April Rinne Profile Picture

Keynote SpeakerApril Rinne

Top-ranked global futurist and advisor, Bestselling author, Change navigator and guide to help you embrace uncertainty, harness the unknown, and flourish in an upside-down world

Change defines the present and uncertainty permeates the future. Individually, organizationally, and collectively, we humans are trying to discern what this means. What are the skills, practices, and superpowers that this world in flux demands – and how can you cultivate them with purpose and joy? In 2025, humans’ ability... Read more

Biography

Change defines the present and uncertainty permeates the future. Individually, organizationally, and collectively, we humans are trying to discern what this means. What are the skills, practices, and superpowers that this world in flux demands – and how can you cultivate them with purpose and joy?

In 2025, humans’ ability to embrace all kinds of change, uncertainty, and not-knowing isn’t exceptional, but rather table stakes. It’s at the heart of responsible leadership (of both oneself and others), thriving culture, and effective communication. It’s the difference between flourishing and flailing. Put another way, learning to love uncertainty is the #1 skill we’ll need this year – and beyond.

Not only that: This is what every one of your colleagues, customers, clients, partners, stakeholders, and teams needs too. Ditto for your family, friends, and kids. This skill fuels every relationship in business, in society, and in life. So why do we resist learning it? What are we waiting for?

April Rinne – change navigator, speaker, investor, author, and adventurer – has been obsessed with these themes and questions for more than 25 years. Her work and travels in more than 100 countries have given her a front-row seat to a world in flux, as well as a world of wisdom to navigate the unknown. Not only is she your guide to developing a “flux mindset,” she’s also ranked one of the 50 Leading Female Futurists in the world by Forbes and is a Harvard Law School graduate, a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum, a member of the Silicon Guild and Thinkers50 Radar, a Fulbright Scholar, and the author of the international bestseller Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change.

April is a trusted advisor to well-known startups, companies, financial institutions, nonprofits, think tanks, and governments worldwide, including Airbnb, Nike, Intuit, the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, AnyRoad, and Unsettled as well as governments ranging from Singapore to South Africa, Canada to Colombia, and Italy to India. For more than two decades, she’s been known for seeing emerging trends early, understanding their potential, and helping others do the same. April is a bridge-builder between stakeholders, cultures, priorities, and those excited about change and those resistant to it. Recently, she was the sole global faculty member of Finland’s inaugural “masterclass of happiness,” combining her Finnish heritage and “fluxiness” to reach audiences around the world.

Earlier in life April was a global development executive, an international microfinance lawyer, and a hiking guide. Before that, she spent the better part of four years traveling solo, with an insatiable desire to better understand how the rest of the world lives. (One lesson: Change is universal. How we deal with it is not.) She is as comfortable at Davos as she is talking with microfinance borrowers in an urban slum. A certified yoga teacher, she can often be found upside-down, doing handstands around the world.

"The most successful management session we’ve ever had!" Acuity Insurance
"It has been an absolute pleasure working with April. She brought energy, enthusiasm, a wealth of insight and experience, and professionalism. She was a perfect fit and we look forward to working with April again." EY
"April really was the perfect choice for our first leadership series speaker. She was amazing and all the leaders had nothing but great things to say. April went above and beyond to ensure her presence provided substantial value for our company. We can only hope the rest of our speakers can present as impactful and relevant messages as April!" Toyota
"We absolutely loved your session!!!!" Fox Entertainment
"We’ve had so many compliments about your keynote. One of the highest praises was how seamlessly and authentically you connected your message to our identity and culture! Truly well done!" Ascension Healthcare
“Engaging and insightful. A real dynamo. Home run!” Dorsey & Whitney
“April is absolutely incredible. Meaningful, authentic and builds relationships with every word.” Allen & Overy
“April’s talk was absolutely fabulous. Many of our attendees said it was the best keynote that IFT has ever had.” Institute for Food Technologists
“Drop the April bomb... and good things happen.” Airbnb
“We have had the pleasure of working with April on more than one occasion, and to say that she delivers every time is an understatement. Her wealth of knowledge is unmatched, her delivery is friendly and engaging, and she takes the time to fully understand who she’s talking to and what the end message needs to be. On top of all of that, she is an absolute joy to work with. Can’t recommend her enough!” HUB International
“April brilliantly balances the personal and the professional, heart and head, to bring original insights to individuals and organizations about how to not just survive but thrive in change. In a word: wow!” United Nations Foundation
“April's thoughtful approach was just what we needed. She uses her rich global citizenship to connect to the audience in a meaningful way. We've had extremely positive feedback from across our audience.” Adobe
“April lives in the future then helps create it now. Her grasp of the forces that create systemic change, innovation that matters, and how to accelerate into the future have helped us as we navigate our work towards a low carbon, equitable sustainable future. Be ready to innovate, at scale, fast when inviting her into your world!” Nike
“April gave an amazing talk, mingled with attendees, and received rave reviews. I couldn’t have imagined a more perfect opening keynote!” Mad*Pow
“As the world moves ever faster, April helps organizations create the space for team members to look within themselves to better move forward, work positively through change, and develop a ‘fluxy’ outlook on the future.” Urban Libraries Council

Popular Talks by April Rinne

  • Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change
    There’s an epidemic of change exhaustion, yet more change and uncertainty are ahead. When – and how – will this ever improve? Being adaptable and flexible have always been hallmarks of effective leadership, well-being, and a fulfilling life. But in a world of ever-more change, an ever-faster pace of change,...
  • Leadership. Finding Certainty in an Uncertain World
    Just because the future looks really chaotic doesn’t mean your approach to it has to be. Your ability to lead others fundamentally begins with leading yourself – through uncertainty and beyond. For leaders of all stripes, success hinges not only on understanding the macro forces that will affect your business...
  • Future of Work. Beyond the Ladder: The Future of Talent & Careers
    What does the shape of a successful, meaningful career look like in today’s workplaces full of change – and how can you (and HR departments) design the best ones? Across the professional spectrum, people are reassessing what they want from their careers – and lives. Organizations across-the-board are struggling to...
  • Happiness & Inspiration. What the World Can Learn about Happiness from the World’s Happiest Country
    How might we learn from Finland about happiness, a skill they seem to possess in abundance? April’s Finnish roots put her in a unique position to share wisdom from the land of sisu — inner strength — and satisfaction.   For the past six years running, Finland has been ranked...