The Keynote Curators Podcast

Elizabeth Sage and I go way back. At three companies, we've collaborated on events of all shapes and sizes. Today, I had the privilege of hosting her on The Keynote Curators Podcast. We caught up on everything from her 20-year career in event planning and strategy to our awkward experience with a hypnotist on stage. Creating memorable event experiences that transform audiences and change behavior is a passion of Elizabeth and a role she's excelled at for two decades. She's worn nearly every hat in the industry, from negotiator and designer to accountant and strategist. She's been a powerhouse planner for sectors ranging from hospitality and pharmaceutical to finance and biotech. Today, she's using her problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills to transition into a rewarding career as a consultant and life coach, and she's excited to share her expertise and experience with others to help them thrive personally and professionally. Tune in to hear Elizabeth's insightful perspectives on experiential events, the attendee journey, the power of impactful keynotes, and how event planning has prepared her perfectly for this next phase of her life.#eventplanning #coaching #lifecoach #eventcollaboration #eventplanningcareer #memorableexperiences #transformingaudiences #changingleadership #industryexpert #eventstrategist #consultinglife #lifecoaching #professionalgrowth #eventexperiences #keynotepower #eventjourney #careertransition #eventplannerlife #personaldevelopment #professionaldevelopment #eventinsights

There’s no pulling the wool over Traci Brown’s eyes. That’s because the body can’t lie. One of the nation’s top deception detection experts, according to TIME magazine, Traci Brown is the preeminent fraud-busting body language expert. Major networks like NBC, CBS, and FOX have interviewed her to reveal secrets hidden in plain sight, and she’s here to help your team reveal the secrets your clients are keeping, too. Secrets that impact your bottom line. Having trained alongside some of our country’s top law enforcement, Traci is a sought-after fraud and identity theft speaker, ranked the #5 body language expert worldwide for 2022. Her deception detection skills help audiences uncover the truth in billion-dollar business deals, crimes, and politics. Is technology killing our ability to convey nonverbal communication effectively? How significant an impact is deception in the business world? How can you ask a better question to elicit an accurate response when interviewing someone? What body language signs reveal someone is being dishonest? Tune in to today’s podcast as Traci, and I get to the truth of things! #bodylanguage #frauddetection #deceptiondetection #deception #canyouspotalie #identitytheft #meetingplanner #eventprofessional #meetingprofessional #eventplanning #meetingplanning #incentives #incentiveplanning #meetingmanagement #keynotespeaker

Jaime Theresa Smith, CMP exudes passion for everything event related. What began as an interest in theater in college later blossomed into a ‘tech wizard’ consultancy for a non-profit, eventually leading her to a passion project delivering extraordinary event experiences. As the national account manager for ChoiceLIVE!, a leading event technology company, Jaime partners with innovative, forward-thinking clients to engineer the finest event experiences using state-of-the-art equipment operated by state-of-the-art people. What are some of the speaker trends she sees at events? How essential is innovation for creating memorable event experiences? How can planners best leverage new technologies to enhance the audience experience? Tune in to today’s podcast as Jaime and I talk shop, and she shares her thoughts on audience engagement, innovative technology, social media, and more. #podcast #eventproduction #meetingprofs #eventtechnology #eventexperience #immersiveevents #meetingplanner #eventprofessional #meetingprofessional #eventplanning #meetingplanning #incentives #incentiveplanning #meetingmanagement #keynotespeaker

Chris Barton is a master of disruptive thinking to drive game-changing innovation. And he loves taking selfies with his audiences, too. 🔊 The mastermind behind everyone’s favorite music app that allows their phone to “name that tune,” Chris is the founder and creator of Shazam, an entrepreneur, inventor, and tech investor who holds 12 patents and played key roles in the early days of Google and Dropbox. ⭐️ We recently sat down to talk about his journey, from his early years as a child with a learning disability to a blossoming entrepreneur with big ideas and little appetite for rejection. 🤔 How excited is Chris about AI’s potential to change the world? How is he using AI to save lives today? What are the five key aspects of the mindset of an innovator? How did Shazam work before it was an app? Tune in to find out. 🤝 A believer that game-changing innovations don’t start from taking risks or creativity but from mindset – starting from zero –– Chris enjoys taking his audiences through a cinematic journey on stage, sharing stories about the vulnerability, uncertainty, and financial hurdles he faced as an early entrepreneur. Disruptive startups use ⁠Chris Barton’s thinking to reshape the future and his insights will inspire you, too. Get smarter by this podcast episode – and let's work together to bring his energy to your next conference! ⬇️ #podcast #innovation #music #technology #shazam #entrepreneurship #entrepreneur #entrepreneurmindset #entrepreneurialmindset #mindset #artificialintelligence #chatgpt #bestmotivationalspeakers #motivationalkeynotespeaker #inspirationalkeynotespeaker #keynotespeaker #eventplanner #meetingplanner #eventplanning

Ken Schmidt knows a thing or two about making a memorable brand impression. As the former head of communications for the iconic brand Harley-Davidson, he earned praise for helping the company recover from a dismal place in its business history through a change of mindset and by turning customers into advocates. Don't miss my in-depth conversation with Ken Schmidt, customer loyalty and leadership expert, former head of communications for the Harley-Davidson Motor Company, and author of the bestselling business book Make Some Noise: The Unconventional Road to Dominance. Described as a premium-fueled, top motivational speaker and consultant serving the world's highest-revving businesses (and those stuck in neutral), Ken talks about the keys to becoming a memorable brand in a fast-paced, impersonal world, where it takes more than just an excellent product to grow a business and stop the scroll online. Whether you're a Fortune 100 executive or an entrepreneur running a small business, brand loyalty doesn't come without a shift in creative thinking and an emotional connection with your audience. At the end of the day, your customers should REMEMBER why they're with you so they will choose to REPEAT that experience and become your brand ambassador. Tune in to discover the three strategic questions you should ask yourself to stand out in the crowd and earn brand loyalty. And if you want to bring Ken Schmidt to your next event, reach out to me, and let's make it happen!

Glenna Fulks is on an upward trajectory when it comes to creating tailored unforgettable experiences for clients. As the owner of Kite Meeting Management, she’s whisked clients away by Venetian gondola and designed spectacular dinners in the Palace of Versailles. Constantly pursuing perfection, Glenna applies her 25 years of industry experience to expert hands-on planning, operational over-site, and strategic event management. Having planned events of every shape and size worldwide, she prides herself on delivering personal service, fresh, clever ideas, and a formidable array of skills to each client. We sat down recently to talk shop. Glenna offers her unique perspectives on challenges and opportunities facing meeting and event professionals today and tomorrow, from pandemic disruptions and artificial intelligence to corporate social responsibility and the importance of impactful keynote speakers. #events #liveevents #pursuitofperfection #eventplanner #meetingplanner #eventprofessional #meetingprofessional #eventplanning #meetingplanning #incentives #incentiveplanning #meetingmanagement #keynotespeaker

Rob Lawless is a man on a mission who believes the journey, not the destination, delivers genuine fulfillment. After graduating summa cum laude from Penn State University in 2013 and enjoying a brief career with consulting and software firms, he set off to meet 10,000 new people and spend at least one hour getting to know their story. What started as a project in 2015 has blossomed into more than 5,500 new friendships. Wanting to live life purposefully and believing that every human interaction can change a life, Rob set out to create 10,000 intentional relationships. As he shares, we increase our sense of belonging, expand our perspectives, and open the door to new opportunities through exposure to people outside of our circles. Listen in as he shares his philosophy about human curiosity and connection and explains how to use the simple ‘FORD’ framework when meeting someone new. A remarkable storyteller and motivational speaker who has delivered inspiring keynotes to companies including Amazon, Shell, KPMG, and MPI, Rob reveals what influences our perception of the world, why intentional connection matters, and how you can create belonging through understanding each other’s backstories. #humanconnection #networking #relationships #connection #powerofconnection #intentionalrelationships #storyteller #communication #engagement #perspective #curiosity #belonging #robs10kfriends #peopleperson #personaldevelopment #professionaldevelopment #motivationalspeaker #inspirationalspeaker #keynotespeaker #eventplanner #meetingplanner #eventplanning

Labor shortages, the real ROI of in-person events, advancing technologies, and their effects on jobs – Geoff Colvin taps into these topics and more during our podcast this week. Don’t miss this fascinating conversation with Senior Editor-at-Large Geoff Colvin, the voice of experience for four decades at Fortune. He’s covered economic, political, technological, and competitive forces that disrupt business, taking those insights on the road to audiences from every industry, educating them on how to confront disruption and use it as a means toward growth. A brilliant panel moderator, emcee, and interviewer whose subjects have included Madeleine Albright, Ben Bernanke, and Bill Gates, Geoff is one of business journalism’s sharpest and most respected commentators on topics ranging from leadership, human performance, and globalization to competition, the economy, and the infotech revolution. Whether your company is looking to create value in new ways, invest in human interaction, or keep pace with change, Geoff Colvin delivers timely advice to knowledge-hungry audiences and shares fascinating stories about companies like Candy Crush and Chipotle that have proven how profitable adaptability and innovation can be. #strategy #innovation #voiceofexperience #thoughtleader #optimism #leadership #humanperformance #competition #infotech #AI #financialexpert #economicoutlook #globaleconomy #useconomy #insights #keynotespeaker #emcee #commentator #panelmoderator #eventplanner #meetingplanner #eventplanning

From her days as a naval intelligence officer to her role as one of today’s most influential economists, Dr. Mary Kelly has carved out an impressive career in leadership. Listen to my conversation with high-energy keynote speaker Mary Kelly, leadership speaker, US Naval Officer and Commander (Ret.), author, Ph.D., and business professor, as she shares how her Navy experiences during the first and second Gulf Wars and 9-11 help others excel and lead teams through crisis, challenge, and change. For over 25 years, she has taught and trained more than 40,000 military and civilian personnel. The author of more than 10 books on business growth, leadership, and today’s economy, Mary has worked with hundreds of organizations and companies to help audiences navigate successfully through change and crisis, succession planning, and economic uncertainty. Her insights as a  leader are inspiring year-round, but especially so during this month of celebration. #WomensMonth #empoweredwomen #womenleaders #womeninleadership #leadership #militaryleadership #leadingthroughcrisis #leadingthroughchange #disruption #management #business #businessleadership #motivationalspeaker #inspirationalspeaker #keynote #keynotespeaker #events #eventmanagement #eventplanner #meetingplanner

Christine Brennan is no stranger to breaking barriers on a predominantly male playing field. She'll also tell you that her secret to success is "working harder than everyone else." A true trailblazer for young girls and women everywhere, Christine was the first woman sportswriter at The Miami Herald in 1981, the first woman to cover Washington's NFL team as a staff writer at The Washington Post in 1985, and the first president of the Association for Women in Sports Media (AWSM). Listen to my conversation with this award-winning journalist, national sports columnist and commentator, bestselling author, and unwavering advocate of Title IX, which forever changed the landscape for girls and women in sports. A nationally known speaker, Christine has been a leading voice on some of the most controversial and important issues in sports over the past four decades. Never afraid to take a stand on an issue in sports, she was named one of the country's top 10 sports columnists three times by the Associated Press Sports Editors and was the winner of the prestigious Red Smith Award in 2020 for her "major contributions to sports journalism." Christine will capture your attention, offering narratives that helped define her career, including the Russian judging scandal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi and the Russian doping scandal at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. She also shares insights about the essential life lessons young girls learn from participation in sports. #womensmonth #womenleaders #breakingbarriers #sportsjournalist #womeninsports #girlsinsports #womeninsports #titleIX #inspirationalspeaker #keynotespeaker #eventplanner #meetingplanner #eventplanning #professionalwomen #futureleaders