Applied AI Speakers — Feature Profile
Diane Darling
McGraw-Hill Author, Networking Authority & Global Keynote Speaker
“I asked ChatGPT how to start a conversation — and ended up having the most fascinating conversation I’d had all week. That’s the power of AI + human connection.”
— Diane Darling, Author & Networking Pioneer
01 — The Human Story
She Took Standup Comedy Classes to Overcome Stage Fright. Then She Wrote the Book on Networking.
Diane Darling didn’t start as a natural connector. To conquer her fear of public speaking, she enrolled in acting and standup comedy classes — a move that shaped her entire philosophy: bold, strategic, and delightfully out-of-the-box.
In 2003 — before Facebook, before LinkedIn — McGraw-Hill commissioned Diane to write the definitive guide to professional networking. The Networking Survival Guide hit a second printing within 90 days. Her follow-up, Networking for Career Success, cemented her as the authority on human connection. Both books are available on Audible and Amazon, and collectively they have been translated into 9 languages.
She has since spoken at Harvard Business School, MIT Charm School (yes, it’s real — she was the commencement speaker), Stanford Alumni, the London School of Economics, the European Cardiology Society, Massachusetts General Hospital, University of Texas Law School, Bank of America, 20th Century Fox, Cisco Systems, Infosys, and the American Bar Association, among many others.
She has appeared on NBC Nightly News, in The Wall Street Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, and The Boston Globe. She is a member of the Chief Executive’s Club of Boston.
✨ The Tandem Differentiator
As a female speaker, Diane’s pairing with Applied AI creates a more balanced, multi-perspective keynote — a genuine advantage for event planners building diverse, inclusive lineups. Audiences hear two voices, two lenses, one powerful message.
The Books
9
Languages
20+
Years Speaking
60+
Countries
🤝
Human Connection + AI
AI as your pre-event conversation coach, real-time icebreaker generator, and post-event follow-up strategist
02 — The AI Application
When the World’s Top Networking Expert Meets Applied AI, Every Handshake Gets Smarter.
Diane’s tandem keynote with John Chmela is built on a simple but powerful insight: AI is brilliant at helping you prepare for human moments. Before a networking event, AI can research attendees, suggest conversation openers, and anticipate common ground. During the event, it’s your silent coach. Afterward, it drafts the perfect follow-up message.
The audience doesn’t just learn how to network — they walk away with a live AI toolkit they can use at the next conference, client dinner, or job interview. Diane demonstrates the human skill; John demonstrates the AI power-up. Together, they make the audience unstoppable.
As Diane puts it: “I asked ChatGPT to help me start a conversation — and ended up having the most fascinating conversation I’d had all week.” That’s the keynote in a nutshell.
03 — Ideal Audiences
Who Books Diane & John
04 — The Tandem Partnership
Two Experts. One Unforgettable Event.
Diane Darling
The Human Connection Expert
20+ years teaching the world’s top institutions how to build relationships that last. McGraw-Hill author. Harvard, MIT, Stanford, LSE faculty. NBC Nightly News. Wall Street Journal. Boston Globe.
John Chmela
The Applied AI Powerhouse
Founder of Airhead Institute. Author of AI: Code of Ethics. Daily Applied AI columnist. Transforms any expert’s message into a live, hands-on AI demonstration your audience can use immediately.