Ben Keene
Global Speaker, Event Host & Founder focusing on Community Building & Impact Business
"Thanks to Ben for being a brilliant host for Simon Sinek and myself.” Sir Richard Branson
"One of the best presentations I've ever seen." David McQueen, Leadership Coach, Author & Investor.
“Everyone found Ben’s session and presence inspirational.” Dame Jo Williams DBE, Chief Executive, Mencap
Current Keynote Themes:
1. Community Builders: Stories & tactics for coming together in a fracturing world.
2. Paradise or Bust: Lessons in building eco communities in remote regions.
3. Selling Sustainability: What we're doing wrong & how to fix it.
4. Rebel Book Club: What reading 100 books with 5000 people taught us about work and life.
Community & Impact Business Building in a (fast) Changing World.
I’ve spent over 20 years building community driven startups and projects. Why? Because I’m hooked on the idea that finding human connection in a faster - and more disconnected - world is the key to solving many of our great problems. Oh, and it makes us happier too.
From building a desert island eco-village, to reinventing book clubs, to accelerating impact careers and climate startups, I've explored how to use tech & community tools to make a positive change.
I've experienced success, failure and lots inbetween. But I believe that an experimental, community-led approach to work is the best way to create change.
A lot of my work has focused on communicating with a diverse range of people on projects across our physical and digital worlds. From an island mosque in Myanmar to a CIA conference in Las Vegas; to hundreds co-working spaces, schools and keynote stages, I've been lucky to share what I've learnt and help inspire others to make the most of their opportunity.
Alongside growing startups, I love working with organisations who are ambitious about scaling their impact. We need bold leadership like never before. Whether in climate, AI, pandemics or genetic editing, we live in an 'exponential age' of rapid, consequential change. Decisions we make as community and business leaders (and citizens) today will reverberate like never before. This is both frightening and exciting.
If you're looking for an inspiring fresh perspective, with stories from the front-line of community and impact startup building, let's talk.
2024
Working on Rebel Book Club (non-stop learning), Raaise (fund your startup > tackle climate), & Earth AI (building climate solutions using AI).
Podcast Host: The Jump, Startups Will Save Us & The Books That Made Me.Climate startups
Climate is complex. Raising capital for great startup solutions shouldn't be.
Not Your Average Book Club
est. 2015. Every month - one learning theme, a book & an event.
Earth AI
Hacking climate solutions using AI
Speaking, Hosting & Training.
Can I help your event and team make a bigger impact?