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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 Under 15K

15 March 2018
Sweeney Agency
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Categories: Communication, General, Leadership, Management, Motivation, Teamwork

Each month clients call us looking for Speakers who can deliver inspiring presentations on a variety of different topics at their events. We understand the importance of working within a certain budget range and we will move mountains to help our clients achieve that goal. Based on feedback, and reviews from our clients, here are the top 10 speakers under $15,000.

Dr. Mark DeVolder

Dr. Mark DeVolder is the change specialist who advised high profile transitions like NAFTA implementations, $50 billion mergers and the ending of the NASA Space Shuttle Program. Mark’s presentations on change, disruptive innovation and resilience are the perfect combination of inspiration, entertainment and practical take-aways.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dr.-Mark-DeVolder

 

Garry Golden

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.

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

 

Erica Orange

Erica Orange 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

 

Ty Bennett

Best-Selling author of The Power of Storytelling, Ty speaks on Leadership, Influence, Entrepreneurship and Storytelling, and has shared the stage with celebrities, world renowned thought leaders and recently with President Bush and President Clinton.

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

 

Curt Steinhorst

As a business owner, entrepreneur, and founder of FocusWise, Curt sees how lack of focus impacts today’s workplace and its leaders. Having spent years studying the impact of tech on human behavior, he now equips professionals across the world to work smarter and stronger in this constantly-connected age.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Curt-Steinhorst

 

Jacob Logan Shapiro

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.

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

 

Scott Burrows

Scott Burrows is living proof your life can change in an instant. By the age of 19, he was playing college football at Florida State University as a Wide receiver and a top-ranked kick-boxing champion, with his last fight broadcast by ESPN.

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

 

Dr. Nicole Lipkin

Dr. Nicole Lipkin is an organizational psychologist, speaker and the author of What Keeps Leaders Up At Night and Y in the Workplace. Nicole’s aim is to help organizations, leaders and their teams develop behaviors and practices that increase personal and organizational resilience and sustainability.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dr.-Nicole-Lipkin

Stuart Knight

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.

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

 

Chip Eichelberger

Chip Eichelberger is consistently told by meeting planners that most speakers were a “rental” and that he was a partner in making their event a success. Formerly Tony Robbins international point man, Chip is a proven pro that will do the homework necessary to customize his message with your theme and business model.

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

 

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]

The Top 10 Speakers on Growth

10 May 2017
Blog Admin
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Categories: Change, Innovation, Leadership, Management

Clients are asking us for Speakers who can talk about Growth. There are various ways to approach the topic from innovating new ideas, to understanding the future, to rethinking your customer service. In the 15 years we have been researching Speakers we have probably reviewed close to 500 on the subject of Growth, here are our top 10:

Ian Altman shows business leaders how to modernize their sales and marketing. Ian’s approach helps companies significantly grow sales by aligning their goals with current and emerging trends in buyer behavior. As a regular columnist for the digital editions of Forbes and Inc magazines, Ian is an internationally respected and sought after expert on business, innovation, collaboration, and integrity-based selling.

Video https://thesweeneyagency.com/video.php?i=1041

Scott Anthony is a managing partner of Innosight, a strategy and consulting firm. He has led Innosight’s expansion into the Asia-Pacific region as well as its venture capital activities (Innosight Ventures). In his decade with Innosight, Scott has advised senior leaders in hundreds of companies such as Procter & Gamble, Johnson & Johnson, Kraft, General Electric, LG, Credit Suisse, and Cisco Systems on topics of growth and innovation.

Video https://thesweeneyagency.com/video.php?i=213

Jeanne Bliss pioneered the Chief Customer Officer position, holding the role for over twenty years reporting to the Chief Executive Officer at Lands’ End, Allstate, Coldwell Banker, Mazda and Microsoft Corporations, where she moved the customer to the strategic agenda, redirecting priorities to create transformational changes to each brands’ customer experience.

Video https://thesweeneyagency.com/video.php?i=639

Andy Boynton is Dean of Boston College’s Carroll School of Management, one of the world’s leading business schools, the author of several books and co-creator of DeepDive™, the world’s leading methodology for helping executives harness the power of teams to significantly improve problem-solving speed, innovation and results.

Video https://thesweeneyagency.com/video.php?i=885

Ram Charan is a world-renowned business advisor, author and speaker who has spent the past 35 years working with many top companies, CEOs, and boards of our time. In his work with companies including GE, MeadWestvaco, Bank of America, DuPont, Novartis, EMC, 3M, Verizon, Aditya Birla Group, Tata Group, GMR, Max Group, Yildiz Holdings, and Grupo RBS, he is known for cutting through the complexity of running a business in today’s fast changing environment to uncover the core business problem.

Video https://thesweeneyagency.com/video.php?i=260

Meridith Elliott Powell was voted one of the Top 15 Business Growth Experts to watch by Currency Fair, Powell is an award-winning author, keynote speaker and business strategist. With a background in corporate sales and leadership, her career expands over several industries including banking, healthcare and finance. Meridith worked her way up from entry-level to earn her position in the C-Suite. She is a Master Certified Strategist, Executive Coach and Certified Speaking Professional, a designation held by less than twelve percent of professional speakers, and a member of the prestigious Forbes Coaching Council.

Video https://thesweeneyagency.com/video.php?i=838

Dan Coughlin is a leading authority on managing for long-term business success. He teaches The Any Person Mindset, a practical management approach for improving individual, group, and organizational performance in a sustainable way. It is based on his core belief that any person can make a significant difference in an organization, but no one is born with the traits necessary to make a significant difference. These are learned thinking traits.

Video https://thesweeneyagency.com/video.php?i=381

Bill Taylor has encouraged a generation of executives and company-builders to think differently about change, leadership, and the new world of work. A spirited and hard-charging entrepreneur, Bill co-founded Fast Company, easily the most influential voice on business and innovation in the last two decades. Fast Company chronicles the revolution in management and competition driven by technology, and profiles the mavericks and rule breakers who achieve outsize success by taking a different path.

Video https://thesweeneyagency.com/video.php?i=1048

Dr. Julie Williamson is a Vice President of Strategy and Research for Karrikins Group, where she has worked with some of the world’s largest companies, helping them set and execute on strategy and transformation. She is a leading voice in how organizations link together communication, design, strategy, sales, marketing and service to deliver sustainable growth. She uses both traditional and forward looking resources in her strategy and transformation work, leveraging design thinking to help client arrive at solutions.

Video https://thesweeneyagency.com/video.php?i=1039

Mike Walsh is the CEO of Tomorrow, a global consultancy on designing business for the 21st century. He advises leaders on how to thrive in this era of disruptive technological change. Mike’s clients include many of the global Fortune 500, and as a sought-after keynote speaker he regularly shares the stage with world leaders and business icons alike. Mike previously founded Jupiter Research in Australia, and has also held senior strategy roles at News Corporation in the Asia Pacific Region.

Video https://thesweeneyagency.com/video.php?i=678

5 Ways Millennials Have Reshaped the Workplace

8 August 2016
Blog Admin
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Categories: Communication, Employees, Leadership, Motivation, Teamwork

millennials

Clients from every industry regularly ask us for Speakers who can deliver presentations about managing different generations in the workplace. The four generational groups—the Matures, the Boomers, the Gen-Xers, and the Millennials—have seemingly incompatible views on leadership, and approach work based on each group’s defining core values.  Here, 5 of our top Speakers on Leadership highlight how Millennials in particular have reshaped the workplace:

Cam Marston, Author and Speaker on Leading 4 Generations in the Workplace:One of the greatest contributions Millennials have made to the workplace is that they’ve further flattened the communication hierarchy so that anyone with an idea or with a suggestion is a welcomed voice, no matter their rank, tenure, or age. The Millennials have democratized the workplace to a degree today’s modern workplace has never seen and we’re all better for it. Video Link: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Cam-Marston

Lynne Lancaster, Author and Speaker on Bridging Communication between the Generations:One of the greatest contributions Millennials have made is “finding new ways to get things done.”  They are great at assessing complex situations and suggesting ways to be more effective, often using technology or collaboration tools.

Video Link: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Lynne-Lancaster

Seth Mattison Speaker on Building Next Gen Enterprises for a Next Gen Workforce: One of the greatest contributions Millennials have made to the workplace is openness. Millennials understand that by working from a position of openness and collaboration everyone becomes empowered to impact their company, culture, and community.

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

Mark Crowley, Author and Speaker on Leadership from the Heart: One of the greatest contributions Millennials have made to the workplace is reinventing how companies lead and manage people. Millennials have inspired leaders to be more caring and supportive and to be more like a coach than director.  They’ve brought purpose back to the workplace and restored the value of frequent feedback.  Their needs for engagement have made leveraging strengths and growing professionally critical components of all job descriptions.

Video Link: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Mark-C.-Crowley

Bruce Tulgan, Author and Speaker on Managing Millennials in the Workplace:One of the greatest contributions Millennials have made to the workplace is to show the rest of us what it looks like to build a career you can wrap around the life you want to have, rather than the other way around.

Video Link: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Bruce-Tulgan

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

10 Most Requested Speakers on Technology

16 February 2016
Blog Admin
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Categories: Change, Communication, creativity, Future, Innovation, Technology

A colleague recently called down to the front desk of a hotel in Germany for some extra towels, 5 minutes later a robot delivered them. A Speaker just appeared on stage for a presentation in Australia without leaving his office in Florida thanks to the latest hologram Technology.  Businesses need to understand the technologies that are coming down the pipeline that will affect their business, their industry, and their client relationships. Here are the Top 10 Speakers on the current and future technologies that are shaping businesses:

Erik Brynjolfsson | Expert on Progress and Prosperity in the Technological Age

Professor Erik Brynjolfsson’s research is extensive. He has been awarded 10 Best Paper Prizes and holds five patents for his work in Information Technology. He has also been called one of five e-business visionaries by Business Week and was rated one of the top most influential IT researchers in a poll of business executives. Erik Brynjolfsson’s keynotes explore how data can be used to analyse where a particular business is headed and what kind of technology is needed to drive further growth, speed, and innovation.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Erik-Brynjolfsson

Daniel Burrus | Technology and Innovation Futurist, Best Selling Author of Flash Foresight

Daniel Burrus’ emerging technologies presentations are eye-opening for audiences in every industry – he can identify what is coming and how it will impact everything from what you sell to how you sell it. He focuses on how to use these technologies to accelerate growth, increase innovation, improve speed and mobility, and how all of this will leave your competitors behind. The “old way” of doing business is gone and any organization that does not adapt to the “new way” will be the ones who are left behind.

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

Dr. James Canton | Leading Global Futurist, Social Scientist, and Innovation Advisor

From Healthcare and Life Sciences to Climate change and Globalization, Dr. James Canton’s presentations address how emerging technologies are impacting all industries at an ever-accelerating speed. His keynotes equip audiences with the practical tools they need to keep pace with these “technofutures” and how they can be used as catalysts for growth and innovation.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Dr.-James-Canton

Jim Carroll | Futurist, Speaker, and Author on Trends and Tech

Jim Carroll is a sought after speaker for his invaluable foresight when it comes to tech trends – and his observations concerning total global connectivity are some of his most popular speaking topics. Carroll discusses how hyper-connectivity has been one of the most pervasive business model disruptors and how organizations can use this to stay ahead of the competition.

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

Peter Diamandis | Author and Speaker on Inspired Innovation & Technologies

Dr. Peter Diamandis covers a variety of tech topics in his keynotes – from computational systems to AI and robotics. His presentations address how breakthrough technologies will transform almost every facet of how we do business. His keynotes will not only demonstrate how businesses will be affected by the hyper growth of new technologies but also how they will transform governments, global connectivity, and all of humanity.

Video: https://thesweeneyagency.com/speakers/Peter-Diamandis

Scott Klososky | Technology and Trends Guru

Technology is not just the IT’s business anymore. Technology has become so vital and ingrained into every facet of an organization that it is now everyone’s business. Scott Klososky’s presentations explain how technology has become integrated into our daily lives and business and how organizations can leverage this to increase their bottom line. Scott’s strategies and unique perspective on technology, trends, innovation, and leadership make his keynotes memorable and applicable in every industry.

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

Robert Scoble | Futurist for Rackspace, Expert on Trends and Technology

Robert Scoble’s vast knowledge and analysis of all things tech allows him to advise organizations in almost every sector whether to adopt or dismiss specific tech trends and how they may impact certain businesses as they evolve. His knowledge of the emergence of wearable technology has made him a highly sought after speaker in the tech industry – his knowledge and research is so extensive that he is a tech expert for tech experts. Although he is popular within the technology industry itself, his uncomplicated keynotes are a hit at any and all industry events.

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

Mike Walsh | Bestselling Author of FUTURETAINMENT, Speaker on Technology and Innovation

Mike Walsh analyses fast approaching emerging technologies and their possible disruptive shifts – investigating what they could mean for local and global businesses.  Rather than looking into the distant future, Mike looks to the near future and develops efficient and pragmatic plans for organizations to implement today – effectively bringing companies into the 21st Century.

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

Richard Worzel | Leading Futurist and Best-selling Author

Richard Worzel’s presentations cover a vast array of potential sectors and how technology can seriously impact the future of specific industries. By exploring the future of technology, geopolitics, environmental issues, and shifting demographics, Richard’s forecasts allow audiences to clearly see where the business world is going, but also how to capitalize on the potential for innovation through these emerging tech opportunities.

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

Steve Wozniak | Co-Founder of Apple Computers, Inc. and Chief Scientist at Primary Data

As the co-founder of Apple and the recipient of the prestigious Heinz Award for Technology, Steve Wozniak knows a thing or two about innovative technologies and staying relevant and ahead of the curve. His presentations are highly focussed and customized, yet conversational, allowing audience members to participate in the discourse. He can speak to an audience about anything from the founding of Apple to Big Data and the future of wearables. Steve is a highly entertaining and sought after technology speaker whose expertise can be put to use in any industry.

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

*Speakers are listed in alphabetical order

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]

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
Blog Admin
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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.