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The Lavin Agency Speakers Bureau

A speakers bureau that represents the best original thinkers,
writers, and doers for speaking engagements.

Nicholas Thompson

Generative AI is changing what it means to be human, and that's just the beginning. You can find the opportunity in emerging AI technology today.

CEO of The Atlantic | Former Editor-in-Chief of WIRED

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Lavin Exclusive Speaker

One of the most in-demand speakers on artificial intelligence, Nicholas Thompson offers clarity amid the chaos, distilling complex concepts into compelling narratives—no easy task. Through his leadership at The Atlantic and Wired, and in daily videos that reach his million-plus followers, he’s helped guide the conversation on AI, and, more broadly, on this era of relentless technological innovation and economic opportunity. Nick’s riveting insights are based on his years of direct access to leading AI researchers and the executives shaping the technology, from “godfather of AI” Geoffrey Hinton to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. At the big picture level, he asks: How will AI transform politics, the economy, and culture? At the practical, organizational level, he shows you what AI’s actual impact on productivity, creativity, and the future of work has been, and will be. Where is the real disruption? What should you pay attention to? What are the trade-offs? And what does it all mean for you?

“Nick is singular; we’ve seen no one like him. He is committed to the undergirding tenets of our work—superior editorial standards and complete editorial independence.”

— Laurene Powell Jobs and David Bradley

Nicholas Thompson has occupied the most prestigious positions in the world of tech writing and journalism, staking out a bold, optimistic vision for what our future will look like. His bite-sized LinkedIn series, #MostInterestingThingInTech, breaks down what you need to know in the tech world, everyday. His relevant insights have garnered him +1.6 million followers on LinkedIn, and counting. Nick also moderated several talks with tech leaders like Geoffrey Hinton, the “godfather of AI,” drawing powerful insights that he shares in his keynotes and LinkedIn series.

He currently serves as CEO of The Atlantic. Since he joined, the magazine earned the top honor of General Excellence at the National Magazine Awards in 2022 and 2023, and was named Digiday’s Publisher of the Year in 2022. This journalistic excellence has been paired with growth across the company, including record subscriber growth for the third straight year. As the Editor-in-Chief of WIRED, Nicholas broke massive stories about Facebook’s hidden flaws, cyber-warfare, the Robert Mueller investigation, and numerous other topics. His ground-breaking investigative reporting on Facebook was a finalist for a 2020 Loeb Award, and he oversaw work that won the Pulitzer Prize, the National Magazine Award, and has even led to Oscar-winning films.

At The New Yorker, Nicholas served as editor of the magazine’s digital platforms, breaking new ground with stories about his friendship with Joseph Stalin’s daughter, how our lives are forever changed by the consumer drone industry, and arson amid the election cycle.

Nicholas is also an accomplished runner and is currently the American record holder for men over age 45 in the 50k. He is also ranked in the top ten marathoners in the world for his age group. He can show you how the lessons he’s learned from running are also applicable to business, and every other field. The discipline and grit put into this solo sport is undeniably influential on productivity, creativity and purpose. To Nicholas, running is not a matter of physical talent, but a matter of mental strength.

Nicholas is a former Senior Editor at Legal Affairs and a former contributor at CBS. With a massive and vigilant following on social media, he’s one of LinkedIn’s most-followed individuals. He earned the 21st Century Leader Award from The National Committee on American Foreign Policy, was a Future Tense Fellow at the New America Foundation and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He’s also the author of the critically acclaimed biography The Hawk and the Dove: Paul Nitze, George Kennan, and the History of the Cold War.

Testimonials

Nick was beyond fabulous. He was the absolute perfect speaker for our crowd at the perfect moment. The ease with which he could speak with clarity across politics, journalism, technology, globalization dynamics and more was incredible. He was incredibly generous with his time and ended up staying far longer than required. Our investors raved about his talk, and the fact that he filmed his daily video in front of the crowd was the icing on the cake! We couldn’t have been more thrilled with his contributions to our event, and I am very grateful for your help in arranging it.

Berkshire Partners LLC

Testimonials

He was unbelievable. Not one person had anything negative to say, in fact, the opposite. Everyone thought he was so entertaining, smart, insightful and compelling. We want to hire him again.

BMO Nesbitt Burns

Testimonials

What a treat it was to have you orchestrate such an engaging panel discussion yesterday! We have heard so many positive comments about the panel and your moderation of it. There were no throwaway questions to be had—every question was carefully and thoughtfully crafted, and elicited pretty lively and edgy responses! We couldn’t have asked for more. It was a special evening and we’re grateful you made time for us.

McKinsey

Testimonials

I wanted to extend our heartfelt thanks for your exceptional presentation. Your insights and perspective not only elevated the event, but also left a lasting impression on our audience. I greatly appreciate the time you invested in preparing an inspiring and thought-provoking presentation, and I hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the future.

Rockwell Automation

Testimonials

I am fairly certain that was one of the most interesting sponsored events ever. You gave even those of us who are deep into these issues much more to think (and worry) about. Every single client, all of whom deal with these issues on a daily basis, are still talking about your presentation and the importance of understanding the quality of data and potential biases that go into A.I. in the first place. Thank you!

Orrick, Silicon Valley

Testimonials

Your speech was extraordinarily well received and your moderation of the panel was done with great skill. The conversations that followed amongst our senior leadership during the rest of the day's programming proved that the experience was invaluable for everyone in our organization.

Caesars Entertainment

Testimonials

Nick’s insights and perspective not only elevated the event, but also left a lasting impression on our audience. I received multiple compliments and positive feedback about Nick’s topic from our attendees, and I’ve seen numerous mentions of his topic on social media. Thank you for contributing to the success of our Keynote event. I hope to have the pleasure of welcoming him back in the future!

Rockwell Automation

Testimonials

There was only one disappointing thing about Nick’s keynote for our event—that we didn’t get to do it in-person! He was fantastic! So perfectly topical for our members. In a time of online event fatigue, he really managed to keep our attention. When we recorded his talk, I was astonished to find out he had been speaking for 30 minutes—it was so riveting that time just flew by.

CSA Group

Testimonials

Aside from organizing the call, I wanted to thank you for your time at the conference. Your presentation added to our day, making it full of interesting discussion and topics.

Berenberg Capital Markets

Testimonials

Nick was fantastic! He struck the perfect balance of where he thinks AI is going long term and the near-term practical implications for business leaders. He also had a great style about him—down to earth and humorous. Really, we couldn’t be happier!

WCAS Management, L.P.

Lavin Exclusive Speakers

Angela Duckworth

Author of Grit, the #1 New York Times Bestseller | Pioneering Researcher on Grit, Perseverance, and the Science of Success

Daron Acemoglu

2024 Nobel Prize Winner | 3rd Most Cited Economist in the World | MIT Institute Professor | Bestselling Co-Author of Why Nations Fail and Power and Progress

Nikole Hannah-Jones

Pulitzer Prize-Winning Creator of The 1619 Project | Executive Producer of the Emmy Award-Winning 1619 Project Hulu Docuseries | MacArthur Genius

Greg Hoffman

Nike's Former Chief Marketing Officer | Author of Emotion by Design

Nicholas Thompson

CEO of The Atlantic | Former Editor-in-Chief of WIRED

Speech Topics

Artificial Intelligence

The Big Questions You Need to Ask About AI and Your Organization.

The most important question facing your organization is the role that AI will play. Where are the opportunities? What are the trade-offs? What best practices have already emerged? What new developments are racing down the pipeline, ready to disrupt everything, again? And how do you stay ahead of them?

In this fast-paced, far-ranging, highly-practical talk, Nick Thompson draws on his unique experience in media and with the tech C-suite to provide insights into the intersection of AI, big data, and business strategy. It’s a must-see for leaders seeking to seriously understand and adapt to this rapidly evolving landscape. Nick prompts you to think through big questions facing your industry. How are advances in AI transforming traditional business practices—from HR to marketing—to the economy at large? What strategies will help get everyone on board, to leverage changes in data and technology?

With his infectious energy, good humor, and uncanny ability to draw on decades of cutting-edge firsthand reporting at a moment’s notice, he provides insights into how to stay ahead of technological trends and effectively integrate this world-changing tool into your business.

Business

Talking AIModeration and Onstage Interviews

When you need a high-level discussion about AI—where it’s headed, what it means for your audience—there’s no better choice than Nick Thompson. Agile and lively, his interviews with OpenAI’s Sam Altman, with Sapiens author Yuval Noah Harari, and with Godfather of AI Geoffrey Hinton—to name just a few—are masterclasses in real-time discussions about the future of this technology and its impact on how we work and live. With journalistic precision, an infectious curiosity, and an engaging sense of humor, Nick knows how to move the conversation along, keep an audience rapt, and pull out the best, most useful information from any guest. A must-have for any fireside chat or panel.

Innovation

What’s Old Is (Very) NewDigital Platforms and Legacy Companies

As CEO of The Atlantic, Nicholas Thompson turned it from broke to profitable in three years. Before that, he was Editor-in-Chief of WIRED, where he boosted digital subscriptions of the magazine by a whopping 300%, and an editor at The New Yorker, where he spearheaded a radical makeover at NewYorker.com to expand the magazine’s online readership.

How did Nick turn these massive companies around? While diversified social media and cutting-edge SEO strategies were all part of the plan, Nick’s counterintuitive approach was to resist the trend of fast, disposable content. “The main strategy for growing audience is to publish more, better stories,” he says. “The stories we’re prouder of, the stories we put more effort into, attract more readers.”

This illuminating keynote explores the “wonderful value in aligning your business model with your editorial model”—and how consistently excellent content is the first action item in transforming digital platforms. It’s a vital talk for leaders in any industry who want to know how to get, and stay, ahead.