AI Without the Buzzwords – A Talk That Clicks

When audiences and attendees come to see Andrew Young, they expect a session on artificial intelligence and marketing. What they get is something much more: a presentation that feels less like a lecture and more like an experience.

Andrew doesn’t talk at people. He connects with them. He blends strategy, storytelling, and humor into a high-energy, deeply human presentation that makes complex technology approachable, practical, and surprisingly fun.

Every keynote and workshop is designed to do three things:
1. Educate clearly. Every concept, tool, and technique is explained in a way that is accessible, actionable, and immediately relevant.
2. Engage genuinely. Attendees are invited into the conversation, not buried under slides. Andrew uses storytelling, visuals, and audience participation to turn curiosity into real understanding.
3. Energize completely. People leave inspired, empowered, and ready to take action. Making sure people leave with tangible, actual "things you can do tomorrow" is always Andrew's priority.

What You’ll See
If you were sitting in the audience or part of a workshop, you’d see a speaker who moves effortlessly between insight and storytelling. You’d hear real examples from businesses that have embraced AI tools to increase efficiency, boost creativity, and improve decision-making. You’d laugh at relatable stories about trial and error, misconceptions about AI, and the little ways technology already shapes our everyday lives.

You’d also see the real-world applications behind all the buzzwords. Andrew and his team from Abovo, a creative marketing agency based in Fargo, North Dakota, bring nearly a decade of experience helping organizations implement AI in marketing, branding, and communication. From local businesses to billion-dollar companies, they’ve proven that AI can be integrated without overwhelming teams or losing the human touch that makes marketing work in the first place.

What You’ll Learn
Attendees walk away with a clear understanding of:
1. How AI is transforming the landscape right now with, if desired, a specific focus on your industry or business.
2. Simple, practical ways to use AI for copywriting, branding, design, research, and communication.
3. The difference between hype and helpful tools (and how to tell the difference).
4. How to use AI ethically and responsibly within their organization.
5. How to get buy-in from leadership and build comfort around technology change.
6. Why creativity, empathy, and authenticity will always be more valuable than code.

Andrew’s sessions are designed for everyone from marketing managers to executives, educators, and entrepreneurs. They are ideal for companies looking to improve productivity, creativity, and collaboration in a changing world.

What It Feels Like
Andrew’s energy is infectious. He brings the same level of enthusiasm to a room of 25 as he does to a stage of 500. His background as a journalist, creative director, business owner, and executive board member gives him a unique storytelling rhythm that keeps people tuned in from start to finish.

Each presentation feels like a conversation with a trusted friend who happens to know a lot about technology and creativity. It’s full of lightbulb moments and quiet nods of recognition as attendees realize how much AI can already help them work smarter.

What Clients Get
Event organizers who bring in Andrew don’t just get a speaker. They get a partner.

Each event begins with a conversation about the goals of your audience, the tone of your event, and the outcomes you want to achieve. Andrew and his team then tailor the talk or workshop accordingly, using industry-specific examples and practical takeaways your audience can apply right away.

Every talk includes:
1. Slidedecks of the presentation to share with participants or attendees with the option for custom-branded slide decks that align with your event or company.
2. Real-time demonstrations of AI tools in action and/or actual use-case examples.
3. Q&A sessions that allow attendees to dig into specific use cases.
4. Optional follow-up sessions or mini-workshops for teams who want to go deeper.

Event planners appreciate Andrew’s professionalism, clear communication, and flexibility. He and his team handle the details — from AV requirements to travel — so you can focus on your audience.

Why It Works
The secret to Andrew’s success is simple: he understands both people and business. As the founder of Abovo, he’s built one of the Midwest’s leading marketing and branding agencies. As a board member for Starion Bank, a $2 billion community bank, he also understands the financial realities and operational challenges that organizations face when adopting new technology.

That blend of creativity, strategy, and practicality gives his presentations a rare balance. Attendees feel both inspired and equipped. They don’t leave with a list of buzzwords — they leave with clarity and confidence.

Who It’s For
Andrew’s keynotes and workshops are ideal for:
1. Corporate teams navigating digital transformation and looking to upskill employees.
2. Marketing and communication professionals who want to integrate AI without losing authenticity.
4. Financial institutions exploring innovation and efficiency through AI.
5. Educators and non-profits interested in ethical, accessible uses of AI.
6. Conferences and events looking for an engaging keynote that blends learning with laughter.

No matter the audience, Andrew brings an unmatched ability to connect across industries, ages, and technical comfort levels.

What Audiences Say
After seeing Andrew speak, people often say things like:
“That was the first time AI made sense to me.”
“I laughed, I learned, and I finally feel like I can use this.”
“That was more entertaining than I expected — and I took pages of notes.”
“He made me realize AI isn’t here to replace us. It’s here to help us think bigger.”

What Event Planners Say
Event organizers consistently highlight Andrew’s reliability, energy, and professionalism. He’s easy to work with, flexible with formats, and always committed to making the event a success. His presentations consistently receive top feedback scores and are remembered long after the event ends.

In Short
If you’re looking for a speaker who can make AI practical, relatable, and inspiring, Andrew Young delivers. His talks are polished yet personal, informative yet entertaining. He connects strategy to storytelling, data to creativity, and technology to humanity — the balance that every organization needs right now.

When you hire Andrew and his team, you’re not just booking a presentation. You’re giving your audience a moment of understanding that lasts long after they leave their seats.

Andrew Young is a marketing agency founder, creative director, and national speaker who helps audiences understand, embrace, and actually use artificial intelligence in ways that make sense for real businesses. His presentations connect technology with humanity, blending insight, humor, and storytelling to help professionals see how AI can enhance creativity, communication, and strategy without replacing the human spark that makes work meaningful.

Andrew is the founder and creative director of Abovo, a full-service marketing and branding agency based in Fargo, North Dakota. Since 2017, his company has grown from a one-person start-up to one of the region’s most respected creative agencies. Abovo’s work spans industries including banking, education, healthcare, manufacturing, tourism, agriculture, and nonprofits. The agency’s philosophy is simple: “Creative marketing for brands we believe in.” That belief fuels a culture of curiosity, kindness, and collaboration that defines both the work and the people behind it.

Under Andrew’s leadership, Abovo has become known for more than its creative output. The agency has contributed over $500,000 in in-kind services to nonprofits across the region, supporting initiatives in suicide prevention, public health, food stability, youth and agriculture, STEM learning, and the arts. Through this work, Andrew has proven that creativity can be a force for both business growth and community good.

Before founding Abovo, Andrew’s career took him far from the plains of North Dakota. After earning his journalism degree from North Dakota State University, he worked in New York City for journalist Diane Sawyer, where he learned the power of storytelling, precision, and purpose. From there, he moved to Los Angeles to work with the Academy of Country Music, managing press, branding, and event communications for one of the largest award shows in the entertainment industry. These early experiences shaped his deep understanding of both media and message, and of how emotion drives connection in every kind of communication.

But while his career began in major cities, Andrew’s heart never left the Midwest. He returned to North Dakota to build something lasting—an agency rooted in creativity, people, and possibility. He often says, “Fargo gives you more than you give it,” a sentiment that has become part of his approach to business and life. His decision to build Abovo in Fargo has helped inspire other entrepreneurs to see North Dakota as a place where innovation belongs, not a place you leave to find it.

Andrew’s expertise extends beyond marketing. In 2023, he was elected to the Board of Directors for Starion Bank, a $2 billion super-community bank headquartered in Bismarck, North Dakota. In 2024, he was recognized by BankBeat Magazine as one of the five most outstanding bank directors in the country—a rare honor that highlights his business acumen, financial insight, and ability to guide complex organizations at the highest level. His experience in both creative and financial sectors gives him a uniquely balanced perspective on the intersection of art, business, and technology.

That same balance shapes the way Andrew approaches artificial intelligence. While much of the conversation around AI focuses on fear or fascination, Andrew brings a grounded, practical lens. His workshops and keynotes help audiences see AI not as a threat but as a tool—a way to work smarter, create faster, and think bigger. He speaks to executives, educators, entrepreneurs, and creatives, delivering programs that are as insightful as they are entertaining. Attendees leave with actionable knowledge, real tools, and a renewed sense of curiosity about what’s possible.

Andrew and his team have delivered AI presentations for organizations ranging from Fortune 5 companies to small, family-owned businesses. His speaking style is approachable and engaging, filled with stories, examples, and humor that make even the most complex concepts accessible. Whether he’s addressing a room of executives or a classroom of students, he has a rare ability to connect across generations, technical skill levels, and industries.

Outside of Abovo, Andrew is also a small business owner with a portfolio of Airbnb properties in downtown Fargo. His investments reflect the same philosophy that drives his marketing work: create experiences that make people feel something. His short-term rentals are designed with intentionality and local character, offering guests a chance to connect with the city in authentic, memorable ways.

Andrew is known among colleagues and clients not only for his creative mind but for his leadership style. He’s built a company culture where people feel seen, supported, and inspired to do their best work. He believes leadership isn’t about control, it’s about clarity—creating the kind of environment where great ideas can grow. His team describes him as both visionary and down-to-earth: someone who dreams big but never loses sight of the people who make those dreams possible.

As one of North Dakota’s only openly gay business owners, Andrew also believes representation matters. His visibility as a leader in both business and the LGBTQ+ community helps others see that success and authenticity are not mutually exclusive. He uses his platform to advocate for inclusion, belonging, and the importance of staying true to who you are, even in spaces where that isn’t always easy.

Andrew’s work has been recognized through numerous partnerships and invitations to speak across the United States. He has been hired to consult and present for organizations with revenues exceeding $5 billion, helping leaders and teams understand not only how to use AI, but why it matters for the future of work. His talks cover topics like AI in marketing, the evolution of creativity, human-centered innovation, and how to build trust in a world shaped by automation.

What makes Andrew’s approach different is his ability to bring humanity back into the conversation about technology. His presentations emphasize that AI will never replace empathy, creativity, or storytelling—it will amplify them for those who know how to use it well. He helps audiences see AI as a collaborative partner, not a competitor. His goal is to make people feel smarter, not smaller, when they walk out of the room.

Andrew’s talks are never one-size-fits-all. Whether it’s a 20-minute keynote or a three-hour workshop, he works with clients to tailor each experience to their audience. His sessions often include live demonstrations of AI tools, real examples from client work, and interactive moments that invite audiences to participate. He has a gift for turning curiosity into confidence, and for turning a room full of skepticism into one full of possibility.

He believes great marketing—and great business—isn’t about making noise. It’s about making meaning. That philosophy guides everything he does, from the way he runs his company to the way he connects with people from the stage.

When he isn’t speaking or running Abovo, Andrew is often mentoring other entrepreneurs, supporting local artists, or working on creative projects that blend art, design, and storytelling. He is passionate about helping people see the value of creativity as both a personal and professional strength.

Andrew’s career, leadership, and character reflect one consistent idea: that business can be human, creativity can be strategic, and technology can be deeply personal. His journey from small-town North Dakota to New York and Los Angeles—and back again—illustrates what’s possible when talent meets purpose, and when success is measured not only by growth, but by the good you create along the way.

Every event, every talk, and every project he leads embodies that belief. When you hire Andrew Young and/or his teammates, you’re not just getting a speaker. You’re getting a storyteller, strategist, and creative leader who knows how to make complex ideas feel simple, how to make audiences laugh while they learn, and how to make every person in the room feel like they belong in the conversation.

Handheld or lapel microphone preferred for audience and crowds larger than 30 attendees.

Ability to show slide deck (projector or television screen) compatible with an HDMI input preferred.