Head of Event Keynote Experience & Innovation
Workday · USA, CA, Pleasanton · workday
$170,600 – $170,600
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Why You're a Fit
Job Description
Your work days are brighter here.
We’re obsessed with making hard work pay off, for our people, our customers, and the world around us. As a Fortune 500 company and a leading AI platform for managing people, money, and agents, we’re shaping the future of work so teams can reach their potential and focus on what matters most. The minute you join, you’ll feel it. Not just in the products we build, but in how we show up for each other. Our culture is rooted in integrity, empathy, and shared enthusiasm. We’re in this together, tackling big challenges with bold ideas and genuine care. We look for curious minds and courageous collaborators who bring sun-drenched optimism and drive. Whether you're building smarter solutions, supporting customers, or creating a space where everyone belongs, you’ll do meaningful work with Workmates who’ve got your back. In return, we’ll give you the trust to take risks, the tools to grow, the skills to develop and the support of a company invested in you for the long haul. So, if you want to inspire a brighter work day for everyone, including yourself, you’ve found a match in Workday, and we hope to be a match for you too.
About the Team
This role is for a creative leader who believes the keynote remains one of the most effective ways to tell meaningful stories at scale. As the Head of Event Keynote Experience & Innovation, you will shape how our company shows up in its most visible moments—translating strategy, innovation, and vision into experiences that resonate with global audiences.Blending storytelling, experience design, and creative strategy, you will develop keynote experiences that educate, inspire trust, and support business outcomes. You will connect complex ideas to human impact through narrative, design, and intentional live and digital experiences.
If you enjoy collaborating with senior leaders, thrive in high-visibility environments, and are motivated by crafting work that influences how a brand is understood in the market, this role offers an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.
About the Role
Primary Responsibilities
Creative Vision & Narrative Strategy: In partnership with the Creative Experiences and Corporate Communications teams lead the creative direction and narrative strategy for flagship event keynotes. Translate company strategy, product vision, and innovation into clear, engaging stories and visuals - aligned to corporate approved brand toolkits and messaging hierarchies. Define the end-to-end narrative arc, ensuring cohesion, pacing, and purpose throughout the keynote. Ensure storytelling is authentic, human, and aligned with brand values.
Experience Design & Production: Develop the end-to-end keynote experience, including staging concepts, visual language, run-of-show, pacing, and media strategy. Collaborate with the Keynote design team, video and motion, content, product demo team and production teams to bring concepts to life. Guide stage and environmental design decisions to optimize audience engagement and speaker experience. Ensure a consistent and intentional experience for both live and broadcast audiences.
Executive Partnership & Speaker Coaching: Partner closely with Corporate Communications, Marketing, and senior leaders to help inform messaging that is confident, clear, credible and presents well on stage. Help inform the selection of internal and external presenters. Serve as the orchestrator of the keynote experience, directing presenters through the processes, communicating schedules, and guiding them through the experience and expectations, both during rehearsals and onsite. Serve as a trusted creative advisor, offering thoughtful guidance while building strong executive relationships.
Cross-Functional Leadership: Lead world-class agencies and vendors, ensuring they remain aligned with the creative vision while adhering to timelines and budgets. Balance innovation with simplicity, making informed decisions about when to elevate and when to streamline. Continuously evolve keynote formats and storytelling techniques by staying abreast of new technologies and industry trends.
About You
Basic Qualifications
Experience: 10+ years of experience leading the creative direction for large-scale live events, corporate keynotes, or high-end broadcast productions, ideally within technology, media, or global brands.
Location: Based in the San Francisco Bay Area with the ability to work in a hybrid office environment and travel to major event sites.
Technical Fluency: Deep understanding of the mechanics of live production, including stage design, CAD, video production, graphics development and the latest live production technologies.
Other Qualifications
Storytelling: A track record of translating complex technical concepts—specifically AI and enterprise software into clear, and engaging narratives.
Executive Presence: Outstanding communication skills with the ability to be a trusted advisor to C-Suite leaders, navigating different perspectives and influencing alignment on bold creative risks.
The "Calm in the Storm": Ability to lead creative collaborators and technical crews in high-stakes, onsite environments where last-minute changes are the norm.
Strategic Balance: Ability to harmonize creative ambition with budget guardrails, timelines, and business outcomes.
Collaborative Leadership: A highly adaptable partner who can facilitate decisions in fast-paced or ambiguous environments while maintaining a high creative standard.
Workday Pay Transparency Statement
The annualized base salary ranges for the primary location and any additional locations are listed below. Workday pay ranges vary based on work location. As a part of the total compensation package, this role may be eligible for the Workday Bonus Plan or a role-specific commission/bonus, as well as annual refresh stock grants. Recruiters can share more detail during the hiring process. Each candidate’s compensation offer will be based on multiple factors including, but not limited to, geography, experience, skills, job duties, and business need, among other things. For more information regarding Workday’s comprehensive benefits, please click here.
Primary Location: USA.CA.Pleasanton
Our Approach to Flexible Work
With Flex Work, we’re combining the best of both worlds: in-person time and remote. Our approach enables our teams to deepen connections, maintain a strong community, and do their best work. We know that flexibility can take shape in many ways, so rather than a number of required days in-office each week, we simply spend at least half (50%) of our time each quarter in the office or in the field with our customers, prospects, and partners (depending on role). This means you'll have the freedom to create a flexible schedule that caters to your business, team, and personal needs, while being intentional to make the most of time spent together. Those in our remote "home office" roles also have the opportunity to come together in our offices for important moments that matter.
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