Guy Kawasaki, chief evangelist, Canva.
Every organization has an idea that needs believers. Guy Kawasaki built a career on that challenge, and four decades after helping turn the Apple Macintosh launch into a cultural movement, he still delivers an evangelism keynote that sends audiences home ready to act.
For many planners he needs little introduction. For others, especially younger audiences, the name arrives through a podcast, a book, or a design platform rather than a product launch. This profile introduces both sides: the Silicon Valley figure who shaped how technology companies talk to believers, and the author, host, and chief evangelist who keeps adding to that record.
He is one of the marketing speakers available through Aurum Speakers Bureau. What follows traces his path from Apple to Canva, the books and podcast behind his public voice, and the keynotes he brings to the stage.
The Macintosh years: where evangelism became a discipline
Kawasaki joined Apple’s Macintosh Division in the 1980s, where he built a community of passionate developers and users around the original Mac. The work helped turn a product launch into a cultural movement, and it became the model for how technology companies approach evangelism.
The idea itself predates him, but he is widely credited with popularizing brand evangelism: the practice of creating true believers who spread a message because they care about it. He returned to Apple in the mid-1990s as chief evangelist, and the term is now standard in marketing and startup culture, a measure of how far the idea has traveled.
He was also one of the few people who worked closely with Steve Jobs. That front-row seat is why he appears among our Apple keynote speakers.
Four startups, venture capital, and a Silicon Valley network
After Apple, Kawasaki founded four tech startups and worked as a venture capitalist who evaluated hundreds of early-stage companies. He has advised companies including Google and served as a brand ambassador for Mercedes-Benz.
That range matters on stage.
He speaks about launching and marketing from the seat of the founder, the investor, and the brand, which makes his advice specific.
Planners looking for similar voices can browse our top entrepreneurship speakers.
Sixteen books and a durable public voice
Kawasaki is the author of 16 books on startups, entrepreneurship, social media, evangelism, and innovation. Titles have appeared on the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists and are taught at leading business schools. They include The Art of the Start, Enchantment, The Art of Social Media, Rules for Revolutionaries, Selling the Dream, Wise Guy, and The Macintosh Way.
The list spans software marketing, startups, and social platforms, which is part of why his name has stayed current across eras.
Readers who enjoy this shelf will find more in our guide to bestselling author speakers.
Here is a quick preview of his keynote performances over the years:
Canva and the Remarkable People podcast
Think Remarkable (Wiley): the podcast’s lessons, organized into nine paths a reader can follow.
Since 2014, Kawasaki has served as chief evangelist of Canva, the AI-powered design platform used by hundreds of millions of people and the vast majority of the Fortune 500. He is also a LinkedIn Top Voice with nearly three million followers.
He also hosts Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People, a weekly podcast of in-depth interviews with figures such as Jane Goodall, Steve Wozniak, Margaret Atwood, and Neil deGrasse Tyson. He considers it the most meaningful work of his career, and it inspired his latest book, Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference, co-written with Madisun Nuismer. The book distills insights from more than 200 conversations with extraordinary people.
His academic and public roles reflect the same mission. He is an executive fellow at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, an adjunct professor at the University of New South Wales, and a former trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation. He also serves on the board of trustees of the University of Hawaii Foundation and advises the university on strategic uses of AI and on entrepreneurship.
Six Guy Kawasaki keynotes
“Think Remarkable: How to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference”
Drawing on more than 200 interviews with extraordinary people, Kawasaki maps three stages of becoming remarkable: growth, grit, and grace. This is his signature talk, customized for each audience and built around what your people need to unlock their potential.
“Your Remarkable Executive”
In this interactive format, Kawasaki interviews your organization’s leader on stage, highlighting their most remarkable qualities in real time. He researches thoroughly and meets with the executive in advance, so the conversation reflects the company’s culture.
“The Art of Innovation”
Kawasaki draws on his front-row seat at some of history’s most transformative launches, including the original Macintosh, to share a practical framework for building products and services people love. Teams leave with principles they can apply immediately.
“The Art of the Start: Building Something from Nothing”
This talk covers launching anything new, whether a company, a product, a movement, or a team. Kawasaki distills what he learned as an Apple evangelist, a startup founder, and a venture capitalist.
“The Lessons of Steve Jobs”
Kawasaki shares what Jobs believed about product, people, marketing, and excellence, and how leaders can apply those beliefs to current challenges. It is a candid account from someone who was in the room.
“The Art of Social Media”
Kawasaki explains how organizations of any size can build a real audience, create content that travels, and use digital platforms to drive business results.
To check Guy Kawasaki’s availability for your event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau and one of our founders will respond within 24 hours.
Why the Guy Kawasaki name still works on stage
A recognizable name earns its fee only when the speaker keeps adding to it. Kawasaki has delivered keynotes for organizations including Apple, Nike, Google, Gartner, Microsoft, and Audi, and he tailors each talk to the audience and challenge at hand.
Recognition also works across generations. Audiences who remember the Macintosh launch, readers of his books, and listeners of his podcast each arrive with a reason to pay attention. His keynotes suit leadership teams at large companies, startup founders, and events on innovation, marketing, entrepreneurship, and personal growth.
For more authors on the speaking circuit, see our guide to keynote speakers who wrote the books leaders are reading. To match a speaker to your audience, our guide to choosing the right keynote speaker for a corporate event is a useful companion. His Guy Kawasaki speaker profile lists his topics and includes sample material for planners who would like to see him in action. Let us know if you have comments or questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Guy Kawasaki?
Guy Kawasaki is chief evangelist of Canva, a former chief evangelist of Apple, the author of 16 books, and host of the Remarkable People podcast. He holds a BA from Stanford, an MBA from UCLA, and an honorary doctorate from Babson College.
What is brand evangelism?
Brand evangelism is the practice of building genuine passion for a product or company by creating true believers who spread the message because they care about it, instead of relying on traditional advertising alone. Guy Kawasaki is widely credited with popularizing it through his work at Apple’s Macintosh Division in the 1980s.
What does Think Remarkable cover?
Think Remarkable: 9 Paths to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference is Guy Kawasaki’s latest book, co-written with Madisun Nuismer. It distills insights from more than 200 conversations with extraordinary people. His keynote of the same name maps three stages of becoming remarkable: growth, grit, and grace.
What is the Remarkable People podcast?
Guy Kawasaki’s Remarkable People is a weekly podcast of in-depth interviews with extraordinary figures from science, business, the arts, and beyond, including Jane Goodall, Steve Wozniak, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Martha Stewart, and Margaret Atwood.
What are Guy Kawasaki’s keynote topics?
His keynote topics are “Think Remarkable: How to Transform Your Life and Make a Difference,” “Your Remarkable Executive,” “The Art of Innovation,” “The Art of the Start: Building Something from Nothing,” “The Lessons of Steve Jobs,” and “The Art of Social Media.”
What is Guy Kawasaki’s speaking fee?
His fee depends on the event date, format, duration, and preparation required. To receive a quote, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau and one of our founders will respond within 24 hours. For a general view of how pricing works, see our overview of speaker fees.
Is Guy Kawasaki available for virtual keynotes?
Yes. Guy Kawasaki is available for virtual keynotes and webinars as well as in-person sessions. More options are available among our virtual keynote speakers.
How can I book Guy Kawasaki to speak at an event?
Guy Kawasaki can be booked through Aurum Speakers Bureau for keynotes and corporate events worldwide. To check his availability and fit for your event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau and one of our founders will respond within 24 hours.
Ideas spread when someone believes in them enough to carry them, and few speakers have shown that as persistently as Guy Kawasaki.
To bring that conviction to your stage, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau and one of our founders will respond within 24 hours.
