Welcome to my Speaking Page
As you know, the success of an event comes down to the quality of the speakers. If they hit the mark, you have a great event. If they don’t, well…not so much. I understand what it’s like to try to find the right speaker. In my role as the global head of Learning and Development with a Fortune 500 company, I was responsible for events of every size, from small corporate training sessions to large, multi-day conferences.
My hope is that this page will make it easy for you to find all of the information you need to make the best decision possible. Thanks for considering me as a speaker. I am honored to be considered for your event.
What You'll Find on This Page
This page provides an overview of what I have to offer, along with a taste of what you can expect. You can click on the links below to take you directly to the relevant sections.
If you want to check my availability for your event, or if you have some questions before proceeding further, please click here:
What you can Expect When You Contact Me
When you contact me, here’s what you can expect from me and my team:
- Prompt, courteous replies to your phone calls and email messages.
- A personal consultation with me prior to your event, so that I can better understand the particular needs of your audience.
- My personal assistance in promoting your event through social media, if desired.
- A professionally prepared, dynamically delivered, targeted presentation, customized to the needs of your audience.
- A custom resource page, exclusively created for your attendees, including my slides and links to related resources.
- Prompt follow-up communication after the event to ensure I met your expectations.
A Little Bit About Me
I have been speaking publicly for more than 25 years.
I am a former Fortune 500 executive, and best-selling author of Crazy Good Advice: 10 Lessons Learned from 150 Leading Social Entrepreneurs.
I host the podcast Social Entrepreneur. Every week I interview passionate people who apply innovative solutions to society’s most pressing problems. Social Entrepreneur is downloaded more than a quarter-million times in over 180 countries.
In addition to being a podcast host, I devote my time to writing, consulting, and speaking.
I have been happily married to my wife, Lynn, for more than twenty years. We have a son, two daughters, four grandsons, and three granddaughters. We live in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul, MN area. In my free time, I enjoy running, reading, and golfing. You can read more about me here.Â
A Video Clip
I speak for corporations, conferences, and nonprofits. Below is a five-minute compilation of speaking engagements. You can see a playlist of several talks on YouTube here.Â
My Most Requested Topics
I am a leadership development expert. I speak on topics of thriving in life, connecting with others, and making a contribution to the world. I am most often asked to speak on social entrepreneurship, leadership, corporate social responsibility, and finding meaningful work. I customize my presentation to meet your organization’s specific needs. My goal is to facilitate the outcome you want to create.
The following are my most requested topics. Keep in mind that I can present these as a keynote or a workshop. I also have half-day, full-day, or multi-day seminar versions.
Business
Differentiate on Purpose: How to Captivate Customers, Attract Talent, and Intrigue Investors
As a business leader, you want to attract customers, talent, and capital to your business. But how? In a recent survey, Nielsen found that customers, employees, and investors all want to do business with companies that make a social impact.
- 66% of respondents will pay extra for products and services from companies committed to positive social and environmental impact. And, among Gen Z, those born after 1995, 72% will spend more for cause-based products.
- 67% of those surveyed prefer to work for socially responsible companies.
- 59% of investors want to invest in companies that have a social mission.
How can you tell your stories of corporate social responsibility in a way that attracts customers, talent, and capital?
Colleges & Universities:
Career Advice for a Meaningful Life: Find Your Purpose, Find Your Passion
The way you spend your time is the way you spend your life. On average, working Americans spend 36% of our weekdays sleeping and 37% of our days at work. So, two-thirds of our weekdays are spent either asleep or at work. If you want to live a meaningful life, you have to find a way to bring meaning to your work.
Nonprofits and Social Entrepreneurs:
Crazy Good Advice: 10 Lessons Learned from 150 Leading Social Entrepreneurs
You want to do more than make a living. You want to make a difference. Whether your dream is to reduce world hunger or plant an urban garden, this speech is filled with practical advice from hundreds of social entrepreneurs I have interviewed on my weekly podcast.
Start Your Social Enterprise
As a purpose-driven nonprofit leader, you make an impact. But, resources are shrinking. New tax regulations are slowing contributions. Governments are pulling back. And corporations are not as generous as perhaps they once were. You’re looking for new sources of earned income. But what are the first steps? How do you get started on the path to creating a social enterprise?
What Others are Saying
The Next Step
Thanks again for considering me for your event. You can take the next step by checking my availability. Just click on the button below. Someone on my team will get back with you right away.