Cortney Harding

Emmy‑Nominated AI & XR Keynote Speaker on the Future of Work, Innovation, and Spatial Computing
Cortney
Harding

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AVAILABLE FOR

Keynote
Virtual Presentation

Fee ranges

Domestic In-Person (USA):

$10,001 - $20,000*

International In-Person:

Please inquire

Virtual:

Please inquire

Other:

* Ranges are presented as a guideline only. Speaker fees vary by engagement type and are subject to change without notice. For an exact quote, please contact Gravity Speakers.

Traveling from

New York City, New York, USA

About

Cortney Harding is a dynamic keynote speaker, award‑winning innovator, and thought leader in AI, spatial computing, and immersive technologies. As the founder and CEO of Friends With Holograms, she has guided major global brands and institutions — including Amazon, Verizon, Walmart, Target, Lowe’s, NIH, and Fortune 100 companies — to leverage VR, AR, and AI for training, education, and transformational change.

Her work bridges cutting‑edge technology with meaningful human outcomes, creating VR training scenarios that address critical issues such as workplace inclusion, mental health, racial bias, and Black maternal mortality. This work has earned numerous recognitions: an Emmy nomination as executive producer on the immersive piece JFK Memento, Best VR/AR of 2019 at Mobile World Congress, a SXSW Innovation Award Finalist, and Top HR Product by HR Executive.

Cortney’s perspective extends into academia and thought leadership. She has taught at institutions such as NYU, Caltech, Barnard, and North Carolina State University, co‑authored Fast Future Blur (Wiley, 2024), and co‑taught the Coursera course “What is the Metaverse?” on behalf of Meta. Her book The Spatial Race is slated for release in October 2025.

As a seasoned speaker, Cortney has delivered keynotes and workshops at major global events including Davos, SXSW, Advertising Week Europe, Mobile World Congress, Augmented World Expo, and corporate summits for clients like Meta, Microsoft, and Coca‑Cola. Her work and insights have been featured by media outlets such as The New York Times, NPR, and Ad Week, and she is an active member of the World Economic Forum.

Cortney’s presentations empower audiences to navigate technological disruption with confidence, understand the practical implications of next‑generation tools, and build adaptive, human‑focused strategies for growth and impact.

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Topics

Topics

The Future Is Right in Front of Our Eyes: Smartglasses, AI, and the Next Interface

From Glassholes to Workhorses: How Smartglasses Become Everyday Tools

Your Workforce Has an Eyeball Problem: Learning in the Moment of Need

The Spatial Race: ‍How to Prepare for Our Future in the Meta-Physical World

The Seeing Economy: When the World Becomes the Screen

How To Build The Meta-Physical World

Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8lI-uNVkfM
Manipulating the Mind - The Ethical Limits of Virtual Reality - Cortney Harding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dL66d24kaR8
The Future of Work in the Metaverse
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBOrI5DvqQ4
How Human is That Avatar? Generative AI and the Metaverse | Cortney Harding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cltdNneJNDE
From Points to NFTs: Rethinking Consumer Loyalty for the Digital Age

Testimonials

“Totally inspiring! After her talk I started creating new projects with AI and we’re seeing a lot of engagement.”

Ashwini Anburajan,CRO
Obi

“One of the smartest and most future-focused speakers I have ever seen!”

Geoff Cottrill, former CMO
Coca-Cola

“Cortney got our team excited about creating AI and XR projects.”

Jayne O'Driscoll-Doherty,Senior Learning Program Manager
Amazon