Re-energizing Your Workforce 

How Does Your Organization Use Social Media to Its Advantage?

You may have heard of Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest, but what about Hi5, Skyrock, 51.com, MeetUp, or Cafe Mom? More importantly, which of these sites will expand the reach of your organization, and which won't?

WWSG & Our Keynote Speakers wish you a happy holidays and a great 2013 filled with many successful speaking events and conferences!

What You Need to Know About Secretary Elaine Chao...

Speaking on strategy, the geopolitical climate and global competitiveness, Secretary Elaine L. Chao pulls from her unique perspective at the Department of Labor, her experience as CEO of United Way of America, and her service as Director of the Peace Corps to deliver compelling speeches as a powerful keynote speaker.

How to Make a Lasting Impression

By: Brittany, MTA, Event Coordinator, Worldwide Speakers Group

How to Handle Mistakes & Mix-Ups the Right Way

By: Brittany, MTA, Event Coordinator, Worldwide Speakers Group

Sometimes business inspiration comes from unexpected places.  When selecting a keynote speaker for a diverse audience, finding a qualified speaker who can address the needs of business in a multifaceted manner can result in unexpected keynote presenters.  One such presenter may not be someone you’d think of, although he was named by USA Today as one of the “Top 25 Influential People of the Past 25 Years”.    He’s influenced fashion, music, finance, entertainment, and recently, current affairs when he met with the parents and brother of slain teen Trayvon Martin while they were in New York.  

As gas prices continue to rise, having an insightful keynote speaker who can intelligently address the political spectrum of challenges regarding oil and energy is a draw for a high powered event.  Regardless of political affiliation, the discussion of energy can become quite lively, with pros and cons of utilizing national resources and the cost of renewable energy sources intermingling with world events and politics.  It’s a story of natural disasters, warring nations and economic forces that rises deeply from the foundation of our government with far reaching consequences.   Especially because this is a topic that everyone can relate to, whether it’s due to pain at the pump or the rising cost of doing business due to increased energy expense, this is a topic of conversation that has many CEO’s and financial C-level executive’s attention.

When selecting a keynote speaker on energy policy, some criteria may be whether the individual held key offices and/or is considered an authority on the subject matter.   Keynote speakers who are presenting at industry functions should share factual and informed information, which may be colored or presented from their perspective.  After all, the audience is yearning for some great information that may not yet be public, or which represents the perspective of the speaker.

One excellent choice is Daniel Yergin, easily one of the most influential and knowledgeable energy experts.  Whether the topic is the implications of war in the mideast or renewable energy solutions, Daniel Yergin has authored seminal books about a wide range of energy issues. His Pulitzer Prize winning bestseller The Prize: The Epic Quest for Oil, Money and Power became a PBS mini-series.  World events including the disastrous earthquake and nuclear contamination in Japan, the killing of Osama bin Laden and political upheaval in Egypt, Libya, Iran and Iraq are all filtered into Daniel Yergin’s scholarly understanding of energy and oil, and are captured in his latest book, The Quest.

With decades of ground-breaking research and exceptional experience in the energy industry, Dr. Yergin has impeccable credentials, and is a respected lecturer and authority on the international issues of energy and foreign affairs.

Another notable speaker on topics of energy and oil is Governor Dirk Kempthorne.  As US Secretary of the Interior under George W. Bush administration, Kepthorne is known for his conservative views and strong understanding of the issues.    Organizational change occurs at all levels, including the Federal government and managing that change through practical solutions is one of Dirk Kempthorne’s most adept skills. Drawing on his unique perspective as Secretary of the U.S. Department of the Interior, two-time governor, U.S. senator, and mayor, Dirk Kempthorne shares how to use diplomacy and insight when tackling the complex issues involved in industry and public policy.  Kempthorne understands the challenges of renewable energy and the need to balance reliable energy sources with environmental protection.

1. Determine the type of keynote speaker you are interested in hiring.  For example, you may be interested in hiring someone who will educate the attendees about a certain topic or issue.  Or perhaps you wish to entertain the audience.  There may be a reason you want to promote a cause, raise funds or even create a shift in behavior.  Depending on your goals for the event, the keynote speaker will reflect your strategy.  If there is a core group of decision makers or a board who must approve the choice of keynote speaker, ask them for suggestions or their vision.
2. Parameters that affect the availability of speakers include location, date and budget.  This will narrow the pool of keynote speakers who are available.  If you have a particular speaker in mind and are flexible about the other parameters, you can start with speaker selection, then build your event from there.  If you have a longstanding date and location, then the speaker selection is the variable.
3. The type of presentation and the time of day of the presentation also enters into your selection process.  Whether this will be a morning speaker with a rousing and energizing presentation or a midday workshop, some speakers are skilled at one type of presentation more than another.  If you are looking for an after-dinner keynote, you may want someone who is more entertaining and humorous.  Not all topics and speakers are flexible for all situations.
4. If you have had successful keynote presentations in the past, you may be able to catalog what made those speakers more successful than others.  If there is a common theme, there may be other speakers who would complement that messaging.
5. Asking industry experts for references or recommendation is also a helpful way to narrow the keynote speaker search.  If your event is in an industry where there are other similar venues, you may want to see which keynote speakers have been popular for other organizations or trade events.
6. The demographics of your audience will be key to determining the best keynote speaker.  Do you need a generalist, or someone who can address a particular current issue?  Is this a presentation to an audience that is a specific demographic?  Having an appealing keynote speaker who can connect with the attendees is obviously an important consideration. The ability of the speaker to identify with the audience makes a keynote presentation much more effective at conveying a message.
7. Ask WWSG for assistance and help.  Asking a speakers group for their ideas may ultimately be the easiest and least expensive route.  With an understanding of the popularity and expertise of each speaker as well as the ability to understand who may be available within an area, time or price range, the advantage of asking the professionals for their ideas is evident.