Professional Bios Ready to Use
Peter Leyden is a hard person to describe because he does not fit into any one particular box. He has a wide range of experiences so we have put together a variety of ways to explain his background and what he does now to fit different audiences or media outlets.
We also have put together bios of many different sizes from one-line titles all the way to the 500 word ones. The range is versatile enough to fit everyone’s space needs and avoid editing. Just scan through the headlines to get to what you need.
All the headshots below and many of the action shots from this website can be downloaded in full resolution in the separate Photos section.
Peter Leyden is a tech expert and thought leader on artificial intelligence, climate technologies and a more positive future through his keynote speaking, writing and advising.
Leyden currently is the creator of The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050, which is a series of keynote talks, Substack essays, and his next book on our new potential to harness AI and other transformative technologies to create a much better world.
He also is the founder of Reinvent Futures, advising senior leaders in strategic foresight and the impacts of these new technologies.
Since coming to San Francisco to work with the founders of WIRED to start The Digital Age, he has followed the front edge of technological change and built an extraordinary network of pioneering innovators in Silicon Valley.
Leyden most recently convened this network of elite tech experts through the first two years of the Generative AI Revolution as host and curator of one of the premier event series at ground zero in San Francisco — The AI Age Begins.
Leyden is the former Managing Editor of WIRED, who then became the Founder and CEO of two startups that pioneered the early video mediums of first YouTube and then Zoom.
He wrote two influential books on the future that went into multiple languages, including The Long Boom that foretold how the new digital economy would scale over 25 years — and largely did.
Leyden began his career as a journalist covering America, then did a stint as a foreign correspondent in Asia for Newsweek, including covering the early rise of China. He has traveled to more than 50 countries around the world.
He was raised in the heartland in Minnesota, graduated summa cum laude at Georgetown University, and earned two masters degrees from Columbia University.
For more see peterleyden.com and reinvent.net.
A 300 Word General Bio
A 150 Word Short Bio
Peter Leyden is a tech expert and thought leader on AI, climate technologies and the future through his keynote speaking, writing and advising.
Leyden is the creator of The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050, a book project of talks and essays on the positive possibilities just ahead.
He also is the founder of Reinvent Futures, advising senior leaders in strategic foresight and the implications of these new technologies.
Since coming to San Francisco to work with the founders of WIRED to start The Digital Age, he has followed the front edge of technological change at every iteration.
Leyden most recently convened top tech experts through the first two years of the Generative AI Revolution as host and curator of one of the premier event series at ground zero in San Francisco — The AI Age Begins.
Leyden is the former Managing Editor of WIRED and later became the founder of two media startups.
Shorter 50 Word Bio Options
Peter Leyden is a tech expert and thought leader on AI, transformative technologies like clean energy, and a more positive future, through keynote speaking, writing essays and his next book The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050. He’s also a foresight advisor as founder of Reinvent Futures. More at peterleyden.com and reinvent.net.
Tight Phrases version:
Who is Peter Leyden? AI and tech expert. Thought leader on the future. Keynote speaker with Keppler Speakers. Strategic foresight advisor with Reinvent Futures. Former managing editor at WIRED and founder of two media startups. Author of two books. Former journalist & foreign correspondent. More at peterleyden.com.
Thought Leader focus:
Peter Leyden is a tech expert and thought leader on AI, transformative technologies like clean energy, and a more positive future, as creator of The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050. Get more on his frequent keynote speaking, influential essay writing, and next book at PeterLeyden.com.
Blend and Brand version:
Peter Leyden is an unusual blend of both intellectual and entrepreneur whose career can be clustered into two tracks: One is as a thought leader, keynote speaker, journalist, author, writer and creator. The other is as a founder, convener and advisor. He’s currently creator of The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050, and founder of Reinvent Futures.
Monikers & 10 Word Titles
AI & tech expert, thought leader on the future, strategic foresight advisor, former WIRED managing editor & serial entrepreneur
A thought leader on AI, transformative technologies like clean energy, and a more positive future
Tech expert & thought leader on AI, transformative technologies & the future
Leading expert on the future, new technologies and strategic foresight
Leading futurist, tech expert, and senior advisor in strategic foresight
Thought leader on the future, new technologies and megatrends
Bullet Point Version of 150 Words
Peter Leyden has spent his career figuring out the future and helping others see what’s probably coming and what’s possible to achieve. This work has taken a wide variety of forms over the years:
AI and Tech Expert, thought leader on a more positive future
Creator of The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050, essay series & soon book.
Founder of Reinvent Futures strategic foresight advisory firm.
Futurist Keynote Speaker represented by Keppler Speakers.
Host & Convener of the event series The AI Age Begins.
Former Managing Editor running WIRED Magazine in its heyday.
Founder & CEO of two startups pioneering new mediums in video.
Coauthor of two books on the future: The Long Boom & What’s Next.
Network Director at pioneering foresight firm Global Business Network.
Cofounder of a political startup that fed into the first Obama campaign.
Foreign Correspondent in China and Asia for Newsweek magazine.
World Traveler to more than 50 countries in all regions of the planet.
A 200 Word Bio
Peter Leyden is a tech expert and thought leader on artificial intelligence, climate technologies and a more positive future through his keynote speaking, writing and advising.
Leyden currently is the creator of The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050, which is a series of keynote talks, Substack essays, and his next book on our new potential to harness AI and other transformative technologies to create a much better world.
He also is the founder of Reinvent Futures, advising senior leaders in strategic foresight and the impacts of these new technologies.
Since coming to San Francisco to work with the founders of WIRED to start The Digital Age, he has followed the front edge of technological change and built an extraordinary network of pioneering innovators in Silicon Valley.
Leyden most recently convened this network of elite tech experts through the first two years of the Generative AI Revolution as host and curator of one of the premier event series at ground zero in San Francisco — The AI Age Begins.
Leyden is the former Managing Editor of WIRED, who then became the Founder and CEO of two startups that pioneered the early video mediums of first YouTube and then Zoom.
For more see peterleyden.com and reinvent.net.
A 100 Word Bio
Peter Leyden is a tech expert and thought leader on AI, climate technologies and a more positive future through his keynote speaking, writing and advising.
Leyden is the creator of The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050, a series of talks and essays to culminate in his next book. He also is the founder of Reinvent Futures, advising senior leaders in strategic foresight.
Leyden came to Silicon Valley to work with the founders of WIRED to start The Digital Age and followed the front edge of technological change ever since. He most recently hosted a premier AI event series in San Francisco — The AI Age Begins.
10 Options on 2 Word Nouns
AI Expert
Tech expert
Thought leader
Leading futurist
Futures expert
Foresight advisor
Keynote speaker
Author & writer
Host & convener
Serial entrepreneur
Bio Geared to Speaking in 350 Words
Peter Leyden is a tech expert who has spent his entire career figuring out the future and helping others better understand what’s probably coming, and what’s possible to achieve.
Leyden came to Silicon Valley at the beginning of the digital revolution to work with the founders of WIRED magazine and has spent the last 30 years following the front edge of technological change.
Over time he has become known as a thought leader on artificial intelligence, transformative technologies like clean energy, and the positive possibilities of the future. He is regularly interviewed by the media and podcasts.
For the first two years after Generative AI burst on the scene, he hosted The AI Age Begins, one of the premier event series convening many of the top AI experts in the world at ground zero in San Francisco.
Leyden is the coauthor of two influential books on the future that were published in multiple languages, including The Long Boom that foretold how the digital economy would roll out over 25 years — and largely did.
He’s currently the creator of The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050, which is a series of essays that will culminate in his next book on how we could harness AI and the next wave of transformative technologies to drive progress, reinvent America and make a much better world.
Leyden also is a serial entrepreneur who understands the challenges of business. He ran Wired as managing editor in the heyday of the 1990s and subsequently founded two of his own startups that pioneered the use of the new mediums of YouTube and then interactive video like Zoom.
He now is the founder of Reinvent Futures, a strategic foresight firm that advises senior leaders on the implications of new technologies and trends in the short term, and their eventual positive impact over time.
For the last 25 years, Leyden has been giving frequent keynote talks throughout America on what he constantly learns about new technologies and the future.
He’s become a wonderful storyteller who uses dazzling presentations that leave audiences energized and inspired.
Tight 30 Word Bio Options
One Sentence:
Peter Leyden is a tech expert and thought leader on artificial intelligence, transformative technologies and a more positive future through his keynote speaking, writing and advising.
Phrases:
Creator of The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050. Founder of Reinvent Futures. Thought leader on AI, new technologies & the future as a frequent keynote speaker & influential writer. Advisor on strategic foresight for senior leaders.
One Sentence with Kicker Titles:
A tech expert & thought leader on AI, climate technologies and a more positive future through keynote speaking, writing and advising. Founder of Reinvent Futures. Creator of The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050.
Full 450 Word Bio Geared to Business
Peter Leyden has spent his career helping others better understand four key questions about America and the world: What’s really going on today? What’s probably coming in the next decade? What’s possible to achieve in the next 25 years? And what should we do now?
Leyden is an unusual blend of both intellectual and entrepreneur whose career figuring out those questions can be clustered into two tracks: The intellectual one is as a thought leader, keynote speaker, journalist, author, writer and creator. The entrepreneurial one is as a founder, convener and advisor.
Since coming to San Francisco as a journalist at the beginning of the digital revolution to work with the founders of WIRED magazine, he has become a thought leader on the future and new technologies, most recently all about AI.
Leyden has given keynote talks for the last 25 years on roughly a monthly basis throughout America as a futurist and tech expert working through Keppler Speakers. He regularly speaks in Europe, and frequently talks to the media.
He currently is the creator of The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050, which is a book project and Substack series of essays, interviews and virtual gatherings laying out a new narrative about how The AI Age could drive great progress, reinvent America and make a much better world..
Leyden previously was the coauthor of two influential books on the future that were published in multiple languages, including The Long Boom, which foretold the story about how The Digital Age would transform the world over 25 years—and mostly did.
Leyden currently also is the founder of Reinvent Futures, a strategic foresight firm that advises senior leaders on the implications of new technologies like AI and clean energies, as well as other important trends emerging in the coming decade.
For the first two years after Generative AI burst on the scene, he hosted The AI Age Begins, one of the premier event series in San Francisco that convened top technologists and explored the many positive ways that AI could impact the world.
He also hosted a roundtable event series The New Ways Forward that convened senior leaders and thought through the strategic implications of the arrival of AI.
Leyden ended up as managing editor of WIRED magazine in the heyday of the 1990s and he subsequently founded two of his own media startups that helped pioneer the use of the new medium of YouTube and the early days of interactive video like Zoom.
Leyden started his career as a journalist, including working as a foreign correspondent in Asia for Newsweek magazine, and has traveled to more than 50 countries.
Options on 5 Word Titles
AI and Tech Expert
Leading expert on the future
Thought leader on Tech & the future
Futurist, tech expert, foresight advisor
AI and Tech Thought Leader
Full 500 Word Comprehensive Bio
Peter Leyden is a tech expert and thought leader on artificial intelligence, the implications of transformative technologies like clean energy, and the positive possibilities of the near future.
Leyden has followed the front edge of technological change ever since coming to San Francisco to work with the founders of WIRED magazine at the beginning of the Digital Age and the arrival of the internet.
His first book The Long Boom foretold from that time how the digital economy would transform the world over the next 25 years — and largely did. That started him giving keynote talks as a tech expert and futurist on roughly a monthly basis throughout America and occasionally Europe that continues to this day.
He’s become known for figuring out the potentially positive impacts of transformative technologies and his writing and keynotes are generally optimistic takes on what’s possible in the near future.
The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050 is his latest iteration that does for The AI Age what The Long Boom did for the Digital Age. The new book project now in the form of a magazine piece, Substack series, and frequent keynotes lays out a new narrative about how we could harness AI and other transformative technologies to drive progress, reinvent America, and make a much better world.
Leyden is well positioned to give audiences a comprehensive understanding of all the key issues surrounding Artificial Intelligence after hosting one of the premier event series at ground zero in San Francisco called The AI Age Begins for the two years after Generative AI burst on the scene. He convened an extraordinary network of top tech experts in the region to come up with answers to the key issues surrounding the arrival of this world-changing tool.
Leyden frequently has stepped beyond the role of thought leader and been an entrepreneur who founded three startup companies on that front edge of tech change. They all used the latest technologies to convene remarkable innovators in gatherings that tried to get early insights into what’s probably coming in the next decade.
Today Leyden is founder of his own strategic foresight firm Reinvent Futures, where he advises senior leaders on the four key questions that he has pursued throughout his career: What’s really going on today? What’s probably coming in the next decade? What’s possible to achieve in the next 25 years? And what should we do now?
Leyden started his career as a newspaper journalist working in several regions of America including the Deep South. He also worked as a foreign correspondent in Asia covering the early China story mostly with Newsweek. He has visited more than 50 countries and always maintains a global perspective.
He was born and raised in the heartland in the Twin Cities of Minnesota and started on his lifelong learning journey to figure out those questions, first by graduating summa cum laude at Georgetown University in Washington DC, and then getting two masters at Columbia University in New York City.
Bio Geared to Politics at 400 Words
Peter Leyden is a tech expert and thought leader on artificial intelligence, climate technologies and a more positive future through his keynote speaking, writing and advising.
Leyden currently is the creator of The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050, which is a series of keynote talks, Substack essays, and his next book on our new potential to harness AI and other transformative technologies to create a much better world.
He also is the founder of Reinvent Futures, advising senior leaders in strategic foresight and the impacts of these new technologies.
Since coming to San Francisco to work with the founders of WIRED to start The Digital Age, he has followed the front edge of technological change and built an extraordinary network of pioneering innovators in Silicon Valley.
Leyden most recently convened this network of elite tech experts through the first two years of the Generative AI Revolution as host and curator of one of the premier event series at ground zero in San Francisco — The AI Age Begins.
Leyden is the former Managing Editor of WIRED, who then became the Founder and CEO of two startups that pioneered the early video mediums of first YouTube and then Zoom.
He wrote two influential books on the future that went into multiple languages, including The Long Boom that foretold how the new digital economy would scale over 25 years — and largely did.
Leyden spent a four-year cycle working in Washington to help transition politics to the internet, by bringing top technologists from Silicon Valley on a monthly basis to explain how to use new tools ranging from web video to text messaging to Twitter in campaigns.
He spoke at the Democrat’s House and Senate annual private member retreats and served on Barack Obama’s Technology and Media Advisory Committee in his groundbreaking 2008 campaign.
Leyden began his career as a journalist covering America, then did a stint as a foreign correspondent in Asia for Newsweek, including covering the early rise of China. He has traveled to more than 50 countries around the world.
He was raised in the heartland in Minnesota, graduated summa cum laude at Georgetown University, and earned two masters degrees from Columbia University.
Leyden has spent his life in pursuit of the evolving answers to four key questions that he explains through his speaking, writing and advising: What’s really going on today? What’s probably coming in the next decade? What’s possible to achieve in the next 25 years? And what should we do now?