It’s impossible to predict the future for 2017 leaders – how the market will change, which trends will emerge and fade, and how politics will impact our world, whether wars or natural disasters. We can be confident that there will be challenges.
How can we meet these challenges? Leaning on the wisdom and experience of others is one way to meet them. Many great speakers can provide inspiring talks and practical advice that we can use in our organizations.
These are the 12 speakers that are worth your time the following year. Some of these speakers are well-known, and they have been consulting and speaking for many years. Some are more recent, and some of them also teach. They are all well worth the effort to absorb the wisdom of their messages.
1. Steve Farber. If you have read any of Steve’s books (The Radical Leap or The Radical Edge), you will know that he has a radical approach to leadership. When he speaks, he brings his message to life with incredible energy. He also adapts his presentations to suit the needs of his audience. Steve will continue to promote his forward-of-the-curve statement that “love,” that four-letter word most business leaders avoid is crucial for every organization’s cultural and financial health in 2017.
2. Elise Mitchell – Many leaders are driven by destination, sometimes to their demise. Elise understands. She started a PR agency and built it up so well that it is now part of a global PR company she manages. She learned that her destination focus required balancing a journey and a mindset. Her book Leading through The Turn outlines practical ways leaders can grow their businesses while still enjoying the ride. Her energetic personality makes that message come to life on stage.
3. Adam Markel – Adam’s inspirational messages make the impossible possible. Adam Markel is a man with big dreams for the future and a passionate personality that inspires others to follow his plan and goals. Adam can help you transform your company’s lives through personal development.
4. Sally Hogshead: Many speakers tell a compelling story. Sally is an expert in the science of fascination. She is a former advertising star with a lot of experience creating captivating messages. She’s making a Fascination Personality Test to measure how people view your communication. Valuable stuff. You will be captivated when she explains why and how it works.
5. Roddy Chong – Roddy is not the right choice if you are looking for another great sage to grace your stage. This… violinist is the perfect choice if you are looking for someone who has a fresh approach to business and leadership and enough energy they can rock an auditorium with thousands of people. Roddy is a professional violinist. He’s also a top-notch violinist, playing with Celine Dion and Shania Twain. His passion and beat-the-odds story motivate others to find the best in themselves and create amazing music for the world.
6. Rita McGrath: Understanding relevant business theory is one thing. But Rita is the rare bird who can connect theory and best practices that improve a company’s business. She is an academic expert in strategy, innovation, and growth. Her knowledge can help you connect the dots, so the research from ivory towers will provide something that will solve your business problems.
7. Tim Sanders Few speakers are more dedicated to understanding the inner workings of an organization before speaking. Tim’s perspective on leadership, collaboration, and sales performance is unique because he feels like an insider. Because his practical solutions are directly relevant to the audience’s needs, he connects with them.
8. Shep Hyken We have all been there. She can understand both, and his engaging style makes it fun. He does magic tricks, but there is substance to the lessons he teaches. In today’s competitive environment, customer loyalty is more important than ever for the success of any business.
9. Susan O’Malley, the first female president of a professional sporting franchise, is an excellent example of how to lead in an environment where tradition and tradition are against you. She is funny, genuine, and has real solutions for businesses losing on the court or the balance sheet.
10. Jay Jay French – Twisted sister once rocked the world with hits such as We’re Not Gonna Take it, but Jay Jay was more than just a guy playing the guitar. He was also a savvy businessman behind all the onstage madness. Expect the unexpected from Jay Jay French – Twisted Sister, who created a band with a wilder persona than life while still adhering to a strict no-drugs, zero-booze policy. Expect the unexpected. And enjoy it.
11. Cheryl Burgess is the co-founder, CEO, and CMO at Blue Focus Marketing. She assists clients in transforming their brands into a social businesses by implementing strategic initiatives to empower social employee advocacy and engagement, as well as executive social leadership. She is also the co-author of The Social Employee (McGraw-Hill 2013), a best-selling book that features success stories from IBM and AT&T and Cisco, and Southwest Airlines. It was named by Tom Peters, a management guru, as his #1 favorite book on social business.
12. Michael Brenner is a globally recognized keynote speaker. He is also the author of Content Formula and the CEO of Marketing Insider Group. He has held leadership roles in sales and marketing for major brands such as Nielsen and SAP and startups. Michael is passionate about leadership and marketing strategies that create customer value and impact. By Forbes, he is one of the most influential CMOs.