DEIB
The Sweeney Agency can help you find the right Speaker on DEIB for your event. Please tell us about your event objectives, your audience dynamics, and your expected outcomes. We can then use your input to do the research to provide you with list of great Speaker ideas that meet your criteria. We will work closely with the DEIB speaker you choose, to make sure they deliver a customized presentation that informs, inspires, and entertains.
Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour
America’s First Black Female Combat Pilot, Former Marine & Cop, Author and Consultant to Business
About
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America’s First Black Female Combat Pilot, Former Marine & Cop
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Created a “Zero to Breakthrough Mentality” to ensure success in business and in life
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Frequently featured on Oprah Winfrey, CNN, Tavis Smiley, and NPR among others
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Motivates, inspires, and energizes audiences to see obstacles as opportunities and conquer them at full speed
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Past clients include: Accenture, American Airlines, IBM, Lockheed Martin, NASCAR, Oracle, Walmart
Combat tests you. Being a beat cop tests you. Life tests you. Three brothers and being the only girl...tests you. Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour has been tested her whole life. A gutsy trailblazer, her resume is an impressive collection of “firsts” including America’s first Black female combat pilot. She served two tours of duty in Iraq as a Marine. She was also a diversity liaison officer to the Pentagon for Headquarters Marine Corps. After her military service, FlyGirl revved up her career in the private sector as an entrepreneur, consultant to business, and author of Zero to Breakthrough, The 7-Step, Battle-Tested Method for Accomplishing Goals that Matter. As a speaker, FlyGirl unleashes hard-hitting advice and amazing anecdotes from her adventures on the battlefield and in business. She helps individuals and organizations Get Gutsy and build a sustainable inner force and conviction, that results in accomplishing significant goals.
In 2007, FlyGirl launched VAI Consulting & Training, LLC. Through that work, she helps individuals and organizations make gutsy moves and create breakthrough results by applying her “Zero to Breakthrough TM” Success Model –a mindset that helped to propel her career and kept her safe in air combat. FlyGirl regularly takes her message to premier meetings and conferences worldwide and is a Gutsy Confidence Mentor for elite senior executive Women in Tech.
As a Black gay woman and single mom, FlyGirl brings vital experience to her role as a member of the Forbes School of Business & Technology Board of Advisors and COMCAST/NBCUniversal Joint Diversity Council.
FlyGirl has two honorary doctorates and has received numerous awards as a pioneering pilot, including honors for her commanding role in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour’s story has been featured in the media including on CNN, MSNBC, The View, FOX News, Oprah Winfrey and many more, along with being a running back for the San Diego Sunfire professional women’s football team and two-time title holder of Camp Pendleton’s Strongest Warrior Competition.
She is currently working on her next book, The Gutsy Move.
VERNICE “FLYGIRL” ARMOUR –HISTORICAL FLIGHT PATH
How did it all start? Vernice was born in Chicago, IL in 1973, and moved to Memphis, TN after her parents divorced when she was three. By the age of four, she knew she wanted to be a police officer that rode a horse downtown. She received her first pony as a gift on the Christmas day following her fourth birthday and her dream quickly started to have afoundation in reality. In 1991, she graduated from John Overton High School for Creative and Performing Arts where she was very active in the music program, class vice president, a member of Mu Alpha Theta (mathematics honor society), and The National Honor Society.
In 1993, the future combat pilot enlisted in the Army Reserves and joined the Army ROTC program while at Middle Tennessee State University. During an Army ROTC career day, the seed of becoming a pilot was planted when Vernice saw the image of a young Black female in an Army flight suit. “Now why didn’t I think of that!” was her first thought!
In June of 1996, after a brief stint as a Nashville Sheriff’s Department correctional officer, Vernice took a break from college to accept an invitation to the Nashville Police Academy. She graduated in December 1996 –and later became the first woman of color on the Nashville Police Department’s motorcycle squad. She graduated from MTSU in December of 1997 with her B.S. in Physical Education: Emphasis in Exercise Science.
With the aviation seed in full bloom, Vernice was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the Marine Corps on December 12, 1998 and on her way to flight school. When Vernice finally earned her wings in July 2001, the ambitious pilot ranked No. 1 out of both her class of 12 and of the last 200 to graduate. She made the Naval Air Station’s prestigious Commodore’s List, received the Academic Achievement Award, was the top graduate in her class, and went on to make history as the Marine Corps’ first African American female pilot.
After flight school, Vernice was stationed at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton near San Diego, CA, piloting the AH-1W Super Cobra attack helicopter. While there she was Camp Pendleton's “Female Athlete of the Year” and two-time titleholder in their “Strongest Warrior” Competition.
Deployed as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003, Vernice was recognized by the Department of Defense as America’s first African American female combat pilot. Vernice flew above the deserts of Iraq in her missile-equipped attack helicopter, engaging the enemy and scouting the roads from her cockpit, making sure they were safe for her fellow Marines and soldiers on the ground.
Upon leaving the military after the completion of two tours in Iraq, Vernice launched VAI Consulting and Training, LLC. She now resides in Atlanta, GA with her daughter Noah...her gutsiest move yet.
Joey Aviles
Former Chief of Diversity & Inclusion, Former Director of Recruitment & Retention, and Keynote Speaker
About
Joey Aviles is recognized as a 2022 LinkedIn’s Racial Equity Top Voice, 2021 Top 15 Champion of Diversity by Diversity Global Magazine, as a Top 100 Executive Leader by Diversity MBA Magazine, and featured as an Inclusion Innovator by the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM).
Joey is the Founder and Chief Belonging Officer of MJA & CO, LLC, a Minority-owned consulting firm helping leaders leverage Diversity, Equity & Inclusion as a catalyst to increase engagement, innovation, and retention.
Joey served as the first civilian Chief of Diversity and Inclusion in the history of the US Coast Guard. He is a DEI Thought Leader with over 15 years of experience serving clients like Dell Technologies, Ferrara, University of Phoenix, Highmark Health, Peace Corps, FDIC, FDA, NIH, Department of Defense, Department of Interior, Department of Homeland Security, and other organizations. Miguel is a TEDx speaker, and has been featured at the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, Telemundo, the Change Management Conference, the Human Capital Institute, the SHRM Talent Management and D&I Conferences.
Graduate of the Yale School of Management Fostering Inclusion and Diversity Certificate, Joey is a certified Professional Diversity Coach by the Coach Diversity Institute. He has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Puerto Rico in Mayaguez.
For over a decade he held several leadership positions in 3 major Federal Departments; DOI’s Division Chief of the Office of Recruitment and Retention Programs; DOD’s Deputy Program Manager of the Executive Leadership Development Program, the Defense Civilian Emerging Leaders Program, and the Managerial and Supervisory Training Program. He started his federal career as a Diversity Recruiter intern in Mayaguez, PR and served as an HR Specialist in the DOD’s Recruitment Assistance Division. Miguel is the former President of Young Government Leaders, a 12,000+ member national Affinity Group.
Chris Bashinelli
National Geographic Explorer & TV Host, United Nations Moderator, Actor from The Sopranos (HBO), Expert on Human Connection & Happiness in Business
About
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National Geographic Explorer with experience in 40+ countries, helping organizations drive sales and reignite employee inspiration through global insights and storytelling.
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Actor on The Sopranos (HBO) & Arab-American from NYC, using the iconic “Stoop” as a powerful metaphor to spark authentic connection and belonging.
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Happiness and Mental Wellness advocate, drawing on 20+ years of deep mindfulness and meditation practice to champion resilience, focus, and well-being in the workplace.
“We need more people like Chris in the world,” says Dr. Jane Goodall.
Chris Bashinelli, National Geographic Explorer, TV host, and celebrated speaker on human connection, travels the globe researching what drives happiness, purpose, and belonging in life and business. Drawing from immersive experiences in over 40 countries, Chris—known affectionately as “Bash”—helps organizations boost sales, reignite employee inspiration, and build cultures of genuine connection.
Born in Brooklyn, New York to Lebanese and Italian-American parents, Bash’s worldview was shaped on his childhood “Stoop”, where his friends shared more than 13 nationalities. After a decade-long acting career, including a role on the hit HBO TV series The Sopranos, Bash traded the red carpet for the road, launching Bridge the Gap, a global documentary series featured on PBS and National Geographic Channel.
Bash’s adventures have taken him from living with nomads in Mongolia, to harvesting tea in China, to Sumo wrestling the heaviest Japanese human in recorded history. He fully embeds himself in different worlds as a modern-day Cultural Anthropologist- learning from Ugandan mystics, Mongolian herdsmen, Lakota suicide prevention activists, and some of TIME Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People on the Planet.
A passionate advocate for mental wellness and happiness, Bash has studied mindfulness and meditation for over 20 years. Following the loss of his father to cancer when he was 20 years old, he began a lifelong mission to understand the human condition. Through his service work, he has brought mindfulness to inmates across federal and state prisons and to veterans of nearly every major conflict since WWII.
As a keynote speaker, Bash brings stories of adventure, interactive exercises, and exclusive content from his travels to create powerful, customized experiences for every audience. His authenticity and curiosity spark something rare and unforgettable—an alchemy of trust, laughter, and transformation. Bash has headlined events for AT&T, American Express, Coca-Cola, Deloitte, the Federal Reserve Bank, the Million Dollar Round Table, and many more.
Bash has shared the stage with luminaries like Stevie Wonder and Michael Douglas, and at just 24, became the youngest person ever to moderate the United Nations International Day of Peace. His most recent film explores the power of friendship with his adoptive grandfather, actor Dominic Chianese (Uncle Junior on The Sopranos). His work has been featured in Delta Sky Magazine, Lonely Planet, Huffington Post, and The Daily News Zimbabwe. He’s also an Eagle Scout and guest host on the Be Here Now podcast network. In a world hungry for meaning and connection, Chris Bashinelli delivers – with heart, humor, and an unwavering belief in our shared humanity.
Click Here to Watch Chris' Virtual Presentation
Eric Boles
Consultant and Speaker on Leadership, Peak Performance, and Change Management
About
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Speaker on Leadership and Peak Performance
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Talks about: Leading Change in the New Reality & Moving to Great
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Former NFL Widereceiver for the New York Jets & Green Bay Packers
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Past clients include: Dunkin’ Donuts, Nationwide Insurance, AVIVA Insurance, Alaska Airlines, State Farm Insurance, Starbucks Coffee, USAA, MetLife, Novo Nordisk
Eric Boles is the president of The Game Changers Inc., a training and development company dedicated to maximizing the human asset. Through assessment, consulting, coaching and corporate training, The Game Changers Inc. has set the standard for helping organizations enhance their culture and develop greater levels of commitment and performance.
Eric Boles is also a highly acclaimed keynote speaker and consultant for some of the most recognized and respected organizations in the world. His insights on Leadership, Peak Performance, Team Dynamics, and Managing Change has been shared with clients such as Dunkin’ Donuts, Nationwide Insurance, AVIVA Insurance, Alaska Airlines, State Farm Insurance, Starbucks Coffee, USAA, MetLife, and Novo Nordisk . Eric also speaks to a variety of organizations and associations, including those in sales, education, government, healthcare, manufacturing and financial services.
Prior to becoming an authority on high performance, Eric learned many principles of team dynamics and leadership from his experience playing in the National Football League (NFL) with the New York Jets and the Green Bay Packers. While in the NFL, he had the privilege of being coached and mentored by some of the finest coaches and players in the game.
Eric is an avid sports fan, golfer and reader. He is married to his wife Cindy, and they have two daughters, Taylor and Madison.
Click Here to Watch Eric's Virtual Presentation
Walter Bond
Former NBA Athlete, Author and Speaker on Mentorship, Leadership, Teamwork & Motivation
About
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Speaker on Mentorship, Leadership, Teamwork & Motivation
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Talks about: No One Can Stop You & The Best Team Always Wins
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NBA shooting guard for the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, and the Detroit Pistons & Host of Food Network’s Giving You the Business
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Past clients include: Accenture, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, The Dwyer Group, Allianz, Amway, GNC, Hilton, Medtronic, UPS Store, Radio Shack, Red Robin
Walter Bond, a transformative force dedicated to unlocking human potential. Walter is not merely a motivational speaker; he is a strategic partner for organizations and individuals committed to unlocking their highest capabilities. His mission is singularly focused: to empower leaders and teams to become the absolute best versions of themselves, a philosophy born from his own extraordinary journey.
Walter's foundational understanding of peak performance was forged on the demanding courts of the NBA. As a former professional basketball player for the Dallas Mavericks, Utah Jazz, and Detroit Pistons, he defied conventional wisdom, transforming himself from an undrafted underdog into a starting player through sheer will, relentless discipline, and an unwavering commitment to self-mastery. This firsthand experience of overcoming adversity and achieving improbable success laid the groundwork for his profound insights into human potential.
Today, Walter leverages this unique background to serve as an unparalleled authority on leadership, sales, and team dynamics. His methodology is deeply rooted in the principles of immersion, coaching, and strategic partnerships. He believes that true transformation occurs when individuals and teams are fully immersed in a culture of excellence, guided by expert coaching, and fortified by collaborative relationships.
Through his compelling keynotes and transformative programs, Walter delivers more than just inspiration; he provides a tangible roadmap. His acclaimed works, including "Swim!: How a Shark, a Suckerfish, and a Parasite Teach You Leadership, Mentoring, and Next Level Success," "Cultivate: The Six Non-Negotiable Traits of a Winning Team," and "Accelerate: A Champion's Playbook to Fast-Track Your Business Success," are not just books—they are blueprints for organizational and personal triumph.
Walter's signature programs, such as "The Shark Mindset," "Cultivate! The Six Non-Negotiable Traits of a Winning Team," and "No One Can Stop You but You!," are meticulously designed to:
- Ignite a culture of relentless forward momentum within teams.
- Instill the six non-negotiable traits that define championship-level performance.
- Transform managers into true coaches, fostering accountability and unleashing individual potential.
In 2025, Walter Bond continues to be the strategic choice for Fortune 500 companies, dynamic startups, and industry associations seeking to cultivate a workforce of peak performers. Partnering with his wife and business partner, Antoinette Bond, through The Bond Group and Peak Performers Huddle, Walter offers a comprehensive suite of coaching and development services. Together, they are building a legacy of excellence, empowering countless individuals and organizations to not just meet, but consistently exceed their goals.
Book Your Next Great Speaker in 5 Easy Steps
5 Tips to Book your Next Great Speaker
About
Did last year's speaker knock your socks off? Not sure where to go next? Let our team of experienced professionals help you find your next great speaker.
Here's a quick guide to help you get started:
Find A Theme
Decide on a theme or topic for your event.
Going through a period of transition? Looking to shake up your creative? Building trust within your teams? We have great speakers on all of those topics.
Having trouble? Check out our IDEA GENERATOR for inspiration.
Get in Touch
Get in touch with your Event Date & Theme.
We will ask you some key questions to find the perfect speaker for your live or virtual event.
We pride ourselves on our personal touch. We are small team of dedicated professionals with over 20 years experience. When you call us, you speak to us directly... and quickly.
Shortlist
By now, we have a great idea of what you are looking for and will send you a shortlist of exceptional speakers.
Each speaker will be vetted with YOUR event in mind, along with our personal thoughts on how that speaker can inspire your attendees.
Let's talk
From the shortlist, you've narrowed it down to two great speakers. Let's discuss your needs to help make the final decision.
With over 20 years experience, you can trust us to provide all of the information you need to choose the right speaker.
We work with you to find the best format for your presentation, including live streams, Q&A sessions and even follow up programs to ensure maximum engagement for your key stakeholders.
The Details
We will facilitate a call with your leadership team & our speaker to do a deep dive into your business to make sure their presentation really hits home.
As trusted experts, you can rest easy knowing our experience will guide you every step of the way.
get in touch
Get in touch to book your next great speaker.
About
Click Here to Receive Your Customized List of Speaker Ideas
Virtual Events can:
- Reach a wider audience
- Offer a great experience at a much lower cost
- Create long term impact with recorded elements that allow for content to be watched over a period of time
- Have an increased impact over time, as viewers re-watch, discuss and connect over social media and other channels
And, most importantly: offer the ability for inspiring and impactful presentations to connect in a one-on-one way, directly to the attendee.
WHO is your audience?
Who are your virtual event attendees? Are they across a specific group within your organization, or are you serving clients across a wide range of levels? Determining who you are speaking to will help you determine a format for your event that will captivate your audience.
WHAT is your key message?
Are you focusing on change? Innovation? Leadership?
Creating a single focus or mission will allow you to hone in on the type of speaker(s) you need to engage your audience and help event producers to format the event into a dynamic program that balances inspiration with information and audience interaction.
WHAT type of event suits your audience?
- Virtual Conference
- Webinar
- Hybrid Event
Virtual event technology has come a long way over the last few months, offering a huge range of different options from pre-recorded webinars, to multi-day virtual conferences, to hybrid events with some attendees in the audience while the event is live streamed.
OUR ADVICE
A COMBINATION of live and pre-recorded elements will allow your virtual event to run smoothly and stay on time.
Many of our clients are also opting for multi-day virtual conferences with shorter segments spaced over a few days.
This allows some flexibility for attendees in different time zones and accommodates different teleworking situations for attendees, allowing them to tune in when it is convenient.
WHERE? It’s all about Tech.
Virtual meeting technology has exploded over the last few months as teleworking became the norm.
Consider your needs:
- Interactive elements like breakout rooms, polls & Q&A
- Seamless blend of live & pre-recorded elements
- Ability to replay segments
- Live tech support
If you plan for rain, it’s likely the sun will shine…
Tech isn’t perfect so don’t forget to test, rehearse and have a back up plan ready to go for your virtual event.
Pro Tip: Think of a virtual presentation like a podcast. Viewers can view the content multiple times and refer back to it.
WHEN? A Date… or Dates?
As we have all noticed, our attention spans for meeting in real life versus meeting online are a lot longer.
When deciding on a date, consider spreading your virtual event out over a few days, with a variety of speakers, interactive elements and information.
The benefits of a multi-day format:
- Viewers watch content fresh for a short period every day
- Allows attendees in different time zones to stay on top of the content
- Attendees can review & re-engage with content
Virtual Event Checklist:
Is your event?
- Interactive?
- Informative?
- Able to be rewatched?
WHY? Pandemic 2020
Just because you are online instead of in person, it doesn’t mean you are missing out on connection.
Using the technology that we have become so accustomed to over the last few months, our keynote speakers have the ability to connect to your viewers one-on-one, in a way that was impossible in live events.
FIND YOUR WHY…
What do you want the audience to leave thinking at the end of the presentation?
Apply this question to all the presentations and segments in your event to create a cohesive, impactful virtual event.
HOW? Virtual Event Checklist
To wrap it all up
- TECH: Find the right tech platform & don’t forget to test drive before your event
- AGENDA: Use a mix of live and pre-recorded segments, mixed with interactive elements, to ensure a smooth flow of events & audience engagement
- ANTICIPATION: Build up your event with emails, teasers and sneak peeks into what content will be offered
- NETWORKING: Create and encourage online chat functions, an event specific hashtag or even a dedicated event page to allow attendees to network virtually. Maximize the networking opportunities offered by your tech platform.
- EXTEND YOUR IMPACT: A dedicated social media page is a great place for attendees to connect after an event to discuss ideas and implement some of the learnings from the event.
Offer a password protected, limited time recording of keynote presentations to continue the conversation long after the virtual event has ended.
Continue the conversation with post-event touch points like emails or questions based on the key presentations.
To find a GREAT Speaker for your Virtual event, get in touch.
About
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Mindful Leadership Expert, Motivational Speaker
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Talks about: Creating a Mindful and Positive Workplace Culture
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Author of the memoir, Urban Monk
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Past clients include: Google, Citibank, IBM, State Farm, SAP, Intel, WeWork, Novartis, Comcast, JPMorgan Chase
Pandit Dasa is a keynote speaker on leadership, organizational culture, and navigating change with resilience and clarity. A former monk of 15 years and accomplished author, he has advised Fortune 500 companies and some of the world’s most recognized organizations on strengthening performance without compromising well-being.
In an era of constant transition, Pandit helps leaders shape cultures that remain steady under pressure. His keynotes and workshops provide practical tools to reduce stress, strengthen trust, and sustain engagement — especially in hybrid and high-demand environments. He addresses challenges such as retention, disengagement, and workplace burnout by showing how culture forms daily through behavior, communication, and example.
Pandit challenges leaders and teams to model composure, practice intentional appreciation, and build environments rooted in accountability and collaboration. Drawing from his transformative 15-year monastic experience in New York City, he offers rare insight into focus, emotional regulation, and leading through change with credibility and calm.
He has spoken to organizations including Google, NASA, London Stock Exchange, U.S. Navy, Citi, IBM, Toyota, AT&T, State Farm, Federal Reserve Bank, Kellogg’s, HP, ADP, Nationwide, Whirlpool, Pinterest, SAP, Bank of America, Morgan Stanley, AMC Theatres, Intel, Royal Bank of Canada, AMC Networks, Novartis, Comcast, JPMorgan Chase, The World Bank, World Government Summit, SHRM, Oracle, and many others.
Click Here to Watch Pandit's Virtual Presentation
Daryl Davis
About Daryl Davis – Musician, Author, Compelling Unifier, Klan Whisperer, and Award-winning Conflict Navigator
About
Daryl Davis is committed to helping people ignite positive change –using conversation to build bridges. His jaw-dropping experiences speak for themselves. For nearly 40 years, he’s engaged leaders of the KKK and White supremacist groups face to face to find the answer to a question: “How can you hate me when you don’t even know me?” That question stemmed from his first encounter with racism at age ten when he was pelted with rocks, bottles, and soda cans by a handful of White spectators while marching in aparade.
Seeking to understand, not to change minds, Daryl met their hatred with civility, patience, and listening. Those conversations spawned genuine and lasting friendships with many who changed their ownminds and disavowed hateful beliefs. Some even gave Daryl their robes and hoods when they did. As a speaker, Daryl is an extraordinary storyteller who inspires and empowers audiences with tools they can use to make better workplaces, communities, and relations with family and friends. Daryl’s work is chronicled in his book Klan-Destine Relationshipsand the documentary Accidental Courtesy. Daryl’s TEDx talk has over 12 million views.
Daryl graduated from Howard University with his Bachelor of Music Degree. He also holdsanHonorary Doctorate in Humane Letters from Post University for the unique work he has done in the field of race relations. He has performed extensively with Chuck Berry, The Legendary Blues Band (formerly The Muddy Waters Blues Band), and many others. While music is his profession, improving race relations is his obsession. He is known to many as “The Rock'n'Roll Race Reconciliator.”
It started during a break between performances with a band at a bar one night. A man approached Daryl and remarked that this was the first time he had ever seen a Black man play piano like Jerry Lee Lewis. Daryl explained that both he and Lewis were influenced by Black Blues & Boogie-Woogie pianists, from which Rock'n'Roll and Rockabilly evolved. The man did not believe in the Black origin of Daryl’s piano style even after he said that Lewis was a friend who had shared this news with him. The man then shared news with Daryl –he was a member of the Ku Klux Klan.
This meeting, and those that followed, would lead Daryl on a journey all over America, meeting and interviewing leaders and members from KKK, neo-Nazi and Alt-Right groups at both his and their homes as well as their rallies. With his highly acclaimed, nonfiction book, Klan-Destine Relationships, Daryl become the first Black author to write a book on the Klan from in-person interviews. The award-winning documentary, Accidental Courtesy, details his journey and has been shown frequently on PBS. Daryl, who has been to 57 countries on 6 continents, is often selected by the U.S. State Department as a highly respected expert on race relations and conflict, to present programs in various countries around the world dealing with similar situations. His next book, The Klan Whisperer,is anticipated to be released in 2022.
Daryl has been doing this work since 1983 and has become the recipient of numerous Klan robes & hoods and other racist symbols, given to himby people who once hated him when they didn't even know him. Now many of them have become his friends and supporters of his work. On the other side of spectrum, for his work in bridging race relations he is the recipient of numerous awards such as the American Ethical Union's prestigious Elliott-Black Award, Carnegie-Mellon's Carl Sagan Award & Prize, Tribeca Disruption Innovation Award, MLK Award, Search for Common Ground Award, Washington Ethical Society Bridge-Builder Award, among many others. He is often sought for commentary by CNN, MSNBC, ABC News, Newsweek, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, People magazine, and many other media sources.
In Daryl’s words,“Ever since I graduated from college in 1980 with my degree in music, I’ve been a full-time musician, traveling and performing all over America and around the world. What I’ve come to find to be the greatest, most effective, and successful weapon we can use to combat ignorance, racism, hatred, and violence, is also the least expensive weapon –and the one that is least used by Americans. That weapon is called communication. We can communicate with people in space but many of us have difficulty talking to the person who lives next door because of the color of their skin, their ethnicity, their religion, their orientation, their politics, etc. We are living with 21stcentury technology in Space Age times, but there are still too many of us with Stone Age minds.”
Daryl has come in closer contact with more members of the Ku Klux Klan than most White people, and certainly most Blacks, short of being on the wrong end of a rope. What's more surprising? He intentionally continues to do so because as he says, “Ignorance breeds fear. If you do not keep that fear in check, that fear will breed hatred. Becausewe hate those things that frighten us. If you do not keep that hatred in check, that hatred in turn will breed destruction because we want to destroy those things that we hate. Why? Because they frighten us.”
When he speaks, Daryl Davis’s impact on an audience is sobering yet inspirational. More than a few members in every audience remember and ask him about the fictional character in Dave Chappelle’s comedic skit in which he plays a blind Klansman who didn't know he was Black and attends Klan rallies. Daryl shares stories that would be comical, if he weren’t putting his life on the line for a purpose. Truth is indeed stranger than fiction might ever be in Daryl’s case. People will also point out how courageous Daryl was to actually turn up at Klan rallies himself. Inevitably they bring up Spike Lee’s film BlacKkKlansman. That film depicts a Black police officer who infiltrated the KKK over the telephone and would send a White subordinate officer to Klan rallies in his place to gather damning intelligence against the Klan. The difference is not lost on the audience. Daryl had his feet on the ground in the lion's den and tells the story first-hand.
Through his work, Daryl has discovered a successful method of transforming enemies into friends. His stories of his encounters with –and transformations of –White supremacists have inspired people all over the U.S. and abroad.
His audiences leave his presentations empowered to:
- Overcome Their Fears
- Confront Their Prejudices
- Recognize Similarities
- Appreciate Differences
- Navigate Diversity
- Improve Relationships with Others
- Better Their Lives While Creating a Positive Impact on Others
In addition to his career as a performing musician, Daryl is the owner of Lyrad Music, a music publishing and licensing business. He is also an actor of stage and screen and has appeared in HBO's highly acclaimed series The Wire.
Click Here to Watch Daryl's Virtual Invitation
About
Mark DeVolder is the Change Specialist and a pioneer in the field of transition management. Unique in the industry, DeVolder is one of the few speakers who teaches leaders how to change. He is a frequent presenter at top management meetings around the world, both live and virtual … from coaching NASA rocket scientists how to re-create themselves to the cultural transformation of a $42 billion merger; from pivoting to a safety-first culture in Qatar’s oil industry to preparing Egypt’s largest company to restructure itself. Mark teaches leaders about Perpetual Pivot, the process of adapting to continuous change through reinvention, innovation and anticipation.
In addition to cutting-edge content, Mark brings high-energy, humor and audience interaction to all his presentations. He uses his skill as a master storyteller to draw people into the essence of his message. Whether live or on a virtual stage, Mark has the ability to connect deeply with people: “Mark kept us glued to our screen” and “Mark was inspiring and kept the audience charged.”
Across five continents and in over 25 countries, Mark has worked with a myriad of impressive and diverse organizations, large and small, including NASA, McDonald’s, GE, Autodesk, Coca-Cola, Marriott, Siemens, Medtronic, PepsiCo, Bristol-Myers Squibb, PWC, HILTI, Verizon, Orascom Construction and Monsanto. Mark has engaged and delighted audiences from Monaco to Dubai, from Singapore to London and from Istanbul to Barcelona.
As a researcher, consultant and author, Mark has written the multi-disciplinary book on managing change, entitled, Perpetual Pivot: How the Best Leaders Adapt to Exponential Change. His second book, Get Engaged, is a practical guide for improving employee engagement. Mark’s first publication was his doctoral dissertation which studied the elements of diversity, inclusion and teambuilding, entitled Unity in Diversity Through Synergy.
Click Here to Watch Dr. DeVolder's Virtual Presentation
About
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Risha Grant
Diversity & Inclusion Expert, Corporate BS Finder, International Speaker, Author and Consultant
About
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An award-winning diversity consulting and communications speaker
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Talks about: Diversity & Inclusion, Building an Inclusive Culture
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Featured in Forbes, The Financial Times, Off Script, Bloomberg Media, Black Enterprise, Engage Magazine, Radioactive Radio, Take the Lead Radio
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Past clients include: Discove, Samsung, Cox Communications, Wells Fargo, USAA Diversified Financial Group, Boy Scouts of America, U.S. Airforce, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, NBA’s Oklahoma City Thunder, University of Oklahoma
Motivated by her passion to correct societal “isms” like racism, sexism, classism and plain old stupidism, it is Risha Grant’s personal mission to expose the subtleties and values of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion while shining a light on the impacts they create. From her race, gender and lifestyle choices, to growing a small business and tackling economic, moral, and business issues, every area of her life intersects diversity.
Founder & CEO of Risha Grant LLC, an award-winning diversity consulting, communications and speaking firm, as well as an edgy, educational and motivational speaker, author Risha Grant uses honest, humorous, and vulnerable storytelling to motivate audiences to embrace the inner tough work of Radical Acceptance while honoring diversity, equity, and inclusion without evoking feelings of judgement or assigning blame.
These audiences have included Google, Levi Strauss, Nestle Purina, Xerox, YouTube, Procter & Gamble, Discover Card Financial Services, Samsung Electronics America, U.S. Airforce, U.S. Navy, Intuit, and Harvard University, to name a few. She’s also been featured in Forbes, Harvard Business Review, HR News, The Financial Times, Glamour magazine UK, Bloomberg Media, and Black Enterprise among others.
Risha has received numerous honors such as being named one of the Top 10 Most Powerful Women Leaders in HR by PeopleHum in 2021, 40 Top Women Keynote Speakers by Real Leaders, the NBA OKC Thunder Changemaker Award in 2020 among others.
In her no-holds-barred style, renowned diversity and inclusion thought leader Risha Grant teaches and empowers attendees about unconscious bias, micro-aggressions and other actions that perpetuate discrimination and inequality. Audiences leave with easily applied principles for finding respect, understanding and inclusion both personally & professionally.
Jason O. Harris
U.S. Air Force Officer Special Operations Pilot, U.S.A.F. Academy Instructor, Motivating Speaker on Leadership & Teamwork
About
Lieutenant Colonel Jason Harris is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, best-selling author, expert thought leader, and professional pilot. As a fourth-generation military member, Jason’s distinguished career in the US Air Force has spanned more than two decades. He has served (continuously) on active duty and currently as Squadron Commander in the Air Force Reserve Command. Since graduating from the United States Air Force Academy, he has flown multiple aircraft over the course of his career including 11 deployments with more than 2,000 combat hours and 470 combat sorties around the globe.
These high-risk combat experiences have all served as the launching point for his proprietary “No Fail Trust™” methodology. His proven methodology serves organizations and teams as a tool to empower executives and team members to foster an environment of mutual trust, responsibility, and productivity.
Lt. Col. Harris is an established, nationally recognized keynote speaker in the areas of Leadership, Corporate Culture, High Performance Teams and Psychological Safety. He has shared his expertise with numerous high-level associations and Fortune 500 companies including Cisco Systems, Caterpillar, Ford and Lockheed-Martin. Additionally, his insights have been featured in publications like Forbes magazine, multiple podcasts and, most recently, on a six (6) part docu-series airing on the History Channel.
While his impressive resume continues to grow with accolades, achievements and contributions, Jason Harris remains steadfast in his commitment to serve. Leveraging his experience and work alongside the most senior military leaders, Congressional Leaders and even the Vice President, Jason Harris’ mission is clear. To relentlessly dedicate himself and those he serves to develop a culture of commitment, accountability and trust.
Click Here to Watch Jason's Virtual Presentation
Frans Johansson
Author of The Medici Effect, speaks on Diversity and Innovation.
About
Frans Johansson is the best-selling author of The Medici Effect: Breakthrough Insights at the Intersection of Ideas, Concepts and Cultures (Harvard Business Press, Republished 2017). Translated into 22 languages, The Medici Effect was named one of the top 10 best business books by Amazon.com. His acclaimed follow up, The Click Moment (Penguin Portfolio, 2012), obliterates the idea that in business we can plan and strategize our way to success. Known for his provocative, high-octane delivery style, Johansson is a widely sought-after leadership speaker. His presentations cover topics such as:
- how to successfully execute innovative ideas
- leverage different perspectives in an organization to create and execute new ideas
- how to apply ideas from other industries and cultures to drive innovation, growth and profit
- why and how diversity drives innovation
In his role as thought leader and CEO of The Medici Group, Frans has advised executive leadership at Fortune 500 companies such as Disney, IBM, Nike, and Synchrony (formerly GE Financial).
Johansson has lived all his life at the intersection where ideas from different fields and cultures meet and collide. He was raised in Sweden by his African- American-Cherokee mother and Swedish father. Johansson earned his B.S. in Environmental Science from Brown University and his MBA from Harvard Business School. He founded both a Boston-based software company and a medical device company operating out of Baltimore and Stockholm, Sweden. He has written articles on healthcare, information technology and the science of sport fishing and has been featured on CNN's AC360, ABC's Early Morning Show and CNBC's The Business of Innovation series along with Jack Welch and Muhammad Yunus. Frans currently serves on the Board of Trustees for the New York Hall of Science.
The Click of the Moment: Seizing Opportunity in an Unpredictable World is Johansson's latest book.
Omar Johnson
Culture, Diversity, Marketing and Branding Speaker, Former CMO at Beats by Dre, and Former VP of Marketing at Apple
About
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Omar talks about how brands can use curiosity and creativity to create stand out brands that authentically connect with consumers.
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Audiences leave inspired to think about branding from a new perspective that involves the consumer to drive exponential growth and sustainability.
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Omar is the former Chief Marketing Officer at Beats by Dre and former VP of Marketing at Apple, and the creator of the Nike+ sports music platform, establishing Nike’s first revenue-generating relationship with record labels.
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Past clients include: Nike, Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods and Campbell's Soup.
As the former Chief Marketing Officer at Beats by Dre and former VP of Marketing at Apple, Omar Johnson has created strong consumer connections with the brands he’s represented. He drove explosive growth at Beats, leading groundbreaking campaigns with celebrities such as LeBron James, Chris Rock, and Eminem – helping to take a $20 million company to a $1.1 billion dollar global icon and category leader.
Johnson drove explosive growth in the headphone category through groundbreaking campaigns including #ShowYourColor Solo Campaign, Powerbeats starring LeBron James and The Pills featuring Chris Rock and Eminem. He used “ambush marketing” and influencers to expand the brand—giving athletes and musicians free headphones at private company parties—which helped turn Beats into the headphone of choice for the best musicians and athletes in the world.
Previously, Johnson led innovative marketing programs for international brands such as Nike, Coca-Cola, Kraft Foods, and Campbell Soup. As an advertising lead at Nike, Johnson produced some of Nike’s most memorable TV commercials including “Rise,” starring LeBron James, “All Together Now,” featuring Kobe Bryant, and “The Most Valuable Puppets”.
Johnson also built the Nike+ sports music platform, establishing Nike’s first revenue-generating relationship with record labels. Johnson and his team created an industry-first sports music program with Universal, Interscope, Sony, Capitol, Def Jam and more than 25 independent labels. This collaboration sold +5 Million tracks and deepened the connection between music and sports.
Johnson is from Brooklyn, NY. He received a BS in Biology and Chemistry from Georgia State University and an MBA from Goizueta Business School at Emory University.
Julia Landauer
Two-time Champion NASCAR Driver, Advocate for STEM Education and Inspiring Speaker on Women’s Empowerment
About
Julia Landauer is a NASCAR driver and two-time champion from New York City. Since making history as the first and youngest female champion in the Skip Barber Racing Series at age 14 - Julia has amassed dozens of wins in many different racing series. After becoming the first woman to win a NASCAR Track Championship at Motor Mile Speedway in her division in 2015, Julia graduated to the televised NASCAR K&N Pro Series West in 2016. In the K&N series, Julia finished 4th in the championship - becoming the highest finishing female in the series’ 64-year history. Julia shares an inspiring story of her experience and insights, that audiences admire.
In January of 2017, Julia was selected as an honoree for the Forbes 30 Under 30 list in the Sports category. Julia was also the only female member of the highly selective NASCAR Next class of 2016-2017.
Julia graduated from Stanford University in 2014, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Science, Technology, and Society. Julia has since purposefully built her brand where technology, community and racing intersect and fuse. During college Julia was a contestant on season 26 of CBS’ reality TV show SURVIVOR. It was also in college that Julia started her motivational speaking career with a TEDx talk - and she is now a sought-after speaker for corporations, universities, and conferences, including Fortune’s Most Powerful Women. Julia also served as an external advisor to Hyundai Motor Corporation’s Center for Robotic-Augmented Design in Living Experience.
As she climbs the NASCAR ladder Julia uses her racing platform to continue advocating for STEM education and women’s empowerment.
Carey Lohrenz
First Female F-14 Tomcat Fighter Pilot, Author and Motivational Speaker on Leadership & Teamwork
About
Carey Lohrenz knows what it takes to win in one of the highest pressure, extreme environments imaginable: in the cockpit at Mach 2. The same challenges are found in business: markets change, customer needs evolve and if you do not adapt quickly your company is at risk.
Carey is a powerhouse in the field of delivering engaging leadership, high performing organizations and diversity training - that directly impacts a company’s ROI and bottom line. Her experience in the all-male environment of fighter aviation and her ability to pass on the lessons learned in her career allow her to deliver insight and guidance from a credible platform on women’s leadership issues.
Carey has been requested by name from some of the top Fortune 100 businesses. Her ability to connect with both an audience and on a one-on-one level, coupled with her knowledge and experience in leading high-performing, diverse teams, has made her highly sought after as a business consultant and speaker.
As the first female F-14 Tomcat Fighter Pilot in the U.S. Navy, having flown missions worldwide as a combat-mission-ready United States Navy pilot, Lohrenz is used to working in fast moving, dynamic environments, where inconsistent execution can generate catastrophic results.
In her motivating and engaging keynote presentations, Carey shares her fascinating experiences operating in one of the world's most challenging environments - an aircraft carrier. She is uniquely qualified in the fundamentals of winning under pressure, reducing errors and overcoming obstacles. Her mastery of these fundamentals can help your team triumph in this high-risk, time crunched world.
Carey Lohrenz's timely message about high performing teams and developing a culture of learning is based on the best-practices of high reliability organizations. The process 'prepare, perform, prevail' helps businesses manage risk while becoming a high performing organization. This message resonates with diverse audiences at every level of the company.
Carey has delivered her leadership and strategy experience to such companies as Cisco, Dell, TEVA, Deloitte, Underwriters Laboratories, Verizon, AT&T, Kimberly Clark, State Farm Insurance and Sea Ray Boats, to name a few.
Carey graduated from the University of Wisconsin where she was a varsity rower, also training at the pre-Olympic level. After graduation, she attended the Navy’s Aviation Officer Candidate School before starting flight training and her naval career. She is currently working on her Master’s in Business Administration in Strategic Leadership.
About
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Artist, Resilience Expert, Entrepreneur, Burn Survivor, Inspirational Storyteller
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Keynote Speaker on Adversity, Change, Creative Thinking, Self-leadership, Burnout, Employee Retention, Elevating Company Culture — Reaching audiences in more than 75 countries.
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Customization for Healthcare on Burnout, Patient Experience, and Retention.
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Unforgettable stories packed with takeaways. Your audience will be forever changed.
While most speakers have a story to tell, there are a select few with one so impactful and poignant that the audience is forever changed. That is what happens when Allison Massari speaks. She has been named one of the Top Ten Best Motivational Speakers in North America by Meetings and Conventions Magazine and has forged her path to success with creativity, tenacity, and deep gratitude.
Having survived two devastating and near fatal car accidents, one where she burned alive and suffered severe burns on over 50% of her body, Allison views her experiences as a tremendous gift that allowed her to find strength and a fiery passion to reach pinnacle achievements both in business and personally.
Allison has dedicated her career to catapulting individuals and organizations toward total success, mastery, and fulfillment. As an international keynote speaker, executive coach, and interdisciplinary artist, Allison provides an exceptional blend of business acuity, clarity, creative perspective, and real understanding. Her highly effective methods have enabled her to form bonds as a trusted confidante to CEOs, executives and entrepreneurs.
As an international keynote speaker, executive coach, and award winning visual artist, Allison Massari ignites vitality, inspires confidence, and offers essential tools for self-mastery to audiences worldwide. Prepare to be inspired, moved, and energized. Prepare to be taken on a journey.
Click Here to Watch Allison's Hybrid Presentation
Kaplan Mobray
Internationally Acclaimed Best-selling Author, Motivational Speaker, Career Consultant, Founder of The Kaplan Mobray Leadership Institute
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Kaplan talks about the ten principles for leadership excellence at all levels.
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Teaches audiences ready-to-implement knowledge on how to become strategic thinkers, embrace accountability, leverage disruption and change for growth, and learn tools to drive operational excellence in how they engage with their team.
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Kaplan is an internationally Acclaimed Best-selling Author, Motivational Speaker, Career Consultant, Founder of The Kaplan Mobray Leadership Institute.
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Past clients include: Proctor & Gamble, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Shell, Xerox, Paypal, Qantas Airways, Price Waterhouse Coopers, Playboy Enterprises and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Click Here to Watch Kaplan's Virtual Presentation
Recognized by Meetings and Conventions Magazine as one of the nation’s top business speakers, Kaplan Mobray is globally acclaimed as one of the world’s most dynamic and inspirational speakers and award-winning author of “The 10Ks of Personal Branding”.
Educated at the Wharton School he has been featured across global media outlets including CNN, Biz Asia, FOX Business, Businessweek, The Wall Street Journal, and shares his message to NFL players and fans annually at the Super Bowl. Kaplan has delivered keynote presentations and leadership development workshops on 5 continents helping individuals globally to build their brand, grow their business, become better leaders, increase sales, and advance their career.
He continues to serve as a consultant to multinational companies working with global business leaders to elevate Performance Excellence, Branding, Business Growth, Innovation, Leadership
Excellence, Culture and Engagement, Inclusion, and Workforce Transformation. All of his innovative presentations have been described as life-changing events. In his personal pursuits, Kaplan is a professional saxophone player. Kaplan resides in New York and serves as a frequent speaker across the Global Conferences and Events Circuit. Kaplan has been a frequent main platform speaker at the prestigious Million Dollar Roundtable (MDRT) national and global conferences.
Gaby Natale
Transformative Motivational Speaker, Triple Daytime EMMY-Winning Journalist, Bestselling Author & Entrepreneur
About
Gaby Natale is a triple Emmy® Award-winning journalist, top motivational speaker, bestselling author, and television host. Known for her high-energy, approachable style, Gaby inspires audiences to embrace the pioneer spirit, break barriers, and drive meaningful change in their personal and professional lives.
As the first Latina to win three Daytime Emmys® back-to-back, Gaby has consistently demonstrated her ability to innovate and lead across industries. Her proprietary frameworks equip individuals and teams with actionable takeaways that foster innovation, build resilience, and cultivate a sense of belonging.
Gaby delivers customized keynotes, talent development programs, leadership content, and consulting for corporate events both in-person and virtually. Her clients include global organizations such as Google, Microsoft, P&G, Johnson & Johnson, JPMorgan Chase, Estee Lauder, Dell, and the United Nations.
A bestselling author, her book The Virtuous Circle, published by HarperCollins Leadership, topped Amazon’s New Releases in Business, Inspiration, and Self-Help. It reflects her commitment to empowering indiv iduals to achieve personal and professional growth.
Gaby’s entrepreneurial ventures include founding AGANARmedia, a marketing company that has served Fortune 500 companies like Hilton Worldwide, Sprint, and Amazon. Her global perspective is shaped by her triple citizenship (United States, Argentina, and Italy) and her experience living in London, Mexico, Washington D.C., and Buenos Aires.
Recognized by media outlets such as Forbes, CNN, NBC, and Univision, Gaby has received numerous accolades, including being named one of the “25 Most Powerful Latinas” by People, a “Woman of Influence” by SUCCESS Magazine, and an “Exceptional Woman of Excellence” by the Women Economic Forum. Her advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights earned her a GLAAD Media Award nomination.
In 2024, after surviving breast cancer, Gaby became an official Susan G. Komen ambassador, sharing her story to raise awareness about the importance of early detection.
With a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a master’s in journalism, Gaby began her career teaching at the University of Texas. Today, with over 52 million YouTube views, she continues to inspire global audiences with her message of innovation, resilience, and leadership.
Freddie Ravel
Celebrated Performer, International Expert and Keynote Speaker on Business & Communication
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Freddie talks about how leaders can challenge and inspire organizations to discover their untapped potential through the power of Active Listening & The Music of Leadership, using music focused stories to help leaders build stronger teams.
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Audiences learn how to enhance interpersonal and professional leadership skills, amplify engagement and clarify their desired goals and outcomes.
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Bilingual Speaker (English & Spanish) Freddie Ravel is a GRAMMY nominated maestro & performer, Founder of "Life in Tune," and Business Success Expert. His clients have described his keynotes & emcee services as the "ideal balance of entertainment and content."
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Past clients include: IBM, Toyota, Red Bull, NASA, Apple, Blue Cross, Prudential, Google and Citi.
Click Here to Watch Freddie's Virtual Video
Freddie Ravel is the GRAMMY-nominated Keynote Maestro - who combines his expertise for business breakthroughs and virtuoso piano performances with a clear and concise application of music’s communicative and scientific powers to inspire, ignite and lift the minds, hearts and potential of audiences around the world.
Backed by number one hits and collaborative successes with Madonna, Earth, Wind and Fire, Prince and Carlos Santana to leading the teams of J Lo, Jimmy Kimmel and Lady Gaga - the #1 chart-topping composer is the Founder of “LIFE IN TUNE," a worldwide program that delivers customized peak performance experiences - to reveal how the structure of music enhances leadership, innovation and productivity for entrepreneurs to major corporations alike. Dubbed the “Keynote Maestro” by the City of Los Angeles, Ravel received the city’s Award of Recognition for creating a music-based system to “renew the national and international economy” - while his film, TV, radio and recording credits include CBS, FOX, CW, Universal, iHeart and XM Sirius. Straddling sectors across Media, Tech, Healthcare and Wellness, Diversity and Inclusion, Communications, Social Impact and Financial Services - clients refer to him as “The ideal balance of Entertainment and Content”.
These include IBM, Toyota, Red Bull, NASA, Apple, Blue Cross, Prudential, Google and Citi where he continues to serve as a captivating access point through which to transform corporations, education, entertainment and the human condition. Based on decades of entrepreneurial and corporate training, scientific research and directing and performing with many of the music legends of our time - conference planners often engage Freddie and his team in the program planning process to help design and incorporate their meeting objectives into a rich, harmonious and rewarding experience. Having performed in over eighty countries, Freddie is in tune with cultural nuances and sensitivities delivering the universal language in both English and Spanish - as well as collaborating with translators to uplift your audience to success.
Shola Richards
About Shola Richards – Bestselling Author & Expert on Workplace Culture:
About
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Shola teaches audiences learn how creating a resilient mindset, regardless of the circumstances using strategies to build unshakable strength within themselves and within their teams.
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Founder & CEO, Go Together Global, Bestselling Author.
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Past clients include: the GAP, Kaiser Permanente, Microsoft, SHRM
Shola Richards speaks about workplace transformation, but he didn't start out as a fighter. For years, he waited for someone else to step up when he faced bullying and workplace dysfunction. When no one came, he realized a simple truth: what you allow is what will continue. He had to become his own hero. That realization changed everything.
Today, he's a workplace kindness expert and global keynote speaker whose work has taken him from testifying before Congress to speaking across three continents. Real kindness, he argues, takes guts. It requires you to fight incivility instead of managing it, to care about people and problems that don't directly affect you, and to refuse to let harmful dynamics slide just because it's easier to stay quiet.
His message has reached audiences at organizations including Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Kaiser Permanente, Mayo Clinic, St. Jude Children's Hospital, and dozens of other major companies and institutions worldwide. Major media outlets like the Today Show, CBS This Morning, and Forbes regularly feature his insights.
His three bestselling books have become essential reading for leaders worldwide. Civil Unity: The Radical Path to Transform Our Discourse, Our Lives, and Our World earned praise from Mel Robbins as "an incredibly powerful and compelling guide to restoring much-needed kindness to our divided world." Go Together: How the Concept of Ubuntu Will Change How You Live, Work and Lead won the Gold Medal at the 2025 Independent Publisher Book Awards. And Making Work Work: The Solution for Bringing Positive Change to Any Work Environment hit #1 New
Release in both "Workplace Culture" and "Human Resources" categories on Amazon.
His podcast, The Kindness Extremist, tackles the hard conversations that actually matter, helping listeners navigate conflict, set boundaries without losing compassion, and turn moments of tension into opportunities for real change.
When you're strong enough to be kind, you don't just change your workplace—you become the leader people choose to follow, and the organization competitors wish they could build.
Speech Thomas
2x Grammy Award Winning founder & lead singer of ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT
About
Speech was born Todd Thomas in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The youngest of parents Robert & Patricia Thomas. He grew up on two sides of life: the ghetto of Milwaukee (one of the nation’s roughest cities for African Americans) and (Wauwatosa) Milwaukee’s suburbia. Speech learned how to draw from the pains and beauty of both. He would absorb the plights of his people and the retreat of a middle-class black boy in a primarily white neighborhood. He lost his grandmother to a heart attack and his older brother, Terrence Thomas to an Asthma attack within the same week, and through spirituality, learned to recalibrate his inner anger through dynamic music. To celebrate the lives of those he lost, he coined his sound “life music”. Speech wrote the hit song Tennessee as a dedication to his grandmother and brother. In the early nineties, Speech and his mother started the Terrence Thomas Scholarship and to date, the scholarship has raised over a million dollars helping young black students further their educations.
Speech started and produced the hip-hop group, Arrested Development. Based in Georgia, from humble and rural beginnings; they became a pioneering force in the music world. Arrested Development received two Grammy Awards (Best new artists & Best rap single 1993) for the album, 3 years, 5 months, and 2 days in the life of…” Their second album “Zingalamaduni” was met with critical acclaim and was also nominated for a GRAMMY award.
In 1995, the group disbanded and Speech signed a solo record deal with EMI. His first single “Like Marvin Gaye Said” shot to #1 on the Japanese Tokio 100 charts for 7 consecutive weeks. Speech has released 5 solo albums since, all of which have spawned Top 10 hit singles in Japan. His album “1998 Hoopla” and Spiritual People” (2000) were certified gold. “Spiritual People” was awarded the Best black music album of the year 2000 by the acclaimed ADLIB magazine. Speech supported each album with sold-out tours.
Speech has also toured as a solo performer with the United States Vice President Al Gore, First Lady Hillary Clinton, Herbie Hancock, Chaka Khan, Youssou N’dour, James Brown, Parliament-Funkadelic, Jason Mraz, Hootie & the Blowfish, and The Roots.
In 2020 Speech partnered with Resonant Pictures and Pipeline Entertainment to release the full-length documentary “16 Bars” where Speech goes into a maximum security jail to write music with inmates. This stirring documentary has won numerous film festival awards and is now available through Lightyear Entertainment on streaming platforms worldwide
Heather R. Younger
Founder & CEO Employee Fanatix, Best Selling Author, Keynote Speaker on Workplace Culture
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Heather taps into her own personal and professional experiences as well as stories of strength and perseverance to share empowering proven tools for resetting the resilience of every attendee.
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Audiences learn the three steps to strengthening resilience & reframe adversity to unlock new mindsets for empowerment and positive self-worth.
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Heather is the founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, an International TEDx speaker on Adversity, Leadership Podcast Host, Business Coach, Facilitator and Attorney, who has earned a reputation as “The Employee Whisperer”. She holds a law degree, is a regular contributor to "Forbes" and "LinkedIn" and is the best-selling author of The 7 Intuitive Laws of Employee Loyalty
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Past clients include: Harvard Business Review Brasil, FirstBank, Salas O'Brien, Stark Aerospace, and Colorado Bankers Association.
Heather R. Younger, J.D., CSP, is a leadership and workplace culture keynote speaker, four-time bestselling author, and creator of the C.A.R.E. framework for Unshakable LeadershipTM. Named an Inc. Top 50 Leadership and Management Expert and a Thinkers50 Radar Thought Leader, she helps organizations build leaders and cultures strong enough to handle what's next.
With more than 20 years leading teams through reorgs, mergers, acquisitions, and technology shifts, Heather knows what it takes to stay grounded when the pressure won't let up. Her research includes analysis of 40,000+ employee survey comments and 350+ leader interviews, grounding her work in what people actually experience, not just what looks good on paper.
She is the author of The Art of Active Listening, The Art of Caring Leadership, The Art of Self-Leadership, and the forthcoming book The Unshakable Team, and she hosts the podcast Becoming Unshakable. Her clients include United Healthcare, Kaiser Permanente, the CDC, Prudential, DuPont, and Xerox.