Ragan Communications has announced digital media entrepreneur and What's Trending founder Shira Lazar as a keynote speaker for its 2026 Future of Communications Conference, taking place Nov. 11-13 at the Hyatt Regency Austin during Communications Week.

Lazar will take the stage for "Think Like a Creator: Thriving at the Intersection of AI, Trust and the Future of Communications," a keynote examining how artificial intelligence, creator culture and changing expectations around authenticity are reshaping the way organizations communicate.

As executives increasingly become creators, employees become publishers and brands compete for attention across a rapidly changing media ecosystem, communications professionals need more than new technology. They need to understand how curiosity, experimentation, authenticity and trust can help organizations stand out.

Lazar will explore why corporate communications is increasingly becoming a creator space, how AI is changing the future of work and media, and what communicators can do now to remain relevant as those changes accelerate.

Her keynote is part of a three-day program bringing hundreds of communications professionals to Austin to examine what is next for internal and external communications, public relations, reputation, employee communications and communications leadership.

The Future of Communications Conference will feature more than 50 senior communications leaders, executives and experts across 30+ keynotes, workshops, case studies, fireside chats and peer discussions.

Speakers and organizations represented on the program include communications leaders from Lockheed Martin, United Airlines, Dell Technologies, Notion, State Farm, IBM, Colgate-Palmolive, Hachette Book Group, Mozilla, Coca-Cola Bottlers' Sales & Services, Dow Jones, Anker, Code for America, Cotality and more.

The agenda is built around the issues communications professionals are confronting now and the trends likely to define their work in 2027.

Sessions will explore artificial intelligence and AI governance, agentic AI workflows, executive communications, employee engagement, corporate reputation, crisis preparedness, misinformation, organizational change, communications measurement and ROI, emerging media channels and the growing influence of AI-powered search.

Attendees will also examine how Generative Engine Optimization and Answer Engine Optimization are changing brand discoverability, what happens when AI becomes an audience for corporate information, how communicators can prepare for deepfakes and synthetic media, and how organizations can preserve a recognizable human voice as AI-generated content becomes commonplace.

A dedicated Center for AI Strategy Summit on Nov. 11 will give attendees an additional opportunity to examine AI adoption, practical workflows, governance, legal and brand risks and the emerging opportunities communications teams should be preparing for in 2027.

Beyond the stage, the Future of Communications Conference is designed to give attendees meaningful opportunities to connect with hundreds of fellow communicators through structured networking, interactive roundtable discussions, receptions and peer conversations.

The conference serves as the flagship educational gathering of Communications Week 2026, held Nov. 9-13. Communications Week brings together professionals and organizations to celebrate the profession, exchange ideas and examine the forces shaping its future.

The next registration pricing deadline is Oct. 9.

3BL Media readers can use code 3BL to save an additional $500 on registration.

Learn more about the keynote, speakers, agenda and registration for Ragan's Future of Communications Conference at Ragan.com.

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