Looking over my calendar recently, I realized that nearly half of my events this past year have either been from repeat clients or from referrals. It’s an honor when clients or friends refer me for a speaking engagement.

Working with event professionals to deliver an entertaining event experience that provides useful content attendees can take back to their team to improve results and retention is something I am passionate about and enjoy tremendously!

So, following a successful program, during a break in the agenda, after leaving the stage and talking with many with conference attendees, I often find myself standing beside the organizer.

The first thing I do is thank them for the opportunity to serve their audience…

I ask if there is anything else I can do to help them in that moment…

Then I remind them of our scheduled post-game conversation about a week after the event.

In that follow-up zoom call, I try to be as helpful as possible in sharing any data I’ve collected from pre-event surveys or attendee interviews I use to prepare for their event. I share a few resources they can use to reinforce the insights my program introduced…

And then I ask a question:

“So, do you have any names you’re considering as speakers for next year’s event?”

Because most organizations don’t bring back the exact same speaker every year.

The question is intended to serve them –

It opens the door to making a relevant and trustworthy referral they can consider –

And while they appreciate hearing a few names of tremendous speakers I know and trust, it is also a great to help promote people that I know will be fantastic on their stage.

That is the purpose of this article –

I have found that one of the most stressful jobs for event planners is selecting a relevant and impactful speaker who is easy to work with before the event and shares a valuable engaging message.

If you are planning an event, this article is FOR YOU.

And it is an article I will continue to update –

Because at every event I get the opportunity to meet and see new speakers that might be a great fit for past clients of mine. And, while I speak about Leadership and Workplace Culture, I realize that other topics are timely and meaningful based on an organization’s specific situation.

Conference planners want to provide insights on various topics, based on their scurrent challenges or upcoming event theme – and there are many subjects that might be a good fit.

In fact, according to Speakers.com, the top 10 speaking topics of 2023 are:

Leadership

Diversity and Inclusion

Team Building

Mental Health

Innovation

Healthcare

Technology Trends

Motivation

Finance

Economy

And according to the 2023 Speaking Industry Benchmark Report by AAE Speakers Bureau, the topics event professionals are prioritizing the most in 2023 are:

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (56 percent)

Leadership and motivation (56 percent)

Mental health and mindset (44 percent)

Future of work (30 percent)

Corporate culture (28 percent)

Technology (21 percent)

So, it is my pleasure to provide the below list of referrable speakers as a helpful resource to event planners and association executives…

You will find great options in each category below, arranged by their subject expertise:

Leadership Speakers –

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Jamie Turner

– speaks about leadership, marketing, and communication skills

.

Paul Schemp

– research-based solutions that solve high-performance problems

.

Julie Winkle Guilioni

– champion for workplace growth and development

.

Kent Julian

– what it takes to create a “dream-to-do” culture.

.

Waldo Waldman

– fighter pilot inspiring collaborative cultures of courage & trust

.

Karin Hurt

– helping leaders find clarity in uncertainty for breakthrough results

.

David Horsager

– reveals how organizations can become the most trusted in their industry

.

William Thompson

– brings his P4 system to create a culture of excellence in your organization

.

Molly Fletcher

– Helping you unlock your drive to get better every day

.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Speakers –

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Candace Doby

– works with universities and organizations across to help build courage

.

Jennifer Kahnweiler

– one of the top global leadership speakers on introverts

.

Jessica Pettit

– challenges assumptions about the type of people who drive change

.

Justin Jones-Fosu

– insight into the art and science of human engagement

.

Heather Younger

– helps organizations create safe spaces and a culture of listening

.

Marketing (and sales) Speakers –

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Shawn Rhodes

– retired marine helping leaders build “bulletproof” sales teams and systems

.

Mike Wittenstein

– brings clarity to brand stories, strategic plans, and customer experiences

.

Mark Leblanc

– how to create and extreme sliver of focus to grow your business

.

David Newman

– smarter marketing for more leads, better prospects, and bigger sales

.

Jay Baer

– inspirational business growth and customer experience expert

.

Mental Health (mindfulness and healthcare) Speakers –

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Angela Buttimer

– research-based techniques to help people thrive with mindful mojo

.

Michelle May

– provides a clear path to implement mindful eating and vibrant well-being

.

Vince Rountree

– how to use food to improve health and reduce dependency on medication

.

Tricia Molloy

– how to reduce stress, achieve goals and enjoy better balance

.

Darryl Stinson

– the power of vulnerability through authentic communication

.

Future of Work (innovation and economy) Speakers –

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Stephen Shapiro

– build an innovation engine that moves faster than external change

.

Cassandra Worthy

– gives your people the mindset, behavior, and tools to grow through change

.

Dirk Beveridge

– helps forward-thinking businesses navigate rapid change and innovation

.

Dan Thurmon

– experiences that increase performance, resilience, and change mastery

.

Crystal Kadakia

– transforming tough workplace changes into possibilities in a digital world

.

Mary Kelly

– tools, techniques, and tactics to face crises, challenges and change

.

Humorous (and entertaining) Speakers –

.

Tim Gard

– transform your culture through the power of laughter

.

Brad Montgomery

– expert in workplace happiness and the people-side of performance

.

June Cline

– the ROI of LOL and using humor to get more recognition, respect & reward

.

Ken Futch

– helps you turn situations into opportunities and opportunity into success

.

Andrew Tarvin

– teaches your people how to use humor to achieve better business results

.

Workplace Culture (and team building) Speakers –

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Chis Edmonds– helping senior leaders create uncompromising work cultures

.

Bill Treasurer

– insights on how to create an environment that builds courageous behavior.

.

Ryan Jenkins

– how leaders (at any level) can move teams from isolated to all-in

.

Chad Littlefield

– help leaders, educators, and event professionals make connection easy

.

Sean Glaze

– laugh-out-loud experiences and insights that improve team performance

.

Technology (and social media) Speakers –

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Corey Perlman

– a step-by-step process for winning business on social media

.

Terry Brock

– use AI technology to build relationships that increase your bottom line

.

Phil Gerbyshak

– simple and profitable modern sales and leadership programs on technology

.

Gregg Burkhalter

– the recognized authority on personal branding and LinkedIn

.

Crystal Washington

– helps organizations leverage technology for increased productivity

.

Selecting the right speakers is a huge part of your event’s success.

And your conference’s impact will extend well beyond their session.

A captivating speaker can inspire new possibilities, spark discussions, and equip attendees with insights that affect their teams long after the event’s conclusion.

The right speaker supports the theme of your conference, share memorable stories, engage your audience with sticky activities, and leave a lasting impression long after the audience has left your event location.

A riveting presentation can increase commitment levels and provide valuable take-aways that improve productivity and deliver value far beyond your investment.

– – – – –

Sean Glaze delivers engaging conference leadership keynotes and interactive team building events that help healthcare and education leaders build more positive and profitable cultures.

Sean is also an author, and each of his books, Rapid Teamwork, The 10 Commandments of Winning Teammates, and Staying Coachable, are entertaining parables with powerful take-aways for team growth and leadership!

What issues are YOU dealing with that would disappear if you could build a work culture that inspired connection, accountability, and a team-first attitude?