Derrick Kinney

Culture today screams that money is bad. And if you have a lot of it, you’re the villain in the story. The problem is that false belief is holding back your sales team and your company from achieving the sales goals you deserve. So – Derrick Kinney is changing how we feel about money. He believes money is not bad and good people should have more of it.

For too long, business owners have used the quarterly bonus as the sole motivator for their team. That’s the old way of doing business. More money is great, but creates only temporary happiness, not lasting meaning for your team. Continuing to run your business like that makes you a dime a dozen and you seem like every other company.

Your employees don’t feel engaged and are easily temped by offers from other companies. And you’re not giving your ideal customers a compelling reason to work with your company. You don’t stand out. And that’s not right.

The future of business growth is connecting meaning to your money and purpose to your profits. Do that and you’ll have higher employee engagement, retain your best people and create a runway to record revenue.

As Derrick Kinney says, he’s heard there’s a recession coming but he’s decided not to participate. And you can’t afford to either. You, your business, your team and your customers deserve better.

If you’re tired of the same old cookie-cutter message to building your business and increasing your sales, then Derrick’s keynote presentation is an absolute Must Hear. If you’re ready to engage your audience and grow your revenue in a fresh way, and make the world better so you attract more of your ideal customers, putting Derrick on your stage will be one of the best ROI”s you make this year.

Making more money to do more good is the future of business—and you can’t afford to be left behind.

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Bruce Dickinson

747 Pilot, Aviation Businessman and incidentally, ROCK STAR lead singer of the legendary rock band icons, IRON MAIDEN. 

Bruce Dickinson is widely regarded as a true polymath, and for very good reason. He has a myriad of experience in business, entrepreneurialism, mentoring and creative thinking, alongside his larger-than-life persona as lead singer for Iron Maiden, all of which makes him unique in his ever-expanding professional fields and consequently being always in great demand, as a Keynote Speaker, to share the secrets of his proficiency, insight and knowledge. In fact, Bruce will be taking his Keynote Presentation / spoken word tour ‘An Evening With Bruce Dickinson’ on an extensive US and Canada run in early 2022, and hopefully beyond. He also did a recent “virtual” Ted talk – see the video below. 

And yes, Bruce has been known to fly the band on the 747 to various concert dates all over the world! 

Aside from his aviation and music accomplishments, some of Bruce’s other achievements include: an award-winning beer brewer, film scriptwriter, international fencer, TV presenter & sports commentator, and Sunday Times #1 best-selling author with the publication of his autobiography What Does This Button Do? 

Truly a new age iconoclast, there is much to learn from Bruce, and many takeaways from his talks. A throat cancer survivor, he discusses overcoming adversity and persevering when things look bleakest, especially for a rock singer! Though, while always inspirational, his wealth of business experience, rock star and aviation experience, the business takeaways are many as well – and encompassed in a talk with self deprecating humor, nuance, and infused with the energy and soul only a true hard rocker can bring.  To learn more click here.

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BIOGRAPHY:

Bruce Dickinson is widely regarded as a true polymath, and for very good reason. He has a myriad of experience in business, entrepreneurialism, mentoring and creative thinking, alongside his larger-than-life persona as lead singer for Iron Maiden, all of which makes him unique in his ever-expanding professional fields and consequently being always in great demand to share the secrets of his proficiency, insight and knowledge.

As a qualified pilot and commercial airline captain, Bruce took advantage of this know-how to set up his own aircraft business Caerdav (formerly Cardiff Aviation) to provide maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft as well as pilot training. He has invested in the British manufacturer of the Airlander HAV (hybrid air vehicle), an eco-friendly helium airship currently in development which will be capable of transporting cargo or people to remote corners of the earth, and in Pouncer – an edible drone developed by Windhorse Aerospace which can carry humanitarian aid into hard to access disaster areas. Furthermore Bruce was recently appointed as an RAF honorary group captain in the prestigious 601 Squadron, a position which involves him giving advice, acting as an advocate and fulfilling an ambassadorial role.

Aside from his aviation and music accomplishments, some of Bruce’s other achievements include: an award-winning beer brewer, film scriptwriter, international fencer, TV presenter & sports commentator, and Sunday Times #1 best-selling author with the publication of his autobiography What Does This Button Do?

With this wealth of experience to draw upon for inspiration, Bruce delivers world class speeches to corporations around the globe, explaining how the challenges of operating in the seemingly disparate realms of rock music and commercial aviation mirror those of everyday business worlds, be it a multi-national corporation, local company or start-up initiative; emphasizing the importance of teamwork, communication, forward planning and recognizing that inevitable setbacks can and should be an incentive to learn, adapt and move on successfully.

SPEECH TOPICS 

Split into two parts, the first section of the keynote presentation sees Bruce taking a humorous and often satirical look at the world from his own very personal perspective, treating the audience to private insights into his drive and ambition, peppered with plenty of Maiden anecdotes, and a myriad of other experiences encompassing not just the giddy heights but also the extreme lows, told first-hand in his inimitable anarchic style, punctuated with photographs and sometimes even erupting into song acapella, to illustrate a point.

The final section of his talk is devoted entirely to a Q&A session, with the opportunity to pose questions on any subject whatsoever. As Bruce’s answers will all be completely improvised – the more left-field and quirky the question, the more interesting and compelling the response is likely to be!

Topics include: 

  • From Rock Star to Businessman
  • Turning Your Customers into Fans
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Corporate Culture
  • Business Start-Ups
  • Business Turnaround
  • Risk Management
  • The Travel & Aviation Industry
  • Team Building
  • The Life and Times of Bruce
  • Motivation & Inspiration
  • Business Creativity
 
TESTIMONIALS
Bruce was excellent, very entertaining and absolutely perfect for our marketing and media event.

-Literary Event Organisers

Armed only with his humor, charm and a simple slideshow, Bruce Dickinson offers an intimate idea of his dazzling life.

-Media Group

In a generally risk averse environment, it was inspiring to hear Bruce talking about risk and almost embracing it as a strategy for managing it and maximising on the opportunities it can bring.

-Travel Industry Forum

 
BOOKS
‘What Does This Button Do?’  is the long-awaited memoir from the larger-than-life, multifaceted lead vocalist of Iron Maiden, one of the most successful, influential and enduring rock bands ever.

Pioneers of Britain’s nascent Rock & Metal scene back in the late 1970s, Iron Maiden smashed its way to the top, thanks in no small part to the high-octane performances, operatic singing style, and stage presence of its second, but twice-longest-serving, lead singer, Bruce Dickinson.

Dickinson turns his unbridled creativity, passion, and anarchic humor to reveal some fascinating stories from his life, including his thirty years with Maiden, his solo career, his childhood within the eccentric British school system, his early bands, fatherhood and family, and his recent battle with cancer.

Bold, honest, intelligent and very funny, his memoir is an up-close look inside the life, heart, and mind of one of the most unique and interesting men in the world; a true icon of rock.

This book reached No. 1 on The Sunday Times Bestselling Autobiography list.

 

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Amanda Buhse

CEO & Chief Creative Officer Coal and Canary Inc. 

Amanda is a multi-award-winning marketing maverick, entrepreneur, speaker, and overall creative force – she is the CEO and Chief Creative Officer of Coal and Canary. A bona fide celeb in Western Canada, her influence is growing internationally – because her amazing creative efforts with Coal and Canary have been featured in numerous national and international media outlets including, Forbes, the GRAMMY, Oscar, Emmy, and Golden Globe swag bags, The Globe and Mail, Good Morning America, Cameron Diaz’ The Body Book, Style at Home, Canadian Living and many more.  Why? Because she has an amazing product, but mostly because she has an incredible story to tell. 

Coal and Canary was started at her kitchen table, with fifty bucks thrown in by her and her co-founder, who she subsequently bought out, so they can start their next company…, but we digress! So – How did Amanda go from hobby candle making at her kitchen table to having a candle in Oscar and Grammy Swag Bags? How did she pivot from selling her wares at live tradeshows and her brick and mortar location, to increasing online sales over 500% when the pandemic hit and shut her down? Now her company is doing 2 million in sales!

Amanda defines entrepreneurial resilience, creativity, digital marketing, and leading through difficult times.  So what can be learned from this inspirational dynamo? 

Takeaways from Amanda’s talks include: 

  1. Secrets to pivoting during turbulent times – the Coal and Canary way
  2. The future of retail in a post covid world.
  3. Leading a team when your business just became “Non Essential”.
  4. Inspiration from the kitchen table – you can do it, no matter what.
  5. Marketing and digital marketing innovation, and so much more. 

Amanda is a passionate voice in the Canadian female entrepreneurial scene with a mission to empower others to harness their personal strength, trust their intuition, and live fearlessly. Sharing her journey of overcoming personal tragedy, she has inspired audiences across the country to live a life of their own design by showing up in the world as the truest expression of themselves.  

A sneak peak testimonial: Amanda Buhse is a powerhouse – an incredible marketer, an inspiring female entrepreneur and an electric personality which combined makes her one incredible speaker.

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BIOGRAPHY:

Before starting Coal and Canary, Amanda worked as a graphic designer and marketing executive for companies both large and small in retail, fashion, and agency environments. These diverse experiences gave her a global perspective on what it takes to lead a brand, a business and a team.

She lives and breathes creativity and brings design brilliance to every aspect of business and life. This quality was a keystone in growing her brand from a $40 investment to be a multi-million dollar business. Forbes Magazine has since recognized Coal and Canary as “Canada’s favorite artisan candle” under Amanda’s leadership. 

Amanda has been recognized by her local and national peers as “Female Entrepreneur of the Year” (WBOM, 2019), “Volunteer of the Year” (Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, 2019), “Small Business of the Year” (TWAD, 2019), Spirit of Winnipeg Award winner and more. Her largest accolade to date came in early 2021, when Amanda was named a G20 YEA Canadian Delegate for the global G20 Summit hosted in Milan which will focus on COVID-19 socio-economic recovery, as well as a global renaissance, for inclusive, sustainable, and innovative prosperity. 

Amanda’s leadership and commitment to the small business community are evident as she acted Co-Chair of the Small Business Advisory Council (WCOC, 2019), and a Chamber representative chosen to sit on the Mayor of Winnipeg’s COVID-19 Business Task Force to advise on the COVID-19 related impacts felt by the Winnipeg business community.

Amanda is a passionate voice in the Canadian female entrepreneurial scene with a mission to empower other to harness their personal strength, trust their intuition and live fearlessly. Sharing her journey of overcoming tragedy, she has inspired audiences across the country to live a life of their own design by showing up in the world as the truest expression of themselves.

Amanda’s speaking engagements span a vast array of international clients including Wix, Verizon and numerous business and educational institutions. She is an in-demand speaker on the topics of marketing innovation, entrepreneurship, leadership and personal growth.

In her spare time, you’ll find her creativity is alive and well whether its singing Whitney Houston ballads or prepping four-course meals for her friends and family. While she travels across North America regularly, she feels most at home with her loved ones at Brereton Lake in Manitoba. Click here for more info.

SPEECH TOPICS 

From the Kitchen to the Oscar Bag

The business started as a way for two friends to reconnect. It’s now grown to be a multi-million dollar brand. How did Amanda Buhse take her project from kitchen-based production to a 10,000 square foot operation? Amanda breaks down the milestones and strategic decisions that took her from day one to year seven. She outlines how collaborations propelled the brand on its way forward. She gives a detailed account on how her products landed in the GRAMMY Award and Oscar celebrity gift bags. She tells her story – the behind-the-scenes one – that cascades through her highs, her lows and ultimately her triumph in entrepreneurship.

Business, Marketing & Leadership Lessons:

The Secrets to Coal and Canary’s Incredible Pivot

The biggest brands of the world are instantly recognizable. From colour, to feel to strategy, you know them when you see them. But how do you build that from the ground up? As one of Canada’s leading entrepreneurs, Amanda Buhse, details how graphic design, social media, strategic planning and company culture took her from a two person venture to a multi-million dollar operation. She shares the steps she took as a leader through the pandemic that ultimately doubled her annual revenue and streamlined her on and offline operations. How do you double sales, keep morale high and grow your business exponentially in the midst of global disruption? Amanda shares her wins, her learnings and her day-to-day that took the brand from her kitchen to 450 locations across North America.

Growing Through Loss, How To Pick Up The Pieces and Build a life of your own Design

When your life collapses, how do you move forward? When everything you thought you wanted suddenly shatters, what are your next steps? And even before that, how do you even get out of bed in the morning? Many see Amanda  as a fearless, charismatic leader. She is those things, but in 20xx, the person you see today looked different as she crashed into her personal rock bottom. The ‘picture perfect’ family life she had mapped out was no longer an option. After her devastating personal loss, she had no choice but to pick up the pieces and find her way through the darkness. Amanda shares how this collapse changed her perspective and gave her the opportunity to rebuild a life of her own design. She shares how she shifted her mindset. How she grew beyond linear thinking. How she overcame expectations that others had of how she should live her life. Amanda shares her story as inspiration to women everywhere to live fearlessly and recognize your worth on the path to being the truest version of yourself.

The Future of Retail in a Post-COVID World

COVID-19 stopped the world in its tracks and did something no amount of advertising could ever do. It rapidly changed consumer behavior and preferences. Globally, in a matter of months, it changed how we work, shop and live and the effects continue as we move into a post-COVID world. With e-commerce up 5% in the first quarter of 2021 alone, this trend is likely to here to stay, even as brick and mortar stores open for business. These trends are dramatically changing retail philosophy, and the retail experience, blending the digital and physical environments where retailers do business. From elevating your e-commerce experience to experiential marketing to click and mortar, Amanda dives into the trends taking shape and how business owners can thrive in the midst of exponential change.

 
TESTIMONIALS
 

“Amanda is one of those speakers you instantly relate to and want to be friends with. As a keynote speaker she leans on funny and memorable storytelling to educate us on marketing and building an international brand. As our Small Business Council Chair Amanda brought an engaging and bright energy on stage as our host and panel moderator during many events. “

— Elizabeth Cron, VP of Programs and Marketing, Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce

Amanda Buhse is a powerhouse – an incredible marketer, an inspiring female entrepreneur and an electric personality which combined makes her one incredible speaker.

Joel Waterman, General Manager, Inn at the Forks 

“Amanda is a top notch speaker and my class was thrilled to have her join us. Amanda generously shared her inspiring story about bringing Coal and Canary to life, what it takes to build a loyal online community and keep it growing. Amanda was fully prepared, captured our attention and eagerly answered questions. She created an unforgettable experience and I’d have her back again in an instant!”

Kelly Thibodeau, Founder & Director, Squarely Social

Amanda Buhse is beyond admirable. I saw and heard her speak at a Babes who Brunch here in Winnipeg a few year’s back as the Keynote Speaker. She is a really great entrepreneur who definitely doesn’t hold back. Her success story is truly inspiring. Her energy is really infectious. Amanda works hard and took a chance on making her dreams a reality, every single day.  Amanda’s focus was to make what is invisible, visible, when it comes to your dreams, to believe in yourself and believe in the process! Her company started in her kitchen and has grown exponentially and  I am so inspired by her and her message.

– Leslie Nicole, Makeup Artist & LifeStyle Blogger

“Amanda is such a talented entrepreneur here in Winnipeg and we knew she would be an incredible instructor for our class that focuses on up-scaling wholesale for small business owners. She blew our expectations out of the water with her inviting personality, wealth of knowledge, kindness and passion. Our clients walked away from the class feeling confident about their future goals that were going to elevate their business going forward. Amanda is welcome back anytime to teach this same class as well as any other topics her experience applies to!” 

– Kyla Klassen, co-owner of The Kinship Studio

“Our clients had such a positive experience learning from Amanda. Not only was she incredibly engaging and authentic, but she offered personal and specific advice to each entrepreneur to make sure they were confident in their understanding before the class ended. She knows her value and more importantly, how to use it to benefit others.” 

Sara Ford, co-owner of The Kinship Studio

“I had been a huge fan of Coal and Canary for years, but didn’t know much about Amanda or the background of the company. Her unique and inspiring story coupled with her bright and bubbly personality, are what make her such a captivating speaker.” 

– Julia Grubert Van Iderstine / National Business School Conference Co-Chair

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Michael Vickers

Sales expert Michael Vickers is a passionate entrepreneur whose mission is to help companies and individuals increase the value they bring to their clients by showing them how to become the preferred providers in their marketplaces.

Michael is the Executive Director of Summit Learning Systems. His company offers customized in-house training and e-learning programs to many of today’s leading companies. His Rainmaker Coaching System has taught thousands of salespeople throughout North America the skills that are required to achieve optimum sales performance. He’s also a best-selling author and his books are considered must-reading for high performance salespeople.

Michael has been spreading his message of excellence for everyone as a business author, coach and speaker for over 20 years.  A riveting presenter on the stage with live audiences, Michael has also been leading online coaching and training sales sessions for groups that prefer the “virtual” experience.

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Jeff Havens

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.

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Chip Eichelberger, CSP

Chip Eichelberger will be THE energy source for your event!

Formerly Tony Robbins international point man, Chip is a proven pro that will do the homework necessary to customize his message with your theme and business model. He specializes in customized, high energy, engaging, humorous and interactive opening, after meal and closing presentations. Watch his demo and other videos on this page.

Chip’s presentations are an interactive experience, not a one-way speech! Your people will be engaged and actively participating, not snoozing. Using an interactive customized handout, he works with the audience to look at what they’re doing now, find more effective options, and commit to change-change that creates productivity and value for your organization.

Chip has “Switched On” over 1000 conventions for companies like Apple, Hyatt, Astra Zeneca, GM, Equitable and RE/MAX. A proven pro, he has been making meeting planners look like a genius for over 27 years. Chip will be THE energy source for your event and bring a positive energy that will resonate with your audience.

His highly interactive sessions engage people at a deep level and gets them involved in his presentation. He shows individuals how to get Switched On and be the best version of themselves. He does NOT DO A SPEECH!

Chip understands audiences are NOT craving another speech. They are craving the energy and engagement that he brings to EVERY presentation. Chip’s contagious energy will change entire atmosphere of the room! Chip’s talks are customized to fit the theme of the meeting and the business situation of the client.

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