leadgen, Author at Keynote Speakers Experts

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Speakers to Create Fearless, Flexible Teams and Leaders

A diverse, inclusive workforce enriches a company’s culture and its bottom line, increasing employee ability to deal with change, expand their creativity, and respond to increasingly diverse customer bases. BigSpeak Speakers Bureau works with some of the world’s top diversity, equity and inclusion speakers, each of them experts in the creation of rock-solid cultures and flexible leaders who go beyond tolerating differences, but actively embrace and encourage them.

If you fear your organization is lagging behind and clinging to old methods, consider bringing in one of our thought leaders to impart their wisdom and help smooth over difficult transitions and conversations.

Robin Hauser is a documentarian and diversity keynote speaker focused on issues of unconscious bias, especially as they affect women and their financial health. Her explorations into implicit biases in AI and the skewed vision of reality these algorithms create is invaluable for organizations truly committed to mitigating exclusion and inequality.

Voted one of the Top 100 Black Thought Leaders by BlackList100, top marketing, culture, and diversity, enquiry and inclusion speaker Omar Johnson is an entrepreneur and innovator. The former VP of Marketing at Apple and CMO at Beats by Dre, he shares his insights on how organizations can promote diversity by making conscious decisions in their marketing and branding efforts.

The former Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Google, Wema Hoover is a top executive coach and culture curator who utilizes her experiences working as a black female leader to help drive businesses to realize the true potential of diversity to empower employees and better connect with customers. Her inspiring presentations enable meaningful discussions that encourage full employee awareness and participation.

Transformative business leader Anne Chow is a top diversity keynote speaker specializing in unconscious bias and organizational transformation. The Former CEO of AT&T Business and an adjunct professor at Northwestern University, she engages with her audiences through panels and keynotes.

Cynthia Marshall is a top diversity, equity and inclusion keynote speaker and the CEO of the Dallas Mavericks. With an executive career that has seen her leading teams at AT&T, the Dow Chemical Company, and the North Carolina State Chamber of Commerce, she has earned wide recognition for her ability to align employees and get things done.

Pegine is a serial entrepreneur, the sole Latina in the Motivational Speaker Hall of Fame, and a diversity, equity and inclusion speaker specialized in engaged leadership and setting employees up for success. A transformative speaker, she has impacted the lives of countless others on her own journey to acclaim and success.

Bestselling author, Harvard Business School Professor, and organizational change thought leader Tsedal Neeley is a top speaker on diversity, equity and inclusion. An esteemed leadership speaker and educator, she regularly aids executives in scaling their organizations for the global work revolution.

Author, actor, director and top diversity, equity and inclusion keynote speaker Mickey Rowe is a disability and access expert dedicated to making life easier and more productive for everyone. His audiences have included The Kennedy Center, CUNY, and the DAC of the South Korean Government.

Kwame Christian is a negotiation expert and diversity speaker with two bestselling books and the world’s #1 negotiation podcast. A practicing attorney and the CEO of the American Negotiation Institute, he works with audiences from all walks of life to tackle difficult conversations and build stronger relationships.

Top leadership and diversity, enquiry and inclusion speaker Verna Myers is an author, activist, and cultural innovator. Dedicated to eradicating barriers to diversity in the workplace, she is the founder of the Verna Myers Company, and has delivered keynotes for NASA, Warner Bros, and The World Bank.

Stress expert Rebecca Heiss is waking up audiences around the world. A sought-after diversity, equity and inclusion speaker, she enables others to understand and confront the roots of unconscious bias and engage with difficult conversations without fear, leading to increased cooperation and connection.

Black Women Motivational Speakers Who Can Help You Accomplish Your Goals

“Not everyone is going to be an Olympic athlete, but everybody could figure out what it is that they’re passionate about, what it is that they want to accomplish in life and go for it.” — Chaunté Lowe, 4-time Olympian

Do you know what you’re passionate about? Are there goals you want to reach in your life that you haven’t reached yet? Sometimes, you can get discouraged by setbacks and obstacles in life. But there is a way to get back on track.

If you’re looking for some inspiration, BigSpeak Speakers works with some of the top Black Women Motivational Speakers. These speakers are champion athletes, top thought leaders, and artists who have overcome obstacles and learned how to reach their goals. Each one is an engaging speaker who can leave your audience with exciting takeaways.

1) Chaunté Lowe

Chaunte Lowe is a motivational keynote speaker, 4-time Olympian, 3-time World Championship medalist, and breast cancer survivor. Her story shows audiences the power of resilience through life’s challenges.

2) Cassandra Worthy

Cassandra Worthy is a motivational keynote speaker, innovator, and the world’s leading expert on Change Enthusiasm® Cassandra inspires and empowers her audiences so they can shine and overcome any challenge in their life.

3) Vernice Flygirl Armour

FlyGirl is a top inspirational speaker, America’s first African-American female combat pilot, and the author of Zero to Breakthrough. You’ll find FlyGirl’s highly contagious energy, moving stories, and gutsy essence will motivate your audience to action.

4) Jade Simmons

Jade Simmons is a rockstar concert pianist and a powerhouse motivational performer. She delivers stunning mainstage presentations that combine virtuoso performance and riveting storytelling to speak to the hearts, minds, and goals of a company’s most valuable resource…its people.

5) Tiana S. Clark

Tiana “the Audacious Commander” Clark is a leadership and resilience keynote speaker, professor, founder, and award-winning filmmaker of Soci Circle. Using stories, she engages audiences so they can take on challenges in life and become more audacious.

6) Brianna Scurry

Briana is a top motivational keynote speaker who pioneered the first paid professional women’s soccer league as a founding player in 2001. Briana speaks about concussion awareness, success, and LGBT issues.

7) Tiffany Dufu

Tiffany is a leadership and motivational speaker who has been featured in The New York Times, ESSENCE, O, The Oprah Magazine, and NPR. She is a consultant to Fortune 500 companies, a sought-after speaker on women’s leadership, and has presented at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit, MAKERS, and TEDxWomen.

8) Butterscotch

Butterscotch, a top empowerment speaker and vocal percussionist virtuosa, uses her powerful voice to defy gender and music social constructs. She shares her story of how she overcame overt biases and emotional tax to become crowned the world’s first female beatbox champion.

9) Anne-Marie Imafidon

Anne-Marie Imafidon is a top technology keynote speaker and co-founder of Stemettes, which inspires girls everywhere to follow careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Over six years, she has inspired over 40,000 girls across the UK, Ireland, and Europe who have attended Stemette experiences.

10) Yassmin Abdel-Magied

Yassmin inspires audiences as one of the 2020 LinkedIn Changemakers. She is a globally sought-after advisor on issues of social justice and has traveled to over 24 countries across five continents, speaking to governments, civil society, and corporations on inclusive leadership, tackling bias, and achieving substantive change.

Social Media Keynote Speakers to Improve your Team’s Strategy

Are you looking to take your team’s social media strategy to the next level? Look no further than some of the top keynote speakers in the industry! As social media continues to play a crucial role in businesses’ marketing efforts, it’s becoming increasingly important for teams to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and strategies. These expert speakers offer valuable insights and actionable tips, covering everything from content creation to analytics. Bringing a keynote speaker to your team not only provides fresh perspectives and new ideas, but also serves as a motivating force to push your social media strategy to success.

Guy Kawasaki

Guy Kawasaki is a top innovation keynote speaker, social media expert, chief evangelist of Canva, and a bestselling author. His entertaining, informative talks use insights from his time in the tech industry to show audiences how to create innovative services and products using tactical and practical techniques.

Crystal Washington

Crystal Washington is a top social media keynote speaker, author, and works with organizations that want to leverage technology to increase profits and productivity. Crystal is well known for her ability to take complex Web, app, and social media topics, and make them easy to understand and accessible for everyday people and small business owners.

Chris Kelly

Chris Kelly is a top business keynote speaker, Privacy and Security Expert, Employee 25 at Facebook, Sacramento Kings Owner, Angel Tech Investor, and Intellectual Property Lawyer. Chris is a Silicon Valley investor with a long track record of building innovative companies and making the Internet a safer place for kids and adults alike.

Dorie Clark

Dorie Clark has been named one of the Top 50 business thinkers in the world by Thinkers50. She is a keynote speaker and teaches executive education at Columbia Business School. She is also the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Long Game, Entrepreneurial You, Reinventing You and Stand Out, which was named the #1 Leadership Book of the year by Inc. magazine. A former presidential campaign spokeswoman, she writes frequently for the Harvard Business Review.

Sterling Hawkins

Sterling Hawkins is out to break the status quo. He believes that we can all unlock incredible potential within ourselves, and he’s on a mission to support people, businesses and communities to realize that potential regardless of the circumstances. From a multi-billion dollar startup to collapse and coming back to launch, invest in and grow over 50 companies, Sterling takes that experience to work with C-level teams from some of the largest organizations on the planet and speaks on stages around the world.

Sofia Wylie

Extraordinary actress, dancer, fashionista, influencer, top celebrity speaker, and activist for hire Sofia Wylie is one of the hottest new names in young Hollywood! You probably know her as Buffy Driscoll, from Disney Channel’s hit television show, Andi Mack. Prior to acting full-time, Sofia’s talents were spent dancing. She was one of Justin Bieber’s backup dancers on his Purpose World Tour and made appearances on Americas Got Talent and So You Think You Can Dance, even gracing the stage of Radio City Music Hall.

BJ Fogg

BJ Fogg splits his time between Stanford University and industry. At Stanford he teaches and runs a research lab. In industry he teaches innovators about human behavior so they can create effective solutions. His current work is called “Behavior Design,” a set of models and methods he has created over the last 15 years. He explains more in his new book Tiny Habits. BJ’s earlier work focused on “persuasive technology.” However, today he researches and teach about how human behavior works more generally.

Lorraine K. Lee

Lorraine is a top career and business virtual keynote speaker, and has spoken to global audiences ranging from Fortune 100 companies to startups, including Zoom, Cisco, Atlassian, and GitLab. She’s also a LinkedIn Learning Instructor with more than 300,000 followers on LinkedIn. She speaks on a wide range of topics, and each of her talks receive rave reviews: In 2022, she was rated a 4.92/5 as a speaker with 100% of attendees saying they learned something new. Lorraine has been featured in publications including Inc., ReadWrite, and Entrepreneur, and is a guest on many podcasts.

Mark Schaefer

Mark Schaefer is a globally-recognized keynote speaker, educator, business consultant, and author. His blog {grow} is hailed as one of the top marketing blogs in the world. Mark has worked in global sales, PR, and marketing positions for more than 30 years and provides consulting services as Executive Director of Schaefer Marketing Solutions. He has advanced degrees in marketing and organizational development; holds seven patents; and is a faculty member of the graduate studies program at Rutgers University. For three years, Mark studied under the late Peter Drucker (a world-renowned consultant and author, hailed as the founder of modern management).

Goldie Chan

Goldie Chan is a top marketing keynote speaker and renowned LinkedIn Influencer. Goldie’s partnerships include global brands such as Adobe. She is also the Founder of Warm Robots, a corporate B2B and B2C digital strategy agency that bridges the gap between tech and entertainment. She is a proud member of the Producer’s Guild of America, New Media Council, a Stanford graduate and has been featured as a fresh voice in Forbes, Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, and more.

Brilliant Marketing Speakers to Know

Marketing is a crucial element for businesses today, and learning from the experts can be the difference between success and failure. That’s where marketing speakers come in. These are professionals who have decades of experience and can inspire individuals with their knowledge. From understanding the fundamentals to navigating the ever-changing landscape, marketing speakers offer valuable insights and practical advice to help businesses achieve their objectives. Whether you’re a marketing team looking to enhance your skills or a business leader looking for guidance, these speakers provide invaluable knowledge that can elevate your strategy and drive success. So who are some of the top marketing speakers to look out for? Read on to find out.

Dr. Marcus Collins

Considered America’s leading cultural translator since the success of his best-selling book, For the Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, and Who We Want to Be, Dr. Marcus Collins is the recognized authority on leveraging the power of culture to influence behavior, inspire collective change, get people to share your vision, and most importantly, move them to take action. Dr. Collins is a professor of marketing at the Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, former head of strategy at Wieden + Kennedy, New York, and a regular contributor to Forbes. An inductee in the American Advertising Federation’s Hall of Achievement, he is the architect behind some of the most notable campaigns of the last decade for brands including Nike, Apple, Budweiser, and Beyoncé.

Omar Johnson

Omar Johnson is a marketing innovator in the art of building world-class brands. As former CMO of Beats by Dre and VP of Marketing at Apple, throughout his career, Johnson has led all facets of marketing, ranging from brand development and positioning to advertising and global digital marketing. Under Johnson’s tenure, Beats grew from $20 million to a $2.0 billion dollar category leader, becoming the #1 premium headphone in over 25 countries, which led to the subsequent purchase by Apple for $3 billion. Adweek named Johnson a “Brand Genius,” and Business Insider named him one of the “Most Innovative CMOs.” Additionally, Johnson has worked on hundreds of winning marketing campaigns while at international brands such as Nike, Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods, and Campbell Soup. Johnson produced some of Nike’s most memorable TV commercials including “Rise,” starring LeBron James, “All Together Now,” featuring Kobe Bryant, and “The Most Valuable Puppets”.

Kim Perell

Kim Perell is a CEO, serial tech entrepreneur, prominent angel investor and author of two best-selling business books. She is a leader, innovator, and keynote speaker. Kim has spent the last 20 years starting, scaling, and selling technology companies ranging from $0 to $1B in annual sales. Kim started her first company from her kitchen table when she was 23, and grew it to a $100 million dollar company. She sold her last company for $235 million to Singtel, one of the most prestigious telecommunication companies in the world. Kim’s most recent book, JUMP: Dare to Do What Scares You in Business and Life, published by Harper Collins in 2022, was an instant Wall Street Journal. Kim’s first book, The Execution Factor: The One Skill That Drives Success, was also a national bestseller.

Matthew Luhn

Matthew Luhn is a writer, animator, director, and top innovation keynote speaker. During his 20-year career at Pixar Animation Studios, he worked on numerous films including Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, Cars, UP, and Ratatouille. Alongside his story work in Hollywood, Matthew works with Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, and other professionals to craft and tell stories that bridge the gap between business and heart to build stronger brands and business communication.

Crystal Washington

Crystal Washington is a top marketing speaker, author, and works with organizations that want to leverage technology to increase profits and productivity. Crystal is well known for her ability to take complex Web, app, and social media topics, and make them easy to understand and accessible for everyday people and small business owners.

Carolyn Everson

Carolyn Everson is a top marketing speaker, advertising legend, angel investor, and the former Vice President of Global Marketing Solutions at Facebook (Meta), where she headed up their iconic advertising. She has over 28 years of experience in senior operating roles in consumer-facing technology and media companies, including Microsoft, MTV, and Instacart. At Facebook (Meta), she led a team of over 4,000 people in over 55 countries and was responsible for over $80B in revenue.

Daymond John

Daymond John is a top marketing speaker, founder of FUBU clothing, Shark Tank judge, and the bestselling author of PowerShift. As a dynamic business speaker with over twenty years of hands-on proven business experience, Daymond shares the strategies that continue to bring him financial success.

Ana Villegas

When she was growing up in Peru, Villegas’s family expected her to become a stay-at-home mother like her own mother was. Villegas, however, had different plans. Now, Villegas is Chief Marketing Officer at Affinipay. Prior to her current role, she was marketing director for North America commercial business at Dell Inc., where she was responsible for B2B marketing communications. Villegas has led the evolution of the marketing efforts through digital and next-gen technology adoption, establishing forums to drive innovation and partnering with key vendors to be first in market for new marketing tactics. Villegas also speaks at B2B marketing forums, where she discusses digital evolution, omnichannel strategy, and how to succeed in a shifting landscape.

Bonin Bough

Called “a force of nature” on the speaking stage, Bonin Bough is one of the most awarded (Advertising Hall of Fame inductee, Fast Company’s “100 Most Creative People in the Business,” Fortune’s 40 under 40, Ebony’s Power 100, and more) branding and marketing trailblazers in the world. During his storied career, he has been responsible for some of the most successful organizational transformations and the rapid growth of many of the world’s most-loved billion dollar brands, including Oreo, Cadbury’s, Gatorade, Frito-Lay, and others. Bonin’s energizing, entertaining, and inspiring talks go beyond marketing to focus on business and culture transformation, leveraging DE&I to accelerate growth, and unlocking innovation mindsets at every level of your organization. Attendees leave with more than the practical tools for driving growth, innovation, and culture change. Bonin’s contagious evangelism is a catalyst for breaking old processes and building innovation mindsets—unlocking growth in ways you may have never before thought possible.

Srinivas Rao

Srinivas Rao is a top marketing speaker, host of the podcast The Unmistakable Creative, and the bestselling author of The Art of Being Unmistakable. He has been the conference keynote speaker for The International Live Events Association, The Healthcare Design Expo, Catersource, and The International Association of Event Planners. He has also worked with corporations like Citibank, Meredith Corporation, and Bayer.

Popular Motivational Speakers Who Can Provide Practical Strategies for Success

“… the truth is, our real motivation is to be lazy and to do what is convenient. And despite what the latest productivity best seller will tell you, this is a smart strategy, not a dumb one.” — James Clear, Bestselling Author of Atomic Habits

Are you looking for real, applicable strategies to motivate you? Are you tired of motivational bestsellers written by people who haven’t achieved anything? Then you need a Popular Motivational Speaker.

If you want practical advice about motivation, BigSpeak Speakers Bureau works with the most Popular Motivational Speakers. These speakers are successful entrepreneurs and athletes. They have learned the hard way how to stay motivated in the face of obstacles because they have done it themselves. Audiences will come away with sensible strategies based on real experience.

1) Molly Bloom

Molly Bloom is a famous inspirational speaker, bestselling author of Molly’s Game, and the business mind behind the most exclusive, high-stakes poker game in the world. You may be more familiar with the Oscar-nominated movie about her life: Molly’s Game. Her inspiring story covers everything from starting her business knowing nothing about poker to losing everything—then overcoming addiction and rebuilding her life.

2) James Clear

James Clear is a famous personal development keynote speaker who wrote the life-changing book Atomic Habits. His book has sold more than 15 million copies worldwide and been translated into over 50 languages. In his story-filled keynotes, James motivates audiences by showing how small habits, decision-making, and continuous improvement can lead you to the life you want.

3) Chaunté Lowe

4) James Lawrence

James Lawrence is a motivational speaker and world-record endurance holder for completing the greatest feats of human endurance in 2021: 100 full-distance triathlons in 100 days. Lawrence inspires audiences to keep going towards their goals by teaching them a successful mindset.

5) Cassandra Worthy

Cassandra Worthy is a top motivational keynote speaker, innovator, and the world’s leading expert on Change Enthusiasm®. Cassandra inspires and empowers her audiences so they can shine and overcome any challenge in their life.

6) Daymond John

Daymond John is a motivational speaker, successful entrepreneur, and founder of FUBU clothing. You may know him best as a judge on the investor reality show Shark Tank. Daymond inspires audiences by sharing how he built FUBU clothing from a garage startup to a multi-million dollar company.

7) Vernice Flygirl Armour

FlyGirl is a top inspirational speaker, America’s first African-American female combat pilot, and the author of Zero to Breakthrough. FlyGirl’s highly contagious energy and moving stories motivate audiences to action.

8) Emmit Smith

Emmit Smith is the #1 Leading Rusher in NFL History, 3 time Super Bowl Champion, and bestselling author. Smith first rose to prominence via an illustrious football career as a member of the Dallas Cowboys. Using stories from his career, Emmit speaks about how to have a championship vision.

9) Tan Le

Tan Le is a top female motivational keynote speaker, innovator, and co-founder of the bioinformatics company EMOTIV. Her motivational keynote speech, “My Immigration Story,” inspires audiences with her tenacity as a young entrepreneur and her courage and grace in any situation.

10) Simon T. Bailey

Simon T. Bailey is a Leadership Imagineer and the former leader of the Disney Institute. He has been named one of the top 25 people who will help you reach your business and life goals by SUCCESS magazine.

Unlock your Team’s Full Potential with Inspiring Leadership Speakers

As a leader, you have the responsibility to motivate, inspire and elevate your team. The right leadership speakers can help you achieve that goal. From renowned CEO’s, to bestselling authors and industry experts, there are countless leadership speakers with experience spanning across different sectors available to speak to your audience. They’ll help you identify and address the challenges facing your company, provide invaluable insights to help you navigate an ever-evolving landscape and share their success stories so you can learn to be a better leader. So, whether it’s a virtual conference or an on-site event, consider booking a leadership speaker to make your next meeting or team building event an unforgettable experience.

Our Top Leadership Speaker Picks

Bill Benjamin

Bill Benjamin is a top emotional intelligence keynote speaker, leadership thought leader, culture expert, and contributor to the New York Times bestseller, Performing Under Pressure. He has a degree in Mathematics and has shared the brain science of emotions with discerning audiences including the U.S. Marines, NASA engineers and Surgeons, as well as leadership teams at Amazon, the Fed and Coca-Cola.

JP Pawliw-Fry

Dr. JP Pawliw-Fry is a high-performance culture keynote speaker, leadership thought leader, peak performance expert, and co-author of the New York Times bestseller, Performing Under Pressure. His work with leaders from Fortune 500 companies, U.S. Marines, Olympic athletes, NBA, and NFL teams has provided him with considerable opportunities to test his science-based tools in environments of high pressure.

Cassandra Worthy

Cassandra Worthy is a leadership speaker and Founder & CEO of Change Enthusiasm® Global, a well-respected Growth Enablement firm serving its client base through keynote speaking, training, and consulting. She is a former Fortune 100 Innovation Leader, highly dynamic speaker & presenter, chemical engineer, but above all else the world’s leading expert on Change Enthusiasm®.

Molly Bloom

Legendary for running the world’s most exclusive high stakes poker game frequented by A-List Hollywood celebrities and sports figures, Molly Bloom is a top-booked inspirational speaker and one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women. She shares a life journey of triumph, ruin, and reinvention—from Olympic dreams crushed by a career-ending accident to seeing her multi-million-dollar business threatened by organized crime and shut down by the FBI. Her story of grit, resilience and self-determination has been called a “goosebump experience,” inspiring corporate audiences and winning stellar reviews.

Marc Randolph

Marc Randolph is a veteran Silicon Valley entrepreneur, advisor, and investor, whose career as an entrepreneur spans four decades. In addition to being the co-founder and first CEO of Netflix, Marc has founded or co-founded six other successful startups, mentored hundreds of early-stage entrepreneurs, and as an investor has helped seed dozens of successful tech ventures (and just as many unsuccessful ones). He is host of the top-10 Apple podcast That Will Never Work, where he works directly with entrepreneurs to provide 1-on-1 mentoring. He lives in Santa Cruz, California.

Natalie Nixon

Dr. Natalie Nixon is the Creativity Whisperer to the C-Suite, helping leaders achieve transformative business results by applying wonder, rigor and foresight. As CEO & Creativity Strategist at Figure 8 Thinking, Natalie is a highly sought after global keynote speaker & advisor, author of the award winning “The Creativity Leap” and editor of “Strategic Design Thinking”. Real Leaders named Natalie one of the “Top 50 Keynote Speakers in the World” and she’s been featured in Forbes, INC and Fast Company. As a magnetic keynote speaker, Natalie shares why creativity is not a ‘nice to have’ but a ‘must have’ and leaves audiences with practical tactics to upgrade their organizational and individual creative capacity in the midst of ubiquitous technology, hybrid work environments – always with an eye on the future of work. She received her BA from Vassar College and her PhD from the University of Westminster.

Kwame Christian

A business attorney and CEO of the American Negotiation Institute (ANI), Kwame Christian took his place among the world’s top negotiation experts when his TEDx talk went viral, spurring his bestselling books, Finding Confidence in Conflict: How to Negotiate Anything and Live Your Best Life and How to Have Difficult Conversations About Race: Practical Tools for Necessary Change in the Workplace and Beyond, as well as Negotiate Anything, the #1 negotiation podcast in the world. Defining negotiation as “any conversation in which somebody in the conversation wants something,” Kwame has worked with the Fortune 500 to apply the fundamentals of negotiation to virtually all aspects of corporate success. He has also helped thousands, from all walks of life, acquire a negotiation mindset that can be applied to universal situations, conflicts, and difficult conversations. As Kwame is frequently quoted, “The best things in life are on the other side of difficult conversations.”

Wema Hoover

A transformational DEI leader at Google, Pfizer, Sanofi and Bristol-Myers Squibb, Wema Hoover has earned her reputation as an inspiring catalyst for change. Her expertise and thought leadership centers on diversity, equity, & inclusion, authentic leadership, women’s empowerment, and unlocking the true potential of individuals, teams, leaders and organizations. As a trusted C-Suite and board-level advisor to multinational companies, Ms. Hoover guides corporate leadership and drives systemic, organizational change across people, processes, and products on a global scale. Her deep experience spans global, market-leading consulting, pharmaceutical, and technology enterprises. Throughout her distinguished career, Ms. Hoover has championed DEI as a competitive advantage—viewing it as a critical component of culture and community that brings out the best in individuals.

Gregory Robinson

Best-known as the turnaround leader of the James Webb Space Telescope (Webb), 33-year NASA veteran Gregory Robinson is credited with transforming a program that was billions over budget and years behind schedule into one of NASA’s greatest achievements of the 21st century. Robinson’s renowned leadership skills and soft-spoken management and communication style have earned him numerous awards and honors, including being named one of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2022 (alongside Apple CEO Tim Cook and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky) and receiving the TIME100 Impact Award, which credited Robinson’s leadership on Webb as bringing us closer to understanding the universe.

Robyn Benincasa

Robyn Benincasa is a top teamwork and leadership speaker, author, and Adventure Racing World Champion. One of the highest-rated, female motivational speakers in the world, she regularly shares the stage with world leaders and business icons, her customers include many Fortune companies like Starbucks, Deloitte, Aflac, Boeing, and more.

Learn from Thought Leaders on the Thinkers50 Breakthrough Idea Award Shortlist

Attention business leaders and innovative thinkers! The shortlist for the Thinkers50 Breakthrough Idea Award has just been announced. This award is all about celebrating those game-changing ideas in management—the ones that have the potential to completely disrupt the way we think about business.

The final winner of the award will be announced at the Thinkers50 Awards Gala in November, along with recipients of other distinguished awards and the new ranking.

Interested in hearing more from these thought leaders? Invite one to speak at your next meeting and inspire your audience to think outside the box!

Thinkers50 Breakthrough Idea Award Shortlist

1) Eduardo Briceño for The Performance Paradox

Eduardo is a top growth mindset keynote speaker and regularly facilitates workshops for professionals and executives. His TED talks on growth mindset and improvement have been viewed over nine million times. He is a Pahara-Aspen Fellow, a member of the Aspen Institute’s Global Leadership Network, and an inductee in the Happiness Hall of Fame. He is the author of The Performance Paradox: Turning the Power of Mindset into Action.

2) April Rinne for The Flux Mindset

April Rinne is a change navigator: she helps individuals and organizations rethink and reshape their relationships with change, uncertainty, and a world in flux. She’s a trusted advisor, speaker, investor, lawyer, global development executive, adventurer (100+ countries) and insatiable handstander. She is ranked one of the 50 leading female futurists in the word and is a Harvard Law School graduate, a Young Global Leader at the World Economic Forum, a member of the Silicon Guild and Thinkers50 Radar, and author of the international bestseller Flux: 8 Superpowers for Thriving in Constant Change.

3) Karen Dillon and Rob Cross for The Microstress Effect

Rob Cross has studied the underlying network dynamics of effective organizations and the collaborative practices of high performers for more than 20 years. Through research and writing, speaking and consulting, and courses and tools, Rob’s network insights are transforming the way people lead, work and live in a hyper-connected world. He is the Edward A. Madden Professor of Global Leadership, Babson College and co-founder and current research director of the Connected Commons, a consortium of over 100 leading organizations accelerating network research and practice.

Karen Dillon is the former editor of Harvard Business Review magazine and co-author of 3 books with Clayton Christensen, including New York Times best-seller “How Will You Measure Your Life?” She’s also co-author of The Microstress Effect: How Little Things Pile Up and Create Big Problem — and What to Do About It.Named one of the world’s most influential women as part of Ashoka’s ChangemakeHers inaugural list, she is currently the Editorial Director of BanyanGlobal Family Business Advisors.

4) Brian Evergreen for Autonomous Transformation

Brian Evergreen is a tech visionary whose insights are sought after by the companies that are changing the world as they explore new ways to transform their own organizations. He is best known for advising Fortune 500 companies on emerging technologies, especially artificial intelligence, and the ways in which these powerful tools and resources can be uniquely integrated into their business’ infrastructure, culture, and strategy. Previously, Evergreen served as the Global Head of Autonomous AI Co-Innovation at Microsoft Research. He held similar tech, AI, and engineering head of/lead roles at other top companies, including Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Accenture. He builds upon these experiences to introduce new ways to push the boundaries of what’s possible with AI in all aspects of how we work and live.

5) William D. Eggers and Donald F. Kettle for Bridgebuilders

William Eggers is the Executive Director of Deloitte’s Center for Government Insights where he is responsible for the firm’s public sector thought leadership. His latest book is Delivering on Digital: The Innovators and Technologies that are Transforming Government (Deloitte University Press, 2016).

Donald Kettl specializes in public management and public policy. He previously served as dean in the School of Public Policy at the University of Maryland, and is a nonresident senior fellow at the Volcker Alliance, the Brookings Institution and the Partnership for Public Service.

6) Martin Lindstrom for Engineering Our Dreams

Renowned branding expert Martin Lindstrom is leading an unprecedented study called Engineering Our Dreams. With a budget of $22 million, this project involves over 1,000 volunteers immersing themselves in the metaverse for six months. The goal? To gain insights into human behavior, the impact of businesses and brands, work environments, and ethical standards in virtual worlds. The findings will shape the future of life in the metaverse, particularly how brands and their influence on consumers will be transformed by VR and AI. Lindstrom, an accomplished author, has also founded successful companies like Yellowpages.com and Hitwise.

7) Tina Opie and Beth A. Livingston for Shared Sisterhood

Dr. Tina Opie is catalyzing organizational change through authentic, personal connections. Her unique approach and expertise provides strategic direction on how to effectively lead change management creating a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable workplace. She tackles tough subjects with high-energy, warmth, and humor. Her expertise is highly sought-out by top executives and Fortune 500 companies.

Beth A. Livingston is an Associate professor of Management and Entrepreneurship. Her research focuses on gender differences, diversity, and important topics in human resources. Beth teaches a range of HR courses for undergraduates, master’s students, and doctoral students.

8) Wendy K. Smith and Marianne W. Lewis for Both/And Thinking

Wendy K. Smith is the Dana J. Johnson professor of management and faculty director of the Women’s Leadership Initiative at the Lerner College of Business and Economics, University of Delaware.

Marianne W. Lewis is dean and professor of management at the Lindner College of Business, University of Cincinnati. She previously served as dean of Cass Business School at City, University of London, and as a Fulbright scholar.

Understand the Impact of Shifting Economies

We are all facing a new and potentially challenging era, at home and in our businesses. With high-interest rates, growing geopolitical tensions, and the upcoming presidential campaign, it can be daunting to plan for the future.

Our experts offer insights on upcoming trends and how to best prepare your organization for success. Book now for your next business meeting to confidently navigate what’s ahead.

KEVIN O’LEARY

Top Business Speaker, Serial Entrepreneur, Venture Capitalist and Investor, Star of ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’

A frequent guest on CNBC, Fox Business, and CNN, Kevin O’Leary is a go-to expert on business topics and financial markets. He shares with the host and audience what is happening today with the economy, rising interest rates, the Presidential election, and how to better understand what’s happening in our political and economic worlds.

PETER ZEIHAN

Geopolitical Strategist and Global Affairs Expert

Peter Zeihan is a top keynote speaker in geopolitical strategy who specializes in energy, demographics, and security. With a lively non-partisan approach backed by a decade in private intelligence, Peter Zeihan customizes every keynote to show each audience exactly why their world is changing fast—and how they can get ahead of it.

JESSICA YELLIN

Award-winning Journalist and Former CNN Chief White House Correspondent

Jessica Yellin is a top political keynote speaker and the former CNN Chief White House Correspondent. An astute political journalist, Jessica Yellin gives audiences an inside look at the issues and personalities shaping current events. Yellin has earned a reputation as an incisive and entertaining analyst of the politics and personalities that drive today’s news in Washington and beyond.

IAN BREMMER

President, Eurasia Group and GZERO Media

To navigate globalization’s choppy waters, every business leader analyzes economic risk when considering overseas investments or looking at market exposure. Acclaimed political analyst and entrepreneur Ian Bremmer explains that by blending political and economic risk analysis, you make savvier investment decisions–seizing valuable opportunities around the globe while avoiding danger zones.

AYESHA RASCOE

White House Correspondent NPR/Reuters, Energy Policy Reporter NPR

Ayesha Rascoe is the host of Weekend Edition Sunday and the Saturday episodes of Up First. As host of the morning news magazine, she interviews news makers, entertainers, politicians and more about the stories that everyone is talking about or that everyone should be talking about.

ASHLEY DAVIS

Former Special Assistant to the Director of Homeland Security in the Executive Office of the President of the United States, Former Deputy Director, Management and Administration, Executive Office of the President of the United States

Ashley’s expertise comes from years working in the Executive Branch. As Special Assistant to National Director (and then Secretary) of Homeland Security Tom Ridge, Ashley directed the daily operations and oversaw the staff at the newly created Office of Homeland Security.

10 Insightful Creativity Keynote Speakers Igniting Sparks and Breaking Ruts

Creativity is necessary for progress in every industry, but many of us struggle to think outside the box, especially after years of adhering to rigid rules and an education system that encourages rote memorization and standard thinking.

To reawaken your inner innovator, partner with a top creativity keynote speaker at your next conference. These expert storytellers, inventors, and artists open our eyes to the obvious and the obscure, helping us kick our own creative muscles into gear in personal and professional lives.

Creativity keynote speaker and storyteller Matthew Luhn is an award-winning filmmaker and 20 year Pixar veteran. He has worked as an animator, director and story consultant on classic children’s movies including the Toy Story series, Finding Nemo, UP, and many more, giving him a unique understanding of branding, innovation and communication.

Top technology and creativity keynote speaker and humorist Janelle Shane approaches the study of AI a little differently than most. In her presentations, she highlights the odd, hilarious ways technology can struggle and fail, and what these shortcomings mean for the further deployment of, and reliance on, machine learning in the wider world.

Bestselling author and business professor Jeff DeGraff is a frequent advisor to Fortune 500 companies and a top creativity keynote speaker. With his mission to democratize innovation, Jeff brings innovation to everyone, every day and everywhere through his books, his public television program (Innovation You), columns (Inc.) and radio program (The Next Idea).

Natalie Nixon is an award-winning author and global authority on applied creativity for exponential business growth ranked by Real Leaders as 1 of the Top 50 Keynote Speakers in the World. A magnetic presenter, she is sought after globallyfor her ability to achieve transformative business results.

Deanna Marsigliese is a top creativity keynote speaker and character designer who has worked at Pixar since 2012. As their Animation Art Director, she has worked on family favorites Luca, Toy Story 4, and the Incredibles 2, and leads creativity and design workshops for global audiences helping foster curiosity, authenticity, and the power of visual storytelling.

Creative director at Pixar Jay Ward is a top storytelling keynote speaker and innovation expert who worked on Brave, Monsters Inc, and Cars. His signature presentations focus on building creative, successful workplace cultures and how storytelling skills can be used by businesses to connect, motivate and lead, no matter what industry they are in.

Srinivas Rao is a branding and creativity keynote speaker, podcast host and bestselling author focused on the transformative power of AI. With profound insights into innovation and workflow optimization, he is the creator of the Maximize Your Output course, which helps individuals become more productive.

Music matriarch and creativity speaker Sophia Chang has a legendary management and marketing career, having worked with ODB, RZA, GZA, Q Tip, A Tribe Called Quest, Raphael Saadiq, and D’Angelo. An account executive, designer, and writer, her expertise spans multiple industries.

Jeff Sparr is an artist, empowerment expert, and creativity keynote speaker working in the intersection between art and wellness. As the co-founder of PeaceLove, he preaches on the importance of creative outlets for those battling mental illness, standing as a symbol of inner peace and self-control.

Lisa Bodell knows that winning innovators embrace change. An award winning creativity keynote speaker, author, and entrepreneur, she is often called upon by global companies to help them eradicate workplace complexity that is killing their ability to innovate and adapt.

Three Reasons Why You Need a Skilled Master of Ceremonies

If you want to stage an exciting event, hire a skilled Master of Ceremonies. Events that don’t have a great host tend to have lower energy and seem disorganized. This is because the person assigned to host the event often isn’t as exciting or engaging as the keynote speakers.

On the other hand, a skilled Master of Ceremonies (aka emcee or MC) can keep the excitement and engagement level of the audience very high throughout the event.

Here are three things an experienced emcee can do for you.

1) Represent Your Event and Organization

The MC serves as the face of your event. By being the spokesperson, the MC acts as the focal point for all interactions with the audience and transitions between different speakers or activities.

A good MC handles all the face-to-face activity. They introduce the event, make the audience feel welcome, state the agenda and goals for the event, and get the attendees excited for what comes next. A great MC can make an event feel effortless and fun, while a poor MC will leave the audience disengaged and confused.

2) Keep Everyone Informed and on Schedule

The MC is the one person who ties the event together. They introduce the speakers with polished introductions, lead thoughtful and moderated Q&As after the talks, and transition to new speakers or activities.

When the event is running behind or ahead, they know how to keep the audience engaged with stories, announcements, or entertainment. They can also change the timing on the fly so things run smoothly.

3) Energize the Audience

Finally, one of the most important tasks of the MC is to keep the energy level high for the audience. They know how to use humor, stories, and interactive exercises to keep the audience engaged before, between, and after events and speakers.

The best MCs can read the room. They know when an audience needs to have more energy or to calm them down.

Great Emcees for Your Next Event

If you’re looking for some great Emcees to handle your next event or conference, BigSpeak Speakers Bureau works with some of the top professional comedians, comedy groups, and expert Masters of Ceremonies who can make your event exciting every step of the way.

Adam Christing
Adam Christing is a clean comedian and emcee specialist. He works with organizations that want to experience how the magic of laughter can open doors and hearts in business and in life. ExxonMobil executive Mark Green dubbed him the “Tom Brady of emcees.” Adam has delighted corporate, association, and non-profit audiences in 49 of the 50 U.S. states, Canada, Europe, and China. And in 2021, he received the “Best of Los Angeles Award” as the #1 Event Master of Ceremonies.

Jeff Civillico
Jeff Civillico is a comedian and performer who has performed over 5000 shows on the Las Vegas Strip as a Headliner with Caesars Entertainment at The LINQ, The Flamingo, and The Paris. In his talks, Jeff enables a renewed sense of passion, purpose, and gratitude in attendees’ work and lives by challenging the audience to view where they are personally and professionally.

Scott Bloom
Scott Bloom is a top business keynote speaker, professional emcee, world-class awards host, and a former VH1 series host. He has hosted events for hundreds of companies, such as FedEx, Ford, IBM, and MetLife. Scott provides an insightful, interactive, and laughter-packed experience that energizes your audience and transforms your event.

The Passing Zone
Jon Wee and Owen Morse are The Passing Zone, a top innovation keynote duo and juggling team. They have appeared on The Tonight Show and The Today Show and were finalists on America’s Got Talent. They entertain groups while teaching them the principles of teamwork.

The Pinquelton Group
Andy Eninger and John Loos are a top entertainment-speaking duo, master facilitators, performers, and writers who love to help organizations flourish by building skills in collaboration, storytelling, and ideation. Between them, they have 50+ years of experience connecting to audiences with clients like Deloitte, Facebook, MetLife, Whirlpool, and many, many, many more.

15 Top-of-the-line AI Keynote Speakers Peeking into the Future

AI is one of the hottest topics of the 2020s, with plenty of talk around machine learning, domestic robots, and smart cars. It’s here to stay– but that doesn’t mean all of us grasp the full ramifications of all the new tech flooding into our lives.

Anyone seeking a deeper understanding of the torrid tech industry need only turn to a top AI keynote speaker. These future trend forecasters, robotocists and bioinnovators stand head and shoulders above their peers, leading major tech projects and traveling the globe as successful speakers shining a light on the arcana of artificial intelligence.

Entrepreneur and AI expert Adam Cheyer is the co-founder of the virtual assistants Siri and Viv and a founding member of Change.org, the world’s largest petition site. With a proven track record of innovation in business and a prolific list of published work, he has keen insight into fostering effective innovation and staying relevant.

Marita Cheng is the founder of Robogals, AiPoly and Autobot and an accomplished technology speaker with a focus on AI and robotics. Her organizations and projects range from educational programs aimed at getting young girls interested in engineering to the manufacture of robots and systems that assist the visually impaired and those with other disabilities. An energetic and effective speaker, she has spoken over 350 times in 15 different countries.

Anne-Marie Imafidon is a top AI keynote speaker and one of Forbes Top 50 Global Women in Tech. A prodigy and thought-leader, she is a co-founder of Stemettes, a social enterprise inspiring the next generation of females into STEM roles that has reached over 40,000 girls so far.

Strategic futurist Nancy Giordano is an AI keynote speaker and bestselling author with boundless optimism and a strong drive to help visionary leaders transform their businesses. As an advisor and curator, she has worked with some of the world’s top companies and is the creator of the First Career Fair For the Future event for college and high school students.

AI speaker Dag Kittlaus is a tech entrepreneur best known for his work on the digital assistants Siri and Viv. A serial innovator, he has held executive roles at Telenor Mobile and Motorola, and currently works developing widely-used mobile apps.

Alicia Asin is a world-renowned Internet of things and big data expert, AI keynote speaker, and the co-founder of IT company Libelium. She is dedicated to studying how tech can better the world via smart city and precision agriculture projects, for which she has been internationally recognized.

Top AI speaker and humorist Janelle Shane approaches the study of artificial intelligence a little differently than most. In her presentations, she highlights the odd, hilarious ways technology can struggle and fail, and what these shortcomings mean for the further deployment of, and reliance on, machine learning in the wider world.

AI keynote speaker Shweta Maniar is the Global Director of Life Sciences and Strategy for Google Cloud, where she leads efforts in business transformation and innovation. A proven commercial executive, she has a background with Genentech and the Austen BioInnovation Institute.

Award-winning scientist Miguel Luengo-Oroz is an AI keynote speaker focused on social impact and global health applications. He has spent over a decade working on innovation programs for global organizations, governments, corporations and institutes of higher learning, helping them process data on poverty, migrants and refugees, hate speech, epidemics, and many other fields.

Cassie Kozyrkov is a Chief Decision Scientist at Google who heads up data-driven decision making and AI strategy. A tech evangelist, she has personally trained over 20,000 Google employees in machine learning and statistics and is regularly featured in Harvard Business Review and Forbes.

Technologist and former IBM exec Tapiwa Chiwewe is an AI keynote speaker with a background in engineering and software development. In his previous position at IBM, he headed research into applied AI and quantum computing, and other past positions have granted him insight into VR training simulators, tech trend analysis, and cognitive radio networks.

Mad scientist and entrepreneur Vivienne Ming is a theoretical neuroscience and AI keynote speaker exploring how to maximize human capacity, prevent bias in hiring and education algorithms, and address global economics. One of Inc. Magazine’s “10 Women to Watch in tech,” her research is frequently featured in major publications.

Mike Walsh is an award-winning future trends and AI keynote speaker, bestselling author, and disruptor. A pioneer in the digital space, he has founded multiple successful start-ups and spent years in senior leadership positions, and his experiences make him widely sought by multinational companies.

Emily Kennedy is a startup founder and human right and AI keynote speaker. She has been working since 2011 on the development of software to stop human trafficking in partnership with the Carnegie Mellon University Robotics Institute. Her work has been covered by major media outlets, including CBS and NBC, and she regularly works alongside attorney generals and prosecutors combating human trafficking domestically and abroad.

Nell Watson is a top AI keynote speaker , educator, and philosopher educating audiences on machine intelligence, AI, and human-machine relations. As a faculty member at Singularity and Exosphere Academy, she teaches future entrepreneurs how to perform under pressure and implement new technologies.

Music Keynote Speakers that Combine Education and Entertainment

Are you tasked with planning your organization’s next conference and worried you’ll put on a dud? Looking to motivate your team, but fear a regular presentation isn’t going to cut it? A top music keynote speaker takes your event to the next level, wedding education and entertainment seamlessly and ensuring higher levels of audience engagement, ensuring you, and your event, will succeed.

Acclaim Entertainment Group is a performing arts troupe that specializes in entertaining and motivating corporate audiences. From 45 minute educational musical journeys to instrumental extravaganzas performed by 27 piece orchestras, their offerings uplift and inspire.

Hip-Hop artist, activist and music keynote speaker Taylor Bennett is a rapper best known for his lyrical style. As one of the only openly bisexual hip-hop artists to receive widespread acceptance, he engages audiences regarding the pursuit of individuality through the arts.

Top experiential and music keynote speaker Cameron Atlas is an artist blending music with insights on creativity and high performance. With a down to earth, approachable attitude, a piano, and a guitar, he delivers outstanding and empowering experiences that inspire his audiences.

Rockstar concert pianist motivational powerhouse Jade Simmons is a music keynote speaker who captivates audiences around the world with her genre-bending performances. With impact spanning multiple industries and broad appeal, her presentations on leadership and creativity create boundless inspiration.

Hip-hop artist Ahmen Sivaloganathan is a social activist and music keynote speaker devoted to education, justice reform, and mental health. An orchestrator of sustainable transformation, he leverages the power of culture to educate and empower his audiences, encouraging them to focus on both compassion and excellence.

Musical director, pianist and vibraphonist Christian Tamburr is the CEO and lead facilitator of Sonic Leadership, an organization devoted to educating corporate audiences on matters of communication, teamwork, and reaching performance goals.

Butterscotch is a singer, empowerment activist and top music keynote speaker who uses her voice to defy gender and social constructs. She blends Hip-Hop, Jazz, Soul and Reggae and her shows are emotionally and physically invigorating with her trifecta fusion of singing, beatboxing, and playing either piano or guitar simultaneously.

Dana Leong is a two-time Grammy winning musician, composer and producer. A boundary-pushing performer, he combines storytelling and technology with his music to create interactive, mesmerizing experiences that provide exciting perspectives on music, entrepreneurship and success.

Renowned drummer and music keynote speaker Mark Schulman has performed with P!nk, Cher and Velvet Revolver. Using his real-word experience and top-tier drumming skills as educational tools, he’s worked with megacorps and individuals to help them unlock the “Rockstar Attitude” that lets them perform their very best.

Freddie Ravel is an acclaimed business expert and music keynote speaker who applies the communicative and scientific powers of music to ignite and inspire the hearts and minds of his audiences. A Grammy-nominated pianist, he has played with Madonna, Prince, and Carlos Santana, and his satisfied clients include NASA, IBM, and Apple.

Keynote Speaker Experts

Author: leadgen