Tony Chapman

9 July 2019

Robert Adams

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Categories: speakers

Tony Chapman is one of Canada’s leading communication experts. The media has labelled him a Marketing Guru and he is an authority on how to build brands, sell strategically and be profitable in today’s volatile marketplace. Tony has been at the forefront of pioneering innovative marketing and sales tactics, including social media, and many consider him a trailblazer for the strategies he has deployed to reinvent how companies engage with their customers and navigate the changing landscape. He has founded and successfully sold two internationally renowned advertising agencies, Communique and Capital C, and co-founded Fresh Intelligence. His agencies have collectively won over 100 national and international awards including the much-coveted Agency of the Year.

Beyond his role as a Founder and CEO, Tony’s body of work includes being a host, facilitator, strategic creator, provocative debater, idea maker and keynote speaker at conferences around the world. He is also a noted contributor on television and radio, with weekly appearances on prime time television and radio, and has been featured in documentaries on the CBC, the BBC and Australian Television. In recent years, Tony has been the host of Chatter that Matters, a radio show that airs in nine markets, and a podcast. He chats with ordinary people who do extraordinary things, and his guests include Olympians, Business Leaders, Thought Leaders, Entrepreneurs, Celebrities and more.

Passionate, provocative, opinionated and relevant, with an engaging personality, he speaks on a range of issues including consumerism, business strategy, politics, the economy, as well as sales, branding and marketing. He is a mentor who shares his knowledge with students and invests in the next generation of entrepreneurs.

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BIOGRAPHY:

Tony Chapman hosts the national radio show and podcast Chatter that Matters. Five hundred thousand listeners a week tune in, and the podcast ranks in the top 1% of the most popular in the world. Each week Tony counters the storm of negativity and growing sense of impossibility by sharing stories of positivity and possibility. Tony talks to leaders in the for-profit and not-for-profit, Olympians, world-renowned thinkers, trailblazers and those who have overcome impossible odds.

Tony has hosted conferences and delivered inspiring keynotes in China, Poland, Spain, Scotland, England, Brazil, Mexico, and the United States. Tony draws upon his experiences building two internationally renowned communications agencies and a research firm. His work and approach to building businesses and brands have led him into the Marketing Hall of Legends, and the Canadian PR, Marketing and Advertising Hall of Fame.

SPEECH TOPICS

Stop Telling Your Story; Become Part of Theirs

Attention is the oxygen of all human endeavor. Attention breathes life into how we parent, coach, mentor, lead, collaborate, market and sell. The challenge is tin this age of noise, too much and too many are chasing a finite amount of time. Many brands, ideas, and pitches are starving for attention. Tony will show you how to get the attention you deserve by shifting the conversation from what you do to why it matters.

Key takeaway:

Forces of change that are rendering traditional marketing and sales obsolete.

Why stories engage… while decks create a PowerPoint coma.

The art of formula for great storytelling.

How to apply all to attract and engage the audiences that matter most.

The Experience Economy: From a place to buy to the place to be

Drive Growth and Profitability by engaging in the Experience Economy.

Tourism, Hospitality, Retail, Auto and Financial Services must shift from being a place to (visit, eat, buy or bank) to becoming ’the place to be’, steeped in experiences. Why? Experiences are personal and feed emotion. Experiences will counter Disruptors who use mobile and voice as their Trojan Horse to marginalize your brand, aggregate pricing and sell direct.

In this presentation, Tony will take apart the Platform Economy to show what we must do to counter these disruptions, stay relevant and give our consumers a reason to visit and spend. He will draw upon case studies from around the world to encourage ‘bricks and mortar’ to shift from a place to buy, eat or visit, to one that also offers personal experiences that are value-based, emotive and transformative, and that let people be who they want to be.

Key takeaways:
• Why the 5 P’s are under siege by digital-based disruptors in the Platform Economy.
• Identify the two points of entry where you are most vulnerable to disruption.
• How focusing on the right ‘Be’s’ will enable you to attract guests, increase spend, develop better talent, and guide your messaging and offer, and spark innovation.

Stop Telling Your Story. Become Part of Mine:

How to get the attention of the people that matter most to you

Attention is the oxygen of most human endeavor, but in the Age of Noise most brands, ideas and proposals are starving for attention. Too many choices and too much content are competing for a finite amount of our audiences time. So how do we get heard? We stop telling our story and become part of theirs. Tony will draw upon his three decades of crafting powerful stories that engage the ‘head, heart and hands’ of audiences across all industry sectors. He uses entertaining and enlightening case studies to show why any audience-employees, customers, prospects and investors and all face to face and digital channels respond to this powerful and emotive platform.

Key Takeaways:

The essential pillars to crafting a story & the four human motivators to generate audience response.
• The critical roles in the story, and why your audience is the hero.
• Why storytelling is the best way to be heard in the age of noise.

Workshop:

Tony offers a two hour workshop where participants learn how to create and present a story that engages the ‘head, heart and hand’s’ of any audience.

A Brand New World:

Make Things Happen Versus Wonder What Happened

Tony outlines the critical forces of change that are rendering much of what we know about leading businesses and even societies obsolete. A growing divide has collapsed the middle ground. You are either making things happen or wondering what happened, there is no status quo.

Tony looks at how to make things happen by first identifying then giving the people that matter most to you – employees, customers, prospects, influencers, and investors ‘More and Less’. More of what matters to each of them – value-added personalization, with less friction and effort.

He shows how do dot the three ‘I’s’. Insight, Imagination and Intention. In this Brand New World there is no middle ground. You must make things happen versus wonder what happened. Click here for more info.

TESTIMONIALS:

Tony, the place is buzzing about you. You were at your best. I was so damn proud to have you there. We learned so much. I’ve already heard people talking about your fly fishing analogy. Omg you were so good.

-Mary DePaoli, CMO and Executive Vice President Royal Bank of Canada

He Solves Business Problems at the Speed of Life

-Ian Portsmouth, General Publisher, Profit Magazine

His post speech interview left us with actionable strategies

-Tom Egam, Vice President, PMMI

Just a short note of thanks for inspiring my Genesis team yesterday. Btw many of your comments are being used in today’s session. You had a big impact on these people.

-President of Hyundai Canada

Everyone LOVED you as I knew they would! Thank you Tony!

-Karin McNabb, VP Marketing IAIC

Tony Chapman is among the most brilliant minds in the business worldwide. His ability to tap into the real sentiment that drives consumers is driven by his intuition and ability to think beyond boundaries. His ideas have broken new ground in industries ranging from Financial Services to packaged goods. He is a tremendous asset to any organization looking to reshape their industry around the consumer.

-Rick White, VP Marketing – Scotiabank

Ron Insana

10 June 2019

Robert Adams

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Categories: speakers

CNBC Contributor, Trailblazing Financial Journalist Bestselling Author and Financial Professional

What are the forces driving the economy and how will they impact you, your business, your industry, and your investment decisions? Those are the questions RON INSANA has answered for viewers and listeners every single day for over three decades. Currently a contributor to CNBC where he also served as anchor and correspondent since 1991, Ron also hosts The Market Score Board Report, a thrice-daily nationally syndicated radio program. As a financial journalist, Ron stands alone as someone who ran his own hedge fund – experience that adds to the depth of his insights. He’s also written for Money magazine, USA Today, and authored four bestselling books on investing and reading the financial market. In Ron’s speeches, he explains how Wall Street, Main Street and Washington intersect – translating the market signals and political maneuvers into actionable information everyone can understand and use to protect what they have and find opportunities in any type of market condition.

“Financial markets send messages. Heed them because forewarned is forearmed with respect to future economic, political and geo-political events.” – Ron Insana

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BIOGRAPHY:

In the midst of the chaotic forces impacting business and the economy, Ron Insana delivers clear insights business leaders and financial professionals can use to make smarter decisions. A pioneer in television financial news reporting, Ron is currently senior analyst and commentator at CNBC. He also hosts The Market Score Board Report, a daily nationally syndicated radio program. As CEO of iFi AI, an AI-powered stock research platform created in partnership with IBM watsonx, Ron has a front row seat to the transformative AI revolution. He is also founder and CEO of The Insana Entertainment Group, a film and TV production company. Ron is author of four books on investing and financial markets dynamics. In his speeches, Ron makes sense of the business, economic, technological, and political news – distilling it into actionable insights his audience can use to navigate change, protect what they have, and spot fresh opportunities. Besides keynoting, he is also an outstanding moderator and interviewer.

SPEECH TOPICS

THE ECONOMY 2025: WASHINGTON, WALL STREET, AND THE WORLD – WHO STANDS TO WIN, WHO STANDS TO LOSE?
For the first time in decades, regardless of which political party wins, the White House, Washington and Wall Street might find themselves at odds over critical economic policies. This situation potentially places Main Street in a difficult position. On one side, there are proposals for across-the-board tariffs and mass deportations; on the other, there are capital-damaging tax hikes, and both sides are proposing deficit-increasing budgets. The federal government may wield more influence over the economy than a “friendly” Federal Reserve for the first time in years.

The first year of a new presidency always brings uncertainty, and 2025 will likely be no different for markets, the economy as a whole, and, perhaps more importantly, for specific sectors and regions that could be affected by upcoming policy and political changes. Ron Insana outlines the potential for profits and pitfalls, risks and rewards, and gains and losses in the year ahead – domestically and globally. What happens in 2025 may well shape the economy and markets for decades to come. Ron tailors this presentation to suit each audience on topics such as:

• Central Banks: Have They Risked a Recession to Fight Inflation?
• De-Globalization & De-Dollarization: Fact and Friction?
• Geo-Politics: 5 Hot Spots to Watch Around the World
• The AI Revolution: From Infrastructure to Implementation
• Battling Climate Change: Big Business versus Mass Migration
• The Culture Wars: What’s the Economic Cost of Societal Change?

Dan Thurmon

23 September 2018

Robert Adams

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Categories: speakers

Dan Thurmon delivers experiences that go beyond motivation, teaching concepts and skills re change, innovation and peak performance. TED talker, author, entrepreneur, Hall of Fame inductee, (fitness advocate, acrobat, unicyclist even on mountains – yes, really, drummer, and flying trapeze artist in the making) Dan’s visual and interactive keynote presentation – Off Balance On Purpose – gives businesses and organizations the energy to embrace change and uncertainty – to innovate and perform at their best, “When it matters the most.” Dan Thurmon is the author of two books, a renowned speaker, and a recognized expert in delivering peak performances – on stage and in the workplace. As president of Motivation Works, Inc., he has worked with hundreds of clients and delivered thousands of presentations worldwide. Dan helps organizations and individuals implement actions plans and move confidently through transitions.

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Biography

Dan Thurmon is the author of two books, a renowned speaker, and a recognized expert in delivering peak performances – on stage and in the workplace. As president of Motivation Works, Inc., he has worked with hundreds of clients and delivered thousands of presentations worldwide. Dan helps organizations and individuals implement actions plans and move confidently through transitions.

He began his performance career at eleven years old, crafting a one-man-show incorporating comedy, juggling and acrobatics. This enabled him to, at a very early age, develop a strong work ethic and learn fundamental lessons about performance excellence. Dan graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Marketing and Management. He has also extensively studied Personal Development and developed a unique methodology he teaches to audiences and clients.

A recent inductee to the prestigious “Speakers Hall of Fame,” Dan Thurmon delivers experiences that go beyond motivation, teaching concepts and skills in a highly engaging and entertaining manner. He incorporates his lifelong performance skills to create high impact events. His programs have educated and uplifted Fortune 500 companies, young audiences, and even the troops on the front lines of Afghanistan and Iraq.

Dan’s philosophy can be summarized by the title of his book, Off Balance On Purpose. He believes that we will never achieve “perfect balance” and should, instead, learn to embrace uncertainty and initiate positive changes that lead to growth. Also, we should go beyond the pursuit of “success” and enhance our life experiences and professional endeavours with purposeful, positive contributions.

Speech Topics

Keynote: Off Balance On Purpose

A common challenge for organizations today is helping their employees bring more energy to work and not only embrace change but see it as an opportunity to lead.Dan Thurmon believes the reason that people struggle with change is they think they have to compartmentalize their life and keep everything in balance. What if we lived Off Balance on Purpose? What if instead of resisting uncertainty, we leaned into it? And what if rather than bringing our “work-self” to the office, we brought 100% of who we are?In this keynote, Dan excites his audience with an interactive performance while giving them a multi-dimensional view of success. He doesn’t stand Behind a podium and Talk about dealing with fear and change – he does handstands On the podium to Demonstrate what being uncomfortable and living off balance on purpose actually looks like. Your audience will talk about this presentation for years to come!

WORKSHOP: Off Balance on Purpose in Practice

Your people are your organization. When individuals perform well, the organization does too. For organizations to truly thrive, especially with a millennial workforce, they need to provide hands-on opportunities for personal development and create a culture of personal performance.“Change is hard. Motivation is only valuable if there is ACTION that creates change. That is why I created this workshop – to help you deliver real change for your teams.” Dan Thurmon

This workshop is interactive (each participant gets their own workbook), introspective and personal. After the course, participants will be equipped to better integrate all aspects of their life so each area is strengthened and fully developed. Participants will also take stock of what they should stop/start/continue and create an action plan for themselves.Enhancing personal performance is the new corporate strategy. Adding this workshop to Dan’s keynote on the same day will reinforce and solidify this year’s goals for your organization.

Perform – Ability

It isn’t really possible to “always be at your best because every moment counts” – some moments count much more than others. That’s why it’s more important to be your best When It Matters The Most.

In this keynote, peak performance speaker Dan Thurmon explores the reasons why some individuals fail under pressure, and why others seem to naturally rise to handle critical moments with ease and excellence. This isn’t an innate talent – it’s an ability that can be learned and mastered. Dan calls it “Perform-Ability.”

The key to being able to “perform,” or deliver excellence when it matters the most, is to prepare properly and understand the mindset and methods of top performers. Dan demonstrates these concepts in his signature high-impact style that includes juggling, acrobatics, and even a unicycle. Audiences leave this unforgettable session armed with new tools and the enthusiasm to tackle their biggest challenges.

Safe Danger

Dan Uses Exciting, Yet Dangerous Elements to Illustrate Safety Principles Your Employees Will Not Only Remember… But Apply

Drawing on his background as a professional performer, acrobat and juggler of dangerous implements, Dan Thurmon knows firsthand the importance of Safe Danger. While other safety presentations rely on the perspective of an academic, trainer or accident victim, Dan speaks to your employees from the perspective of a high performer with certain, very real risks.

What this means for your organization is highly entertaining, yet effective safety presentations that deliver hard value. Dan has helped numerous companies lower the incidence of accidents, create more focused employees and create a Safe Danger mindset.

Dan’s Most Popular Safety Presentations:

SAFE Danger: Effectively Managing Uncertainty
and Risk

It may seem counter-intuitive to learn about safety from someone who performs back flips from chairs, balances on moving objects, and juggles axes. But, upon closer examination, it makes absolute sense. All jobs and endeavors contain elements of risk. Certain responsibilities and workplace environments require heightened attention to elements of danger. Dan will demonstrate how, by adopting the right approach, you can effectively eliminate the worst-case scenarios and ensure a long and healthy career. This safety presentation is both informative and exciting, as Dan incorporates examples and illustrations from his lifelong, successful performance career.

Avoiding the DROPS: Preventing Accidents Before They Happen

Adopting a SAFE Danger mindset is not a one-time event. It is a daily discipline and ongoing challenge to stay ahead of risks and mindful of the ever-present elements that can cause harm to you and your teammates. In this presentation, Dan goes deeper into the most common precursors to accidents: the DROPS. This acronym stands for Distractions, Rushing, Overload, Panic, and Stress. You will learn valuable techniques to keep your cool, manage your pace, and stay focused on what matters most: your SAFETY.

Leading to SAFETY: Leadership Principles to Create a SAFE Danger Workplace

Safety is everyone’s responsibility, but leaders in high-risk environments have the daily challenge and requirement to communicate, monitor, and reinforce safety principles in real time. It is a dual role of encourager and enforcer. How do you make sure that the message doesn’t get “tuned out” and disregarded? Dan teaches how to stay tuned in to your employees and find creative ways to communicate safety principles, reinforce rules and protocols, and reward safety excellence where you see it.

Testimonials

“The feedback about your presentation has been absolutely outstanding. You were the perfect combination of entertainment, personality with a strong and very relevant message.”

Sue Wolk, Nat’l Court Reporters Association

“After hiring you three times, I manage to still find tremendous nuggets of wisdom to take away from your exhilarating presentations.”

Reed A. Lynn, WILD Flavors, Inc.

“If you want to motivate, inform, educate, entertain and deliver a presentation that your team will not forget… by all means pick Dan Thurmon to ‘deliver the difference’ for you.”

Ken Myers, President, Romacorp, Inc.

“Your ability to weave what you learned during our meetings and your trip with one of our consultants in the field really helped build up your credibility with our field staff.”

Mark G. Moraitakas, Chick-fil-A

Dan was incredible! The managers, staff and owner operators couldn’t stop talking about the session. The juggling, unicycle, acrobatics and the handstand on the podium were all tied to the learning. It was a home run!

Jim Mulcahy, Traning Director, McDonald’s

Wow! People still stop me in the hall to tell me what a wonderful job you did. Far and away, your presentation received the highest ratings ever!

Bryan Kindred, CEO, DCH Health System

Your ability to put such a positive spin on something like multitasking – which many people dread – is a testament to your skill and ability.

Miki Wilson, Regional VP, AIMCO

Your presentations at our eleven ‘In Focus Events’ delivered an important and inspiring message, unlike anything our dealers have ever experienced.

Blane Haywood, Shaw Flooring Alliance

I have heard numerous attendees say that you are the BEST presenter they have ever seen, and I would have to agree! Your energy and enthusiasm are evident from the moment you take the stage, and it’s infectious.

Ellen H. Wentz, Deloitte

Your presentation was OUTSTANDING and it really helped us start our week on a positive note. All of our attendees have said how much they enjoyed your session – it was informational, motivational, and FUN!

Sarah Wegner, Director of HR, Drury Hotels

Dan Thurmon was, by far, the highest rated aspect of our conference, based on attendee survey results. His presentation was inspirational, energetic, and captivating.

Scott Frymire, Activant Solutions

Gordon Chang

14 September 2018

Robert Adams

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Categories: Featured, speakers

There are speakers who can talk about the Chinese economy…but then, there is Forbes Magazine contributor and columnist at The Daily Beast, Gordon Chang.

Gordon lived in China for 20 years and is the author of the book, “The Coming Collapse of China”. If you want to know what’s in store for China’s future( Politically, socially, and economically ), and how it might affect us in the West, then Gordon Chang is a must hear.

His writings on China and North Korea have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Far Eastern Economic Review, the International Herald Tribune, Commentary, The Weekly Standard, National Review, and Barron’s. Gordon once wrote in a Forbes column:

“Chinese leaders do not distrust us because they have insufficient contact with us. They distrust us because they see themselves as the protector of a political system threatened by free societies and their vibrant economies. The mistrust is inherent in their one-party state. It can never be relieved as long as the Communist Party remains in power. As Ronald Reagan taught us, the nature of regimes matters.”

Videos

Biography

Gordon G. Chang is the author of The Coming Collapse of China (Random House, August 2001), and Nuclear Showdown: North Korea Takes On the World, released by Random House in January 2006, and is an expert on China and Chinese-US Relations.

He lived and worked in China and Hong Kong for almost two decades, most recently in Shanghai, as Counsel to the American law firm Paul Weiss and earlier in Hong Kong as Partner in the international law firm Baker & McKenzie.

His writings on China and North Korea have appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, the Far Eastern Economic Review, the International Herald Tribune, The Weekly Standard, and the South China Morning Post.

He has spoken at Columbia, Cornell, Princeton, Yale, and other universities and at The Heritage Foundation, the Cato Institute, RAND, the American Enterprise Institute, the Council on Foreign Relations, and other institutions. He has given briefings at the National Intelligence Council, the Central Intelligence Agency, the State Department, and the Pentagon. He has also spoken before industry and investor groups including Sanford Bernstein and Credit Lyonnais Securities Asia. Chang has appeared before the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission and has delivered to the Commission a report on the future of China’s economy.

He has appeared on CNN, Fox News Channel, CNBC, MSNBC, and Bloomberg Television. Outside the United States he has spoken in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Tokyo, The Hague, Vancouver, and Taipei.

He has served two terms as a trustee of Cornell University.

China on the Edge: What It Means for Us

The dominant narrative of our era is that this is “China’s century.”

China, however, has already passed certain inflection points. The economy is stumbling, in fact growing only in the low single digits and on the edge of an historic debt crisis; the political system is in distress, with the military gaining influence; and the populace is volatile. China is on the edge.

The motor of the country’s rise will also be the engine of its failure. Even if official gross domestic product numbers are accurate—and they almost certainly overstate economic output by a wide margin—China is creating debt at least two times faster than it is growing. So the country is in an impossible situation.

And why are China’s severe economic problems relevant to us? Because for more than three decades the Communist Party has primarily based its legitimacy on the continual delivery of prosperity. And without prosperity, the only remaining basis of legitimacy is nationalism. China’s militant nationalism is creating friction in an arc of nations from India in the south to South Korea in the north.

Unfortunately, because of problems inside the Communist Party’s political system, China cannot compromise or maintain good relations with its neighbors, the international community, or us. These days, Beijing is lashing out, a sign its leaders are now acting according to a logic the rest of the world is not familiar with.

Nicole Malachowski

14 August 2018

Robert Adams

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Categories: speakers

Col. Nicole Malachowski, USAF (Ret.) defies stereotypes. Yes, she was a jet fighter pilot, but if you think you know her based on that, you’d be wrong. A leader, a combat veteran, the first woman pilot on the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron, a White House Fellow, and an inductee into both the National Women’s Hall of Fame and the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame, Nicole’s distinguished 21- year Air Force career exceeded her wildest dreams. But the dream came to an end when a devastating tick-borne illness left her struggling greatly to speak or walk for almost nine months. An indomitable spirit, Nicole fought back against overwhelming odds and prevailed. Drawing on stories from her career and personal life, Nicole inspires audiences to rethink the challenges they face every day. She urges them to go beyond resilience and become resurgent. Nicole empowers people with three key beliefs: failure and risk is the price of entry for achieving something great; sometimes you need to yield to overcome; and her personal mantra – “Nobody wants to lead a scripted life.”

In her speeches, Nicole inspires audiences with lessons from her experience that can be tailored to meet program objectives. Nicole brings her experience to the stage and holds audiences spellbound with an easygoing authenticity of someone who’s achieved greatness. She’s been a member and leader of exceptional teams. She has faced overwhelming challenges and adversity and has come out on top. When Nicole’s distinguished military career was cut short by a neurological tick-borne illness that, at its worst, left her unable to walk safely or speak intelligibly, she overcame those challenges, as well.

Videos

Biography

A 21-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Col. Nicole Malachowski (USAF, Ret.) wanted to fly military jets from the moment she saw them at her first air show at five years old. She achieved that goal – and then some. A leader, a combat veteran, the first woman pilot on the Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron, an instructor, a White House Fellow, and an inductee into the Women in Aviation International Pioneer Hall of Fame, Nicole’s Air Force career exceeded her wildest dreams.

In her speeches, Nicole inspires audiences with lessons from her experience that can be tailored to meet program objectives. Nicole brings her experience to the stage and holds audiences spellbound with an easygoing authenticity of someone who’s achieved greatness. She’s been a member and leader of exceptional teams. She has faced overwhelming challenges and adversity and has come out on top. When Nicole’s distinguished military career was cut short by a neurological tick-borne illness that, at its worst, left her unable to walk safely or speak intelligibly, she overcame those challenges, as well.

While other high school students were practicing for their driver’s licenses, Nicole was accumulating flight time – she was sixteen years old when she took her first solo flight. While in high school, she joined the Civil Air Patrol and participated in Air Force Junior ROTC. Nicole’s professional story began when she earned her commission from the United States Air Force Academy in 1996. Following graduation, she attended Undergraduate Pilot Training (UPT) at Columbus AFB, MS and began her career as a pilot. Competitively selected to fly combat aircraft, she was among the first group of women to fly modern fighter aircraft. She served in combat as an F-15E Flight Commander, Evaluator, Instructor Pilot and Flight Lead. Over her 21-year career, Nicole achieved the rating of Command Pilot with over 2,300 flight hours in six different Air Force aircraft. She was also selected to fly as Thunderbird #3 with the USAF Air Demonstration Squadron – the first woman to fly on any Department of Defense military jet demonstration team. Colonel Malachowski has served as a mission ready fighter pilot in three operational F-15E fighter squadrons and has flown over 188 combat hours, including her proudest moment as a fighter pilot: leading the first fighter formation to provide security for Iraq’s historic democratic elections in 2005.

On the ground, Nicole was a White House Fellow, class of 2008-2009, where she served on the Presidential Transition Support Team (PTST) while assigned to the U.S. General Services Administration. She has served two high-level staff assignments at the Pentagon – one in the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD P&R) as well as the Secretary of the Air Force Office of International Affairs (SAF/IA). She also served as the Executive Director of the White House’s national ‘Joining Forces’ initiative where she directly advised former First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden on all topics relating to service members, veterans, and military families to include employment, education, mental health, veterans’ homelessness and more.

Nicole’s operational F-15E assignments include two tours of duty at RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom as well as one operational assignment to Seymour Johnson AFB, NC. She has also served alongside the United States Army 2nd Infantry Division, Camp Red Cloud, Republic of Korea, as an Air Liaison Officer. During her second assignment to Seymour Johnson AFB, NC, she had the honor of commanding the 333rd Fighter Squadron, leading an elite cadre of F-15E Instructors in the training of the next generation of combat aviators. Further, she was responsible for resources totaling over $1.1B and the execution of a $119M annual flying hour program.

Nicole earned a Master of Arts, with honors, in National Security Policy from American Military University and a second Master of Arts, with highest distinction, in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College. While there, she earned the Admiral Stephen B. Luce Award as the class honor graduate, the first Air Force officer in the history of the Naval War College to do so. Nicole has been recognized with several honors for her consistent contributions to community service. As Nicole continues to recover from her neurological tick-borne illness, she embraces any opportunity to educate others about her medical journey and gains energy from educating others about this growing epidemic. She is on the Board of Directors at the LivLyme Foundation and is a Patient Advisory Board Member of The Dean Center for Tick Borne Illness.

Colonel Nicole Malachowski (USAF, Ret.) was born in Santa Maria, CA and graduated high school in Las Vegas, NV. She and her husband Paul have twin children; son Garrick and daughter Norah. Paul is a retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel and former F-15E Evaluator Weapons Systems Officer.

Speech Topics

Conquering Fog and Friction: Leading Through Times of Crisis

“No war plan survives first contact with the enemy” is a truism. In the military, leaders must acknowledge and address the fog (things we can’t see, know, or predict) and friction (the forces which impede progress) of war. In such times, effective leadership is more crucial than ever. Using the challenges and uncertainties of combat as a metaphor for organizational challenges, Nicole stresses perspective, priorities and positive leadership as she provides tools for leaders to use in times of crisis—or anytime—to keep their organizations successfully moving forward.

Nicole Malachowski offers leaders a framework to lead through fog and friction in times of crisis.

-How to proceed regardless of the unknowns your organization facing

-How to maneuver around or through impediments to your organization’s progress

-Understand the leadership challenges that are unique to times of crisis

-Keep focused on your purpose; perspective is critical to manage risk and adapt

-Positivity and calmness are essential. Instill confidence; don’t add to the chaos

Harnessing Headwinds of Change – Successfully Navigating Change & Adversity

Leaders across every industry and experience level share one thing in common: To be successful they need to effectively navigate failure, organizational change, and the unknown. Like headwinds to a pilot, these perceived barriers can force you to change direction, cost you momentum, and even take away options. These headwinds can feel confusing, disorienting, and downright uncomfortable. In this talk, Nicole Malachowski uses the aviation-based idea of headwinds as a metaphor to show how with the right mindset, individuals and teams can learn to harness the energy of these headwinds in their advantage.

Nicole inspires individuals and organizations and bolsters their ability to:

-Overcome personal and professional failures

-Effectively navigate organizational and cultural change

-Endure the discomfort of the unknown

-Increase resilience, reinvention, regroup, and adaptability

-Have courage to rise above self-doubt and cultural paradigms

-Support and mentor others on the team

PUSHING THE ENVELOPE – BEING THE BEST WHEN IT COUNTS

To be successful, leaders from every industry and experience level need to effectively navigate moments of self-doubt, master the role of a trustworthy team player, and embrace moments of personal and professional vulnerability. Using the idea of an aircraft performance envelope as a metaphor, this elite fighter pilot and military leader will share inspiring personal stories and practical tools to ignite individuals and teams to reach beyond commonly-assumed limitations to achieve their maximum capabilities and impact. Nicole Malachowski’s presentation will bolster the ability of individuals and teams to:

Overcome self-doubt that often inhibits personal and professional growth
Model the selfless trust needed to be an effective teammate
Practice vulnerability and transparency to build trust and galvanize teamwork
Build accountability, dependability and reliability that drive performance
Break down silos to unleash creativity and adaptability

BREAKING BARRIERS – CONQUERING SELF-DOUBT AND CULTURAL PARADIGMS

Everyone faces barriers, both personal and professional, that may appear to place limits on what’s possible. When people pursue only what is expected, accept cultural norms that hold them back, and view barriers that appear unsurmountable, their personal and professional lives become limited—scripted. A powerful trailblazer herself, Nicole Malachowski reminds audiences to not let others draw their boundaries, and to break tradition with grace and purpose. She inspires people to see obstacles and challenges as opportunities to grow—a chance to reach new levels of personal and professional excellence.

Nicole delivers actionable insights for pursuing dreams, making choices, and living an unscripted life.

Define your own possibilities and overcome self-doubt
Reevaluate traditions, paradigms, and overcome limitations
Welcome challenges to the status quo
Why having the courage to ask for help is key to, reaching your potential
Acknowledge the work-life balance myth

THE MACH 2 MINDSET – DECISION-MAKING IN A HIGH-SPEED ENVIRONMENT

One popular pilot saying is “speed is life,” because without enough speed, an airplane is nothing more than an expensive rock. In the business world, especially when technology is involved, speed can be just as crucial. The organization that moves the fastest often realizes the most success. Having flown a high-tech fighter aircraft that can reach speeds of up to twice the speed of sound, Nicole Malachowski offers principles that keep any organization functioning smoothly, efficiently, and at high speed, even when chaos and the unexpected occur. Nicole’s insights help leaders create a culture where decisions get made quickly.

Assess the dynamics that slow your organization down
How turmoil in your operating environment slows you down
How does a need for speed impact decision-making
Trust, clear roles, and communication are vital to navigate the unknown at speed
Practice, planning, and preparation underpin organizations that move quickly

Testimonials

“We can not thank YOU enough for bringing your inspiring, moving, profound, vulnerable, INCREDIBLE story to our team. If your ears have been ringing it is 120 people saying you were the absolute highlight of the whole offsite. And many told me you were the BEST speaker they have ever heard. [And these people hear a lot of speakers.]”

– Training Manager, Genentech

“We were already excited to hear Nicole speak because of her impressive bio, but her presentation still blew us away. She has a compelling personal as well as professional story to tell. And she does it with a passion and vulnerability that create a strong connection with her audience. Five minutes into her presentation, you could tell that she had our group hooked. Nicole creates a three-dimensional experience for her listeners – we had the sense that we were with her in the cockpit of her fighter jet as she recounted experiences of flying with the Air Force’s Thunderbird team. Her presentation resonated so deeply with our audience that people are still talking about her presentation a week later and employees who could not attend are asking to see the video of her presentation. Nicole is professional, organized, timely, and an all-around pleasure to work with. She was thoughtful in researching our organization and event so she could craft her discussion to fit our audience.”

– Investments Director, Fundamental Equities, Invesco Advisers, Inc.

“Most of us will never lead a squadron of F-15E fighter pilots, fly right wing for the USAF Thunderbirds or have our careers transformed as a result of a tick bite. But your storytelling took us there for a brief moment and the lessons they represent—failure and risk are the price of entry for achieving something great; plow your own path; nobody wants to lead a scripted life; etc.—resonate in a way that can change lives, personal and professional. You are one of the most engaging and effective speakers I have come across—a humble force that touches people emotionally. Without question, you presented exactly the message we wanted to share with our elite performers.”

– Chairman and CEO, SunTrust Banks, Inc.

“Col. Nicole Malachowski took our financial professionals by storm – three weeks later, people are still talking about her. She has a unique gift of being able to relate her very interesting and exciting professional and personal life experiences to a diverse audience in a completely different profession. Her genuine conversational style made each attendee feel she was talking directly to them.”

– Treasury Management Association of New York (TMANY)

“Nicole was exceptionally well received. She—truly—did a magnificent job. Connected with the audience, inspiring, thought-provoking, funny, real, open. Our colleagues couldn’t stop talking about it. Was the highlight of our event.”

– UnitedHealth Group

“Rarely have I found an entire room of business colleagues all so incredibly inspired and engaged by one speaker! Nicole’s story has the power of relating to all businesses as well as the individual journeys we are all on. Nicole’s compassion, determination and kind spirit shine through in every aspect of her presentation. The outpouring of support, after two standing ovations and many tears, made it clear her message resonated with everyone in attendance. We look forward to Nicole joining us for future conferences and highly recommend her for anyone looking for a truly exceptional experience!”

– CEO of Cetera Financial Group

“I have had the pleasure and burden of hosting speakers for major corporate and client meetings (40-7000 attendees) for the last twenty years. I refer to this part of my work as a burden only because when you chose a speaker who doesn’t hit the mark, it can have a significant impact on the experience, efficacy and ratings of an event. But when you chose well, it’s magic. I’m writing to you today to let you know that you, Nicole Malachowski, are magic! You are easily in my “top-5 of all-time”! In addition to be an excellent public speaker in manner, tone and approach, your presentation was stunningly inspiring, moving and motivational. And it wasn’t just a feel good session. Every person in the room left with business and life-tools to use and share. But most of all, each and every one of us left the room with a more grateful heart. For me, this is the home run of home runs as we attempt to bring some light to the lives of our employees and clients. Thank you for being the amazing woman and role model you are, for your service to our great country and for sharing part of yourself with us. I, too, wish you blue skies and tail winds.”

– President, First Allied and Cetera Advisors

“Colonel Nicole Malachowski recently spoke to the senior leaders in my company and did an outstanding job. In fact, I cannot recall another speaker where there was such high universal praise. She is inspiring, authentic, energizing, and a true American hero. More than a week later, there is still abuzz in the organization and I have zero doubt her remarks will leave a lasting impression on our team to embrace headwinds and navigate change more successfully.”

– President and CEO of Strayer University, Inc.

“I was at the Strayer retreat this past week, and wanted to express how much your presentation meant to me. I’m sure you get this a lot, but your stage presence is amazing but your message is life-changing. You may not know how many people in each of your audiences are affected, but I can assure you that your message spoke to me in a time of need and I just wanted to share my appreciation. I so appreciate your story and how you are so blessed to connect with others.”

– Strayer University Attendee

“An indomitable spirit whose life journey adds such warmth and depth to her powerful message. She is relatable to women and men with a fascinating narrative of overcoming trials and tribulations all while being an unwitting trailblazer in aviation, in leadership, in social awareness and in medical care”

– VP, Advanced Technology Demonstration Center, Northrop Grumman

“A very special thank you for your incredible keynote at our team meeting this week. You touched my team with your brilliant and meaningful storytelling and have inspired them with your leadership and very practical tips on how to manage headwinds. You captivated their hearts and minds—and it was exactly the kind of closing I wanted to end our week of planning sessions. I know you are going to have an amazing career as a speaker as my team like me was thinking of how and where we need to have your message in our programs and will be recommending you to their network of colleagues and friends in the industry.”

– SVP, CMO | Marketing and Sales, Best Western® Hotels & Resorts

“You are a spectacular speaker and I have never been to a meeting with our entire team mesmerized by anyone like they were with you. Your story is unbelievable and you are able to deliver it in such a natural and powerful way that had me in awe for days after. I haven’t been so motivated or inspired by anyone in a long time.”

– Director | Marketing Activation, Best Western® Hotels & Resorts

“Nicole, thanks again for joining us in Wilmington! My team couldn’t have been more pleased to work with you. Your message of perseverance, determination, and overcoming roadblocks was incredibly moving and inspiring. Our group of hoteliers and developers embraced your courage, and your path resonated with the myriad of challenges we face in our industry. I was especially impressed when you joined us the day before, sat through our meetings, got to know various people, and mentioned them during your talk! I have to say that never before have I had our group rise and give a standing ovation to a guest speaker and then be asked to return to the stage for ongoing applause!”

– Executive Vice President, Human Resources, PM Hotel Group

“Days later I am still thinking about you and the unforgettable talk you gave to close our leadership conference. To say it was the highlight of an already exceptional conference would simply be an understatement. You touched so many people with not only your story, but the very essence of who you are as human being. You are a unique mixture of charm, vulnerability, humble strength and resilience…many of us in the audience, including myself, aspire to be more like you. You left us all with the gifts of inspiration and motivation…exactly what we needed to end a conference that was focused on driving performance and connections.”

– Event Planner, PM Hotel Group

“… it was the best, most inspiring, heartfelt and meaningful speech I heard all year. Even though I have never flown a jet, given birth to children, or had to deal with a tick-borne illness, you effortlessly translated your words and stories on resilience and dedication into the challenges we face every day. Keep telling your story, it was a pleasure to hear.”

– Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, BPG|360

“During our time together Nicole Malachowski and I traveled across the country to visit and speak with our regional personnel. She shared her unique background, her experience, challenges she faced, and lessons learned over two decades of serving our country. At every stop the reaction was overwhelmingly positive. Her unique ability to connect with each and every member of the crowd was impressive. Each individual believed she was talking directly to them and all attendees left walking a little taller. If you are looking for someone to motivate and inspire your audience you cannot do better than Nicole Malachowski. And I’ll bet you might walk a little taller, too.”

– Deputy Administrator, U.S. General Services Administration

Dan Lyons

24 July 2018

Robert Adams

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Categories: speakers

There is probably no better (or funnier!) journalist, author and chronicler of our chaotic digital age than Dan Lyons. Dan’s 2016 bestseller “Disrupted: My Misadventures In The Start-up Bubble,” was a tragicomic romp through his “old guy” experiences working for a hip tech startup.

His follow up book to Disrupted was the perfect sequel. “Lab Rats: How Silicon Valley Made Work Miserable For The Rest of Us” is a witty and well researched examination of how Silicon Valley has completely changed the way we work, in ways no one ever could have imagined.

But Now, Dan has a new book out…:

STFU: The Power of Keeping Your Mouth Shut in an Endlessly Noisy World

Talk less, get more. STFU is all about inspiring people to speak with intention and engage with the world in ways that create an advantage. Buying a new car or house? Hoping to move up the ladder at work? Trying to win friends and influence people? Learn how to shut the f*ck up. By identifying five types of over-talkers (don’t worry, Dan’s a recovering one, too) and five exercises to cure our babbling ways, STFU is a prescriptive, informative book that empowers us to become better at nearly every facet of our daily lives—and, more important, to improve the lives of the people around us.

Dan has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Economist, The Guardian, NPR and the BBC. In addition to authoring six books, Dan has consulted with tech companies, written for HBO’s hit comedy series, “Silicon Valley,” and led technology coverage for Newsweek.

His energetic, story-driven, takeaway-laden keynote presentations get rave reviews.

Videos

Biography

Dan Lyons is an author, journalist, satirist, and screenwriter whose credits include two seasons working on HBO’s hit comedy, Silicon Valley. Recently, Dan partnered with Onda Entertainment in Los Angeles to produce a screenplay based on his book, Disrupted. That book tells the story of Dan’s hilariously catastrophic 18-month stint at a software startup run by millennials.

Dan spent 10 years at Forbes, then was tech editor of Newsweek, a columnist at Fortune, and an op-ed writer for the New York Times. As a satirist Dan became known in the late 2000s as the creator of a blog called The Secret Diary of Steve Jobs, where he wrote under the pen name, “Fake Steve Jobs.” At its peak this incredibly silly blog drew 1.5 million readers a month, and led to someone calling Dan “the Mark Twain of Silicon Valley,” and “a Jonathan Swift for our own digital age.”

Dan has spoken at dozens of conferences and events around the world. He has a B.A. from Bradford College and an M.F.A. from University of Michigan. Click here for more info.

Speech Topics

The Future of Work: Unlocking Human Potential

The future of work is all about flexibility, but the shift to new models is creating headaches and confusion for organizations. Is remote work really better? How do we do it? Dan Lyons explains—with concrete, actionable ideas—how companies can use remote work to gain competitive advantage and unlock human potential. Dan has spent the past decade writing about the tech-driven workplace and even embedding himself inside tech companies to gain a first-hand perspective. He thinks remote work could be as disruptive and impactful as the Internet itself.

Much of this talk is derived from research for his new book (Spring 2023) with some of the cutting edge people involved in remote work, with people who run companies that have been remote since the beginning. He’s also conferenced with “digital nomads” and interviewed government officials in the Canary Islands(!) who are competing to get remote workers. And if that’s not enough, Dan has worked as a contractor and consultant for 2 tech companies to get an experience of what it’s like for an actual employee to be a remote worker. One of those companies? Twitter.

Dan’s best-selling book, Disrupted: My Misadventure in the Startup Bubble, became a Silicon Valley classic by blending a laugh-out-loud personal story with influential insights that have helped companies create happy, productive workplace cultures. Dan has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Economist, The Guardian, NPR and the BBC. In addition to authoring six books, Dan has consulted with tech companies, written for HBO’s hit comedy series, “Silicon Valley,” and led technology coverage for Newsweek. His energetic, story-driven, takeaway-laden presentations get rave reviews.

5G and AI: Promise and Peril

What is machine learning, how does it work, and how is it changing our lives? Is the combination of machine learning and 5G mobile telephony a danger or a blessing? Will new technologies lead to dangerous geopolitical upheaval or to marvelous new apps that make our lives immeasurably better? The answer is both. Tech journalist, author and research consultant Dan Lyons explains the promise and peril of two new technologies whose impact will be greater than the Internet itself, and why you should care.

Techlash: How Tech Tools Destroy Productivity, and Why Even Some Tech Companies Have Started Banning Them

Here’s the dirty little secret that technology companies don’t want you to know: technology tools don’t make companies more efficient, but instead destroy productivity. Tech companies know this and that’s why some have been banning certain tools, like Slack and shared calendars, and restoring sanity to the workplace.

New York Times best-selling author Dan Lyons writes about the backlash against technology — aka, the “techlash” — as well as the new economy workplace in two books, Disrupted: My Misadventure in the Start-Up Bubble, and Lab Rats: How Silicon Valley Made Work Miserable for the Rest of Us. In the age of the Internet, Silicon Valley startups believed they could boost productivity by building tech-centric, “data-driven” workplaces, where algorithms were king. Instead the new compact has led to workaholism, burnout, stress and unhappiness among workers. Worst of all, it doesn’t work: these startups operate at light speed but never manage to become profitable. That has led to a “techlash,” a backlash against Silicon Valley companies and their business model. In Lab Rats, Lyons traveled corporate America and discovered a counter-revolution led by a new generation of startup CEOs. These pioneers are doing something really strange and counter-intuitive — they’re ripping technology out of their workplace, having come to believe that these tech tools don’t make workers more efficient and in fact have been destroying productivity. Instead, they’re focusing on people, and building human-centric workplaces. It’s working. They’ve boosted productivity and are delivering real profits, building sustainable companies with healthy, happy employees. When it comes to using technology in the workplace, people are starting to realize that less is more.

Editorial Reviews

“Entertaining, illuminating, and inspiring! More than a book, it’s a public service announcement that we’d all do well to―well, STFU and listen to!”
―Sarah Knight, New York Times bestselling author of Calm the F*ck Down

“Read this book–your boss will thank you. Your spouse will thank you. And you’ll thank yourself! Good communication is measured not by the speaker, but by the listener. How can you know what’s going on in another person’s ear? Start by STFU! For most of us, that’s easier said than done. Dan Lyons will explain how to do it, and why it will improve your relationships at work and at home.”
―Kim Scott, New York Times bestselling author of Radical Candor

“STFU convinced me that, by keeping my big mouth shut, I will be happier and more productive and so will everyone else in my life. Dan Lyons’ ridiculously funny gem taught me how to shut up, pay fierce attention to others, stifle my ‘manalogues’ and so many more antidotes for my talkaholic tendencies. My only problem is that, after reading STFU, I can’t stop talking about how much I love this book!”
―Robert I. Sutton, organizational psychologist, Stanford Professor, and New York Times bestselling author of seven books including The No Asshole Rule

“Lyons cuts through the noise even as he critiques it. Timely, clever, and important. Need I say more? (Probably not).”
―David Litt, former speechwriter for President Barack Obama and New York Times bestselling author of Thanks, Obama

“Want to help with those loudmouthed jerks, the ones polluting our media and our minds of late? Want to avoid being one yourself? STFU teaches us what we all need to learn: how to listen, pause and speak. How to communicate with intention, and power. The book opens your mind by closing your mouth. I could go on, but I’ll shut up now.”
―Aaron James, New York Times bestselling author of Assholes: A Theory

Mike Abrashoff

15 June 2018

Robert Adams

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Categories: speakers

At the age of 36, the Navy selected Abrashoff to become Commander of USS Benfold – at the time, the most junior commanding officer in the Pacific Fleet. The immediate challenges that faced him on this underperforming Naval war ship were staggering: exceptionally low morale, high turnover and unacceptably low performance evaluations. Few thought that this ship could improve. In many ways, the USS Benfold was actually an extreme example of the same problems facing many organizations today.

“When my crew came to me with a problem, I’d say ‘It’s your ship – how would you fix it?’.” Mike focused on the one thing he could influence: his crew’s attitude, because culture is the ultimate competitive weapon for any organization.

Mike’s established a set of management principles that he calls The Leadership Roadmap. At the core of his leadership approach on Benfold was a process of replacing command and control with commitment and cohesion, and engaging the hearts, minds, and loyalties of workers with conviction and humility. “The most important thing that a captain can do is to see the ship through the eyes of the crew. The idea is to empower every individual to share the responsibility of achieving excellence.”

The solution was to establish a system of management techniques that Abrashoff calls The Leadership Roadmap. At the core of his leadership approach on Benfold was a process of replacing command and control with commitment and cohesion, and by engaging the hearts, minds, and loyalties of workers – with conviction and humility. “The most important thing that a captain can do is to see the ship through the eyes of the crew.” According to Abrashoff, The Leadership Roadmap is a practice that empowers every individual to share the responsibility of achieving excellence. “It’s your ship,” he was known to say. His former sailors to this day still remind him of it.

Videos

Biography

Mike Abrashoff was the most-junior officer in the Pacific Fleet when he took command of the near-worst performing ship. Twelve months later, the USS Benfold was the best ship in the entire Navy – using the same crew. The story of that stunning transformation has lessons for every organization: leadership matters – and culture is everything. Mike’s written three books – his first, It’s Your Ship, has sold over 1.3 million copies. His Leadership Roadmap offers clear, battle-tested, and actionable steps. Mike shows people at every level of the organization how to engage and take incremental steps toward change that can make a dramatic difference at work. Mike is clear, “I didn’t turn the ship around – my crew did that. What I did was to create an environment where they felt safe, empowered and supported. When you do that, anything is possible.”

In many ways, what Mike was able to do with the USS Benfold was an extreme example of the same problems facing many organizations today. That’s why dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, and Fast Company have cited Mike’s story as an inspiring lesson for business. Leaders especially identify with Mike’s being accountable for the results in an environment where he couldn’t make the rules.

“When my crew came to me with a problem, I’d say ‘It’s your ship – how would you fix it?’.” Mike focused on the one thing he could influence: his crew’s attitude, because culture is the ultimate competitive weapon for any organization.

Mike’s established a set of management principles that he calls The Leadership Roadmap. At the core of his leadership approach on Benfold was a process of replacing command and control with commitment and cohesion, and engaging the hearts, minds, and loyalties of workers with conviction and humility. “The most important thing that a captain can do is to see the ship through the eyes of the crew. The idea is to empower every individual to share the responsibility of achieving excellence.”

By every measure, these principles achieved breakthrough results: turnover decreased to an unprecedented 1%; the rate of promotions tripled; and the crew slashed operating expenses by 25%. Regarded as the finest ship in the Pacific Fleet, Benfold won the prestigious Spokane Trophy for having the highest degree of combat readiness. This remarkable turnaround was accomplished by the very same crew that had performed so poorly just months before.

Mike is author of three books. His first, It’s Your Ship, has a timeless message: don’t use outside forces that stand in your way as excuses – control the things you can influence and amazing results will happen. His next books, It’s Our Ship and Get Your Ship Together, showed how these principles have been put into action by business leaders in their own organizations.

A popular keynote speaker for audiences looking to ramp up organizational performance, Mike has spoken to every industry and kind of audience – from board retreats to front line personnel; from sales groups to universities; from Fortune 500s to startups. He inspires audiences to rethink their beliefs about leadership and organizational culture and tailors the message to focus on engagement, execution, change, safety, diversity, leadership, teamwork, innovation, accountability and more.

Prior to commanding USS Benfold, Mike served as the Military Assistant to Secretary of Defense William J. Perry. He also helped draft the air defense plan for naval forces in the Persian Gulf in 1990, coinciding with Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait; and served as the executive officer of the Cruiser Shiloh, where he deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq.

Mike Abrashoff is the founder of Aegis Performance Group, a consulting firm which works with and supports leaders as they address leadership, talent and performance challenges within their organizations. Mike and his team prompt leaders at all levels to re-imagine their leadership thinking and create new ways to elevate individual, team and organizational performance.

Speech Topics

IT’S YOUR SHIP – ACHIEVING BREAKTHROUGH PERFORMANCE

When Mike Abrashoff took command of the USS Benfold, morale was low, turnover was high and the ship’s performance ranked near the bottom of the Pacific Fleet. Just twelve months later Benfold was ranked #1 – using the very same crew. The lesson was clear – leadership matters and culture is everything. This inspiring talk is for every individual and organization looking for practical and usable ways to take organizational performance to new heights. In Mike’s case, he realized that before the ship’s performance could change, he had to change his leadership style. Mike worked to create a culture of trust and empower his crew to take charge and use ingenuity and initiative to improve every aspect of the way things were done. Top down leadership is dead, so when the crew would present a problem, Mike became famous for responding “What would YOU do? It’s YOUR ship!” Mike’s presentation leaves audiences with the tools and inspiration to accomplish big goals.

NO LIMITS – DON’T LET GOALS BECOME LIMITATIONS

Sometimes in our professional lives we might think we are in a battle to beat an adversary or a competitor when in actuality we are really in competition with ourselves but just haven’t figured it out yet. When battling the competition, you want to come out on top, if only by one more sale or maybe a few percentage points. Other times, someone at a higher level gives you a goal based on some median expectation set for others. When Mike Abrashoff took command of a well below-average ship in the U.S. Navy, his goal was to get to average. He initially set average goals and expectations for himself and his crew until one day it dawned on him: his ship could be much better than just average. It was Mike’s eureka moment: realizing they weren’t in competition with anyone but themselves. To be their best they had to stop putting limits on what they believed was possible. That realization changed Mike Abrashoff’s approach to leadership and led the same crew to accomplish one of the most remarkable turnarounds that was chronicled in the Harvard Business Review , Fast Company magazine and Mike’s New York Times’ and Wall Street Journal bestselling book, IT’S YOUR SHIP. This presentation will challenge audiences to think differently on how to set expectations while realizing the only limits that you have are self-imposed.

THE VIRTUAL LEADER’S ROADMAP

Mike Abrashoff had to change his leadership mindset when he took over the near-worst performing ship in the Navy. The situation was dire. If performance did not improve, sailors could have gotten injured…or worse. In response, Mike quickly adopted a new set of principles to guide a new way of leading. His focus was on building trust and authentic ways of engaging. It was about listening to and empowering his crew who then went on to make the USS Benfold the best ship in the entire U.S. Navy. These very same principles are the foundation of success for organizations that embrace working virtually. In the short term, many organizations have found virtual work arrangements actually increase effectiveness of employees. That effectiveness may not be sustainable if leaders and organizations don’t master a new skill-set of how to lead people they can’t see. It’s about measuring results – not activity; and about finding ways to let people know their efforts are appreciated. Those who succeed in leading in the virtual environment will create a decisive competitive advantage.

GO DEEPER WITH HALF-DAY AND FULL-DAY PROGRAMS

Dive deep into the Leadership Roadmap with a half-day or full-day program. The sessions are most often used as a follow-on to Mike’s keynote and provide attendees with powerful tools and strategies to apply in their work environment. Depending on the circumstances, these longer sessions are facilitated by a senior strategist from Mike’s firm, Aegis Performance Group, or Mike himself. These sessions create an exciting interactive atmosphere where participants examine the key components of high performing leaders, teams and organizations. Inquire for more details and program descriptions.

Testimonials

FRANCHISE OWNERS:
“I didn’t get a chance to say goodbye after your presentation to our franchisee group. You did a terrific job – we heard nothing but rave reviews on your stories, your leadership ideas, your style, the lack of PowerPoint slides, etc. Well done!”
– President, Great Clips, Inc.

UNION CARPENTERS:
“Despite the fact that it was late in the afternoon on the closing day of a 3-day conference, Abrashoff engaged and inspired the participants. As I coordinate these events, I tend to watch the crowd more than any individual speaker. Doing this tells me how the program is going based on how many faces are looking down at their phones or talking to the person next to them. The entire time Abrashoff spoke he had command of the entire room.Not a single set of eyes was anywhere but on him.”
– Chief of Staff, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America

CATERPILLAR DEALERS:
“Mike, you hit it out of the park, as I knew you would. Your message was on point and was exactly what I was looking for. It emphasized some of the things we were already working on and provided a good foundation for us to build on.”
– President/CEO, Empire Caterpillar Southwest

Mike Abrashoff’s address to our group in Denver was spot-on. It was quite evident that he had worked to include information regarding our company, our markets and in particular, our Project Managers Forum objectives and attendee backgrounds into the content of his presentation. Several people commented to me that they found his story inspiring and relevant. As I mentioned earlier, this was the third time I heard Mike tell his story. It seems that each time I pull something more from the information he shares.”

– Facilities Manager, URS

“You gave a memorable and enjoyable keynote speech that was enjoyed by all. Thank you for making our owners understand that they are the captains of their own destiny and that they need to take all action needed to succeed. You did a great job setting the tone for the rest of the convention.”

– Kevin G. Sinclair, CEO, Wireless Zone

“We have never had such positive feedback so you very much exceeded our expectations. You were quoted numerous times throughout the remainder of the conference which says people took your message to heart and will put it to work in their everyday jobs – exactly what we aimed for!”

– Director of Staffing, Employee Relations & Development, Denbury Resources

“The “day after” is over and the impact is reverberating throughout the organization. .” I truly appreciate the effort you obviously made to incorporate our issues and to position the call to action for them as leaders of teams. The feedback was clear — your presentation ranked #1 for most valuable . . . count me a fan.”

– Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs, North America, Nokia Siemens Networks

“Mike Abrashoff’s remarkable story regarding the transformation of USS Benfold was extremely well received and appreciated by our event participants, who found great inspiration and practicality in his remarks. These are challenging times for many and his perspective on leadership and leading during difficult times is timely as well as thought-provoking.”

– California Bankers Association

“The feedback was overwhelmingly positive! I personally have never listened to a better speaker. Your message was tailor made for my team and I look forward to discussing future opportunities with you. Thank you so very much Mike.”

– VP, TransCanada Energy Operations

“I wanted to let you know what an amazing speaker and presentation Mr. Abrashoff gave! It was a pleasure listening to him.”

– Program Analyst, SAO East

“Your insightful leadership guided us through a thorough, engaging and thoughtful examination of our current “state of the union” as well as our visions and expectations for the future. We have been inspired by your call for collaboration and are excited to bring your teachings forward with us into the future.”

– Laurence Gumina, CEO, Ohio Presbyterian Retirement Services

“Any audience that cares about leadership, culture, change management, performance and teamwork would benefit immensely from your presentation. Our group enjoyed not only your message, but also your presentation style. Needless to say, you received very high ratings in our post-conference survey.”

– Steve Perlowski, Vice President, Industry Affairs & Member Relations, National Association of Chain Drug Stores

“He was fabulous! A big hit and hit the nail on the head with our meeting theme- was the perfect end to the week.”

– VP of IT, Underwriters Lab

“THANK YOU for visiting City of Hope! Our team of leaders was inspired by your sessions and many have emailed me or stopped me on campus to share how they can apply relevant learnings. We have ordered another 100 books and many will be taking the time to read the book in larger teams. We are creating an internal blog where leaders can share with others how they are creating organizational transformation through grass roots managerial efforts. Thank you again for helping us drive organizational change and evolving our efforts to build a more accountable culture!”

– Chief Human Resources Officer, City of Hope, Duarte, CA

“[Mike Abrashoff] was fantastic! He was extremely generous with his time, and he was absolutely the right person for what we wanted to accomplish.”

– BP Exploration, Inc.

“Conference ended today with a bang. You were by far the best presenter!”

– Josh Linkner, CEO / Managing Partner, Detroit Venture Partners, LLC

“Thank you for following up – we really enjoyed Mike’s presentation and the audience feedback was outstanding! He really kick started our day with a bang and we were pleased to have him as part of our agenda.”

– HR Specialist, Intel

“It went fantastic. Full house and everyone raved. He is one of the best speakers on leadership and management I have seen in a very long time.”

– Senior Manager, Event Services, Ingram Micro

Vikram Mansharamani

15 June 2018

Robert Adams

No comments

Categories: speakers

Dr. Vikram Mansharamani is a global trend-watcher who shows people how to anticipate the future, manage risk, and spot opportunities. He is the author of the recently-released THINK FOR YOURSELF: Restoring Common Sense in an Age of Experts and Artificial Intelligence and BOOMBUSTOLOGY: Spotting Financial Bubbles Before They Burst. He has been a frequent commentator on issues driving disruption in the global business environment. Vikram’s ideas and writings have also appeared in Bloomberg, Fortune, Forbes, The New York Times and a long list of other publications. Linkedin twice listed him as their #1 Top Voice for Money, Finance and Global Economics and Worth has profiled him as one of the 100 most powerful people in global finance. Millions of readers have enjoyed his unique multi-lens approach to connecting seemingly irrelevant dots.

Vikram recently wrote on Linkedin: “As I’ve stressed before, uncertainty and change are unavoidable realities of life. Yet all of us are asked to make decisions in the face of ….fluid dynamics. What’s the best way to do so? Sadly, there is no one correct answer, but I believe we must look through the day-to-day noise to have any chance of identifying signals. Long-term trends that drive seemingly disconnected developments offer a compass to guide us through the numerous cross-currents that plague our lives; and as I’ve noted several times in the past, I believe this approach is at least marginally more useful than my Ouija board or Magic 8 ball.” Vikram is not without a sense of humor, too; which of course helps to navigate uncertainty, especially when making bold predictions about the future.

Videos

Biography

Vikram Mansharamani is a businessman who has spent his life creating businesses and helping entrepreneurs and companies create jobs and grow. An economist and author, he has written a book about financial bubbles and his writings have appeared in Bloomberg, Fortune, Forbes, and a long list of other publications. LinkedIn twice listed him as their #1 Top Voice for Money, Finance, and Global Economics, and Worth profiled him as one of the 100 most powerful people in global finance. Vikram is also the author of Think For Yourself: Restoring Common Sense in an Age of Experts and Artificial Intelligence (HBR Press, 2020) and was a 2022 candidate for the US Senate in New Hampshire.

From 2017-2022, Vikram was a Lecturer at Harvard University, where he taught students to use multiple perspectives in making tough decisions. Previously, he was a Lecturer at Yale University. In addition to teaching, he also advises several Fortune 500 CEOs to help them navigate the radical uncertainty in today’s business and regulatory environment. He has a PhD and two Masters degrees from MIT and a Bachelors degree from Yale University, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. Vikram lives in Lincoln, NH with his wife, daughter, son, golden-retriever, and two cats, one of which he believes may be clairvoyant.

Speech Topics

Navigating Uncertainty: An Unconventional Approach

In this stimulating and entertaining talk, Dr. Vikram Mansharamani applies a unique combination of practitioner experience and academic perspective to help audiences navigate the seemingly unending crosscurrents of global economic, financial and geopolitical uncertainty. He explains how we got to the current world of protectionism, nationalism, populism, and currency conflicts and explores how the combination of political, social, technological, demographic, and economic pressures will impact future trends. After presenting several scenarios, he considers the risks and opportunities emerging from a recession or an escalation of global tensions. While audiences often find themselves agreeing with Dr. Mansharamani each step of the way, they’re frequently surprised by what turn out to be unconventional conclusions.

Think For Yourself

In a fast-paced world driven by complex and changing factors, connecting the dots is often more important than developing them. As a result of the overwhelming flood of information that pours at us daily, we run headlong into the arms of experts and technologies. We’ve stopped thinking for ourselves and now habitually – perhaps unconsciously – outsource our thinking about important decisions. Rather than turn to specialists, Dr. Mansharamani guides us to think bigger and look across the silos of expertise, leaving listeners empowered and energized to think for themselves. This memorable talk is filled with stories from a variety of industries and settings about how we got to where we are and how we can reclaim control.

Boom or Bust: Spotting Bubbles Before They Burst

Our dynamic global economy seems to be producing boom and bust cycles more frequently than in the past. There’s always something that seems ahead of itself, having reached unsustainable levels. In direct contrast to the prevailing academic thinking, Dr. Vikram Mansharamani believes it’s possible to identify financial (and other) bubbles before they burst. Drawing on entertaining examples from art markets, architecture, and popular culture (as well as economics and politics), he powerfully demonstrates that you need not be an expert to anticipate the future. Audiences leave this talk feeling empowered to think independently and connect the obvious dots to generate not-so-obvious conclusions.

Testimonials

“Dr. Mansharamani is a talented speaker who connects with his audience. He is able to distill broad themes into relatable bites through illustrative and effective storytelling and use of visual images. He invites the audience to engage directly with him and they do! He is adept at and seems to enjoy responding to questions and challenges to his point of view. Dr. Mansharamani was among the best speakers we’ve had in our Author Series – evidence: the long line of people who sought to meet him and ask more questions following his presentation.”

– Suzannah L. Susser, Deputy Director, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation

“Rare is the speaker that offers a perspective culled from a variety of disciplines. Seeking such a person, we booked Vikram to speak to our group, which is comprised of CFA charter holders with a wealth of experience in financial markets. He was someone we thought would inspire outside-the-box thinking, and he delivered in spades. Vikram offered a broad, macro-level presentation that exposed our audience to potential opportunities and threats facing the world. He’s an incredibly knowledgeable, dynamic speaker whose presentation just might change your worldview – he certainly changed a few among our group.”

– Sayer P. Martin, CFA, President, Sagacious & Programming Chair, CFA Society of Iowa

“Vikram is a lively and engaging speaker. Right from the first moment Vikram steps on stage he captivates the audience and involves them in the session- no one is looking at Blackberries or leaving the room – they are all fascinated with what he has to say. Vikram is a very versatile speaker- he can give thoughtful and entertaining solo presentations communicating a clear and relevant business message but in addition he is a real asset to panel discussions- he encourages debate and creates a compelling dialogue. You can trust Vikram to add value, insight and personality to any conference.”

– Victoria Chatterton, Conference Director, ICBI

“One of the most important topics in global economics today was presented with enthusiasm and humor, supported by well-researched analysis. This attention-grabbing presentation is a must for anyone who’s looking ahead to the Next Big Boom (or Bust).”

– Trey Seitz, Investment Manager, External Equities Department, Abu Dhabi Investment Authority

“Vikram is a wonderful speaker. He engaged the audience from his opening comments and kept them entertained and informed until the end. The Q and A session was equally beneficial. He handled all the questions with colorful concise answers and encouraged everyone to participate. The audience clearly enjoyed the presentation and gave him great reviews in the survey. I would certainly recommend him to any group that needs insight into Bubbles and the Global Economy.”

– Richard L. Ware, CFA, Program Chair, CFA Virginia

“PwC engaged Vikram Mansharamani to conduct a two hour session in August, 2011 as part of the firm’s full day pension plan Trustee education session. I worked with Vikram prior to his presentation and found him to be very responsive and easy to work with. Roughly 20 people attended the session. We asked Vikram to talk about his book, Boombustology. We provided the book to the attendees prior to the meeting; however, time constraints prevented many of the attendees from reading the book prior to the meeting. Vikram’s presentation — the first of the day — was very engaging… We were entertained, but we learned a lot…His arguments were very specific and quite convincing. His methodical approach resonated well with our group of accountants and financial professionals. Vikram kept the group’s interest and also entertained them. His professorial approach made me wish I were back in school… Of the four groups that presented that day, I felt that Vikram’s presentation was the best. We still discuss his material six months after the presentation.”

– C. B. Bianco, Director of Investments, PricewaterhouseCoopers

“We host a variety of authors, professors, economists, doctors, and architects for a lecture and Q&A session. Typically, these lectures draw between 30 and 60 members. On Wednesday September 28, 2011, Vikram Mansharamani joined 50+ members to discuss his book entitled “Boombustology”. Our members thoroughly enjoyed the evening and were very impressed with Dr. Mansharamani’s engaging style and charisma. After the Q&A section of the lecture, members swarmed Dr. Mansharamani to continue asking their questions before he had to depart for a flight to another lecture. I received positive feedback about Dr. Mansharamani’s lecture from our members and am pleased that his lecture could kick-off our fall season of library lectures.”

– Lesley Kiger, Activities Manager, The Yale Club of NYC

“I want to thank you for the terrific presentation you made to the Hamilton Trust on November 10, 2011 at the Brae Burn Country Club. Our membership enjoyed your talk and thought it was one of the best presentations we have had. Our 60-person membership, consisting mostly of CEO types, is a very sophisticated and learned audience. As you know, I was initially concerned that your subject on Boombustology and Yale connection might be too academic and that you also might have a challenge in controlling the questions and debate from our group. Well, I was amazed that your presentation totally captured their interest without exception, and you controlled their questions without losing a beat on your subject matter. The members felt you were providing them with a completely new way to view the economic signals of booms and busts, and were taken with your energy and vibrant presentation skills. You came highly recommended from your previous engagements and, after this delightful experience, I would highly recommend you to any other groups looking for an entertaining and stimulating speaker. Finally, you should know that, after your presentation, I received four unsolicited e-mails from members congratulating me for bringing in such a terrific speaker.”

– David Quade, President, Berkshire Income Realty & Chairman, Program Committee, The Hamilton Trust

“I have had the pleasure of working with Vikram on a number of occasions. There are few Academics that are as abreast of market concerns as he, but even more, there are few market strategists that can remain on top of the latest research and thinking. Vikram remains one of Track.com’s top speakers and dinner guests. His insights and easy-going, straightforward speaking style make him the go-to expert for China and anything global.”

– Robert Savage, Chief Executive Officer, Track.com

“What a hit you were at our meetings! So many people commented on how much they enjoyed your presentation and how much they gained from it! Thank you for spending the time you did up front to really understand our audience.”

– Manager of Advisor Training, Lincoln Financial Advisors

“Great session by Vikram in my opinion, and informal feedback has been quite positive. He didn’t stint on the prep time (in fact he asked for more), and it showed in how well prepared he was for the Invesco audience.”

– People Development Adviser, Human Resources, Invesco

Geoff Colvin

15 June 2018

Robert Adams

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Categories: speakers

The best companies and leaders win by confronting reality faster than the competition. Geoff Colvin of Fortune delivers valuable insights to help them do just that. His unique perspective stems from unparalleled access to top global business leaders who tell him what they’re seeing, thinking, and doing. As a result, Geoff can provide audiences with a clearer path for an uncertain future. Geoff unpacks actionable insights on the economic, market, political, and technological forces driving disruptive change. Some of the topics and takeaways you’ll have from a Geoff Colvin keynote:

What are the political, technological, economic, and competitive forces shaping the future of business?

Learn what the best leaders & organizations doing right now to compete and grow in spite of deep uncertainty.

What is the future of work in a world filled with robots and smart technology? How will humans fit in?

How did the great performers become great? It’s more than natural talent or hard work. Learn the truth and apply their secrets.

Videos

https://vimeopro.com/speakervideos/geoff-colvin/video/173635939

Biography

Experience counts in serious times. For four decades at Fortune, Geoff Colvin has covered the economic, political, technological, and competitive forces disrupting business and how top leaders and companies adapt and transform to win in spite of them. The big takeaway, Geoff says, is that winning companies and leaders summon the courage to act –they stop protecting the past and start inventing the future –and they confront this reality faster than the competition. As business leaders face their biggest challenge ever, Geoff Colvin is the voice of experience who shines a light –revealing a clearer path for an uncertain future. His columns and cover stories for Fortune have earned him millions of loyal fans. Many of them also hear him dispense critical business insights on the CBS Radio Network, where he reaches seven million listeners each week. Geoff’s bestselling books include The Upside of the Downturn, Talent is Overrated, and Humans are Underrated. A keynote speaker with compelling content, Geoff Colvin is also a brilliant panel moderator and interviewer.

As Fortune‘s senior editor-at-large, Geoff Colvin is now in his fourth decade at Fortune. He is one of business journalism’s sharpest and most respected commentators on leadership, management, globalization, government regulation, corporate governance, competition, the economy, the infotech revolution, human performance, and related issues.

In addition to his daily CBS Radio Network segments (he’s done over 15,000 since 1995), Geoff has appeared on Today, Good Morning America, Squawk Box, CBS This Morning, ABC’s World News Tonight, CNN, PBS’s Nightly Business Report, and dozens of other programs. He also served as anchor of Wall $treet Week with Fortune on PBS.

In addition to speaking, Geoff is also a brilliant panel moderator, emcee, and interviewer whose subjects have included Ben Bernanke, Larry Summers, Janet Yellen, Henry Kissinger, Richard Branson, the Prince of Wales, Bill Gates, Colin Powell, Jack Welch, Alan Greenspan, Ted Turner, Warren Buffett, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and many others.

Geoff is a respected author whose groundbreaking international bestseller, Talent Is Overrated: What Really Separates World-Class Performers from Everybody Else, has been published in a dozen languages. The Upside of the Downturn: Management Strategies for Difficult Times was named “Best Management Book of the Year” by Strategy + Business magazine. Geoff’s latest book is Humans are Underrated: What High Achievers Know That Brilliant Machines Never Will. It’s based on the idea in his wildly popular Fortune article “In the Future Will There Be Any Work Left for People to Do?” It looks at the trend of advancing technology performing ever more tasks better than people perform them, and the ways humans will create value for their organizations and their careers in the changing economy. The ideas he shares have profound implications for every business and industry.

A native of Vermillion, South Dakota, Geoff Colvin is an honors graduate of Harvard with a degree in economics and has an M.B.A. from New York University’s Stern School of Business.

Speech Topics

CONFRONTING THE REALITY OF CHANGEWhen change comes at us from every direction, it can feel like our only option is to play defense. “Not so,” says Geoff Colvin of Fortune. “The best leaders I’ve reported on have found ways to embrace a world of continuous disruption and build a powerful competitive advantage in the process.” Geoff is optimistic about the future as he unpacks step-by-step how we can all respond faster to change and even get ahead of it as individuals, teams, and enterprises. Geoff provides actionable takeaways to help leaders face change smarter:

• What the best leaders and companies are doing right now to create the future
• Why confronting reality faster is the key to seizing new opportunities
• Biggest pandemic lessons for business
• Scenario planning: surviving bad times begins with better decisions in good times
• 3 best ways to lead during crisis and disruption
• Creativity and innovation – how to unleash it individually and organizationally

RISKS & OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS ECONOMY

Global turmoil has roiled an already fragile economic order in ways that are still unfolding. At Fortune, Geoff tells the economic story in terms that focus on the risks and opportunities. Business people already know the numbers – what they might miss is the big picture; the forces driving the trends causing disruptive change in their world and, most importantly, what to do about it. This presentation isn’t a stream of economic statistics; it’s an optimistic story that Geoff tells engagingly, humorously, and memorably with valuable takeaways because, as he says, “Even in tough times, somebody’s going to win, why not you?”

Geoff covers:

• Why, even in times like this, it’s vital to remain optimistic
• The latest data and trends curated for the audience/industry he’s addressing
• A plain-spoken explanation of what’s going on now – on Main Street, Wall Street, in Washington, and globally.
• How successful companies are winning in this economy

FUTURE-PROOF YOUR BUSINESS MODEL

Four big trends are causing business leaders angst as they confront the idea that their business model needs to change. In this talk, Geoff Colvin looks at how the economic climate, advancements in tech, global and domestic politics, and workers are moving to render many business models obsolete. As a result, business model innovation has become a must-have competence for all companies. That’s a problem for those that are unprepared but a huge opportunity for those who are paying attention and taking this challenge seriously. Geoff reveals:

• Inspiring examples of companies transforming their business model and winning
• Key trends driving the need for business model change
• How to just do it: Stop protecting yesterday and start creating the future
• The secrets to becoming a business model innovator
• How to adapt to a friction-free economy and create outsized opportunities
• Why human capital is the most valuable kind and how to make the most of it

LEARNING FROM THE WORLD’S GREATEST LEADERS

Through his work at Fortune, Geoff Colvin has seen top business leaders up close. Over the years, he’s gotten to know many of those leaders well. Watching them and talking with them has revealed eye-opening insights into how they cope with change, wrestle with transforming their companies, and face the economic, competitive, technological, and political forces buffeting their businesses. Geoff unpacks their stories in this talk uniquely crafted for each audience, showing relevant lessons learned from leaders and companies we all know. This talk can focus on several themes:

• The crucial process of making tough decisions
• Finding and keeping great employees
• Navigating regulatory uncertainty
• Adopting new technology
• Managing in a crisis
• Leading cultural change

Testimonials

“In a word: fantastic! Geoff really was perfect for this. He kept the conversation lively. Geoff really knocked it out of the ballpark.”
– Microsoft

“No surprise, Geoff was articulate and insightful, thoughtful on global and fiscal issues affecting industry and candid on impressions of leadership. Not to mention, a wonderful man who I will forever be indebted to.”
– CEO, The Elliot Group

“Thanks so very much for your moderating today. I felt relaxed and right at home.”
– George H.W. Bush

“Once again your stewardship of the business sessions opened the door for a truly interactive and valuable dialogue for everyone. Your depth of understanding of the challenges these companies are facing and the opportunities that lie ahead added tremendously to our conversations.”
– John Chambers, CEO, Cisco

“The consensus was: “He did a great job.” “He was dead on.” “He said what we needed to here.” “Great job.” I truly didn’t hear one bad or negative comment. He was a total “hit”. He was a total delight to work with (as were all of you). Thank you for everything.”

– Assistant to the CEO and President, Vanguard Health Systems

“Thank you very much for joining me this week at the THINK Finance: CFO CIO Leadership Exchange in New York and for contributing to our event in such a substantial manner. It was such a pleasure to see you again and share the stage with you. As with previous exchanges, you helped to draw out important insights from our speakers and deliver tremendous value to our audience. We at IBM value the perspectives you brought to our session and appreciate the time you spent with us. Thank you again for making our event a priority.”

– IBM Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

“Geoff was wonderful and feedback was glowing from my team, leadership and personally. I loved meeting him and he was a true professional and absolutely lovely!”

– Marketing Manager, Agile-1

“Geoff turned in two outstanding performances for Commonfund. His grasp of business issues is second to none and his engaging style consistently pulls the best comments from our panelists. What more could one ask? But actually Geoff delivers more without our asking. He is one of the most genuinely respectful and caring people on the speaking circuit. And despite his vast business knowledge and superior interviewing skill, he hasn’t a trace of ego.”

– Producer, Lovett Production

“You are as good as any interviewer I’ve ever worked with. You seem to bring out the best in everyone, and you sure do with me. I hope our paths cross again before too long.”

– Hank Paulson, Former Secretary of the Treasury & Chairman, The Paulson Institute

“Geoff was AMAZING. All the feedback that we have been receiving for the keynote and panel has been very positive.”

– Administrative Assistant, Omers Private Equity

“He was amazing! One of the best we’ve had . . . executives loved him as well as students, and he was so inspirational to our student group – they are a hard audience, and rallied around his message on Talent is Overrated. So true!”

-Director of Executive Learning and Marketing, Belmont University

“Evaluation comments indicate that registrants especially liked your humor, the easy-to-understand message and the way you transitioned the information theory to real world applications. You generated an overall evaluation score of 8.64. This, coupled with the numerous positive comments, means your presentation, “How the Best Companies are Winning Today and Why Talent is Overrated”, was a great SUCCESS!

-Director of Conference Programs, Industrial Asset Management Council

Monte Solberg

15 June 2018

Robert Adams

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Categories: speakers

With over 15 years in Government, as an MP and federal cabinet minister, Monte has heard thousands of pitches from “Government Relations” pros and amateurs alike. Therefore, there is no one better suited than Monte to explain how to actually meet politicians and officials to discuss your organization’s concerns, and how to overcome their potential objections or worse, indifference to your message – and still feel good about yourself.

Best of all, you’ll be entertained by Monte’s wry keynote while you learn: Monte was frequently selected by Parliament Hill staffers as one of the wittiest MPs on the Hill. Yes, Monte Solberg makes “Government Relations” a quasi, semi-fun topic as no one else can.

If you are looking for a talk on “GR” or simply want a presentation on the state of the nation, the economy, and more – then don’t hesitate to contact us to book Monte for your next event.

Videos

Biography

Hon. Monte Solberg P.C.

Monte is the Principal of New West Public Affairs. Since 2008 he has provided communications, government relations and public affairs advice to some of Canada’s largest companies and organizations.

Previously, Monte was a Member of Parliament (Medicine Hat) from 1993 – 2008. He served under Prime Minister Harper as Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, and as Minister of Human Resources and Social Development. He served on various cabinet committees including Economic Growth and Long-term Prosperity, and Foreign Affairs and National Security

While in Opposition, Monte served as his party’s Chief Critic for Finance and Foreign Affairs. Parliament Hill staffers selected Monte as one of the top communicators in Parliament.

He is a popular political commentator making appearances in major media outlets across Canada. He is also a popular keynote speaker.

Speech Topics

How to Save Your Organization from Government Bureaucrats and Bad Policy, and Live to tell About It.

Monte’s keynote on how to deal with government is a must hear for anyone in a regulated industry, or for any association, company, union, or small business; in short, it’s a talk for everybody! Some of the takeaways from this talk include:

– How to make a good first impression with officials

– Finding out who influences the decision makers

– Learn the best way to build and keep relationships and to gather information

– You’ll hear why going directly to the Minister is usually a bad idea

– Plus a lot more.

Navigating City Hall

A Talk For Municipalities, but can be customized for all levels of government.

As the closest level of government to citizens and businesses, municipalities are tasked with building their communities and supporting growth in their local economies. Municipalities are arguably the most important stakeholder for provincial governments and, increasingly, their voice is important at the federal cabinet table. Understanding how to communicate with Queen’s Park and Parliament Hill is vital to ensuring municipalities are effective and impactful.

It’s an important job, and Monte knows how to help! With experience assisting both municipalities as well as businesses & organizations looking to engage with municipalities, Monte’s talk brings a multi faceted perspective to municipal communications. He provides public relations, strategic communications and advocacy advice to municipalities, whether they’re looking to engage with the public or another order of government.

Testimonials

“At a conference, I recently attended, Monte made a superb presentation. It was full of insightful suggestions about getting your message through to elected officials and public servants. His experience at both delivery and receiving ends shone through. Most useful.” Carleton University

“I very much enjoyed your presentation at the recent Scaling Up conference in Ottawa. Your message on how to communicate with government was both entertaining and informative. And of course, it comes with your credentials of having served as a federal Cabinet Minister. Many of the conference delegates have asked that you return again next year. Conference speakers who can engage the audience are rare, but you really were a highlight of the event. For others who are looking for a credible, informative and engaging speaker, I will absolutely recommend you.” Scaling Up Conference

“A gifted communicator and speaker, Monte drew from his considerable experience as a former parliamentarian, political commentator, columnist and public affairs strategist to deliver a speech at our annual public policy symposium that was filled with topical political commentary and observations, and a healthy dose of humour.” Manitoba Real Estate Association

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Safe Danger

Dan Uses Exciting, Yet Dangerous Elements to Illustrate Safety Principles Your Employees Will Not Only Remember… But Apply

Dan’s Most Popular Safety Presentations:

SAFE Danger: Effectively Managing Uncertainty and Risk

Avoiding the DROPS: Preventing Accidents Before They Happen

Leading to SAFETY: Leadership Principles to Create a SAFE Danger Workplace

Gordon Chang

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Nicole Malachowski

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Dan Lyons

STFU: The Power of Keeping Your Mouth Shut in an Endlessly Noisy World

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Editorial Reviews

Mike Abrashoff

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Geoff Colvin

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Monte Solberg

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SAFE Danger: Effectively Managing Uncertainty
and Risk