The Keynote Curators Podcast

🎧 Event professionals, have we got a treat for you! ⚡️ This week’s podcast guest, Julius Solaris, has been described as one of the most influential people in the events industry in the past decade and was recently named a “Meetings Industry Influencer” by Meetings and Conventions magazine. 🤩 Founder of the popular blog EventMB, one of the most trusted resources in the events industry before it was sold to Skift Meetings in 2019, Julius’s content has influenced a generation of event planners and event technology companies. 📝 He’s currently the founder of Boldpush, a management consultancy agency that helps companies leverage the power of content, events, and community to dominate their market. The platform’s all-access membership also provides event professionals with exclusive masterclasses, event recordings, executive decks, strategic tools, timely industry research, and more. ✨ He's sharing his perspectives on the event industry, and revealing why experience matters more than ever and why content must spark discussion and connect people. What roles will AI play at events? Why is now the best time to embrace event technology? What key industry topics are trending now? Why does Julius feel his calling in life is to prepare event professionals for the next big unknown? ⬇️ Don’t miss this insightful conversation with one of the premier influencers in the industry. #events #eventsindustry #expert #eventexperience #eventplanning 

Today’s special guest on The Keynote Curators Podcast is Karith Foster, a diversity engagement specialist, and CEO at Inversity™ Solutions. We sat down recently to discuss diversity, inclusion, and equity and why the DEI conversation needs to go beyond sexuality, gender, and ethnicity. Terrified of not addressing the topic within your organization? Or saying the wrong thing if you do? Diversity doesn’t have to be an uncomfortable topic. It can even be a humorous one. Karith Foster draws from her experience as a Fortune 500 human resources executive administrator and a 20-year stand-up comedian to turn an often touchy subject into an approachable one. Her evolutionary Inversity™ Solutions method encourages people to discover what unites them instead of discussing what divides them. DEI shouldn’t be about quotas or optics. It’s about creating a healthy culture where people are encouraged to be reflective, engage in conscious conversations, and find common ground through laughter.  A firm believer that humor can heal division, Karith wants to revolutionize how society addresses diversity, mental wellness, and leadership issues. Her motto is “Laugh. Think. Grow.” With laughter, walls come down, engagement is sparked, and horizons are broadened. People are open to new experiences, new people, new cultures. Tune in to hear how this diversity-done-differently specialist ignites real conversation that has the power to change lives, create connections, and strengthen relationships.#DEI #diversity #equity #inclusion #leadership

Change signifies something scary for many, a risky departure from the familiar into the unknown. For Mark Schulman – world-renowned drummer, author, motivator, and captivating storyteller – change symbolizes growth and opportunity.  🤩 A believer that “creativity and sustainable solutions cannot be cultivated in an environment of fear and pessimism,” Mark Schulman knows that to be creative, you must be willing to go off script, change and take risks. Those who take the leap, know the safety net will appear and they’ll be richly rewarded for their courage and conviction. 🤟 Described as “Tony Robbins meets Bono meets Ringo Starr,” Mark Schulman has performed for over one billion people worldwide as the drummer for some of the most iconic music acts of all time, including P!NK, Billy Idol, Foreigner, and Cher. Today, he’s taking his high-energy performance on the road as a highly sought-after inspirational keynote speaker, incorporating business philosophy and innovative strategic content with engaging multimedia and drum performances.  🎧 Don’t miss my inspiring conversation with Mark Schulman as we talk about everything from the power of attitude and the ability of a keynote to change the world, to the opportunities that arise from improv, the three steps to top performance, and his exciting career playing for some of the biggest names in music. #performance #creativity #attitude #peakperformance #keynotespeaker

How customers complain about your business has changed. The “guest relations” philosophy has shifted dramatically with the rise of social media. If customers aren’t happy, they won’t tell 10 people – they’ll tell millions – and the imprint online will be permanent. Today’s podcast guest, David Avrin, is a highly sought-after customer experience expert and bestselling author who’s helped organizations around the globe future-proof their businesses, understand their customers better, and become ridiculously easy to do business with. In today’s fast-evolving digital world, the customer journey – messaging, social interactions, sales process, post-sale marketing, and customer support – must be exceptional, or people will go elsewhere. Clever messaging can’t mask lackluster customer service, and a friendly customer experience no longer outweighs a quick and convenient one. David opens up about the importance of high-value keynote presentations with actionable takeaways, the changing customer service and experience landscape, the pros and cons of AI in the customer experience journey, and the ROI a great speaker rep will deliver by curating the right speaker with the most impactful message for your event.#customerexperience #customerservice #cx #customerjourney #customerservicemapping #customerfeedback #whycustomersleave #businessspeaker #businessconsultant #businessowners #bestmotivationalspeakers #motivationalkeynotespeaker #keynotespeaker #eventplanner #meetingplanner #eventplanning

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