Carl Lewis
9-Time Olympic Gold Medalist | World Athlete of the Century | World Record Holder in 100m & Long Jump | Track and Field Legend
Dietmar Dahmen
Futurist & Innovation Expert | Former CCO at BBDO & ECD at Ogilvy | Founder, BRAINKICKS GmbH | Change & Digital Transformation
Dietmar Dahmen is one of the world's most electrifying keynote speakers on innovation, disruption, and the future of business. Former CCO at BBDO and ECD at Ogilvy, he became Chief Innovation Officer at ecx.io (IBM) before founding BRAINKICKS GmbH. His theatrical keynotes — featuring chainsaws, sharks, and breaking walls — don't just inform senior audiences; they make the urgency of transformation impossible to ignore.
Want to book Dietmar Dahmen as a speaker for your event? Please provide the info below and we’ll get in touch within 24h:
Dietmar Dahmen biography
Futurist speaker Dietmar Dahmen is one of the most electrifying voices on the global keynote circuit, known for turning complex ideas about innovation, disruption, and the future of business into unforgettable experiences. With over two decades of senior leadership across the world’s most prestigious advertising agencies, Dahmen brings rare on-stage intensity and real-world credibility to every engagement. His career took him through New York, Los Angeles, Munich, Hamburg, and Vienna — the creative capitals where he shaped strategy and craft at the highest levels of the industry.
Dahmen began as a strategic planner before rising through the ranks to become Creative Director at DDB, Executive Creative Director at Ogilvy, and Chief Creative Officer and Managing Director at BBDO. These were not ceremonial titles: he led large cross-functional teams, oversaw major international brand campaigns, and accumulated deep expertise in consumer psychology, trend forecasting, and market disruption. During his tenure at the Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg, his students won the prestigious Young Directors Award 16 times — a record that speaks to his ability to identify and develop top talent.
From Advertising Legend to Innovation Pioneer
Dahmen’s trajectory then took a decisive turn into the technology world. He became Chief Innovation Officer at ecx.io, an IBM company, where he helped bridge the gap between creative marketing and enterprise digital transformation. This experience — sitting at the intersection of creative strategy and cutting-edge technology — gave him a uniquely holistic perspective on how organizations must evolve to meet the demands of an AI-driven, hyper-connected world. Today he is the founder and managing director of BRAINKICKS GmbH, a venture that distills his philosophy into one powerful formula: strategic intelligence fused with creative spark. He is also an expert on future marketing and disruptive technology for the European Association of Communication Agencies, and serves on advisory boards in both Zurich and New York.
As a speaker, Dietmar Dahmen is in a category of his own. Where most keynote speakers rely on slides, he builds theatrical experiences — breaking walls, riding sharks, and wielding chainsaws on stage to make the urgency of change viscerally real for audiences ranging from C-suite executives to frontline teams. His talks cover AI and the future of marketing, digital transformation, the power of cooperation, and how to destroy the internal “pillows of comfort” that prevent organizations from evolving. Senior audiences consistently describe his presentations as the most inspiring they have ever witnessed — not because he simplifies the message, but because he makes acting on it feel both necessary and possible. To book Dietmar Dahmen for your next event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau today.
Dietmar Dahmen Speaking Videos
Dietmar Dahmen - How to Successfully Navigate Disruption"
Dietmar Dahmen - Futurologist & Innovation Expert
Dietmar Dahmen Keynote Topics
Change doesn't wait — and the organizations that thrive are those that learn to ride disruption rather than flee from it. In this high-energy keynote, Dahmen reframes the fear of transformation as a competitive advantage, equipping leaders and teams with the mental models and practical tools to move faster, adapt smarter, and turn instability into momentum. Using vivid storytelling, real business cases, and his signature theatrical delivery, he ensures every attendee leaves not just informed — but genuinely energized to act.
Every organization has them: the internal narratives, habits, and structural comforts that feel reasonable but quietly prevent growth. Dahmen exposes the psychology behind organizational inertia and shows how the most dangerous obstacles to transformation are the ones that feel safe. This keynote combines behavioral science with creative strategy to help leadership teams identify their own "pillows of comfort," dismantle them decisively, and build a culture where urgency and innovation become the default — not the exception.
The competitive advantage of the future is not technology — it is cooperation. In this provocative and scientifically grounded keynote, Dahmen argues that the same instinct for collaboration that made Homo sapiens the dominant species is the critical ingredient missing from most modern organizations. Drawing on anthropology, business strategy, and real-world case studies, he builds a compelling case for why breaking down silos, embracing diverse expertise, and designing for collective intelligence is the most powerful transformation any company can undertake.
Artificial intelligence is not coming for your marketing budget — it is already reshaping every touchpoint of how customers discover, evaluate, and engage with brands. Dahmen brings his unique combination of advertising mastery and technology expertise to one of the most pressing strategic questions organizations face: how to stay relevant, emotionally resonant, and commercially effective in a world of AI-generated content, hyper-personalized experiences, and rapidly shifting consumer behavior. Audiences leave with a clear framework for future-proofing their brand strategy and customer engagement.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Dietmar Dahmen
Why Dietmar Dahmen?
Booking Dietmar Dahmen means bringing one of the world's most theatrical and intellectually forceful keynote speakers to your stage. With over 20 years leading global advertising at DDB, Ogilvy, and BBDO — plus his tenure as Chief Innovation Officer at ecx.io, an IBM company — Dahmen commands a rare combination of creative mastery and technological depth. What sets him apart is his ability to make the urgency of change emotionally undeniable: breaking walls, riding sharks, and wielding a chainsaw on stage aren't stunts — they are powerful metaphors that stay with audiences long after the event ends. He tailors every keynote to the specific challenges his clients face, delivering concrete tools alongside high-impact inspiration. For organizations navigating AI disruption, digital transformation, or cultural stagnation, Dietmar Dahmen is among the most effective investments you can make. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check his availability.
What makes Dietmar Dahmen's keynotes different from other futurist speakers?
Dahmen's approach is built on a core belief: knowledge alone doesn't drive change — emotion does. His keynotes are designed as full theatrical experiences, not just presentations. He uses physical props, dramatic staging, and storytelling rooted in decades of advertising expertise to create moments that viscerally shift how audiences think and feel about transformation. Clients repeatedly describe his talks as among the most impactful they have ever seen — comparable in energy and clarity to legendary product launches. He also customizes every engagement to directly address a client's industry, context, and transformation challenges.
What topics does Dietmar Dahmen cover as a keynote speaker?
Dietmar Dahmen's keynotes span the major disruptions reshaping business today: AI and the future of marketing, digital transformation, disruptive technologies and emerging trends, the future of customer engagement, innovation strategy, sustainability, and change leadership. His signature sessions include "Ride the Sharks of Change," "Destroy the Pillows of Comfort," "Breaking the Walls of Impossible," and "Cooperate or Die." He presents in both English and German and customizes all content for the specific industry, audience, and transformation agenda of each client. To book Dietmar Dahmen for your next event, reach out to Aurum Speakers Bureau.
Who has Dietmar Dahmen spoken for?
Dahmen is a globally active speaker who has delivered keynotes and workshops for major international corporations, industry associations, and leadership forums across Europe, North America, and beyond. His clients include companies across automotive, finance, technology, retail, and FMCG sectors. Testimonials from organizations such as Alfa Laval and Bombardier highlight consistent "excellent" evaluations and repeated bookings — a strong indicator of real audience impact rather than one-off hype.
How to book Dietmar Dahmen as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Dietmar Dahmen as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Dietmar Dahmen's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Dietmar Dahmen or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Dietmar Dahmen speaking fee?
Dietmar Dahmen speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Dietmar Dahmen to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Dietmar Dahmen.
How can I contact Dietmar Dahmen?
We only work with Dietmar Dahmen on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Dietmar Dahmen and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Dietmar Dahmen speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Dietmar Dahmen for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Dietmar Dahmen for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Dietmar Dahmen is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Dietmar Dahmen for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
