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Top 10 Speakers on the Trends Shaping the Retail Industry

14 June 2018
Sweeney Agency
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Categories: Branding, Communication, Customer Service, Economy, Employees, General, Marketing

There was a time when the Retail Industry was all about location, location, location. Now Retail is under attack and it’s all about, transforming, growing, changing, inspiring, innovating and heading in a totally different direction. Understanding the forces and trends that are shaping the whole industry is key to any organization’s retail strategy. Here are the Top Ten Speakers on the Trends Shaping The Retail Industry.

Michael Bergdahl

Michael Bergdahl is a professional international business speaker, author and turnaround specialist. Bergdahl worked in Bentonville, Arkansas for Walmart, as the Director of “People” for the headquarters office, where he worked directly with Walmart’s founder Sam Walton.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Michael-Bergdahl

 

Sterling Hawkins

Sterling Hawkins has become a master of innovation through massive changes and obstacles he has overcome in his own life. From selling the first company he founded in 2004 to flat broke, from a broken family business to a successful one, and from fear of public speaking to keynoting at conferences around the world, Sterling’s story is a perfect example of how anyone can take any situation and create anything from it.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Sterling-Hawkins

Brett King

Brett King, the best selling author of the groundbreaking book BANK 2.0, is the founder of the first direct mobile bank in the US and UK (Movenbank) and a strategic advisor to the world’s leading financial services organizations. He is an International Judge for the GSMA Global Mobile Awards, the Asian Banker Retail Excellence Awards and for the MiddleEast Business Achievement Awards.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Brett-King

Nancy Giordano

Described as endlessly optimistic, Nancy Giordano is a strategic futurist with a drive to help enterprise organizations and visionary leaders transform to meet the escalating expectations ahead. Recognized as one of the world’s top female futurists, she has spent her career building, shaping and evolving a portfolio of $50 billion worth of major global brands.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Nancy-Giordano

Daniel Levine

Daniel Levine is an international social trends expert with an uncanny ability to help consumer-oriented brands and businesses be more relevant, innovative and profitable. A well-known expert on both travel marketing and global cultural trends, Daniel Levine is the author of over a dozen best-selling travel-related books, he is regularly featured in newspapers and magazines worldwide.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Daniel-Levine

Viktor Mayer-Schönberger

Viktor Mayer-Schönberger is Professor of Internet Governance and Regulation at Oxford University. He is among our leading thinkers on the ways that Big Data, Information Technology, and Artificial Intelligence are changing the face of everything from product development and scientific discovery, to human learning and health care, transportation, retail, finance and marketing.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Viktor-Mayer-Sch%C3%B6nberger

Erica Orange

Erica Orange is Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer of The Future Hunters, one of the world’s leading futurist consulting firms. She evaluates emerging social, technological, economic, political, demographic and environmental trends – and identifies the strategic implications of those trends for several of the most influential Fortune 500 companies, trade associations and public sector clients.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Erica-Orange

Robert Spector

Robert Spector is a best-selling author, international speaker, and customer service expert. Based in Seattle, he has helped companies create their customer service experiences for over 30 years. He is recognized worldwide as the ultimate authority on customer service and the Nordstrom Way. He is the author of the business classic The Nordstrom Way.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Robert-Spector

Richard Worzel

Leading forecaster and futurist Richard Worzel is a Chartered Financial Analyst and best-selling author of Who Owns Tomorrow?. Richard is also a frequent media commentator on business and economic trends. In his compelling presentations, Richard equips groups with the ability to understand the changes they will face in the years ahead, and with the tools to leverage those changes.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Richard-Worzel

Scott Amyx

Scott Amyx is the Chair & Managing Partner at Amyx Ventures, CEO of Amyx+, Managing Partner at the Future of Fashion. A thought leader, speaker, and author on the Internet of Things, Scott is also a winner of the Cloud & DevOps World Award for Most Innovative and was voted Top Global IoT Influencer & Expert by Inc. Magazine, HP Enterprise, Postscapes, Top IoT Authority by the Internet of Things Institute.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Scott-Amyx

 

To Learn more about these speakers contact [email protected]

Derek Sweeney is the Director of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency. www.thesweeneyagency.com. For 15 years Derek has been helping clients find the right Speakers for their events. Derek can be reached at 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] 

Top 10 Speakers on the Trends Shaping Teamwork

28 March 2018
Sweeney Agency
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Categories: General, Leadership, Management, Teamwork

Are you part of a team at work? Teams inspires people to engage, innovate and commit to a common goal. Teams are held together by important values like trust, respect and loyalty, essential in any organization. When things go right, Teams celebrate, when things go wrong, Teams learn. But how do you build a great team and what do you need to do to keep it focused.  Here are the Top 10 Speakers on The Trends Shaping Teamwork.

Stacy Allison 

Stacy Allison has climbed the world’s most famous mountain. Now she’s helping organizations across the globe scale their own monumental challenges. Stacy understands mountains: she has been climbing mountains and leading expeditions for more than 20 years in remote regions around the world, including Tibet, Pakistan, and Russia.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Stacy-Allison

Ross Bernstein

Ever wonder why certain teams win consistently, whereas others come up short? Ross Bernstein explains why – in an engaging and visually entertaining style that’s designed to improve your organization’s productivity, morale and bottom-line profitability.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Ross-Bernstein

 

Captain Larry Brudnicki

Captain Larry Brudnicki is the Captain of the Coast Guard ship that performed two dramatic rescues during the real Perfect Storm. These unbelievable rescues are a small part of a thirty-year career assessing risks, making decisions and inspiring teamwork.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Captain-Larry-Brudnicki

 

Dr. Tasha Eurich

Tasha Eurich is an organizational psychologist, researcher, and New York Times best-selling author. She’s built a reputation as a fresh, modern voice in the business world by pairing her scientific grounding in human behavior with a pragmatic approach to solving problems.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dr.-Tasha-Eurich

Jim Craig

Jim Craig is best remembered for his outstanding goaltending in the 1980 winter Olympics where the United States team beat the heavily favored Russians and went on to win the Olympic gold medal in what’s has been labeled the greatest sports moment of the 20th century.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Jim-Craig

 

Mark Eaton

Mark Eaton is a team building expert who shares with organizations and audiences nationwide, how he went from a 7’4? 21 year old mechanic who couldn’t play basketball to a 12 year career as an NBA All-Star with the Utah Jazz.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Mark-Eaton

 

The Passing Zone

The Passing Zone, Jon Wee and Owen Morse have been educating and entertaining audiences together for over 20 years; they have one of the longest standing partnerships in corporate entertainment, a true demonstration of The Power of Partnership and teamwork.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/The-Passing-Zone

 

Rick Searfoss

Rick Searfoss is Astronaut and Speaker on Leadership and Teamwork. Engaging and entertaining, he speaks from the heart to movingly share the lessons of human space flight. His stunning multimedia presentations filled with spectacular message reinforcing images uplift, inspire, and move to action.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Rick-Searfoss

 

Rob Waldman

Lt. Col. (ret.) Rob Waldo Waldman – The Wingman  teaches organizations how to build trusting, revenue producing relationships with their employees, partners, and customers while sharing his experiences as a combat decorated F-16 fighter pilot and businessman.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Waldo-Waldman

 

Amy C. Edmondson

Amy C. Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of leadership and  management. Her research examines leadership, learning and innovation in teams and organizations, and has been published in numerous academic and managerial articles.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Amy-C.-Edmondson

 

To Learn more about these speakers contact [email protected]

Derek Sweeney is the Director of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency. www.thesweeneyagency.com. For 15 years Derek has been helping clients find the right Speakers for their events. Derek can be reached at 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] 

10 Highest Rated Speakers on Achieving Peak Performance

18 April 2017
Blog Admin
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Categories: Employees, General, Inspiration, Motivation, Teamwork

Clients from every industry regularly ask us for Speakers who can inspire their teams to achieve peak performances.  Based on our research and client feedback, here are our highest rated speakers on peak performance.

Tom Flick – All-Pro Authority on Leadership, Leading Change and Increasing Performance

Profile & Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Tom-Flick

Jenny Evans – Stress Resiliency Expert, Speaker & Author

Profile & Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Jenny-Evans

Walter Bond – Mr. Accountability and Former NBA Athlete

Profile & Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Walter-Bond

Brent Gleeson – Navy Seal Combat Veteran & Motivational Leadership Speaker

Profile & Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Brent-Gleeson

Rick Searfoss – Astronaut and Speaker on Leadership and Teamwork

Profile & Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Rick-Searfoss

Dan Waldschmidt – Runner & Best-selling Author and Speaker on Peak Performance and Sales

Profile & Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dan-Waldschmidt

Scott Welle – Speaker & Author on Peak Performance

Profile & Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Scott-Welle

Mel Robbins – Award-Winning CNN Commentator, Co-Founder of Inspire52, and Motivational Speaker

Profile & Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Mel-Robbins

Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour – First African American Female Combat Pilot and Motivational Speaker

Profile & Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Vernice-Armour

Stacy Allison – Author, Mountaineer and Speaker on Risk, Teamwork and Leadership

Profile & Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Stacy-Allison

 

 

 

 

10 Most Requested Speaker Topics Clients are Asking for as of August 2016

6 October 2016
Blog Admin
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Categories: Change, Communication, Employees, General, Innovation, Inspiration, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Teamwork

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Each month clients call us looking for Speakers who can deliver inspiring presentations on a variety of different topics at their events. Here, as of August 2016, are the 10 most requested topics.

  1. Becoming a Better Leader
  2. Geopolitical Trends Businesses Need to Watch
  3. Inspiring Innovation
  4. Economic Update
  5. How IT will Change Your Industry
  6. The New World of Selling
  7. Change/ Personal Motivation Strategies
  8. Creating a Culture of Teamwork
  9. Customer Service
  10. Growth

12 Highest Rated Speakers of May 2018

9 September 2016
Blog Admin
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Categories: Change, Communication, Employees, General, Innovation, Inspiration, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Teamwork

The results are in. Each month, companies come to us asking for Speaker ideas on a variety of topics to help inspire, educate, and inform their audiences. We do the research and deliver specific Speaker suggestions that our clients can choose from. Based on their response, here are our highest rated Speakers of May 2018.

Dr. George Friedman, Speaker and Author on the Future of Geopolitics

George Friedman is an internationally recognized geopolitical forecaster and bestselling author of Flashpoints: The Emerging Crisis in Europe and The Next 100 Years: A Forecast for the 21st Century.

Video:https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dr.-George-Friedman

 

Mark Thompson, Authority on Leadership and Employee Engagement

Mark is an expert on executive leadership, business strategy, and innovation who has spent over 25 years leading teams and building companies from the ground up. He delivers actionable, valuable and practical advice for leaders at all levels of an organization.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Mark-Thompson

Josh Linkner, Speaker on Creativity, Innovation, and Leadership

Josh Linkner – who started his career as a jazz guitarist – personifies creativity, entrepreneurship and disruptive innovation.  He has been the founder and CEO of four tech companies, which sold for a combined value of over $200 million.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Josh-Linkner

 

Garry Golden, Academically Trained Futurist and Speaker on Emerging Trends

Garry Golden is a professionally trained futurist who writes, speaks, and consults about issues that will shape society and business in the 21st century. His uncanny sense of what will hit—and what won’t—can be seen in futurethink’s research and heard in his international keynotes and corporate leadership seminars. His insights on how to align talent development to coming industry and market transitions have been shared with and implemented by such organizations as the McGraw-Hill Companies, Goodyear, S&P, and Reliant Energy.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Garry-Golden

Mike Abrashoff, Former Commander, USS Benfold and Author of It’s Your Ship

Mike Abrashoff’s inspiring speeches challenge people to re-imagine their own leadership thinking and instill a renewed responsibility for results and success. At the age of 36, the Navy selected Abrashoff to become Commander of USS Benfold, at the time the most junior commanding officer in the Pacific Fleet.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Mike-Abrashoff

Polly LaBarre, Speaks about Innovation, Leadership and Management

For two decades Polly LaBarre has used her writing and speaking to help make organizations more resilient, innovative and inspiring – and to embolden and equip leaders at every level to make a meaningful impact.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Polly-LaBarre

 

Stuart Knight, Award Winning Entrepreneur, Critically Acclaimed Author, and Hit Producer

Stuart Knight has written, produced and starred in live presentations that have been seen by over one million people and each year speaks internationally helping some of the world’s biggest companies reach new levels of success. When he is not on the road speaking, you may have seen or heard him on some of nation.’s biggest TV and Radio stations where he is often asked for his expert opinion on high level communication.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Stuart-Knight

Seth Mattison, Expert on The New World of Work and Leadership in The Digital Age

Seth Mattison advises world-leading brands and organizations on the key shifts happening around talent management, change and innovation, leadership, and the future of work.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Seth-Mattison

 

Jacob Logan Shapiro, Distinguished Geopolitic Analyst & Speaker on International Affairs

Jacob Logan Shapiro is the Director of Analysis for Geopolitical Futures (GPF). At GPF he oversees a team of analysts, the company’s forecasting process and the day-to-day analysis of important geopolitical developments. Shapiro is a regular speaker at international conferences and has appeared both in print and on television as an expert on international affairs in such places as MSNBC, CNBC, the New York Times, and Fox News.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Jacob-Logan-Shapiro

Gary Hamel, Business Management and Strategy Speaker

Gary Hamel is one of the world’s most influential and iconoclastic business thinkers. He has worked with leading companies across the globe and is a dynamic and sought-after management speaker. Hamel has been on the faculty of the London Business School for more than 30 years and is the director of the Management Innovation eXchange.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Gary-Hamel

Marci Rossell, CNBC Chief Economist and Speaker on Finance

Marci Rossell electrifies audiences nationwide, speaking on the nexus of economics, politics, culture and the media. Her animated style was honed when she served as the popular, lively Chief Economist for CNBC in the months immediately following September 11th. She takes complex economic issues, often dull in the button-down business press, and makes them relevant to people’s lives, families and careers.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Marci-Rossell

Rick Searfoss, Astronaut and Speaker on Leadership and Teamwork

Engaging and entertaining, Rick speaks from the heart to movingly share the lessons of human space flight. His stunning multimedia presentations filled with spectacular message reinforcing images uplift, inspire, and move to action. A great mix of down-to earth style and out-of-this-world excitement as he shares the astronauts’ tools for effective leadership, teamwork, and innovative results that count!

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Rick-Searfoss

 

To Learn more about these speakers contact [email protected]

Derek Sweeney is the Director of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency. www.thesweeneyagency.com. For 15 years Derek has been helping clients find the right Speakers for their events. Derek can be reached at 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected]

Top 10 Closing Speakers For Your Next Event

10 March 2016
Blog Admin
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Categories: Closing Speaker, Communication, creativity, Employees, Humour, Innovation, Inspiration, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Teamwork

After two or three days of great content you need a great Closing Speaker to inspire your attendees before they head home. Great Closing Speakers use the power of story to motivate people to take action with what they’ve learned. They connect with people on a very personal level with examples of courage, raising the bar, pushing the limits, and going for gold. The Closing Speakers below will give your attendees a powerful experience that they will remember long after the event has ended.

Mike Abrashoff

Mike Abrashoff’s story of turning one of the lowest performing naval ships into one of the finest in the Pacific Fleet will have audiences inspired to take initiative within their own leadership and collaborative roles. Mike’s keynotes are an engaging combination of great storytelling and practical advice on leadership, teamwork, and peak performance.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Mike-Abrashoff

Dr. Robert Ballard 

Dr. Ballard will have audiences captivated with his tales of the deep. His presentations will inspire attendees to develop a culture of teamwork as well as motivate them to venture into uncharted territory – leading to new discoveries, creativity, and innovation.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dr.-Robert-Ballard

 

Walter Bond 

Walter Bond’s unique presentation style motivates audiences to take responsibility for their own continued improvement, teaching attendees how personal and organizational accountability creates teamwork and engagement. Walter’s keynotes are funny, insightful, and full of great stories that inspire sustained success.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Walter-Bond

 

Lee Cockerell

Lee Cockerell is as much a customer service speaker as he is a leadership, workplace culture, and employee engagement speaker. Lee’s message is simple: treat your people well and in return they will treat your guests well. Lee believes that exceptional customer service starts from within an organization and resonates outwards. His dynamic presentation style will leave sales audiences ready to look at customer service from a whole new angle.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Lee-Cockerell

Dr. Janet Lapp 

One of the most dynamic and entertaining speakers on the circuit Dr. Janet Lapp’s keynotes will have you laughing and learning. Her presentations are funny, engaging, and highly motivating. Dr. Lapp’s keynote will leave attendees feeling energized and ready to face challenges with fortitude and positivity.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dr.-Janet-Lapp

 

Vince Poscente

Vince Poscente has a great story – and that story has an even better moral. Vince’s lively presentations teach audiences how to take on big challenges without fear and how to execute big idea quickly. Each of Vince’s keynotes are tailored to the specific needs of the audience, providing important observations about where, how, and when you and your team can accelerate.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Vince-Poscente

Mike Rayburn

Hilarious and unique, Mike Rayburn’s presentations are like nothing you’ve seen before. As a guitar virtuoso, Mike will inspire audiences to challenge their perceived limitations and teach them how to push themselves and their organizations beyond existing barriers.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Mike-Rayburn

 

Steve Rizzo

Steve Rizzo’s interactive presentations will have attendees taking notes in between gales of laughter. He will teach your audience how to develop and maintain a positive attitude – creating a more cohesive and healthy working environment.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Steve-Rizzo

 

Scott Snook

Scott Snook tells stories. His stories (or case studies) demonstrate how leadership is discovered, cultivated, and sustained. His presentations are extremely thought-provoking and deliver his message on a mental and emotional level. Audiences leave feeling inspired to take control of their own leadership objectives within their organizations.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Scott-A.-Snook

Mark Thompson

Mark Thompson’s energetic and captivating presentations make him a wonderful closing speaker for any event. Mark’s keynotes are very insightful and well researched – he knows your business and your competition and provides great tools and motivation to help your business grow beyond what you thought possible.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Mark-Thompson

To Learn more about these speakers contact [email protected]

Derek Sweeney is the Director of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency. www.thesweeneyagency.com. For 15 years Derek has been helping clients find the right Speakers for their events. Derek can be reached at 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] 

Top 10 Opening Speakers For Your Next Event

26 February 2016
Blog Admin
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Categories: Communication, Employees, Inspiration, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Opening Speaker, Peak Performance, Teamwork

An opening speaker sets the tone for the entire conference – so selecting the right one is a crucial part of coordinating any event. A great opening speaker must inspire their audiences to start a discourse, to open up lines of communication among colleagues. They also need to be energetic, motivating, and engaging in order for attendees to get the most out of the event. Here are our Top Ten Opening Speakers:

Bill Acheson

Not only do Bill Acheson’s compelling presentations teach audience members how to project themselves using non-verbal communication in both business and life, but he also teaches attendees how to pick up on the subconscious messages sent by others. His keynote will teach professionals how to examine body language, giving a deeper understanding of the attitude and intent of their colleagues, their superiors, and their clients and customers.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Bill-Acheson

Shawn Achor 

For so many people, happiness is the ultimate goal. Unfortunately, most people have their “happiness plan” backwards – and that’s where positive psychology expert Shawn Achor comes in.  He provides practical applications to help his audiences shift their mindsets, teaching them how to be happy first, and watch the rest fall into place.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Shawn-Achor

Ty Bennett

Ty’s keynotes teach attendees how to effectively engage others on an emotional level, leading to stronger connections, stronger commitment, and ultimately a stronger bottom-line. Audiences describe his presentations as inspiring, thought-provoking, and entertaining.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Ty-Bennett

 

Anthony “AB” Bourke

As a former military fighter pilot, Anthony “AB” Bourke knows the importance of effective and clear communication as the basis for the execution of any successful initiative or strategy. His interactive keynotes are full of engaging stories and practical tools used by real fighter squadrons to execute at the highest level.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Anthony-Bourke

 

Chip Eichelberger

Motivational Speaker Chip Eichelberger will energize your audience with his contagious enthusiasm. His interactive presentations allow audience members to break the ice and begin to collaborate. Attendees will leave his presentation feeling motivated, excited, and empowered to take on new and existing challenges.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Chip-Eichelberger

Chester Elton 

Dubbed “The Apostle of Appreciation” by The Globe and Mail, Chester Elton’s presentations explore the connection between effective recognition and employee engagement. His motivational keynotes are full of energy and enthusiasm, setting an exciting and positive foundation for any event.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Chester-Elton

Sally Hogshead 

Sally Hogshead is fascinating – she will have your attention from the moment she steps on the stage. And she can teach your audience how to be fascinating too! Sally’s energetic and practical presentations teach audiences how to stand-out, express their value, and be remembered. You won’t soon forget the Speaker who taught how to be remembered.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Sally-Hogshead

Dr. Nick Morgan

In today’s society, the attention span of the population is minimal at best – and this is also true in business. We are busier but more removed than ever before, and gaining (and sustaining) someone’s attention is a difficult feat. Dr. Nick Morgan will not only show you how to grab someone’s attention, but also how to persuade them to buy what you’re selling. Using recent studies in neuroscience, Dr. Morgan will show attendees how persuasion works and how you can leverage that knowledge to win anyone over.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dr.-Nick-Morgan

Michelle Ray

Michelle Ray is on a mission to get workplaces to communicate, collaborate, and connect – and it all starts with you! Rather than addressing an entire team, Michelle’s keynotes target the individual and their attitude, self-leadership and self-motivation as the catalyst for a more cohesive and collaborative working environment.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Michelle-Ray

Mel Robbins

Mel Robbins keynotes are motivational, energizing, and inject new perspectives into the minds of attendees. Her easily applicable tools and insights will help your audience accelerate their personal and professional growth, as well as teach them how to achieve sustained positive/healthy behaviors and productivity.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Mel-Robbins

 

*Speakers are listed in alphabetical order

This Idea Totally Changed How We do Business and the Results Have Been Extraordinary!

18 February 2016
Blog Admin
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Categories: Communication, Customer Service, Employees, Inspiration, Management, Motivation, Sales

blog_Feb_18_2016

When I first started The Sweeney Agency I received some powerful advice from Tim Sanders, formerly of Yahoo! This is what he said:

“Don’t think about sales or closing deals, just position yourself so that whenever you can help someone you help them, without any expectations. 20% of the people you help you’ll never hear from again, but that won’t matter because you will certainly hear back from the other 80%. They will remember you and how you helped them and that will create such great relationships that you will build both a great business and a great life.”

A few weeks after Tim Sanders told me that, I was talking to Colleen – a new employee at a major software company we had worked with. She told me she didn’t really now many people in the company or the new city as she had just moved across the country to take the job. After I finished the call I remembered what Tim  had said and I thought of what I could do to help Colleen.

She wasn’t looking to book a Speaker, but I did know a great book that would help her connect with others so I couriered  Colleen How to Make People Like You in 90 Seconds or Less by one of our Speakers, Nick Boothman. This was at a time when sending anything by courier meant no coffee for a week at The Sweeney Agency. Two days later she emailed me back thanking me for my kindness and said she loved the book.

Colleen was reading the book in the company’s café when the VP of Global Communications saw her and asked about the book. Collen referred the VP back to us and he called asking if we could help find him a book on Innovation – which, of course, we were happy to do. That led to further discussions with different people inside the company that we had never dealt with before, which led to the Company asking us to help them find Speakers for their 5 annual sales meetings. We did this for them for the next 7 years and several of the people we met at the company during those years went on to work for companies around the world and today, 12 years later, we are still doing business with several of them.

That all happened because we saw a chance to help Colleen, without any expectation of any return, and just like Tim Sanders said – they remembered us.

 

Derek Sweeney has been helping Clients find the right Speakers for their events for 15 Years. During that time Derek and his team have researched and reviewed over 12,000 Speakers on a variety topics and listed the top 500 on www.thesweeneyagency.com

This Idea Will Dramatically Change How You Make Great Decisions

11 February 2016
Blog Admin
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Categories: Change, Inspiration, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Peak Performance

blog_Feb_11_2016

Over the past 15 years in the Speaking business I have reviewed thousands of speakers on a variety of topics looking for the very best. A great speaker has to have both great content and the ability to deliver it by engaging and inspiring the audience.

Watching 1800 Executives mesmerized by Dr. Roch Parayre’s presentation on Decision Making I knew I was witnessing something special. It wasn’t just what he was saying, it was how he was delivering it:

With his right hand held in mid-air he began, “We process information through ‘rules of thumb.'”

He paused here for 3 or 4 seconds as the heads in the audience gradually began nodding.

“Overall ‘rules of thumb’ lead to pretty good quality decisions,” he went on.

Another pause and again the audience agreed.

“However” He continued, “the use of ‘rules of thumb’ also lead to systematic and predictable biases.” He paused. “We are predictably wrong in predictable ways,” he stated.

You could tell so many people in the audience just had an ‘aha’ moment.

Dr. Parayre is brilliant at making you rethink how you make decisions. We don’t realize that when we are faced with a problem our instincts automatically try and solve the issue based on our past experiences. Those past experiences formed over time can send you down the wrong road when we really need to re-frame the issue and look at it from another angle. When we don’t take the time to really investigate issues we often end up solving the wrong problem (and will continuously do so) because we aren’t looking at the big picture – what if this problem is a symptom of a larger issue? If we do not “zoom out” and look at the larger picture, and simply “deal with” the problem at hand, we will continue to treat the symptoms and not the cause – indeed as Dr. Parayre points out: we will become “predictably wrong in predicable ways.”

 

Derek Sweeney has been helping clients find the right speakers for their events for 15 Years. During that time, Derek and his team have researched and reviewed over 12,000 Speakers on a variety topics and have listed the top 500 on www.thesweeneyagency.com

This Idea Changed How I Look at Leadership

4 February 2016
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Categories: Change, Change Management, Employees, Generational Differences, Inspiration, Leadership, Management, Teamwork

blog_Aug_21_2015

Over the past 15 years in the Speaking business I have probably reviewed over 12,000 speakers on a variety of topics – always looking for the very best. A great speaker has to have both great content and the ability to deliver it by engaging and inspiring their audiences.

The first time I heard Cam Marston I knew he was changing the leadership world by teaching people how to lead different generations in the workplace. As Cam pointed out, “The technology that has become so important is now owned, operated, and manipulated freely by the young generation. Never in human history have the younger generation held the keys to something so important to the functioning of business”

When I heard this from Cam, I understood the total change in power dynamics within organizations and how difficult such a substantial shift would be to manage. Cam’s insights into how every generation has their own set of skills and abilities that all contribute to the success of an organization are a valuable resources for leaders who employ a multi-generational workforce. Knowing not only how to manage each generation individually, but how to create an environment where generations work in collaboration with one another is why Cam Marston is such a relevant and significant authority on Leadership.