leadgen, Author at Keynote Speakers Experts

Sports Keynote Speakers

Magic Johnson

Known for his 13 year professional basketball career, which includes 12 NBA All-Star games, and Olympic gold medal win, Earvin “Magic” Johnson is also one of our most requested business speakers. After retiring from professional basketball, Magic turned his interest toward entrepreneurship and became a leading spokesperson for HIV education. After leaving the ballcourt, Magic turned to the board room. He established the Magic Johnson Development Corporation, which builds commercial property in long-neglected minority urban and suburban neighborhoods. Magic Johnson now runs his own company, Magic Johnson Enterprises, which is constantly evolving, acquiring and selling businesses frequently. It owns, or has owned, franchised branches of Starbucks, Burger King and T.G.I Friday’s. Johnson also stayed true to his sports roots by investing in both the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Dominique Dawes

Dominique Dawes was a part of the 1992 bronze-winning women’s Olympic gymnastic team. She was the first African American gymnast to qualify and compete in an Olympic game. Dawes is also the most decorated gymnast on the U.S. women’s Olympic team. Since her Olympic glory, Dawes hasn’t rested on her laurels. Her dedication, determination, and desire have served her well as a positive role model to people across the nation. Appointed co-chair of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, she is a popular speaker who shares insights about leading a healthy, balanced life, and achieving confidence and self-esteem through both athleticism and citizenship. Dawes is also a sought after sports keynote speaker and a sports broadcaster who has commentated on the Olympic Games in both Beijing and Vancouver for Yahoo! Sports.

Bill Walton

Bill Walton has a prolific basketball career. He was a member of the 1977 Portland Trailblazers NBA Championship team. Walton was the NBA’s Most Valuable Player in 1978, on the NBA All-Star Team in 1977 and 1978, and won NBA Playoff’s MVP in 1977. Walton is one of only four players in the history of basketball to have won multiple NCAA and multiple NBA Championships. After retiring from basketball Bill began his broadcasting career in 1990 as an analyst for the then Prime Ticket Network. Walton worked for CBS Sports in the early 90’s and then for NBC for many years, including work on the 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Summer Olympic Games. Walton has been nominated for numerous Emmy Awards and in 2001 won an Emmy for Best Live Sports Television Broadcast.

Amy Van Dyken

Amy is a six-time Olympic gold medal swimmer, who has the distinction of being one of the few Olympians whose medals are all gold. Some of her many accolades include being inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame as well as the International Swimming Hall of Fame, winning an EPSY for Female Athlete of the Year, and breaking several world swimming records. Amy has retired from swimming after an ATV accident left her paralyzed from the waist down. She continues to inspire through her public speaking about sports, leadership, and overcoming adversity. Amy is also a sports keynote speaker who speaks on peak performance, overcoming adversity, and work-life balance.

Peyton Manning

Legendary quarterback Peyton Manning is the NFL’s only five-time MVP and 14-time Pro Bowl selection. Most recently he led the Denver Broncos to win Super Bowl L making him the first starting quarterback in NFL football history to win more than one Super Bowl with two different teams. In 2012, after missing the entire 2011 campaign due to a neck injury, Manning finished as the Associated Press NFL Comeback Player of the Year and runner-up for the league’s MVP. Peyton is a sought after sports keynote speaker though he doesn’t speak much throughout the year.

Robyn Benincasa

Robyn Benincasa is a World Champion Eco-Challenge Adventure Racer, a CNN Hero, and a full-time firefighter with a background in corporate marketing who advises organizations on how to build a world class team of their own. She and her teammates have competed at the front of the pack in the most unique and compelling locations on earth–the jungles of Borneo, the Himalayan peaks of Tibet, the rivers of Fiji, the rainforests of Ecuador and the desert of Namibia–studying the good, the bad, and the not-so-pretty in extreme teamwork. Through these challenges, she has mastered the skills required to inspire a group of semi-exhausted people through a seemingly endless series of checkpoints, in pursuit of a seemingly impossible goal. Motivational business speaker Robyn Benincasa offers a refreshing and truly unique perspective on what it takes to build the kind of world class team that succeeds against all odds.

Bob Costas

Bob costas has been a significant part of sports broadcasting for the past three decades, from presenting Baseball Game of the Week with Bob Costas to hosting the Olympics. He is the only person to win Emmys in the three categories of news, sports, and entertainment, winning 26 Emmys in total–more than any other sports broadcaster. Bob is a seasoned sports keynote speaker and currently hosts Football Night in America on NBC and as well contributes to NBC News programs such as Nightly News, Rock Center, and The Today Show. He also continues to be the primetime host of NBC’s Olympic coverage.

Diana Nyad

At the age of 64, Diana Nyad successfully fulfilled her lifelong dream of completing the 110-mile swim from Cuba to Florida on September 2, 2013. Never one to quit, this marked her fifth and final attempt. It was in July of 2010, at the age of 60, when she first began her quest of swimming from Cuba to Florida, a task she had failed to finish thirty years prior that. Nyad was unsuccessful in 2010 and tried two more times 2011 and 2012 before completing her historic and victorious swim in 2013. When asked her motivation, she replied, “Because I’d like to prove to the other 60-year-olds that it is never too late to start your dreams.” If Diana’s story doesn’t motivate you to keep working towards your dreams, then nothing will.

J.B. Bernstein

J.B. Bernstein is one of the most respected marketing experts in the world of sports. His story was portrayed by Jon Hamm in the Disney movie Million Dollar Arm. A few years ago, inspired by the increasing popularity of reality television in the United States and the global phenomena that NBA player, Yao Ming generated, Bernstein saw an untapped opportunity to change the game. He then traveled to India, motivated to find the first Indian born player in professional baseball history and created a contest that would reward one lucky contestant with $1 million and a chance to play for a professional baseball team in the U.S. A talented sports keynote speaker, Bernstein captivates audiences with valuable insight on business, marketing, selling, and achieving success in unpredictable and unprecedented circumstances.

Danica Patrick

Danica Patrick is a professional racecar driver and one of the most recognizable female athlete in the United States. In 2013, she became the first female NASCAR driver to win a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series pole, turning in the fastest qualifying lap since 1990 and qualifying for the Daytona 500.Over the course of her career, Danica has earned respect in a male-dominated sport and has become an international sensation.

Peter Guber

Peter Guber is a vanguard in the sports and entertainment industries. He is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Mandalay Entertainment Group, the co-owner of the Golden State Warriors and owner of the L.A. Dodgers. He is an owner and and the Executive Chairman of Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). He is also the author of the #1 New York Times Bestselling book “Tell to Win” and a professor at UCLA. Guber has transformed each company he’s been a part of. His management is credited with overhauling the Warriors and had a significant part in their Championship wins in 2015 and 2017. Guber is an expert sports keynote speaker who speaks on the topics of teambuilding, leadership, and innovation.

Email us to learn more about one of these sports keynote speakers or to book them for your next event.

Infrastructure and Smart City Keynote Speakers

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 62.7 percent of the population lives in cities and the population density in cities is more than 46 times higher than the territories outside of cities. As this number continues to increase, new city infrastructure, sustainability practices, and transportation systems will need to be engineered to accommodate the number of people living, working, and moving about the city. These infrastructure and smart city keynote speakers can help you plan the smart city and smart infrastructure of the future.

Chris Barker

Chris Barker is a smart city, connected car, and transportation technology consultant and Founder of CBC. /he is focused on advocating the role of technology in advancing the modernization of transportation and urban mobility. Chris provides business, communications and public policy consulting support to automakers, aerospace companies, suppliers, technology companies, investment firms and government organizations around the globe. He has worked with cities such as Las Vegas to improve autonomous shuttles and city-wide wi-fi connectivity, to deploy a vehicle/ green light tracking system, and launch vehicle/pedestrian detection and safety programs.

Parag Khanna

Parag Khanna is a geostrategist and CNN Global Contributor. His latest book “The Future of Globalization: Strategic Trends, Economic Competition & Technological Innovation” which looks at how biotechnology, nanotechnology, robotics, and the rise of smart cities will reshape city life as well as the global balance of innovation. As an infrastructure and smart city keynote speaker, Khanna frequently gives keynotes on the subjects of global trends and scenarios, systemic risks and technological disruptions.

Jeremy Rifkin

Jeremy Rifkin is an economic and social theorist and political advisor. He also advises on the building and scaling of the Internet of Things digital infrastructure to develop a sustainable low-carbon economy and ecological society. Rifkin is currently advising the European Commission on the development of Smart Cities in Europe. Rifkin is the author of three bestsellers including “The Third Industrial Revolution: How Lateral Power is Transforming Energy, The Economy, and The World” and “The Zero Marginal Cost Society: The Internet of Things, The Collaborative COmmons, and The Eclipse of Capitalism.”

Glen Hiemstra

Glen Hiemstra is an infrastructure and smart city keynote speaker who is dedicated to spreading knowledge about how technology can assist individuals, organizations, and industries in cities through effective strategic planning. He is the author of “Millennial City: How a New Generation Can Save the Future”. In his keynote’s, Hiemstra zeros in on emerging trends in economic demographics, energy, the environment, Internet and communication technology, housing, and transportation to offer solutions to many city and infrastructure problems.

Peter Zeihan

Peter Zeihan is a geopolitical strategist who specializes in global energy, demographics, and security. His worldview combines the realities of geography and populations to offer a deep understanding of how global politics impact markets and economic trends. Zeihan’s focus is geopolitics but his specializations of energy, demographics, and security are applicable to infrastructure and smart city planning. His clients represent a vast array of sectors including energy sectors, financial institutions, business associations, agricultural interests and city planners.

CEO Keynote Speakers

CEO keynote speakers are true leaders and visionaries of industry. They bring their vast entrepreneurial experience to your company’s event and also a fresh perspective. These CEO speakers are renowned for their innovative ideas and ability to turn any company in any industry around. Bring one of these CEO keynote speakers to your company’s next event or bring them in for corporate advising.

Mitch Lowe

Mitch Lowe invested in and became CEO of MoviePass in June 2016. MoviePass is a movie theater subscription service and is headquartered in New York City. The company has recently gained much media attention over its decision to reduce its monthly subscription fee from $30 to $10, allowing users to watch a movie everyday for an entire month at the cost of a single movie ticket. Prior to MoviePass Mitch served as the President of Redbox in 2003 and was a founding executive at Netflix.

Peter Guber

Peter Guber is the founder, chairman, and CEO of Mandalay Entertainment Group. Mandalay’s most recent film, The Birth of A Nation, premiered at Sundance Film Festival and swept up top prizes. Prior to Mandalay, Guber was chairman and CEO of SOny Pictures Entertainment, chairman and CEO of Polygram Entertainment, co-founder of Casablanca Record and Filmworks and President of Columbia Pictures. Currently, Guber is the operating owner and co-managing partner of the Golden State Warriors (2015 and 2017 NBA Champions) and owner of the L.A. Dodgers. Peter is a highly sought after CEO keynote speaker.

Bethenny Frankel

Bethenny Frankel is the founder of Skinnygirl Cocktails in 2011, a low-calorie cocktail brand. Since the company’s founding, Bethenny has expanded the Skinnygirl brand into a lifestyle empire offering women practical and healthy solutions. Some of the many Skinnygirl products include non-alcoholic beverages, and low-calorie popcorn, candy, salad dressing, coffee, tea, sweeteners, and water flavor enhancers. A star on Bravo’s of Real Housewives of New York City, Bethenny was also a runner-up on The Apprentice: Martha Stewart. She is also a five-time author and was named one of Forbes “100 Most Powerful Celebrities”.

Daymond John

Daymond John is a self-made business mogul. He is the founder and CEO of clothing brand FUBU. He pioneered the art of integrating fashion, culture, and music into branding nearly twenty years ago. Daymond is also a “shark” on ABC’s hit show Shark Tank and a two-time author. Daymond continues to set standards of excellence while expanding his interests in fashion, branding, marketing, consulting, entertainment, and beyond. This industry leader, best-selling author, and ground breaking entrepreneurial expert has evolved into a highly sought after business and motivational and CEO keynote speaker.

Tan Le

Tan Le is the founder and CEO of Emotiv, a bio informatics tech company. Emotiv’s brain-computer interface technology incorporates human communication cues into human-computer interactions through the use of a wireless headset. The headset makes it possible to control virtual objects as well as physical electronics with mere thoughts and a little concentration. Le was named Young Australian of the Year and voted one of Australia’s 30 Most Successful Women Under 30. Tan is a sought after tech and CEO keynote speaker who also has an inspirational personal story.

Frits Van Paasschen

Frits Van Paasschen is a seasoned global executive. He served as the CEO of Starwood Hotels and Resorts from 2007-2015 and later served as the CEO of Coors Brewing Company for three years. In addition, Frits has also held executive positions at Nike. Frits is also the author of the Amazon #1 Bestseller The Disruptors Feast. As a CEO keynote speaker, Frits is also passionate about advising and consulting on strategic direction.

Marissa Mayer

Marissa Mayer is the former president and CEO of Yahoo. Her first job out of college was with Google in 1999, where she became the company’s first female engineer and involved work on some of the company’s most recognizable features to date, such as Google Maps, Google Earth, Street View, Google News, and Gmail. In 2012 she was appointed the president and CEO of Yahoo and was tasked with course-correcting the company besieged by declining stock prices. She was also one of only 20 women to run a Fortune 500 company.

Celebrity Motivational Speakers

Celebrity Motivational Speakers are actors, athletes, bestselling authors, and award winning entertainers who are well known for their talent but also have a motivational message to tell about how they overcame adversity or achieved success.

Jon Dorenbos

Jon Dorenbos is a former NFL player with the Philadelphia Eagles and current magician and celebrity motivational speaker. When Jon Dorenbos is on stage, he emphasizes, through his unbelievable magic tricks, the importance of choice and openly shares his childhood tragedy. When he was twelve, his family was torn apart after his father murdered his mother. Jon chose to rise through adversity by setting goals, no matter how high, and taking the necessary steps to accomplish these goals. He started learning magic at the age of twelve and is now considered a “master magician”, earning the respect of top magicians everywhere including casinos in Las Vegas. Most recently, Jon “wowed” America with his performance on NBC’s America’s Got Talent. Jon made it to the finals and placed third amongst tens of thousands of competitors.

Bethany Hamilton

Bethany Hamilton is a source of inspiration to millions of people through her story of determination, faith, and hope. During a surf in 2003, Bethany was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark, which bit off her left arm. But one month after the attack, Bethany returned to the water and just over a year later she won her first national title. Bethany’s story has been told in the New York Times bestselling autobiography, Soul Surfer, and in the 2011 film with the same title. She is also involved in numerous charitable efforts, including her own foundation, Friends of Bethany, which reaches out to encourage amputees and youth by offering hope to overcome through Christian faith.

Peter Guber

Peter Guber is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Mandalay Entertainment Group, and the owner of the Golden State Warriors and the L.A. Dodgers. He is also the author of the #1 New York Times Bestselling book “Tell to Win” and a professor at UCLA. Guber has transformed each company he’s been a part of. His management is credited with overhauling the Warriors and had a significant part in their Championship wins in 2015 and 2017.

Les Brown

Les Brown is an internationally recognized speaker and one of the nation’s leading authorities in understanding and stimulating human potential. As a celebrity motivational speaker, author and television personality, Les Brown has risen to national prominence by delivering a high energy message, teaching audiences how to shake off mediocrity and live up to their greatness. It is a message Les Brown has learned from his own life and one he is helping others apply to their lives.

Earvin “Magic” Johnson

Known for his 13 year professional basketball career, which includes 12 NBA All-Star games, an Olympic gold medal win, Earvin “Magic” Johnson is also one of the most requested motivational speakers. After retiring from professional basketball, Magic turned his interest towards entrepreneurship and became a leading spokesperson for HIV education. He also established the Magic Johnson Development Corporation, which builds commercial property in long-neglected minority urban and suburban neighborhoods. As a celebrity motivational speaker, Johnson delivers a passionate message about his life story, what motivated him, and how we can all make a difference in our community.

Jennifer Arnold

Jennifer Arnold is a pediatrician and neonatologist and the Medical Director at Texas Children’s Hospital. She is also that co-star of TLC’s Little Couple and a cancer survivor. She is an advocate for spreading cancer awareness, supporting those on the road to recovery, and engaging others with her motivational story of survival. A celebrity motivational speaker, Jennifer has spoken at events for the March of Dimes and at the Texas Conference for Women.

Tracee Ellis Ross

Tracee Ellis Ross, actress, performance artist, and celebrity motivational speaker, is the star of the new ABC comedy series Black-ish. She is also known for her role on the show Girlfriends which ran for eight seasons and as the daughter of famous singer Diana Ross. Ross is a dedicated and passionate motivational speaker. She teaches a workshop called Tapping Into Your Creative Well which encourages people to discover and utilize their inner joy to keep their lives on course. She is also a committed volunteer intent on making a difference in the lives of teenage girls. She works closely with Aviva Family and Children Services in Los Angeles and The Big Brother Big Sister Program, where she has held self-esteem workshops nationwide.

Jack Canfield

The originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, and a prolific self-development author, Jack is recognized as America’s number one motivational speaker and a celebrity in the speaking industry. From Jack’s motivational keynote audiences will be inspired to participate more fully in life, show more compassion and caring in their professional relationships, dream bigger, replace blaming and complaining with responsibility, and how to persevere in the face of fear, obstacles, and setbacks. A keynote presentation from motivational speaker Jack Canfield is a once and a lifetime experience not to be missed.

Motivational Business Keynote Speakers

Motivational speakers are a great way to inspire and spark the flame in your team, but sometimes, all that built up inspiration and drive has no direction moving forward and then eventually dissipates. This is why motivational business keynote speakers are often the better choice for corporations.

An article defines motivational business keynote speakers as a speaker who motivates your team with their story of overcoming adversity to reach their dreams and achieve success while reinforcing their message by providing “actionable insights from their highly tuned business acumen.”

Motivational Business keynote speakers have beat the odds and have overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, though they also usually have a background in or prior experience with the business world, which makes their motivational story particularly applicable to a business-centric audience.

Here are some of the top motivational business keynote speakers:

Isaac Lidsky

Isaac Lidsky played “Weasel” on the 1990’s “Saved by the Bell” spin-off series, graduated from Harvard College at the age of 19, and later graduated from Harvard Law School magna cum laude. He served as a supreme court clerk for Justices Sandra Day O’Connor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, started a tech company that sold for $230 million and transformed a struggling $15 million concrete subcontractor into an industry-leading $150 million construction services company in five years. Perhaps most striking, Lidsky is only 37, and he is blind. He was born with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a rare degenerative disease of the retina, though neither his youth nor his blindness has limited him. Motivational business speaker, Isaac Lidsky has been recognized for his achievements dozens of times and his leadership is routinely sought after for keynotes and corporate consultations.

Robyn Benincasa

Bert and John Jacobs

Motivational speakers, and brothers, Bert and John Jacobs have an inspirational story of turning their dream into a socially conscious business. The duo launched their retail company, Life is Good, with $78 in their pockets, by selling T-shirts on the streets of Boston. Today, Life is Good is a $100 million positive lifestyle brand sold by over 2,000 retailers across the US and Canada. The founding of Life is Good is more than just an inspiring tale, it’s also a lesson in building a business in the 21st century. The brand has built itself on the tenants of co-creation with its customers and focusing on corporate social responsibility (CSR) as ways of building a loyal community of customers. This makes Bert and John the perfect combination of motivational and business speakers.

Colin O’Brady

In 2008 Colin suffered a tragic accident. He was severely burned in a fire, with burn injuries covering nearly 25% of his body and primarily damaging his legs and feet. Doctors told him he may never walk again, but Colin beat the odds, and then some! Last year Colin broke two world mountaineering records (three if you count Snapchatting from the summit of Mt. Everest!): conquering the speed records for the Explorers Grand Slam and Seven Summits, which entail climbing the tallest mountain on every continent including Mt. Everest and skiing the last degree of latitude to the North and South Poles. Before attempting the Explorers Grand Slam Challenge Colin built social media buzz and gained sponsorship from Nike and Columbia, among others, through a series of well orchestrated social media marketing campaigns. As a motivational business speaker, Colin will motivate your team while also providing them with insights into social media marketing.

Tan Le

Tan Le is an innovator, entrepreneur, and the co-founder and CEO of the bioinformatics company EMOTIV. In her motivational keynote speech, “My Immigration Story,” Tan recounts her childhood experiences fleeing from war-torn Communist Vietnam with her mother, and sister at the age of 4, to their life in Australia as refugees. Despite immense financial and emotional hardships, Tan explains how her single mother was able to support her and her sister and provide them with a good education. Audiences will be motivated by the tenacity of this young entrepreneur and all that she has accomplished, and inspired by her courage and grace in any situation.

Hiring the Right Keynote Speaker

When hiring a keynote speaker, factors such as the event date, location, and your budget will play an important role in determining the pool of keynote speakers available to you.

Date, location, and budget

Your date, for example, will affect which keynote speakers are available, whereas your budget will limit who you can and can’t afford to hire. In order to save on the cost of the keynote speaker’s travel, you may want to consider the distance between where he or she resides and where your event will take place.

Sync up the type and time of the keynote

Determine the type of presentation you want and the time of day it will take place. Some speakers are skilled at delivering workshops, while others excel at providing keynotes. After-dinner speakers should incorporate humor into their talks, where morning speakers should be energizing.

Clarify why you want to hire a keynote speaker

Some common reasons include the desire to educate, motivate, shift behavior, and initiate a change, and entertain. Consider which keynote speakers have been successful in the past with your group or a group similar to yours.

Get references

Call your friends and associates. Asking for references can be a great way to narrow down your search. Establish who the core decision makers are regarding a keynote speaker and tap into their vision.

Consider the demographics of your audience

Do you need a keynote speaker who will appeal to a general audience or one who will interest a specific demographic group?

Consider all of these factors and reach out to the Keynote Speaker Experts, we’ll help you hire the perfect keynote speaker for your event

Faith Keynote Speakers

Faith keynote speakers inspire audiences with their real life stories of perseverance and how they kept their faith in the face of great adversity. Here are some of the top faith keynote speakers:

Nick Vujicic

Nick Vujicic was born without arms or legs. He has had to learn to adapt to this, and he has learned to become almost entirely independent. He loves to swim, fish and play soccer. Nick has brought back that refreshing positive focus to many employees of companies who value the importance of keeping their team motivated. He has spoken at annual conferences and at business-related seminars. He is also a powerful Christian and faith keynote speaker and has spoken at churches across the country. Nick Vujicic shares the key turning points in his attitude from depression to joy to truly inspirational. Nick is the author of Life Without Limits, and the founder of Attitude Is Altitude and Life Without Limbs.

Bethany Hamilton

Bethany Hamilton has become a source of inspiration to millions through her story of determination, faith, and hope. During a surf in 2003, Bethany was attacked by a 14-foot tiger shark, which bit off her left arm. But one month after the attack, Bethany returned to the water and just over a year later she won her first national title. Bethany’s story has been told in the New York Times bestselling autobiography, Soul Surfer, and in the 2011 film with the same title. Bethany is a strong Christian and a stirring faith keynote speaker. She is also involved in numerous charitable efforts, including her own foundation, Friends of Bethany, which reaches out to encourage amputees and youth by offering hope to overcome through Jesus Christ.

Adam Christing

Adam Christing is an interactive entertainer, comedian, and magician. His keynotes are a unique mix of leadership, humor, and creative communication. Adam also has a clean comedy routine that “replaces vulgarity with variety” so that you don’t have to worry about embarrassing your organization or upsetting your company’s HR department. Adam is also the author of Comedy Comes Clean: A Hilarious Collection of Jokes, Quotes, and One-Liners; and Your Life is a Joke.

George Foreman

George Foreman was first recognized as a champion boxer who worked his way up from a difficult and disadvantaged childhood. Only to lose it all. He went from broke and disheartened to fight again, becoming the oldest heavyweight champion in the history of boxing. He ventured on to become the wildly successful businessman behind the George Foreman Grill, a preacher, best-selling author, and motivator. He went from broke and disheartened to fight again, becoming the oldest heavyweight champion in the history of boxing. He ventured on to become the wildly successful businessman behind the George Foreman Grill, a preacher, best-selling author, and keynote speaker.

Doc Hendley

While bartending to pay the bills, Doc Hendley noticed the men and women sitting on the stools seemed to want to be part of something bigger and was hit with an idea. He began hosting wine tasting events where people could donate money that would go to charities providing people with clean drinking water, and that’s how Wine to Water got its start. By using wine events to raise money and awareness about the lack of clean drinking water in the developing world, Doc Hendley has harnessed a powerful social force and multiplied the generosity of many. Doc Hendley’s keynote speeches center around the values of charity, community, humility, and generosity.

Inquoris “Inky” Johnson

Fulfilling his childhood dream, Inquoris “Inky” Johnson played college football at the University of Tennessee. One game changed his life forever when a routine tackle turned into a life-threatening injury that paralyzed his right arm. While the injury ended Johnson’s football career, it did not kill his spirits. A man of faith, Johnson is gripped by the promise that God has plans far beyond our own. His book, Inky: An Amazing Story of Perseverance and Faith, details his amazing story and steadfast faith. As a keynote speaker, Inky’s keynotes brings together the topics of faith, perseverance, leadership, and football.

To bring one of these or other faith keynote speakers to your next event contact us here.

Why Work with a Keynote Speakers Bureau

If you’re going to book a keynote speaker you should do so through a keynote speakers bureau.

Finding the right keynote speaker involves a lot of time researching the right speaker, and energy spent wrestling with event dates, speaker fees, and contractual agreements. A keynote speaker bureau takes care of all of that for you. A bureau offers expert knowledge on a multitude of speakers and the industry itself. They also have an extensive network of connections, logistical know-how, and provide you with quality, and importantly, peace of mind.

Expertise

Bureaus have extensive experience pairing the needs of an event with a speaker, ensuring that the keynote always resonates with your audience. There are many talented keynote speakers in the world (you probably know a few), but each speaker excels in different settings. Just getting a famous speaker for an event doesn’t mean they can tap into the expectations and feelings of the audience. However, speakers bureaus know exactly how each business, motivational, and celebrity speaker works with any type of crowd.

Extensive Networks

The high caliber speakers you really want tend to be difficult to contact. Keynote speakers, especially celebrity speakers have jam-packed schedules and multiple gatekeepers. But the network at a keynote speakers bureau enables you to get timely responses and exact quotes on their fees. Regardless of price range, a bureau provides access to a wide array of speaking contacts.

Logistical Know-How

Preparing for a keynote address is surprisingly complicated. Aside from the proper audio equipment, planners need to coordinate travel, hotel, per diems, contract logistics, and more. Letting a bureau cover these details creates a hands-free experience for you, and ensures that no box will be left unchecked.

Quality

The quality that bureaus provide is often the most valuable thing when finding a speaker for your event. Professional assurances count — there’s no sense in risking it. Knowing a speaker is fully vetted and guaranteed to deliver a powerful keynote makes all the difference in the days leading to your event.

Peace of Mind

Working with a keynote speakers bureau lends you peace of mind that the results will be top notch, and that the event will go off without a hitch. There are hundreds of details that coordinators need to consider for an event, and the last thing you should have to worry about is the quality of your keynote speaker.

Celebrity Keynote Speakers

Celebrity speakers who have charm, magnetism, charisma are hard to come by; it’s that rare personal quality that gives an individual influence over large numbers of people and a presence that instantly illuminates a room. Whether a television celebrity speaker, world class athlete, bestselling author, or an award-winning entertainer, a celebrity motivational speaker can add a touch of class, cachet, or clout to any engagement. Have your people call our people and let one of our celebrity speakers deliver red carpet excitement to your next engagement.

Jay Leno

Acclaimed TV late night show host, admired stand-up comedian, best-selling children’s book author, corporate speaker, lovable TV and movie voice-over artist, pioneering car builder and philanthropist…it’s no wonder that Jay Leno is widely characterized as “the hardest working man in show business.” An indefatigable performer, Leno loves to test his humor live on audiences across the nation, performing over 100 live appearances in nightclubs, theaters, and stadiums each year. His “everyman”-style and personality have helped him earn millions of fans worldwide, especially in the regions where people relate to his personable style and work ethic. Lenno does keynotes as well as stand up routines.

Steve Wozniak

A Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for more than thirty years, Steve Wozniak has 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. In 1976, Wozniak and Steve Jobs founded Apple Computer Inc. with Wozniak’s Apple I personal computer. The following year, he introduced his Apple II personal computer, featuring a central processing unit, a keyboard, color graphics, and a floppy disk drive. The Apple II was integral in launching the personal computer industry. As a keynote speaker, Woz’s vibrant personality particularly shines during Q & A’s when he gets to connect with the audience and speak candidly.

Fredrik Eklund

Fredrik Eklund, the energetic, high-kicking, top broker at Douglas Elliman has secured over two billion dollars in closed residential sales. Constantly rated as New York City’ “Top Luxury Broker,” he set record sales in 28 buildings in Manhattan last year alone and is often spotted showing apartments to top name celebrities including Sara Jessica Parker and Jennifer Lopez. His active listings amount to $540,000,000. As a keynote speaker, Fredrik speaks on the topics of sales, branding, real estate, and diversity.

Magic Johnson

Earvin “Magic” Johnson is a Major League baseball owner, an NBA legend, a two-time Hall of Famer, an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, an activist and a motivational keynote speaker. The business mogul has successfully parlayed his skills and tenacity on the court into the business world. Chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE), Mr. Johnson’s company provides products and services to ethnically diverse and underserved urban communities through strategic alliances, investments, consulting and endorsements.

Daymond John

Daymond John is the personification of the American Dream. From his humble beginning on the streets of New York, to a self-made multimillionaire with over $4 billion in global product sales, and a starring role on the ABC business reality TV show Shark Tank, Daymond John continues to set standards of excellence while expanding his interests in fashion, branding, marketing, consulting, entertainment and beyond. An industry leader, best-selling author and groundbreaking entrepreneur, he has evolved into a highly sought after business and motivational keynote speaker.

Celebrity speakers are highly sought after for their charismatic and engaging presentations that tell inspiring real-life stories of success.

Convention Speakers

Keynote Speakers come in all shapes and sizes, some are at their best in small intimate settings and others thrive on a big, brightly-lit stage with a large crowd in front of them.

If you’re looking for a speaker for your next big corporate convention, these speakers thrive on the energy of a large crowd and are seasoned pros when it comes to speaking at mega-size events.

Carey Lorhenz

Carey Lohrenz is a dynamic communicator with an incredible story. As the first female F-14 Tomcat pilot, she was a pioneer in military aviation. Having flown missions worldwide as a combat, mission-ready United States Navy pilot, Carey Lohrenz is used to working in fast moving, dynamic environments where inconsistent execution can generate catastrophic results. Carey is a seasoned convention speaker who speaks on topics like leadership, teamwork, and work/life balance.

Peter Diamandis

Peter Diamandis is the Chairman and CEO of the X PRIZE Foundation, which leads the world in designing and launching large incentive prizes to drive radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity.Diamandis is also an international leader in the commercial space arena, having founded and run many of the leading entrepreneurial companies in this sector. In his keynote presentations, Diamandis focuses on the importance of innovation and he looks to the future in explaining how exponentially advancing technologies will transform our companies, our industries, our governments and our lives over the next 5 to 10 years.

Peyton Manning

Legendary quarterback Peyton Manning, the NFL’s only five-time Most Valuable Player and a 14-time Pro Bowl selection, has earned his place among the greatest quarterbacks in league history as the active leader in nearly every statistical passing category. As a convention speaker, Manning shines in questions and answer sections where his personal appearance, words of wisdom, and good humor are a huge hit with audiences.

Daymond John

Over the last 20 years, Daymond John (The Shark) has evolved from one of the most successful fashion icons of his generation to a highly sought after branding expert, author, consultant and as a speaker in business and motivational genres. With business savvy and style to spare, speaker Daymond John entertains audiences every week as the go-to branding guru on ABC’s hit entrepreneurial business show, Shark Tank. Daymond brings business savvy wisdom and fun times to his speaking engagements–often bringing in a DJ with him–and is sure to delight any convention audience.

Steve Wozniak

A Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist for more than thirty years, Steve Wozniak has 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. Wozniak speaks on a number of topics from telling the founding story of Apple to discussing creativity and innovation as well as how to build a successful startup. He is also a seasoned convention speaker who thrives during Q&A’s.

To bring these or any other convention speakers to your next event contact the keynote speaker experts–we’ll set you up with the right speaker for your conventions theme, message, and audience.

Top Commencement Keynote Speakers of 2017

The 2017 graduation and commencement season rounded up some of the most illustrious and timely keynote speakers.

The roster of commencement keynote speakers included figures as Wolf Blitzer, Colson Whitehead, Bernie Sanders, President Trump, Joe Biden, Ron Chernow, and Senator Cory Booker. Here are just a few of 2017’s great commencement speakers:

Will Ferrell, USC

Actor, comedian, and USC alumnus Will Ferrell was the 2017 commencement keynote speaker at his alma mater.

Katherine Johnson, Hampton University

Katherine Johnson, the physicist and mathematician who worked for NASA and was an inspiration behind the film Hidden Figures, was the commencement keynote speaker at Hampton University.

Howard Schultz, Arizona State

Former Starbucks CEO and current executive chairman Howard Schultz spoke at Arizona State University. Starbuck recently unveiled its new employee online degree program in partnership with ASU, making him a good fit as commencement keynote speaker at the university.

Oprah Winfrey, Skidmore College and Smith College

By this point Oprah Winfrey is a commencement keynote speaker expert. Previously having spoken at Harvard, Stanford, and Duke Universities, this year she spoke at two colleges: Skidmore and Smith College.

Mark Zuckerberg, Harvard

Facebook founder and CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, spoke at Harvard–the university he dropped out of as a sophomore to launch his company. The last time Harvard had a high school graduate as its commencement keynote speaker was Microsoft founder Bill Gates in 2007.

Hillary Clinton, Wellesley

Hillary Clinton also spoke at her alma mater, Wellesley College. Clinton also gave a commencement speech at Wellesley in 1969 as a graduating student–making her the first student to ever be the commencement speaker at Wellesley College

The Dalai Lama, UC San Diego

The Dalai Lama is scheduled to speak at the University of California, San Diego on June 17th.

Sheryl Sandberg, Virginia Tech

Mark Zuckerberg isn’t the only Facebook executive to grace the commencement stage as a speaker. Silicon Valley living legend Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s COO spoke at Virginia Tech this year.

Public Speaking Podcasts for Keynote Speakers

Podcasts are the new broadcast radio. They are portable, downloadable audio shows that can be enjoyed on any mobile. There is also such a wide range of genres that are covered that any niche audience can find a podcast that pertains to them– including keynote speakers.

Here are a few podcasts that will be of particular interest to keynote speakers for the speaking tips they provide and the inspiring stories they tell.

The Public Speaker

These short and informative episodes address everything from building workplace relationships to introducing yourself effectively. The podcast also features interviews with authors and keynote speakers

Toastmasters Podcast

Produced by Toastmasters, a nonprofit educational organization devoted to communication skills, the Toastmasters Podcast gives listeners the inside scoop on the keynote speaker business. Guests often include reps from SpeakerHub, EasySpeak, and Mohammed Qahtani, the 2015 World Champion of Public Speaking.

What the Speak

Here speaking industry professionals like Deanna Moffat and Rick Altman offer up their invaluable insider’s perspective on public speaking. The podcast is currently on hiatus but, What the Speak’s extensive archive will address every public speaking concern you’ve ever had.

The Moth

The Moth’s captivating storytelling podcast will teach you a thing or two about connecting with an audience. Each themed episode features recordings from live storytelling events, where people spin stories from their personal lives—without the aid of prepared notes. The best part of The Moth? The show’s storytellers are just regular people, proving that anyone can be a good public speaker with enough preparation (and confidence).

TED Radio Hour

Keynote Speakers, here’s your chance to learn from the best. NPR’s TED Radio Hour features your favorite TED speakers offering expertise on a variety of eclectic subjects. After listening to a few episodes, you’ll be inspired to make your upcoming keynote as engaging and entertaining as a TED Talk.

Podcasts can be a great resource to any keynote speaker looking to refine their public speaking skills and looking for a little inspiration.

Portions of this article originally appeared on Born2Invest, “5 Must-Listen Podcasts for Public Speakers”