive, he’s engaging, and he’s really funny.
Recent Speaking Engagements
Michael has spoken at leading conferences and organizations around the world about artificial intelligence, authentic assessment, leadership, digital literacy, storytelling, and educational innovation.
