In-person events have slowly but surely made their return to the industry, making 2022 a great year to hire a leadership speaker.
Bring Leadership Experts to Your Next Event
The last few years of events have been solely virtual, but we’re finally returning to a place of normalcy.
Now, more than ever, it’s time to get inspired to take full advantage of the outside world and make your events as memorable as possible for your attendees. Creating the ultimate experience can be as simple as bringing in business leaders, entrepreneurs, and other leadership keynote speakers to tell their stories of success.
If you’re in the business of booking speakers for an event in the near future, it’s time to consider someone who has the skills and knowledge of a leader. Someone who is motivational, influential, and ready to help people conquer the challenges they’ll face in their lifetime.
Booking a leadership speaker who can relay your professional development message, but also showcase themselves as thought leaders, can keep your event at top of mind for attendees long after they’ve left.
Whether you’re coordinating your company’s first event since the start of the pandemic or you’re still playing it safe with a virtual event, hiring the perfect leadership speaker can set your event apart from the rest in 2022 and beyond.
The call for speakers in 2022 for leadership events is here! Book your speaker while they’re still available. Not sure where to look? We’ve got you covered. Here’s a comprehensive list of top keynote speakers in 2022 to consider for your next event.
1. Darlene Drew
Darlene’s journey as a motivational speaker stems from her past of not taking no for an answer. When she was a high school freshman, she visited her counselor for advice on college. When the counselor told her she had reached out too early in her high school career, Darlene waited a few weeks and then made her way right back to the counselor’s office.
Similarly, when she was given a letter of regret for an entry-level position she had applied for, she called the company’s human resources department to let them know they sent her a denial letter by mistake. They hired her a few weeks later.
Darlene has a wide range of experience in leadership positions in federal prisons. Today, she holds the title of CEO of Leadership Conditioning, Personal & Professional Development, LLC. Her accolades include:
- The Attorney General Award
- The Regional Director Award, which was received during her time as Warden at the Federal Correctional Institution in Florence, South Carolina; awarded for her Staff Development Programs.
- The Susan Hunter Award from The Association of Women Executives in Corrections, also awarded for her Staff Development Programs.
Using her energy, enthusiasm, and engagement skills, Darlene offers messages of perseverance, resilience, determination, and encouragement. With seven different programs to choose from, Darlene will ensure your audience walks away with the drive and motivation to break barriers and reach personal goals.
She is also an eSpeakers Certified Virtual Speaker.
2. Richard Hadden
Richard’s career began as a manager for a large savings and loan association in the 80s. Long before technology ruled the globe, he worked as a computer programmer and systems analyst involved in multiuser microcomputer software.
He moved on to become a product development director for a software house in Florida, but decided to take business matters into his own hands. In 1986, he started his own software consulting business. During this period of his career, he became an instructor at Jacksonville University, teaching software design, principles of management, and international economics.
It wasn’t until 1990 that he began delivering keynote presentations and training programs for hundreds of audiences and he hasn’t looked back since. Ten years after becoming a speaker, he earned the Certified Speaking Professional designation from the National Speakers Association, which is better known as the most important designation available in the speaking profession.
With four different programs to consider, Richard can teach your audience about the power of having a focused workforce, the world of leadership today, how to get greater productivity from your workforce, and how going the extra mile will help your organization thrive.
He is an eSpeakers Certified Virtual Speaker.
3. Linda Swindling
As a negotiation speaker, Linda gained her skills from her experience practicing law. Linda became a respected mediator in the Texas legal community after many successes in negotiating multimillion-dollar deals and resolving any case sent her way.
Beyond her law degree, Linda pursued advanced negotiation training through the Attorney-Mediators Institute, Harvard/MIT’s Program on Negotiation, and The University of Houston’s A.A. White Dispute Resolution Center.
An engaging keynote speaker, Linda takes pride in her ability to deliver strategies that work in the real world. With more than 20 years of experience facing down challenges and performing her own original research, she’s created an innovative method of breaking through the noise and making deals that can’t be refused. She’s also the author and co-author of 20+ books including “Ask Outrageously! The Secret to Getting What You Really Want,” which is one of her best sellers and the basis for one of her speaking programs.
She is an eSpeakers Certified Virtual Speaker.
4. Mimi Brown
Mimi Brown is known by many for her enthusiasm and boundless energy. She takes these qualities and works with individuals and organizations to improve their communication, connections, and confidence so that they can find their purpose and make an impact on their surroundings.
Her down-to-earth vibe and sense of humor make it easy to get the conversation flowing and induce laughter while learning. From the moment she walks on stage, she gets the crowd going and leaves them with the tools needed to refocus their mindset.
Mimi has more than 10 years of corporate leadership training experience and it shows. She knows how to make meaningful connections with her audience and has a knack for teaching others how to reach their full potential. Beyond her industry experience, some of Mimi’s other accolades include being recognized as one of Michigan Meetings and Events Best Speaker of 2020, Michigan Oakland County Executive’s Elite 40 Under 40, Ms. Michigan Plus America 2015, Diversity Champion Honor Roll Recipient, and a former contestant on NBC’s The Biggest Loser. She is also the current president of NSA Michigan.
Choose from six different programs to teach listeners how to grow their confidence and become the best versions of themselves.
She is also an eSpeakers Certified Virtual Speaker.
5. Garrison Wynn
Are you looking for someone who wants to talk to both the janitor and the CEO without skipping a beat? Someone who knows how to personalize a presentation, but still provide a consistent, relevant message at the same time? Garrison Wynn has a knack for leadership speaking and an impressive track record to back it up.
A Fortune 500 leader and a professional stand-up comedian, Garrison has a reputation for comedic timing, impeccable research, and excellent delivery when it comes to motivational business expertise. His style is a mix of comedy, relatability, realism, and entertainment. He knows how to engage an audience and put on a show that’s equally memorable and meaningful.
Beyond his professional standup career, Garrison has sales and marketing management experience, holds a Certified Speaking Professional certification, and has his own professional training and coaching company, Wynn Solutions.
With more than 10 different program options, you’re sure to find one to fit your audience that will not only deliver meaningful concepts, but also hilarious content.
He is an eSpeakers Certified Virtual Speaker.
6. Kathleen Riessen
How can leadership evolve company culture? Kathleen Riessen, an expert in transformational leadership and human connection, has the answer you’re looking for. No stranger to adversity, Kathleen has formed her career around the challenges she’s come across in life. Every challenge she conquered only helped her to figure out that she can achieve anything if she sets her mind to it. As a dynamic speaker and business coach, she wants to share her insights on how finding joy and purpose in everything is the key to success in both business and life in general.
She started her career as a Certified Public Accountant, and soon after founded her own marketing consulting firm. After selling the business in 2018, she fully dedicated herself to leadership coaching and continues to pursue this dream to this day.
Kathleen’s accolades include earning a top class ranking as a Heartcore Leadership graduate, mentoring for Boston Breakthrough Academy’s Mastering Leadership Program, earning her Silver Medalist Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Advertising Federation, and serving as one of the youngest members of the American Advertising Federation Board – Council of Governors at the age of 33.
She is an eSpeakers Certified Virtual Speaker.
7. Dr. Steve Yacovelli
Also known as “The Gay Leadership Dude,” Dr. Steve Yacovelli is a thought leader in the LGBTQ+ and Ally community. For years, he’s used his platform to educate, engage, and entertain all types of audiences. He uses his platform to get people excited about their presence in the workplace, teaching the importance of inclusivity, fostering diversity, and creating a work environment that’s welcoming to everyone.
With over 25 years of experience in the industry, Steve has a knack for leadership, strategy, organizational learning, and communication. He loves helping organizations grow and expand their expertise in change management, resilience, corporate learning, diversity, inclusion, and more so they can properly present their own keynotes, speeches, workshops, and panel discussions.
What sets him apart from the rest? He’s dedicated to using academic theory and applying it to corporate workplace settings in an effort to achieve key results. Learn about being a consciously inclusive leader, how to be resilient in times of change, understanding competencies as a leader, and how to become a webinar superstar by booking him for your next event.
He is an eSpeakers Certified Virtual Speaker.
8. Cy Wakeman
A drama researcher. A global thought leader. A New York Times best-selling author. Cy Wakeman has made a name for herself over the last 20 years and shows no signs of stopping.
Her counter-intuitive, reality-based approach to leadership gives you the inside look into how you can shift your attention, sharpen your focus, and innovate like no other in the workplace, regardless of your position. The secret, she says? Ditching the drama.
Understanding how to navigate the workplace by better channeling your energy is the key to success. From Google, Facebook, and Viacom to NASA, Pfizer, Johns Hopkins University, and Stanford Health Care, Cy has helped these large companies reposition energy spent on workplace drama and put it to work that will drive business results and correlate with the company’s bottom line goals.
Cy has three books, including “No Ego: How to Cut the Cost of Drama, End Entitlement, and Drive Big Results,” a podcast called No Ego, a Facebook Watch show called “Life’s Messy, Live Happy,” and a Youtube channel where she addresses some of the most common workplace challenges. In essence, she’s always learning and excited to teach.
9. Jan Fox
Jan Fox grew up in Shelbyville, Indiana where she and her family struggled to make ends meet. Fast forward to 2021 and she can tell you she has four EMMY awards for her local news network career, she’s interviewed dozens of celebrities and U.S. presidents, and made a successful living out of engagement speaking, facilitating, and emceeing for hundreds of different audiences for over 20 years.
Jan has a thing for bold speaking opportunities. She works hard to help CEOs and sales teams enhance their presenting skills, empowers audience members to take action, and helps entrepreneurs extend their reach and get their names out there.
Her program, “Emcee, Moderator, Facilitator”, teaches you how to react on the fly and customize your message based on the type of audience you’re working with. She believes that a good moderator stems from an ability to lead conversations based on an ability to listen closely to answers and curate a well-spoken response. It’s all about putting yourself in the shoes of your audience and asking the questions you know they want to hear.
10. Peter Dhu
An experienced communication skills professional, Peter Dhu specializes in public speaking, spontaneous speech, presentation, and leadership communication. With over 30 years of experience in the health industry and seven years working as an independent communication skills consultant, Peter is constantly working to help individuals and organizations as a whole improve their public speaking and presentation skills.
Peter doesn’t discriminate when it comes to helping people navigate their fear of public speaking. From CEOs and managers to politicians and other inspirational leaders, he helps all levels of management and leadership professionals say goodbye to nervousness and hello to confidence in public presentation settings.
Peter works with management and leadership to enable them to become better presenters, speakers, and more confident communicators. He specializes in working with people who are restricted by fear and nervousness around public speaking.
A member of the Australian Institute of Management and National Speakers Association of Australia, Peter uses his personal successes in overcoming adversity to help others deal with similar challenges in their life and face their fears of speaking freely. His other professional qualifications include his Bachelors of Applied Science in Medical Science, Masters of Business Administration, Graduate Diploma in Health Administration, Diploma in Professional Coaching, and a license to run Dr. Susan Jeffers workshops across Australia.
He is an eSpeakers Certified Virtual Speaker.
11. Scott McKain
Scott McKain has a reputation in the world of leadership speaking. He knows how to help organizations and professionals stand out in a competitive marketplace by teaching them how to attract and retain customers with one simple hint: being distinctive in the industry and sustaining that status. He helps clients answer the question “What is an iconic organization or leader?” by teaching them what it means to attain iconic status and maintain it over time.
His most recent book (turned into one of his programs) “ICONIC: How Organizations and Leaders Attain, Sustain, and Regain the Ultimate Level of Distinction,” was named one of the top 10 best business books for 2018. A previous book of his, “Create Distinction: What to Do When ‘Great’ Isn’t Good Enough to Grow Your Business,” also earned itself a few distinctions.
His accolades range far and wide. He’s been quoted in multiple publications, such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and the International Herald-Tribune. He was also booked as a presenter at the White House by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Scott’s list of clients is highly recognizable as well. From Apple and SAP, Merril Lynch and BMW, to Cisco, CDW, Fidelity, and John Deere, he’s worked with many organizations to help them create a stand-out reputation for themselves through thorough research and practical wisdom.
He is an eSpeakers Certified Virtual Speaker.
12. Doug Lipp
How many people do you know that can say their career started at Disney? At the ripe age of 29, Doug Lipp’s talents sent him to the Disney University training team at Walt Disney corporate headquarters. He also helped start up the first international theme park, Tokyo Disneyland, thanks to his Japanese fluency. At the height of his Disney career, Doug was even named the head of training at Disney University.
After a combined 30 years of experience at Disney and in private practice, Doug now focuses on inspiring and challenging hundreds of organizations around the world to overcome strategic challenges and become a success story for the ages.
In his presentations, Doug takes a close look at the behaviors, tools and attitudes that make up the cultural excellence that culminates in the Disney parks. The best part? Each presentation is customized to showcase how each company’s current culture is impacting the way it does business and how it will thrive or fail in the future. With his specific research, he goes over how your company can use leadership, teamwork and innovation to start anew and take your company culture to the next level.
He is an eSpeakers Certified Virtual Speaker.
Book a Leadership Speaker for a Speaking Engagement Today
Whether you’re getting ready to help coordinate the first in-person convention of the year or you’re hosting a virtual event in the near future, finding a leadership speaker that fits the flow of your expo is a great way to engage your audience and create a meaningful experience for all involved.
But don’t go out of your way to find someone – let eSpeakers take the job off of your hands. With over 20 years of industry experience, eSpeakers brings enterprise-quality tools to the table, giving you a database of speakers to choose from, interact with, and make business deals with in the palm of your hand.
Event organizers are constantly using eSpeakers Marketplace to connect with entrepreneurs, authors, researchers, consultants, coaches, and every professional in between. No matter who you’re looking for, eSpeakers makes it easy to find the right fit for your event, providing an option to connect directly with a single speaker or use a group-contact filter to reach more people at once.
Want only the best? You can watch sample speaker preview videos and read reviews from verified past clients to make sure you’re getting the experience you want out of your presenter.
With deep connections in the industry, eSpeakers takes pride in its ability to help buyers connect with a seller who’s going to make waves at their event. Even more, it’s the only platform that allows buyers to complete the booking process completely online. Forget about the inconvenience of playing phone tag with the agent – booking a speaker is simple, seamless, and completely in your hands.
Interested in one of the leadership speakers we mentioned above? Want to browse through the database to find a speaker for an event? Take a look at the leadership presenter options available to you and book a keynote speaker today.
