Looking for an international keynote speaker in Riyadh?
Sylvie di Giusto calls the United States home, and airport lounges around the world her second office. She is a CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame keynote speaker who helps organizations, and the people inside them, become impossible to replace. She has worked with leaders from Germany to the UK and Hong Kong, and brings two keynotes to Riyadh stages: Forever Human and The Power of Choice, live or as the world’s first 3D immersive keynote.
PassengerYour audience
ClassIrreplaceable
GateYour stage
BoardingWhen you are ready
Languages
English
Keynotes
Forever Human The Power of Choice
Formats
3D immersive or traditional · in person, hybrid, virtual
Recognition
CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame · Esprit, Davey and EventEx awards
Reach
Audiences in 25+ countries
Books
More than a dozen books on leadership and being chosen
Riyadh is a city moving at remarkable speed while holding firmly to its heritage, and that balance is close to the heart of my work. With an Austrian mother, a French father, a Spanish grandmother and an Italian grandfather, I learned early that respect for another culture begins with listening, and I bring that same respect to every Saudi stage.
My family ties reach to the United Arab Emirates, and regular travel throughout the Middle East has given me genuine familiarity with the region. I understand the values that matter in Saudi Arabia: dignity, grace and thoughtful professionalism. I build every message with those values in mind, and I prepare with the care a Riyadh audience deserves.
For nearly twenty years I sat on your side of the table. I led the leadership academy of Europe’s largest retail and tourism group, decided which leaders rose, and booked the speakers who stood in front of them. Today I live in Florida and have served audiences in more than 25 countries, with my German husband, our family engineer on wheels, keeping every trip running smoothly.
Trusted by organizations around the world
Choose your route
Two keynotes, built for your Riyadh audience
Future of work & AI
Forever Human
The better the machines get, the more your people will set you apart.
AI just made everyone equally capable. Sylvie names the ten moves a machine still can’t make and shows your audience how to lead, sell and connect with the human signals technology can’t fake.
Why it lands in Riyadh: in the city that hosts LEAP, your audience has seen what technology can do. This shows them what only people can do.
What your people know rarely gets them chosen. What others see in them does.
Clients, talent and the room decide in seconds. Sylvie reveals the five dimensions that quietly decide who gets kept, followed and chosen, and how to shape them on purpose.
Why it lands in Riyadh: in a business culture built on relationships, trust and personal reputation, it shows your people the dimensions that decide who gets chosen.
Bring the world’s first 3D immersive keynote to Riyadh
No slides, no pre-recorded hologram beamed in from somewhere else. Sylvie stays live in the room while holograms appear around her, and your leaders, sponsors and theme can step into the story. In Riyadh, our team works hand in hand with your venue and AV partner, so the wow never costs you a sleepless night.
Regional familiarity, real respectFamily ties in the UAE, regular travel throughout the Middle East, and keynotes prepared with Saudi cultural values in mind.
From your side of the tableTwenty years of booking speakers herself. She knows what you risk when you choose one.
Built for your roomEvery keynote is researched and customized, down to your people, your theme and your city.
Zero diva, full partnerOne team for travel and logistics, working hand in hand with yours or your bureau’s, and a speaker who makes your event the star.
Planning a conference in Riyadh: local insights
As of November 2025, Saudi Arabia’s events authority counted 923 venues nationwide, with Riyadh, Makkah and the Eastern Province holding 75 percent of the exhibition space. Here is what helps when you plan yours.
Fly inKing Khalid International Airport (RUH)Riyadh Metro Line 4 (Yellow Line) to King Khalid International Airport opened to passengers on 1 December 2024.
Time zoneAST (UTC+3, no daylight saving)Check the live clock under the departures board above.
LanguageArabic, with English widely used in international businessSylvie’s keynotes are delivered in English and built for international audiences.
CurrencySaudi riyal (SAR)The riyal is pegged to the US dollar; contactless card and mobile payments are standard.
Schedule Sunday to Thursday. The Saudi weekend is Friday and Saturday, and activity pauses briefly at prayer times, so build short breaks into the agenda around them.
Plan thoughtfully for Ramadan. Ramadan dates shift earlier each year; working hours shorten and events move to the evening. Year round, alcohol is not served at events and modest dress is expected.
Book around LEAP and Cityscape. LEAP (13 to 16 April 2026 at RECC Malham) and Cityscape Global (16 to 19 November 2026) draw very large crowds, so secure hotels and venues early.
Taking it on the road? Extend a Riyadh engagement to Dubai or Abu Dhabi and carry one message to regional teams across the Gulf.
Make the evening unforgettable. Welcome your guests to historic Diriyah, where At-Turaif and Bujairi Terrace offer a setting rich in Saudi heritage, or to the Kingdom Centre Sky Bridge for the city at night.
Landmarks for your evening program
Kingdom Centre Sky BridgeAl Masmak FortressDiriyah and At-Turaif (UNESCO site) with Bujairi TerraceEdge of the World escarpmentBoulevard CityKing Abdullah Financial DistrictNational Museum of Saudi ArabiaWadi Hanifa
Questions planners ask about Riyadh
Who is a good international keynote speaker for a conference in Riyadh?
Sylvie di Giusto is a CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame keynote speaker and has worked with leaders across Europe and Asia. She delivers two keynotes, Forever Human on the human edge in the age of AI and The Power of Choice on how people get chosen, either on a traditional stage or as the world’s first 3D immersive keynote.
Can the keynote be tailored to an international audience in Riyadh?
Yes. Every keynote is researched and customized for your people, your industry and your theme, and Sylvie’s multicultural background helps her connect with audiences of many nationalities in Riyadh.
Can the 3D immersive keynote be staged in a Riyadh venue?
Yes, wherever there is a stage and a room that can go dark. Sylvie’s team works directly with your Riyadh venue and AV partner, checks the floor plan early and sends the full tech requirements. See how the experience works.
Which keynote fits an AI or technology conference in Riyadh?
Forever Human. It shows audiences the ten moves a machine still can’t make, and turns AI anxiety into a clear plan for the human skills that grow in value as technology gets better.
Which keynote fits a leadership, sales or HR event in Riyadh?
The Power of Choice. It reveals the five dimensions that decide who gets kept, followed and chosen, and shows people how to shape those judgments on purpose. It is built on Sylvie’s book The Image of Leadership.
Sylvie is based in the US. Does she travel to Riyadh?
Yes. Sylvie speaks in more than 25 countries. Her team handles travel and logistics, so you work with one contact from the first call to the show.
Can we book Sylvie through our local speaker bureau?
Yes. Sylvie partners with speaker bureaus around the world. If a bureau already supports your event, Sylvie’s team will work directly with them from the first call to the show, so you keep the partner you trust.
What about visas, permits and other formalities for a keynote in Saudi Arabia?
Sylvie’s team handles it with you. Sylvie speaks internationally all year, so her team knows the paperwork a cross-border keynote can involve: business visas or work permits, invitation letters, and any tax forms Saudi Arabia requires for foreign speakers. They check the requirements for Saudi Arabia early, tell you exactly what they need from you, and take care of the rest, so nothing stands between your date and the stage.
How far in advance should we book a keynote speaker for Riyadh?
As early as your dates are set. Peak conference seasons in Riyadh fill venues and hotels fast, and the 3D immersive keynote needs a few weeks of custom work for your audience. Check availability to hold your date.
Can Sylvie speak virtually or in a hybrid format for a Riyadh event?
Yes. Both keynotes are available in person, hybrid or virtual, and each version is customized to your audience and theme.