Scott Galloway opened PCMA Convening Leaders in Houston on Monday evening, keeping his usual matter-of-fact style.
“To ensure the global business events industry has the knowledge to create change, we must first have a solid understanding of what lies ahead,” said Sherrif Karamat, president and CEO of PCMA, about why Galloway was chosen as a keynote speaker.
AI was a big part of his 30-minute chat, but there were others.
1. AI: Transforming Consumer Choices and Business Decisions
AI featured prominently in Galloway’s outlook. He sees advancements shifting from established players to firms leveraging AI in innovative, service-oriented ways. Galloway described a future where human-intensive processes are layered with consumer-facing AI applications, simplifying decision-making for end-users. “I don’t want five hotel recommendations; I want one,” Galloway noted, highlighting AI’s potential impact on business events.
2. Demographics: A New Workforce Emerges
Galloway said the global workforce is undergoing a seismic shift. Developing nations like India and Indonesia concentrate most of the growth in working-age populations, which could redefine talent pipelines for global events. This may signal opportunities to tap into new markets and diverse audiences for the meetings industry.
3. Tariffs: Economic Uncertainty Looms
Galloway weighed in on the Trump administration’s proposed tariffs, forecasting potential disruptions to trade. While he expressed skepticism about their implementation, he warned that any tariff-related inflation could trigger swift reversals. “When inflation ticks up, tariffs will roll back,” said Galloway. For event planners, navigating such economic fluctuations may require more agile strategies in sourcing and budgeting.
YouTube is the first streaming platform to capture 10% of total television viewership, and its influence is undeniable. Galloway noted its dominance among Gen Alpha, with 81% of respondents reporting recent YouTube usage.
With YouTube also leading as the top podcast platform, the business events industry has an opportunity to tap into this massive audience for promotion and content delivery. “The media of 2025 will be podcasts,” said Galloway.
He emphasized the influence the Joe Rogan podcast with President-Elect Donald J. Trump had on the election. “About half the U.S. population listened to a podcast in the last month vs. less than 10 percent about 15 years ago,” Galloway said. “It’s also growing faster than any ad-supported medium.
5. From School Policies to Meeting Rooms: The Cellphone Debate
Cellphone restrictions are gaining traction in schools, with 18 states enacting bans or limitations. Could similar policies make their way into meetings and events? For organizers, this sparks a conversation about balancing attendee engagement with the need to minimize distractions.
