A historian's perspective on the future
Speaking that changes the conversation.
I work on the future of work, the transformation of wealth and the changing shape of our lives. I use history, data, humour and the experiences we're all living through to explain the extraordinary changes reshaping our world.
From global conferences to intimate leadership discussions, my talks challenge assumptions, connect the dots and give audiences a fresh and practical perspective on what's happening, and what to do next.
Trusted by organisations including
The Themes I Talk About
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What happens to work when the old rules no longer apply?
Younger workers: How do we recruit, motivate and retain a generation entering a workplace where the bottom rungs of the career ladder are disappearing? And how do they develop judgement when AI is doing the tasks through which previous generations learned?
Older workers: How do we harness experience, challenge ageism and rethink careers that may last 50 years?
Multigenerational teams: How do we overcome the misunderstandings between generations around communication, authority, ambition and what constitutes hard work? And what happens when AI becomes the newest generation in the workplace?
The future of careers: What replaces the traditional career ladder, the job for life and the promise of retirement? How should organisations prepare for multiple careers, changing skills and new forms of work?
We are witnessing the breakdown of the twentieth-century model of work. Younger generations are struggling to get onto a career ladder that's disappearing, while older generations are being told to keep climbing it for longer. Meanwhile, AI is transforming the very nature of expertise.
My keynotes explore these contradictions, drawing on history, demographic change and my work with organisations across industries. I challenge the stereotypes we hold about younger and older workers, examine how AI is changing the relationship between experience and expertise, and offer practical ways to bridge generational divides, rethink talent recruitment and development.
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Who will hold tomorrow's wealth; and what will they do with it?
The Great Wealth Transfer: What happens when unprecedented amounts of wealth pass between generations? How will inheritance change family relationships, economic opportunity and the balance of power?
HNW and UHNW families: How do families prepare the next generation not just to inherit wealth, but to manage it, understand its responsibilities and develop their own sense of purpose? How do we navigate succession, family dynamics and conversations about money that many families would rather avoid?
Women and wealth: As women gain greater control over family and personal wealth, how are their priorities, relationships and financial decisions changing?
The next generation of clients: How do private banks, wealth managers, family offices and advisers build trust with younger generations?
The rise of the Inheritocracy: What happens to ambition, opportunity and social mobility when family wealth increasingly determines the choices available to us? And how is this changing the relationship between generations, both within wealthy families and across wider society?
We are living through a profound transformation in who owns wealth, who controls it and how it is passed on. But this isn't simply a story about money moving between generations. It's about the transfer of power, responsibility and influence, within families and across society.
Drawing on my research into the Inheritocracy and my work with financial institutions and wealthy families, I explore the changing dynamics of inheritance, the growing economic influence of women and the challenges of building trust across generations. My keynotes combine historical perspective with practical insights into navigating family conversations, understanding changing expectations and preparing for the next generation of wealth holders.
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What happens when the old life script no longer works?
The changing consumer: What happens when the traditional milestones of adulthood — leaving home, marriage, children, homeownership and retirement — are delayed, reordered or abandoned altogether? Are businesses still selling to a consumer who no longer exists?
The longevity economy: What happens when 60 is no longer considered old, retirement becomes less certain and people are living, working and spending for longer? Which industries are ready for the rise of the older consumer — and which are still obsessed with youth?
The future of family: How are declining birth rates, changing relationships, multigenerational households and the growing care economy reshaping what people need, buy and value?
The economics of everyday life: How are housing costs, inherited wealth and the rising cost of independence changing the way younger generations spend, save, socialise and define success?
The investment opportunity: Which companies, products and business models reflect the way people actually live today? Where are the emerging markets created by demographic change, and which established industries are still built around an outdated model of the consumer?
We're not just living longer, we're living differently. The old assumptions about when we leave home, start families, build careers and retire no longer hold.
I look at how these shifts are changing consumer behaviour, creating new markets and challenging established business models. Which companies understand the lives people are actually leading, and which are still catering to a world that no longer exists?
What Clients Say
“At our AGM she was able to hold the attention of 700 people in the last session of the day. At a time when other presenters would have lost their audience figuratively and physically, Eliza engaged, entertained and educated.”
Alastair Macrow, CEO, McDonald's UK
“My people were blown away, and are still talking about elements of what they learnt, and its application in their work, weeks after.”
Stephen Doherty, Chief Brand & Corporate Affairs Officer, Aviva
“I'm a bit of a connoisseur of talks on AI to the profession and Eliza’s was the best I have listened to in the past three years.”
Philip Young, Co-founder and CEO, Garfield
“The feedback from the partners was uniformly positive with a number remarking that it was the best presentation that they had attended in years. I can’t recommend Eliza highly enough.”
Jason Glover, London Managing Partner, Simpson Thatcher & Bartlett
“Eliza is an expert and highly engaging speaker and her subject matter is vital for all businesses to grapple with if we’re to adapt to ever more complex times.”
David Durlacher, CEO, Julius Baer International Ltd
Want to go deeper?
Alongside my speaking work, I've built All Relative, a research and advisory business that helps organisations put these ideas into practice.
We offer two bespoke programmes designed to answer two pressing business questions:
The Generational Blueprint™ helping organisations bridge generational divides, improve communication and build better multigenerational workplaces in the age of AI.
The Trust Transfer helping wealth managers and financial institutions understand changing family dynamics, build trust across generations and strengthen relationships with the next generation of wealth holders.
Both programmes combine research, practical frameworks and interactive workshops tailored to your organisation.