Martha Debayle
Mexico's Most Influential Media Entrepreneur | Host of Martha Debayle en W, W Radio | Founder of bbmundo | Parenting, Well-Being & Leadership
Paul Daugherty
Former Accenture CEO of Technology & CTIO | Founder, Accenture Ventures & AI Practice | Bestselling Author, Human + Machine
Few executives have shaped enterprise AI more concretely than Paul Daugherty. In a 38-year career at Accenture, he built the firm's AI, cloud, and quantum businesses from scratch, grew its technology revenue from $25B to $40B, and co-authored Human + Machine — the definitive management guide to AI. His talks give senior leaders a practical playbook for the human-machine era.
Want to book Paul Daugherty as a speaker for your event? Please provide the info below and we’ll get in touch within 24h:
Paul Daugherty biography
Paul Daugherty is one of the most authoritative voices in enterprise technology and artificial intelligence — a practitioner who spent 38 years at Accenture reshaping how the world’s largest organizations adopt, scale, and govern technology. During his tenure he served as Chief Technology and Innovation Officer (CTIO) and CEO of the Technology Group, where he oversaw 400,000 employees, led the acquisition and integration of more than 60 companies, and grew the technology business from $25 billion to $40 billion in revenue. That trajectory makes him something rare in the speaker market: a thought leader whose ideas were stress-tested at global scale.
AI speaker Paul Daugherty’s contribution to the field begins with the businesses he built. He founded Accenture’s cloud computing practice, its AI business, its quantum computing unit, and Accenture Ventures — a corporate venture capital operation that grew to over 80 portfolio investments. He led Accenture Labs and directed R&D into generative AI, robotics, blockchain, metaverse, and space technology, building the largest intellectual property and patent portfolio in the consulting sector. In 2023, he led the firm’s $3 billion investment in data and AI, one of the largest commitments of its kind in professional services.
The Human + Machine Framework
Daugherty is co-author of two highly acclaimed books published by Harvard Business Review Press. Human + Machine: Reimagining Work in the Age of AI — updated and expanded with a new chapter on generative AI — has become the management playbook for the AI era, drawing on research across 1,500 organizations to show how human-machine collaboration reshapes processes, roles, and competitive advantage. Its companion volume, Radically Human: How New Technology is Transforming Business and Shaping Our Future, extends the framework to the broader arc of human-centered technology. His article “GenAI at Work,” co-authored with H. James Wilson, appeared on the cover of Harvard Business Review and introduced the concept of “fusion skills” — the capabilities professionals need to get the best results from generative AI. He remains active as Senior Technology Advisor to Accenture and serves on the supervisory board of Evolver, an AI-native platform company.
As a speaker, Paul Daugherty brings a combination of intellectual depth and practitioner credibility that is nearly impossible to replicate. He speaks with equal authority on the state of generative AI adoption in the enterprise, the rise of agentic AI, responsible AI governance, and the leadership decisions that separate organizations that thrive from those that fall behind. Senior audiences — boards, C-suites, and technology leadership teams — respond to his ability to cut through the noise and deliver a grounded, evidence-based view of where AI is heading and what it actually demands of leaders today.
Paul Daugherty Speaking Videos
Paul Daugherty - Human + Machine
Tech Vision 2020: Paul Daugherty
Paul Daugherty Keynote Topics
Drawing from his landmark book and research across 1,500 organizations, Daugherty reveals why companies that treat AI as a replacement for human workers leave their most powerful advantage untapped. He maps the "missing middle" — the frontier where human judgment and machine capability converge — and gives leaders a concrete framework for redesigning processes, roles, and organizations to compete in the AI era. Attendees leave with six new hybrid role archetypes and five leadership principles they can apply immediately.
Generative AI has changed the conversation. Agentic AI will change the business. In this forward-looking session, Daugherty explains what agentic systems are, how they differ from the generative AI tools organizations have spent the past two years deploying, and why they represent both the greatest near-term opportunity and the most complex governance challenge leaders will face. Built for C-suites and boards navigating the next wave of AI transformation.
As AI systems become more autonomous and pervasive, the question of governance is no longer optional — it is a strategic imperative. Daugherty draws on his experience leading Accenture's AI ethics and trust agenda to outline what responsible AI actually requires in practice: from bias mitigation and data integrity to accountability structures and board oversight. Clear, accessible, and grounded in real organizational decisions rather than abstract principles.
Counterintuitively, the most advanced technologies are becoming more human in how they operate — more intuitive, more personalized, more contextually aware. Daugherty explores the IDEAS framework from his book Radically Human to show leaders how to build technology strategies that amplify human capability rather than commoditizing it, creating durable competitive advantage in a world where AI infrastructure is increasingly democratized.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Paul Daugherty
Why Paul Daugherty?
Booking Paul Daugherty means putting on your stage the executive who built Accenture's AI business, founded its venture arm, and wrote the management playbook that C-suites around the world rely on to navigate the AI transition. Unlike many AI speakers, Daugherty's authority is operational — he spent nearly four decades making technology strategy real for hundreds of major organizations, overseeing 400,000 people and $40 billion in revenue. His message is not theoretical: it is the distilled product of decisions made at the highest levels of a global technology firm. For any organization serious about AI leadership, there is no more credible or immediately actionable voice. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check availability and fees.
What is Paul Daugherty's "Human + Machine" framework?
Daugherty's Human + Machine framework, developed with co-author H. James Wilson and grounded in research across 1,500 organizations, argues that the most powerful applications of AI are not those that replace human workers but those that create what he calls the "missing middle" — new hybrid roles and processes where humans and machines each contribute their distinct strengths. The framework identifies six entirely new job categories that organizations must develop and five core principles for becoming an AI-fueled business. The updated edition, released in 2024, extends the framework to generative AI and introduces "fusion skills" — the new competencies required to collaborate effectively with large language models.
What is agentic AI, and why does Paul Daugherty say it matters more than GenAI?
Agentic AI refers to AI systems that can take autonomous action — making decisions, executing multi-step tasks, and improving processes without continuous human direction. While generative AI produces content in response to prompts, agentic systems operate as active participants in workflows. Daugherty argues that agentic AI represents the next major leap in enterprise AI capability, with the potential to transform professional services, software development, and business operations far more fundamentally than the generative AI wave that preceded it. In his keynotes, he provides leaders with a practical vocabulary and strategic framework for getting ahead of this shift rather than reacting to it.
What topics does AI speaker Paul Daugherty cover at events?
Paul Daugherty speaks on the state of enterprise AI adoption, the rise of agentic AI, responsible AI governance, the future of work and human-machine collaboration, and technology leadership in an era of exponential change. His talks draw directly from his books, his HBR research, and his experience building and scaling technology businesses at Accenture. He tailors sessions for C-suite and board-level audiences as well as broader leadership conferences. To discuss how his keynote can be shaped around your organization's priorities, reach out to Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Paul Daugherty as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Paul Daugherty as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Paul Daugherty'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 Paul Daugherty or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Paul Daugherty speaking fee?
Paul Daugherty 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 Paul Daugherty 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 Paul Daugherty.
How can I contact Paul Daugherty?
We only work with Paul Daugherty on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Paul Daugherty and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Paul Daugherty 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 Paul Daugherty for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Paul Daugherty for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Paul Daugherty is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Paul Daugherty for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
