366: Trends in Public Speaking and Thought Leadership for 2024

Happy New Year! This is the 6th year in a row I’ve done a trends episode for the start of the year.

Trends are like currents or waves of energy that move through our society and affect everything from business and politics and the economy to popular culture and media.

As speakers, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders, these trends will impact our thought leadership, our content, and our marketing.

In this episode, you’ll learn 3 trends I've identified that are shaping our world:

• Big changes in social media platforms as the premise of social media shifts from connection to entertainment and it becomes harder to tell what's real and what's not
• The continued rise and more ubiquitous usage of generative AI tools like ChatGPT plus images, video, and voice
• The internet as a whole is changing, becoming more fragmented and siloed, with network effects accruing to people and brands who already have large followings

I also share specific action steps you can take:

• Develop a clear and distinct brand voice
• Imbue your content with soul
• Focus more on in-person experiences and events

As a speaker, you are well positioned to connect with your audiences in a deeper and more human way.

Want to develop your speaking skills, thought leadership, and signature talk?

Check out our online coaching program the Thought Leader Academy and our upcoming 3-day in-person speaking intensive.

Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/366/

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 340: Can I Tell It's You? What a Brand Voice Is and Why You Need One
• Episode 327: From Expert to Thought Leader: 3 Key Strategies You Need Now to Set Yourself Apart in Our New AI-Driven World
• Episode 313: How to Thrive in the Age of A.I.

Mentioned:

• YouTube live stream with realistic AI avatar = https://www.youtube.com/live/VH1rOylsoMo?si=1PpvUCqchdRCb0o0&t=540
• “Nobody Knows What’s Happening Online Anymore” by Charlie Warzel (The Atlantic)
• “TikTok is eating microblogging as we’ve always known it” by Caroline Mimbs Nyce (The Atlantic)
• “Is Social Media Dying? What That Could Mean for Marketers” by Lestraundra Alfred (HubSpot)
• “Neil Gaiman’s Radical Vision for the Future of the Internet” by Cal Newport

Become Bookable Live Online Workshop - April 15, 2026
If you want to speak more but you’re not sure where to start or your efforts haven’t produced the results you want, I’m hosting a live online workshop called “Become Bookable: How to Get Speaking Invitations” on Wednesday, April 15th.

A lot of brilliant women assume they just need to pitch themselves more. But the real reason speakers get invited isn’t because they pitch harder — it’s because they’re positioned as bookable.

In this 3-hour interactive workshop live on Zoom, I’ll show you how speakers actually get invited — and help you clarify the positioning that makes event organizers say yes.

As a podcast listener, use the coupon code “Podcast100” to save $100 on your registration.

Learn more and register at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/bookable