Ken Dychtwald Ph.D.

Biography

Over the past 40+ years, Dr. Ken Dychtwald has emerged as North America’s foremost visionary and original thinker regarding the lifestyle, marketing, healthcare, economic, leisure, and workforce implications of the age wave.

Ken is a psychologist, gerontologist, and best-selling author of 18 books on aging-related issues, including Bodymind, Age Wave: The Challenges and Opportunities of an Aging Society, Age Power: How the 21st Century Will Be Ruled by the New Old, Healthy Aging, Gideon’s Dream: A Tale of New Beginnings, A New Purpose: Redefining Money, Family, Work, Retirement, and Success and What Retirees Want: A Holistic View of Life’s Third Age (an Amazon #1 bestseller in both the retirement and business marketing categories). He also released a memoir in April 2021: Radical Curiosity: One Man’s Search for Cosmic Magic and a Purposeful Life (an Amazon #1 New Release in the psychologist biographies category). He was the executive producer and host of the highly rated/acclaimed PBS documentary, The Boomer Century: 1946–2046 which aired over 2,000 times on PBS stations nationwide and his new Public Television special is titled Life’s Third Age.

Since 1986, Ken has been the Founder and CEO of Age Wave, an acclaimed think tank and consultancy focused on the social and business implications and opportunities of global aging and rising longevity. His client list has included over half the Fortune 500. He has served as a fellow of the World Economic Forum and was a featured speaker at two White House Conferences on Aging. Ken has twice received the distinguished American Society on Aging Award for outstanding national leadership, and American Demographics honored him as the single most influential marketer to baby boomers over the past quarter century. His article in the Harvard Business Review, “It’s Time to Retire Retirement,” was awarded the prestigious McKinsey Award, tying for first place with the legendary Peter Drucker. He was honored by Investment Advisoras one of the 35 most influential thought leaders in the financial services industry over the past 35 years. Ken and his wife, Maddy, recently received the Esalen Prize for their outstanding contributions to advancing the human potential of aging men and women worldwide. In 2018 he was awarded the Inspire Award from in the International Council on Active Aging for his exceptional and lasting contributions to the active-aging industry and for his efforts to make a difference in the lives of older adults globally. In 2020, he was the first recipient of the Pioneer Award from the Retirement Coaches Association.

During his career, Ken has addressed more than two million people worldwide in his speeches to corporate, association, social service, and government groups. His strikingly accurate predictions and innovative ideas are regularly featured in leading media worldwide and have garnered nearly 15 billion media impressions.

Videos

Request Availability

Testimonials

I have been learning from Ken Dychtwald for years and am convinced that he is today’s most innovative and original thinker on this important subject.

– President Jimmy Carter

Ken Dychtwald has a unique ability to blend cutting-edge social science and unrivaled knowledge about the marketing and workforce implications of the global age wave with world-class presentation showmanship. The response to his talks to our “Committee of 100” leadership has been tremendous and he has managed to earn the highest speaker ratings in our history of meetings. His presentation style is riveting, his knowledge base grows even stronger with the years and his understanding and insightful solutions are truly visionary. I highly recommend Ken Dychtwald to any organization seeking a show-stopping keynoter.

– Thomas J. Donohue, President and CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce

You have a real gift for communicating with others. On a scale of 100, you received an average score of 98%. Obviously, this is just about as close to being perfect as you can get. We have enjoyed many top-ranked speakers over the years, including Dr. Victor Frankel, Mother Teresa, David Brinkley, George Will, Chris Matthews, Cokie Roberts, Congressman Claude Pepper and Senator Ted Kennedy, but no one was ever better received than you.

– Val J. Halamandaris, President, National Association for Home Care and Hospice

Ken Dychtwald’s presentation to 500 of the most influential decision makers in the global travel industry was an overwhelming success. In an era of millennial mania; Ken combined cutting-edge demographic trends and entertaining messages to demonstrate that the Boomer and Millennial markets are not mutually exclusive and represent enormous economic power.

– Matthew Upchurch, CEO, Virtuoso, Ltd.

Ken’s keynote presentation for our Health Technologies Forum was off the charts. He is utterly smart, inspiring, and charming. In a word, it was ‘awesome’. A very tough act to follow.

– Dennis A. Robbins, PhD, MPH Technology and Innovation Board Member, American Heart Association

Our Retirement Income Summit is the financial services industry’s premier event for advisors seeking insights into helping investors achieve a successful future. Ken’s involvement made the Summit even more of a must-attend event, and his keynote presentation – an overview of important research findings and practical takeaways delivered with wit and style – was an overwhelming hit. We couldn’t have asked for more.

– Suzanne Siracuse, Publisher, InvestmentNews

Ken Dychtwald changed the way I view the future. In just one hour he unlocked truths so clear and powerful that they are shocking. His understanding of population demographics are utterly critical for any CEO, executive team or government leader to understand. Without it you will not be prepared for what is rapidly approaching – a set of massive changes that will fundamentally affect every aspect of our lives and every industry on Earth.

– Peter H. Diamandis, Chairman/CEO, X PRIZE Foundation & Executive Chairman, Singularity University

Ken Dychtwald’s remarkable ability to command an audience’s attention is unmatched. He presents complex and challenging material with clarity and leaves his audiences wanting more. As a speaker myself, I truly appreciate the preparation and research so evident in Ken’s presentations. No wonder he’s #1 in his space!

– Harvey Mackay, Author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Swim With The Sharks Without Being Eaten Alive

In addition to being a gifted social scientist and great and prolific writer on the topic of aging and retirement, Ken Dychtwald’s presentation and communication skills, and his ability to engage all forms of media are beyond impressive.

– Jay Wintrob, President and CEO, SunAmerica Financial Group

Your presentation and the discussion that followed were both interesting and enlightening and we appreciate your contributions. Many times people referred back to your presentation over the two day retreat.

– Dennis Glass, President and CEO, Lincoln Financial Group

Booksby Ken Dychtwald Ph.D.

Radical Curiosity: One Man's Search for Cosmic Magic and a Purposeful Life

What Retirees Want: A Holistic View of Life's Third Age

A New Purpose: Redefining Money, Family, Work, Retirement and Success

Influence: How Women's Soaring Economic Power Will Transform Our World for the Better

A Tale of New Beginnings: Gideon's Dream

The Power Years: A User's Guide to the Rest of Your Life

Age Power

Age Wave: How the Most Important Trend of Our Time Change Your Future

Cycles: How We Will Live, Work ad Buy

Body Mind

Workforce Crisis: How to Beat the Coming Shortage of Skills and Talent

Healthy Aging: Challenges and Solutions

For Meeting Planners

Speaker Documents

Request Availability

Blog Posts

Stop Stressing! Find Your Perfect Stress Management Style

✨ Eliz Greene addresses the complexities of stress management, highlighting the importance of recognizing and...

Why Do People Get Harley-Davidson Tattoos? Building Unwavering Brand Loyalty

🏍️ In a world where brand loyalty can seem fleeting, Ken Schmidt, former Director of...

Achieving 3 Daily Wins: Leadership Lessons with Lt. Col. Waldo Waldman

🎧 Tune in my conversation with Lt. Col. Waldo Waldman to become the person that...

Train Like You Fight: How To Take Pride in Your Preparation

How to handle unexpected challenges during high-stakes situations? Mistakes can be costly, but meticulous preparation...

Honoring Memorial Day and Inspirational Veteran Speakers

🎖️ In this week's newsletter, we honor those who sacrificed and those who continue to...

MPI’s World Education Congress (WEC) in Louisville, KY

🤩 The Keynote Curators was thrilled to participate in Meeting Professionals International World Education Congress...

Related Speakers

Julie Austin NASDAQ-Winning Inventor, Futurist, Innovation/Competitive Advantage Expert, Award-Winning Author, and CEO of Creative Innovation Group

Brett King Futurist, Bestselling Author, Founder and CEO of the Moven (World’s First Direct Mobile-Only Bank), Known as the “King of Disruptors” and “Godfather of Fintech”

David and Jonah Stillman Generational Experts (Father-Son Duo)

José Morey Healthcare and Technology Futurist, Big Data and Innovation Expert, Consultant for NASA, IBM, Hyperloop Transportation, and Liberty BioSecurity

Richard van Hooijdonk Trendwatcher, Futurist, Lecturer on World Trends, Technology and Marketing

Reviews & Ratings

     Excellent  
     Based on 56 reviews 
    
 
 
   
 
 
        
   Waldo Waldman 
 May 19, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I’ve been Speaking professionally for 21 years and work with the largest agencies in the world. I’m a Hall of Fame keynote speaker and a New York Times best selling Author. I have can honestly say in full confidence that Seth Dechtman and his team at Keynote Curator is the best agency I have been honored to work with.
I’ve witnessed Seth’s client focused relationship skills On multiple occasions. His clients love him and he’s detail oriented and has great communication skillls.
But most importantly, I’ve been on the receiving side of his servant, focused leadership style. He treats me like a valued partner and emulates everything a wingman is.
  
 
       
   David Allison 
 May 17, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Seth and the Keynote Curators team are tenacious and determined to do right by their clients and their speakers. I appreciate our relationship so much, and highly reccomend this group to anyone looking to book a speaker for an event.
  
 
       
   Meir Statman 
 May 10, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. It is wonderful to join Seth in helping people reflect on their financial and life well-being and enhance them.
  
 
       
   Trevor Wilde 
 April 24, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. This was an amazing experience. the Keynote Speaker we had was perfect for our event and will definitely be having another for our next one!
  
 
       
   Sandro Forte 
 March 22, 2024
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Brilliantly hosted, with great content. An absolute ‘must add’ to any podcast list!
  
 
       
   Jon VanDeventer 
 November 18, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I've been working with Seth at The Keynote Curators for over 3 years. I always look forward to our meetings because of both his professional expertise and his enjoyable, engaging personality. We have fun during our virtual meetings while developing innovative strategies and accomplishing goals. It's obvious from working with Seth over a number of years that he is always making event planning and booking services an easy process and providing responsiveness that sets him apart. He's an excellent partner who gets invested in your business and collaborates through every step of a process that can sometimes feel overwhelming.
  
 
       
   Jason Galaska 
 November 7, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Seth and his team were fantastic to work with in 2023 and we look forward to working with Keynote Curators to find potential speaker matches for our events in the future.  Thank you, Seth, for your professionalism!
  
 
       
   Hailey Wilson 
 October 23, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. A Treasure Trove for Anyone Involved in Speaker Selection!

As someone deeply involved in the intersection of marketing and technology at AImpact, I find the process of selecting the right keynote speaker to be a critical part of any successful event. Seth Dechtman's "The Keynote Curators" podcast is nothing short of a godsend for anyone facing the challenges and opportunities that come with this task.

Seth brings an almost poetic understanding to the power of words, acknowledging that a speech isn't just a scheduled event but a transformative experience that can change the dynamics of an entire room. His enthusiasm for the craft is contagious, making each episode a joy to listen to.
  
 
       
   Nicole 
 September 14, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Seth is super knowledgeable about the needs of meeting planners to have a successful event and partners with you to find just that right fit!
  
 
       
   Duncan Sigurdsson 
 August 28, 2023
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! Working with Seth Dechtman and The Keynote Curators is always true partnership.  In the three plus years that we have been involved in various projects, I can tell you that they always deliver.  We have done some really cool stuff together.  Any meeting professional, conference planner or event producer will greatly benefit from partnering with The Keynote Curators.  High praise to Seth and his team.