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Mike Abrashoff Speaker

Mike Abrashoff

Inspiring Story of Leadership from Former Commander of USS Benfold

 About

  • Real-life Leadership advice from the former captain of the best ship in the U.S. Navy—the U.S.S. Benfold
  • First book, It’s Your Ship, has sold over 1.1 million copies to date
  • Fresh ways to build trust, harness people’s passion and achieve extraordinary results; common-sense ideas to stay focused only on the things you can control/influence
  • Past clients include: Cox Communications, Disney, Exxon Mobil, JP Morgan, Microsoft, Starwood Hotels, Toyota

Click Here to Watch Mike's Virtual Presentation

Mike Abrashoff was the most-junior officer in the Pacific Fleet when he took command of the near-worst performing ship. Twelve months later, the USS Benfold was the best ship in the entire Navy –using the same crew. The story of that stunning transformation has lessons for every organization: leadership matters –and culture is everything. Mike’s written three books –his first, It’s Your Ship, has sold over 1.3million copies. His Leadership Roadmap offers clear, battle-tested, and actionable steps. Mike shows people at every level of the organization how to engage and take incremental steps toward change that can make a dramatic difference at work. Mike is clear, “I didn’t turn the ship around –my crew did that. What I did was to create an environment where they feltsafe, empowered and supported. When you do that, anything is possible.”

In many ways, what Mike was able to do with the USS Benfold was an extreme example of the same problems facing many organizations today. That’s why dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, and Fast Company have cited Mike’s story as an inspiring lesson for business. Leaders especially identify with Mike’s being accountable for the results in an environment where he couldn’t make the rules.

“When my crew came to me with a problem, I’d say ‘It’s your ship –how would you fix it?’.” Mike focused on the one thing he could influence: his crew’s attitude, because culture is the ultimate competitive weapon for any organization.

Mike’s established a set of management principles that he calls The Leadership Roadmap. At the core of his leadership approach on Benfoldwas a process of replacing command and control with commitment and cohesion, and engaging the hearts, minds, and loyalties of workers with conviction and humility. “The most important thing that a captain can do is to see the ship through the eyes of the crew. The idea is to empower every individual to share the responsibility of achieving excellence.”

By every measure, these principles achieved breakthrough results: turnover decreased to an unprecedented 1%; the rate of promotions tripled; and the crew slashed operating expenses by 25%. Regarded as the finest ship in the Pacific Fleet, Benfoldwon the prestigious Spokane Trophy for havingthe highest degree of combat readiness. This remarkable turnaround was accomplished by the very same crew that had performed so poorly just months before.

Mike is author of three books. His first, It’s Your Ship, has a timeless message: don’t use outside forces that stand in your way as excuses –control the things you can influence and amazing results will happen. His next books, It’s Our Ship and Get Your Ship Together, showed how these principles have been put into action by business leaders in their own organizations.

A popular keynote speaker for audiences looking to ramp up organizational performance, Mike has spoken to every industry and kind of audience –from board retreats to front line personnel; from sales groups to universities; from Fortune 500s to startups. He inspires audiences to rethink their beliefs about leadership and organizational culture and tailors the message to focus on engagement, execution, change, safety, diversity, leadership, teamwork, innovation, accountability and more. Prior to commanding USS Benfold, Mike served as the Military Assistant to Secretary of Defense William J. Perry. He also helped draft the air defense plan for naval forces in the Persian Gulf in 1990, coinciding with Iraq's invasion of Kuwait; and served as the executive officer of the Cruiser Shiloh, where he deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq.

Mike Abrashoff is the founder of Aegis Performance Group, a consulting firm which works with and supports leaders as they address leadership, talent and performance challenges within their organizations. Mike and his team prompt leaders at all levels to re-imagine their leadership thinking and create new ways to elevate individual,team and organizational performance.

Shawn Achor Speaker

Shawn Achor

Author and Speaker on Leadership, Performance and Change

 About

Shawn Achor: Keynote Speaker on Happiness, Positive Psychology & Human Potential | Bestselling Author | Harvard-Trained Researcher

Happiness Isn't the Result of Success. It Can Help Drive It.

What if one of the biggest opportunities to improve performance, engagement and resilience is changing the way people think about happiness?

Shawn Achor is a bestselling author and internationally recognized keynote speaker on happiness, positive psychology, leadership and human potential.

Why Book Shawn Achor?

Shawn takes a topic everyone understands—happiness—and connects it directly to the challenges organizations care about: performance, engagement, resilience, leadership and change.

His approach isn't simply about encouraging people to “think positively.” Shawn translates research in positive psychology into practical behaviors people can incorporate into their everyday lives.

The result is a keynote that is funny, thought-provoking and highly actionable—giving audiences a fresh perspective on how they approach work, relationships, challenges and success.

What Makes Shawn Achor Different?

  • Leading voice in positive psychology — helped bring the science of happiness into the business world
  • Bestselling author — known for books including The Happiness Advantage and Big Potential
  • Research-based message — connects positive psychology with workplace performance
  • Exceptionally entertaining — combines research with humor and memorable storytelling
  • Immediately actionable — practical habits audiences can begin using right away
  • Broad audience appeal — relevant to leaders, sales teams and employees across an organization
  • Positive and energizing — leaves audiences thinking differently about success and their own potential

Why Is Shawn Right for Your Audience?

Shawn is an excellent choice when you want your audience to leave energized, optimistic and equipped with practical strategies for improving their performance and wellbeing.

He is particularly effective for leadership conferences, corporate meetings, sales kickoffs, association conferences, employee events and organizations focused on engagement, resilience and workplace culture.

Book Shawn when your audience needs to:

  • Increase engagement and motivation
  • Build greater resilience during challenging periods
  • Improve performance without simply increasing pressure
  • Create more positive and productive workplace relationships
  • Strengthen optimism during uncertainty and change
  • Improve collaboration and social connection
  • Develop practical habits that support wellbeing
  • Recognize how individual behavior can influence team performance

Audience Takeaways

Attendees will leave:

  • Understanding the relationship between mindset, happiness and performance
  • Equipped with practical positive-psychology strategies they can use immediately
  • Better prepared to maintain optimism during challenges
  • More aware of how their behavior influences colleagues and teams
  • Ready to strengthen relationships and social connection
  • Motivated to create habits that support sustainable performance
  • Inspired to rethink the traditional relationship between happiness and success

Shawn Achor Keynote Programs

The Happiness Advantage: What if happiness doesn't follow success—but actually helps create it?

Shawn challenges the conventional formula that says we'll be happy once we become more successful.

Drawing on positive psychology research, he shows audiences how developing a more positive mindset can influence motivation, creativity, resilience and performance.

Audiences leave with practical strategies for creating positive habits and bringing greater energy and optimism to both work and life.

Ideal for: Corporate conferences, leadership events, sales kickoffs, employee meetings and workplace wellbeing programs.

Big Potential: Our greatest potential isn't achieved alone. It's influenced by the people around us.

Shawn explores how individuals and organizations can move beyond focusing exclusively on individual achievement and instead create environments where people help one another perform at a higher level.

He demonstrates how stronger relationships, collaboration and positive influence can help teams unlock greater collective potential.

Ideal for: Leadership, teamwork, culture, collaboration and employee-engagement events.

Positive Leadership Through Change: During uncertainty, a leader's mindset doesn't affect only the leader—it can influence the entire team.

Shawn shows leaders how optimism, connection and positive behaviors can help teams remain engaged and resilient when circumstances are difficult or changing.

Audiences gain practical strategies for creating environments where people can continue learning, collaborating and performing despite uncertainty.

Ideal for: Executive meetings, leadership development, transformation initiatives and organizations navigating change.

Why Book Shawn Achor Through The Sweeney Agency?

Shawn Achor's combination of research, humor and practical positive psychology makes him an engaging choice for a wide range of audiences—but the real value comes from connecting his message directly to what you want your people to think, feel and do differently.

The Sweeney Agency can help you:

  • Confirm Shawn Achor's availability and current speaking fee
  • Determine which Shawn Achor keynote best fits your audience
  • Discuss customization around your organization's objectives
  • Coordinate format, timing and event logistics
  • Compare Shawn with other leading motivational, leadership and workplace-culture speakers

Is Shawn Achor Right for Your Event?

Tell us what you want to improve—performance, engagement, resilience, leadership or workplace culture.

We'll help you determine whether Shawn 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 Shawn Achor as your keynote speaker.

Jon Acuff Speaker

Jon Acuff

About Jon Acuff – New York Times Bestselling Author and INC Top 100 Leadership Speaker: Jon Acuff is a New York Times bestselling author of 11 books. His titles, including Procrastination Proof, Soundtracks, Finish and All It Takes Is A Goal, have sold …

 About

Jon Acuff is a New York Times bestselling author of 11 books. His titles, including Procrastination Proof, Soundtracks, Finish and All It Takes Is A Goal, have sold more than one million copies.

Named one of Inc.’s Top 100 Leadership Speakers, he’s delivered keynotes to companies such as Microsoft, Walmart, and Comedy Central. Host of the popular podcast All It Takes Is a Goal, Jon has inspired hundreds of thousands of people to overcome overthinking and finish what matters most.

Jon lives outside of Nashville with his wife and two daughters.

Afterburner, Inc. Speaker

Afterburner, Inc.

Fighter Pilots who Teach Leadership, Teamwork, Culture & Motivation Skills

 About

Afterburner is a diverse team of elite military professionals composed of current and former Fighter Pilots. Their keynote speakers take the mindset and ways of working they learned in the cockpit of their high-performance fighter jets and transfer those lessons into your organization. They inspire teams, align them on their purpose, and help execute their plan to accelerate their performance. They connect strategy to execution with their cutting-edge training programs that include keynotes, team building seminars, workshops, training, coaching, and consulting programs.

Thousands of companies including Microsoft, Google, Home Depot, and Nike have all learned the secrets to accelerating the development of their strategy and execution – and you can too! From executive leaders to the frontline team, Afterburner’s programs are crafted to inspire your leaders and their teams to consistently surpass expectations!

Afterburner’s dynamic, high-energy keynote speakers will inspire your audience to take action and set the foundation for you to build highly engaged, outcome-focused teams. They’ll bring out your inner fighter pilot and show you what it’s like at the edge of the human performance envelope, physically and mentally.

David Allen Speaker

David Allen

Getting Things Done Author and Leading Time Management Speaker

 About

David Allen is an author, consultant, international speaker, Founder and Chairman of the David Allen Company. He is widely recognized as the world's leading authority on personal and organizational productivity. His thirty years of pioneering research, motivation and education of some of the world's highest-performing professionals, corporations and institutions - has earned him Forbes' recognition as one of the top five executive coaches in the United States, and as one of the Top 100 thought leaders by Leadership magazine. Fast Company hailed David Allen One of the world's most influential thinkers in the arena of personal productivity, for his outstanding programs and writing on time and stress management, the power of aligned focus and vision in the face of change - and his groundbreaking methodologies in management and executive peak performance. Time Magazine labeled his first book, Getting Things Done, as the defining self-help business book of the decade.

David Allen is the author of three books; the international best-seller, Getting Things Done: the Art of Stress-Free Productivity (GTD - as the method is popularly known), Ready for Anything, and Making It All Work: Winning at the Game of Work and Business of Life. Getting Things Done has been a perennial business best-seller since it's publication in 2001, and is now published in 28 languages.

Getting Things Done has spawned an international movement of devoted adopters from executives, techies, soldiers, entrepreneurs, university professors, musicians, students and the clergy. It has given rise to a thriving GTD industry of web sites, blogs and software applications. Internet searches bring up tens of millions of references. David Allen is a rarity in the twitter world - as one of the few non-celebrities with over a million followers hanging on his wit and inspiration.

Piloting a productivity seminar for a thousand managers at Lockheed in 1983, David has continued to test and refine the techniques and principles we now know as GTD - a powerful method to manage commitments, information, and communication. This pioneering and proven system is the result of those twenty plus years of David's consulting, private coaching and organizational programs with over a half million people internationally. GTD has well earned its recognition as the gold standard in personal management and productivity for many of the world's best and brightest people and companies.

Sophisticated without being confining, the subtle effectiveness of GTD lies in its radically common sense notion that with a complete and current inventory of all your commitments , organized and reviewed in a systematic way, you can focus clearly, view your world from optimal angles and make trusted choices about what to do (and not do) at any moment. GTD embodies an easy, step-by-step and highly efficient method for achieving this relaxed, productive state. It includes:

  • Capturing anything and everything that has your attention
  • Defining actionable things discretely into outcomes and concrete next steps
  • Organizing reminders and information in the most streamlined way, in appropriate categories, based on how and when you need to access them
  • Keeping current and on your game with appropriately frequent reviews of the six horizons of your commitments - purpose, vision, goals, areas of focus, projects, and actions

Implementing GTD alleviates the feeling of being overwhelmed, instills confidence - and releases a flood of creative energy. It provides structure without constraint and managing details with maximum flexibility. The system rigorously adheres to the core principles of productivity - while allowing tremendous freedom in the how. The only right way to do GTD is getting meaningful things done with truly the least amount of invested attention and energy. Coaching thousands of people, where they work, about their work - has informed the GTD method with the best practices
of how to work (and live), in that most efficient and productive way. GTDs simplicity, flexibility, and immediacy are its attraction. Its ability to enliven, enlighten, and empower is its magic. What, indeed, is GTD? More than meets the eye...

Amazing Speakers for Your Events Speaker

Amazing Speakers for Your Events

Customized Speaker Ideas for YOUR Event

 About

Get Your Customized List of Speaker Ideas

Our mission is simple: We find great speakers for YOUR events.

Simply fill out the form below and we will be in touch with a customized list of ideas for your event.

It's that simple.

    What topics are you interested in? *

    Audience Size & Industry:

    Phone Number: *

    Email: *


    We will not use your email address for any other purpose than sending you information and updates about your inquiry.

    Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour 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.

    Planning a leadership conference, sales kickoff or corporate event? Contact The Sweeney Agency today [email protected] to discuss booking Vernice “FlyGirl” Armour as your keynote speaker.

    Joey Aviles Speaker

    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.

    Kristel Bauer Speaker

    Kristel Bauer

    About Kristel Bauer – Award-Winning Author, Keynote Speaker on Sustainable High Performance & Leadership: Kristel Bauer is a keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, and award-winning author who helps leaders and teams thrive in demanding environments while …

     About

    Kristel Bauer is a keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, and award-winning author who helps leaders and teams thrive in demanding environments while strengthening resilience, engagement, and sustainable high performance. She is the founder of Live Greatly and was recognized as a 2026 Top Impact Speaker by Real Leaders Magazine.

    Known for delivering energizing, research-backed keynote experiences, Kristel equips audiences with actionable strategies to elevate performance, navigate change effectively, and sustain success over the long term. Kristel brings a distinctive perspective to the stage shaped by her background in healthcare. She practiced as a Physician Assistant in Integrative Psychiatry and completed a Fellowship in Integrative Medicine, experiences that give her unique insight into the science of stress, resilience, behavior change, and human performance.

    Kristel is the award-winning author of Work-Life Tango: Finding Happiness, Harmony and Peak Performance Wherever You Work (John Murray Business), where she introduces her signature Work-Life Tango Framework — a modern approach to helping professionals manage competing demands, strengthen well-being, and sustain high performance in today’s fast-paced world.
    Kristel is also the host of the Live Greatly Podcast, ranked among the top 1.5% of podcasts globally, where she shares conversations and insights focused on leadership, resilience, wellbeing, and sustainable success. Her work has been featured in NBC, ABC, FOX, Forbes, Entrepreneur, and other prominent media outlets.

    Blending behavioral science, positive psychology, leadership research, and engaging storytelling, Kristel helps organizations cultivate healthier, high-performing cultures where people can perform at a high level, navigate change more effectively, and sustain success without sacrificing well-being.

    Jack Becker 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.

    Kim Becking Speaker

    Kim Becking

    Communications and PR strategist, Trusted Media Expert, and Bestselling Author

     About

    The driving force behind the Unstoppable MomentumTM Movement, Kim Becking is changing the way we think about change and resilience in a rapidly changing world that NEVER SLOWS DOWN. An engaging, high energy and impactful international keynote speaker, New York Times Bestselling Author, human behavior expert and change and resilience researcher, Kim’s strategic insights and practical solutions have been utilized by hundreds of organizations ranging from Fortune 50 companies to associations and organizations around the world.

    Kim’s expertise on reframing change and redefining resilience is regularly featured in media outlets such as the New York Times, People, Good Morning America, USA Today and Harvard Business Review. Kim has helped companies and organizations around the world empower their leaders, teams, and communities to redefine resilience, reframe change, and understand what it truly means to lead, live, and lean into a rapidly changing, ever-evolving world that never slows down. Her mission is to inspire everyone she meets to be more adaptable, more resilient, and better equipped to own what’s now and embrace what’s next with a deep breath and a big cup of Bring It On.

    Using humor and vulnerability, Kim has the ability to connect with her audiences at a deeper level. Her authentic, engaging, humorous, and empowering messages of extraordinary resilience, conquering change, and creating success regardless of your circumstances have made her a favorite among her audiences.

    She has boosted communication, collaboration and consensus building capabilities for companies, associations, government, and non-profit organizations. And coached Fortune 500 CEO’s and C-Suite leaders, association executives and government leaders to accelerate their success and momentum.

    Kim knows a thing or two about change and challenges through her own experiences in business and life. As a “recovering” attorney, serial entrepreneur running 2 successful businesses, communications and public affairs strategist and “recovering” political consultant, Kim has conquered the ever-changing tough worlds of business, government, and politics. She’s also conquered life challenges - as a breast cancer thriver, mom of 3 with a blended family, caregiver with aging parents and many other unexpected changes.
    Kim has spent decades discovering research-based strategies, tools and the Unstoppable MomentumTM Framework, rooted in positive psychology, emotional intelligence, and communications - and then proving them in her life and in the work she has done with hundreds of organizations..

    Unstoppable Momentum is the power to use any change or challenge as a catalyst to bounce forward—not just bounce back—no matter what. Fueled by emotional intelligence, a Momentum Mindset, and intentional action, it is the fastest way to build sustainable resilience and adaptability in this ever-evolving world where change is happening at breakneck speed.

    After hearing Kim, leaders leave with the framework, mindset, and tools to revolutionize their approach to change, challenges, and obstacles, embrace the power of possibility, and use any change or challenge as rocket fuel for forward growth, transforming their lives, leadership, and your organization.

    Kim resides in Columbia, Missouri, and delivers programs as a keynote speaker, consultant and executive coach both in-person and virtually throughout the world.

    Robyn Benincasa Speaker

    Robyn Benincasa

    Adventure Racer, Firefighter, Speaker on Leadership & Teamwork

     About

    Robyn Benincasa

    World Champion Adventure Racer | New York Times Bestselling Author | Firefighter | Extreme Teamwork Expert

    Make Winning Inevitable

    When pressure rises and the path forward is uncertain, individual talent is not enough. Organizations need people who trust one another, adapt quickly and pursue a shared finish line.

    Robyn Benincasa shows audiences how to become that kind of team. A World Champion adventure racer, veteran San Diego firefighter, bestselling author and founder of the Project Athena Foundation, she combines gripping stories, dramatic footage and practical strategies that help people collaborate, embrace change and perform under pressure.

    Why Book Robyn Benincasa?

    Robyn gives audiences more than temporary inspiration. She provides a memorable operating system for achieving difficult goals together.

    Her lessons come from 17 years of expedition adventure racing, where every teammate had to reach the finish line together, and more than 23 years as a firefighter. Her energetic multimedia presentations make teamwork, resilience and leadership real, relevant and immediately useful.

    What Makes Robyn Different?

    • Extraordinary real-world credibility and a powerful stage presence

    • Unforgettable stories that make business lessons easy to remember

    • Practical habits audiences can apply immediately

    • A message that connects departments, generations and leadership levels

    • Customization around the organization’s challenges and objectives

    Why Is Robyn Right for Your Audience?

    Robyn is an excellent choice when an organization needs people to move beyond individual achievement and perform as one team. She is particularly effective for leadership conferences, sales kickoffs, association events and organizations navigating change.

    Book Robyn when your audience needs to:

    • Break down silos and strengthen collaboration

    • Adapt confidently to change and uncertainty

    • Build greater trust, accountability and connection

    • Turn high performers into a unified team

    • Rebuild energy following a difficult period

    • Pursue an ambitious goal that cannot be achieved alone

    Audience Takeaways

    Attendees will leave:

    • Ready to shift from “me thinking” to “we thinking”

    • Equipped with practical habits for strengthening teamwork and trust

    • Better prepared to turn pressure and setbacks into momentum

    • Focused on the team’s most important finish line

    • Inspired to lead with greater courage, empathy and determination

    Keynote Programs

    Adapt, Overcome and Win as One

    Robyn shows teams how to move decisively through disruption, create stability in uncertain conditions and turn change into opportunity. Ideal for transformation, restructuring, rapid growth, AI adoption and competitive pressure.

    Extreme T.E.A.M.W.O.R.K.

    Audiences discover how trust, shared ownership and commitment to one another turn talented individuals into an exceptional team. Ideal for strengthening culture, collaboration and collective performance.

    Why Winners Win

    Created for sales and high-performance audiences, this keynote demonstrates how top performers can share knowledge, combine strengths and compete as one. Ideal for sales kickoffs, revenue teams and ambitious growth initiatives.

    Inspiring Greatness Through G.R.I.T.

    Robyn reveals how sustainable resilience grows from connection—to the mission, to teammates and to the leader we choose to become. Ideal for audiences facing setbacks, prolonged uncertainty or depleted morale.

    Why Contact The Sweeney Agency Now?

    The right speaker must do more than impress. They must fit your audience, address the challenge behind the event and support the outcome you want to achieve.

    Contact us to:

    • Confirm Robyn’s availability and current fee

    • Identify the best keynote for your objectives

    • Discuss customization, format and event logistics

    • Receive comparable recommendations if another speaker may be a stronger fit

    Is Robyn Right for Your Event?

    Tell us about your audience, their challenges and what you want them to think, feel or do differently. We will provide an honest assessment of Robyn’s fit, confirm availability and fees, and help you move forward with confidence.

    Contact The Sweeney Agency to discuss booking Robyn Benincasa.

    Ty Bennett Speaker

    Ty Bennett

    Leadership, Communication, and Sales Speaker

     About

    • Speaker on Leadership, Communication and Entrepreneurship
    • Talks about: Partnership is the New Leadership & The Power of Storytelling
    • Featured as one of the Top 40 Under 40, Founder of Leadership Inc., and author of 3 bestselling books, built a direct sales business to over $20 million in annual revenues by age 21
    • Past clients include: Coca-Cola, Subway, Blue Cross Blue Shield and RE/MAX

    Click Here to Watch Ty's Virtual Presentation

    Dr. Jasmin Bergeron Speaker

    Dr. Jasmin Bergeron

    International expert on the WOW Effect, Dr. Jasmin Bergeron delivered more than 2,000 keynote presentations on the WOW Effect in sales, leadership, teamwork and work-life balance.

     About

    Dr. Jasmin Bergeron is a sought-after expert who gave more than 2,000 keynote presentations and workshops (in person and online) in 12 countries around the world. He also authored or co-authored five books, more than 50 scientific research papers and over 100 newspaper articles on the “WOW effect” in journals such as The Wall Street Journal. Dr. Bergeron owns the “Certified Speaking Professional - CSP” designation, which is the highest international certification that can be earned in the professional speaker industry worldwide. Dr. Bergeron talks on the best practices to create a “WOW Effect” in various contexts such as: Sales and business development, customer service, leadership, teamwork, and work-life balance.

    Dr. Jasmin Bergeron has given hundreds of keynote presentations in the following sectors: Financial Services, Healthcare, Education, Professional Services, Real Estate, Government, Tourism and Hospitality, Retail, and a variety of associations

    Dr. Jasmin Bergeron will take a lot of time to tailor his presentation to your business, needs and expectations. In fact, after his presentations, many attendees think that he worked in their industry before. His main objective is to deliver practical tips and tools that can be implemented immediately. Delivering well-researched and relevant insights, Jasmin Bergeron is known for his interactive, humorous, and value-oriented approach. Jasmin is a fully bilingual speaker who has a unique ability to simplify seemingly complex challenges in a way that will provide your audience with a fresh and useful perspective.

    Dr. Jasmin Bergeron’s dynamic presentations are grounded in science (he is a tenured University Professor), leavened with humor and strengthened by his flair for telling it like it is. Attendees particularly value the memory aid he provides at the end. You will leave Dr. Jasmin Bergeron’s keynote refreshed, energized and more confident than ever that you are prepared for the road ahead.

    Click Here to Watch Dr. Jasmin Bergeron's Virtual Showcase

    Ross Bernstein Speaker

    Ross Bernstein

    Inspiring Business Speaker and Bestselling Sports Author

     About

    • Ross talks about why certain teams are SUCCESSFUL whereas others aren’t, based on his research of over 1,000 professional athletes and coaches in this highly personalized presentation.
    • Audiences leave motivated by the 100 unique characteristics and traits that are common among champions, told through poignant life lessons and inspirational stories.
    • Ross Bernstein is a best-selling author of nearly 50 sports books, and an award-winning business speaker.
    • Past clients include: Tempurpedic, Anytime Fitness, Chatham Steel, Milk Specialties Industries, Allianz Life Financial Services and Levi Strauss & Co.

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

    The best-selling author of nearly 50 sports books, Ross Bernstein is an award-winning business speaker who helps companies and organizations perform more like champions. Ross and his books have been featured on thousands of television and radio programs over the past 20 years, including CNN, MSNBC, CBS This Morning, FOX News, Bloomberg, ESPN, Sports Illustrated and the CBC, as well as in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, L.A. Times, USA Today, and Maxim Magazine.

    Ross' signature program, The Champion's Code: Life Lessons of Ethics & Accountability from the Sports World to the Business World, is based on more than six years of research that resulted in two critically acclaimed series of sports-business books. The first examines how and why certain teams win world championships; while the other chronicles the unwritten and unspoken rules in the world of sports, or codes as they are known, which explores the fine line between cheating and gamesmanship - and the consequences involved when that line is crossed.

    Ross interviewed more than 1,000 professional athletes and coaches for the six books and along the way he saw some fascinating patterns, metrics and trends develop among certain individuals who possessed a very unique DNA. For these unique individuals, or champions, it wasn't always about winning, it was about following their moral compass in order to play the game the right way - with respect and integrity - in order to achieve success. In his presentation, Ross identifies upwards of 100 unique characteristics and traits that are common among champions, which he then ties into poignant life lessons and inspirational stories that relate back to his client's event theme and desired learner outcomes.

    Based largely on the Good to Great ideology of how the best companies are able to separate them- selves from the rest of the pack through dynamic leadership and extraordinary customer service, Ross' program reinforces the concept that individuals win games, but TEAMS win championships. Momentum, roles, buy-in, motivation, consistency, sacrifice, trust, chemistry, work-ethic, innovation, karma, and being humble - they're all a part of what it takes to become the best of the best - a champion both on and off the field.

    So... who are the champions in your organization? Ross speaks about 100 dates a year and he'd love to customize a keynote (from one to six hours) for your next annual conference, corporate event, or sales meeting - his passion and energy is contagious and he'd be honored to be a member of YOUR team for the day!

    Carl Bernstein Speaker

    Carl Bernstein

    Pulitzer Prize-Winning Journalist and Author

     About

    Few journalists have had the impact on history and their craft as Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Carl Bernstein. From uncovering the Watergate scandal with Bob Woodward to writing about national and international affairs for half a century, Bernstein’s books, reporting and commentary have revealed the hidden workings of government and politics around the world.

    Bernstein’s important on-air reporting and commentary on Donald Trump for CNN has been widely recognized for continuing the kind of work he and Bob Woodward pioneered during the Nixon presidency.

    In 1973, Woodward and Bernstein were awarded the Pulitzer Prize for their Watergate coverage at The Washington Post, leading to the resignation of President Richard Nixon and setting new standards for investigative journalism. The pair went on to write two classic best-sellers: All the President’s Men (also a movie starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman); and The Final Days, chronicling the end of the Nixon presidency.

    Bernstein’s recently released book, Chasing History: A Kid in the Newsroom, became an instant New York Times bestseller, receiving extraordinary attention and praise in reviews throughout the United States and Europe. In it, Bernstein recounts his earliest days in journalism at the Washington Evening Star newspaper, where he began his career during the Kennedy era as a 16-year-old copyboy. The roots of his Watergate reporting can be seen in this remarkable apprenticeship as a teenage reporter in the nation’s capital.

    Bernstein’s other best-selling books demonstrate his unique range as a journalist:  Loyalties: A Son’s Memoir, about his family’s experiences in the McCarthy era; His Holiness: Pope John Paul II and The History of Our Time – a biography of Pope John Paul II – that revealed the Pope’s pivotal role in the fall of communism; and A Woman in Charge: The Life of Hillary Rodham Clinton, acclaimed as the definitive biography on the subject.

    His magazine articles have appeared in Time, USA Today, Rolling Stone and The New Republic. From 1999-2001, Bernstein served as editor and executive vice president of Voter.com, a pioneering website that Forbes named the best political site on the internet. He has worked as Washington bureau chief and correspondent for ABC News; and, while at the Washington Post, was also a part-time rock critic.

    Bernstein lives in New York with his wife and is the father of two sons, Jacob Bernstein, a reporter for the New York Times; and Max Bernstein, who plays guitar for Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus.

    Jeanne Bliss Speaker

    Jeanne Bliss

    Top Keynote Speaker on Customer Service, Besting-selling Author

     About

    Jeanne Bliss helps companies and people become the best version of themselves. She guides them to define, build and live the behaviors and actions that will fuse customers to them, and ultimately create deep and memorable relationships.  Creating these deeper relationships has been Jeanne’s singular mission for over 35 years.

    Often referred to as the “Godmother of Customer Experience,” she is one of the foremost experts on customer-centric leadership. She pioneered the role of the Chief Customer Officer, holding the first ever CCO role at Lands’ End, Microsoft, Coldwell Banker and Allstate Corporations. Reporting to each company’s CEO, she moved the customer to the strategic agenda, redirecting priorities to create transformational changes to each brands’ customer experience. She has driven achievement of 95 percent loyalty rates, improving customer experiences across 50,000-person organizations.

    Her ability to effectively guide leaders and companies to earn customer-driven growth is based on these experiences as a practitioner for over 35 years working across organizations to unite the C-Suite and organizational silos; as well as guiding over 20,000 leaders around the world to understand that improving lives should be their most important strategic vision.

    Jeanne is the Founder and President of CustomerBliss, and the Co-Founder of The Customer Experience Professionals Association, and she has delivered over 2,000 speeches and workshops for nearly every business vertical in B2B and C2B companies on how to build the roadmap toward these deep and genuine customer experiences that earn passionate advocates both inside and outside of your business.

    Jeanne is also a Bestselling Author of Chief Customer Officer, Would You Do that To Your Mother?, and Chief Customer Officer 2.0.

    Lisa Bodell Speaker

    Lisa Bodell

    Global Leader on Simplification & Banishing Complexity, Innovation, Leadership, Change, Collaboration, and Transforming Culture

     About

    Lisa Bodell:  Keynote Speaker on Simplification, Innovation & Leadership | Founder & CEO of FutureThink | Bestselling Author of Why Simple Wins

    Simplify Work. Unlock Better Thinking. What could your people accomplish if they stopped wasting time on unnecessary work and focused their energy on what actually matters?

    Lisa helps organizations eliminate the complexity, bureaucracy and low-value work that prevent people from thinking, leading and innovating at their best. Her message is provocative, practical and immediately actionable: stop adding more—and start removing what gets in the way.

    Why Book Lisa Bodell?

    Lisa doesn't just inspire people to work differently. She gives them practical tools to actually do it.

    Her keynotes challenge one of the biggest problems facing organizations today: people are overwhelmed by meetings, processes, approvals and unnecessary complexity while leaders simultaneously ask them to innovate, move faster and accomplish more.

    Lisa shows audiences how to create capacity by eliminating low-value work, simplifying decision-making and giving people more space to think.

    The result is a keynote that can change not just how your audience thinks—but how they work the very next day.

    What Makes Lisa Bodell Different?

    • Founder & CEO of FutureThink — helping organizations simplify and innovate since 2003
    • Bestselling author — author of Why Simple Wins and Kill the Company
    • Simplification expert — helps organizations eliminate unnecessary complexity
    • Innovation authority — teaches people how to challenge assumptions and think differently
    • Highly interactive — incorporates audience participation and live exercises
    • Immediately actionable — audiences leave with tools they can actually use
    • Human-centered AI perspective — focuses on strengthening the capabilities technology can't replace
    • Extensive corporate experience — has worked with leading organizations around the world

    Why Is Lisa Right for Your Audience?

    Lisa is an outstanding choice when your people are overwhelmed, moving too slowly or spending too much time on work that doesn't create enough value.

    She is particularly effective for leadership conferences, executive meetings, innovation summits, transformation initiatives and organizations navigating AI-driven change.

    Book Lisa when your audience needs to:

    • Eliminate unnecessary complexity
    • Create more time for meaningful work
    • Make decisions faster
    • Reduce bureaucracy and low-value processes
    • Give leaders more capacity to actually lead
    • Challenge outdated assumptions
    • Strengthen innovation and creative problem-solving
    • Determine where humans add the greatest value in an AI-enabled workplace

    Audience Takeaways

    Attendees will leave:

    • Identifying unnecessary work they can stop doing
    • Better equipped to simplify meetings, processes and decision-making
    • Understanding how complexity can undermine innovation
    • More willing to challenge outdated rules and assumptions
    • Equipped with practical tools they can apply immediately
    • Better prepared to create space for higher-value work
    • Thinking differently about leadership in an AI-enabled workplace
    • Ready to simplify how work gets done

    Lisa Bodell Keynote Programs

    Unleash the Power of Simple. What if the fastest way to improve performance isn't adding something new—but eliminating what no longer matters?

    Drawing from her bestselling book Why Simple Wins, Lisa shows audiences how unnecessary complexity steals time, energy and attention from the work that creates the most value.

    Through practical tools, interactive exercises and real-world examples, she helps people identify what they can eliminate, simplify or change so they can spend more time on meaningful work.

    Ideal for: Leadership conferences, corporate meetings, transformation initiatives and organizations struggling with complexity.

    Let Leaders Lead. How much time do your leaders actually spend leading?

    Too often, managers become trapped in meetings, approvals, processes and administrative work that leave too little time for coaching, decision-making and developing their people.

    Lisa challenges organizations to remove the bureaucracy preventing leaders from doing what they were hired to do: lead.

    She gives managers practical ways to simplify work, remove barriers and create more capacity for the leadership activities that drive performance.

    Ideal for: Executive meetings, leadership development, management conferences and organizations focused on improving leadership effectiveness.

    Unleashing Innovation: AI-Enabled, Human-Led. As AI becomes more capable, what becomes more important for humans to do exceptionally well?

    Lisa reframes the AI conversation around a critical opportunity: using technology to amplify human capability rather than simply replace human activity.

    She explores how organizations can use AI to remove lower-value work while strengthening the distinctly human capabilities that drive innovation—including judgment, curiosity, creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving.

    The goal isn't humans versus AI. It's creating organizations where AI handles more of the work while people do more of the thinking that matters.

    Ideal for: AI conferences, leadership events, innovation summits and organizations navigating the future of work.

    Why Book Lisa Bodell Through The Sweeney Agency?

    Lisa Bodell combines provocative thinking with practical tools audiences can use immediately—but the real value comes from identifying where complexity is getting in the way of your organization's performance.

    The Sweeney Agency can help you:

    • Confirm Lisa Bodell's availability and current speaking fee
    • Determine which Lisa Bodell keynote best fits your audience
    • Discuss customization around your organization's challenges
    • Coordinate format, timing and event logistics
    • Compare Lisa with other leading innovation, change and leadership speakers

    Is Lisa Bodell Right for Your Event?

    Tell us what's slowing your people down—and what you want them spending more time doing instead.

    We'll help you determine whether Lisa is the right fit, confirm availability and fees, and make the booking process simple.

    Planning a leadership conference, innovation summit or corporate event? Contact The Sweeney Agency today [email protected] to discuss booking Lisa Bodell as your keynote speaker.

     

    Kris Boesch Speaker

    Kris Boesch

    Founder & CEO of Choose People, Author & Keynote Speaker 

     About

    • Kris talks about how when people feel good about coming to work, they show up not only as better workers but as better people for everyone in their lives.
    • Audiences learn how to renew their commitment to teamwork and one another by developing common ground and creating profound accountability and a strong sense of "our work" through a shared identity and vision.
    • Kris has been featured as a workplace culture expert in Inc., Entrepreneur and Forbes and was recently named one of the “Top 100 Leadership Speakers” in Inc.
    • Past clients include: Petsmart, SE Johnson, SHRM, PMI, IPMA and Magnolia.

    Kris Boesch is the CEO and Founder of Choose People, a company that transforms company cultures, increases employee happiness and boosts the bottom-line. The Choose People 360° Culture Audit is based on over 1000 hours of research conducted with the Industrial Organizational Psychology Department at Colorado State University.

    She is also the author of Culture Works: How to Create Happiness in the Workplace. Prior to Choose People, Boesch was the CEO of Exodus Moving & Storage.

    Kris’ journey into workplace culture started when she became the CEO of Exodus Moving & Storage.

    Where many saw just another moving company Kris recognized quickly that if her employees felt good about coming to work, they would take better care of customers. In turn, this meant the financial health of the company would prosper.

    The catch was the deck was stacked against her.  The company was struggling to cover payroll.  Turnover was high and culture toxicity even higher.  And on top of all of that she didn’t have industry experience nor earned respect to demand behavioral changes. In short, the common approach of a boss-centric leadership style wasn’t going to cut it. She knew she was going to have to earn every inch of authority and return every penny of respect she gained to breakthrough.

    So, she went to work to find another way, a way that put the focus on the only real leverage she had – her team.

    She discovered that when people feel good about coming to work, they show up not only as better workers but as better people for everyone in their lives.  Step-by-step she cultivated ways to create a culture where her team did feel good about coming to work.

    Under her leadership Exodus became the largest mover in Northern Colorado with a turnover rate of 40% less than the industry average and a bottom line twice that same average.

    But most notable of all – the workplace experience of her team went from being one of misery to one of joy.

    From there,  Kris’ life work truly began.

    Kris has been featured as a workplace culture expert in Inc., Entrepreneur and Forbes and was recently named one of the “Top 100 Leadership Speakers” in Inc. Kris's past clients include Petsmart, SE Johnson, SHRM, PMI, IPMA and Magnolia.

     

    Liz Bohannon Speaker

    Liz Bohannon

    Founder & CEO of Socially Conscious Fashion Brand Sseko Designs, Bestselling Author

     About

    Liz Bohannon is the Founder and CEO of socially conscious fashion brand Sseko Designs, which she founded in 2008 as a way to provide educational and economic opportunities for women in East Africa. Liz shares the lessons learned from her 10-year journey growing Sseko from three women under a mango tree, into a successful international fashion brand that provides employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities to thousands of women across the globe.

    Her story is filled with lessons for success that are grounded in the principle of having a beginner’s mind, which Liz sums up in her new book, Beginner’s Pluck: Build Your Life of Purpose and Impact Now. In it, as in her presentations, she shares uncommon ideas toward success like, Own Your Average, Stop Trying to Find Your Passion…Create It, and Dream Small so you can do big things. Liz continues to channel her inner beginner as she manages 100s of employees across multiple continents, and her mindset sets her apart as a courageous, creative and effective leader.

    The Sseko story has been featured in dozens of publications including, Vogue Magazine, Redbook Magazine, O Magazine, Inc., Fortune and others. Sseko has appeared on national broadcasts including ABC's Shark Tank and Good Morning America.

    Among other notable honors, Liz was named a Top Three Transformation Leader by John Maxwell, Forbes listed her as a top 20 public speaker in the U.S. and Bloomberg Businessweek named Sseko as a top social enterprise to watch.
    Liz now splits her time between Uganda and Portland, Oregon, where she and her husband Ben run Sseko Designs and raise their two young sons.

    Eric Boles Speaker

    Eric Boles

    Consultant and Speaker on Leadership, Peak Performance, and Change Management

     About

    Eric Boles: Leadership & Performance Expert | President, The Game Changers, Inc. | Former NFL Player | Author of Moving to Great

    Turn Potential Into Performance

    Eric Boles helps leaders and teams close that gap.

    President of The Game Changers, Inc. and a former NFL player, Eric combines powerful storytelling, high energy and practical strategies to help people strengthen accountability, embrace change and perform at a higher level.

    Why Book Eric Boles?

    Eric doesn't simply motivate people to do better. He challenges them to take greater ownership of how they think, lead and perform.

    For more than two decades, Eric has worked with organizations including Starbucks, FedEx, Meta, Mayo Clinic, IBM, PwC, Alaska Airlines and the U.S. Air Force.

    His message is straightforward: sustainable performance comes from clarity, accountability and consistent execution—not good intentions.

    What Makes Eric Different?

    • Former NFL player who understands high-performance environments
    • More than two decades working with leaders and organizations
    • Powerful combination of energy, humor and practical business insight
    • Expertise in leadership, accountability, change and peak performance
    • Challenges audiences without talking down to them
    • Creates urgency around turning ideas into action
    • Customizes his message around the organization's goals and challenges

    Why Is Eric Right for Your Audience?

    Eric is an excellent choice when an organization needs people to raise their game, embrace accountability and execute at a higher level.

    He is particularly effective for sales kickoffs, leadership conferences, corporate meetings, team events and organizations navigating significant change.

    Book Eric when your audience needs to:

    • Take greater ownership of results
    • Move from intention to execution
    • Raise expectations for themselves and others
    • Navigate change with greater confidence
    • Break through complacency and self-imposed limitations
    • Strengthen teamwork and accountability
    • Perform effectively under pressure

    Audience Takeaways

    Attendees will leave:

    • Motivated to take greater ownership of their performance
    • Better equipped to turn good intentions into action
    • Ready to challenge habits that may be limiting results
    • More confident navigating change and uncertainty
    • Clearer about the role accountability plays in high performance
    • Energized to raise their personal and professional expectations

    Keynote Programs

    Performance Catalyst™ Align, Elevate and Accelerate Performance

    Eric challenges audiences to examine the behaviors that separate potential from sustainable performance.

    He helps leaders strengthen alignment, accountability and execution while creating greater urgency around the actions required to achieve organizational goals.

    Ideal for leadership conferences, executive meetings, sales kickoffs and organizations focused on accelerating performance.

    Moving to Great: Unleash Your Best More of the Time

    What keeps talented people from consistently performing at their best?

    Eric helps audiences recognize the fears, habits and self-imposed limitations that can hold them back—and provides practical strategies for moving beyond them.

    The result is a highly motivational presentation with a strong business message about personal responsibility, growth and performance.

    Ideal for sales meetings, corporate conferences, recognition events and organizations looking to re-energize their people.

    Leading Through Change

    Change creates uncertainty—but it also creates an opportunity for stronger leadership.

    Eric helps leaders understand how their mindset, communication and behavior influence the way people respond to change. He challenges audiences to move beyond fear, have difficult conversations, make decisions and create positive momentum.

    Ideal for organizations experiencing transformation, growth or significant disruption.

    Why Contact The Sweeney Agency Now?

    A high-energy keynote can create excitement. The right keynote can turn that excitement into action.

    Contact us to:

    • Confirm Eric's availability and current fee
    • Determine which presentation best supports your objectives
    • Discuss customization around your business challenges
    • Explore keynote, breakout and leadership-development options
    • Receive comparable recommendations if another speaker may be a stronger fit

    Click Here to Watch Eric's Virtual Presentation

    Book Your Next Great Speaker in 5 Easy Steps 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

    Futurist Keynote Speaker Mike Walsh at The Sweeney Agency Speakers Bureau

    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.

    Anthony Bourke Speaker

    Anthony Bourke

    Former F-16 Fighter Pilot, Popular Speaker on Peak Performance, Leadership, Communication & Sales

     About

    • Anthony talks about how the difference between the winners and the "also rans" comes down to execution.
    • Audiences leave equipped with simple, actionable tools to improve execution and drive better results as individuals and as teams.
    • He is a highly accomplished and decorated F-16 fighter pilot, founder, President & CEO of Afterburner, author & keynote speaker on Peak Performance.
    • Past clients include: Ernst & Young, GE, Cisco, Boeing, Bridgestone, AT&T, Charles Schwab and The Home Depot

    Major Anthony “AB” Bourke is a highly accomplished and decorated F-16 fighter pilot who flew tactical missions in service to our country all over the world. He has accumulated more than 2,700 hours of flight time in various high performance aircraft - and was one of the first pilots to fly an F-16 in homeland defense efforts over New York City in the aftermath of September 11th.

    Following his impressive military career, AB applied the tools and techniques that made him one of our nation's premier fighter pilots to the competitive world of business. He ascended rapidly to become the top producing mortgage banker in the Western U.S. for a prominent lending institution. His success in the mortgage banking industry led to an opportunity with a California based start-up - where his team dramatically grew annual revenue from $500,000 to $65M in just three years.

    Following these two endeavors, AB combined his love of business with his passion for tactical aviation to build Afterburner Seminars, a global training company based on the lessons he learned in the military. While President & CEO, Afterburner grew into a best-in-class training company that was twice named one of Inc. magazine's 500 fastest growing companies.

    Currently AB serves as CEO & Founder of Mach 2 Consulting - and has shared his message of peak performance to more than 100,000 people in twelve different countries. AB brings his tactical knowledge and business acumen to the forefront of the management training world - to share how fighter pilots, and other organizations where performance truly matters, can develop a feedback system to ensure continuous improvement and peak performance. His wealth of experience and ability to connect with audiences landed AB in Inc Magazine’s 100 Great Leadership Speakers for Your Next Conference.

    Under AB's leadership as CEO - Mach 2 Consulting consistently delivers dynamic keynote speeches on leadership, communication, sales and teamwork to Fortune 1000 corporations around the globe. AB is a motivational dynamo with a proven ability to energize, enlighten and enrich your team’s experiences - to ensure a successful engagement for you and your client.

    AB’s keynotes typically align to the following groups:

    • Fortune 1000 organizations
    • Sales meetings - speeches that extend into actual training
    • Annual meetings - for various organizations such as Trade and Professional Associations
    • Management Retreats - to give your leaders an opportunity to step out of the box and think differently
    • Company off-sites - where teams are looking to improve communication and alignment

    AB continues work on his book The Art of the Debrief . A business and leadership book about the significance of how business people can use Debrief to drive continuous improvement in any organization. Anticipated for release late 2019, keep an eye for the release of AB's first book - apt to captivate all!

    Click Here to Watch Anthony's Virtual Presentation

    Dr. Travis Bradberry Speaker

    Dr. Travis Bradberry

    World-Renowned Expert and Speaker in Emotional Intelligence, Author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0

     About

    • Travis talks about how leaders can learn to capitalize on their emotional intelligence to develop new and powerful ways to manage, adapt, and strike out ahead of the pack.
    • Audiences learn how our brains are hard-wired to make EQ a critical skill and how to increase your EQ using a step-by-step process.
    • Dr. Travis Bradberry is the award-winning co-author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and the co-founder and President of TalentSmart, as well as a a world-renowned expert in emotional intelligence who will inspire your audience, spark discussion - and motivate change.
    • Past clients include:  Intel, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Wells Fargo, Boston Scientific, NY Life, Fortune Brands, Salesforce, and Fortune Magazine.

    Dr. Travis Bradberry, Ph.D. is an internationally renowned speaker on today’s competitive world, where each of us is looking for new and powerful ways to manage, adapt - and strike out ahead of the pack. He empowers audiences and leaders to do so by capitalizing on emotional intelligence - a skill set that’s responsible for 58 percent of job performance. Dr. Bradberry is a world-renowned expert in emotional intelligence who will inspire your audience, spark discussion - and motivate change.

    Dr. Travis Bradberry is the award-winning co-author of Emotional Intelligence 2.0 and the co-founder and President of TalentSmart® - the world’s leading provider of emotional intelligence tests and training serving more than 75% of Fortune 500 companies. His best-selling books have been translated into 25 languages and are available in more than 150 countries.

    Dr. Bradberry is a LinkedIn Influencer and a regular contributor to Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, The World Economic Forum, and The Huffington Post. He has written for, or been covered by, Newsweek, Time, BusinessWeek, Fortune, Fast Company, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, and The Harvard Business Review.

    Dr. Gary Bradt Speaker

    Dr. Gary Bradt

    World-Class Speaker, Author, Change and Leadership Expert

     About

    Dr. Gary Bradt: Keynote Speaker on Change, Leadership & Resilience | Clinical Psychologist | Bestselling Author | Business Transformation Expert

    Turn Change Into Opportunity.  Change is inevitable. How your people respond to it isn't.

    Gary helps leaders and employees navigate uncertainty, let go of what they can't control and focus their energy on the actions that move them forward. Combining psychology, compelling stories, humor and practical strategies, he turns the often-overwhelming subject of change into something audiences can understand—and act on.

    Why Book Dr. Gary Bradt?

    Gary doesn't simply tell people they need to embrace change. He helps them understand why change can be so difficult and gives them practical strategies for responding more effectively.

    His background as a clinical psychologist gives Gary a distinctive perspective on the human side of organizational change—how people react when familiar routines disappear, expectations shift and uncertainty increases.

    His presentations are engaging, relatable and highly practical, helping audiences move beyond resistance and focus on what they can control, what they can influence and what they can do next.

    What Makes Gary Bradt Different?

    • Clinical psychologist — brings a deep understanding of how people respond to change
    • Bestselling author — recognized for his practical insights on change and resilience
    • Change expertise — helps organizations address the human side of transformation
    • Immediately actionable — practical strategies audiences can apply at work and in life
    • Leadership focused — gives leaders tools for helping others navigate uncertainty
    • Engaging and relatable — combines psychology, humor and real-world stories
    • Business relevant — connects individual behavior directly to organizational performance

    Why Is Gary Right for Your Audience?

    Gary is an excellent choice when your organization needs people to stop fighting what they can't control and start taking ownership of what they can.

    He is particularly effective for leadership conferences, corporate meetings, association events and organizations navigating restructuring, transformation, growth or significant workplace change.

    Book Gary when your audience needs to:

    • Adapt more effectively to organizational change
    • Build greater resilience during uncertainty
    • Focus on what they can control and influence
    • Move beyond resistance and take productive action
    • Maintain performance during periods of disruption
    • Lead others confidently through change
    • Strengthen personal accountability
    • Approach uncertainty with greater optimism and perspective

    Audience Takeaways

    Attendees will leave:

    • Better prepared to navigate uncertainty and change
    • Understanding why people naturally resist disruption
    • Equipped with practical strategies for responding more productively
    • More focused on the actions within their control
    • Better able to maintain perspective when circumstances become difficult
    • Ready to take greater ownership of their response to change
    • More confident helping others move forward

    Dr. Gary Bradt Keynote Programs

    Navigating Change: When circumstances change, you may not control what happens—but you can control how you respond.

    Gary helps audiences understand the psychological realities of change and why uncertainty can trigger resistance, frustration and fear.

    He then provides practical strategies for moving beyond those reactions, adapting more quickly and focusing energy on the choices and behaviors that create forward momentum.

    Ideal for: Organizational transformation, corporate meetings, leadership conferences and organizations navigating significant change.

    Leading Through Change: A leader's job isn't simply to announce change. It's to help people successfully move through it.

    Gary gives leaders practical insights into how people experience change and what they need from leadership during periods of uncertainty.

    Audiences learn how to communicate more effectively, maintain trust, encourage accountability and help teams stay focused on what comes next.

    Ideal for: Executive meetings, leadership development, management conferences and transformation initiatives.

    Resilience: Moving Forward When Things Don't Go as Planned: Resilience isn't about pretending everything is fine. It's about choosing a productive response when it isn't.

    Drawing on psychology and decades of experience helping individuals and organizations navigate difficult transitions, Gary shows audiences how to regain perspective, manage uncertainty and continue moving forward.

    Ideal for: Leadership, resilience, workplace wellbeing and high-performance events.

    Why Book Dr. Gary Bradt Through The Sweeney Agency?

    Gary Bradt's background in psychology and organizational change gives him a powerful perspective on transformation—but the real value comes from connecting his message directly to the change your people are experiencing.

    The Sweeney Agency can help you:

    • Confirm Dr. Gary Bradt's availability and current speaking fee
    • Determine which Gary Bradt keynote best fits your audience
    • Discuss customization around your organization's specific change or challenge
    • Coordinate format, timing and event logistics
    • Compare Gary with other leading change, leadership and resilience speakers

    Is Gary Bradt Right for Your Event?

    Tell us what's changing in your organization—and how you need your people to respond.

    We'll help you determine whether Gary is the right fit, confirm availability and fees, and make the booking process simple.

    Planning a leadership conference, transformation event or corporate meeting? Contact The Sweeney Agency today [email protected] to discuss booking Dr. Gary Bradt as your keynote speaker.

    Peter Bregman Speaker

    Peter Bregman

    Best-selling Author and Top-ranked Global Speaker on Leadership & Personal Growth

     About

    • Peter teaches leaders how to lead with emotional courage by increasing their confidence, ability to connect with others and embrace change
    • Audiences leave with the tools to engage on with their teams on an emotional level to guide change and support performance
    • Peter is an author and contributor to more than 16 books, and a regular contributor to Bloomberg Business Week, Forbes, Fast Company and The Financial Times
    • Past clients include: Allianz, American Express, Brunswick Group, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, FEI, GE Capital, Merck, Clear Channel, Nike, and UNICEF

    Peter Bregman is recognized as the #1 executive coach in the world by Leading Global Coaches. Peter coaches CEOs and senior leaders in many of the world’s premier organizations. Having started his career teaching leadership on wilderness and mountaineering expeditions, Peter is CEO of Bregman Partners - an executive coaching company that helps successful people become exceptional leaders and stellar human beings.

    Peter is ranked as a top 30 thought leader by Thinkers 50 Radar - and selected as one of the top 8 thought leaders in leadership. He is the award-winning, best-selling author and contributor of 16 books - including, most recently, Leading with Emotional Courage: How to Have Hard Conversations, Create Accountability, and Inspire Action on Your Most Important Work. His book, 18 Minutes: Find Your Focus, Master Distraction, and Get the Right Things Done, was a Wall Street Journal best-seller, winner of the Gold medal from the Axiom Business Book awards, named the best business book of the year by NPR - and selected by Publisher’s Weekly and the New York Post as a top ten business book. He is also the author of Four Seconds: All the Time You Need to Replace Counter-Productive Habits with Ones That Really Work, a New York Post "Top Pick for Your Career" in 2015, and Point B: A Short Guide to Leading a Big Change.

    Peter is the host of the Bregman Leadership Podcast, which offers insightful conversations with industry thought leaders - on how to become more powerful, courageous leaders. He is also a regular contributor to the Harvard Business Review, and his articles and commentary appear frequently in Bloomberg BusinessWeek, Fast Company, Psychology Today, Forbes, The Financial Times , PBS, ABC, CNN, NPR, and FOX Business News.

    Peter created and leads the Bregman Leadership Intensive, a four-day program that transforms the way people lead - by increasing their confidence in themselves, their ability to connect with others, their commitment to what’s most important, and their emotional courage.

    Peter designed the Bregman Partners proven, proprietary Big Arrow process - to align people to work together to accomplish an organization’s most important work. The Bregman Arrow Measurement tool (BAM)©tm - quantifies the leadership and organizational gaps that block successful execution.

    He has implemented his proprietary solutions with CEOs and senior leaders in many of the world’s premier organizations, including Allianz, American Express, Brunswick Group, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Deutsche Bank, JPMorgan Chase, FEI, GE Capital, Merck, Clear Channel, Nike, UNICEF, among others.

    Peter earned his B.A. from Princeton University and his M.B.A. from Columbia University.

    Kevin Brown Speaker

    Kevin Brown

    Marketing Executive and Speaker on Accountability & Leadership

     About

    • Talks about how great brands deliver excellence to nurture customer relationships
    • Audiences learn how to achieve greater results by eliminating “ordinary" thinking and mastering the habit of excellence.
    • Former marketing executive who built a little-known family business into the #1 franchise in their industry with annual revenues exceeding $2 billion.
    • Past clients include: American Express, Delta Airlines, Nationwide, H&R Block, PayPal, New York Life, Million Dollar Round Table, Southwest Airlines, Merck, Atrium Health

    Kevin Brown’s unconventional path to business and personal success has taught him that winning in business and in life requires anything but conventional thinking. He grew up in Muskegon, Michigan where his blue-collar roots taught him the value of hard work and determination. With a streetwise aptitude and a never quit attitude, he worked his way from the front lines in business to the executive boardroom.

    Kevin understands what drives organizational excellence and customer loyalty. He knows first-hand how great brands think, feel and act. He is a branding and culture expert with a 30+ year career in franchise development. He spent the last 20 years of his corporate career as part of a leadership team that helped transform SERVPRO® from a little-known family business into the #1 franchise in their industry with annual revenues exceeding $2 billion dollars. Since 2016, he has traveled the world pursuing a mission to share The HERO Effect® message with as many people and organizations as possible.

    The HERO Effect® is a simple philosophy that separates world-class organizations and high-performance people from everybody else. Kevin is passionate about helping people expand their vision, develop their potential, and grow their results. And, as the father of a child with autism he knows firsthand how the principles of true success reach beyond the boardroom and into the lives of real people facing the challenges of everyday life.

    As a highly sought-after keynote speaker, Kevin has had the privilege of speaking to a wide variety of organizations including American Express, Delta Airlines, PayPal, ExxonMobil, Nationwide, H&R Block, Sprint, Ernst & Young, Million Dollar Round Table, Merck, Booz Allen Hamilton, and many more.

    Kevin is the bestselling author of The Hero Effect® (2017/2019). In his second book, Unleashing Your Hero (Harper Collins Leadership/Nov 2021), Kevin shares how the heroes who transformed his life are people just like you. People who were willing to use their gifts and abilities to serve others at a high level. This book is a guide to help everyday people discover and unleash their hero at work and in life.

    Kevin has received numerous honors, including being named one of the ‘Top 30 Motivational Speakers in the world for 2024 according to Global Gurus’. Kevin entertains, inspires, and challenges people to show up every day and make a positive difference at work and in life!

    Check out Kevin Brown additional speaking video here.

    Marcus Buckingham Speaker

    Marcus Buckingham

    Global Expert in Leadership, Management, Strengths-based Talent Development & Reinventing an Organization

     About

    • Marcus talks about how managers can create environments in which individuals thrive, discover their talents and use their best selves daily.
    • Audiences learn the four key demands a manager must fulfill in order to provide the kind of environment that enables people to achieve peak performance on a regular basis.
    • Marcus Buckingham is the author of more than 10 books and is the author of two of the best-selling business books of all time. He is the co-creator of the StrengthsFinder tool, and CEO and found of The Marcus Buckingham Company.
    • Past clients include: Toyota, Facebook, lululemon, Coca-Cola, Box, Master Foods, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, and Disney.

    Marcus Buckingham has dedicated his career to addressing the complex issue of a workplace ruled by efficiency and competency - and where personal strengths fit in. Using his nearly two decades of experience as a Senior Researcher at Gallup Organization, he has challenged entrenched preconceptions about achievement to get to the core of what drives success. As a speaker, Buckingham offers important insights into maximizing strengths, understanding the crucial differences between leadership and management, and fulfilling the quest for long-lasting personal satisfaction in work and in life.

    The definitive treatment of strengths in the workplace can be found in Buckingham's best-selling books: First, Break All the Rules (co-authored with Curt Coffman); Now, Discover Your Strengths (co-authored with Donald O. Clifton); The One Thing You Need to Know; Go Put Your Strengths to Work; The Truth about You and Find Your Strongest Life. His latest book Nine Lies about Work: A Freethinking Leader's Guide to the Real World (co-authored with Ashley Goodall) speaks about how the time has come for a manifesto for truth and change at work - and reveals the unimpeachable data about how humans actually work.

    A recent project and best-seller listed on the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, StandOut, is a book and strengths assessment combination that uses new research methodology to reveal your top two strength roles - your areas of comparative advantage. StandOut goes beyond description to give people practical innovations that fit their strengths and provide managers with quick insights on how to get the best from each of their team members.

    The goal is to move companies toward greater success and productivity by creating a workplace culture in which employees spend more than 75% of each day on the job using their strongest skills and engaged in their favorite tasks, basically doing exactly what they want to do. Companies that focus on cultivating employees' strengths rather than simply improving their weaknesses stand to dramatically increase efficiency while allowing for maximum personal growth. If such a theory sounds revolutionary, that's because it is. Buckingham calls it the strengths revolution - and he founded The Marcus Buckingham Company (TMBC) in 2005 to help jump-start a worldwide conversation about how to get people focused on their strengths.

    As he addresses more than 250,000 people around the globe each year, Buckingham touts this strengths revolution as the key to finding the most effective route to personal achievement and the missing link to the efficiency, competence, and high performance for which companies constantly strive. He challenges conventional wisdom and shows the correlation between engaged employees and business fundamentals such as turnover rates, customer satisfaction, profits and productivity.

    In his role as an author, independent consultant and speaker, Marcus Buckingham has been the subject of in-depth profiles in The New York Times, Fortune, Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal. He has appeared on numerous television programs, including The Today Show and The Oprah Winfrey Show, and is routinely lauded by such corporations as Toyota, Coca-Cola, Master Foods, Wells Fargo, Microsoft and Disney - as an invaluable resource in informing, challenging, mentoring and inspiring people to find their strengths and sustain long-lasting personal success.

    Marcus Buckingham graduated from Cambridge University in 1987 with a master's degree in social and political science.

    Michael C. Bush Speaker

    Michael C. Bush

    CEO of Great Place to Work, Entrepreneur, Investor, Former member of President Obama’s White House Business Council

     About

    Michael C. Bush is a global chief executive with over 25 years of experience leading small and mid-sized organizations through transformational growth. Driven by a love of business and an unwavering commitment to fair and equitable treatment, in 2015 Michael acquired ownership and currently serves as global CEO of Great Place to Work® headquartered in Oakland, California with operations in more than 60 countries worldwide. Great Place to Work® is a global people analytics and consulting firm that helps companies of all sizes produce better business results by focusing on the work experience for every employee. Through certification programs, Great Place to Work® recognizes outstanding workplaces and produces Fortune’s annual list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, the World’s Best Workplaces™ list, the 100 Best Workplaces for Women™ list, the Best Workplaces for Diversity™ list and dozens of other distinguished workplace rankings around the world.

    Originally hired to help the founder of Great Place to Work® exit the business, Michael accomplished this successful exit and within six months of taking control set an aggressive new course for the business and brand. This new, market-shifting course began with setting a clear mission for the company: to build a better world by helping every organization become a Great Place to Work For All™ by the year 2030. Re-building the business out of virtual bankruptcy, he created a valuable new set of algorithms and globally launched a new methodology known as “Great Place to Work For All™.” This bold move expanded the market for employee surveys to improve business performance and productivity from employee surveys only for the sake of employer branding. This new For All™ methodology analytically captured renewed interest in the business value that diversity and inclusion bring to innovation. A new SaaS product, “Emprising™” was born in 2018 to enable Michael’s vision for the market shift and transformation of Great Place to Work®’s financial trajectory. Emprising’s remarkably rapid customer adoption rate has resulted in a 15% annual revenue increase with the entire business currently exceeding 100 million dollars annually with EBITDA of 25%.

    In addition to the book Michael Bush authored “A Great Place to Work For All™” (2018, publisher Berrett-Koehler), he is a sought after keynoter and regular contributor to Fortune and has been featured along with Great Place to Work® in numerous publications including Harvard Business Review, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Inc., ThriveGlobal, Chief Executive Magazine, Huffington Post, CNBC, and TED.

    Prior to his current role, from 2003 to 2015, Michael led private equity backed turn-arounds. In two different businesses he became the CEO and managed both exits that substantially rewarded all investors and stakeholders. In addition, Michael founded an online training platform for small business entrepreneurs that led to him becoming a member of President Obama’s White House Business Council where he focused on Inner City Job creation.

    During this time, 2002-2012, Michael served on the Board of Inner City Advisors – a non-profit helping small business create jobs and pay a living wage. He also founded the non-profit private equity firm Fund Good Jobs in 2012. This fund provides capital to small business who cannot attract capital from the traditional sources.

    From 1996 to 2003, Michael spent one year as the COO of Whalen and Company a global telecommunications project management firm that was purchased in 1997 by Tetra Tech Communications. Following that acquisition, Michael was promoted to CEO of Tetra Tech Communications, where revenues grew from 40 million dollars annually to 300 million, until 2003.

    Michael was a member of the Board of Directors at Workday, Inc. until September 2021 when Great Place to Work was acquired by UKG, Inc.

    Michael Bush received his MS in Management from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business in 1994. Michael is a student and teacher of business having taught Entrepreneurship at Stanford University and Mills College from 2003 to 2015.

    Susan Cain Speaker

    Susan Cain

    Co-founder of Quiet Revolution, New York Times Best-selling Author and Speaker on Leadership

     About

    Susan Cain is the author of the best-sellers Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverts and Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World that Can’t Stop Talking, which has been translated into 40 languages, is in its seventh year on the New York Times best- seller list, and was named the #1 best book of the year by Fast Company magazine, which also named Cain one of its Most Creative People in Business. LinkedIn named her the 6th Top Influencer in the world.

    Susan has partnered with Malcolm Gladwell, Adam Grant and Dan Pink to launch the Next Big Idea Book Club; they donate all their proceeds to children’s literacy programs.

    Her writing has appeared in the The New York Times, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. Her record-smashing TED talk has been viewed over 30 million times on TED.com and YouTube combined, and was named by Bill Gates one of his all-time favorite talks.

    Cain has also spoken at Microsoft, Google, the U.S. Treasury, the S.E.C., Harvard, Yale, West Point and the US Naval Academy.

    She received Harvard Law School’s Celebration Award for Thought Leadership, the Toastmasters International Golden Gavel Award for Communication and Leadership, and was named one of the world’s top 50 Leadership and Management Experts by Inc. Magazine. She is an honours graduate of Princeton and Harvard Law School.

    She lives in the Hudson River Valley with her husband and two sons.