When strategizing for your 20014 meetings, think about what you really want to accomplish from thought leaders or subject experts. Let me offer a few guidelines for your consideration as you plan for 2014.
If you are looking for to create an awareness of a subject/topic, then that is what a speech or a keynote presentation does. It is difficult for any thought leader or subject matter expert to do more than that in an hour(which is the normal keynote time frame). Awareness is the only result of such a program as there is no time to really do anything else.
If you are looking to provide your people with tangible skills on a certain topics, then you are looking for a training session which is usually between 1-3 hours at a meeting, which in itself may not be enough time foe what you may want to accomplish.
If you are seeking measureable behavior change, then you are looking for a consultant-type programming. This means that in a meeting or conference this could probably not be done. This takes time, commitment, different methods of presenting the topic.
Therefore, a clear focus, based in reality as to timeframe for sessions, length of meeting ( one day or more), and if you want to create awareness, skills or behavior change, should leads you to understand what is really possible with all these givens.
Can a thought leader or subject matter expert provide all three? Probably one could, BUT not without careful planning, goals outlined, a flexible budget, and certainly not in just in one meeting or conference.
Think carefully, plan purposefully and execute enthusiastically and your meeting will be a highlight for your people!