Chris Mathers

18 July 2019

Robert Adams

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Categories: speakers

Chris Mathers is a professional public speaker and trainer, and the author of the bestselling book, Crime School: Money Laundering.

Chris spent most of his life working undercover for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the US Drug Enforcement Administration, and the US Customs Service. Posing as a gangster(!), a drug trafficker, and even as a money launderer, Chris takes audiences into the underworld that only he can describe, letting people in on the stunning stories and secrets harboured by terrorists and those involved in organized crime.

Touching on issues from cyber security, hiring decisions and background checks to money laundering schemes, corporate fraud, bribery, blackmail, extortion and more, Chris offers insights on human character and organizational culture that can help you to spot and avoid the perils of white collar crime. Chris is a unique, humorous, and fascinating speaker.

Also a popular media commentator and speaker, Chris has served as a consultant on several feature films and documentaries relating to organized crime, espionage and money laundering. He has appeared on television and radio interviews on CNN, PBS, MSNBC, all of the Canadian national news networks as well as media outlets in Asia, Africa, Europe, Australia and the Caribbean.

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BIOGRAPHY:

In 1995, following a twenty year career with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Chris joined the Forensic division of the international accounting firm, KPMG.

In 1999, he was appointed to the position of President of KPMG Corporate Intelligence Inc. where he was responsible for international due diligence, asset recovery operations and the investigation and prevention of organized crime, money laundering and terrorist financing.

In May 2004, Chris established CHRIS MATHERS INC., a private crime and risk consulting firm in Toronto, Canada. Some of the company’s most recent assignments have been:

Providing technical assistance, mentoring and training to the Nigerian government’s anti-corruption agencies on behalf of the UK government’s Justice For All Program.
Independent testing of Anti-Money Laundering/Terrorist Financing (AML/TF) practices and creation of appropriate compliance programs at numerous Canadian and foreign financial institutions.
Designing and delivering training on AML/TF to domestic and foreign financial institutions.
Conducting an offshore asset tracing and money laundering investigation on behalf of the Independent Inquiry Committee into the United Nations Oil-For-Food Programme.
Providing expert evidence on behalf of a Canadian financial institution at the Federal Competition Tribunal on money laundering/terrorist financing practices.

Chris is a popular media commentator and speaker on organized crime and terrorism, appearing regularly in Canada and the US major media outlets. He has served as a consultant on several feature films and documentaries relating to organized crime, espionage and money laundering. He is the author of the bestselling non-fiction book, CRIME SCHOOL: Money Laundering. To learn more click here.

SPEECH TOPICS

CYBER SECURITY – THE INVISIBLE WAR

Imagine a world where every telephone call is monitored, every email and text message read. A world where all of your most personal information can be stolen by cyber-criminals and offered for sale to the highest bidder.

How much risk are you taking each time you turn on your computer, surf the Internet or participate in social media? We are all bombarded every day with emails designed to trick you into downloading malware onto your computer or your corporate network. Who are the people that are working so hard to steal your identity? What can you do to keep them in check?

How do we protect ourselves and our businesses from an invisible enemy? As technology proliferates, what choices should you make?

How much of your privacy will you be willing to give up for the sake of security? Convenience? Social Interaction?

Where will be as a society in 25 years? What impact will the choices we make today have on privacy and security in the future. And how will our government protect us?

Chris’ insights into the world of organized crime and foreign intelligence and how the Internet is the new crime scene, will shock, inform and entertain you. Chris explains the intricacies of the world of high tech criminals in a non-technical, straight forward and sometimes unsettling way.

CRIME IN BUSINESS AND THE BUSINESS OF CRIME

Have you ever wondered about the seedy underbelly of the business world? Chris Mathers will provide you with a glimpse of the business world of crime and espionage in this keynote address. As a veteran undercover agent at the RCMP and intelligence officer at one of the world’s largest forensic accounting firms, Chris has seen it all and is able to offer unique insights on this topic with his larger-than-life personality.

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

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

Mike Abrashoff

15 June 2018

Robert Adams

No comments

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

Josh Linkner

15 June 2018

Robert Adams

No comments

Categories: speakers

Business leader, NY Times bestselling author, tech entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and keynote speaker on a mission to drive creativity, innovation, and reinvention.

Josh Linkner is a business leader, venture capitalist, tech entrepreneur, top-rated keynote speaker, and author of two New York Times bestsellers: Disciplined Dreaming and The Road to Reinvention. As CEO and Managing Partner of Detroit Venture Partners, he helps startups disrupt the old guard while helping to rebuild his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. Josh has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is a President Barack Obama Champion of Change award recipient. He is a regular columnist for Forbes, The Detroit Free Press, and Inc. Magazine. His work on innovation has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, CNN, and more.

Josh is on a mission to drive creativity, innovation, and reinvention. And he also plays a mean jazz guitar.

Videos

Innovation with a focus on Healthcare:

Biography

Josh Linkner – who started his career as a jazz guitarist – personifies creativity, entrepreneurship and disruptive innovation. He has been the founder and CEO of five tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million.

Josh is the author of four books, two New York Times Bestsellers: Disciplined Dreaming: A Proven System to Drive Breakthrough Creativity, and The Road to Reinvention: How to Drive Disruption and Accelerate Transformation, as well as his latest book, Hacking Innovation. He is also the Founding Partner of Detroit Venture Partners, investing in and mentoring over 100 startups.

Josh has twice been named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and is a President Barack Obama Champion of Change award recipient. He is a regular columnist for Forbes, The Detroit Free Press, and Inc. Magazine. His work on innovation has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, CNN, and The New York Times. And yes, he still plays a mean jazz guitar.

Speech Topics

RETHINK. REBOOT. REINVENT.

An innovative framework to navigate volatile times

Over the past 24 months, the world as we knew it was turned upside down. The COVID pandemic sent shock waves through our economy, supply chain, and workforce, ringing in a new era of accelerated transformation. The successful models of the past have been rendered obsolete, requiring leaders to rethink their strategy in this defining moment.

In this inspiring and actionable keynote experience, 5-time tech entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, venture capitalist, and world-renowned innovation expert Josh Linkner helps leaders respond to volatility with creative confidence. Exploring the core mindsets, habits, and tactics of the most innovative leaders on the planet, Linkner leaves audiences with an elevated capacity for inventive thinking and creative problem-solving through his battle-tested Reinvention Framework:

Reset. Pause, take inventory, and reassess. Recalibrate vision, goals, customer needs, market opportunity, regulatory environment, and competitive threats.

Release. Let go of existing assumptions and beliefs. Challenge conventional wisdom, defy traditional approaches, and reexamine previous models.

Reimagine. Spark fresh ideas using proven tools for creative problem solving and inventive thinking.

Redefine. Establish new rules of engagement. Retool existing approaches, models, and systems.

Realign. Reengage and reconnect key stakeholders (team, partners, customers, suppliers, media, investors) to the new reality.

Relaunch. Put new models into action intentionally while refining and readjusting in real time.

Reclaim. This deliberate framework will allow your organization and leaders to regain confidence, market leadership, and momentum.

Participants (and their organizations) will leave the session…

Reenergized. Fueled with inspiration and energy to forge ahead in uncertain times.

Reequipped. Armed with a proven framework and specific tools to reinvent a new future.

Ready. Emboldened to meet the challenges of the day and drive sustainable success.

BIG LITTLE BREAKTHROUGHS

How small, everyday ideas drive gigantic results

The pressure to generate big ideas can feel overwhelming. We know that bold innovations are critical in these disruptive and competitive times, but when it comes to breakthrough thinking, we often freeze up.

Instead of shooting for a $10 billion IPO or a Nobel Prize, the most prolific innovators focus instead on Big Little Breakthroughs – small, creative acts that unlock massive rewards over time. By building a daily habit of creativity, leaders and organizations not only enjoy a high volume of small wins, but also the daily practice of micro-innovations — the fastest route to discover the massive breakthroughs we seek.

How did a convicted drug dealer use a Big Little Breakthrough to launch and scale a massively successful fitness company? Why was a nurse practitioner able to use daily micro-innovations to solve healthcare problems that the biggest corporations couldn’t crack? How did a tattoo lead to a 30% boost in performance for a publicly traded restaurant company?

Big Little Breakthroughs isn’t just for propeller-head inventors, fancy pants CEOs, or hoodie-donning tech billionaires. Rather, it is a simple yet effective method for all of us to cultivate the power of human creativity. Focusing on a simple and deliberate approach to daily practice, the system enables people from all backgrounds, training, and walks of life to expand their creative skillset and mindset. It helps everyday individuals and leaders unlock inventive thinking and harness innovation to tackle tough challenges and seize bold opportunities.

The Big Little Breakthroughs framework provides a specific and practical approach to unlocking dormant creative capacity. Instead of wild, risky and expensive moonshots, participants learn to unleash small, daily creative acts to drive gigantic results over time. In fact, cultivating high volumes of micro-innovations not only de-risks the creative process, it builds the much-needed skills that lead to colossal transformations…and the creative confidence to take responsible risks.

FIND A WAY

Expand creative problem solving to tackle the challenges of COVID-19

In these uncertain times, we can no longer rely on the models of the past and expect the same results. How can we confront the new realities of the COVID-19 era and emerge stronger and better equipped?

Creative problem solving has long been the core ingredient in overcoming adversity and seizing new opportunities. In this inspiring keynote, famed tech entrepreneur and New York Times bestselling author Josh Linkner explores the realities, challenges, and opportunities created by COVID-19 and delivers an inspiring path forward. Participants will learn specific techniques and leave both energized and better equipped to conquer challenges and seize possibilities.

How can leaders bounce back and recover after facing painful setbacks? How can creative resilience be harnessed to conquer adversity? How can we rewrite the rules after a massive sea change like the coronavirus?

In this high-energy session, participants will see how creative problem solving can become their most powerful resource. They’ll uncover practical tools to unlock inventive thinking and win even against daunting odds and unprecedented challenges.

THE 5 MINDSETS OF INNOVATION

How the world’s most innovative leaders think and act

Having interviewed hundreds of top innovators, leaders and organizations around the world, New York Times bestselling author and tech entrepreneur Josh Linkner uncovered the five most powerful mindsets that are the building blocks for jaw- dropping innovation. In this high-energy keynote, your audience will learn to embrace these powerful approaches in order to conquer adversity and fuel growth.

How did an oddball idea save the cattle industry over $1 billion? How did a large hotel chain create a new revenue stream and drive competitive differentiation without investing a penny? How did the leaders of a small organization stave off a near-certain extinction, even when they were overwhelmingly outmatched by a powerful enemy?

Each mindset is reinforced through surprising, real-world examples, laugh out loud moments, and practical takeaways. The five mindsets are portable and can be applied immediately to any role, job function, or industry. This memorable session will leave your audience inspired, moved, and better equipped.

THE MUSIC OF BUSINESS

Problem solving, collaboration and agility from the dangerous world of jazz music

Live jazz is an art form that equates to real-time innovation. To even navigate through a single song, jazz musicians must collaborate, adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, and make decisions in the face of ambiguity. As the baton of leadership gets passed from one musician to the next, individual contributors are constantly course correcting, inventing, and creatively solving problems.

Sounds just like your organization, doesn’t it?

In this unique and memorable keynote, jazz guitarist and tech entrepreneur Josh Linkner uses a live musical performance as a metaphor for modern, innovative collaboration. Josh and his fellow musicians lead the audience on a musical journey, sharing an insider’s look at this stunning art form. Through the lens of a jazz musician, participants will gain a fresh perspective and new techniques for creative problem solving, improved collaboration, and real-time agility.

This mesmerizing session’s finale features live audience participation. After helping to ”compose” a new jazz song, three audience members join the band and perform their new composition live in front of their peers (no musical experience necessary). Participants are given handheld percussion instruments – along with some fun props and costumes – and together with Josh and his fellow musicians, the group performs for the audience. This live performance brings the key learning principles to life, always ending in a cheering crowd and terrific pictures for social media.

THE CREATIVITY UPGRADE

Lead your team to the next level of innovation, growth, and sustainable success

On a regular basis, we upgrade our cars, software, and wardrobe. But when was the last time you upgraded your imagination? Isn’t it about time to give your team a boost of inventive thinking, creative problem solving, and everyday innovation to drive better outcomes?

From your upgrade, you will:

Learn and understand the mindsets of innovators
Grasp the need for – and urgency – of change
Become inspired to take action and forge a new path
Acquire specific techniques for creative problem solving
Leverage human imagination to outpunch the competition
Understand how and where to use inventive thinking to fuel growth
Discover fresh possibilities with heightened level of creative awareness
Recognize that we are all creative, and that everyday innovation is accessible for every role and job function
Demystify the creative process
Emerge with specific tools to close the Creativity Gap to achieve full potential
Launch a new version of you – as a powerful creative force

In this inspiring keynote, Josh will help your team grow, as both business leaders and as people. Your audience will learn to solve problems in creative, non- traditional ways and expand their creative capacity to drive growth and sustainable success.

Your group will laugh hysterically, feel thoroughly energized, get deeply inspired, and leave better equipped. Now that’s an upgrade that’s simply irresistible.

THINK AND ACT LIKE A STARTUP

How celebrity entrepreneurs generate game-changing solutions

Have you ever wondered how Oprah and Bill Gates think and act behind the scenes? How do the entrepreneurs we revere invent bold ideas, do more with less, and change the world as a result? What would happen if the founder of Snapchat or Zoom joined your organization?

Tech startups aren’t the only ones who can think differently. We can all use this same creative thinking in our own careers, companies, and communities.

In this energizing and surprising keynote, five-time tech entrepreneur and venture capital investor Josh Linkner demystifies startup thinking and shares a specific methodology that we can put into practice immediately. Audience members will learn to embrace the creativity, grit, and vision of a startup and then channel this approach to drive growth, innovation, efficiency, and customer delight. Participants get an insider’s look as Josh Linkner decodes startup thinking to help leaders of any size company in any industry or profession:

Understand how an entrepreneur would attack their organization with the specific goal of dislodging it
Reimagine their role through the lens of an entrepreneur
Harness the ferocity of entrepreneurial thinking
Embrace “startup speed” to increase velocity in their own organizations
Learn the five best approaches used by startups to create disruption
Avoid the weaknesses that plague entrepreneurs by exposing the four biggest startup death traps

Testimonials

You were amazing!”
~Sandra E. Pierce, CEO, Charter One Bank, RBS Citizens, N.A.

“In today’s fiercely competitive global marketplace, the most important resource any business has is the creative thinking of its people. Josh Linkner lays out a road map that will guide individuals, teams, and companies to higher levels of creativity. It is a journey that will lead to better ideas and breakthrough thinking—and those who take it will also have a lot of fun along the way.”
~Bill Ford, Executive Chairman, Ford Motor Company

“Josh, thank you again for presenting today at the CMO Summit. You were fabulous and we have received wonderful fedback! ”
~Katherine Twells, Group Director, The Coca-Cola Company

“Linkner hit the ball out of the park!”
~Marco Forte, Vice President, ABC Television Network

“Josh’s presentation was perfect. The content was spot on and you could tell he really prepped. I would highly recommend Josh to other clients if they are looking to unlock the power of creativity across their organization.”
~Stuart Beck, Frito-Lay North America

“Josh, everyone had nothing but great things to say about your presentation. You did a wonderful job at entertaining and enlightening the crowd with your message. Thank you so much!”
~Julian Hua, Visa

“I felt compelled to send you on a short email to let you know quite how blown away I was by your presentation to us yesterday in London. It was quite literally one of the most motivating and thought-provoking two hours of my professional career.”
~Robert Cunningham, Heineken

“Josh brought a great source of refreshing content about creativity in business that was just what our Inc. GrowCo Conference needed. His energy and enthusiasm about the topic inspired attendees and gave them takeaways to implement in their own companies. Josh has a strong stage presence and was extremely easy to work with.”
~Karlie Krieger, Director of Events, Inc. Magazine

“On a dreary winter afternoon, Josh raised the energy level at our quarterly team meeting with thought-provoking discussion on creativity and leadership. His passion is contagious. The concepts discussed were supported with both qualitative and quantitative data so it appealed to both left and right-brained colleagues. We were engaged throughout and left the meeting fired up!”
~Lauren Rosinski, Deloitte Consulting

Healthcare testimonials:

“Your presentation was fantastic and really delivered on our theme. We’ve heard nothing but great feedback about the information you shared and have no doubt many of our teams will be using the role-storming model for future brainstorming sessions. It was a pleasure working with you and we appreciated the effort you put in to ensuring the presentation met the meeting objectives and was relevant and entertaining for our broad audience.”
— Traci Plate,
Chief of Staff, North America
GSK Consumer Healthcare

“Thanks again for giving a very inspiring and thought provoking speech. Members of the team were blown away by your message and walked away with tools to succeed in their role as innovators.”
— Jessica L. Locke,
Director, Office of the President
Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, P.C.

“Awesome! Best speaker in 15 years! Just what our group needed.”
— Tina Braid,
Director, Administration, Governance and Board Relations
Beaumont Health

“We were thrilled with Josh! He set the tone for a great conference!”
— Jenna Dodge,
Operations Manager
Pfizer

“Thank you delivering a truly inspirational keynote. The true test that your messages stuck surfaced when our internal speakers echoed your words in their own presentations over the week. We heard everything from Judo flip to the red zone to getting scrappy and much more. I expect to see many of your ideas implemented into our projects over the year.”
— Cathy Carter,
Manager, Talent Engagement and Development
Cotiviti

“It was an absolute pleasure to meet you, and a huge THANK YOU to you for the invaluable pearls you left with our team. Rob and I both discussed that this meeting was our best one since inception, and YOU were a major contributor to that success. I’ve received rave reviews about your talk from multiple people on our team so, again, thank you.”
— Cory Sinning,
Director, Physician Education & Sales Training
Intersect ENT

Ryan Estis

14 June 2018

Robert Adams

No comments

Categories: speakers

Ryan Estis has more than 20 years of experience as a top-performing sales professional and leader.

As the former chief strategy officer for the McCann Worldgroup advertising agency NAS, he brings a fresh perspective to business events. As a keynote speaker, Ryan is known for his innovative ideas on leading change, improving sales effectiveness and preparing for the future of work.

He was recently recognized as one of “the best keynote speakers ever heard” by Meetings & Conventions magazine alongside Tony Robbins, Bill Gates, Colin Powell and Mike Ditka.

Ryan delivers keynote speeches, courses and online learning with an emphasis on actionable content designed to elevate business performance. His curriculum emphasizes emerging trends influencing corporate culture, communication, collaboration, leadership, sales and brand experience. Ryan helps participants prepare to thrive in today’s ultra-competitive, hyper-connected business environment

Videos

Biography

Ryan Estis has more than 20 years of experience as a top-performing sales professional and leader. As the former chief strategy officer for the McCann Worldgroup advertising agency NAS, he brings a fresh perspective to business events. As a keynote speaker, Ryan is known for his innovative ideas on leading change, improving sales effectiveness and preparing for the future of work. He was recently recognized as one of “the best keynote speakers ever heard” by Meetings & Conventions magazine alongside Tony Robbins, Bill Gates, Colin Powell and Mike Ditka.

Ryan delivers keynote speeches, courses and online learning with an emphasis on actionable content designed to elevate business performance. His curriculum emphasizes emerging trends influencing corporate culture, communication, collaboration, leadership, sales and brand experience. Ryan helps participants prepare to thrive in today’s ultra-competitive, hyper-connected business environment.

Ryan supports the world’s leading brands, including Liberty Mutual, Darden Restaurants, Goodyear, the Dallas Cowboys, Medtronic, ECCO USA and Blue Cross Blue Shield. He is a faculty member for the Institute of Management Studies, a member of the “SmartBrief” on Workforce Advisory Board and a certified Human Capital Strategist.

Ryan and his team publish original research featuring client case studies to expand the live event experience. He is also the author of a popular blog on business performance. His writing has been featured in SmartBrief, Business News Network, CRN, Crain’s Business, Workforce Management Magazine, HR Professional Magazine, HR Times, Yahoo Business, SHRM publications and Staffing Management magazine.

Ryan is an Ohio University graduate who resides in downtown Minneapolis. When he’s not traveling to speaking engagements around the world, Ryan enjoys down time with family and friends, practicing yoga and cheering on his beloved Minnesota Timberwolves.

Speech Topics

Lead Your Way Forward:

Resilient Leadership for the New Economy

For an entire generation of business leaders the actions they take now and in the months ahead will define them and their companies. Navigating this defining moment in the short term and preparing to capture opportunity in the long term will require a healthy mindset, critical decision making and strong relationships.

During this interactive, virtual experience Ryan Estis will leverage both his proprietary research and personal experience leading a business through crisis and uncertainty. Ryan will review lessons learned and provide very specific and actionable insight participants can leverage to respond to the short-term challenges and create momentum to capitalize over time.

This customized, interactive, virtual experience will provide leaders the continuing education they need to thrive in this next normal, and every leader participating will receive a complimentary copy of our eBook, Adapt & Thrive.

Learning Objectives

Downturn psychology and the window of opportunity
The character traits of a “Futuremaker” & making the future happen
Coaching mindset and emotional resilience amid uncertainty
Drivers of engagement and emotional commitment
Keys to effective leadership communication during a crisis
True North leadership questions that create impact

Sell Your Way Forward:

Driving Sales Growth in the New Economy

You can grow a business in any economy, however, attacking this defining moment in the short term and capturing the opportunity will require a resilient mindset, shift in go to market strategy and a compelling value proposition. The time is now!

During this interactive, virtual experience Ryan Estis will leverage both his proprietary research and personal experience growing a business through crisis and uncertainty. Ryan will review lessons learned and provide very specific and actionable insight producers can leverage right now to create more qualified opportunities and drive sales growth.

This customized, interactive, virtual experience will reveal the exact playbook Ryan used to grow his own business 10 consecutive years which has proven to provide a distinct competitive advantaged to thousands of sales professionals across categories, inside the world’s best brands. Every producer participating will receive a complimentary copy of our eBook, Adapt & Thrive.

Get ready to thrive in this next normal.

Learning Objectives

Pivot back to a performance mindset
Cultivate emotional resilience amid uncertainty
Stay in the “learning lane” to achieve breakthroughs
Win with an emphasis on “total client experience”
Solidify your value proposition and engagement to meet customers where they are
Pre-call plan and conduct your own “growth audit”
A game plan for capturing opportunity and accelerating growth right now

Unleash Your Inner Superhero

Keys to Achieving Breakthrough Performance

This keynote helps attendees tap into their deep reservoir of potential and unleash their unique capability into the world. Ryan helps people see new opportunity through techniques that remove the barriers of fear, doubt and uncertainty that threaten to inhibit performance.

This important message introduces key insights about productivity and performance. Ryan coaches the audience through embracing change to achieve more meaning, mastery and momentum in their work life. He introduces several real-life superheroes, examples of the incredible results you can expect when you embrace your own potential.

The keynote serves as a call to action for those who are looking for fulfillment from their work and are determined to achieve their full potential. Participants will emerge better prepared to become their very best and achieve their next big, breakthrough moment.

The outcome of this keynote will be an audience inspired to take action and become the very best version of themselves.

Learning Opportunities

Learn how to leverage change as a catalyst for growth and
Discover transformation techniques designed to unleash peak performance and become your very best.
Find out the keys to building high-trust, high-value
Explore the superhero ethos: “Be Stay hungry. Always hustle.”

Seth Mattison

14 June 2018

Robert Adams

No comments

Categories: speakers

Seth Mattison is an internationally renowned expert on workforce trends and generational dynamics. As Founder and Chief Movement Officer of FutureSight Labs, Seth advises many of the world’s leading brand and organizations on the key shifts happening around talent management, change and innovation, leadership, and the future of work. He’s been rated one of the top speakers at every event he’s keynoted. Most importantly, his presentations combine three essential qualities: entertainment, information, and motivation. Recently named to the Editors’ Picks for Favorite Speakers by MeetingsNet, Seth’s presentations bring an entirely unexpected perspective on the future of work, talent, innovation, and the power of relationships. With a passion for helping to create greater understanding and collaboration in today’s workplace, Seth offers participants actionable content that can immediately impact business performance.

Video

New! Updated for 2024:

Biography

Seth is an internationally recognized thought leader, advisor, and top rated keynote speaker on talent management, change and innovation, digital transformation, leadership, and the future of work. His research, case studies, and thought leadership focus on inspiring audiences while sharing actionable strategies to drive meaningful outcomes for individuals and their organizations. He also coaches high performing leaders with practical, life-tested ideas, concepts, and frameworks to elevate their impact and create lasting legacies.

Over the past decade, Seth has shared his insights with thousands of business leaders around the globe for many of the world’s most recognizable brands including Mastercard, Johnson and Johnson, IBM, The Dallas Cowboys, AT&T, PepsiCo, GE Energy, E&Y, Caterpillar, and The Walt Disney Company, to name a few.

In addition to speaking, Seth is the founder and CEO of FutureSight Labs, an org design and transformation firm that supports many of the world’s most inspiring leaders by helping prepare themselves and their organizations for the future of work through research, training, advising, coaching, digital tools, and thought leadership.

Seth delivers presentations with specific take-away value that will help organizations:

Harness the power and perspective of their top talent
Tap into the hidden brainpower throughout the entire organization
Establish an ongoing system to nurture and harvest the best ideas
Learn how to adapt more quickly and proactively to changes in the marketplace
Foster a culture of stewardship of careers, capabilities, resources, the environment, and values

Seth knows that sitting through a boring or off-topic speech is utterly painful. So he keeps things edgy and interactive. He uses stories and humor extensively to craft presentations that are educational, motivational, and entertaining. But whenever he’s in front of a group, of twenty-five people or twenty-five hundred, he provides valuable and actionable information about the new world of work and what future focused leaders can do to prepare for it.

New! ALL Updated for 2024

The Human Advantage: The Strategy for Winning in the Age of Machines

As we find ourselves propelled into the age of artificial intelligence, it can be challenging not to think that tools will define our trades and machines will take much of our work. With every passing month, jobs are changing faster than people. For humans to thrive in this new era, we must reimagine our role and the value we create by connecting to the parts of our work that only we can do. Because, while machines might replicate the work, they’ll never reflect the soul. They might take tasks, but they can’t take heart. It’s here, we find our edge.

Leveraging our human advantage isn’t just about helping to connect to more meaningful work. It’s about helping our businesses stand out in a sea of AI sameness. It’s about connecting with the market on a level that algorithms can’t. It’s about being so uniquely human that customers can’t help but pay attention and employees can’t help but love their work. Let’s unleash the power of your people.

Key Takeaways

Embracing our Humanity: Tap into the irreplaceable aspects of human creativity, empathy, and emotional intelligence that drive meaningful work and innovation.
Differentiating Authentically: Stand out in the AI era by forging genuine, human connections to create standout customer experiences that algorithms can’t replicate.
Deepen Customer Connections: Go beyond digital to build personal human touchpoints to create a bond that feels authentic and irreplaceable.
Unleashing Workforce Potential: Foster a culture where passion, purpose, and personal investment are at the forefront, making every task and interaction distinctly human and impactful.

Made With Love: The Key Ingredient to Unlocking Competitive Advantage

In a world where societal disconnection, business uniformity, and AI-induced role uncertainty converge, we face a profound crisis: individuals feel isolated and purposeless, brands grapple to differentiate and stand out, and professionals fear the diminishing essence of their work and identity.

In the wake of these changes a new strategy emerges for humans and organizations to thrive by embracing our most unique and powerful human asset – love. Not romantic love, but love as an energetic force of creation, the innate desire to build, create, express, and innovate. To put love to work by creating brands, products, and experiences that deeply resonate with customers and employees.

Through captivating stories and actionable insights, we delve into a profound realization shared by high-performing groups: love is more than a feeling; it’s a tactical advantage. This isn’t about finding work you love; it’s about infusing love into the work you do, leveraging it as a force of innovation, a nurturing tool for expansion, and a guiding principle for decision-making.

Key Takeaways

Embracing Love Strategically: Learn to put love to work as a creative and strategic asset in your organization.
Innovating with Passion: Discover how infusing love into work can unlock creativity and resonate with customers and employees.
Differentiating Brands with Love: Leverage love to make your brand stand out and create meaningful customer experiences.
Decision-Making through Love: Apply a love-centric approach to enhance empathy and compassion in strategic choices.

Obsession: Building a Business and a Brand People Love

In a world where ‘good’ is no longer good enough, the magic happens when brands crack the code on going from being liked, to being loved, from being a choice to an obsession. This isn’t just business as usual; it’s about creating movements and crafting legacies where brands don’t just exist in the market, they live in the hearts of customers.

The journey is about making every transaction a story of transformation, kindling a fire of loyalty and passion in your audience by reflecting their innermost desires and values through your brand. Authenticity isn’t just a buzzword here; it’s the linchpin of this strategy, making each interaction not just memorable but transformative. The goal is to elevate your brand from a mere option in the marketplace to a symbol of devotion and obsession, resonating deeply and meaningfully with those it serves.

Key Takeaways:

Elevating Brand Experience: Transform your brand from just another option to an essential part of customers’ lives. It’s about creating experiences that resonate deeply, turning customers into passionate advocates.
Crafting Transformative Stories: Make every interaction a story of transformation. It’s about connecting your brand’s narrative with your customers’ desires and values, creating a powerful emotional bond.
Fostering Authentic Connections: Build authenticity into every aspect of your brand. Genuine, heartfelt engagements are key to moving from mere transactions to memorable, transformative experiences.
Igniting Customer Passion: Kindle a fire of loyalty and devotion in your audience. Aim to reflect and amplify their innermost desires through your brand, making it a symbol of their own values and aspirations.

Teams on Fire: Igniting High Performance Cultures

In a world of rapid transformation, hyper competition, and a labor market tighter than ever, leaders today face the difficult task of not only attracting and retaining great people but enabling those individuals to perform at their highest potential in and across teams.

But what sets apart the highly successful, resilient, and agile teams from the rest? Surprisingly, it’s not about individual team member’s skills, competencies or even potential. The secret to enabling high performance lies in leadership’s ability to foster the routines, rituals and habits that unlock connection, trust, belief, standards of excellence, and a compelling vision of the future.

Backed by two decades of research on the future of work, leadership and teams, this program will unpack the key drivers needed to help leaders create exceptional teams capable of delivery results and committed to the customer, the mission and each other.

Attendees will gain:

Insight on the new state of talent.

Actions for attracting and retaining top talent.

Strategies for unlocking connection and greater collaboration.

Perspective on the key drivers of high-performance.

The Heart of Leadership: Charting a New Course in a Changed World

In a world that’s rapidly evolving, understanding how to navigate the new landscape is crucial. We’re all aware of the change, but the real task is developing a future-ready strategy that’s attuned to the shifting expectations of customers and employees. This is an era calling for a shift in leadership focus – placing people and their needs at the forefront.

Traditional leadership models are becoming outdated amidst these changes. What’s needed now is a leadership style that’s as dynamic and adaptable as the environment we operate in. This new paradigm of leadership is about more than just management; it’s about forging genuine human connections, aligning teams around a shared vision, and cultivating a workplace where every individual is acknowledged and valued.

Key Takeaways:

Understanding Emotional Intelligence is Key: Learn how to ditch the old playbook and embrace emotional intelligence. It’s about listening, really listening, to your team and understanding what makes them tick.
Unlocking Fearless Freedom: When we create environments where people feel free to take shots, make mistakes, speak up, step back, and lean in, we unlock next level performance.
Recognizing Empowerment is the New Control: Discover how letting go is the new holding on. Empower your team to take the reins, make decisions, and drive outcomes. It’s about trust, and it’s about time.
Embracing Authenticity Above All: Learn how to lead with authenticity. Cut the corporate speak and connect with your team as real people. It’s about building trust, fostering genuine connections, and creating a culture where everyone can thrive.

Testimonials

You can see this latest testimonial spoken, it’s worth it: https://youtu.be/ZQZJESKcqB4

“Last Fall, in Nashville at our CEO Summit, we had Seth Mattison speak to our CEO leaders. I have done conventions for over 40 years. I have never met a plenary speaker who spends more time, more energy and more focus on an upcoming event than Seth. He absolutely hit a grand slam at our CEO Summit. He was so good, people said you have to have him back and you have to bring him to the National Convention. You should know that we have talked to Seth multiple times before this event because he wanted to know about you, about this event, about this sector. You’re never going to meet anybody who has more energy, more vision, more enthusiasm, more personality than this gentleman from Minnesota, Mr. Seth Mattison.”

“You have probably heard speakers on the topic of generational differences in the workplace but Seth Mattison is by far the best. His presentation Rocking the Workplace: Managing and Leading the Four Generations skips over all the negative and annoying stereotypes (‘millennials have no loyalty, no work ethic’) and gets the audience fired up about the idea of getting along with four—soon to be five—generations at once. His presentation is fun and funny, energetic, and totally relatable. He manages to engage every member of the audience, which in most cases will span every generation, in an affectionate and endearing way.” – Betsy Blair, Director of Content and Media Integration, MeetingsNet

“Seth did a fantastic job keynoting for us at our FMI Supply Chain Conference. He was spot on with all aspects of his presentation and his “prep work” on the front end set it all up. He was one of the most prepared and engaged speakers I have ever worked with. I am not surprised this has translated into increased momentum. I hope you’re getting all the engagements you can handle.” -Rhett Asher, Food Marketing Institute

Peter Sheahan

8 June 2018

Robert Adams

No comments

Categories: speakers

Peter says “Companies don’t transform; leaders do. I have never seen strategy and structure outperform the limitations of a misaligned leadership team. However, an aligned leadership team will consistently outperform the limitations of strategy, structure, capital allocation and even market conditions. The role of a leadership team is not to protect the status quo, but to successfully migrate their organization from one competitive advantage to the next.”

Perhaps his most important message for leaders is on his tough but thoughtful approach on transformation; how to do it, and why it can be such a challenge for all kinds of leaders: Transformation is a psychological journey first, and a strategic challenge second. Leaders often confuse awareness of change, with taking ownership for leading it. Have the courage to accept reality and then unleash an ambition worthy of your disruptive potential.

Peter has advised leaders from companies as diverse as Apple, Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, Hyundai, IBM, Pfizer, Wells Fargo, and Cardinal Health. He is the author of seven books, including Flip, Generation Y, Making it Happen, and his latest release, Matter. Peter has delivered more than 2,500 presentations to over 500,000 people in 20 different countries, and he has been named one of the 25 Most Influential Speakers in the World by the National Speakers Association, and is the youngest person ever to be inducted into their industry Hall of Fame.

Bestselling Author and World Renowned Speaker on Exploiting Business Trends and New Market Opportunities
Founder, Karrikins Group
CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame®

Videos

Here is a sample of Peter’s virtual content; when it comes to virtual, Peter says: Creating an engaging digital experience with lasting impact is more complex than simply taking an offline experience and putting it online. It is critical to take a fit-for-purpose approach to each individual opportunity, and to think beyond the presentation itself to find creative ways to achieve the ultimate objective. With the current isolation caused by COVID-19, now more than ever, we need to connect with our teams, inspire our leaders, and add value to our clients and member. We believe that in economic and social crisis there is opportunity…

Biography

After 15 years of standing in the fire with leaders of high-performing organizations, Peter Sheahan has come to believe that an organization will only go commercially where its leaders first grow personally.

Having grown his own companies by accelerating growth and transformation for Apple, Chick-fil-A, DeBeers, and AT&T — Peter will provoke you to get bigger, by getting better! When leaders are true to their purpose, they gravitate towards doing work that matters and solving higher-order problems. The journey to get there requires that they have the courage to tell themselves the truth, take intelligent risks, and assume ownership for driving the alignment necessary to build an organization which behaves in ways worthy of its leadership position.

In being true to his own ambitions and relentless pursuit of growth, Peter has published seven books, built three global companies and delivered more than 3,000 presentations in 40+ countries. Today he and his team are focused exclusively on inspiring leaders to do the hard work required to enable growth and transformation.

Speech Topics

ACCELERATING GROWTH

Turning Challenge Into Opportunity and Disruption Into Competitive Advantage. Accelerating growth requires that leaders take ownership for their changed reality, unleash an ambition for their organization to move towards, and align their teams to a new way of working. A company will only go commercially where its leaders are first willing to grow personally.

As the cliché suggests, you are either growing or you are dying. But in today’s marketplace, it’s no longer about growing or not. It is about growing faster today than we did yesterday, and doing so in spite of the larger base we now operate. In this engaging, case-study rich session, we will unlock the keys to accelerating growth in your team and your organization in order to:

Help you understand the difference between arbitrary double-digit growth targets and true ambition
Define the levers you can pull to create a growth-enabled culture defined by innovation, excellence, and accountability
Provoke you to reflect on the critical role you play as a leader to unleash the necessary appetite for intelligent risk-taking and action orientation required for growth
Introduce you to the three critical questions required to ensure market relevance and position your organization for accelerated growth
Orient your thinking towards alignment and the reduction of friction inside your organization

MATTER

Finding opportunity in disruption to create more value and become the obvious choice

As the pace of commoditization accelerates and the emergence of technological disruption threatens our existing business models, we must find ways to remain relevant and differentiated in the hearts and minds of our customers! This inspiring, case-study rich session will show you how to find opportunity in disruption to reverse the downward spiral of commoditization and matter more to your customers than your competition. This journey will require that you:

Understand the difference between value creation and value extraction
Move towards the very disruption that challenges you and your customers
Elevate your Impact in the Five Critical Dimensions that clients and customers value most during times of rapid change
Elevate your Perspective by learning at the ‘Edge of Disruption’ and becoming a thought leader in the business models of tomorrow
Elevate your Relationships to position you not just as a trusted adviser but as a strategic partner for your customers
Act in a way worthy of your desired leadership position

TALENT (R)EVOLUTION

Are your leaders getting the most from their people? Are you attracting and retaining the best possible talent? In Talent Revolution, best-selling author, and architect of dozens of powerful human capital strategies for organizations around the world, Peter Sheahan’s case-study rich session will:

Help you understand the changing expectations of talent so you can transform organization into a magnet for smart and engaged people
Explore the changing nature of leadership and outline new models for developing capability in your organization, and driving the alignment of people and strategy
Share proven approaches to driving collaboration inside and outside your 4 walls and harness the discretionary efforts of people on and off your payroll
Give you direct insight into what some of the world’s best companies are doing to win the war for talent

In today’s hyper competitive world talent is your source of competitive advantage. this session will put you on the cutting-edge of this critical strategic issue.

Making It Happen: Unleashing the entrepreneurial spirit and turning your good ideas into great results…

There is no shortage of ideas in the world. There is a shortage of people with the ability to transform those ideas into reality. Combining the need for imagination and action, ‘Making it Happen’ will go deep into the secrets of positioning ideas, products and services in a way that makes people not only pay attention, but to part with their time, money and energy. There is no point having a new idea, developing your new strategy or embarking on a journey of transformation if your people can’t make it happen in the real world.

Making Money in the Cracks: Counter- Intuitive Strategies for Finding and Exploiting New Market Opportunities

Unleash innovation in your company by knowing how to find the opportunity in the “white space”. Inspire leaders to take the risks necessary to make money in the white space and discover creative solutions to business problems by facilitating interdisciplinary thought. Attendees will learn how to build structures that not only generate, but shine light on the best ideas in your business and how to break the cultural norms that squash the innovative new ideas you need to thrive.

Moving the Market: Accelerate your impact by influencing how and why buyers make decisions

Ensure that your sales process is sophisticated enough for today’s buyer by capitalizing on the science behind the way people think, act and buy. Learn how the world’s most profitable companies avoid competing on price, and how you can too.

Testimonials

You’ve been an absolute wonderful partner, adjusting to our transitions and pivots along the way. Brilliant. Agile. Trusted. Confidant. Integrity. Inspiring. These are some of the attributes I use when describing your contribution to AT&T. Thank you for what you have brought us… It is corporate life changing for us and you have left a lasting impression on the leaders of AT&T!

AT&T – PRESIDENT

Your insights were exceptional and I appreciated the research you did and the focused attention you gave to our particular needs. Your content was spot on for this audience of global leaders and I sincerely enjoyed our time together and received many comments on the value you brought to our global managing partners meeting.

DELOITTE – GLOBAL CEO

OUTSTANDING. I ate lunch at my desk-side and attempted to multi-task, do other work, with headphones on. Peter’s ability to deliver content was spell bounding though. I had to give my attention over more than once. Excellent. I hope every person at director level and above made time for this. Affirms we are doing the right things at GY these days. Just having opportunity to listen in on spur of the moment on talent like this speaks volumes. Thank you.

GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBER COMPANY – EXECUTIVE

From the creative’s in the editing rooms of LA, to the Chairman himself in New York, Peter has had a profound impact on this company. It is very rare, to find someone who is both engaging and whose work is clearly based on ground-breaking research and genuine insight into what makes a business and its leaders successful in today’s uncertain marketplace. I have no hesitation recommending Peter to any organization looking to drive innovation deeper in their company and wanting to inspire their leaders to think differently and take the necessary risk to future-proof their business.

NEWS CORPORATION – SVP

“Peter, I cannot thank you enough for your outstanding presentation. Presenting to an audience of leading CEO’s is always a challenge. But once again you exceeded their and my expectations. Your incredible global insights and thought provoking presentation engaged all in attendance. You related to each and every person in that room and all walked away with a “pearl”. Always a pleasure working with you and look forward to a long association with you and Karrikins Group.” CEO Circle – John Karagounis, Managing Director

“Peter Sheahan could light a small town with energy, enthusiasm and insight. He combines deep practical knowledge with unending passion for both his subject matter and his audience. In my 10+ years of speaking with executive-level audiences, I find Peter to be unsurpassed in his ability to engage senior executives. Peter can draw out of your people answers to questions they did not know they had. That, and even more powerfully, he will have them question the very answers they come up with in a way that reveals an even deeper level of insight and understanding. Whether he is presenting or facilitating, Peter is clearly world class educator.” Corporate Executive Board – David Willis, Managing Director

“First off, thank YOU for rocking our group in Pebble. They LOVED YOU! You are awesome—personally, a delight and a gentleman, and professionally, the real deal. Your content, delivery, and engaging manner was just what the doctor ordered.” Nielson Group – Rachel Long

Jason Hewlett

8 June 2018

Robert Adams

No comments

Categories: speakers

Having delivered hundreds of presentations for front-line and leadership motivation, Jason Hewlett combines message, authenticity and humor with music and impersonations. His talk feels like a show with a message, or a keynote speech with entertainment. Few presenters can match the level of laughs, energy and appropriate material for any audience. A recent, and one of the youngest inductees into the Speakers Hall of Fame, his talk s address goal setting and the engagement experience, from the perspective of a Promise. In addition, combining his ability as a seasoned speaker, entertainer, and behind-the-scenes event adviser, Jason has become one of North America’s top Master of Ceremonies/Emcees for the largest corporate and charity events. Whether a 3-day convention or an awards gala, Jason keeps the energy, laughs, and excitement going throughout while allowing organizers to take a back seat and enjoy the conference rather than stress about running it.

Videos

Biography

Jason Hewlett’s speaking career began following the performance of his popular One-Man Show at a corporate event. The client was so impressed with the powerful messaging Jason included in his act that he was asked to be the keynote speaker for their Management & Leadership Conference the following year. Jason’s customized presentation and content, combined with music and comedy, was so well received it has turned into multiple speeches for nationwide clients.

While Jason has received awards in the arts and entertainment industry, he has been hired for some of the largest corporate events in the world. His reputation has transformed from someone who delivers an incredible, standing ovation show worthy of Las Vegas praise, AND a keynote speaker sharing practical business principles applicable for leadership, entrepreneurship, and cultural impact.

Having delivered hundreds of corporate presentations for front-line motivation and management instruction, Jason’s talks combine message, authenticity, humor, music, and impersonations. His talks feel like a show with a message, or a keynote speech with entertainment while remaining a G-rated, family-friendly, corporate ready experience. Few performers can match the level of laughs, energy, and appropriate material for any audience. Jason Hewlett is constantly brought back again and again by his clients.

In addition, combining his ability as a seasoned speaker, entertainer, and behind-the-scenes event advisor, Jason has become one of America’s top Master of Ceremonies/Emcees for the largest corporate and charity events. Whether a 3-day convention or an awards gala, Jason keeps the energy, laughs, and excitement going throughout while allowing executives to take a back seat and enjoy the conference rather than stress about running it.

With over 2,000 presentations for Fortune 500 companies and clients such as American Express, Delta Airlines, the Salt Lake Olympics, Experian, NuSkin, Younique, Coca~Cola and Wells Fargo, Jason Hewlett is your go-to solution for a keynote, entertainment, and emcee.

Speech Topics

The Promise-Keynote

Why set a goal when you can make a promise?
What promises are you keeping to your clients, your team, your family, yourself?
What promises are you breaking?

The author of the Facebook post entitled, “I Saw My Wife at Target Today”, which has been seen by more than 100 million people, Jason Hewlett shows audiences a new perspective on goal setting and the engagement experience.

He has delivered hundreds of presentations around the world and performed in every major casino in Las Vegas. One of the youngest inductees into the Speakers Hall of Fame, Jason will demonstrate how to keep The Promise using “I laughed til I cried” humor plus world class music and impersonations. This talk will touch your attendees’ minds and hearts, while providing:

Leadership Promise Skills
Sales Promise Delivery
Work-Life Balance Skills
Customer Service Promise Keeping

Testimonials

“Once again the evaluations are showing that the biggest hit and more valuable speaker of the conference was Jason. He really did make a difference with our people.” Peggy Larsen, Workers Compensation Fund

“You are gifted, hard working, a little nutty, and very humble. You have so much to offer with your message, thank you for letting me be a part of your journey.” Lou Heckler, CSP, CPAE, Speech Coach of the Stars

“I saw your show last year, for that reason we had you back, yet this year you integrated a powerful message of The Promise that resonated with our CSRBA event attendees that was just as fun as last year, but this time touched our hearts. Love The Promise, amazing combination of message and entertainment, would recommend you to anyone.” Mayor of Colorado Springs, CO, John Suthers

Jeff Havens

8 June 2018

Robert Adams

No comments

Categories: speakers

Jeff’s expert insights about how you can supercharge your business – coupled with an engaging, high-energy, and wildly entertaining delivery – create a unique environment for real learning and lasting change. His impactful keynote addresses go in depth on the most pressing challenges in the modern business world. Learn how to kickstart innovation, perfect your customer experience, improve your leadership, or solve generational issues — all while laughing more than ever before.

Delivering well-researched and relevant business insight is something a lot of keynote speakers do, but combining that with the entertainment value of a comedy show is not. Engaging, charismatic, and full of energy, Jeff Havens is the only business growth expert who provides serious solutions in a seriously funny way.

But even more than that, Jeff makes things easy. All of us are constantly being asked to do more with less, so the last thing you need is someone to tell you how difficult your challenges are.

Jeff has a unique ability to simplify seemingly complex problems in a way that will provide your audience with a fresh perspective, one that runs counter to the conventional wisdom of the business world. He’ll show you that we’re not actually creating a completely new type of person every 15 years, and that being innovative is not something only a few special people know how to do. Both exceptional leadership and customer experiences are built on surprisingly slender foundations.

You will leave Jeff’s keynotes refreshed, relaxed, happy, and more confident than ever, feeling prepared for the road ahead.

Videos

Biography

A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Vanderbilt University, Jeff has quickly become one of the most in-demand presenters in North America. His truly unprecedented ability to deliver high-quality education in an undeniably entertaining way has earned him dozens of repeat clients, all of whom appreciate Jeff’s insistence that education is the only way that we improve at anything and that we’ll all improve better and faster if we enjoy the learning process. By combining the content of the traditional presentation with the entertainment value of a comedy show, Jeff has found enthusiastic audiences in government, academia, small businesses and several Fortune 50 companies, all while still being one of the youngest members of the professional speaking circuit.

The Jeff Havens Company exists because of Jeff’s firm belief that making learning fun is the quickest, cheapest, and most effective way to create a culture where people are eager to continually improve. Whether you want to improve your leadership or change management strategies, whether you want a plug-and-play solution or something more perfectly tailored to your particular needs – if it’s important to you, we’ll make it fun. Because here at The Jeff Havens Company, we know that improving your business doesn’t have to be boring.

Speech Topics

NEW!

Conquering Tomorrow

Change Management for People Who Occasionally think Changes Are Dumb

If there’s one thing that’s true for everybody, it’s that things are constantly changing. And sometimes that’s great, like when we win the lottery or land an important account. These are the easy changes to deal with, and nobody really needs help figuring out what to do about them.

But sometimes change is not so great, like when we get divorced or our company goes through a restructuring or there’s a worldwide pandemic that comes out of nowhere and shuts the entire planet down – that happened once, remember? And when these changes hit us, we have a tendency to run and hide and kick and scream and basically deal very poorly with them. Unfortunately, deciding that we don’t like a particular change won’t make it go away. If only there were a way to see “negative” changes in a more positive light…

And that’s where Conquering Tomorrow comes in. Designed for anyone who has ever approached an upcoming change with hesitation or dread (which is everyone, by the way), Conquering Tomorrow takes audiences on a journey through some of life’s most common “bad” changes – some personal, some professional – to reveal a profound and important

truth: that while the process of going through difficult changes may not always be fun, the end result of those changes is usually far better than we’re afraid it will be.

Oh, and did I mention that the whole thing is funny? Delivered with Jeff’s trademark wit and infectious enthusiasm, Conquering Tomorrow is a highly personalized approach to the one of the thorniest challenges facing modern businesses – getting employees to buy into the changes that will inevitably come. Part motivational speech, part change management seminar, and all hilarious, Conquering Tomorrow will leave your people feeling like they can handle anything the world throws at them – even if they weren’t looking for it.

Partial List of Takeaways:

Recognizing the four main reasons we most commonly fear or resist unplanned, unexpected, or unasked-for changes
Learning to distinguish between the process of change (which is sometimes frustrating) to the result of change (which is usually positive)
Developing a long-term attitude toward change management to help reduce short- term frustrations and put temporary setbacks into proper context
How to use current successes as a guide for how future changes are likely to resolve themselves

Decoding Your Customers!

Perfecting the Customer Experience In Four Simple Steps

Ah, the customer experience.

It used to be that you just had to provide customers with good service, right? But that somehow became synonymous with dealing with problems and putting out fires, and so now you have to provide your customers with an experience that is so positive, happy, seamless, and nauseatingly joyful that they will happily wait in lines for hours just for the privilege of giving you money. You’d be forgiven if creating a great customer experience sounds exhausting. If only there were a fun, funny, high-energy, deeply researched keynote to help you figure out how to make this process a little easier.

Well now there is. Decoding Your Customers: Perfecting the Customer Experience in Four Simple Steps will provide you with a comprehensive, straightforward, and entertaining explanation for how to win hearts and minds like never before.

Now there are plenty of other customer experience keynotes. But the overwhelming majority of them either tell you how important it is to make your customers feel special (which you already knew) or share stories of businesses who have loyal customers (which you’ve already heard). And if you want to hear what you’ve already heard before, then hire somebody else.

Decoding Your Customers takes a vastly different approach. As hilarious as it is informative, this keynote concentrates on the human behaviors that have brought the customer experience to where it is today, then synthesizes those behaviors into four simple realities that provide a clear vision for how to move forward. Decoding Your Customers will answer why customers behave the way they do and how you can meet their needs – not only today, but into the foreseeable future as well.

And last but certainly not least, this isn’t going to be a dry talk. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of customer psychology and how to adjust your business accordingly, but that doesn’t mean you can’t laugh as hard as you ever have at a corporate keynote.

Because with Jeff Havens, you get serious solutions in a seriously funny way. It turns out that crafting a winning customer experience strategy isn’t as scary or unpredictable as others may have made it seem.

Partial List of Takeaways:

How the drive for convenience has changed in the past 30 years, and what that means for how you design and sell new products and services
The effect of constant connection on customer behavior, and how smart businesses have learned to think smaller in order to grow
How most businesses vastly underestimate the importance of marketing their products, services, and ideas, along with two essential types of marketing every business should engage in
How the universal desire for meaning can inform your interactions with customers and drive greater sales
Absolutely no That’s right, you will not hear ‘advocate,’ ‘tribe,’ ‘brand ambassador,’ or ‘rabid fan’ once in this keynote. How’s that for a refreshing change of pace?

Us Vs. Them!

The Funniest, Most Informative Generational Keynote Ever!

If you’ve listened to any other discussion about generational issues at work, then you’ve undoubtedly been told there are four distinct generations operating side-by-side in today’s working world. You’ve then been told the differences between those four generations, and then you’ve been told (although probably not in these exact words) that you need to just deal with all these different people, because they’re not going away and they’re not going to change how they operate. If that advice suits you, fantastic.

However, if you’ve ever been frustrated by how impossible it seems to employ four different strategies to manage four distinct generations, and if you’ve ever felt like you’re the only one who’s being asked to make any changes, then Us Vs. Them is exactly what you need.

Because it turns out that there really aren’t four generations. In this hysterical keynote,

you’ll learn a simpler way of looking at your own generational picture, and you’ll also learn how to understand, recognize, and resolve every generational issue facing today’s

workforce. That’s no exaggeration; by the end of Us Vs. Them, you and your colleagues will walk away with all of the knowledge you’ll need to address 100% of the generational issues you’ll face for the rest of your career. Other generational presentations focus on what people want, but Us Vs. Them will tell you why everyone wants the different things they do. It’s an important distinction, and it will make implementing new solutions easier than you ever thought possible.

So get ready to laugh more and learn more than you ever thought possible. Because improving your generational issues doesn’t have to be boring.

Partial List of Takeaways:

Learn to replace the complicated four-generation model with a workable dichotomy between older, more experienced workers and their younger, less-experienced counterparts
Understand the key cultural, technological, and social changes that have conspired to create a disconnect between team members from these two generations
Walk away with several immediately applicable strategies to address and eliminate problems caused by the disconnect mentioned above
Inspire a healthier, more robust work ethic in your younger employees (and your older ones, too)
Inspire a healthier, more robust attitude toward change in your older employees (and your younger ones, too)

Uncrapify Your Future!

The Most Innovative Innovation Keynote In The History Of Ever

If you’ve listened to anyone talk about innovation recently, you’ve probably heard

something along these lines: “The world is changing at a crazy fast rate. Everything you’re doing now is about to become obsolete. If you don’t come up with some amazing, industry- changing ideas in the next 18 seconds, your business is basically going to disappear. Have a nice day.” And if that’s the kind of doomsayer message that you and your friends love hearing, then you can stop reading now.

But if you’d like to present innovation as a simple process that literally everyone is capable of performing, then you might want to listen to Uncrapify Your Future! Filled with the trademark wit that has made Jeff Havens one of the most in-demand speakers in North America, Uncrapify Your Future! will make the process of coming up with new ideas easier and more rewarding than you ever thought possible. Because it turns out that every innovation in every industry – from automobiles to streaming music, coffee cup holders to wartime treaties – follows the same straightforward pattern.

Your business is always changing, and so you will always need people to anticipate and capitalize on those changes. If you want them to think that being innovative is a daunting task that only a few elites can handle, listen to someone else. But if you want your audience walking away realizing that they’re all capable of greatness, then Uncrapify Your Future! is for you.

Oh, and did we mention that it’s also hilarious? Well it is. And imagine that – a keynote

that’s both educational and enjoyable. How innovative!

Partial List of Takeaways from Uncrapify Your Future:

The three-step process which every innovation throughout all human history has inevitably followed
The one and only barrier to innovative thought, and how to overcome it
Case studies of various innovative products and ideas – which any one of your audience members could conceivably have come up with on their own
Reframing the entire concept of innovation from “big ideas that change the world” to “small ideas that slowly become big ideas that eventually change the world”

Unleash Your Inner Tyrant!

The Most Original Leadership Keynote You’ll Ever See!

(management and leadership)

The first of its kind, Unleash Your Inner Tyrant! helps managers and executives become better leaders by showing them everything they should avoid – including how to create a culture of fear and mistrust, how to oppress and demoralize employees, and how to stand firm in the face of all change – before wrapping up with a serious conversation about the kind of leaders we should all strive to become.

Covering four main areas of leadership – creating a healthy corporate culture; management/employee relations; crisis management; and change management – Unleash Your Inner Tyrant! is every bit as content-rich and intensively researched as a more traditional leadership seminar but has the added benefit of an unparalleled delivery style that will have your audience laughing the entire time they’re learning how to become more effective leaders. Simply put, there is nothing else like this in the business world, and no better way to energize your management team while providing them with invaluable training they will remember for months and years to come.

Partial List of Takeaways:

How to create a healthy, vibrant corporate culture through open communication and active accessibility
How to inspire trust and loyalty in your employees by setting reasonable expectations and delivering truly constructive criticism when necessary
How to approach change to achieve seamless integration of new product lines, marketing strategies, department mergers, and other new initiatives
How to employ one simple technique to move employee from satisfaction to engagement

How to become the kind of leader others are excited to follow

Testimonials

People like Jeff. Some of them have liked him enough to hire him back multiple times. A few of them were nice to enough to say so out loud – and we didn’t have to pay them or anything! They were legitimately happy! And you will be too.

Jeff has spoken to just about every kind of group you can imagine, so if you’d like to see testimonials specific to your industry, please contact us.

Chris Mathers

Video

CYBER SECURITY – THE INVISIBLE WAR

CRIME IN BUSINESS AND THE BUSINESS OF CRIME

Dan Thurmon

Video

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

Nicole Malachowski

Videos

Mike Abrashoff

Videos

Josh Linkner

Videos

Ryan Estis

Videos

Seth Mattison

Video

Peter Sheahan

Videos

Jason Hewlett

Videos

Jeff Havens

Videos

Big Idea Speakers

SAFE Danger: Effectively Managing Uncertainty
and Risk