Keynotes & Engagements

Keynotes from
the work.

Frameworks Will speaks from regularly, plus custom keynotes and workshops shaped to your event.

Signature frameworks

The frameworks Will speaks from — adapted to your audience, never delivered off the shelf.

01

Boards · Executive Teams · Marketing Leaders

The Invisible Race

How AI Search Is Reshaping Who Gets Found

For boards, executive teams, and marketing leaders who need to understand why AI has quietly changed who gets found. Will opens with where the room actually stands in ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Google AI Overviews, then shows the mechanism underneath it: these models can only recommend what they have read about you, so coverage is the whole game. From there it becomes practical. Video is the highest-leverage thing a busy leader can produce, because one recording yields a transcript, and a transcript becomes clips, articles, newsletters, and answers to the questions customers are already asking. Attendees leave with the five-move workflow that turns that into a routine, real numbers from client work, and a clear first action for the week.

The Proof Behind This Talk

Xponent21

The agency doing this work nationally — 4× organic visibility for Pool Brokers, AI Overview placements for EPD.

02

Corporate Retreats · Chambers · University Programs

AI Ready

Leading Your Organization Through the Intelligence Era

A practical, energizing session for leaders navigating AI adoption — strategy, culture, systems, and the human side of the transition. Used with corporate retreats, chambers, and university programs. Leaders leave with an adoption framework, a shared vocabulary, and answers to the questions their teams are already asking.

The Proof Behind This Talk

AI Ready RVA

Virginia's leading AI community — the nonprofit Will co-founded with civic and academic leaders.

03

Innovation Teams · Founders · Product Leaders

Build Like a Founder

What Vibe Coding and AI-Native Development Mean for Your Business

For innovation-focused audiences curious about how AI is collapsing the distance between an idea and a working product. Live demonstrations, honest economics, and a clear framework for who inside your company should be building with AI right now — and what to do with what they build.

The Proof Behind This Talk

Will Melton Studio · 52 Apps in 2026

38 apps shipped in public to date — the proof behind the talk.

04

Nonprofit Leaders · Executive Directors · Board Members

The Nonprofit AI Playbook

Writing Policy for a Future You Haven't Met Yet

Most nonprofit AI policies are written for chatbots. In eighteen months, chatbots won't be what nonprofits are governing. This session walks nonprofit leaders through a four-rung diagnostic for where their organization actually stands on AI adoption, demonstrates what's now possible at Rung 4 — including technology built with grant funding that generates ongoing revenue — and works backward to the AI policy their organization needs now. Grounded in the nine-part Nonprofit AI Playbook and real-world discovery sessions across the sector, attendees leave with clarity on the adoption gap in their own organization, the six domains a working policy must address, and a concrete next move. Designed for executive directors, senior staff, and board members who need to govern AI responsibly without slowing their mission down.

The Proof Behind This Talk

AI Ready RVA

Virginia's leading AI community — the nonprofit Will co-founded to help organizations across the region get fluent in AI.

Record of engagements

On the calendar & on the record.

Upcoming3 events
Sep 22, 2026

Building Brand Authority in an AI-Driven Search World

Building Brand Authority in an AI-Driven Search World · University of Richmond · UR Campus · Richmond, VA

Upcoming Info
Oct 7, 2026

Using AI to Win International Customers

Using AI to Win International Customers · VEDP

Upcoming Info
Oct 23, 2026

Robins School of Business Entrepreneur Speaker Series — University of Richmond

Robins School of Business Entrepreneur Speaker Series · University of Richmond, Robins School of Business · University of Richmond campus, Richmond, VA

Confirmed
Past
Recently17 engagements
Sep 3, 2026

The Nonprofit AI Playbook: Writing Policy for a Future You Haven't Met Yet

Captains' Table · Co-hosted by Atlantic Union Bank and Sands Anderson · Virtual / Zoom · 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM · check-in 8:45 AM

Jul 29, 2026

The Invisible Race

Expert Session — Emerging Trends Impacting Local Business · InUnison of Central Virginia · Richmond, VA

Jul 21, 2026

Making Work Flow with AI

Podium RVA · Synapse · Virtual

Jun 19, 2026

AI for Generational Wealth & Business Growth

Code, Black, Power & Wealth Conference · Stonehenge Country Club · Richmond, VA

Jun 16, 2026

Use AI to Get Your Time Back

From Stable to Scalable · OMBD · Richmond, VA

May 14, 2026

AI Here, AI Now, and AI in the Future

AI Here, AI Now, and AI in the Future · Executive Women International

May 13, 2026

Live Networking Game Build

Happy Hour · AI Ready RVA + Hype · Richmond, VA

Apr 24, 2026

Building Brand Authority in an AI-Driven Search World

Building Brand Authority in an AI-Driven Search World · University of Richmond — School of Professional & Continuing Studies · UR Campus · Richmond, VA

Aug 1, 2025

Winning the Attention War: Leveraging Video in the Era of AI

Xponent21 Webinar · Xponent21 · Virtual

Jun 1, 2025

Leading the Way in RVA — Podcast Feature

Leading the Way in RVA · Casey Long · Richmond, VA

May 15, 2025

The Power of Possibility

AI Ready RVA Launch · AI Ready RVA · Richmond, VA

Feb 20, 2025

Lift Off on ABC8 — Richmond Water

Lift Off · WRIC ABC8 · Richmond, VA

Feb 10, 2025

AI Ready RVA on CBS6 Virginia This Morning

Virginia This Morning · WTVR CBS6 · Richmond, VA

Nov 15, 2024

Randy Wilson Podcast: Building a Smarter, Stronger Richmond

Randy Wilson Podcast · Randy Wilson · Richmond, VA

Nov 1, 2024

Empowering Creatives to Live Their Dreams

Empowering Creatives Podcast · Jessica Ozrek · Virtual

Sep 15, 2024

26th VCU International Business Forum

International Business Forum · Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business · Richmond, VA

Sep 10, 2024

Unmasked Podcast: Sustainable Business Practices

Unmasked Podcast · Paul Blacker · Virtual

Engagement Types

How Will shows up.

Conference Speaker

Mainstage keynote for your industry event or summit.

Workshop Facilitator

Executive training, board sessions, and team workshops.

Live Build

Will builds a working app in real time, with the room driving the build. At the end, the group keeps the outcome — built live, shaped by you, yours to use.

News Expert

On-camera commentary and written quotes on AI topics.

Podcast / Radio Guest

Guest appearance with discussion guide and audience-aware framing.

Paid engagements · $5K–$25K · Limited pro bono

Ready to talk?

Book Will
Sep 22Building Brand Authority in an AI-Driven Search World