Scott Galloway maintained his usual matter-of-fact style as he held a meeting of PCMA leaders in Houston on Monday night.
“To ensure that the global business events industry has the knowledge to create change, we must first have a deep understanding of the future,” said PCMA President and CEO Sherrif Karamat on why Galloway was chosen as keynote speaker Shi said.
Artificial intelligence was a big part of his 30-minute chat, but there was more.
1. Artificial intelligence: changing consumer choices and business decisions
Artificial intelligence figures prominently in Galloway’s vision. He believes progress is moving away from established businesses and toward companies leveraging artificial intelligence in innovative, service-oriented ways. Galloway described a future in which human-intensive processes are layered with consumer-facing AI applications to simplify end-user decision-making. “I don’t need five hotel recommendations; I want one,” Galloway noted, emphasizing the potential impact of artificial intelligence on business.
2. Demographics: The emergence of a new workforce
Galloway said the global workforce is undergoing a huge transformation. Growth in developing countries such as India and Indonesia is concentrated in the working-age population, which could redefine the talent pipeline for global activities. This may herald opportunities for the meetings industry to enter new markets and diverse audiences.
3. Tariffs: Economic uncertainty looms
Galloway weighed in on the Trump administration’s proposed tariffs and predicted possible disruptions to trade. While he expressed doubts about the implementation of these measures, he warned that any tariff-related inflation could trigger a rapid reversal. “When inflation picks up, tariffs are going to come back down,” Galloway said. For event planners, dealing with such economic fluctuations may require more flexible strategies in purchasing and budgeting.
YouTube was the first streaming platform to capture 10% of total television viewing, and its influence is undeniable. Galloway noted its dominance among Generation Alpha, with 81% of respondents reporting recent use of YouTube.
Since YouTube is also a top podcast platform, the business events industry has an opportunity to leverage this large audience for promotions and content delivery. “The medium of 2025 will be podcasts,” Galloway said.
He highlighted the impact Joe Rogan’s podcast with President-elect Donald J. Trump had on the election. “About half of Americans have listened to a podcast in the last month, up from less than 10% 15 years ago,” Galloway said. “It’s also growing faster than any ad-supported media.
5. From school policies to boardrooms: The battle over cell phones
Cell phone restrictions are becoming increasingly popular in schools, with 18 states enacting bans or restrictions. Could a similar policy apply to conferences and events? For organizers, this sparked a discussion about balancing attendee engagement with minimizing distractions.
