Inspiring Stories
The Sweeney Agency will help you find the best Inspirational Speaker for your event by providing you with all the information you need to make the right decision. We take into account your event objectives, audience dynamics and expected outcomes. We provide you with top Inspirational Speaker bios, video clips, topic outlines, and independent perspectives on the best speakers on Inspiration available. Working closely with the Inspirational Speaker you choose, we will ensure he or she delivers a customized presentation that informs, inspires and entertains.
Mike Abrashoff
Inspiring Story of Leadership from Former Commander of USS Benfold
About
Mike Abrashoff - Former Commander of USS Benfold | Author of It’s Your Ship | Leadership and Accountability Speaker
It’s Your Ship
Mike Abrashoff faced that challenge as commander of USS Benfold. By listening to his sailors, earning their trust, and giving them ownership of the ship’s success, he helped turn an underperforming crew into one of the Navy’s best. His story gives business audiences a memorable way to think about leadership, culture, and results. The Sweeney Agency
Why Book Mike Abrashoff?
Mike makes accountability feel achievable. His message starts with what leaders and team members can influence today: how they listen, make decisions, solve problems, and support one another.
Audiences hear the story behind It’s Your Ship and leave with practical ideas for building trust, empowering people closest to the work, and improving performance without waiting for perfect conditions.
What Makes Mike Different?
- A real turnaround story led by the same crew under intense operational demands
- A message that gives people at every level responsibility for results
- Leadership lessons grounded in listening, trust, and ownership
- Practical ideas for teamwork, change, and execution
- A keynote he can tailor to the audience’s priorities The Sweeney Agency
Why Is Mike Right for Your Audience?
Mike is a strong choice for leadership meetings, company conferences, sales kickoffs, and organizations that want people to take greater ownership of outcomes. His story speaks to executives and frontline teams alike because everyone has a role in improving how the team works.
Book Mike when your audience needs to:
- Build a culture of trust and accountability
- Give people more ownership over decisions and results
- Improve engagement
- Work together more effectively under pressure
- Focus on changes within their control
- Raise expectations of what the team can achieve
Audience Takeaways
Attendees will leave:
- Ready to ask better questions and listen to people closest to the work
- More willing to take responsibility for solving problems
- Equipped to recognize and use their team’s ideas
- Clearer on how trust and ownership support execution
- Motivated to improve results with the team they already have
Keynote Programs
It’s Your Ship: Achieving Breakthrough Performance
Mike shares how trust, engagement, and shared ownership helped transform USS Benfold. Audiences consider what they can change in their own teams to improve performance. Ideal for leadership, culture, accountability, and teamwork events.
No Limits: Don’t Let Goals Become Limitations
Mike challenges audiences to look beyond merely reaching an assigned target and question the limits they have placed on their own performance. Ideal for sales kickoffs and teams ready to raise their ambitions.
Go Deeper with the Leadership Roadmap
For groups that want to put the keynote into practice, half-day and full-day programs explore the habits of high-performing leaders, teams, and organizations. Ask about the format and facilitator for your event. The Sweeney Agency
Why Contact The Sweeney Agency Now?
Tell us what you want people to do differently after the event, and we’ll help you assess whether Mike’s message is the right fit. We can confirm his availability and current fee, discuss the best program and format, and help plan a presentation around your audience.
Is Mike Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the results you want to improve, and the leadership behaviour you want to encourage. We’ll help you assess the fit and plan the next step.
To check availability and fee of this speaker, call 1-866-727-7555 or email [email protected].
About
Jeff Adams: Paralympic Gold Medalist and Six-Time World Champion | Entrepreneur and Lawyer | Speaker on Resilience, Teamwork and Achieving Goals
Why Book Jeff Adams?
Jeff’s experience extends beyond sport. He founded medical device engineering businesses before pursuing a career in law, graduating from Osgoode Hall Law School and practicing in labour, employment and human rights. His presentations connect lessons from these different chapters with the challenges people face at work: adapting, learning, overcoming barriers and helping one another succeed.
Why Is Jeff Adams Right for Your Audience?
Jeff is a strong fit for company gatherings, leadership meetings, association conferences and recognition events. His experience across sport, business and law gives organizations several ways to connect his story with their goals, particularly when teams need renewed motivation and a shared sense of possibility.
Book Jeff when your audience needs to:
- Regain momentum after a setback
- Turn ambitious goals into steady progress
- Recognize the support behind individual achievement
- Prepare for important performance moments
- Approach barriers with determination and resourcefulness
- Celebrate progress and shared success
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- More motivated to persist through challenges
- Clearer on the role of preparation in achievement
- Ready to break larger goals into manageable steps
- More aware of how teammates contribute to success
- Inspired to recognize progress and encourage others
Keynote Programs
Getting Back Up
Jeff shares lessons on recovering from disappointment and finding the support to move forward. Ideal for teams facing setbacks, change or demanding goals.
One Step at a Time
Drawing on experiences including climbing the CN Tower in a wheelchair and winning Paralympic gold, Jeff explores the process behind ambitious achievements. Ideal for audiences seeking motivation to pursue meaningful goals.
Incredible Moments
Jeff examines the preparation behind memorable performances and how people can get ready for their own moments of excellence. Ideal for teams approaching major milestones or important challenges.
Celebrating
Jeff explores how recognizing achievement can encourage continued effort and strengthen a team or community. Ideal for recognition programs and events celebrating collective progress.
Is Jeff Adams Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the challenges it faces and what you want people to do differently after the event. We can help select Jeff’s most relevant program, discuss customization, and confirm his availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.
Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour
America’s First Black Female Combat Pilot, Former Marine & Cop, Author and Consultant to Business
About
Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour: Keynote Speaker on Leadership, Courage & High Performance | America’s First Black Female Combat Pilot | Former U.S. Marine | Author
Break Through Barriers. Take the Gutsy Move. What could your people accomplish if they stopped letting fear, uncertainty and obstacles determine what was possible?
As America’s first Black female combat pilot, Vernice knows what it takes to break through barriers, perform under pressure and take decisive action when the stakes are high. Her dynamic keynotes challenge audiences to move beyond excuses, embrace bold action and develop the mindset needed to accomplish ambitious goals.
Why Book Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour?
Vernice doesn't simply talk about courage and performance. She has lived them in one of the world's most demanding environments.
From breaking barriers in military aviation to flying combat missions, Vernice learned that success requires more than talent. It requires preparation, confidence, teamwork and the willingness to act when circumstances are uncertain.
She translates those lessons into a powerful business message that helps audiences move from thinking about what they should do to actually doing it.
Her combination of extraordinary stories, practical strategies and contagious energy makes Vernice especially effective when you want to energize a room and inspire immediate action.
What Makes Vernice Different?
- Barrier-breaking combat pilot — America's first Black female combat pilot
- Battle-tested leadership — lessons developed in demanding, high-pressure environments
- High-energy delivery — brings exceptional enthusiasm and presence to the stage
- Action-oriented message — challenges audiences to move from ideas to execution
- Powerful business relevance — connects aviation lessons to leadership, sales and performance
- Courage under pressure — helps people act confidently despite fear and uncertainty
- Broad audience appeal — connects with executives, leaders, sales teams and employees
- Memorable storytelling — combines inspiration, humor and practical lessons
Why Is Vernice Right for Your Audience?
Vernice is an outstanding choice when you need your audience to raise their energy, take greater ownership and act more decisively.
She is particularly effective for leadership conferences, sales kickoffs, corporate meetings, women's leadership events and organizations pursuing ambitious growth or transformation.
Book Vernice when your audience needs to:
- Take bold action instead of waiting for perfect conditions
- Break through barriers and limiting beliefs
- Perform confidently under pressure
- Strengthen accountability and personal ownership
- Turn strategy into execution
- Navigate uncertainty with courage
- Build stronger teamwork and trust
- Raise expectations for what's possible
Audience Takeaways
Attendees will leave:
- More confident taking action despite uncertainty
- Better prepared to push through obstacles and setbacks
- Understanding why courage is essential to leadership
- More willing to take ownership of results
- Equipped with a stronger mindset for high-pressure situations
- Ready to turn intentions into action
- Energized to make their own “gutsy moves”
Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour Keynote Programs
Get Gutsy: Make the Gutsy Move. What happens when you stop waiting for circumstances to be perfect and start taking action?
Vernice challenges audiences to identify the barriers standing between where they are and where they want to go—and then make the courageous moves necessary to break through them.
Drawing from her experiences as a combat pilot, she shows how preparation, mindset and decisive action can help people move forward even when uncertainty is high.
Ideal for: Leadership conferences, corporate meetings, transformation events and organizations pursuing ambitious goals.
Zero to Breakthrough. Breakthrough performance starts when people take ownership of creating a different result.
Vernice helps audiences move beyond excuses, obstacles and limiting assumptions and focus on the actions that can move them forward.
Her message encourages people to clarify their goals, identify what's holding them back and take practical steps toward achieving meaningful results.
Ideal for: Sales kickoffs, high-performance teams, leadership meetings and organizations focused on execution.
Leading From the Cockpit. When the pressure rises, leadership becomes visible.
Drawing on lessons from military aviation, Vernice explores how effective leaders build trust, communicate clearly, make decisions and keep teams focused on the mission.
She translates the discipline and teamwork of the cockpit into practical leadership lessons audiences can apply in their own organizations.
Ideal for: Executive meetings, leadership development, teamwork and high-performance audiences.
Is Vernice Armour Right for Your Event?
Tell us the breakthrough you need your people to make—and what's standing in their way.
We'll help you determine whether Vernice is the right fit, confirm availability and fees, and make the booking process simple.
To check availability and fee of this speaker, call 1-866-727-7555 or email [email protected].
Mariana Atencio
Peabody Award-winning Journalist, Bestselling Author, Entrepreneur, Inspiring Storyteller, and Host/Moderator
About
Mariana Atencio: Peabody Award-Winning Journalist | Bestselling Author | Speaker on Trust, Authenticity and Communication
Build Trust by Showing Up as Yourself
Mariana Atencio brings a journalist’s instinct for finding the human story to that question. The author of Perfectly You helps leaders and teams communicate with greater authenticity, build trust, and recognize the strength in what makes each person different. The Sweeney Agency
Why Book Mariana Atencio?
Mariana combines the energy of a compelling storyteller with experience reporting, interviewing, and speaking to diverse audiences. She connects her own journey with challenges people face at work: finding their voice, communicating through uncertainty, and building relationships across differences.
Her keynotes give audiences practical ways to communicate with clarity and empathy. For leaders, that can help create the trust people need to collaborate and contribute their best work.
What Makes Mariana Different?
- A journalist’s experience telling stories that connect people
- A personal message about authenticity grounded in her own journey
- Practical communication lessons for leaders and teams
- An interactive, energetic style that invites audience reflection
- Versatility as a keynote speaker, host, and moderator
Why Is Mariana Right for Your Audience?
Mariana is a strong fit for leadership conferences, employee events, women’s programs, and organizations working to strengthen communication or culture. She is especially valuable when an audience needs both an inspiring story and a reason to examine how it builds trust day to day.
Book Mariana when your audience needs to:
- Communicate more credibly during uncertainty
- Build trust across teams and with customers
- Lead with authenticity and empathy
- Value individual differences as a source of strength
- Speak up with greater confidence
- Strengthen connection and belonging at work
Audience Takeaways
Attendees will leave:
- More aware of how authenticity affects trust
- Ready to communicate with greater clarity and empathy
- Better able to recognize and use their own strengths
- More confident sharing ideas and stories that matter
- Motivated to create stronger connections with colleagues
Keynote Programs
Real Matters: Building Trust in an Unreal World
Mariana explores why genuine communication matters when employees and customers are surrounded by polished narratives and AI-generated messages. She gives leaders ways to build credibility, strengthen connection, and guide teams through uncertainty.
Perfectly You: Leveraging the Power Within
Drawing on her book and personal story, Mariana shows audiences how embracing what makes them different can strengthen confidence, resilience, and purpose. Ideal for employee events and women’s leadership programs.
Communicating Confidently: Cut Through the Noise and Get Heard
In this interactive keynote or breakout, Mariana shares techniques for distilling a message, speaking with confidence, and connecting across in-person and digital settings. Ideal for leaders and client-facing teams. The Sweeney Agency
Why Contact The Sweeney Agency Now?
Tell us whether your audience most needs to build trust, find its voice, or communicate more effectively. We’ll help you choose the right program, discuss customization, and confirm Mariana’s availability and current fee.
Is Mariana Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, where trust or communication needs to improve, and what you want people to do differently. We’ll help you assess Mariana’s fit and plan the next step.
To check availability and fee of this speaker, call 1-866-727-7555 or email [email protected].
About
Cam Awesome: Motivational Keynote Speaker on Resilience, Mindset & High Performance | Champion Boxer | Team USA Captain
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
What could your people accomplish if setbacks stopped being reasons to quit and became reasons to grow?
Cam Awesome is a champion boxer, former Team USA captain and dynamic motivational keynote speaker on resilience, mindset, overcoming adversity and high performance.
Why Book Cam Awesome?
Cam delivers something every event planner wants: a motivational keynote that's inspiring, entertaining and genuinely useful.
His story isn't about winning every time. It's about learning how to respond when you don't.
Cam shows audiences that resilience isn't something you're born with—it's something you develop by changing the way you interpret setbacks, failure and discomfort.
His energetic and often hilarious delivery gets audiences laughing while challenging them to take greater ownership, become more resilient and stop allowing fear of failure to limit their potential.
What Makes Cam Awesome Different?
- Champion athlete — brings real lessons from elite-level competition
- Former Team USA captain — understands leadership, accountability and teamwork
- Powerful resilience story — demonstrates how setbacks can become catalysts for growth
- Exceptionally entertaining — uses humor to make serious lessons memorable
- Authentic and vulnerable — openly shares both victories and failures
- High-energy delivery — immediately engages and energizes a room
- Practical mindset strategies — gives audiences ideas they can apply immediately
- Broad audience appeal — particularly effective for sales, leadership and employee events
Why Is Cam Right for Your Audience?
Cam is an outstanding choice when you want your audience to increase their resilience, become more comfortable with discomfort and take action despite the possibility of failure.
He is particularly effective for sales kickoffs, leadership conferences, corporate meetings, association events and teams working in competitive or rapidly changing environments.
Book Cam when your audience needs to:
- Bounce back faster from setbacks
- Become more comfortable taking risks
- Stop allowing fear of failure to limit performance
- Build greater confidence and resilience
- Maintain motivation when results don't come immediately
- Take greater ownership of their attitude
- Approach challenges with a stronger mindset
- Bring more energy and optimism to their work
Audience Takeaways
Attendees will leave:
- Thinking differently about failure and setbacks
- Better prepared to respond when things don't go according to plan
- More willing to step outside their comfort zone
- Equipped with practical strategies for strengthening resilience
- Understanding how mindset influences performance
- More confident taking action despite uncertainty
- Energized and ready to approach their next challenge differently
Cam Awesome Keynote Programs
Getting Comfortable Being Uncomfortable. Growth rarely happens inside your comfort zone.
Cam shares the lessons he learned from years of elite competition and the setbacks that threatened to derail his ambitions.
He challenges audiences to rethink their relationship with discomfort and recognize that difficult experiences can become opportunities to learn, adapt and improve.
Ideal for: Sales kickoffs, leadership conferences, corporate meetings and organizations navigating change.
The Awesome Mindset. You can't control everything that happens. You can control what you do next.
Cam shows audiences how changing their perspective can change the way they respond to pressure, disappointment and adversity.
Using humor, personal stories and lessons from competitive boxing, he demonstrates how people can develop a mindset that helps them recover faster and continue moving toward their goals.
Ideal for: High-performance teams, sales organizations, leadership events and employee meetings.
Turning Failure Into Fuel. What if failure wasn't the opposite of success—but part of the process required to achieve it?
Cam challenges the fear of failure that often prevents people from taking risks, pursuing opportunities and reaching their potential.
His experiences demonstrate how setbacks can provide the lessons, perspective and motivation needed to come back stronger.
Ideal for: Sales teams, emerging leaders, high-performance cultures and organizations pursuing ambitious goals.
Why Book Cam Awesome Through The Sweeney Agency?
Cam Awesome combines championship-level experience, powerful resilience lessons and exceptional humor—but the real value comes from connecting his message directly to the challenges your audience is facing.
The Sweeney Agency can help you:
- Confirm Cam Awesome's availability and current speaking fee
- Determine which Cam Awesome keynote best fits your audience
- Discuss customization around your event objectives
- Coordinate format, timing and event logistics
- Compare Cam with other leading motivational, resilience and high-performance speakers
Is Cam Awesome Right for Your Event?
Tell us where your people need greater resilience, confidence or motivation.
We'll help you determine whether Cam is the right fit, confirm availability and fees, and make the booking process simple.
To check availability and fee of this speaker, call 1-866-727-7555 or email [email protected].
Dr. Robert Ballard
Inspiring adventure speaker, deep sea explorer who discovered the RMS Titanic.
About
Dr. Robert Ballard: Ocean Explorer Best Known for Discovering the Titanic | Founder of Ocean Exploration Trust | Speaker on Discovery, Innovation and Human Achievement
Why Book Dr. Robert Ballard?
As founder of Ocean Exploration Trust and a pioneer in deep-sea exploration technology, Robert connects remarkable discoveries with the work that makes them possible. His presentations use striking imagery and personal accounts to explore the importance of asking questions, learning from setbacks and bringing people together around a challenging mission.
Why Is Dr. Robert Ballard Right for Your Audience?
Robert is a strong fit for leadership conferences, innovation events, association meetings and educational programs. His story offers an engaging starting point for organizations that want to encourage curiosity, broaden perspectives and inspire people to pursue ambitious goals.
Book Robert when your audience needs to:
- Approach unfamiliar challenges with curiosity
- See new possibilities through exploration and technology
- Persist when progress is difficult
- Recognize the teamwork behind major achievements
- Connect preparation with ambitious goals
- Rediscover the excitement of learning and discovery
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- Inspired by the possibilities of exploration
- More willing to question familiar assumptions
- Ready to view setbacks as opportunities to learn
- More aware of how expertise and technology work together
- Motivated to pursue meaningful goals with persistence
Keynote Programs
Adventures in Deep Sea Exploration: Living the Dream
Robert shares personal accounts and imagery from his exploration career, connecting discovery with curiosity and perseverance. Ideal for audiences seeking inspiration to explore new possibilities and pursue ambitious goals.
Science, Exploration and the Miracles of Human Achievement
Robert examines the discoveries and collaborative effort behind extraordinary achievements beneath the sea. Ideal for leadership, innovation and teamwork audiences.
Human History Underwater
Robert explores how shipwrecks and underwater archaeology reveal stories about our past. Ideal for audiences interested in history, science and the technologies that make discovery possible.
Is Dr. Robert Ballard Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the ideas you want to spark and the challenges you want people to approach with renewed energy. We can help select Robert’s most relevant program, discuss customization, and confirm his availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.
Chris Barton
Founder and Creator of Shazam, Entrepreneur, Inventor, and Tech Investor
About
Chris Barton: Keynote Speaker on Innovation, AI & Disruptive Thinking | Founder & First CEO of Shazam | Inventor | Tech Entrepreneur
Bring Impossible Ideas to Life. What if the idea everyone says is impossible is actually your biggest opportunity?
When Chris conceived the idea for Shazam, experts told him it couldn't be done. He refused to accept the assumptions defining what was possible. The result became one of the world's most recognizable technology platforms, with more than 2 billion downloads before being acquired by Apple.
Today, Chris shows organizations how to challenge conventional thinking, break through barriers and turn seemingly impossible ideas into reality.
Why Book Chris Barton?
Chris doesn't simply talk about innovation. He built something the experts said couldn't be built.
Shazam was conceived before smartphones and app stores existed. Creating it required Chris and his team to solve enormous technological, commercial and operational challenges while repeatedly finding ways around obstacles that could have ended the company.
Those experiences shaped Chris's “Start from Zero” approach to innovation—a way of challenging assumptions and returning to basic truths instead of automatically accepting how things have always been done.
His keynote combines a remarkable entrepreneurial story with practical thinking audiences can use to challenge the status quo and create breakthrough ideas of their own.
What Makes Chris Barton Different?
- Founder & first CEO of Shazam — created one of the world's most recognizable technology platforms
- AI pioneer — Shazam was an early mass-consumer application of artificial intelligence
- 2+ billion downloads — transformed an impossible-sounding idea into a global product
- Apple acquisition — Shazam was acquired by Apple in 2018
- 12 patents — inventor across Shazam, Google and Dropbox
- Google experience — was Google's first employee focused on mobile partnerships
- Dropbox experience — joined when it was still a rapidly growing startup
- Start from Zero thinking — gives audiences a practical framework for challenging assumptions
- Creative Persistence — demonstrates how imagination and tenacity combine to overcome barriers
Why Is Chris Right for Your Audience?
Chris is an outstanding choice when you want your audience to challenge conventional thinking, become more innovative and stop allowing assumptions to determine what's possible.
He is particularly effective for leadership conferences, AI and technology events, innovation summits, sales kickoffs and organizations navigating disruption.
Book Chris when your audience needs to:
- Challenge assumptions and conventional thinking
- Generate more innovative ideas
- Understand the possibilities created by AI and technology
- Turn ambitious ideas into action
- Overcome barriers without compromising the original vision
- Develop greater creative persistence
- Eliminate friction for customers and employees
- Become more comfortable pursuing ideas others don't immediately understand
Audience Takeaways
Attendees will leave:
- Thinking differently about what is possible
- Better equipped to challenge assumptions
- Understanding how first-principles thinking can unlock innovation
- More willing to pursue unconventional ideas
- Better prepared to creatively overcome obstacles
- Recognizing how unnecessary friction limits growth
- Inspired to combine persistence with imagination
- Ready to bring their own “impossible” ideas to life
Chris Barton Keynote Programs
Bring Impossible Ideas to Life. How do you create something that experts insist can't be done?
Technology and AI are rapidly changing the boundaries of what's possible. Chris takes audiences inside the remarkable creation of Shazam and the challenges involved in developing an idea years ahead of the technology ecosystem required to support it.
He shows audiences how questioning assumptions, thinking from basic truths and approaching obstacles differently can unlock entirely new possibilities.
Ideal for: AI conferences, innovation summits, leadership meetings and organizations pursuing breakthrough ideas.
Overcome Obstacles with Imagination. Persistence matters—but simply trying the same thing harder isn't enough.
Chris calls his approach Creative Persistence: combining determination with the imagination required to find another path when the obvious route is blocked.
Using extraordinary stories from Shazam's journey, he shows audiences how to challenge barriers, question conventional solutions and keep moving toward ambitious goals.
Ideal for: Leadership conferences, sales kickoffs, entrepreneurial events and organizations navigating difficult challenges.
Eliminate Effort to Unlock Explosive Growth. Where is unnecessary friction making it harder for customers, employees or partners to say yes?
Shazam succeeded by making something incredibly complex feel effortless: hear a song, press a button and discover what it is.
Drawing on his experiences with Shazam, Google and Dropbox, Chris shows audiences how identifying and removing friction can create dramatically better customer and employee experiences.
Ideal for: Customer experience, sales, innovation, technology and growth-focused events.
Build the Vision You See, But Others Don't. What do you see that others can't see yet?
Breakthrough ideas often face resistance precisely because they're unfamiliar.
Chris shares the entrepreneurial lessons behind transforming Shazam from an idea many considered impossible into a product used by billions of people.
He challenges entrepreneurs and innovators to strengthen their conviction, prioritize what matters and find creative ways to turn vision into reality.
Ideal for: Entrepreneurs, founders, innovation teams and organizations building new products or businesses.
Why Book Chris Barton Through The Sweeney Agency?
Chris Barton combines an extraordinary entrepreneurial success story with practical frameworks for innovation, AI and breakthrough thinking—but the real value comes from connecting those lessons to the barriers and opportunities facing your organization.
The Sweeney Agency can help you:
- Confirm Chris Barton's availability and current speaking fee
- Determine which Chris Barton keynote best fits your audience
- Discuss customization around your industry and event objectives
- Coordinate format, timing and event logistics
- Compare Chris with other leading innovation, AI and technology keynote speakers
Is Chris Barton Right for Your Event?
Tell us the impossible idea, stubborn barrier or innovation challenge your organization is facing.
We'll help you determine whether Chris is the right fit, confirm availability and fees, and make the booking process simple.
Planning an innovation summit, AI conference, leadership meeting or corporate event? Contact The Sweeney Agency today [email protected] to discuss booking Chris Barton as your keynote speaker.
Chris Bashinelli
National Geographic Explorer & TV Host, United Nations Moderator, Actor from The Sopranos (HBO), Expert on Human Connection & Happiness in Business
About
Chris Bashinelli: National Geographic Explorer | Host of Bridge the Gap | Speaker on Human Connection, Trust and Leadership
Why Book Chris Bashinelli?
As host of Bridge the Gap, a travel series featured on PBS and National Geographic Channel, Chris brings global stories and footage to the stage. His energetic presentations combine humor, audience interaction and practical exercises, giving people opportunities to reflect on how they connect with customers, colleagues and the teams they lead.
Why Is Chris Bashinelli Right for Your Audience?
Chris is a strong fit for leadership conferences, sales meetings, company gatherings and culture-focused events. He is especially relevant when an organization wants people to feel more connected, strengthen customer relationships or lead with greater empathy during change.
Book Chris when your audience needs to:
- Build trust with clients and colleagues
- Listen with greater curiosity and attention
- Strengthen belonging across teams
- Lead through uncertainty with authenticity
- Connect individual strengths with shared goals
- Bring renewed purpose to everyday interactions
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- More aware of how presence and listening influence trust
- Equipped with practical ways to strengthen human connection
- Ready to recognize the person behind a role or transaction
- Better prepared to support colleagues through change
- Motivated to create a culture where people feel valued and heard
Keynote Programs
The Power of Human Connection
Chris explores how understanding people and serving their interests can strengthen relationships with clients and teams. Ideal for sales, customer service and leadership audiences seeking deeper trust.
Leading Through Change
Chris shares stories of resilience and personal growth to explore how leaders can remain grounded and connected during uncertainty. Ideal for organizations navigating change and seeking renewed employee inspiration.
Building Unbreakable Teams
Through global stories and interactive moments, Chris introduces his PACT of Connection: Presence, Authenticity, Care and Trust. Ideal for teams seeking stronger collaboration, belonging and open communication.
The Happiness Effect
Drawing on his travels and mindfulness practice, Chris explores the role of gratitude, perspective and happiness in work and relationships. Ideal for audiences seeking renewed purpose and practical ways to support well-being.
Is Chris Bashinelli Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the relationships you want to strengthen and what you want people to do differently after the event. We can help select Chris’s most relevant program, discuss customization and audience interaction, and confirm his availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.
Jack Becker
Decorated U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot, Founder & CEO, Flight Level Solutions, Inc., Leadership, Teamwork, Safety, and Peak Human Performance Expert
About
Jack Becker: Keynote Speaker on Leadership, Accountability & High Performance | Former U.S. Navy Fighter Pilot | Founder of Supersonic Success
Bring Fighter-Pilot Precision to Business Performance
What could your team accomplish if they prepared, communicated and executed with the discipline of elite fighter pilots?
Jack Becker is a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot and dynamic keynote speaker on leadership, accountability, teamwork and high performance.
Why Book Jack Becker?
Jack doesn't simply tell exciting fighter-pilot stories. He translates the disciplines of military aviation into practical strategies business teams can use.
His message focuses on the behaviors that drive consistent performance: preparation, accountability, communication, execution and learning from every experience.
For organizations looking to improve performance rather than simply motivate people for an hour, Jack delivers a keynote designed to help audiences turn lessons into action and action into better results.
What Makes Jack Becker Different?
- Former U.S. Navy fighter pilot — brings lessons from an elite performance environment
- Business-focused message — translates aviation principles into workplace strategies
- Accountability driven — encourages people to take ownership of their performance
- Execution focused — helps close the gap between strategy and results
- Practical debriefing approach — emphasizes learning and continuous improvement
- Team performance — demonstrates why trust and communication matter under pressure
- High-energy delivery — engages audiences with compelling aviation experiences
- Actionable takeaways — gives teams concepts they can apply immediately
Why Is Jack Right for Your Audience?
Jack is an outstanding choice when you want your audience to improve execution, strengthen accountability and work together more effectively.
He is particularly effective for leadership conferences, sales kickoffs, corporate meetings, management events and organizations focused on operational excellence.
Book Jack when your audience needs to:
- Turn strategy into consistent execution
- Strengthen personal accountability
- Improve communication across teams
- Build greater trust and collaboration
- Prepare more effectively for important opportunities
- Learn quickly from wins and mistakes
- Perform more consistently under pressure
- Create a culture of continuous improvement
Audience Takeaways
Attendees will leave:
- Understanding how preparation improves execution
- More willing to take ownership of results
- Better equipped to communicate when the stakes are high
- Recognizing the importance of effective debriefing
- More focused on learning rather than assigning blame
- Better prepared to collaborate across teams
- Ready to apply continuous improvement to everyday performance
Jack Becker Keynote Programs
Supersonic Success: What can business teams learn from the way fighter pilots prepare, execute and improve?
Jack takes audiences inside the world of military aviation to demonstrate how high-performing teams prepare for demanding missions and execute when the pressure is on.
He then translates those lessons into practical business strategies that can help organizations improve communication, accountability and performance.
Ideal for: Leadership conferences, corporate meetings, management teams and organizations focused on execution.
The Fighter Pilot Mindset: High performance doesn't happen by accident.
Jack explores the habits and disciplines that help elite performers stay focused, make decisions and deliver results in demanding environments.
Audiences learn how stronger preparation, clearer expectations and personal accountability can improve performance across an organization.
Ideal for: Sales kickoffs, leadership meetings and high-performance teams.
Debrief to Win: What happens after the mission may be just as important as what happens during it.
Jack demonstrates how effective debriefing can help teams identify what worked, understand what didn't and continuously improve without creating a culture of blame.
Applied to business, this approach can strengthen communication, accelerate learning and help teams perform better on the next mission.
Ideal for: Leadership teams, sales organizations, project teams and companies building a culture of continuous improvement.
Why Book Jack Becker Through The Sweeney Agency?
Jack Becker combines fighter-pilot experience with practical business strategies for improving execution, accountability and teamwork—but the real value comes from connecting those lessons to the performance challenges facing your organization.
The Sweeney Agency can help you:
- Confirm Jack Becker's availability and current speaking fee
- Determine which Jack Becker keynote best fits your audience
- Discuss customization around your event objectives
- Coordinate format, timing and event logistics
- Compare Jack with other leading leadership, teamwork and high-performance speakers
Is Jack Becker Right for Your Event?
Tell us where your team needs to improve execution, accountability or collaboration.
We'll help you determine whether Jack is the right fit, confirm availability and fees, and make the booking process simple.
Planning a leadership conference, sales kickoff or corporate event? Contact The Sweeney Agency today [email protected] to discuss booking Jack Becker as your keynote speaker.
About
Ross Bernstein: Bestselling Sports Author | Creator of The Champion’s Code | Speaker on Teamwork, Leadership and Accountability
Why Book Ross Bernstein?
Ross brings those lessons to life through sports stories, photographs and business examples. His message connects achievement with integrity, accountability and service, giving audiences memorable ways to think about their own conduct. He customizes each program around the event’s theme and the outcomes the planning team wants to achieve.
Why Is Ross Bernstein Right for Your Audience?
Ross is a strong fit for sales meetings, leadership conferences, franchise events and association gatherings. He is especially relevant when an organization wants to strengthen teamwork, raise expectations or help people see how their daily behavior influences customer relationships and collective results.
Book Ross when your audience needs to:
- Take greater responsibility for its performance
- Build trust with teammates and customers
- Connect competitive ambition with integrity
- Strengthen commitment to shared goals
- Differentiate through relationships and service
- Lead by example and support others’ development
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- More aware of the habits behind consistent team performance
- Ready to connect personal accountability with shared success
- Equipped with ideas for building stronger customer relationships
- Clearer on how respect and integrity shape leadership
- Motivated to contribute to a culture of high standards
Keynote Programs
The Champion’s Code
Ross’s signature keynote connects lessons from sports champions with business relationships, integrity and accountability. He explores how leadership, teamwork and customer service help organizations stand out. Ideal for sales teams, franchise audiences and company gatherings seeking an energetic message about performance and culture.
Wearing the C
This leadership program draws on Ross’s interviews with more than 500 sports captains and coaches. He explores different approaches to building commitment, communicating effectively and leading with integrity. Ideal for managers, business leaders and sales professionals; it can also serve as a breakout session alongside his signature keynote.
Ross can deliver The Champion’s Code as a keynote or an interactive workshop, with the content shaped around your audience and event goals.
Is Ross Bernstein Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the standards you want to reinforce and what you want people to do differently after the event. We can help select Ross’s most relevant program, discuss customization and format, and confirm his availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.
Biggest Mistakes People Make When Booking a Speaker
Biggest Mistakes People When Booking a a Speaker
About
Biggest Mistakes People Make When Booking a Speaker

Molly Bloom
About Molly Bloom – Inspirational Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur, and Bestselling Author
About
Amy Blankson: Author of The Future of Happiness | Digital Wellness Leader | Speaker on Flourishing and Positive Psychology
Help People Thrive in a Changing World
Amy Blankson helps audiences turn the science of happiness into practical choices at work and in life. As co-founder and Chief Evangelist of the Digital Wellness Institute, she explores how people can use technology well, build positive habits, and create conditions in which they and their teams can flourish.
Why Book Amy Blankson?
Amy brings a constructive perspective to challenges many organizations share: stress, change, engagement, and the impact of technology on well-being. She translates positive psychology into small actions that people can try immediately, while giving leaders a broader way to think about the environments they create.
Her talks can help audiences move from concern about the future toward a clearer sense of what they can influence today.
What Makes Amy Different?
- Author of The Future of Happiness, which examines well-being in a digital world
- Co-founder and Chief Evangelist of the Digital Wellness Institute
- Experience connecting positive psychology with workplace challenges
- Current programs on flourishing, AI, and resilience amid uncertainty
- An engaging style that makes ideas about well-being practical and accessible
Why Is Amy Right for Your Audience?
Amy is a strong fit for leadership conferences, employee events, education and nonprofit gatherings, and programs focused on workplace culture or digital change. She is especially relevant when an audience needs a thoughtful, encouraging way to address uncertainty without dismissing its real pressures.
Book Amy when your audience needs to:
- Navigate change with greater optimism and agency
- Support employee well-being alongside performance
- Build small habits that make positive change more sustainable
- Consider how AI can support human creativity and judgment
- Create healthier relationships with technology
- Make flourishing a meaningful part of workplace culture
Audience Takeaways
Attendees will leave:
- Better able to identify actions within their control during uncertainty
- Equipped with practical ideas for building positive daily habits
- Clearer on how leaders can support people who are adapting to change
- Ready to use technology more intentionally
- Inspired to connect well-being, purpose, and performance
Keynote Programs
The Future is Flourishing: Why Thriving People and Cultures Will Define What’s Next
Amy invites audiences to look beyond simply coping with change and consider what allows people and organizations to thrive. She offers a practical framework for bringing purpose and well-being into decisions about culture, engagement, and performance. Ideal for leadership and workplace culture events.
SuperThinkers: How to Innovate, Lead, and Thrive in an AI-Driven World
Amy explores how leaders can use AI to deepen thinking, ask better questions, and support human creativity. Ideal for audiences looking for a people-centered approach to technological change.
Fearless Positivity: Mastering Mindset in the Midst of Uncertainty
Amy shares ways to reframe challenges, build resilience, and take purposeful action when the path ahead is unclear. Ideal for organizations navigating change, disruption, or sustained pressure.
Additional Workshop: The Joy Game
In this interactive workshop, Amy helps teams make joy a practical part of daily work through small changes in mindset and behavior. Ideal for groups seeking more engagement and connection.
Why Contact The Sweeney Agency Now?
Tell us whether your audience is focused on flourishing, AI, uncertainty, or digital well-being. We can help select the right keynote or workshop, discuss customization, and confirm Amy’s availability and current fee.
Is Amy Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the pressures it faces, and what you want people to think or do differently afterward. We’ll help you assess Amy’s fit and plan the next step.
To check availability and fee of this speaker, call 1-866-727-7555 or email [email protected].
Liz Bohannon
Founder & CEO of Socially Conscious Fashion Brand Sseko Designs, Bestselling Author
About
Liz Bohannon: Entrepreneur and Bestselling Author of Beginner’s Pluck | Speaker on Connection, Resilience and Innovation
Why Book Liz Bohannon?
Liz also explores the relationships that help people thrive. Through humor, candid stories and practical frameworks, she encourages leaders to build communities where people can ask for support, contribute their strengths and work through challenges together.
Why Is Liz Bohannon Right for Your Audience?
Liz is a strong fit for leadership conferences, entrepreneurial events, company gatherings and programs focused on culture. She is particularly relevant when teams need renewed confidence, stronger connections or permission to try a different approach.
Book Liz when your audience needs to:
- Take action before it feels fully ready
- Approach setbacks as opportunities to learn
- Strengthen relationships across teams
- Build a culture of curiosity and experimentation
- Connect individual purpose with meaningful work
- Develop resilience through shared support
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- More willing to learn through experimentation
- Ready to take a manageable first step toward a goal
- Clearer on how relationships support resilience
- Equipped with ideas for building workplace connection
- Motivated to contribute to a more collaborative culture
Keynote Programs
Collective Resilience™
Liz explores how strong relationships help people and organizations navigate challenges. Ideal for leaders and teams seeking greater connection, collaboration and mutual support.
Beginner’s Pluck™
Liz shares her entrepreneurial journey and a framework for approaching work with a beginner’s curiosity. Ideal for audiences seeking confidence to experiment, learn from failure and pursue meaningful goals.
Her programs combine storytelling with practical frameworks, with the emphasis selected around your audience’s needs.
Is Liz Bohannon Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the connections you want to strengthen and the goals people need confidence to pursue. We can help select Liz’s most relevant program, discuss customization, and confirm her availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.
About
Les Brown: Motivational Speaker | Author of Live Your Dreams | Speaker on Achievement, Resilience and Personal Potential
Why Book Les Brown?
His storytelling, humor and energetic delivery make personal achievement a compelling event experience. For an organization asking people to raise their standards or regain momentum, Les brings a message about persistence, possibility and the choices that move goals forward.
Why Is Les Brown Right for Your Audience?
Les is a strong fit for sales rallies, company conferences, association meetings and personal development events. Consider him when your audience needs an emotional lift alongside a clear challenge to take action.
Book Les when your audience needs to:
- Reconnect with meaningful personal and professional goals
- Build confidence after setbacks
- Challenge assumptions about what is possible
- Take responsibility for the next step
- Strengthen persistence when progress is difficult
- Bring renewed energy to ambitious goals
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- More willing to pursue goals they have postponed
- Encouraged to question limiting beliefs
- Ready to approach setbacks with greater persistence
- Clearer on the role of effort and personal commitment
- Motivated to turn inspiration into action
Keynote Programs
You’ve Got to Be Hungry
Les explores the drive required to pursue ambitious goals, using his own experiences to make persistence and initiative memorable. Ideal for sales and achievement-focused events.
Achieving at the Next Level
Les challenges audiences to expand their sense of possibility and develop the mindset needed to pursue higher performance. Ideal for teams ready to raise their expectations.
Live Your Dreams Now
Les encourages people to act on what matters rather than continually defer it. Ideal for audiences seeking renewed purpose and motivation.
Is Les Brown Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the goals you want to reinforce and the energy you want people to carry back to work. We can help select Les’s most relevant program, discuss customization and confirm availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.
Dan Buettner
Internationally Recognized Researcher, Explorer, National Geographic Fellow, and New York Times Best-selling Author on Longevity
About
Dan Buettner: Blue Zones Founder | National Geographic Fellow | Speaker on Longevity, Happiness and Wellbeing
Why Book Dan Buettner?
His presentations bring movement, food, social connection and purpose into a broader conversation about healthy environments. Dan offers event planners an engaging way to introduce wellbeing and community design, with photography and stories that make the subject accessible.
Why Is Dan Buettner Right for Your Audience?
Dan is a strong fit for employee wellbeing events, healthcare conferences, community leadership meetings and association programs. Consider him when your audience wants to explore how surroundings and routines can support healthier, more connected lives.
Book Dan when your audience needs to:
- Examine how environments influence daily choices
- Explore wellbeing beyond individual willpower
- Understand the importance of social connection
- Consider purpose as part of everyday wellbeing
- Discuss healthier communities and workplaces
- Bring a broader perspective to happiness and longevity
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- More aware of the daily habits discussed in Blue Zones research
- Ready to examine their home and workplace environments
- Clearer on the role of relationships and purpose
- Equipped with questions for improving community wellbeing
- Inspired to make healthier routines easier to maintain
Keynote Programs
Blue Zones: Secrets of a Long Life
Dan shares observations from long-lived populations and introduces the common lifestyle patterns described in his Blue Zones work. Ideal for broad wellbeing and healthcare audiences.
The Blue Zones of Happiness
Dan explores how daily experience, life satisfaction and purpose shape happiness. Ideal for employee, association and community audiences.
The Making of a Healthy City
Dan discusses how community design can make healthier choices easier, drawing on Blue Zones projects. Ideal for civic, healthcare and organizational leaders.
Is Dan Buettner Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, your wellbeing priorities and the changes you want the event to encourage. We can help select Dan’s most relevant program, discuss customization and confirm availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.
Scott Burrows
Inspirational Speaker, Bestselling Author, Wheelchair, Athlete & Successful Entrepreneur
About
Scott Burrows: Author of Vision, Mindset, Grit | Inspirational Speaker on Resilience, Change and Performance
Why Book Scott Burrows?
His keynote connects a powerful personal story with choices people face at work: maintaining perspective, taking ownership and continuing through discomfort. The presentation combines storytelling, video and a memorable live demonstration, giving teams a shared language for facing challenges.
Why Is Scott Burrows Right for Your Audience?
Scott is a strong fit for sales kickoffs, leadership conferences, company meetings and incentive events. Consider him when your audience needs renewed confidence and determination during change or after setbacks.
Book Scott when your audience needs to:
- Maintain a clear vision through difficulty
- Focus on actions within their control
- Respond constructively to unexpected change
- Build persistence when results take time
- Step beyond familiar routines
- Execute with greater composure under pressure
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- Clearer on the connection between vision, mindset and grit
- Ready to take a useful next step through adversity
- More willing to challenge self-imposed limits
- Equipped with questions that redirect attention toward action
- Encouraged to persist while adapting their approach
Keynote Programs
Stand Up to Any Challenge: Vision • Mindset • Grit
Scott’s signature keynote connects his personal journey with practical ideas for resilience and performance. Ideal for broad employee, leadership and sales audiences.
Is Scott Burrows Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the challenges it faces and the response you want to inspire. We can help select Scott’s most relevant program, discuss customization and confirm availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.
About
Leroy Chiao: Former NASA Astronaut | International Space Station Commander | Speaker on Leadership, Teamwork and Innovation
Why Book Leroy Chiao?
His stories and photographs make those experiences tangible. Leroy connects the excitement of exploration with questions that matter to business: how to prevent complacency, maintain operational discipline and encourage people to find better solutions.
Why Is Leroy Chiao Right for Your Audience?
Leroy is a strong fit for leadership conferences, company meetings, engineering events and innovation programs. Consider him when you want an inspiring story that also opens a practical conversation about team performance and responsibility.
Book Leroy when your audience needs to:
- Recognize complacency before it becomes a problem
- Improve preparation for high-pressure decisions
- Strengthen collaboration across different backgrounds
- Balance innovation with operational discipline
- Maintain perspective during uncertainty
- Connect ambitious goals with everyday execution
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- More aware of how complacency affects performance
- Ready to examine their approach to preparation
- Clearer on the importance of shared responsibility
- Equipped with leadership lessons from spaceflight
- Inspired to approach ambitious goals with curiosity and discipline
Keynote Programs
To the Stars! – Leaving Complacency Behind
Leroy uses spaceflight stories and organizational examples to examine the causes and consequences of complacency. Ideal for teams that want to maintain high standards.
Leadership and Operational Decision Making – Fundamentals from Spaceflight
Leroy explores preparation, perspective and responsibility when the stakes are high. Ideal for executive, operations and leadership audiences.
View from the On-High: Adventures of a Professional Astronaut
Leroy shares the experience of spaceflight through personal stories and photographs of Earth. Ideal for events seeking an entertaining and inspiring perspective.
Is Leroy Chiao Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the standards you want to reinforce and the leadership challenges it faces. We can help discuss the most relevant program, customization and Leroy’s availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.
James Clear
Author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Atomic Habits, Keynote Speaker on Personal Development and Decision Making
About
James Clear: Bestselling Author of Atomic Habits | Speaker on Habits, Decision Making and Continuous Improvement
Why Book James Clear?
His presentations make habit formation accessible through research, stories and practical examples. James gives teams a useful way to discuss consistency: making productive behaviors easier, reducing friction and building routines that support the goals they already care about.
Why Is James Clear Right for Your Audience?
James is a strong fit for sales kickoffs, leadership conferences, company meetings and professional development events. Consider him when your organization wants people to move from setting goals to building the habits that support them.
Book James when your audience needs to:
- Make continuous improvement part of daily work
- Build routines that support important goals
- Reduce friction around productive behaviors
- Replace unhelpful habits with better alternatives
- Maintain consistency beyond an initial burst of motivation
- Understand how small improvements accumulate
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- Clearer on the relationship between habits and results
- Ready to identify a behavior they want to improve
- Equipped with practical ideas for designing better routines
- More aware of how their environment influences action
- Prepared to focus on consistent progress
Keynote Programs
Atomic Habits: How to Get 1% Better Every Day
James explores how small habits work and how their effects accumulate. Ideal for employee, leadership and performance-focused audiences.
The Surprising Power of Small Habits
James shares strategies for building good habits and breaking unhelpful ones. Ideal for audiences seeking a practical introduction to behavior change.
Moderated Fireside Chat with James Clear
A conversation allows your moderator to explore the ideas in Atomic Habits and their relevance to your audience. Ideal for events that want discussion and tailored questions.
Is James Clear Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the behaviors you want to strengthen and the goals you want those behaviors to support. We can help discuss the most relevant program, customization and James’s availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this 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
Pandit Dasa: Former Monk | Author | Speaker on Mindful Leadership and Workplace Culture
Why Book Pandit Dasa?
His presentations encourage audiences to pause before reacting, recognize their own patterns, and approach colleagues with greater understanding. Pandit makes these ideas relevant to daily work, from managing pressure to supporting a teammate or leading a difficult conversation.
Why Is Pandit Dasa Right for Your Audience?
Pandit is a strong fit for leadership meetings, HR conferences, employee gatherings, and workplace well-being events. Consider him when your organization wants practical discussion of personal responsibility, respectful communication, and a more supportive team environment.
Book Pandit when your audience needs to:
- Build a culture of respect and appreciation
- Listen more carefully before responding
- Develop greater self-awareness as leaders
- Navigate change with a calmer approach
- Strengthen collaboration across teams
- Make employee well-being part of workplace conversations
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- More aware of how their reactions affect colleagues
- Ready to practice more attentive listening
- Equipped with mindfulness ideas to use during busy days
- Better prepared to respond thoughtfully to uncertainty
- Focused on small actions that support team culture
Keynote Programs
Creating a Mindful and Positive Workplace Culture
Pandit explores behaviors that strengthen trust, appreciation, and collaboration. Ideal for broad employee audiences and culture initiatives.
Mindful Leadership and the Future of Work
Pandit connects self-awareness with leadership in a changing workplace. Ideal for managers and emerging leaders.
Thriving Through Change: Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity
Pandit addresses how people respond to uncertainty and approach new possibilities. Ideal for teams navigating organizational transitions.
Is Pandit Dasa Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the culture you want to build and the pressures your people are experiencing. We can help select Pandit’s most relevant program, discuss customization, and confirm availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.
Paul de Gelder
Army Airborne, Navy Bomb Disposal Diver, Shark Attack Survivor, Author
About
Paul de Gelder: Former Australian Navy Clearance Diver | Shark Attack Survivor | Speaker on Resilience, Courage and Change
Why Book Paul de Gelder?
Paul connects his military experience and recovery journey with questions about fear, discipline, and purpose. His presentations encourage audiences to examine the choices available when circumstances change unexpectedly and to recognize the importance of teamwork, adaptability, and taking the next step.
Why Is Paul de Gelder Right for Your Audience?
Paul is a strong fit for company gatherings, leadership meetings, sales conferences, and events focused on overcoming adversity. Consider him when your audience needs a memorable personal perspective on responding to setbacks and moving forward.
Book Paul when your audience needs to:
- Face change with greater courage
- Rebuild momentum after a difficult period
- Recognize the value of discipline and preparation
- Strengthen teamwork when pressure rises
- Reconsider assumptions about personal limitations
- Reconnect daily effort with a sense of purpose
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- A fresh perspective on responding to adversity
- More aware of how fear can affect choices
- Ready to identify a manageable next step
- Clearer on the role of teamwork during challenges
- Motivated to approach change with persistence and purpose
Keynote Programs
Uncaged: Thriving Through Fear and Change
Paul draws on his survival and recovery to explore fear and adaptation. Ideal for teams facing uncertainty or significant transitions.
Never Say Die: Turning Pain into Power
Paul shares lessons from rebuilding his life after the attack. Ideal for audiences seeking inspiration around persistence and reinvention.
Courage Under Pressure: Leadership in High-Stakes Environments
Paul connects military experience with trust, clarity, and decision-making. Ideal for leaders responsible for teams working under pressure.
Is Paul de Gelder Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the challenges your audience faces and the response you want to encourage. We can help select Paul’s most relevant program, discuss customization, and confirm availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.
Mick Ebeling
Founder and CEO of Not Impossible Labs, Top 50 World’s Most Creative People, Speaker on Innovation
About
Mick Ebeling: Keynote Speaker on Innovation, Leadership & Possibility | Founder of Not Impossible Labs | Author | Entrepreneur
Make the Impossible, Not Impossible
What could your organization accomplish if your people stopped asking “Can we?” and started asking “How can we?”
Mick Ebeling is an entrepreneur, author, innovator and inspiring keynote speaker on innovation, leadership, problem-solving and purpose-driven business.
His message challenges audiences to stop accepting limitations, take action before they have every answer and use technology, creativity and collaboration to solve problems that truly matter.
Why Book Mick Ebeling?
Mick doesn't just talk about innovation. He shows audiences what innovation looks like when people actually do something.
His projects begin with seemingly impossible human problems. Instead of waiting for someone else to solve them, Mick brings together diverse teams, technology and an intense determination to find a way forward.
The result is a powerful business lesson: innovation doesn't always begin with having the answer. It begins with refusing to accept that a problem can't be solved.
Mick's combination of extraordinary stories, optimism and practical thinking makes his keynote inspiring while giving audiences a fresh perspective on innovation and action.
What Makes Mick Ebeling Different?
- Founder of Not Impossible Labs — an organization built around solving real-world problems
- Innovation with purpose — demonstrates how technology can create meaningful human impact
- Action-oriented mindset — encourages people to stop overthinking and start experimenting
- Extraordinary storytelling — brings innovation to life through compelling real-world projects
- Human-centered approach — starts with people and problems rather than technology
- Collaboration focused — shows how diverse expertise can accelerate breakthroughs
- Relevant to AI and technology conversations — keeps the focus on what technology can enable for people
- Highly inspirational — challenges audiences to rethink what they believe is possible
Why Is Mick Right for Your Audience?
Mick is an outstanding choice when you want your audience to challenge assumptions, solve problems differently and turn ambitious ideas into action.
He is particularly effective for leadership conferences, innovation summits, technology events, corporate meetings and organizations undergoing transformation.
Book Mick when your audience needs to:
- Challenge assumptions about what is possible
- Turn ideas into action
- Approach difficult problems with greater creativity
- Innovate with the customer or end user at the center
- Use technology to create meaningful solutions
- Break through organizational silos
- Collaborate across different disciplines
- Become more comfortable experimenting and learning
Audience Takeaways
Attendees will leave:
- More willing to challenge “that's impossible” thinking
- Inspired to take action before every answer is known
- Better prepared to approach problems from the user's perspective
- Understanding how collaboration can accelerate innovation
- More focused on solving meaningful problems rather than chasing technology
- Ready to experiment, learn and adapt
- Asking a powerful question: What impossible problem should we solve next?
Mick Ebeling Keynote Programs
Making the Impossible, Not Impossible. What if “impossible” simply means nobody has solved the problem yet?
Mick takes audiences behind the scenes of Not Impossible Labs and the remarkable projects created by teams willing to tackle challenges others had accepted as unsolvable.
Through compelling stories of innovation and human impact, he demonstrates how commitment, collaboration and experimentation can turn seemingly impossible ideas into real solutions.
Ideal for: Innovation conferences, leadership events, corporate meetings and organizations looking to inspire bold thinking.
Innovation for the Sake of Humanity. The most powerful innovation doesn't begin with technology. It begins with a human problem worth solving.
Mick challenges audiences to put people at the center of innovation and focus technology on creating meaningful outcomes.
His stories demonstrate how empathy, creativity and diverse perspectives can uncover solutions that traditional approaches may overlook.
Ideal for: Technology, AI, innovation, healthcare and purpose-driven business events.
The Fallacy of “Impossible”. How many opportunities disappear because someone decides an idea can't be done before anyone actually tries?
Mick challenges audiences to question the assumptions, processes and conventional thinking that can prevent innovation.
He shows how experimentation, collaboration and a willingness to begin without knowing every step can create breakthroughs.
Ideal for: Leadership teams, transformation initiatives, innovation summits and organizations navigating disruption.
Why Book Mick Ebeling Through The Sweeney Agency?
Mick Ebeling brings together innovation, technology, purpose and extraordinary human stories—but the real value comes from connecting his message to the problems and opportunities your organization needs people to approach differently.
The Sweeney Agency can help you:
- Confirm Mick Ebeling's availability and current speaking fee
- Determine which Mick Ebeling keynote best fits your audience
- Discuss customization around your organization's innovation objectives
- Coordinate format, timing and event logistics
- Compare Mick with other leading innovation, technology and leadership speakers
Is Mick Ebeling Right for Your Event?
Tell us the challenge your organization is trying to solve—or the “impossible” idea you want your people to start believing is possible.
We'll help you determine whether Mick is the right fit, confirm availability and fees, and make the booking process simple.
Planning an innovation conference, leadership meeting or technology event? Contact The Sweeney Agency today [email protected] to discuss booking Mick Ebeling as your keynote speaker.
Connor Fields
Olympic Champion, BMX Racing Legend, Near-Fatal Crash Survivor, TV Host, Mental Health Advocate
About
Connor Fields: Olympic BMX Gold Medalist | Three-Time Olympian | Speaker on Resilience and Performance
Why Book Connor Fields?
Connor connects those experiences with preparation, identity, and the choices people make after success or adversity. His message gives audiences a memorable perspective on rebuilding momentum and focusing on the next action.
Why Is Connor Fields Right for Your Audience?
Connor is a strong fit for sales meetings, leadership conferences, company events, and healthcare gatherings. Consider him when your audience needs renewed determination and a practical conversation about responding to setbacks.
Book Connor when your audience needs to:
- Prepare consistently for important moments
- Regain direction after a setback
- Learn from outcomes without becoming defined by them
- Maintain focus under pressure
- Recognize the role of support in recovery
- Choose a next step when plans change
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- A fresh perspective on resilience after adversity
- Clearer on the value of preparation
- Ready to identify a manageable next step
- More aware of how they respond to unexpected outcomes
- Motivated to rebuild momentum with purpose
Keynote Programs
Gold Medal Moments
Connor draws on his Olympic experiences to examine preparation, performance, and living with outcomes. Ideal for teams facing important goals and demanding expectations.
Is Connor Fields Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience and the challenges they are navigating. We can help select Connor’s most relevant program, discuss customization, and confirm availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.
Christopher Gardner
Entrepreneur, Philanthropist, Speaker, and the inspiration for the film The Pursuit of Happyness
About
Chris Gardner: Entrepreneur | Author of The Pursuit of Happyness | Speaker on Opportunity, Persistence and Purpose
Why Book Chris Gardner?
Chris encourages audiences to think about the future they want and the steps needed to move toward it. His message connects ambition with responsibility, persistence, and a willingness to act before the path feels secure.
Why Is Chris Gardner Right for Your Audience?
Chris is a strong fit for company gatherings, sales meetings, leadership events, and education programs. Consider him when your audience needs a memorable story that encourages people to pursue opportunity and keep moving through obstacles.
Book Chris when your audience needs to:
- Reconnect effort with personal purpose
- Act on goals that have been delayed
- Maintain persistence through setbacks
- Recognize possibilities beyond current circumstances
- Take responsibility for a next step
- Support the potential they see in others
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- A fresh perspective on opportunity and perseverance
- Ready to define what progress means for them
- More aware of how choices shape direction
- Motivated to take a concrete step toward a goal
- Encouraged to help others recognize their potential
Keynote Programs
Customized Inspirational Keynote
Chris shares his journey and concepts including the Universal Dream, connecting personal possibility with the actions needed to build a different future. Ideal for audiences seeking inspiration around persistence, opportunity, and purpose.
Is Chris Gardner Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the aspirations you want people to act on and the obstacles they face. We can help select Chris’s most relevant program, discuss customization, and confirm availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.
About
Laura Gassner Otting: Author of Limitless and Wonderhell | Former Executive Recruiter | Speaker on Ambition, Leadership and Purpose
Why Book Laura Gassner Otting?
Laura’s presentations explore the tension between achievement, uncertainty, and the desire for more meaningful work. She encourages audiences to examine limits they have accepted and make more deliberate choices about their impact.
Why Is Laura Gassner Otting Right for Your Audience?
Laura is a strong fit for leadership conferences, professional development programs, company events, and talent meetings. Consider her when your people need to reconnect ambition with purpose or prepare for a new stage of growth.
Book Laura when your audience needs to:
- Question assumptions about what success should look like
- Connect strengths with meaningful work
- Build confidence to pursue a larger contribution
- Develop leadership that supports other people’s potential
- Respond constructively to uncertainty after achievement
- Make more deliberate career and performance choices
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- Clearer on their own definition of success
- Ready to examine self-imposed limits
- More aware of what connects them to their work
- Equipped with questions for a next career or leadership step
- Focused on a practical choice that advances meaningful progress
Keynote Programs
Limitless
Laura explores aligning work, strengths, and personal priorities. Ideal for broad employee and professional development audiences.
Limitless Leadership
Laura focuses on leadership that helps people recognize and use their potential. Ideal for managers and executives.
Is Laura Gassner Otting Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the growth or engagement challenges your people are experiencing. We can help select Laura’s most relevant program, discuss customization, and confirm availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.
About
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Yossi Ghinsberg
Inspiring Speaker with a Story of Adventure, Survival and Overcoming Extreme Adversity.
About
Yossi Ghinsberg: Amazon Survival Storyteller | Author of Jungle | Speaker on Courage, Adaptability and Purpose
Why Book Yossi Ghinsberg?
Yossi uses that story to open a conversation about responding when familiar plans and assumptions no longer hold. His presentations encourage people to reconsider possibility, take initiative, and reflect on the purpose behind their efforts.
Why Is Yossi Ghinsberg Right for Your Audience?
Yossi is a strong fit for company conferences, leadership events, sales meetings, and gatherings during change. Consider him when your audience needs a powerful personal story connected to uncertainty, responsibility, and moving forward.
Book Yossi when your audience needs to:
- Approach uncertainty with greater courage
- Adapt when a familiar plan breaks down
- Look for useful action within difficult circumstances
- Reconnect individual effort with purpose
- Question assumptions about personal limitations
- Support one another through unexpected challenges
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- A memorable perspective on responding to adversity
- Ready to consider options when certainty is unavailable
- More aware of their own reaction to changing circumstances
- Encouraged to take initiative within their influence
- Focused on a meaningful next step
Keynote Programs
From Survival to Legacy
Yossi connects his survival story with courage, creativity, and leadership amid uncertainty. Ideal for organizations navigating disruption.
The Laws of the Jungle
Yossi explores personal responsibility, resilience, and purpose through lessons from his experience. Ideal for broad employee and sales audiences.
Is Yossi Ghinsberg Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the uncertainty your audience faces and the actions you want to encourage. We can help select Yossi’s most relevant program, discuss customization, and confirm availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.
About
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Kristen Hadeed: Founder of Student Maid | Author of Permission to Screw Up | Speaker on Human Leadership, Trust and Workplace Culture
Why Book Kristen Hadeed?
Kristen brings openness to a subject that can feel intimidating. Her presentations encourage leaders to acknowledge what they do not know, take responsibility for their impact, and make room for the humanity of the people they lead.
Why Is Kristen Hadeed Right for Your Audience?
Kristen is a strong fit for leadership conferences, manager development, company meetings, and culture initiatives. Consider her when an organization wants more candid feedback and a stronger sense of trust between leaders and employees.
Book Kristen when your audience needs to:
- Build trust through greater openness
- Deliver feedback with clarity and care
- Respond constructively to mistakes
- Develop confidence in difficult conversations
- Strengthen connection between managers and employees
- Take responsibility for their leadership impact
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- Clearer on what human leadership can look like in practice
- Ready to approach a difficult conversation more thoughtfully
- More aware of how their behavior affects trust
- Equipped with ideas for giving and receiving feedback
- Focused on a relationship they can strengthen
Keynote Programs
Ignite Human Leadership
Kristen explores how leaders can build a culture that values people and supports growth. Ideal for leadership events and organizations reconsidering their approach to management.
Courageous Conversations
Kristen focuses on delivering and accepting feedback in ways that build trust. Ideal for managers and teams seeking clearer communication and more productive working relationships.
Is Kristen Hadeed Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the leadership relationships and conversations you want to improve. We can help select Kristen’s most relevant program, discuss customization, and confirm availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.
DeDe Halfill
Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel, Keynote Speaker, and Advisor helping leaders Master the Unseen™
About
DeDe Halfhill: Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel | Leadership Advisor | Speaker on Trust, Courage and Connection
Why Book DeDe Halfhill?
Her presentations invite leaders to look beneath visible performance problems and consider what people may be experiencing. DeDe connects empathy with leadership responsibility, encouraging audiences to ask better questions and have conversations that move a team forward.
Why Is DeDe Halfhill Right for Your Audience?
DeDe is a strong fit for executive meetings, leadership conferences, manager development, and women’s leadership events. Consider her when teams face uncertainty and leaders need to strengthen trust while maintaining clear expectations.
Book DeDe when your audience needs to:
- Build trust during pressure and change
- Recognize emotional dynamics within a team
- Have difficult conversations with greater courage
- Balance empathy with clear expectations
- Examine their influence as a leader
- Strengthen connection across roles and responsibilities
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- More aware of what may sit beneath a team’s challenges
- Ready to ask more useful leadership questions
- Clearer on the relationship between trust and connection
- Equipped with ideas for approaching difficult conversations
- Focused on a leadership behavior they can practice
Keynote Programs
Forged: Leadership That Holds When Everything Else Is Shifting
DeDe explores leadership amid uncertainty and pressure. Ideal for executives and managers responsible for guiding people through change.
Connection Is the Competitive Edge: The Advantage No One Talks About, But Everyone Feels
DeDe examines the often-overlooked role of connection in team performance. Ideal for organizations seeking stronger trust and more effective working relationships.
Is DeDe Halfhill Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the pressures your leaders face and the trust you want them to build. We can help select DeDe’s most relevant program, discuss customization, and confirm availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.
Mark Victor Hansen
Inspirational and motivational speaker, Co-Creator of the Best-Selling Chicken Soup For The Soul Series
About
Mark Victor Hansen: Co-Creator of Chicken Soup for the Soul | Author and Entrepreneur | Speaker on Possibility, Persistence and Personal Achievement
Why Book Mark Victor Hansen?
Mark connects the experience of building a publishing success with the personal choices behind ambitious goals. His energetic presentations encourage people to clarify what matters, seek support, and follow through when the first answer is not the answer they hoped for.
Why Is Mark Victor Hansen Right for Your Audience?
Mark is a strong fit for sales conferences, entrepreneur gatherings, company celebrations, and professional development events. Consider him when your audience needs renewed ambition and a memorable reason to act on an important goal.
Book Mark when your audience needs to:
- Clarify a meaningful personal or professional goal
- Respond to rejection with greater persistence
- Ask more directly for help and opportunities
- Think beyond familiar limits
- Connect motivation with consistent action
- Recognize the value of supportive relationships
Audience Takeaways
Depending on the program selected, attendees will leave:
- Ready to reconsider a goal they have postponed
- Clearer on the role of persistence in achievement
- More willing to ask for useful support
- Motivated to identify a concrete next action
- Focused on following through after the event
Keynote Programs
Mark’s presentations can be tailored around the following areas:
Possibility and Personal Achievement
Mark explores ambitious goals and the actions needed to pursue them. Ideal for company and professional audiences seeking renewed motivation.
Persistence and Entrepreneurial Thinking
Mark draws on his publishing journey to discuss responding to rejection and recognizing opportunities. Ideal for entrepreneurs and sales audiences.
The Power of Asking
Mark encourages audiences to examine the questions they ask and the support they seek. Ideal for teams working toward challenging goals.
Is Mark Victor Hansen Right for Your Event?
Tell us about your audience, the goals your audience is pursuing and the action you want the event to inspire. We can help select Mark’s most relevant program, discuss customization, and confirm availability and fee.
Contact The Sweeney Agency 1-866-727-7555 or [email protected] for more information on this speaker.





























