Top Ten Keynote Speakers under $20k
Updated September 14, 2026
The cost of events has increased. Your time, effort and budgets haven’t kept up. You don’t have the time to review tens of keynote speakers and then send emails to find out who is free and if they will fit into your budget.
We’ve done that work for you.
We know exactly who will kick off your event by getting the audience on their feet, ready to dive into your agenda and who will wrap up your deep content with the perfectly tied bow; who can weave together your panelists and speakers with just the right emcee tone, and who will get your audience to think about how they can connect, do, achieve more.
Each of the following keynote speakers has received an average of 4.7 out of 5 stars, and is under $20,000 USD for live, in-person events:
Richard Newman – Best-selling Author, Speaker on Communication and Leadership
Author of two books, You Were Born to Speak and Lift Your Impact, Richard Newman is the Founder and CEO of BodyTalk, a multimillion-dollar global coaching consultancy that has trained over 150,000 people. His scientific research on communication is published in the peer-reviewed journal Psychology.
His journey to becoming a communication expert and keynote speaker has taken him through living in a Tibetan monastery where he and the monks could only communicate non-verbally, studying 200+ books on communication, and training at the leading drama school in the UK. He then founded BodyTalk, leading his expert coaching team for over 25 years.
Erin Hatzikostas – Former Turnaround CEO, 2x Award-Winning Author, Authenticity Expert
Erin Hatzikostas is a former corporate CEO turned authenticity aficionado. Working at a Fortune 50 company, she became, at age 42, the CEO of its $2 billion AUM subsidiary, PayFlex, and in just three years tripled earnings and sent employee engagement skyrocketing, using a strategy she had unknowingly relied on her entire career: authenticity.
Today she is the CEO and founder of b Authentic Inc., a sought-after keynote speaker, the award-winning author of You Do You(ish) and The 50% Rule, and co-host of the hit podcast b Cause Work Doesn’t Have to Suck. Her TEDx talk was among the top 20 most-viewed TEDx talks worldwide in 2021, and her thought leadership has reached hundreds of thousands.
Kim Becking – Bestselling Author, Communications and PR strategist, Trusted Media Expert, and Keynote Speaker
The driving force behind the Unstoppable MomentumTM Movement, Kim Becking is changing the way we think about change and resilience in a rapidly changing world that NEVER SLOWS DOWN. An engaging, high energy and impactful international keynote speaker, New York Times Bestselling Author, human behavior expert and change and resilience researcher, Kim’s strategic insights and practical solutions have been utilized by hundreds of organizations ranging from Fortune 50 companies to associations and organizations around the world.
Kim’s expertise on reframing change and redefining resilience is regularly featured in media outlets such as the New York Times, People, Good Morning America, USA Today and Harvard Business Review. Kim has helped companies and organizations around the world empower their leaders, teams, and communities to redefine resilience, reframe change, and understand what it truly means to lead, live, and lean into a rapidly changing, ever-evolving world that never slows down.
Jack Becker – Decorated U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot, Founder & CEO, Flight Level Solutions, Inc., Leadership, Teamwork, Safety, and Peak Human Performance Expert
Jack Becker is a highly decorated, combat proven US Navy fighter pilot.
Renowned as one of the most dynamic keynote speakers in the industry, Jack Becker has spoken to some of the highest-performing organizations in the world including General Electric, Allied Transportation, the American Heart Association, and Truist Bank.
His keynotes deliver action-packed lessons of fighter pilot combat missions to instill a culture of continual process improvement. Regardless of your business, Jack’s keynotes simply reduce human error. Your team will make fewer mistakes! Within all seven regions of GE Power and Water alone, Jack’s program has reduced OSHA recordable mishaps over 60%.
As one of the Navy’s most highly decorated Landing Signals Officers (LSO), Jack was instrumental in incorporating the process improvement model of CRM to help pilots improve quickly while landing supersonic fighter jets on nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.
He was responsible for over 21,000 mishap-free carrier landings. Jack’s unique experience as both an LSO and as the Navy’s top CRM instructor, he saw an opportunity to relay the same skills of Brief-Execute-Debrief-Perfect to the American workplace. From healthcare groups to manufacturing, construction, sales teams, and insurance firms, Jack’s dynamic keynotes, and seminars leave a lasting impression.
Siri Lindley – Best-selling Author, Two-time World Champion Triathlete, Inspiring Keynote Speaker
Against all odds, Siri Lindley defied the impossible—transforming from a non-swimmer to two-time World Champion triathlete and #1 ranked competitor in her sport. Her journey from battling crippling anxiety and self-doubt to dominating the world stage exemplifies the extraordinary power of belief and determination that has become her signature message.
When faced with acute myeloid leukemia and a devastating 10% survival prognosis, Siri applied the same championship mindset to defeat cancer, just as she had overcome the heartbreak of her father’s initial rejection after coming out as gay. These profound personal battles have shaped her unique approach to resilience that resonates with audiences worldwide.
After retiring from professional racing, Siri built one of the most succe
Rodger Baker – Leading Geopolitics Expert & Keynote Speaker
Rodger Baker leads Baker Global Insights a consulting Company delivering strategic thinking on global issues and future trends. As the firm’s CEO, Mr. Baker guides the company’s analytical process, to include the development of international analyst teams to refine their understanding and application of his methodology grounded in the study of applied geopolitics and intelligence analysis. Prior to setting up Baker Global insights in 2025 Rodger spent 20 years as the Executive Director of the Stratfor Center for Applied Geopolitics at RANE, a global center of excellence for geopolitical intelligence and analysis. The Stratfor Center for Applied Geopolitics identifies, develops, and strengthens best practices in geopolitical analysis and offers tools, methods, and training to organizations and individuals as they integrate geopolitical factors into their business practices.
Rodger holds a master’s degree in military history from Norwich University, the oldest private military university in the United States. He has studied and worked in South Korea and graduated with honors from Southampton College, Long Island University. Mr. Baker regularly holds exchanges with academic institutes and research groups around the world and frequently travels to brief executives and corporate boards as well as deliver keynote addresses to a wide range of industry groups.
Matt Phillips – Serial Entrepreneur, Leading Expert & Keynote Speaker on Innovation and Creativity
Matt Phillips is a leading expert on innovation and breakthrough thinking. For over 20 years, Matt has been an in-demand advisor to the Fortune 500, large nonprofits and rapidly growing mid-sized companies.
As the founder of Phillips & Co., a Chicago-based innovation think tank, Matt leads a team of researchers, strategists and inventors who help organizations invent new products, services and businesses. Their clients include Paramount Pictures, Dell, Verizon, Purina, Pella, the National Science Foundation, the TSA, and the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation.
Matt holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and is a graduate of the Conservatory Program in Improv at The Second City.
Dr. Julie Williamson – Thought Leader on Business Strategy & Growth
Dr. Julie Williamson has undergraduate degrees in Information Systems and English, an MBA, and a Ph.D. in Organizational Communication.
Her keynote content is informed by her work around the world with some of the largest companies, where she’s helped set and execute strategy and transformation. She’s also worked with small to mid sized companies and organizations (for profit, non-profit, and government) to drive success as they seek to grow their revenue and impact their communities.
She has a deep reservoir of experience and expertise that she shares through engaging, honest, and vulnerable stories. Julie will work with you to shape her experiences to your audience’s situation and needs so her stories are relevant, relatable, and memorable.
As an educator, Julie has taught and guest lectured in college courses on organizational strategy, behavior, and change. She focuses on helping students connect theoretical concepts to real-world applications.
Janet Lapp – Expert on Change and Employee Motivation
What would happen if everyone in the organization saw the positives and not the problems in change? This question inspired Dr. Janet Lapp and her team to conduct decades of research enacting these types of changes in the workplace, with amazingly positive results. Janet shares the evidence-based results derived from years of experience in both her books and stage performances. She has a professor’s ability to translate complex theory into usable answers, and a humorist’s knack for getting ideas across in an entertaining way.
Dr. Janet Lapp is a psychologist, author, and consultant for workplace transformation. She is known for her ability to create optimism, energy and an intense emotional connection.
She understands the needs, wishes and language of each client by research, interviews, and visits to facilities such that when she appears on stage she seems to be part of the organization or company.
Janet is a Registered Nurse who also holds a PhD in Psychology from McGill University in Montreal. Admitted into the CPAE Speakers Hall of Fame, one year she was rated by Toastmasters as one of the top three speakers worldwide. Creator and host of the Emmy-nominated CBS series Keep Well, she has appeared regularly on INN, ABC, CNN, and NBC. She and her team have helped hundreds of organizations around the world including Allstate, Blue Shield, IBM, Intel, Verizon, AT&T, Unilever, and P&G to design systems to overcome resistance to change and expedite workplace transformation.
Alex Weber – American Ninja Warrior, Inspirational Speaker on Leadership & Peak Performance
With his contagious positive energy, Alex Weber immediately impacts audiences and ignites record-breaking achievements! Alex is an International Keynote Speaker, Award-Winning Host for NBC, competitor on American Ninja Warrior. Alex helps Leaders, Individuals, and Organizations be relentless, gain their competitive edge, and unlock new levels of peak performance.
Alex connects so well with audiences because of his genuine openness about the challenges, self-doubt, and uncertainty that we all face – and how you can overcome it! As a professional entertainer, US Lacrosse Coach of the Year, and acclaimed Author, Alex is highly sought after for his unique ability to engage, transform, and empower audiences. Alex has positively inspired over 3.5 million people worldwide, and worked with major companies like ABC, Apple, Amazon, Under Armor, LinkedIn, The Los Angeles Lakers, Stanford Business and many more. Alex is also the only person ever to Host and Compete on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior.
With his riveting storytelling, uplifting humor, and captivating energy, Alex empowers you to be a positive leader, propel past challenges, and accomplish your highest goals in your career, your relationships, and your life!
Kristel Bauer – Award-Winning Author, Keynote Speaker on Sustainable High Performance & Leadership
Kristel Bauer is a keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, and award-winning author who helps leaders and teams thrive in demanding environments while strengthening resilience, engagement, and sustainable high performance. She is the founder of Live Greatly and was recognized as a 2026 Top Impact Speaker by Real Leaders Magazine.
Known for delivering energizing, research-backed keynote experiences, Kristel equips audiences with actionable strategies to elevate performance, navigate change effectively, and sustain success over the long term. Kristel brings a distinctive perspective to the stage shaped by her background in healthcare. She practiced as a Physician Assistant in Integrative Psychiatry and completed a Fellowship in Integrative Medicine, experiences that give her unique insight into the science of stress, resilience, behavior change, and human performance.
Scott Zimmer – Speaker, Writer, and Market Researcher on Generational Differences in the Workplace
Scott Zimmer has over 20 years of experience delivering keynote speeches to audiences around the world. During his career, Scott worked for one of the most reputable generational consulting firms in the country, where he had the opportunity to travel to global Fortune 500 companies to help organizations bridge the generational gaps that can occur in the workplace. Today, he continues to help organizations create a workplace culture where every generation feels valued, respected, and understood.
Scott works hard to learn every client’s desired outcome and customizes each presentation to curate an experience focused on achieving your specific organizational goals. His presentations are informative, engaging, and fun – giving audiences both an experience they’ll remember and actionable takeaways they can use to strengthen workplace relationships and culture.