I'm a teacher who also speaks, not a speaker who occasionally teaches. There's a difference.

I run Wavetable, where we design learning experiences for global companies. I've spent 15 years across media, technology, education, and entertainment, thinking about what makes things stick - structure, rhythm, participation, the bits people actually remember a week later. That shapes everything I do in a room, whether it's a keynote, a workshop, or a semester-long course.

I've run 300+ sessions across four continents. Speaking, workshops, teaching, facilitation - usually some combination.

Keynotes

Three Big Bets

AI strategy for agencies and professional services

The iPhone moment is here. Not for consumers - for how creative work gets done.

Most agencies are optimizing workflows. The ones that will thrive are rethinking their entire model - how they price, how they staff, what they're actually selling.

Three strategic bets. One conversation about what comes next.

• For: Leadership teams, annual conferences, strategy offsites at agencies and professional services firms
• You're asking: How do we stay ahead of the AI shift without chasing every shiny thing?
• Why me: I've taught AI and machine learning to executives at JP Morgan Chase, IBM and Mastercard, and I run Wavetable - a small studio navigating this shift in real time. This isn't trend commentary.

The Inverted Pyramid

Rethinking talent in the AI era

AI isn't just changing what's possible - it's changing who can do it.

A two-person studio ships what used to require a department. An indie developer builds a product that competes with funded startups. A junior with the right stack outperforms a team of seniors.

The old pyramid - where capability concentrated at the top - is flipping. And with it, everything we thought we knew about hiring, collaboration, and how scenes form.

• For: L&D leaders, HR, Transformation teams rethinking talent strategy
• You're asking: How do we build teams when the old rules don't apply?
• Why me: I spent a decade as a talent agent and now run Wavetable, where we build skill development programs for companies. I've worked with talent, on talent, and now I'm running a studio that's more capable than ever because of the shift I'm describing.

I also speak on storybuilding, CX and learning design - get in touch if those are closer to what you need.

Formats

• Keynotes - 20-60 minutes. I don't do the TED-style performance monologue. My keynotes have interaction built in - moments where the room does something, not just listens. Works better, sticks longer.
• Workshops - This is where I live. Half-day, full-day, multi-session programs. I've designed and run hundreds of these, and it's probably what I'm best at. Hands-on, structured, vibrant, with frameworks people actually use afterwards. Not death-by-Post-it.
• Teaching - Semester-long courses and guest lectures at business schools. More depth, more back-and-forth, more homework (for them and me).
• Panel moderation - Honestly, underrated. A good moderator does the prep, keeps the energy, makes the panelists look smarter than they expected, and gets the audience involved. I've hosted panels on AI, creator economy, learning innovation, and media futures - and I enjoy it more than I probably should.
• Facilitation - Offsites, strategy sessions, team days. When a group needs to figure something out together and needs someone to design and hold the structure.

Selected clients

• Corporate: Deloitte Global, EY, mci group, Pernod Ricard, NBC Comcast, IBM, Mastercard, Ubisoft, Publicis Groupe
• Education: Columbia Business School, The New School, University of Westminster, V&A Museum
• Events & Creative: SXSW, CES, IBTM World, Soho House, Betaworks, The British Council, CMX Summit, Creative Mornings

What people say

"Extraordinary - one of the best teachers I've had in any environment"

"Dynamic, hands-on, funny, great energy, and full of information"

"Howard's facilitation exemplified an impressive blend of creativity, analytics, and empathy"

"Not only an expert in teaching storytelling, but an engaging storyteller"

"THANK YOU HOWARD! I have the deepest respect for you and really am honored that I got to take your class. You are an amazing educator and an awesome cheerleader."

"Howard has really helped me gain the confidence I need to grow my business and be great."

"Howard is a great facilitator. He has a friendly and relatable teaching style as well as nicely designed decks that retain my focus and help me to absorb what I am meant to be learning."

If you want to work together

Drop me a note at howard@howardgray.net with what you're thinking.

What I think makes the difference

Rhythm matters more than information. Most sessions have too much content and not enough structure. I think about pacing, energy shifts, and when people need to do something - not just listen.

Participation isn't a gimmick. I don't add interaction because it's "engaging." I add it because people learn by doing, and a room full of passive listeners isn't learning much.

The room is smarter than any one person in it. My job is to unlock that, not to be the smartest one up front.

In Action

FAQs

Speaker Bio & Photos

Howard Gray is the founder of Wavetable, a creative studio building the next generation of professional development ventures. With a background spanning media, entertainment, education, and technology, Howard is also a SXSW advisory board member and certified coach. He's delivered sessions at over 300 events globally - and when not on stage, he's on a never-ending quest for the perfect breakfast. 🍳

Headshots