Digging the Simon Sinek vibe with the focus on motivating by understanding each individual’s why? To help teams work more productively and cordially, you might consider:
Eric Termuende
Profile: The author of “Rethink Work: A Practical Guide to Finding and Keeping the Right Talent”
Topics: Future of work, leadership, employee engagement
Agencies: 54 agencies
One thing you hope attendees take away from your time on stage? After hearing one of my keynotes, my goal is that people feel confident, equipped and optimistic about a future they realize is changing faster and is becoming increasingly difficult to predict. With that, they’ll have the tools and a plan to build better teams, be a better leader and be more attentive to those around them as they build better connections and deepen trust and safety.
How did Covid change your approach to connecting with audiences?
I went from a louder, more academic and less personal approach to one that was softer, more empathetic and more connected to the people I’m speaking to. Having completed more than 100 virtual events throughout the pandemic, I learned quickly that by sinking into meaningful stories, connecting the stories with insightful data, and providing something that is actionable and easy is the approach that serves both me and the people I’m speaking to best.
What do you want meeting planners to know about working with you? I’m the easiest, safest and most enjoyable speaker you’ll work with. Averaging about 90 events per year, I believe I have the best job in the world and understand that it isn’t possible without the work planners do. I’m the one who will text you when I land, bring you a coffee before the opening keynote and help clear tables if lunch is running late. I’ll also give your attendees resources and summaries, reply nearly immediately and customize every presentation to your audience’s needs.
Rachel Druckenmiller, MS
Profile: With evidence-based insights, compelling and relatable stories, and practical takeaways, and even a bit of singing, Rachel equips attendees with actionable inspiration.
Topics: Courage, resilience, motivation/empowerment, leadership
Agencies: SpeakInc., Gold Star Speakers Bureau, Direct/Self
One thing you hope attendees take away from your time on stage?
I want attendees to leave feeling a greater sense of possibility, which catalyzes them to make positive, courageous changes in their lives. By inviting people into self-reflection and connection, my goal is to elevate their self-awareness, unleash possibilities, and activate motivation and a feeling of “I can do this.” The feedback I consistently get from attendees is that they do make changes, courageous ones at that. Attendees have left my sessions and shared the (sometimes immediate) changes they’ve made.
They apply for the job they previously disqualified themselves from. They advocate for themselves and their needs at their job to prioritize what matters most, like family. They start seeing a therapist. They tell me they feel seen, understood, and validated in a way that moves them to tears. They leave jobs that are draining them. They start their own businesses. They make investments in their growth and development. They book vacations upon leaving a session and audition for plays, rekindling passions they’d long forgotten or disconnected from. Someone once told me my session motivated her to leave an abusive relationship to protect herself and her child. When people leave experiences with me, they are positively provoked to be honest with themselves and to make meaningful changes in their lives. That is why I do what I do.
How did Covid change your approach to connecting with audiences?
When Covid hit, I was only seven months into having launched my speaking business after leaving my corporate job. Almost every booked gig was canceled. A former client reached out and asked if I delivered virtual training since their employees were struggling. I said I did, even though I’d never delivered virtual training before. I started putting together a program. Six weeks later, I was out running and was hit by a pickup truck and fractured my back.
I was in a back brace for two months, delivering virtual workshops about resilience and mindset as I was recovering. I didn’t let either of those challenges defeat me. I upskilled myself in virtual facilitation, upgraded my equipment and shared messages of hope and resilience with audiences at a time when I needed those messages myself. I posted inspiring and uplifting videos on LinkedIn, sometimes singing, to stay connected to people who attended my sessions. I started delivering virtual training series for companies across the U.S. to help their employees connect, build resilience, lead more intentionally, and retrain their brains to better navigate change and uncertainty. Since March of 2020, I’ve delivered over 300 virtual learning experiences for global audiences.
What do you want meeting planners to know about working with you?
Here’s what meeting planners have said: “As a meeting planner, I have three criteria for what I consider an A+ keynote speaker:
1) Do they provide valuable insight and information that is new to my audience? 2) Are they compelling on stage? Will they keep an audience’s attention?
3) Will they work well with my planning team? Rachel hit all three of these out of the park! She engaged the audience with storytelling, humor, and her special brand of brilliance from the stage. Rachel and her assistant were an absolute dream to work with. They were thorough, thoughtful, and clear in all the communications leading up to and through our event. I wish all speakers were this attentive!”
“What I was most impressed by was the way Rachel prepared to ensure that the content was relevant: numerous prep sessions, interviews with leaders and integrating our lingo into her session.”
“Rachel’s presentation was nothing short of transformational. Her humility, passion and enthusiasm were evident throughout her presentation, and she had an incredible ability to connect with the audience on a deep, personal level. Her ability to distill complex concepts into simple, actionable steps made her message accessible to everyone.”
“To say that not a single person picked up their cell phones is an understatement! Her command of the audience is world-class.”
Paul Bramson
Profile: Keynote speaker and professional training expert
Topics: Leadership, sales, communication
Agency: All American Speakers Bureau, Engage, Direct/Self
One thing you hope attendees take away from your time on stage?
When you understand and can identify what inherently motivates another person, what makes them tick, you will create deeper and far more meaningful relationships, both personally and professionally, every time. As they walk away, I want them to be truly inspired to elevate their skillset as a communicator.
How did Covid change your approach to connecting with audiences?
Covid accelerated the adoption and acceptance of digital communication tools, so it was imperative that I get on board fast. Before Covid, I firmly believed that virtual training couldn’t come close to the impact or engagement of in-person training; therefore, why offer it? I couldn’t have been more wrong! Covid forced me to embrace and adapt to a ‘new normal’ and rethink my business model. So, I put in-person training in the rearview for the time being and went forward. To my surprise, there was no downside to virtual…the impact was not diminished one iota. The business more than doubled over the next ten months, and we, The Paul Bramson Companies, became one of the global leaders in virtual engagement training.
For the human connection in a virtual setting, it emphasized the work I was already doing in Connecting Like A PRO. Meaning, I focused on inherent needs, understanding others’ needs, and being able to identify what motivates individuals or shuts them down. Meeting them where they are by truly understanding who they are. When I went from in-person to virtual keynote training, the message was even more important, I just needed to adapt it to the 2-dimensional world.
What do you want meeting planners to know about working with you?
My talks resonate with individuals at all professional levels; the information is universal, incredibly relevant, and immediately actionable for audiences both personally and professionally. Your audiences will leave my talk genuinely inspired and ready to elevate their game in all aspects of life. I bring a unique energy to the floor with one goal: to transform each individual in the audience into a PRO® in their respective fields.
