Learn from tomorrow,
live for today.
Keynote speaker / Author / Futurist / Trendwatcher
Tom Palmaerts travels the world with one goal in mind: giving people an appetite for the future.
Keynote speeches
Optimistic futures
Why hope is your most important business strategy.
Amidst crises and uncertainty, optimism has become a superpower. In this keynote, Tom shows how companies, leaders and individuals can cultivate an optimistic view on the future. Not by ignoring challenges, but by actively looking for opportunities, resilience, and long-term thinking.
Topics Covered:
How to create future-positive strategies
Identifying seeds of opportunity in today's world
How optimism fuels innovation and leadership
Inspiring cases from culture, business, and society
Human-centric approach
Changes 2035
What society will look like in 10 years, and how to get ready today.
We can’t predict the future, but by framing cultural shifts and innovations, we can imagine future possibilities. In this keynote, Tom takes you 10 years ahead to explore key societal changes, offering concrete ideas you can act on today.
Topics Covered:
Demographical shifts
Mobility trends
Cities of the future
Technology and AI
The evolving work-life balance
Generations at work
Bridging the gap between young and old on the workfloor
How do you motivate a 23-year-old and a 53-year-old in the same team? Each generation brings its own expectations, values and work styles. In this keynote, Tom helps you understand what drives today's multigenerational workforce, and how to turn differences into strengths.
Topics Covered:
Generational shifts at work
What Generation Z expects from employers
How companies can stay attractive for all generations
Rethinking leadership for multigenerational teams
Practical actions for HR & management
Future mindset
How to prepare your team for tomorrow
Are you ready for the future? If you hesitate, you're not alone. Life moves fast, and thinking ahead can feel overwhelming. But how do we become future-proof?
Based on his book Ready or Not, Tom shares concrete ideas and actionable steps to activate your future mindset.
Topics Covered:
Why a future mindset matters more than ever
How to detect upcoming changes early
Navigating uncertainty with confidence
Building future-proof teams
Practical exercises to uncover blind spots
Generation Z consumers
Understanding tomorrow’s customers today
What do young consumers really want? Generation Z is entering full economic power, but their habits, values and expectations are radically different. In this keynote, Tom reveals what drives Gen Z’s choices — from brands to work to experiences — and how businesses can connect with them authentically.
Topics Covered:
The DNA of Gen Z
New consumption patterns
Authenticity, purpose & identity
How Gen Z reshapes marketing and branding
Business opportunities for future growth
Custom Keynotes
Tailor-made keynotes for your audience & market
Looking for a specific topic? Tom regularly creates customized keynotes based on your market and audience. He can also serve as moderator, host, or panel guest for your event.
Popular Topics:
AI (impact on wellbeing at work)
Hospitality (food, drinks, hotels)
Tourism (future visions on travel and experiences)
Pet parenting
Translating market data in a keynote
About Tom.
Tom Palmaerts is a trendwatcher, thought leader on consumers behavior and attitudes in a changing world. He is an awarded keynote speaker, trend consultant, author, and managing partner at Trendwolves, a full-service trendwatching agency with a focus on young consumers and modern families.
“An accelerated trip in our today’s future.”
— Eric Geuens (MAPFRE RE MADRID)
Other services
Advisorship
Do you need advise on the future vision of your company, how to present your visions, discussing strategies, innovations, … I love helping you.
Training
Future stories are only interesting if you can start working on it today. It’s better to take time, if you are looking for help to go from inspiration to tangible actions.
Research
If you search for market and consumer insights focused on your business. By helping companies across the world and across disciplines, we are able to speed up the process.
“Tom is effervescent, high-spirited and above all FRESH. His work is greatly inspirational.”
— Judith van Vliet (Clariant Milan)
Books
Ready or not (Dutch)
Hoe worden we futureproof? In Ready or not reikt hij tools aan en zet hij je op weg met 11 krachtige en inspirerende tips. Neem dit boekje overal mee naartoe of leg het in de kleinste kamer. Je vindt er een levenspartner in, een steun en toeverlaat, of de nodige schop onder je kont.
Lannoo (2019)
Futures (Dutch)
Herman Konings, Joeri Van den Bergh en Tom Palmaerts bundelen hun inzichten in één verzamelbundel. Vol trends waar we toekomsten kunnen op bouwen. Tom Palmaerts gaat op zoek naar onvermoede trillingen, ideeën die nog niet helemaal duidelijk zijn, maar die de potentie hebben om bestaande systemen te veranderen.
Lannoo (2015)
Contact
tom@trendwolves.com
(+32) 476956248
Hilarius Bertolfstraat 69
9050 Gent, Belgium