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One of the most visible and trusted faces in broadcast news, award-winning journalist Jonathan Karl helps audiences understand America’s ever-changing political landscape and shares what to watch for as we enter a new Trump presidency.

Jonathan Karl is ABC News Chief Washington correspondent and co-anchor of This Week with George Stephanopoulos. He is the author of Retribution: Donald Trump and the Campaign that Changed America, along with three other New York Times bestsellers. In 2021, Mediaite named Karl one of the top 10 “Most Influential in News Media.”

The former president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, Karl reported from the White House under four presidents and fifteen press secretaries. He has covered eight presidential elections and has broad experience covering Congress, foreign policy and the military, and has reported from more than 30 countries. He has covered every major beat in Washington, including the White House, Capitol Hill, the Pentagon and the State Department.

Karl’s reporting has been recognized with some of the most prestigious honors in journalism, including the Walter Cronkite Award for National Individual Achievement and the National Press Foundation’s Everett McKinley Dirksen Award, the highest honor for congressional reporting. He is also one of the few journalists to win the Radio and TV Correspondents’ Association’s top award for excellence in Washington-based reporting twice, in 2010 and 2015. He won an Emmy® Award for coverage of the 2009 Inauguration of President Barack Obama.

During the 2016 presidential cycle, he did the first network interview with then-candidate Donald Trump, the first interview with Bernie Sanders as a presidential candidate and a rare, exclusive interview with the reclusive billionaire Charles Koch.

Before joining ABC News, he served as senior congressional correspondent and senior political correspondent for CNN. Karl graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie.

With behind-the-scenes-moments gathered from countless interviews with world leaders and on-the-ground coverage from Capitol Hill, the White House and the Pentagon, Jonathan illuminates what goes on in the corridors of power in the U.S. and abroad. His deep credibility, extensive news experience, and political knowledge of foreign policy, national politics, and current events help audiences understand America's ever-changing political landscape.

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The former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine and bestselling author of the memoir Lessons from the Edge shares insights on the region and the current crisis as well as experiences from her 33-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service.

Marie Yovanovitch served three times as U.S. Ambassador, most recently in Kyiv as the U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine. Previously, she served as U.S. Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic (2005-2008) and the Republic of Armenia (2008-2011). She retired from the Foreign Service in 2020 and is currently a Senior Fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and a non-Resident Fellow at the Institute for the Study of Diplomacy at Georgetown University.

Born into a family that survived both Soviet and Nazi terror before emigrating to the U.S., Yovanovitch rose to the top of her profession in the crucible of the former USSR. Following early assignments in Moscow, London, Ottawa, and Mogadishu, she served as Deputy Director of the Russia Desk and then, as a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, she was named Deputy Chief in Ukraine. Within the Department of State, Ambassador Yovanovitch has worked on the Russia desk, the Office of European Security Affairs, and the Operations Center. She also served as the Dean of the School of Language Studies at the Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State and as the Deputy Commandant and International Advisor at the Dwight D. Eisenhower School for National Security and Resource Strategy, National Defense University.

Ambassador Yovanovitch earned the Senior Foreign Service Performance Award eight times and the State Department’s Superior Honor Award on nine occasions. She is the recipient of two Presidential Distinguished Service Awards and the Secretary’s Diplomacy in Human Rights Award. Following her retirement, Ambassador Yovanovitch received the Trainor Award for Excellence in the Conduct of Diplomacy from Georgetown University, the inaugural Richard G. Lugar Award from Indiana University, the 2020 PEN/Benenson Courage Award from Pen/America, the Morgenthau Award from the Armenian Assembly of America, the American Spirit Award for Distinguished Public Service from the Common Good, and the Paul H. Douglas Award for Ethics in Government.

In early 2022, Marie Yovanovitch’s memoir, Lessons From The Edge, was an instant New York Times bestseller. The late Madeleine Albright called the book “A brilliant, engaging, and inspiring memoir from one of America’s wisest and most courageous diplomats—essential reading for current policymakers, aspiring public servants, and anyone who cares about America’s role in the world.”

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Lessons from the Edge: A Conversation with Former U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch

In a moderated question and answer format, Marie Yovanovitch, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and New York Times bestselling author of the memoir Lessons from the Edge draws on her decades of experience in Ukraine, Russia, and the many other countries that emerged from the former Soviet Union, to share her insights on the region and the current crisis, as well as experiences from her 33-year career in the U.S. Foreign Service.

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Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine; NYT Bestselling Author of Lessons from the Edge

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Jennifer Granholm is an American lawyer, educator, author and politician who served most recently as the 16th United States Secretary of Energy, and previously as the two-term governor of Michigan.

As governor, she spearheaded Michigan’s economic recovery after the Great Recession by diversifying the state’s economy to focus on clean energy.

As Secretary of Energy (2021-2025), Granholm restructured the U.S. Department of Energy to focus on research and development of advanced clean energy solutions and deployment of zero-carbon technologies. She oversaw $200 billion of U.S. DOE investments into companies and projects to accelerate the clean energy transition.

During her tenure as Secretary, the country saw record deployment of clean energy — adding the equivalent of 30 Hoover Dams of zero-carbon energy to the nation’s electricity grid in 2024, more than twice as much solar power deployed as ever before.

Granholm serves in the board of Edison International and is the CEO of Granholm Energy, LLC advising businesses and organizations on clean energy solutions.

An honors graduate of Harvard Law School (1987), she is the author of A Governor's Story: The Fight for Jobs and America’s Economic Future. Granholm was named in 2024 to the Time 100 Most Influential People list, and Forbes’ list of Top Climate Leaders.

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Former Two-Term Governor of Michigan and CNN Senior Political Commentator

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A Conversation with Jennifer Granholm
Available in a keynote, fireside chat, or Q&A format—or paired with another speaker for a powerful point-counterpoint discussion—Jennifer Granholm draws from her history-shaping career as U.S. Secretary of Energy, Governor of Michigan, and Michigan Attorney General to provide a unique insider’s view into both policy and action. Tailoring her presentation for each audience, Jennifer shares actionable insights on how energy policy and technology drive innovation, shape industries, and create opportunities in a rapidly evolving marketplace.
Lead, Women, Lead!
Jennifer Granholm, former U.S. Secretary of Energy and Michigan’s first female Governor and Attorney General, knows what it takes to lead through adversity. Drawing on her trailblazing career, Granholm combines compelling stories, practical insights, and powerful data to inspire and empower women in leadership roles. With actionable takeaways on navigating challenges, driving change, and embracing bold decisions, this keynote challenges women to raise their hands, break barriers, and lead with confidence and purpose.

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Former U.S. Secretary of Energy and First Female Governor of Michigan; One of TIME’s Most Influential People 2024

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A groundbreaking figure in the history of American space exploration, Captain Scott Kelly shares invaluable insights on leadership and teamwork, resilience, and embracing failure to achieve personal and professional goals.

Holding the record for the single longest mission of an American astronaut in space, Captain Scott Kelly draws from his epic life journey to help individuals and organizations redefine and reach beyond their limits. With stories from his rough-and-tumble childhood in New Jersey as the son of two police officers, Scott Kelly shares how despite starting out life as a poor student, he was able to become a U.S. Navy fighter pilot flying the F-14 Tomcat, and then a test pilot, and finally a NASA astronaut.

When he and his twin brother, Mark, were selected to become astronaut candidates in April of 1996, they were the first relatives ever selected. After completing his training, Scott became the first American in his class of 44 prospective astronauts assigned to a space flight as the pilot of STS-103, an emergency repair mission to the Hubble Space telescope in 1999. On his second mission, Scott was assigned to command space shuttle mission STS-118, a rare feat given that most shuttle commanders are assigned after two flights as a pilot.

Scott recounts the challenges that he and his crew faced on his four missions to space and shares the traits that helped him overcome those obstacles. With humor and visual storytelling, he describes the effects of isolation, the physical impact on the body and the psychological pressures of living in a confined space. He vividly describes the many dangers—from the constant risk of collision with space debris to the potential for depressurization, fire, or system failures — any of which could have meant catastrophe. He shows how preparation, attention to detail and teamwork can make the difference between life and death—success and failure for a team

Scott Kelly is the author of two New York Times bestsellers, including his memoir, Endurance: A Year in Space, A Lifetime of Discovery, and the companion collection of images published as Infinite Wonder: An Astronaut's Photographs from a Year in Space. He is also author of advice book Ready for Launch: An Astronaut’s Lessons for Success on Earth, and two children’s books, My Journey to the Stars and Goodnight, Astronaut.

Scott Kelly’s story is featured in the award-winning TIME and PBS documentaries A Year in Space and in the theatrical release from Universal Pictures of the 2021 documentary The Wonderful: Stories from the Space Station. In 2021, he was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

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History-Making NASA Astronaut; First to Complete a Year-in-Space Mission

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The Sky Is Not the Limit
During his record-breaking Year in Space, U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly captivated the world while laying the groundwork for the future of space travel and exploration. And while science was at the core of Kelly’s groundbreaking expedition, it is his life lessons and personal stories from 229 miles above Earth—and the path that led him there—that offer unique perspective on embracing risk and discovering one’s true potential to achieve the impossible. Drawing from his epic life journey and the extraordinary experience of living in isolation for a year, Kelly provides invaluable lessons in leadership and teamwork, as well as strategies for managing anxiety and stress in uncertain times. An American hero whose contribution to humanity is as far-reaching as his story, Captain Kelly is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.
Failure IS an Option: Transforming Setbacks into Success
Although the world knows Captain Scott Kelly as the history-making, record-breaking U.S. astronaut who successfully completed a year in space, he’s grappled with plenty of failure in his life. By embracing failure, however, he unlocked repeated success. Captain Kelly shares candid, inspiring, and often hilarious stories from his own epic life journey, as well as vivid examples of groundbreakers ranging from Albert Einstein to Elon Musk. He provides audiences with compelling insights on how failure is an essential step in the process of achieving lasting resilience, and continuous personal and professional growth. He reveals how organizations that recognize and embrace failure as part of their process create a culture where employees and teams can bring their best ideas — allowing them to think differently, be more inventive, and discover remarkably innovative solutions. By confronting our setbacks and allowing ourselves to “fail forward,” we unlock deeper strengths and gain powerful new focus on our individual and team goals.

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History-making NASA astronaut; Real-life hero whose bestselling memoir was optioned for a major motion picture by Sony

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Aron Ralston's extraordinary story of survival after an 800-pound boulder trapped him in a remote Utah canyon captured global headlines in 2003. In his New York Times best seller, Between a Rock and a Hard Place, the Oscar-nominated film, 127 Hours, and on stage, Ralston takes audiences vicariously through those six days without water, means of communication, or hope of escape, to the ecstatic moments when he freed himself by severing his own arm.

Following a miraculous rescue spearheaded by his mom and with the aid of prosthetics he helped design, Aron returned to his outdoor passions, completing elite mountaineering projects which remain unrepeated even to this day. He has interviewed with Tom Brokaw, David Letterman, and Jay Leno, and received standing ovations and industry-leading testimonials from over five hundred groups around the world. Attendees credit Ralston's story with encouraging them through disease, disability, and loss, even saving their lives from suicide and depression.

Aron's incredible triumph in the face of insurmountable odds inspires audiences to harness the power of their deepest motivations, relationships, and mindset to transform personal and professional \"boulders\" into their blessings. Today, Ralston continues to pursue high-altitude adventures, advocates for wilderness protection, and tries to keep up with his two spirited children, Leo and Elisabetta.

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As depicted in the film, 127 Hours, this courageous adventurer’s compelling story of survival against all odds inspires others to harness their inner strength to overcome life’s adversities.

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Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Turning Adversity to Advantage
\"You know me as the guy who cut his arm off. But this is the story of the guy who was smiling when he cut his arm off,\" explains Aron Ralston, who faced 6 days of unimaginable adversity with surprising gratitude. An extraordinary example of the human spirit pushed to the extreme, Aron's legendary tale of survival and post-traumatic growth personifies resilience, perseverance, and the power of our minds.
Using evocative detail and bright humor, Ralston captivates and transports audiences into the intense darkness of his entrapment, through to the euphoric release of his amputation. In his adept storytelling, the boulder that crushed his arm becomes a metaphor for the adversity we all experience in our personal and professional lives. Aron urges us to reframe those challenges as the crucibles which clarify what's important to us and what's possible for us. Ralston's thesis is that, while we can't always control what happens to us, we can control how we respond, and he openly shares how that philosophy guided him through his recovery in 2003, as well as his later experiences with depression and divorce, and, more recently, the death of his father.
Aron teaches simple steps for embracing a crisis, rather than resisting it. He reminds us to breathe deeply and connect with our most profound motivations -- not just the will to live, but the will to love -- in order to find our courage. Ralston emphasizes how compassionate accountability for our mistakes enables us to choose a future of growth, resilience and thereby discover gratitude for the hardship we encounter, as it can both strengthen and soften us. At a time when life's boulders are more intense than ever, Aron Ralston helps us each find the possibility in our problems, the transformation in our traumas, and the blessings in our boulders.

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Fearless Adventurer & Subject of the Film, 127 Hours inspires audiences to transform personal and professional \"boulders\" into blessings.

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Demystifying and harnessing the power of generative AI, Trent Gillespie helps organizations drive growth and unlock new opportunities for innovation.

Trent Gillespie doesn’t just talk about AI—he’s built and led AI-powered innovations at the highest levels. With over 25 years of experience driving transformative change, and nearly a decade at Amazon driving its global expansion, Last Mile innovation, and Alexa AI privacy efforts, Trent has shaped AI strategies that impact millions worldwide.

Now, as CEO of Stellis AI, he works directly with executives to turn AI potential into real business results. He’s the architect behind the AI Flywheel™ and AI SPRINT™ frameworks—Amazon-inspired, battle-tested approaches that help organizations harness AI for innovation, growth, and competitive advantage.

More than just another AI speaker, Trent brings real-world, hands-on experience to the stage, delivering high-energy keynotes filled with practical insights and strategies—offering a grounded, expert perspective that cuts through the noise.

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Winning with AI: How to Build an AI-Enabled, High-Growth Business
In today’s fast-paced business environment, leveraging generative AI isn’t just a trend— it’s a game changer. With potential productivity boosts of up to 200% and $14 trillion in new value on the horizon, businesses face a crucial decision: adapt or fall behind. Yet, many leaders are stuck navigating a sea of hype without clear, actionable guidance on integrating AI effectively.
Join Trent Gillespie in this engaging keynote, where he cuts through the noise to deliver practical steps for transforming your business into a powerhouse of AI-driven growth and innovation. Drawing on his vast experience—from spearheading global growth at Amazon to leading Stellis AI’s cutting-edge AI advisory work—Trent demystifies generative AI. Attendees will learn how to implement AI in their business with the AI SPRINT™ framework, turning uncertainty into scalable growth and long-term success
Inside Amazon’s Innovation Machine: Building a Culture of Relentless Growth
For over 30 years, Amazon has set the gold standard for innovation, reshaping industries and redefining how we live and work. Through his leadership in global expansion and major innovation programs, Trent Gillespie had a front-row seat to Amazon’s groundbreaking strategies. He witnessed how Amazon thought big, made bold decisions, and built a system for continuous innovation.
Now, Trent is sharing these insights to help businesses replicate Amazon’s innovation DNA. This keynote unveils Amazon’s systematic approach to innovation—providing a roadmap for any company looking to drive breakthrough ideas and sustained growth. Attendees will gain a deep understanding of Amazon’s 'Working Backwards' methodology, its Leadership Principles, and decision-making strategies that fuel continuous innovation.
Unleash the AI Flywheel: Leverage AI and Amazon’s Principles to Win in the AI Era
AI is the new engine of business growth. In this keynote, former Amazon executive and AI transformation strategist Trent Gillespie unveils The AI Flywheel™, an Amazon inspired framework for building self-sustaining, high-innovation companies powered by AI. Drawing from his experience driving global innovation, growth and AI efforts at Amazon, Trent breaks down how it became an innovation machine—and how other companies can apply AI to achieve similar success.
Attendees will learn how to apply the AI Flywheel to their companies, to design AI driven organizations that foster continuous innovation, accelerate decision-making, and scale smarter. This keynote also includes a look into Amazon’s renowned \"Working Backwards\" innovation process—reimagined for the AI era. Attendees will leave empowered to make immediate impact, starting their journey to create a highly innovative, AI-enabled business.
Unlock Growth with AI
AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a game-changer for growth and innovation. Yet, many employees feel overwhelmed or uncertain about how to harness its potential in their roles. This talk delivers clear, actionable steps to move from inaction to impact, helping teams eliminate bottlenecks, ignite innovation, and unlock transformative growth.
In this keynote, Trent Gillespie—former Amazon executive and CEO of Stellis AI—will illuminate how employees at all levels can leverage AI to make a tangible difference in their organizations. Drawing on his unique Amazon experience and working every day with businesses to harness AI, Trent will tailor his insights to the unique needs of each audience, providing clear, actionable strategies to help teams innovate and drive growth.
Power Up with an AI + Innovation Workshop
Trent provides engaging and impactful executive-level on-site and virtual workshops to inspire leaders and their teams to improve innovation and transition into AI-powered companies. All workshops are customized to the specific group and goals, to ensure a high-impact result. Consider Trent for leadership and team offsites, quarterly events, company or group All-Hands meetings, or a leadership or team workshop. Workshops can also be added to keynote presentation. Fees vary by workshop and audience.

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Former Head of Amazon’s Global Growth, Delivery Innovation, and Alexa AI Privacy, Stellis AI CEO

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An award-winning journalist, New York Times bestselling author, and one of the most recognized voices in radio, Michele Norris engages audiences in candid discussion about current events, social issues, and bridging the divide in America.

From the radio airwaves of NPR to The Washington Post to her current role as MSNBC Senior Contributor, Michele Norris is one of the most trusted voices in American journalism.

For a decade, as host of National Public Radio’s longest-running program, “All Things Considered,” she captivated audiences nationwide while earning some of journalism’s highest honors. As a Washington Post Opinions Columnist, Norris sparked important dialogue on current events, social issues and the power to make change. At MSNBC she brings her compelling insights to cover current events as a Senior Contributing Editor.

Norris is also host of “Your Mama’s Kitchen,” an acclaimed podcast produced by Barack and Michelle Obama’s media company. With an incredible range of guests including actors, authors, chefs, and musicians, she explores family histories, memories, and cultures through rich conversations flowing from the simple prompt: “Tell me about your mama’s kitchen.”

On stage, Norris inspires open and honest dialogue, with memorable stories and fascinating perspectives drawn from her personal journey, investigative research, and interviews with world leaders, Nobel Laureates and influential newsmakers. She makes complex and taboo issues remarkably accessible. Audiences walk away empowered to stimulate discussion around challenging topics within their communities.

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Washington Post Opinions Columnist, Former NPR Host and Special Correspondent, and Founding Director of “The Race Card Project”

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The Race Card Project - Eavesdropping on America's Conversation on Race
Join us for a discussion on race and identity in America, with Peabody Award-winning journalist Michele Norris, founder of The Race Card Project™. The Race Card Project creates sturdy cultural bridges through candid conversation using real stories on race, culture and identity. In 2010, former NPR journalist Michele Norris began inviting people to distill their thoughts on the word race to only six words. Since then, The Race Card Project™ has collected more than 500,000 “postcards” from all 50 states and 96 countries. People often send backstories and photos to share more about what is behind their six-word statements. Many of these essays contain sentiments and hard truths rarely expressed out loud. Today, these powerful six-word memoirs kickstart honest conversations that leave people with a better sense of each other, and themselves, through a variety of tools and resources. The goal is to tap into the stories, people and threads that make up our complex cultural landscape and then engage people to talk across difference, race, inclusion and identity.
The Grace of Silence and the Power of Words
Award-winning journalist Michele Norris's 2010 book The Grace of Silence started out as a quest to uncover how America talked about race in the wake of the Obama presidential election. What resulted was what Norris calls an \"accidental memoir.\" Named one of the year's best books by The Christian Science Monitor, the book became an eye-opening family history lesson revealing her own family's racial legacy and the larger conversation surrounding race in America. The book has also led to the spinoff blog \"The Race Card Project\" and a deeper look at our attitudes and beliefs about race.
If You Meant It Then You Should Have Put a Stamp On It
In this unique presentation, Michele Norris examines how old fashioned handwritten letters have helped define what is best about America, and explores how we hold on to that in the age of email, Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. This refreshing talk looks at the profound impact and importance of letters written by presidents, CEOs, sportsmen, soldiers, pioneer women and pioneering scientists -- and examines how we communicate today and what it may tell us about our tomorrow.

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Washington Post columnist, former NPR All Things Considered host and author of the forthcoming book Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race (January 2024)

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The subject of a major motion picture starring Jennifer Lopez and Jharrel Jerome, Anthony Robles shares his extraordinary, against-all-odds story of becoming a three-time NCAA champion wrestler, despite being born with one leg.

Lighting up the stage with his authentic positivity and charisma, Anthony shares with audiences his personal strategies for success: A limitless belief in self, unrelenting determination, and the motivation to do things no one ever thought possible.

The recipient of the “Jimmy V Perseverance Award” at the ESPN ESPYs and the NFL’s “Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award,” Anthony is a Nike athlete, the first signed to an agreement after having retired from active participation in a sport. He is currently ESPN's NCAA wrestling analyst and expert, and the wrestling analyst for the Pac-12 Network as well. He was inducted to the National Wrestling Hall of Fame; appointed by President Obama as a member of the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition; and was a member of the Presidential Delegation to the 2014 Sochi Paralympic Games.

Anthony’s incredible story was chronicled in the acclaimed film based on his memoir, Unstoppable, produced by Matt Damon and Ben Affleck’s production company in partnership with Amazon MGM Studios. The film opened to wide acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival 2024 and was hailed as “Nothing short of extraordinary” by Variety.

* In partnership with Washington Speakers Bureau *

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Inspiring NCAA Wrestling Champion, National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee, and subject of the upcoming film, Unstoppable, released in 2020

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Anthony Robles, Corporate Speaker, Keppler Speakers Bureau

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Be Unstoppable: Wrestling With Life’s Challenges On & Off The Mat
Anthony Robles was born without a right leg, yet he never let disability stop him from achieving his dreams. With unrelenting determination—and the belief that he could do anything—he defied all odds and became a champion collegiate wrestler, competing against able-bodied athletes. An NCAA Division I Champion, three-time All-American, and a recipient of the ESPY Jimmy V Award for Perseverance, Anthony inspires others to believe that they too can overcome the odds. In this moving, awe-inspiring presentation, Anthony shares his extraordinary life story—now chronicled on the big screen in a major motion picture starring Jennifer Lopez and Jharrel Jerome—and illustrates how perseverance, hard work, and a strong belief in yourself can not only lead you to success, but make you unstoppable.

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Inspiring NCAA Wrestling Champion, National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee, and subject of the film, Unstoppable

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Sharing never-before-told anecdotes, Paul Whelan recounts his harrowing journey as a hostage in Putin’s Russia—enduring human rights abuses while fighting for freedom and justice from behind enemy lines.

On December 28, 2018, Paul Whelan was traveling in Russia for a friend’s wedding when he was framed for espionage and arrested in his hotel room. Thus began a harrowing journey of unwavering resilience, patriotism, and survival that spanned five years, seven months, and five days of unlawful imprisonment—before his emotional return home in the most historic prisoner swap since the Cold War.

From torture by sleep deprivation in a filthy prison cell to harassment in a forced labor camp, the trauma Paul faced was substantial. But by forming crucial alliances and communicating with fellow prisoners, guards, and other Americans detained nearby, Paul was able to learn and share invaluable resources and information about the War in Ukraine and other global events—and was able to ultimately fight for his own release.

Drawing from his remarkable story, Paul inspires audiences to overcome their own most difficult obstacles, providing strategies for mental resilience and goal-setting. He also brings a wealth of experience in corporate security, expertly blending risk management with strategic insights to safeguard organizational integrity and enhance operational resilience. He applies the leadership and team-building principles he learned while detained to the corporate world—emphasizing that building strong alliances and learning to communicate mindfully with others is essential for success.

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Paul Whelan, Leadership Speaker, Keppler Speakers Bureau

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The Human Spirit Unbroken: A Journey of Strength and Resilience
Sharing previously untold details of the story that swept the globe, Paul Whelan recounts his harrowing journey as a hostage wrongfully detained in Putin’s Russia for five years, seven months, and five days. From being framed and arrested while traveling in Russia for a friend’s wedding; to the sleep deprivation torture and harassment in a forced Labor Camp; to the crucial alliances and information-swapping with fellow prisoners and nearby American detainees, Paul shares the intriguing anecdotes and smart goal-setting strategies that ultimately led to his emotional return home, inspiring audiences to overcome their own most difficult obstacles and achieve success.
Global Security and Risk Management: How to Safeguard Your Employees and Organizational Integrity
Bringing a wealth of experience in corporate security, Paul Whelan expertly blends risk management with strategic insights to safeguard organizational integrity and enhance operational resilience. He also includes tips for safe international travel, the most up-to-date State Department recommendations, and steps to take in the rare event you or your employee is arrested or detained abroad.
Leadership and Team-Building: How Key Alliances and Smart Communication Saved My Life—and Can Save Your Business
While held hostage in a Russian prison and labor camp for more than five and a half years, Paul Whelan formed crucial alliances with fellow prisoners, guards, and other American detainees held nearby. Through smart strategizing, information-gathering, and resourceful communication methods, Paul was able to learn and share invaluable information about the War in Ukraine and other global events. In this keynote he applies the principles he learned to businesses, emphasizing that building strong teams and forming mindful, respectful bonds with others is essential for success.
An Unforgettable Conversation with Paul Whelan: Resilience, Leadership, and Survival
Experience an intimate, dynamic conversation tailored specifically to your audience. Guided by an interviewer, Paul will share candid, never-before-heard insights into his extraordinary ordeal, his mental fortitude, and the life-changing lessons he learned—applicable to any challenge. It’s more than just a conversation; it’s a powerful masterclass in resilience, strategy, and leadership and a thought-provoking experience.

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His mantra—“Bet on yourself”—has been the driving force behind his exceptional journey, which has inspired over a million in both sports and business."}},{"tag":"link","attributes":{"rel":"canonical","href":"https://api.kepplerspeakers.com/speakers/tyler-gillum"}}],"path":"/speakers/tyler-gillum","body":"

Tyler Gillum is a coach, educator, and entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to inspiring and helping others achieve their dreams. His mantra—“Bet on yourself”—has been the driving force behind his exceptional journey, which has inspired over a million in both sports and business. From a childhood growing up on the rodeo circuit to being the Head Coach of the Savannah Bananas, Tyler’s story is one of resilience, vision, and servant leadership.

Tyler’s college baseball coaching career spanned from 2010 to 2022, during which he recruited, developed, and built championship teams. He wasn’t just a coach who focused on baseball skills; he created environments where athletes could thrive, grow, and ultimately achieve their dreams. A pivotal moment in Tyler’s career came in 2018 when he became the head coach of the Savannah Bananas. There, he worked alongside owner Jesse Cole to develop a new innovative sport called Banana Ball, a unique brand of baseball designed to entertain and engage fans like never before. The combination of being “Fans First”, having fun and developing players has led to Championships, Hall of Fame Inductions and playing in America’s biggest stadiums.

Tyler’s impact isn’t limited to the baseball diamond. As a speaker, he uses his platform to inspire both individuals and organizations to reach their full potential. He teaches audiences how to implement actionable plans for success, blending the lessons of sports with business strategies. Through stories and hands-on advice, he encourages people to live with a “do for one what you wish you could do for many” mindset and create “never forget moments” for those around them. Whether you’re running a business or coaching a team, Tyler’s message is clear: Bet on yourself, and always remember to serve those around you.

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Tyler Gillum, Inspirational Speaker, Keppler Speakers Bureau

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The Power of Buy-In: How to Create a Culture of Excellence
The most successful sports team in America isn’t just about baseball—but about buy-in. Buy-in is not just about compliance—it’s about commitment. This culture starts at the top and flows through every level. It’s the same principle that drives success in every industry. Leadership defines the culture. People want to work harder when they believe in the mission.

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Jesse Israel is a 5X Audible worldwide bestseller, a renowned keynote speaker and a visionary entrepreneur known for founding The Big Quiet movement and leading some of the largest meditations on earth, including in sold-out arenas on tour with Oprah Winfrey and in global broadcasts with Deepak Chopra.

An expert in human performance and wellbeing, Jesse is a leadership coach to elite performers – from top CEOs and senior White House advisors to Academy and Grammy Award Winning actors and musicians. Formerly a record label and tech fund founder who signed multi-platinum bands and oversaw an industry-leading music tech investment fund, Jesse blends his entrepreneurial experience with his expertise in wellbeing to help millions cultivate calm, clarity, and resilience in the face of life’s demands.

After experiencing debilitating anxiety and panic attacks during his career in the music industry, Jesse founded The Big Quiet mass meditation movement, which would go on to fill arenas with people in silence and introduce meditation to millions around the world. Globally recognized as a pioneering force in the explosive health and wellness industry, The Big Quiet played an integral role in bringing mindfulness and meditation into mainstream culture and the corporate workplace in the US.

Today, Jesse is one of the world’s leading voices in mindful leadership, with his work featured in over 200+ media publications including Forbes, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Ad Week and Fast Company. Through a worldwide distribution deal with Audible, Jesse released a series of Audible Originals designed to support better sleep, build vitality and enhance personal performance – 5 of which became top 10 bestsellers.

As a keynote speaker, Jesse delivers presentations for companies like Google, American Express, Aetna, Ford and Charles Schwab, and was personally invited by Oprah Winfrey to keynote each stop of her most recent arena tour with WW. In his talks, Jesse shares his Amplified Quiet Framework – a three step system to help leaders, teams, and organizations navigate uncertainty, break through performance barriers and realize their full potential by mastering the art of quieting noise.

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Jesse Israel, Inspirational Speaker, Keppler Speakers Bureau

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Unleashing True Potential: How quieting noise increases innovation, deepens belonging and elevates performance
As the speed of change and technological advancement continues to accelerate – and with more noise in our lives than ever before – the cross pressures and demands placed on today’s leaders has reached new heights. It’s nearly impossible for them to avoid distraction, stay connected to their teams, and manage burn-out while performing at their full capacity.
A select group of leaders, however, has cracked the code. From his work with some of the most elite performers in the world, Jesse Israel has seen first hand that there’s one thing they all have in common: they’ve mastered the art of quieting noise.
In this actionable and interactive keynote, Jesse Israel – 5x Audible worldwide bestseller and founder of the global movement The Big Quiet – reveals his Amplified Quiet Framework. Utilized by top CEOs, senior White House advisors, Academy and Grammy Award-winning actors and musicians, as well as crowds in sold-out arenas on tour with Oprah Winfrey, Jesse’s transformational framework provides leaders with the tools they need to navigate uncertainty, build resilience and activate their dormant potential by quieting the noise of the world, the noise in their heads and the noise within their bodies.
Leading Connected, High-Performing Teams How to break through the noise, foster belonging and lead with purpose
Even with the speed of the world today, it’s still only a fraction of what it’ll be in the years to come. In this era of disconnection and distraction, the leaders of today are faced with challenges, cross pressures and demands they’ve never seen before. This ever evolving business landscape has resulted in teams finding themselves ill-equipped for the future, lacking connection and struggling to keep up with the pace of change.
As a 5x Audible worldwide bestseller and founder of the global movement The Big Quiet, Jesse Israel has coached and studied some of today’s most elite performers – from visionary CEOs and senior White House advisors, to top physicians and Academy Award-winning actors. His Amplified Quiet Framework allows leaders of all levels to quiet the noise in and around them, connect at a deeper level with their team and perform at their best – not because they have to, but because they want to. Jesse’s unexpected approach to high-performance was recently recognized by Oprah Winfrey, when she invited him to share highlights of his framework with sold out audiences on her most recent arena tour.
Finding Calm in Chaos How to Strengthen Resilience, Mitigate Burnout and Thrive in the Face of Uncertainty
In a world of increasing technological change and constant crisis, finding clarity, calm, and presence in our daily lives is becoming more difficult than ever before, and it is paramount that leaders have the tools to build cohesive, resilient teams that are able to adapt and flourish in the face of uncertainty.
To maintain our well-being, focus, and performance amidst the chaos, we need the essential skill of filtering noise. Jesse Israel teaches exactly how to do that with his Amplified Quiet Framework. As a 5X audible worldwide bestseller and founder of the global movement The Big Quiet, Jesse has led some of the largest meditations on earth and successfully guided millions through this journey—so much so that Oprah invited him to share this framework on a national tour, teaching sold-out arenas of people the art of quieting noise and finding power in presence.
In this interactive and transformative keynote, Jesse creates an immersive experience, empowering the audience to access an unexpected state of calm and connection that’s rarely felt at group events. Attendees will learn how to activate that same energy in their own lives and workplaces, tap into resiliency and feel ready to take on the unknown.

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A Fortune 200 CEO turned senior U.S. energy official, David Crane brings a rare blend of private-sector leadership and public-sector impact to the global energy conversation.

As Under Secretary for Infrastructure at the U.S. Department of Energy under President Joe Biden, Crane steered one of the largest federal clean energy investment portfolios in history—overseeing billions in federal funding to modernize infrastructure, scale innovation, and accelerate the clean energy transition.

Previously, he served as CEO of Fortune 200 energy giant NRG, where he transformed the company from bankruptcy into a national leader in utility-scale renewables, residential solar, EV charging, and carbon capture. He also served as CEO of the global energy company, International Power, and served on the boards of multiple private sector climate tech innovators and sustainability-focused nonprofits.

Drawing on his rare top-level insider’s view of both the public and private sectors, David Crane unpacks what the future holds for energy markets, infrastructure, and business strategy, during this period of tremendous uncertainty and looming energy scarcity. Audiences gain a candid look at the federal government’s approach to climate and innovation, learn how to shape and transform traditional companies in a conservative industry to embrace the unprecedented disruption at scale underway in the energy industry; and to illuminate for large scale energy buyers how to sort through the ever lengthening list of energy solution technologies to determine the optimal approach for the buyer in energy scarce economy and a carbon-constrained society..

Crane has been named Energy Industry “CEO of the Year” by EnergyBiz, top CEO in the electric utility sector by Institutional Investor, and “Entrepreneur of the Year” by Ernst & Young.

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David Crane, Inspirational Speaker, Keppler Speakers Bureau

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Power Shift: Leading Through the Clean Energy Transition
David Crane offers a powerful insider’s view of the clean energy transition from both sides of the public-private divide. Drawing on his leadership of one of the largest federal clean energy investment portfolios in U.S. history and his experience transforming NRG into a national leader in renewables and low-carbon technologies, Crane unpacks what the future holds for energy markets, infrastructure, business strategy, addressing:
External:
Organizational design and institutional transformation, addressing either or both the external energy environment or the internal organizational imperative in response to:
- How should companies—large and small—be preparing now for the energy transition ahead?
- Where should forward-thinking businesses be investing in energy innovation or infrastructure resilience?
- What will different energy sources mean for our daily lives—costs, reliability, and accessibility?
- How can individuals or local businesses play a meaningful role in strengthening their community’s energy resilience?
- What are the emerging, invisible threats to our national energy grid—and what’s being done to protect it?
Internal:
- What does it mean to be purpose driven in a carbon-constrained future?
- How to manage climate risk while maintaining cost competitiveness?
- What does company leadership and employee buy-in look like?
- How to manage your value proposition in a transition-unfriendly marketplace?
Audiences will gain a candid look at the federal government’s approach to climate and innovation, learn how to lead through disruption at scale, and walk away with actionable insights for staying competitive—and relevant—in an accelerating decarbonized economy.

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Ambassador Jeff Flake brings a rare combination of high-level political experience, diplomatic insight, and principled leadership to the stage.

As former U.S. Ambassador to Türkiye and U.S. Senator and Congressman from Arizona prior to that, Flake has been at the center of some of the most consequential issues facing America and the world—from navigating foreign alliances and NATO negotiations to confronting polarization in Washington.

A bestselling author and frequent voice in national media, he speaks candidly about the state of American politics, the importance of restoring civility and trust, and the enduring value of public service. Audiences gain a deeper understanding of global affairs, soft power diplomacy, and how character-driven leadership can shape both policy and culture.

Drawing on his decades of experience in public life—including a pivotal role in securing Sweden’s accession to NATO, for which he was recently knighted by the Swedish government—Ambassador Flake delivers key insights with clarity, humility, and optimism.

Whether addressing current geopolitical dynamics, bipartisan bridge-building, or the future of democracy, his message resonates across political and professional lines. Attendees leave inspired to lead with integrity, engage across divides, and contribute meaningfully to civic life in an age that urgently needs it.

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Jeff Flake, Inspirational Speaker, Keppler Speakers Bureau

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A Conversation with Ambassador Jeff Flake
Ambassador Flake shares unique perspectives drawn from his recent service as a U.S. Ambassador as well as his time in the Senate and Congress, unpacking the most critical issues impacting our world today. From the repercussions of tariffs and tax policy on American businesses, to the future of healthcare innovation and biopharma, to the shifts in geopolitics that influence markets and national security, Flake helps audiences make sense of this era of global change. Ambassador Flake is available for keynotes, fireside chats and point-counterpoint political pairings.
Leading with Principle: Courage, Civility, and Integrity in Turbulent Times
In an era marked by polarization, pressure, and rapid change, Jeff Flake offers a compelling perspective on what it truly means to lead with principle, composure, and courage. Drawing from his time in the U.S. Senate, his work as a diplomat, and even his extraordinary personal adventures—including being marooned on a deserted island—Flake shares hard-earned insights on standing firm in your values, navigating conflict without sacrificing civility, and making tough decisions under intense scrutiny. Audiences come away with a deeper understanding of how to lead with integrity, negotiate with purpose, and remain calm and effective even when the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Politics with Principle: Restoring Trust, Civility, and Hope in American Democracy
With decades of experience in the U.S. Senate and diplomatic service, Jeff Flake offers a thoughtful insider’s perspective on the challenges—and enduring promise—of American politics and public service. He explores how soft power and principled diplomacy shape international influence, why bipartisanship still matters, and how restoring trust in institutions begins with individual courage and civic engagement. Reflecting on his own political journey, Flake makes the case that public service remains a vital and noble calling—and that despite today’s polarization, there is real reason to be hopeful about the future of our democracy. Audiences gain a renewed appreciation for the role of character in leadership, the impact of bridge-building across divides, and the power each person holds to help shape a better political future.

A leading voice in the science of human behavior, Vanessa Van Edwards is trusted by global brands and institutions to help their teams connect, communicate, and lead more effectively.

Founder of the organization Science of People, internationally bestselling author, and Harvard instructor Vanessa Van Edwards brings a unique blend of research-based insights and real-world application to every stage she steps on. With an engaging style and infectious energy, she translates cutting-edge behavioral science into practical strategies audiences can immediately use to build trust, boost influence, and elevate how they show up in both personal and professional settings.

Vanessa is the internationally bestselling author of Captivate: The Science of Succeeding with People, which has been translated into 18 languages, and Cues: Master the Secret Language of Charismatic Communication. She is an influential YouTuber with more than 1 million channel subscribers. More than 70 million people watch her videos.

Whether speaking to corporate teams, leadership summits, or innovation conferences, Vanessa equips audiences with a deeper understanding of the hidden cues and signals that drive human interaction. Attendees walk away with science-backed techniques to improve communication, increase their emotional intelligence, and create more meaningful relationships—key skills in today’s rapidly evolving workplace.

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Vanessa Van Edwards, Leadership Speaker, Keppler Speakers Bureau

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The Surprising Secrets of High Performers: How the Most Successful People Use Effective Communication to be More Productive
Highly effective people have a unique approach to productivity. Over the last decade, Vanessa has studied the patterns of successful people and found a surprising way we can all work smarter, not harder. The key is being a productive communicator. Vanessa will teach attendees how to maximize their relationships and streamline their communication with a simple, but powerful framework, as well as how to communicate like a human when leveraging AI tools. The goal is to empower attendees to increase efficiency by connecting and collaborating in a purposeful way. This highly actionable, engaging talk will energize every audience member to look at their to-do list in a completely new way.
The Three Levels of Connection: Build Stronger Relationships by Using the Science of People
Our desire for community and connection doesn’t end at work. While connection with colleagues looks different from purely personal connections, having authentic and healthy connections in the workplace is one of the main determinants of productivity and workplace satisfaction. While the increase of virtual mediums presents an added challenge, creating meaningful connections is possible. In fact, there’s a science-based blueprint to fostering connections quickly and maintaining them with professional intention. In this presentation, Vanessa Van Edwards teaches the three levels of connection that build trust and rapport. These principles can be applied at work, within teams, at conferences, and while networking, with colleagues and customers alike. Each level builds on the next, providing insight and tools on how to deepen relationships. Along with gaining a deeper understanding of the levels of connection, attendees will learn the practice of creating a safe space for vulnerability and ideas.
Charismatic Communication: The Art and Science of Presence, Confidence and Trust
Better communication skills pay dividends in every conversation for the rest of your life. There are no downsides to becoming a better communicator, but the upsides may be more powerful than we know. Studies show that people with high interpersonal intelligence (PQ) perform at higher levels, have higher salaries, have better immune systems, and help generate more revenue for companies they work for. In this research-based and reflective keynote, Vanessa Van Edwards teaches attendees powerful communication strategies based on new science that they can apply at work and in their personal lives. Pulling from her bestselling books Captivate and Cues, she shares the latest research on behavioral psychology and how it can be used to improve professional relationships, make positive and lasting impressions, and better connect with co-workers and customers. Audiences are left with a better understanding of their own communication pitfalls and the knowledge and confidence to apply new tools to become more authentically charismatic in their interactions.

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Juan Bendana is the best-selling author of Confident By Choice, a highly sought-after speaker, and a trusted advisor to the world’s top performers—from Olympic athletes and Grammy-winning artists to top CEOs and Fortune 100 leaders. Over his 10+ year career advising top performers across every industry, Juan’s work has been featured by Harvard Business Review, Rolling Stone, Inc. magazine and translated into over four languages. Often described as a walking shot of espresso, Juan combines high energy, humor, and science-backed tools to help individuals build unwavering confidence so they can show up as their best and achieve new levels of performance both personally and professionally.

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Juan Bendana, Leadership Speaker, Keppler Speakers Bureau

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Grow Through Change: Uncertain Times Demand More Certain Leaders
People aren’t speaking up. They’re holding back, second-guessing, playing it safe—while everything around them demands boldness, clarity, and presence. In this keynote, Juan Bendana gives leaders the tools to break through hesitation and lead with unshakable confidence. Backed by research with over 250,000 leaders, Juan shares practical tools to navigate change that turn technological disruption into transformational momentum. With powerful stories, humor, and real-world strategies, this keynote powers performance, adaptability, and breakthrough leadership in this new era of A.I and exponential change. Ideal for leadership conferences, employee development days and teams navigating change.
The Confidence Cycle: The Secret to Everyday Engagement and Motivation
In a world where self-doubt and change are relentless, Juan Bendana helps teams turn uncertainty into an opportunity for personal and professional growth. Based on his ground breaking book Confident By Choice, this high-energy keynote equips audiences with the tools to build unshakable confidence, overcome imposter syndrome, and cultivate a growth mindset in the moments where it matters most. Through powerful stories, humor, and actionable takeaways, Juan inspires your people to break through mental barriers, reignite motivation for their work (and life!), and step into bold, aligned action. Perfect for organizations navigating change, craving momentum, and ready to unlock their next level of growth and sustainable performance.
Make Confidence Your Competitive Advantage: High-Performance Mindset for Next Level Growth
In a world where expectations are rising and motivation is dropping, most leaders struggle to adapt to change and stay engaged with their goals. Unlocking the next level performance requires more than just ambition; it demands action. Confidence isn’t just a feel-good trait – it’s your organization’s ultimate competitive edge. With a track record of working with brands like Disney, American Express, and Zillow, Juan delivers an energizing keynote that empowers leaders to set clear and actionable goals, turning today’s barriers into tomorrow’s breakthroughs. Backed by his proven framework, audiences walk away ready to raise the bar, take aligned action, and achieve more than they thought possible. Ideal for sales kick-offs, annual meetings, and high-performance teams looking to achieve lasting results.

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After years at Stanford and Google, Tucker Bryant uncovered a surprising truth: the skills that fuel world-class innovation aren’t confined to the boardroom—they’re also found in the mindset of a poet.

Tucker Bryant worked at Google as a Product Marketing Manager, where he focused on building go-to-market strategies for some of the company’s major products. His work involved helping launch and position tools for businesses, contributing to cross-functional leadership, and driving innovation initiatives—skills that now inform his insights on creativity, communication, and leadership in the corporate world.

Once a teenager who thought poetry and business had nothing in common, Tucker came to realize that the creative practices he once set aside were the very tools that helped him thrive in Silicon Valley. Today, as a nationally recognized poet and speaker, he bridges the gap between creativity and corporate strategy, helping leaders embrace discomfort, challenge assumptions, and unlock bold, transformative ideas. Tucker equips audiences with a powerful, poetic posture that drives innovation—and he’s ready to help audiences write what's next.

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Tucker Bryant, Inspirational Speaker, Keppler Speakers Bureau

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Turn the Page: Innovative Thinking for Better Results
In every chapter of our lives, we’re given a choice: stay on the page we know — the page of familiarity, but of unrealized potential — or turn it. For too many of us, our aspirations sit in the margins — dismissed as impractical, impossible, or premature. But what if our most actualized selves didn’t need to live in the realm of fantasy? What if our best selves are waiting on the other side of a blank page we haven’t figured out how to put our pens to?
After spending a decade with world-class innovators at Stanford and Google, Tucker Bryant discovered an unexpected perspective to help professionals break from status quo thinking and write the future with confidence: the mindset of a poet. As a nationally renowned poet, he has identified a collection of powerful principles poets have used for millennia to push past comfort zones and innovate through art—tools that offer business leaders the perspective shift needed to navigate uncertainty.
In this signature keynote experience, Tucker reveals how the Turn the Page™ principles empower leaders to unlock creativity, collaboration, and competitive advantage. Audiences leave inspired and equipped to build a culture of bold exploration and creative disruption, ensuring they drive their industries forward instead of clinging to outdated models that are bound for history.
Turn the Page: From Comfort to Calling
Every day, we face a choice between staying on the page we know — the page of familiarity, but of unrealized potential — or turning it. For too many of us, our aspirations remain unexamined and unexpressed — dismissed as impractical, impossible, or premature. But what if our most actualized selves didn’t need to remain hypothetical? What if our best selves are waiting on the other side of a blank page we haven’t figured out how to put our pens to?
Drawing from lessons forged at the crossroads of Silicon Valley and the stage, poet and former Googler Tucker Bryant offers a fresh lens on unlocking professional and personal possibility — not just for ourselves, but for the organizations and teams we lead. In this dynamic keynote, Tucker introduces the Turn the Page™ framework: a set of poetic principles that help us rewrite what’s possible at work and in our personal lives by shifting our perspective and thinking creatively in the face of uncertainty.
Through humor, story, and powerful poetic insights, attendees will learn how to break free from complacency, reimagine their next chapter of growth with creativity and clarity, and take bold steps toward opportunities and challenges that feel out of reach. This is about more than peak performance — it’s about living a life worth writing about. It’s about walking toward untapped potential, unspoken ideas, and unrealized excellence in the work you do and the life you live.
Turn the Page: Leading The Charge for Change
As the demands on leaders intensify in an age of unprecedented change, the qualities that once defined effective leadership are no longer enough. The pressures to navigate uncharted waters, inspire diverse teams, and make swift, impactful decisions have never been greater. Yet, according to a recent Gallup study, only 21% of employees strongly agree that their leaders are setting them up for success. The gap between traditional leadership methods and the needs of modern teams is widening, leaving many leaders struggling to stay relevant and effective.
Tucker Bryant, who spent years at the crossroads of innovation at places like Stanford and Google, has uncovered an unconventional approach to leadership development: the mindset of a poet. Drawing from his experience as a nationally acclaimed poet, Tucker reveals how the same creative tools that poets use to evoke emotion and inspire change can empower leaders to transcend conventional boundaries and drive their teams to new heights.
In this transformative keynote, Tucker introduces Turn the Page™ as a powerful framework for unlocking leadership potential. Attendees will leave with the insights and strategies needed to cultivate courageous leadership, inspire innovation, and guide their organizations with a renewed sense of purpose and resilience in today’s ever-changing landscape.

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As a leader in the field of cultivating excellence in organizations and individuals, Sarah Wells provides engaging, research-backed insights to help audiences unlock potential both personally and professionally.

Olympian Sarah Wells inspires corporate audiences to redefine excellence—not as perfection, but as the relentless pursuit of progress. Her message resonates deeply in fast-paced, high-pressure environments, reminding leaders and teams that true success comes from breaking free of limiting beliefs and consistently striving to outperform who you were yesterday. Drawing on over a decade of elite athletic experience and a master’s degree in leadership and innovation, Sarah blends research-backed insights with real-world strategies to help organizations unlock performance, resilience, and purpose at every level.

Whether addressing high-potential leaders, sales teams, or entire organizations, Sarah delivers a compelling call to action: excellence is not a destination—it’s a mindset. Through powerful storytelling and actionable takeaways, she equips audiences to embrace challenge, take bold risks, and build cultures rooted in authenticity, adaptability, and ambition.

With warmth, humor, and high energy, Sarah leaves audiences motivated to lead with confidence and elevate not only their own potential, but that of everyone around them.

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Sarah Wells, Leadership Speaker, Keppler Speakers Bureau

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The Pursuit of Excellence: How to cultivate unstoppable excellence in yourself and your organization
Excellence isn’t reserved for a select few—it’s a mindset that anyone can adopt, no matter who you are, or where you begin. In this transformative keynote, Olympian Sarah Wells will reveal how we can all cultivate excellence in ourselves and in organizations. Sarah will share the core principles that drive excellence: the power of belief in yourself, the courage to do things differently, and the resilience to rise from setbacks. By going all in on your unique strengths and experiences, you can unlock success in ways only you can achieve.
Through compelling stories and real-life examples, Sarah will help audiences understand that excellence isn’t about perfection, it’s about breaking free from limiting beliefs and constantly striving to outperform who you were yesterday.
With more than a decade of competition at the highest level, along with a master’s degree in leadership & innovation from the Smith School of Business, Sarah delivers powerful, research-backed insights that unlock the mindset and practical tools to cultivate excellence in everything you do.
Overcoming Hurdles: Embracing change and turning obstacles into opportunities
Change is constant, and how we respond to it defines the trajectory of our success. In this inspiring and transformative keynote, Olympian Sarah Wells invites you to reframe the way you think about obstacles and setbacks. Drawing from her journey as an elite athlete, Sarah will share the essential mindset shifts that empower individuals and organizations to not just face adversity, but to use it as a catalyst for growth and innovation.
Sarah knows firsthand that success is not about avoiding hurdles but mastering the art of overcoming them. With her three powerful strategies, you’ll learn how to embrace life’s detours and turn them into stepping stones toward a reality greater than you ever imagined. Through her engaging stories of resilience, grit, and excellence, Sarah will reveal how cultivating a mindset of adaptability and excellence helps you thrive in uncertain times.
The 16 Stride Factor: Supercharge your organization with innovative thinking
In today’s fast-paced world, true success doesn’t come from following the same path as everyone else—it comes from embracing what makes you unique and daring to think differently. In \"The 16 Stride Factor,\" Olympian Sarah Wells shares the game-changing strategy that helped her defy the odds in athletics. She’ll show how individuals and organizations alike can apply this approach to supercharge their own goals and unlock new levels of success.
While most 400m hurdlers at the Olympics take 15 strides between hurdles, Sarah broke the mold by crafting a strategy that played to her strengths—taking 16 strides instead. This unconventional approach, tailored to her unique abilities, was key to her Olympic success.
Charting the Course to an Amazing Race: Equipping your team with courage to conquer every mile
What could your team do if they believed anything was possible? What if every setback fueled your next breakthrough? What if every challenge revealed a hidden opportunity? Sarah’s story is a testament to that possibility.
As an Olympian and an Amazing Race contestant, she has transformed trials into triumphs, mastering a 4-step system to help your team chart the course to an Amazing Race! In this high-energy keynote, Sarah will reveal the proven system she’s used to transform fierce competition and unexpected roadblocks into unforgettable achievements. Through vivid storytelling and hard-earned insights from both the track and the world’s toughest race course.

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Business IS an adventure—and mountain-climber and entrepreneur Jamie Clarke walks audiences through how to succeed in reaching their own unique Everest.

From world-renowned adventurer to CEO to sought-after performance coach, Jamie Clarke has built and led strong teams, navigated high-pressure landscapes, and overcome setbacks in order to achieve success. Now he inspires organizations and individuals to brave their own Everest with memorable insights and actionable strategies on leadership, risk management, and defining and achieving goals.

Drawing from his years as an elite mountain-climber, Jamie shares enthralling stories like reaching the Everest summit twice—but only after his first two attempts were cut short by deadly storms. Determined and dedicated, he reached his goal in 1997 and 2010. Jamie is also one of a handful of people in the world to hold the rare accomplishment of climbing the Seven Summits. Always one for new adventures, Jamie rode camels across the Empty Quarter of Arabia, and motorbiked across Mongolia with his son.

Jamie also relays the lessons he learned as CEO of a successful mountaineer clothing e-commerce business—as well as his experience as a performance coach for Olympians, the NFL, Hockey Canada and the 2018 Stanley Cup-winning Washington Capitals. Jamie also offers insights garnered from his current role as fellow and associate professor at the University of Calgary’s Haskayne Business school, where he teaches and mentors in the Centre for Advanced Leadership.

With humor and high energy, Jamie provides his proven keys to scaling the heights: thorough planning and preparation, understanding risk management, and creating an honest and authentic culture in your team. He inspires organizations and individuals to set high goals, overcome their obstacles, and remain passionate in their entrepreneurial adventures.

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Performance coach for the 2018 Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals and Extreme Adventurer

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The Map is Not the Terrain: Charting a New Course for Leadership
Jamie Clarke knows a lot about leadership and uncertainty. He has spent his entire adult life embracing the unknown. From his days as a world-renowned adventure leader and elite climber to becoming a successful business builder and professional sports consultant to a Stanley Cup-winning hockey team, Jamie has navigated countless high pressure and challenging landscapes. Even though teams and individuals consistently ignore this certainty, Jamie knows it: Uncertainty leads to indecision. Indecision leads to fear. Fear leads to chaos. Chaos ends in failure. Always.
This program takes you inside the mindset and the leadership qualities that build team cultures that don’t shrink from uncertainty. Instead, they succeed when others fail. What to do when your old map no longer works? These cultures are everything from teams of business professionals, expeditions struggling to survive negative 70 degree blizzards in the death zone of 25,000 feet, or professional sports teams finding their collective way to break through past failures and become champions. With an infectious sense of humor and palpable, authentic passion, Jamie challenges his audiences to think differently about success, failure, hard work and fear.
Above All Else: The Power of Passion
With humor and palpable passion, Jamie Clarke challenges audiences to think differently about success, failure, passion, hard work and fear, as he shares insight from his journeys scaling the world’s highest mountains, trekking through the most dangerous places and starting his own successful retail business. Perfect for audiences seeking expertise on risk-taking, project management, and team building, Clarke’s customized presentations deliver powerful perspective on learning from failure, the art of grunt work, conquering fear through focus, and above all—living life with passion.
Everyone starts at ZERO: Selling and the Mindset Reset
Jamie Clarke gets it. He gets how to grab an audience of sales professionals, pull it in and keep it with him for every word, laugh, metaphor and lesson. With an infectious charisma, relatable humor and a feel-it-in-your-shoes passion, Jamie challenges sales audiences to think differently about success, drive, failure, hard work and fear. No matter your past successes, be it summiting Everest or setting new sales records, everyone at one point has to start all over again. And prove it again. To start at ZERO. Again.
This captivating program on regrouping and starting over from zero, shares hard-earned insights from his journeys scaling our world’s highest mountains, trekking through its most dangerous places and then creating and managing his own adventure outfitters business. Jamie Clarke is the perfect speaker for sales kick-off events seeking a fresh spark and an actionable blueprint for sharpening risk-taking and mindset. Clarke’s customized presentations deliver powerful take-away lessons on:
- Performing your best when it matters most
- The shift required to get the grunt work done
- Conquering fear through focus
- Building a resilient, winning mindset

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Two-time World Champion Triathlete and four-time Hall of Famer Siri Lindley has coached Olympic medalists and World Champion athletes, and now she applies her winning strategies to business audiences, inspiring employees and teams to reach their highest performance potential.

Siri motivates audiences with her own life experiences as she demonstrates:

The value of leadership and inspiration. As an elite coach, Siri has mentored countless athletes, individuals, and business leaders. Her keynotes are renowned for highlighting the critical importance of strong leadership and effective motivation in business settings, inspiring audiences to strive for excellence. Her approach emphasizes the importance of self-care, purpose, and resilience, enabling individuals to not only excel in their careers but also find deeper meaning in their daily lives.

The power of perseverance and resilience. Siri herself has overcome immense life challenges to become a champion athlete. Her speeches inspire listeners to push through obstacles and overcome setbacks in their careers.

The benefits of a growth mindset. Siri emphasizes the importance of continual learning and improvement, showing how business leaders can find value in adopting a growth mindset to stay competitive and adaptable in a constantly changing marketplace.

The importance of a healthy work-life balance. As a triathlete, coach, and co-founder of two non-profits, Siri is no stranger to the challenges of balancing work and personal life. Her speeches encourage listeners to prioritize self-care and find a healthy balance between their professional and personal commitments.

The power of energy. In late 2019, Siri faced her own difficult battle when she was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. Despite being given less than a 10% chance of survival, she was pronounced cancer-free by her doctors in May of 2020. Today her belief in thriving, not just surviving, guides others to master their own mindsets, emotions and purpose. Siri’s second book, Finding a Way: Taking the Impossible and Making it Possible (2023), provides readers with the tools needed to overcome their struggles and achieve the life they want to live.

Siri Lindley conducts her highly-rated ChampionMind corporate excellence programs and workshops across the country, and she and her wife, Rebekah Keat—also a world-class triathlete and coach—run the Sirius Tri Club for triathletes and the Siri and Bek Squad, which helps people transition to a healthier lifestyle. They have also co-founded two non-profits focused on rescuing horses from slaughter.

In 2023, Siri was inducted into the World Triathlon Hall of Fame.

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World Champion Triathlete, High-Performance Coach and One of Tony Robbins' Favorite Motivational Speakers

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Siri Lindley, Motivational Speaker, Keppler Speakers Bureau

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Winning Big and Living Fearlessly
Fear can be either motivating or crippling. Without decisive action, fear left to grow in the dark will extinguish any chance for individuals, teams, and organizations to succeed. Former #1 triathlete in the world, Siri Lindley, powered through fear on her path to reach the highest level of this grueling sport. She believes that business is 80% psychology and 20% strategy. Siri shows how to train your team members to master their emotions, meaning, and mindset using her ChampionMind principles. This approach fosters a winning culture and a team grounded in accountability. In these times of uncertainty and disruption, Siri demonstrates that it's okay to be afraid, it's what we do about it that makes the difference. Her insights into team members’ physiology and “state” create teams with unstoppable momentum, all guided by her ChampionMind approach.
Succeeding as a Resilient and Fearlessly Authentic Leader
Two timeless traits of great leaders are resilience and authenticity. Great leaders are more crucial than ever as entire industries navigate global changes. After her competitive days as a #1 world-ranked triathlete, Siri forged a new path as a mentor and coach, training 11 world champions, 2 Olympic medalists, and hundreds of world-class competitors. She brings those same ChampionMind skills to organizational leaders by helping them reframe challenges and master their own mindsets, emotions, and meaning. What are the habits and rituals that support high team performance? How does a shared vision infuse your team with purpose, motivation, and energy? Siri even shows how to connect with your team to retain and grow valuable talent using her own ChampionMind approach.
RESILIENCE: How Your Mindset Can Take You from Battling Fears to Thriving
In November 2019, Siri Lindley’s world was shattered when she was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia. With only a 5% chance of survival, she could have succumbed to fear, but Siri refused to let grim statistics dictate her fate. She had already proven that the impossible was possible, becoming a world champion triathlete despite not knowing how to swim when she started. With that same unwavering ChampionMind spirit, Siri faced her illness head-on, determined to beat it. Her journey is a profound testament to resilience and courage. Siri passionately shares and teaches the ChampionMind principles that helped her defy the odds and emerge triumphant.
Re-writing Your Own Narrative for a Life of Authenticity
Every day, we author and build upon our own story. Who do we say we are? Who do we serve? Who are we responsible for? What burdens do we decide to carry that may not even be ours to carry? Former #1 world-ranked triathlete and coach to world champions, Siri Lindley, learned how to re-write the story she had been telling herself. From being a young woman with crippling self-doubt and debilitating obsessive-compulsive disorder, she transformed her life by using her ChampionMind principles, ultimately becoming a 2x world champion triathlete despite starting without knowing how to swim. Siri teaches audiences practical steps for breaking free from “Imposter Syndrome” and living a life of authenticity and intention using her own ChampionMind approach

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Paul Epstein has spent nearly 15 years as a professional sports executive for multiple NFL and NBA teams, a global sports agency, and the NFL league office, where he has broken every premium revenue metric in Super Bowl history, opened a billion-dollar stadium, and founded the San Francisco 49ers Talent Academy, where he became known as the “Why Coach.”

As an award-winning speaker he was named one of SUCCESS magazines top thought leaders that get results, Paul’s impact continues off stage providing leadership development and culture transformation programs for companies and teams including Amazon, Disney, Johnson & Johnson, NASA, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Los Angeles Lakers to embody a spirit of WINNING MONDAY—and his work has been featured on ESPN, NBC, Fox Business, and in USA Today.

He is also a 2x best-selling author of The Power of Playing Offense and Better Decisions Faster.

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Paul Epstein, Leadership Speaker, Keppler Speakers

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Making Better Decisions Faster, How to Overcome Paralysis and Inspire Action
Even the most elite performers can rush to bad judgements, become paralyzed by indecision, or get worn down by decision fatigue.
In this keynote, Paul reveals the streamlined three-step process he’s used to turn around major sports franchises — from the locker room to the boardroom. Avoid decision traps, move forward clear and confident, and make the best out of your MVDs: Most Valuable Decisions.
Leadership & Growth Insights from the NFL & NBA
Culture can only scale when EVERY person in it takes full ownership, accountability, pride, and a commitment to daily excellence. That's the spirit of a champion, and culture (when done right) is our ultimate competitive advantage.
This keynote is inspired by Paul’s 15 years as a culture-building practitioner in the NFL & NBA (including multiple national awards for his work as Founder of the San Francisco 49ers Talent Academy), then stress tested across his training and consulting practice to deeply examine: what do the greatest cultures in the world have in common?
A Masterclass to Build Momentum and WIN
Sales is the lifeblood of every organization. Without it, there is no business to operate. No people to employ. No purpose to fulfill. No impact to ignite in the market. CONFIDENCE is what makes it all possible.
Paul realized how confidence can be the ultimate separator and competitive advantage needed to win as a sales leader in the NFL and NBA, breaking the all-time Super Bowl revenue record, surpassing billion-dollar goals while opening new NFL stadiums, and transforming cellar-dwelling NBA teams from 28th in league revenue to 2nd within a single season.
The Healthcare Playbook: Leading Change When It Matters Most
Paul Epstein brings his 15 years of high-stakes leadership in the NFL and NBA into the healthcare arena with a keynote designed for growth, change and an actionable game plan to win again and again. Paul guides healthcare professionals through how to shift from reacting to regulations, staffing shortages and economic pressure to proactively driving performance and excellence across their organizations. Audiences leave with clear frameworks for attracting and retaining patients, building resilient cultures, making faster decisions in high-stakes environments, and converting every team member into a champion of your mission. What sets Paul apart is his ability to translate championship-level sports leadership into healthcare realities—turning complexity into clarity and inspiring teams not just to survive, but to thrive.

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An award-winning Latina entrepreneur who went from living in an orphanage to creating a wildly successful salsa company she sold to Campbell’s Soup for $231M, Magie Cook inspires audiences around the world to face their biggest obstacles and reach their greatest potential.

Magie Cook grew up in Mexico, living in an orphanage with 68 other children. As a child, she taught herself how to play basketball and ultimately immigrated to the US on a basketball scholarship at the University of Charleston. While there, she started to make fresh salsa for her friends—and word spread of her delicious recipe.

After graduating, Magie struggled to find a job and was on the brink of homelessness—until her friends entered her in a fresh salsa competition. Magie won the contest unanimously, was gifted $800 to start her business, and Maggie’s All-Natural Fresh Salsas & Dips was born. Just four years later, her company grew into a multi-million dollar enterprise. She sold the company to Campbell’s Soup for $231M in 2015.

Now Magie travels the world, inspiring individuals and organizations with her high-energy keynotes. Combining research-based data and inspirational storytelling, Magie provides strategies for organizations to optimize performance, improve employee happiness and well-being, and transform workplace cultures into more equitable, creative environments for leaders to grow. Her charismatic humor, vulnerability, and pragmatic approach for tackling the challenges of work and life energizes audiences and motivates them to see what’s possible when they shift their mindset towards success, resilience, resourcefulness, and relentlessness.

Magie is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Nobel Entrepreneurial Prize in Mexico, the Small Business Administration’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and West Virginia’s Generation Next “40 Under 40” Award.

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Magie Cook, Motivational Speaker, Keppler Speakers Bureau

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Mindset With Magie
In this powerful keynote, Magie shares what it takes for team members to create a permanent mental shift for success, how to uncover and leverage their ‘why’, and how they can visualize their journey into the future. Using research-based studies rooted in psychology and language, Magie skillfully weaves practical mental strategies with how she’s integrated these in her life experiences. Leadership and teams who understand the potential for greatness leads to organizations that have happier employees, greater productivity, more creativity, and stronger leadership.
Overcome Any Adversity & Discover Your True Potential
In this signature keynote, Magie takes the audience on an inspirational journey through stories of how she was able to overcome a seemingly insurmountable number of personal and professional obstacles to create her multi-million dollar salsa company. Through real life examples, audiences will laugh, cry and most importantly, learn about the tools and strategies Magie employs when she meets challenges. When leaders adopt these practices, it leads to increased team trust, more creative thinking, and a higher capacity for dealing with change.
Together We Rise
In today’s rapidly changing world, organizations that prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) are better equipped to adapt and succeed. This keynote, led by Magie Cook, a LGBTQ+ Latina who overcame adversity to achieve the “American Dream” and build a multimillion-dollar company, delves into the benefits of embracing DEI in the workplace. Drawing on her personal experiences of navigating different cultures and leveraging her skills, Magie shares key insights and strategies for creating a culture of mindfulness and inclusion in your team.
Why Adversity is the Key to Future Identity
In this signature keynote, Magie takes the audience on an inspirational journey, sharing how she turned adversity into her greatest advantage using the 3R Framework. Through real-life examples, leaders will discover how to reframe their mindset, rebuild resilience, and reignite their purpose—transforming challenges into steppingstones for success. Audiences will laugh, cry, and, most importantly, walk away with actionable strategies to build team trust, inspire creative thinking, and navigate change with unstoppable momentum. When leaders embrace adversity as the new advantage, they unlock their highest potential and shape a future-driven identity.

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Through a combination of expert coaching, consulting, and training, Eric Boles helps organizations achieve goals quickly, function within their purpose and values, and see transformative results.

A former NFL wide receiver, Eric is the founder and president of The Game Changers, a training and development company that provides a non-traditional approach to performance management and enables organizations to spark positive change, unleash their potential, and exceed their goals and expectations.

Eric presents inspiring insights and strategies to a variety of education, government, healthcare, manufacturing, and financial services organizations and associations that help cultivate leadership, culture change, teamwork, and peak performance. He has lent his expertise to some of the most recognized and respected organizations in the world, including Starbucks, Hasbro, UPS, SAP, Michelin, Swiss Re, MGM, Aviva, Alaska Airlines, and the U.S. Air Force. The results they have experienced are nothing short of transformative.

Prior to becoming a high-performance authority, Eric learned key principles of team dynamics and leadership as a National Football League professional. He was coached and mentored by some of the best coaches and players in the league.

The author of “Moving to Great: Unleashing Your Best in Life and Work,” he motivates others to take leaps towards reaching their organizational goals with company wide support and enthusiasm, bringing real change and lasting results.

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The retired NFL pro and executive coach and consultant inspires with powerful insights and game-changing strategies on leadership, managing change, cultural transformation and peak performance.

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Eric Boles, Business Speaker, Keppler Speakers Bureau

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Fearless Leadership
Fear is a major reason people don’t move forward to new levels. Fear of change, fear of rejection, fear of confrontation and even fear of success can hold us back. Strategies for conquering our fears and changing our mindset and focusing on desired outcomes are outlined. Fear and confidence are contagious, and we need to manage our input to control our output.
Moving To Great
How can we be at our best more of the time? What qualities do peak performers have that allows them to perform at the next level? How do we align our goals and values to stay focused on our desired outcomes. This message will focus on habits and attitudes to move to new levels.
Leading Through Change
Rapid change continues to impact our lives. How can we lead ourselves and others through the changes. We will look at the reasons why people don’t like change and how we can overcome those barriers. Often fear and lack of confidence enter into our decision processes as well. What are you modeling? It’s all up to leadership!

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Based on original research on today’s category-leading companies, Ryan Estis helps you lead through change, unleash your full potential, and enhance business performance, in the new economy.

\n\n

Ryan spent 15 years helping companies connect with employees and customers as an ad agency executive and Fortune 500 chief strategy officer. Now, as the chief experience officer at Ryan Estis & Associates, he brings a deep level of visionary thinking and hands-on experience to a wide range of clients to help them achieve breakthrough success. He travels all over the world to get an inside look at what the world’s best companies do differently, and distills those insights so organizations can embrace change, improve performance, and deliver growth.

\n\n

Recognized as one of the “The Best Keynote Speakers Ever Heard” by Meetings & Conventions magazine, his presentations include original research and actionable content customized for each audience. He informs and educates with case studies that include powerful sales and leadership takeaways that leave attendees with a purpose-driven plan for applying their new ideas once they get back to the office.

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Based on original research on today’s category-leading companies, Ryan Estis helps you lead through change, unleash your full potential, and enhance business performance, in the new economy.

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Sell For Impact
Delivering Value & Winning Customers in the New Economy
Customer expectations and behavior are evolving faster than most sales organizations. B2B buyers considering a purchase now spend only 17% of that time actually meeting with potential suppliers and if comparing multiple suppliers, the amount of time spent with any one sales rep shrinks to 5%.
This reality requires a fundamental shift in go-to-market strategy and a radical evolution in seller skill and competency. Sales teams not only have to earn customer access from a position of expertise, but also use a new value-based, deeply customized approach to earn customer partnerships that can sustain growth into the future.
Human Centered Leadership: Leading High-Performance Teams in a Forever Changed World
Includes lessons from Prepare for Impact
We have changed. Work has changed. And employee attitudes and expectations have changed. We are seeing the largest evolution in our relationship to work in the last century.
Knowledge workers now expect their managers to be part of their support system and help them improve their employee experience as well as their life experience. But in a Gartner survey assessing the evolving role of management, only 47% of managers are prepared for this role.
Ryan Estis teaches leaders how to leverage this defining moment of change as a catalyst to improve performance and empower our people by embracing the principles of human-centered leadership.

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The former Director of Communications for Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Ken Schmidt has advised executive leaders of many of the world’s best-known brands, delivered more than one thousand keynote presentations, written two best-selling books and created a popular business podcast.

It’s an impersonal world, where so many products and services are seen as easily-replaced, indistinct commodities. Whether you stand out or get lost in the crowd is a choice. A mindset.

Ken Schmidt faced those same challenges himself and gained acclaim for his role in the extraordinary turnaround of the legendary Harley-Davidson Motor Company. That transformation was based on a change in mindset and a focus on answering three key strategic questions. While times have changed, what humans want and need from the businesses they buy from and work for hasn’t.

In his high-energy speeches, Ken inspires companies and individuals to shift their thinking and ride a path to success by becoming memorable – not for what they do or what they make, but for how they connect with people.

Ken is author of Make Some Noise: The Unconventional Road to Dominance. He’s also host of the “Tailgating with Geniuses” podcast and co-founder of Torque Sessions Leadership Training. In all of his endeavors, Ken brings an unconventional perspective that helps organizations and individuals reframe how they engage with their marketplace.

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The former director of communications for Harley-Davidson Motor Company played an active role in one of the most celebrated turnarounds in corporate history – and has delivered more than 1,000 keynotes around the world.

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Full Throttle: Shift Gears, Stand Out, and Cruise to the Top
“No matter what we sell, make, or do, we’re a commodity to people who don’t know us,” says Ken Schmidt. Companies who understand that and change their mindset to engage customers differently will win big. Authenticity stands out in today’s impersonal world and Ken unpacks a roadmap for creating an unshakable emotional connection with customers. This talk is rooted in the ideas that drove Harley-Davidson’s incredible transformation and return to dominance as Ken and his team led the company’s shift away from focusing on product features and instead leaned into the key drivers of human behavior. As it did, H-D’s sales, profitability, and loyalty skyrocketed. Ken’s high energy and humor punctuate this talk as he shows businesses of every size and scope how to align everyone in the organization around a set of values that ignite customer passion, maximize sales growth, and stand out in their marketplace.
Sample Takeaways:
- Discover the three questions that should drive every decision to protect and enhance your reputation
- Transform the company mindset towards being known for who you are vs. what you do
- Harness the three drivers of human behavior to create unshakable loyalty
- Gain ways to be memorable so customers tell your story to others – in person and on social media
- Elevate your business by humanizing it and delivering delight
Revving Up Reputation: Storytelling That Drives Success
A compelling and memorable story does more than engage – it moves people, reshaping perceptions and driving change. Ken Schmidt, the mastermind of Harley-Davidson’s resurgence, understands that potent narratives do more than catch attention; they change minds and distinguish your business from look-alike competitors. Leadership’s role is the engine that drives this process forward, fostering a culture where storytelling becomes the rocket fuel for this change. In this presentation, Ken delivers a strategic framework for organizations to redefine their narratives, guiding leaders and teams to uncover the core of their organizational identity and craft stories from within and beyond their walls. Through vivid real-world examples, Ken illustrates how authentic storytelling can elevate brands to a place of prominence and trust. This keynote doesn't just inspire; it redefines how organizations live out and communicate their uniqueness, forging indelible connections that turn casual customers into loyal champions.
Sample Takeaways:
- Elevate the likeability of your business by crafting stories that delight customers
- Uncover the three core elements behind every memorable story that's ever been told
- Learn how to craft vocabulary that breathes new life into the seemingly familiar or mundane
- Find your three most memorable and distinguishing storylines
- Tap into underutilized opportunities to share stories
- Discover simple tools that encourage employees to become storytellers
Gear Up: Fast Track Your Career
“How do you want to be talked about and what are you doing to make that happen?” Ken Schmidt reminds people that we are a story-telling species and getting noticed by customers or even in your own organization is about being memorable. Saying or doing what people expect doesn’t make you – or your business – stand out. In this talk Ken shows how to make a lasting impact. It starts with answering three key questions about how you want to be remembered. Ken reminds audiences that what people remember about you is dependent on how you make them feel about themselves. It’s more important to be interested – not interesting. Ken shares lessons learned from a celebrated career at Harley-Davidson and beyond to show how to build a personal brand that will fast track your career in today’s dynamic landscape.
Sample Takeaways:
- Identify your unique qualities and how you want to be remembered
- Hear ways to make others feel good about themselves
- Learn how to take an active role in meetings and actively participate
- Understand that by encouraging others to share their stories, you can then share yours
- Ways to continuously improve your personal brand by focusing on R&R (Remember & Repeat)

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With humor, intelligence, and humility, iconic athlete Alex Rodriguez inspires audiences with stories of his journey from young phenom, to poster child for baseball, to public failure—followed by his comeback and self-made business career—and shares the leadership and team-building lessons he's learned along the way.

Alex Rodriguez is a businessman and the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of A-Rod Corp, a broad-based investment firm that bets on world-class startups and partners with leading global companies across the real estate, health and wellness, technology, and sports & entertainment industries. While best known as one of the world’s greatest athletes (a 14x MLB All-Star and a 2009 World Series Champion with the New York Yankees), for more than 25 years, Alex leads a team of experts building high-growth businesses, and is co-owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Audiences rarely have the opportunity to hear a story like that of Alex Rodriguez—from young phenom, to poster child for baseball, to public failure, followed by his comeback and self-made business career. Alex's speaking engagements provide an inside look at his journey, what he has learned and how he has applied it. His humor, intelligence, and humility delight a wide range of audiences—including mainstage conferences, corporate leadership retreats, and more intimate gatherings. Alex has evolved over the years in ways unimaginable, and his journey continues.

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Alex Rodriguez, Inspirational Sports Speaker, Keppler Speakers Bureau

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Strategic Pivoting: Making a Purposeful Shift
How can you make a successful pivot into a new career? Over the course of your life, you may have several careers. What do you need to know to make the shift successful? Alex Rodriguez made several shifts over his lifetime. He spent the first part of his life as a baseball player, playing for 22 seasons in Major League Baseball. After his career was over, he successfully pivoted into being a media presenter and a business entrepreneur. He didn’t switch overnight. In this exciting talk, Alex shares what you need to know in order to make a purposeful shift. Audiences will come away understanding: never limit yourself, find your passion, and educate yourself.
Mindset of a Champion: Success Across Sectors
How do you succeed in whatever you do? You need to adopt the mindset of a champion. A champion knows that success doesn’t come easy or overnight. Before Alex Rodriguez became one of the most successful and highest-paid athletes in baseball, he was just a young man who loved the game and wanted to become better. So he studied the game, took copious notes, and improved his expertise in the sport. His process can be applied to any area of life, not just sports. In this frank talk on what it takes to succeed, Alex shares how he developed his champion mindset. Audiences will come away learning to find their superpower, educate themselves, work hard, and stay focused.
Resilience: How to Stay in the Game When Challenges Arise
How do you stay the course when you face challenges in life? For each of us, a day will come when we have a huge personal or business setback. When a setback happens, starting over may seem like an insurmountable challenge. You may want to give up rather than go on. Alex Rodriguez faced many challenges over his 22-year career in baseball, from striking out to losing games to injury to being suspended. However, he was able to overcome his challenges and stay in the game. In this story-filled talk, Alex shares how to stay resilient. Audiences will come away understanding why you should always get back up when you’re knocked down, never set limitations on yourself, and say yes first, then figure out the rest.
Diversity: A Business Imperative for Strong Teams and Success
Why are organizations with more diversity more successful than less diverse companies? More diverse companies have higher productivity, more innovation, and less turnover. If you want to build strong teams and organizations, you need to hear diverse voices. As a successful baseball player and business owner, Alex Rodriguez understands the importance of diversity for strong teams and success. In this talk spanning his baseball and business careers, Alex shares the importance of diversity for success. Audiences will come away understanding that in order to be innovative and appeal to diverse markets, you need to have different people with different opinions, people who are willing to say no instead of yes, and people who are hired because of their expertise, not just because they check a box.

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From their exemplary customer service to the relevant speakers they have access to; Keppler secures speakers that fit our goals and objectives.

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With Keppler, we are not just a client, but a valued partner.

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Keppler Speakers understands the mission of [your] organization.

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Unforgettable experiences start with Keppler Speakers

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Audiences want to be inspired by stories of ordinary people achieving extraordinary things. They want to learn from experts in their field. They want to get a glimpse of what it is like to be a history maker, a ground breaker, or an entrepreneurial pioneer. As a speakers bureau, we provide everything from motivational speakers and women speakers to the industry’s top business leaders. Helping you create unforgettable experiences at your next business meeting, conference, or event is what Keppler Speakers is all about.

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