As seen on BigSpeak.com
Whether you lead a Fortune 500 company or simply want to motivate yourself to rise to the next level, you can learn many lessons from the world’s top keynote speakers.
These key messages from highly accomplished men and women across a broad spectrum of business, athletic and entertainment sectors will give you and your colleagues the inspiration to craft personal and corporate strategies that deliver a competitive advantage.
Draw your inspiration from these top keynote speakers and learn to become a better leader.
#49 – Jason Dorsey
Jason Dorsey is the Co-Founder and President of The Center for Generational Kinetics. He has led Millennial and Gen Z research on four continents in multiple languages.
He advises CEOs, corporate boards, VC and PE firms around the world and is a highly sought-after Millennial and Gen Z keynote speaker and researcher. He is known for delivering specific, practical solutions grounded in original research that drive measurable results. He has 180 clients on his roster represent every major industry, from global banks and software companies to automakers, consumer brands, healthcare, retailers, manufacturing, and private equity firms.
Dorsey has been featured on more than 200 television shows, including 60 Minutes, 20/20, The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, and The Early Show.
Jason Dorsey wrote his first bestselling book at age 18. His latest bestselling book is Y-Size Your Business: How Gen Y Employees Can Save You Money and Grow Your Business.
#48 – Molly Fletcher
Molly Fletcher is a polished keynote speaker who delivers more than 70 customized addresses annually for a diverse roster than includes AT&T, Bank of America, Carter’s, CVS, Dell EMC, The Home Depot, Johnson & Johnson, Leadercast, Society for Human Resource Management, Taco Bell, and TED Talks, among others.
Fletcher shares stories with her audiences from her experiences as a successful sports agent and lessons from top athletes and coaches on how to unleash potential and achieve peak performance.
She has been hailed as the “female Jerry Maguire” by CNN and will share her proven approaches that allowed her to complete more than $500 million worth of deals throughout her career.
Fletcher also empowers women to carve out their own path for success through her tenure in a male-dominated industry.
#47 – Drew Hanlen
Drew Hanlen is the top NBA skills trainer in the world. But what many people don’t know is that he has been working behind the scenes influencing business owners and speaking for many years.
Hanlen runs Pure Sweat Basketball, a training firm with an impressive client list of young NBA players such as Zach LaVine, Andrew Wiggins, Bradley Beal, Anthony Bennett, David Lee, Jameer Nelson, Jordan Clarkson and many others.
Hanlen’s basketball hero growing up was Michael Jordan. He would record Bulls games, study every move Jordan made and then hit the court and practice all the same moves. That helped Hanlen develop his basketball IQ.
Although his dream was to play in the NBA and that didn’t happen, he’s still having an impact on the league. He carries that same tenacity and work ethic to the stage as a much-in-demand keynote speaker.
#46 – Gretchen Rubin
Gretchen Rubin is an influential and thought-provoking observer of happiness and human nature. She started her career in law and was clerking for Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor when I realized I wanted to be a writer.
Since that time, she has authored many books including New York Times bestsellers, The Four Tendenciesand Better Than Before. Her book The Happiness Project has sold more than one million copies, been published in more than thirty languages, and spent more than two years on the New York Times bestseller list, including at #1. Overall, her books have sold more than 3.5 million copies worldwide.
As a keynote speaker and an author, she draws from cutting-edge science, the wisdom of the ages, lessons from popular culture, and her own experiences to explore how people can make their lives happier, healthier, more productive, and more creative.
#45 – Darren Hardy
Darren Hardy is an author, keynote speaker, advisor, and former publisher of SUCCESS Magazine. The New York Times best-selling author wrote The Entrepreneur Roller Coaster, Living Your Best Year Ever and The Compound Effect.
Hardy has been a central business leader in the personal growth and success industry for more than 20 years. He led three success television networks producing over 1,000 TV shows featuring most every influential thought leader of our times.
Hardy has been awarded the ‘Master of Influence’ designation by the National Speakers Association in honor of his professionalism in public speaking.
Darren is also a highly sought-after keynote speaker, media contributor with the mission to Positively Influence Influencers… and to be a guide for those who choose to be the exception.
#44 – Shawn Achor
Shawn Achor is a leading researcher on happiness. His efforts earned him accolades on the cover of Harvard Business Review, and his research and work on stress in partnership with Yale University was published in The Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
Achor and The Oprah Winfrey Network have created an in-depth two-part Happiness Course to help individuals impact their own lives and the lives of those around them with the Happiness Advantage.
Shawn’s, and his PBS special has been seen by millions. He has worked with over a third of the Fortune 100 companies, as well as the NFL, the NBA, the Pentagon, and the White House and has traveled to more than 50 countries to deliver his message.
#43 – Diana Nyad
Diana Nyad became known as the world’s greatest long-distance swimmer in the 1970s with her open-water achievements, including a record-breaking swim around Manhattan.
For 30 years, Nyad was a prominent sports broadcaster and journalist, filing stories for National Public Radio, ABC’S Wide World of Sports and many other outlets.
In 2013, 64 years old, Nyad became the first person to swim from Cuba to Florida without the aid of a shark cage; she covered 111 miles in 53 hours from Havana to Key West.
She has also authored three books and will soon release her upcoming memoir, Find a Way.
#42 – Tom Bilyeu
Tom Bilyeu is best known as a co-founder of Quest Nutrition. It was the second-fastest-growing private company in North America on the Inc 500 for 2014. The company grew by 57,000% in its first 3 years and became a billion-dollar business within 5 years of its launch.
He is known as a serial entrepreneur and thought leader who can deliver impactful keynote speeches or lead breakout sessions on business strategy, brand building, mindset, and leadership.
Tom regularly inspires audiences of entrepreneurs, change makers, and thought leaders at some of the most prestigious conferences and seminars around the world, including Abundance 360, A-fest, and Freedom Fast Lane. His deep passion for storytelling combined with his insights from building a billion-dollar business allows him to deliver powerful speeches that routinely garner top praise.
#41 – Steve Wozniak
Steve Wozniak is the co-founder, Apple Computer. A Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for the past three decades, Steve Wozniak helped shape the computing industry with his design of Apple’s first line of products the Apple I and II and influenced the popular Macintosh.
For his achievements at Apple Computer, Wozniak was awarded the National Medal of Technology by the President of the United States in 1985, the highest honor bestowed on America’s leading innovators.
After leaving Apple, Wozniak was involved in various business and philanthropic ventures, focusing primarily on computer capabilities in schools and stressing hands-on learning and encouraging creativity for students.
In 2000, he was inducted into the Inventors Hall of Fame and was awarded the prestigious Heinz Award for Technology, The Economy and Employment. He also subsequently founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation and was the founding sponsor of the Tech Museum, Silicon Valley Ballet and Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose.
In 2006, Wozniak published his New York Times Best Selling autobiography, iWoz: From Computer Geek to Cult Icon and is a sought after keynote speaker.
#40 – Malcolm Gladwell
Malcolm Gladwell is an author and keynote speaker who has written numerous books, including The Tipping Point, Blink, Outliers, and David and Goliath. He is also the host of the podcast Revisionist History. His sixth book, Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don’t Know, is scheduled to be released in September 2019
Gladwell has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1996. Prior to that, he was a reporter at the Washington Post.
Gladwell’s books and articles often deal with unexpected implications of research in the social sciences and make frequent and extended use of academic work, particularly in the areas of sociology, psychology, and social psychology.
He is a frequent lecturer and keynote speaker at locations throughout the United States.
#39 – Dr. Ken Blanchard
Dr. Ken Blanchard is an author, keynote speaker, and business consultant known for his groundbreaking research in leadership. Through The Ken Blanchard Companies, he has helped to transform the daily management of companies throughout the world. The leadership training and development company has trained millions of the world’s best managers for more than 35 years.
Blanchard has authored or coauthored 60 books and sold more than 21 million copies worldwide. His iconic 1982 classic, The One Minute Manager, coauthored with Spencer Johnson, has sold more than 13 million copies and remains on bestseller lists today. Other notable works include Raving Fans, The Secret,andLeading at a Higher Leveland have been translated into 42 different languages.
A prominent, sought-after author, speaker, Blanchard is a trustee emeritus of the Board of Trustees at his alma mater, Cornell University, and he also teaches students in the Master of Science in Executive Leadership Program at the University of San Diego.
#38 – Rachel Hollis
Rachel Hollis was the owner of Chic Events –a high-end event planning company in LA– for over a decade. She started a blog as a way of promoting that business and eventually she sold the company when clients wanted to hire her to talk about marketing their own products and services.
After years of building Chic Media, she has morphed that into The Hollis Company, that gives people the tools to make positive and lasting change by promoting a personal growth mindset.
Hollis is also a #1 New York Times Best-Selling author and top keynote speaker.
#37 – Seth Godin
Seth Godin is the author of 19 best-selling books, including The Dip, Linchpin, Purple Cow, Tribes, and What To Do When It’s Your Turn (And It’s Always Your Turn). He writes about the post-industrial revolution, the way ideas spread, marketing, change and leadership.
He is renowned for his writing and speaking, and also founded Squidoo and Yoyodyne.
Seth recently broke new ground in the publishing industry by releasing a series of four books through Kickstarter. The campaign reached its goal after three hours and ended up becoming the most successful book project ever done this way.
In 2015, he created the altMBA, a life-changing 30 day workshop which was part of a portfolio of seminars and educational offerings that have been taken by more than 60,000. He also has five TEDtalks to his credit.
Godin is in the Guerrilla Marketing Hall of Fame, the Direct Marketing Hall of Fame and the Marketing Hall of Fame.
#36 – Robert O’Neill
Robert O’Neill was part of over 400 combat missions as a Navy SEAL, including being part of the team that ultimately brought Osama bin Laden to justice.
During his remarkable career, O’Neill has been decorated more than 52 times with honors. Some of those most notable military decorations include: two Silver Stars, four Bronze Stars with Valor, a Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor, three Presidential Unit Citations and two Navy/Marine Corps Commendations with Valor.
Today, he is a keynote speaker, security consultant, philanthropist, and FOX News contributor offering expert analysis on terrorism and military strategy O’Neill is involved in a range of missions.
Through his charity, Your Grateful Nation, he works to raise awareness and financial support for special operations military personnel making the difficult transition from the battlefield to the boardroom.
His speaking engagements are highlighted by gripping stories, effective strategies and a highly motivational message that won’t soon be forgotten.
#36 – Ben Newman
Ben Newman is known as a powerhouse storyteller. He can be found with Top Fortune 500 companies in boardrooms and stages around the world as well as with some of the world’s elite sports teams.
He was featured in 2018 on ESPN’s Rolling with the Tide for his work with the Alabama Football team and is a speaker and performance coach for Microsoft, AB InBev, MTX Inc, Northwestern Mutual, Mass Mutual and other elite companies around the globe.
Newman has published several books on mental toughness, professional success, and how to drive positive changes in your life. Newman is also considered one of the top mental toughness experts.
You can also find Ben speaking and giving back to the military. If you are looking to connect to purpose and drive accountability in your organization Ben will deliver.
#35 – Stephen Covey
Stephen Covey is the co-founder of FranklinCovey, a world leader in helping companies big and small achieve results based on changes in human behavior that lead to a durable competitive advantage. FranklinCovey now extends to more than 150 countries, with over 2,000 associates working toward a common mission.
Covey may be best known for his book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which continues to be a best seller 25 years after it was written because it ignores trends and pop psychology and focuses on timeless principles of fairness, integrity, honesty, and human dignity.
#34 – Ed Mylett
Ed Mylett was a standout Division I baseball player and had hoped to play Major League Baseball but a major injury dealt a final blow to his athletic aspirations.
He turned his drive and determination to the business world where he quickly climbed the ladder at WFG. Forbes has listed him as a Top 50 Under 50 with a net worth of more than $400 million.
A highly sought after speaker, Mylett spreads his messages of living an epic life through his podcast #MaxOut With Ed Mylett and he has recently published his first book, #MaxOut Your Life: Strategies for Becoming an Elite Performer.
Mylett also proudly supports charitable and community initiatives such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America, the All for One Foundation, and the National Leadership Foundation
#33 – Brian Tracy
Brian Tracy has been a mainstay in the field of motivational speaking for decades.
Prior to founding Brian Tracy International, he was the COO of a $265 million dollar development company and enjoyed widespread success in sales and marketing, investments, real estate development and syndication, importation, distribution, and management consulting.
He has consulted for more than 1,000 companies and addressed more than 5 million people in 5,000 talks and seminars throughout the US, Canada, and 70 other countries worldwide. As a keynote speaker and seminar leader, he addresses more than 250,000 people each year.
He is the author of over seventy books that have been translated into dozens of languages. He has written and produced more than 300 audio and video learning programs, including the worldwide, best-selling Psychology of Achievement that has been translated into more than two dozen languages.
#32 – Robert Kiyosaki
Robert Kiyosaki is best known as the author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, considered by many to be the #1 personal finance book of all time. His series of books has been translated into 51 languages and sold over 27 million copies worldwide.
He is also the creator of the Cashflow board and software games that help educate adults and children about business and financial concepts.
As the founder of The Rich Dad Company and Rich Global LLC, Kiyosaki believes business needs both a spiritual and a business mission to be successful, especially at the beginning.
He is an entrepreneur, educator, and investor who believes that each of us has the power to makes changes in our lives, take control of our financial future, and live the rich life we deserve.
#31 – Sir Richard Branson
Sir Richard Branson owes his fortune of approximately $4 billion to a conglomerate of businesses bearing the “Virgin” brand name, including Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Galactic.
He struggled in school and dropped out at age 16, a decision that ultimately led to the creation of mail-order record company Virgin Records. He expanded it into a record label first signing Mike Oldfield who recorded Tubular Bells in 1973. Branson then signed other groups to the label, including the Sex Pistols, Culture Club, the Rolling Stones, and Genesis, helping to make Virgin Music one of the top six record companies in the world. He later sold the label for $1 billion in 1992.
His entrepreneurial projects started in the music industry and expanded into other sectors, including Virgin Atlantic airlines and the space-tourism venture Virgin Galactic.
In 2010, he moved forward with his upstart Virgin Hotels. In 2018, Virgin announced its presence in Las Vegas by taking over ownership of the Hard Rock Hotel.
Branson is also known for his adventurous spirit and sporting achievements, including crossing oceans in a hot air balloon.
#29 – Tim Grover
Tim S. Grover is the CEO of ATTACK Athletics, Inc. He is well known for his work with elite champions and Hall of Famers, including Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, and hundreds other NFL, MLB, NBA, and Olympic athletes
Grover is recognized as the preeminent authority on the science and art of physical and mental dominance and achieving excellence.
He is the author of the national bestseller RELENTLESS: From Good to Great to Unstoppable and creator of digital training platform The Relentless System. A featured columnist at SI.com and Yahoo.com, he also appears on ESPN, Fox Sports, and other media outlets.
Tim delivers keynote speaker addresses and is a consultant to business leaders, athletes, and elite achievers in any area who want to know how the best can get better in anything they do. He teaches the principles of relentless drive, results-driven performance, and mental toughness.
#28 – Sheryl Sandberg
Sheryl Sandberg is the COO of Facebook and the founder of Leanin.org. In 2012, she became the first woman to serve on Facebook’s board of directors. Before she joined Facebook, Sandberg was vice president of global online sales and operations at Google.
She was named to the Time 100 in 2012. She has also been ranked several times as one of the most 50 Powerful Women in Business by Fortune Magazine.
In 2015, she reported a net worth of more than $1 billion due to stock holdings in Facebook and other companies.
She has authored two books, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead and Option B.
Lean In is for professional women to help them achieve their career goals and for men who want to contribute to a more equitable society.
#27 – Andy Frisella
Andy Frisella is the CEO of one of the world’s leading nutritional supplement companies, 1st Phorm International based in St. Louis, MO. He also founded and runs five other businesses that collectively generate $200 million in annual revenues.
He hosts The MFCEO Project, a business/success oriented podcast that been ranked as #1 ranked Business/Entrepreneurship/Personal Development podcast on the planet for nearly four years straight.
He is one of the highest paid keynote speakers in the world and has been recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on customer retention and loyalty, company culture, and the marketing techniques it takes to build both brick-and-mortar and online direct-to-consumer retail businesses from the ground up.
He has also written a best-selling series of children’s books that promote entrepreneurial values and the success mindset.
Frisella was also named Entrepreneur of the Year in 2016 and has been featured in Forbes, INC, and Entrepreneur Magazine and many other publications.
#26 – Jocko Willink
Jocko Willink is a retired US Navy Seal co-author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win, host of the top-rated Jocko Podcast.
He is also the co-founder of Echelon Front, where he serves as Chief Executive Officer, leadership instructor, speaker and strategic advisor.
Jocko served for 20 years in SEAL teams. After he returned from tours in Iraq he was named as Officer-in-Charge of training for all West Coast SEAL Teams. In this role, he spearheaded the development of leadership training and personally instructed and mentored the next generation of SEAL leaders who have continued to perform with great success on the battlefield. Jocko is the recipient of the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and numerous other personal and unit awards.
Jocko has also authored the Discipline Equals Freedom Field Manual, a New York Times Bestseller, and the best-selling children’s books: The Way of the Warrior Kid, and The Way of the Warrior Kid: Marc’s Mission.
#25 – Ray Lewis
Ray Lewis is recognized as one of the most dominant defensive players in the history of the National Football League.
Lewis led the Baltimore Ravens to victory in Super Bowl XXXV where he was named Super Bowl MVP, and again in Super Bowl XLVII.
In 2000, he became only the second player in NFL history to win both the NFL Defensive Player of the Year and Super Bowl MVP awards in the same year. He was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame in 2018.
He has drawn from those experiences in his 17-year career plus valuable lessons learned from his personal life to bring a unique brand of motivation and inspiration to some of the biggest companies in the world.
#24 – Barbara Corcoran
Barbara Corcoran is the Founder of The Corcoran Group and widely known as a Shark on ABC’s “Shark Tank.” Over the past nine seasons she has been on the show, Corcoran has invested in more than 80 businesses to date.
After holding 20 jobs by the time she turned 23, Corcoran borrowed $1,000 and quit her job as a waitress to start a tiny real estate company in New York City, The Corcoran Group.
She is the author of the bestseller Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business! and also hosts a top business podcast “Business Unusual with Barbara Corcoran.”
As a motivational and inspirational speaker, she is a frequent small business and real estate contributor on several network outlets.
#23 – Chris Gardner
Chris Gardner is the CEO of Happyness. His first book, The Pursuit of Happyness became a New York Times and Washington Post #1 Bestseller that has been translated into more than 40 languages.
That book also was the basis for a film starring Will Smith who earned a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild and Academy Award nomination for his performance.
As a motivational speaker, Gardner shares some of the steps that he had to take and obstacles he overcame to get from where he was to create the life that he wanted to live right now.
He introduces audiences to the concept of Spiritual Genetics, the part of each human being that is beyond the scope, reach or understanding of science, medicine or technology.
Chris also details the importance of the “Ps” in our lives–Promises, Passion and having a Plan and the C-5 Complex (Clear, Concise, Compelling, Consistent and Committed to the plan).
#22 – Earvin “Magic” Johnson
Earvin “Magic” Johnson is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Magic Johnson Enterprises, an investment conglomerate valued at an estimated $1 billion dollars.
Since retiring from the NBA over 20 years ago, the legendary basketball star has morphed into a business powerhouse who is dedicated to leaving a positive impact in underserved urban communities.
In his early years as an entrepreneur, he forged an alliance with Sony Pictures to develop Magic Johnson Theatres. In 1998, he teamed with Starbucks to become the only franchise in the history of the company, acquiring and eventually selling 125 stores that further solidified his position in the business world.
Johnson made history in 2012 when he became co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, purchased for $2 billion dollars. He also co-owns the Los Angeles Sparks of the WNBA and Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Football Club.
He also has controlling interests in EquiTrust, a $14 billion financial services company, ASPiRE, an African-American television network, and SodexoMAGIC, a food service and facilities management company and serves as Chairman and Founder of the non-profit Magic Johnson Foundation.
#21 – Grant Cardone
Grant Cardone is an American author, sales trainer, real estate investor, and motivational speaker. He currently holds a real estate portfolio valued at around $350 million.
He is a New York Times best-selling author, and has written seven books: Sell To Survive, The Closer’s Survival Guide, If You’re Not First, You’re Last, The 10X Rule, Sell or Be Sold, The Millionaire Booklet and Be Obsessed or Be Average.
Cardone is also the radio show host of The Cardone Zone and is known for television series Turnaround King (2011).
He was also named 1 of 25 Marketing Influencers to Watch in 2017 by Forbes. He also has 10,000,000 followers, fans and connections through his various ventures and social media outlets.
In addition to working with companies like Google, Sprint, Aflac, Toyota, GM, Ford, and others, he owns and operates four companies that do almost $100 million in annual sales.
#20 – Marcus Luttrell
Marcus Luttrell is a former Navy SEAL who first came into the public’s spotlight in 2014 after the movie Lone Survivor was released. Starring Mark Wahlberg as Luttrell, the movie details how SEAL Team 10 was assigned to a mission to kill or capture Ahmad Shah, a high-ranking Taliban leader responsible for killings in eastern Afghanistan and the Hindu-Kush mountains. He was the only survivor of that mission and was awarded the Navy Cross by President Bush in 2007.
In 2010, Luttrell established the Lone Survivor Foundation. The mission of the foundation is to “restore, empower, and renew hope for our wounded warriors and their families through health, wellness, and therapeutic support.”
The Lone Survivor Foundation has partnered with The Boot Campaign to show appreciation of America’s active-duty military and raise awareness of the challenges they face upon returning home.
#19 – Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey has enjoyed unparalleled success in most every venture she undertakes.
She is a billionaire media mogul who is best known for hosting her own talk show from 1986 to 2011. That same year, she launched her own TV network, the Oprah Winfrey Network, or OWN.
Winfrey made her acting debut in 1985 as “Sofia” in Steven Spielberg’s The Color Purple, for which she received both Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations.
Through her company’s film division, Harpo Films, Oprah has produced projects based on classic and contemporary literature.
In 2002, Oprah Winfrey was named the first recipient of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences’ Bob Hope Humanitarian Award.
Through her private charity, The Oprah Winfrey Foundation, she has awarded hundreds of grants to organizations that support the education and empowerment of women, children and families in the United States and around the world.
Her commitment to children also led her to initiate the National Child Protection Act in 1991, when she testified before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee to establish a national database of convicted child abusers. As a result of her efforts, President Clinton signed the national “Oprah Bill” into law in 1993
#18 – Deepak Chopra
Deepak Chopra is a prolific book author who founded the Chopra Center for Well Being in Carlsbad, California in 1995. He remains a prominent figure in the New Age Movement.
He began his career as a doctor, but after becoming disenchanted with Western medicine, Chopra turned to alternative medicine. Chopra’s 1993 release Ageless Body, Timeless Mind, turned him into a full-fledged celebrity, selling more than a million hardcover copies.
In June 1999, Time magazine dubbed Chopra “the poet-prophet of alternative medicine” and called him one of the top 100 heroes of the century.
He regularly brought his message to the Oprah Winfrey Show and was a confidante of pop superstar Michael Jackson.
#17 – John Maxwell
John Maxwell has written more than 100 books on motivation, leadership and personal development over the past 40 years. He helps others tap into their unseen potential by teaching and refining the understanding of what everyone needs to master growth to become the people we truly want to be.
The John Maxwell Company compels corporate leaders and consumers to inspire, challenge, and equip organizations to live out leadership and reach their potential.
He is also the leader of The John Maxwell Team, an organization of over 13,000 trained and certified John Maxwell Coaches who empowers coaches, trainers, speakers and professionals seeking to add value to others and become top leaders as owners of their respective businesses and in their communities
EQUIP is Maxwell’s non-profit organization that trains and mobilizes Christian leaders to impact families, organizations, communities, and nations around the world. The team’s work has established six million leaders in 196 countries and changed hundreds of thousands of lives through the gospel of Jesus Christ.
#16 – Daymond John
Daymond John is a pioneer in the fashion industry but perhaps just as well known as a Shark on ABC’s Shark Tank. He is also a multiple New York Times best-selling author, branding guru and highly sought after motivational speaker.
As a businessman, he first broke through by turning an original $40 budget into FUBU, a $6 billion fashion game-changer.
In 2013, President Barack Obama appointed John a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship to focus on promoting the power and importance of entrepreneurship on a global scale
He created his brand consulting company, The Shark Group, to reveal the secrets that made FUBU a multi-billion-dollar global brand and reinvigorated the once defunct Coogi brand into the biggest fashion line in its space.
He is a charismatic speaker who brings his quintessential rags-to-riches success story of sacrifice, hard work, and perseverance to audiences worldwide.
#15 – Jim Rohn
Jim Rohn has been one of the top speakers on life strategies for more than 40 years. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential thinkers in the world. He has shared his message with 6,000 audiences and 5 million people over that time, bringing his messages of empowerment and positivity to every part of the globe.
He authored a number of books, audio, and video programs, and helped motivate and shape an entire generation of personal-development trainers and hundreds of executives from America’s top corporations.
He has been honored with several industry awards including the coveted National Speakers Association CPAE Award and the Master of Influence Award.
#14 – Les Brown
Les Brown has been a mainstay in the world of renowned motivational speakers for many years. He is a highly-sought-after resource in business and professional circles for Fortune 500 CEOs, small business owners, non-profit and community leaders from all sectors of society looking to expand opportunity.
He is a leading speaker on achievement delivered his messages to audiences as large as 80,000 people, energizing them to meet the challenges of the world around them.
Brown received the National Speakers Association coveted Council of Peers Award of Excellence (CPAE), and its most prestigious Golden Gavel Award for achievement and leadership in communication. Toastmasters International also voted him one of the Top Five Outstanding Speakers Worldwide.
#13 – Simon Sinek
Simon Sinek is a much-in-demand thought leader best known for popularizing the concept of WHY in his first TED Talk in 2009. It became the third most watched talk on TED.com, with over 40 million views and subtitled in 47 languages.
His 2016 interview on Millennials in the workplace garnered over 200 million views in the first month. This led to Simon being YouTube’s fifth most searched term in 2017.
Sinek is the author of several bestselling books including Start With Why (global best seller), Leaders Eat Last (New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller), Together is Better (New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller) and Find Your Why and his latest book, The Infinite Game.
In addition to working with several Fortune 500 companies, he has also shared his ideas at the United Nations, the United States Congress and with the senior-most leaders of the United States Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy, Army, and Coast Guard.
Sinek is also an adjunct staff member of the RAND Corporation, one of the most highly regarded think tanks in the world.
#12 – Joe Rogan
Joe Rogan has been a stand-up comedian for more than 20 years and is the host of The Joe Rogan Experience, a long form conversation podcast with guests that is one of the most popular on iTunes.
Rogan is also known for his color commentary for the Ultimate Fighting Championships on Pay Per View, Spike TV, and Fox.
As a teenager, he earned his black belt and at one point held the Massachusetts full contact Tae Kwon Do championship for four consecutive years. He later won the US Open Tae Kwon Do Championship and as lightweight champion went on to beat both the middle and heavyweight title-holders to win the Grand Championship.
As an actor, he has several movie credits and was the host of the competition reality series Fear Factorfor six seasons.
He still performs stand-up routines and is available for a variety of guest speaking opportunities.
#11 – Jon Gordon
Jon Gordon is a bestselling author and keynote speaker whose work about positive leadership has inspired audiences around the world.
He is the author of 17 bestselling books including The Energy Bus, The Carpenter, Training Camp, You Win in the Locker Room FirstandThe Power of Positive Leadership.
Gordon has been featured on The Today Show, CNN, CNBC, FOX and Friends, and several newspapers and magazines.
As a highly sought-after motivational speaker, Gordon’s talks have challenged and influenced leaders in a dynamic range of industries and professions.
His clients include The Los Angeles Dodgers, The Atlanta Falcons, Campbell Soup, Dell, Publix, Southwest Airlines, LA Clippers, Miami Heat, Pittsburgh Pirates, BB&T Bank, Clemson Football, Northwestern Mutual, Bayer, West Point Academy, and many others.
#10 – Mel Robbins
Mel Robbins is one of the most booked speakers in the world. She is an international best-selling author whose work has been translated into 36 languages.
In 2017, Robbins broke self-publishing records with her international best-seller The 5 Second Rule. It was named the #1 audiobook in the world and the fifth most read book of the year on Amazon.
When she launched her science-backed productivity planner, The 5 Second Journal, the first print run sold out worldwide within minutes.
Robbins is the co-founder and CEO of 143 Studios, a digital media company that produces content in partnership with Fortune 500 brands.
Her social media platforms reach and inspire more than 60 million people every month.
#9 – Nick Vujicic
Nick Vujicic is the founder of Life Without Limbs, an Evangelistic ministry that has delivered messages of hope and empowerment in almost 70 countries to date.
Vujicic is able to draw upon his unique experience of being born without arms or legs in 1982 with no medical reason given for his condition.
After struggling with years of depression and loneliness, Vujicic overcame his struggles by putting his faith in God. He began life as a public speaker at age 19 and today delivers insights with his unique perspective to students, teachers, young people, business professionals and church congregations of all sizes.
Undaunted by his limitations, Vujicic is an author, musician, actor, and his hobbies include fishing, painting, and swimming.
#8 – David Goggins
David Goggins is a retired Navy SEAL and is the only member of the U.S. Armed Forces to complete SEAL training (including two Hell Weeks), the U.S. Army Ranger School (where he graduated as Enlisted Honor Man), Air Force Tactical Air Controller training and best-selling author of the book, Can’t Hurt Me.
He has also completed over 60 ultra-marathons, triathlons, and ultra-triathlons, setting new course records and regularly placing in the top five and once held the Guinness World Record for pull-ups completing 4,030 in 17 hours.
He’s an in-demand public speaker who delivers impactful messages of personal accountability and how to go beyond motivation to achieve your personal best. Goggins has shared his story with hundreds of thousands of students across the country, numerous professional sports teams, and at several Fortune 500 companies.
He is also a member of the Patriot Tour, sharing the stage with Marcus Luttrell, Taya Kyle, and other retired Special Operators.
#7 – Arnold Schwarzenegger
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a global celebrity who first came to the public’s attention as a champion bodybuilder. He later expanded his accomplishments to include becoming a major Hollywood action hero, a successful businessman, environmentalist, bestselling author and the 38th governor of California.
At age 20, he became the youngest person to ever win the Mr. Universe title, eventually winning five Mr. Universe titles and seven Mr. Olympia titles.
His acting credits include some of the biggest box office films ever. He broke through with Conan the Barbarian and solidified his position as an actor with James Cameron’s Terminator.
To date, his films have grossed more than $3 billion worldwide.
He became California’s governor in 2003 and had many notable accomplishments during his tenure including passage of the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 and the Safe, Clean and Reliable Drinking Water Supply Act of 2010, among many others.
Schwarzenegger has received numerous awards, including the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s “National Leadership Award” and the American Council On Renewable Energy’s “Renewable Energy Leader of the Decade.”
Since leaving office, Schwarzenegger co-founded the R20 Regions of Climate Action and is active in a number of philanthropic ventures.
#6 – Brene Brown
Brene Brown is a research professor at the University of Houston where she holds the Huffington – Brené Brown Endowed Chair.
Brown has spent the past two decades years extensively studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. She is the author of five #1 New York Times bestsellers: The Gifts of Imperfection, Daring Greatly, Rising Strong, Braving the Wilderness, and Dare to Lead.
Her TED talk, The Power of Vulnerability, has more than 30 million views and remains one of the top five most viewed TED talks in the world.
#5 – Dwayne Johnson
Dwayne Johnson is better known throughout the world as “The Rock” a persona he developed during his heyday of his WWE professional wrestling career. He moved to wrestling after a successful college football career was cut short by injuries.
Since that time, The Rock has moved on to become a highly successful actor and producer, appearing in a number of projects, including 2001’s The Mummy Returns and 2010’s Tooth Fairy. More recent credits include the HBO series Ballers (2015) and three 2017 features, The Fate of the Furious, Baywatch and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. He is consistently ranked among the world’s highest paid actors.
Johnson made the Time 100 Most Influential People in the World list in both 2016 and 2019
In 2006, he founded the Dwayne Johnson Rock Foundation, a charity working with at-risk and terminally ill children. Among many other charitable activities, he has also worked with Make-A-Wish Foundation on a number of occasions.
#4 – Robin Sharma
Robin Sharma is one of the world’s premier speakers on leadership and personal mastery.
For nearly 20 years, Sharma has been providing insights to world-class companies such as Nike, GE, Microsoft, FedEx, PwC, HP and Oracle to NASA, Yale University and YPO.
His books, including The Leader Who Had No Title, have topped bestseller lists internationally and his social media posts reach over 600 million people a year.
Sharma has been ranked as one of the Top 5 Leadership Experts in the World in an independent survey of over 22,000 business people and appears at engagements with other speakers such as Richard Branson, Bill Clinton, Jack Welch, and Shaquille O’Neal.
#3 – Gary Vaynerchuck
Gary Vaynerchuk is the chairman of VaynerX, a media and communications holding company, and VaynerMedia, a full-service advertising agency that services many Fortune 100 clients.
A highly sought after public speaker, Vaynerchuck is also a 5-time New York Times bestselling author.
He also is an angel investor who made early investments in well-known companies such as Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Uber, and Venmo.
Vaynerchuck established Wine Library in the late 1990s, transitioning his father’s liquor business into one of the first e-commerce platforms for alcohol in the country, growing it from $3 million to $60 million in sales during that time.
Today, he has parlayed a number of successful ventures into a combined 12 million-plus followers across social media.
#2 – Eric Thomas
Dr. Eric Thomas is a motivational speaker and minister who heads ETA, an education consulting, executive coaching and athletic development firm. He specializes in giving motivational talks to college and professional athletes. In fact, LeBron James credited Thomas as part of his inspiration for winning the 2012 NBA championship.
He is a regular contributor the ESPN and Fox News and has voice-over work for Major League Baseball and the National Football League. Many of his sermons and motivational speeches are on YouTube where they have found a large following over the years.
Thomas has also published three books: The Secret to Success (2012), Greatness Is Upon You: Laying the Foundation (2014) and Average Skill Phenomenal Will (2016)
#1 – Tony Robbins
Tony Robbins is perhaps the most well-known life and business strategist in the world. For the past 40 years, he’s been #1 Life & Business Strategist, #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author, Entrepreneur and Philanthropist.
He is the author of six internationally bestselling books and has delivered his messages of empowerment to more than 50 million people from 100 countries through his audio, video, and life training programs. More than 4 million people have attended his live seminars.
Robbins is also the chairman of a holding company with more than 50 privately held businesses and combined sales of more than $6 billion a year.
His non-profit foundation has awarded more than 2,000 grants and other resources to health and human services organizations. As part of his ongoing mission to end hunger, Robbins’ 1 Billion Meals Challenge with Feeding America has helped provide over 425 million meals in the last four years to those in need and is on track to provide 1 billion meals by 2025.
This article was originally published by Real Leaders, July 24, 2019
