Four Lessons My Journey to The Speaker Awards Shortlisting Has Taught Me

Oh btw -  I have been shortlisted for BEST NEWCOMER, 2026, at The Speaker Awards, London!

I am so grateful and excited!

If you had told my younger self that I would one day combine magic, neuroscience, leadership and keynote speaking, I’m not sure I would have believed you.

Looking back, four lessons stand out.

1. Being different matters more than being polished

For years, I saw myself as several different things - a magician, a financial adviser, a business development manager, a financial services senior leader, a facilitator, and someone fascinated by neuroscience.

The real breakthrough came when I stopped treating those as separate identities and realised the magic was in the intersection between them.

Every keynote has helped me become more polished, but my greatest strength has been embracing what makes my perspective different.

2. People remember experiences far longer than information

A great insight doesn’t simply land in the mind - it should be felt.

Audiences may not remember every model, framework or statistic, but they often remember the moment they experienced a cognitive illusion that revealed something about their own thinking.

Those shared moments of surprise, curiosity and reflection are what make learning memorable.

3. The best keynotes create change, not just engagement

Early in my speaking journey, it's easy to measure success through laughter, applause and audience reactions.

Of course, those moments are wonderful, but the real goal is what happens afterwards.

Do people think differently when they return to their workplace? Do they approach a conversation with more curiosity? Do they challenge an assumption, embrace change, or choose a different behaviour?

That is why I continue to focus on creating experiential learning that doesn’t just entertain an audience, but helps create lasting change.

4. Your previous career is often your greatest advantage

For a long time, I wondered whether my corporate career was delaying my speaking career.

In reality, it was preparing me for it.

Years spent leading people, navigating change, managing performance and understanding the realities of organisational life gave me the credibility and practical experience to speak authentically about leadership, high performance and human connection.

Being recognised by the judges at The Speaker Awards is a moment I’m incredibly grateful for.

More importantly, it reinforces a belief I hold strongly: the future of keynote speaking is not about delivering more information. It is about creating meaningful experiences that connect people, challenge their thinking and stay with them long after the event has finished.

I’m excited to travel to London in July, meet the other outstanding finalists, continue learning from the speaking community, and see where this next chapter leads.

Alex Moffat is a Sydney-based keynote speaker specialising in leadership, change, human connection and high performance. Combining neuroscience, storytelling and cognitive illusions, he creates audience-wide experiences that challenge assumptions, shift mindsets and inspire lasting change.