Behind the Scenes of My Keynote at AACC: Leadership, Disruption & Digital Storytelling
I had the opportunity to deliver a keynote at the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) conference in Denver. Over 5,000 people. Educators, innovators, and disruptors from across North America, all in one place.
But this blog isn’t just about the event. It’s about what it took to create that keynote, what I learned from being there, and how it all reflects the future of leadership, work, and communication.
Beyond the production, what made the experience meaningful was the message I wanted to share: Leadership in today’s world isn’t about titles it’s about influence.
Leadership Is No Longer About Titles It’s About Influence
We’re living in a world where hierarchies are flattening. The best ideas don’t come from the top anymore. And people don’t follow you because you’re the CEO or the VP of Whatever. They follow you because you inspire them. Because you move things forward. Because you make them feel like the future is worth building.
I’ve met leaders without formal titles who are transforming their communities with vision and boldness. And I’ve met people with the fanciest job descriptions who couldn’t lead their way out of a paper bag.
The difference? Influence.
Leadership isn't assigned, it's earned.
Future-Proofing: The 3 Must-Have Skills
On stage, I broke down what I believe are the three essential skills for the future. If you want to stay relevant and impactful, focus on these:
Be Undeniably World-Class at Something
Get so good they can’t ignore you. Whether it’s design, strategy, code, communication go deep in one area and own it.
Build Brand Equity
Your name is your business card now. People Google before they trust. Make sure what they find reflects who you really are.
Think Like a Generalist
The world doesn’t need more narrow specialists who can’t pivot. Curiosity across domains is your secret weapon. Combine ideas from different spaces to create new ones.
We’re in a world that rewards those who go deep in one thing but stay wide in perspective. If you’re not cultivating all three, you’re falling behind.
Behind the Curtain: The Preparation
What people saw on stage was 45 minutes of energy and visuals. But what they didn’t see was the grind behind it.
I scrapped and rebuilt 50 slides.
Designed 30 custom motion graphics.
Re-engineered the entire presentation to take full advantage of a massive LED screen just days before the event.
This wasn’t just a keynote. It was a production.
Because if I want people to feel something, I have to go all in. Every visual. Every word. Every moment has to matter.
If you’re curious how I prepared for another high-pressure keynote check out my blog where I had to follow Bill and Hillary Clinton.
Storytelling Through Technology
That LED wall behind me? It wasn’t just a screen. It was a canvas. The motion graphics? Not decoration they were emotion amplifiers.
Technology is one of the most powerful storytelling tools we have. And when you combine narrative with design and motion, you don’t just deliver a message, you create an experience.
If you're still using static slides in 2025, you’re leaving attention and impact on the table.
Meeting Giants: Trevor Noah & Cheryl Lee Ralph
One of the highlights was sharing the space with Trevor Noah and Cheryl Lee Ralph. Watching Trevor speak was like witnessing a masterclass. He moves between humor and insight so effortlessly, it’s wild.
It reminded me: the best communicators are shapeshifters. They read the room. They adapt. They connect deeply and quickly, no matter who’s in front of them.
From 100 to Zero: Self-Disruption in Action
One of the core ideas I shared on stage was this:
Sometimes, growth doesn’t come from going 0 to 100.
It comes from going 100 to 0.
That’s self-disruption.
It’s letting go of the titles, the credentials, the comfort zones. It’s refusing to let a job description define your identity. Forget climbing the ladder, sometimes the most radical thing you can do is jump off it.
Strip it all away, and what’s left?
Purpose. Mission. Who you really are when no one’s watching.
The best reinvention doesn’t come from chasing more. It comes from letting go.
My First TikTok Live (Yes, Really)
After the keynote, I went live on TikTok for the very first time.
I was nervous. I had no idea what I was doing. But I did it anyway.
Because that’s what this new era is all about.
If we’re not experimenting with how we communicate, we’re already behind.
TikTok, YouTube Shorts, AI, live-streaming it’s all fair game. We don’t need to be perfect. We just need to be present.
Final Thought: It’s All One Big Experiment
If there’s one thing I’ve learned through this experience, it’s this:
Leadership isn’t given. It’s chosen by the people who decide to follow you.
So forget about waiting for permission.
Forget about chasing a title.
Start showing up.
Start leading.
Start building influence on stage, online, and in your own way.
Because the future doesn’t belong to the one with the fanciest job description.
It belongs to the one bold enough to shape it.
About the Author:
Shawn Kanungo is a globally recognized disruption strategist and keynote speaker who helps organizations adapt to change and leverage disruptive thinking. Named one of the "Best New Speakers" by the National Speakers Bureau, Shawn has spoken at some of the world's most innovative organizations, including IBM, Walmart, and 3M. His expertise in digital disruption strategies helps leaders navigate transformation and build resilience in an increasingly uncertain business environment.