World-Renowned Educational Keynote Speaker on Innovation and Building Community in Education
Every presentation is built around your people, your priorities, and your community. George works with organizers before the event and incorporates stories and insights from the audience to create an experience that is uniquely theirs.
GEORGE COUROS
More Than a Keynote.
Every talk is tailored to
the community I serve.
Before I ever stepped onto a keynote stage, I was a teacher, technology facilitator, principal, and district leader working through the same challenges facing today’s school communities.
My presentations are grounded in those experiences. The stories, strategies, and frameworks I share were developed through real work with students, educators, leaders, and families. They are not abstract ideas created for a presentation.
That is also why every experience is customized. I work with organizers to understand their people, priorities, and aspirations, then create an experience that helps them see what is possible in their own context.
Bridging Conversations: Connecting People, Passion, and Education
Not only have I worked with educators but also parents, students, school boards, as well as industry outside of education. Through conversations, both online and face-to-face, I work before, during, and after presentations to empower participants and to build strong connections to not only the content I am discussing but also to myself as a presenter and educator.
Featured Keynotes and Workshops
George’s signature keynotes are built around four ideas that schools and organizations are navigating right now: building stronger communities, developing an innovator’s mindset, understanding the connection between technology and mental health, and creating meaningful learning within real-world constraints. Each presentation is tailored to your people and can be expanded into a hands-on workshop.
The Innovator’s Mindset: Creating Meaningful Learning for Every Student
Develop the mindset and practical strategies needed to create meaningful opportunities for every learner.
- Keynote
- Workshop
Carol Dweck’s work has honed in on the concepts of “fixed” and “growth” mindset, but as educators, we must venture further with these ideas to foster the learning opportunities our students and schools merit. It’s not only about what we know but also how we utilize that knowledge. Change is ever-present, and with the advent of new avenues for learning and evolution through technology, such as AI and emerging technologies, it’s crucial that we are proactive not just in response to changes but also in creating change.
In this talk, George will explore the principles and characteristics of “The Innovator’s Mindset”—a concept detailed in his book of the same name—and present compelling reasons why this mindset is essential for educators to cultivate outstanding learning opportunities, not only for their students but also for themselves.
Known for their emotional depth and humor, George’s presentations engage audiences on a level that resonates both intellectually and emotionally. This message is not just for the moment; it’s crafted to stay with you, affecting genuine change that extends far beyond the talk itself.
Forward, Together: Moving People from Conflict to Community
A conversation on building trust, navigating conflict, and bringing communities together around shared purpose in challenging and divisive times.
- Keynote
- Workshop
How do you build trust and lead meaningful change when your community feels divided, or even when things are going well but you want to go further? In this keynote, learner, educator and leadership expert George Couros shares practical strategies for creating stronger, more connected communities in any environment. Based on his book Forward, Together, this session blends personal stories, real-world leadership insights, and actionable ideas for working better together. Whether you are facing conflict or aiming to deepen collaboration, you will learn how to:
· Build trust through empathy and intentional reflection
· Shift from surface-level compliance to deeper commitment
· Navigate change while maintaining strong relationships
· Support your team while also encouraging growth and innovation
This session is ideal for school leaders, educators, and organizational teams. It will help you create the conditions where people feel valued, connected, and ready to move forward together with purpose and clarity.
10 Timeless Principles for Learning, AI, and Emerging Technologies in Education
Navigate the intersection of timeless educational principles and cutting-edge technologies to cultivate a future-ready learning environment.
- Keynote
In the rush to embrace all things Artificial Intelligence—or to block it from schools entirely—we must ask ourselves: How do we focus on what is timeless rather than simply jumping on what is new? There is a reason that books focused on principles and stoicism are rapidly flying off the (digital) shelves while, at the same time, Artificial Intelligence seems to be in every conversation.
What are the connections to the past that will help us embrace the future? What are the principles we need to embrace today that will help us lead our students and ourselves to create new and better opportunities for learning?
How do we lead with curiosity to embrace and leverage emerging technologies and AI, while focusing on our humanity to develop wisdom in an ever-changing world?
Balancing Innovation, Technology, and Well-Being
Help educators and students navigate technology in ways that support innovation, connection, and well-being.
- Keynote
- Workshop
Technology can expand opportunity, creativity, and connection, but it can also contribute to distraction, comparison, and overwhelm. This keynote helps school leaders and educators move beyond an all-or-nothing approach and make thoughtful decisions that support both innovation and well-being.
Participants will learn how to:
- Introduce AI and emerging technology without overwhelming staff or sacrificing relationships.
- Develop systems that encourage creativity while prioritizing emotional well-being.
- Help students and educators use technology in balanced, intentional, and human-centered ways.
This presentation provides actionable steps for creating schools where technology supports human connection instead of competing with it.
Innovate Inside the Box: Creating Meaningful Learning Within Constraints
Turn limitations into opportunities with practical strategies that help every learner succeed.
- Keynote
Every educator faces constraints, from limited time and budgets to prescribed curriculum and assessments. Based on Innovate Inside the Box, this keynote helps educators move beyond frustration and focus on what they can control.
George combines the Innovator’s Mindset with practical strategies for designing inclusive, learner-centered experiences. Participants will explore how relationships, empathy, creativity, and purposeful use of technology can create meaningful opportunities for every learner, even when conditions are not perfect.
This keynote is ideal for teachers, school leaders, and teams looking for practical ways to innovate within the realities of education.
From Digital Citizenship to Digital Leadership
Empower students to use their online presence for positive impact with actionable strategies for digital leadership.
- Keynote
- Workshop
We often inform our students that their online actions can impact their future, but do we equip them with the knowledge of how their online presence can also offer unique opportunities? There are countless inspiring examples of young people and students making a significant impact, not only bettering their own futures but also enhancing the lives of others within their schools, their communities, and across the globe. Children have the potential to effect change, and it’s vital that we concentrate on providing them with both the opportunities and the tools required to make a meaningful difference in the world through the effective use of technology and social media.
Empowering Parents in the Process of Learning
Strengthen the educational ecosystem by engaging and empowering parents as pivotal partners in student success.
- Keynote
- Workshop
Parental involvement in the learning process of schools is paramount for student success. As educators, our challenge lies in leveraging relationships and technology to not only engage parents and caregivers in the learning journey of their children but also to empower them to actively participate in our collaborative efforts. This leads to helping students carve out a pathway to success that resonates personally with them. Schools are community keystones, yet the traditional approaches to involving families need to evolve to meet the needs of both the present and the future.