Posted on

Generation Freedom Future Leaders Conference 2023

Steve Wozniak, speaking in Warsaw. September 2023 by Promotivate

In the realm of global speaker agencies, Promotivate stands as a beacon of excellence, representing some of the world’s most influential and inspiring individuals. Promotivate is a leading agency with a roster of 1,500 speakers. More than just an agency, Promotivate is on a passionate mission to spread knowledge and empower audiences through the wisdom of its remarkable speakers. One such remarkable event that recently showcased this dedication to excellence was the 3rd edition of the ‘Three Seas Generation Freedom Future Leaders Conference 2023.’ in Poland to inspire the youth of the Three Seas region to become innovators. 

Hosted by the State of Poland Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting Poland’s unique character and achievements on both national and global scales, the conference was a celebration of innovation, technology, culture, and tradition. The foundation’s efforts align with Promotivate’s mission, aiming to provide a platform for inspiring figures to share their knowledge and drive positive change.

The agency’s owner, Jonathan Curran, brought keynote speaker, Steve Wozniak to the major conference in Warsaw. The co-founder of Apple captivated the audience and motivated them to innovate in the technology field. Their participation in the event energized the young attendees and left a lasting impact, who were invited to speak by the gracious hosts from the Polish Government. Promotivate’s Director, Jonathan Curran, had the privilege of accompanying this genius on his journey to inspire the audience.

The Power of Keynote Speakers

A skilled keynote speaker can simultaneously inspire, motivate, and educate their audience. Keynote speakers must be experts in their field to provide valuable insights and encourage others to achieve greatness.

Steve Wozniak’s involvement in the Generation Freedom Future Leaders Conference is a prime example of these qualities. He shared his innovative ideas and the thought process behind them and also gave the youth of Poland valuable advice on what it takes to be a successful scientist.

Steve Wozniak’s appearance at the conference was a true highlight. His talk encompassed a wide range of topics, delving into the realms of innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, and the future of leadership. The audience, estimated at around 800 VIPs personally invited by the hosts, comprised business leaders and entrepreneurs with a strong focus on technology.

Throughout the conference, Wozniak’s insights and wisdom left the audience in awe. His ability to convey complex ideas in an accessible and engaging manner is a testament to the impact that thought leaders can have on shaping the future.

Promotivate Agency: A Game-Changer

This agency was founded in 2005, but initially, they were focused on limited areas only. It developed with time, and now they are a worldwide brand. They have over 1500 pro speakers in multiple fields such as Artificial Intelligence, Space Sciences, Blockchain industry, Business Transformation, Comedy, Entertainment, Cultural, Customer Services, Technological Advancement and many more. 

Steve Wozniak, recent address to the youth of Three Seas in Poland serves as a great example. The conference was focused on providing valuable insight to the youth about being a leader in the technological industry. During a conversation hosted by TBC, he answered attendees’ questions about what is essentially required in the technology industry and what he has been working on. 

Steve Wozniak: The Technology Tycoon 

Steve Wozniak, also known as “the Woz,” is a renowned technology scientist and co-founder of the Apple 1 and Apple II home computers. He revolutionized the computer industry by inventing the first-ever home computer.

Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs co-founded Apple and received numerous accolades, including the National Medal of Technology from the US president. Steve is a humble person and an excellent addition to the panel of speakers at Promotivate. He inspired the youth at the GenFree Youth Conference 2023 with his speech. His main focus was on the following points.

  • Technology Advancement

During his speech, Steve emphasized the importance of technological advancement. He highlighted how the ever-increasing demands of the modern era have made it essential to innovate and develop new ideas constantly. Steve also mentioned that technological advancements can greatly benefit vital industries such as education, healthcare, and finance. However, the creation of new tools and solutions depends on the people’s needs. Steve encouraged the youth of Three Seas to think outside the box and come up with unique ideas.

  • Essentials to Be an Innovator

Steve emphasized three crucial skills when asked about the essentials of becoming an innovator. Firstly, he stated that a desire to learn and explore new things is essential. Additionally, having a strong sense of creativity and confidence to think outside the box is crucial. Lastly, he mentioned that ambition and the power to walk on the tough path are necessary. He shared his experience of starting his first venture from a garage and how his life has been challenging throughout.

Jonathan Curran: The Visionary Behind Promotivate

Jonathan Curran has made a significant impact in the world by utilizing the talents of skilled speakers to enhance the performance of different companies/departments. In 2005, he founded Promotivate which initially had only a few speakers specializing in limited areas such as motivation.

However, Curran’s dynamic and innovative leadership skills have propelled this agency to become the world’s finest, with 1500 speakers on board who travel globally. His recent appearance at the Technology Conference in Poland has showcased his skills as an agent.

Generation Freedom Future Leaders: A Showcase of Excellence

The GenFree technology conference is an initiative by the Three Seas Group to provide valuable insights and leadership skills to the youth of the Three Seas. It was held for the third year in a row on September 22, 2023. 

In addition to the Promotivate speakers, the conference featured keynote speakers from around the world who were experts in their fields. They all gathered at the Warsaw University of Technology to hold a conversational and addressing session with the youth of the Three Seas. However, the morale of the community was truly lifted by the address by Steve Wozniak, who came very well prepared for a series of 3 keynote deliveries.

As we look back on the 3rd edition of the ‘Three Seas Generation Freedom Future Leaders Conference 2023,’ it’s clear that Promotivate, in collaboration with visionary leaders like Steve Wozniak, continues to make a significant mark on the world stage. This event was not just a conference; it was a platform for fostering innovation, promoting positive change, and inspiring the leaders of tomorrow.

With primary sponsors being the State of Poland Foundation, and esteemed partners such as The Warsaw University of Technology and TVP World, this conference exemplified the collaborative spirit required to drive positive change. The event also received patronage from the Polish State Development Bank BGK and the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, further underscoring its importance on the national and global stage.

Summing it up

In a world where knowledge and inspiration hold immense power, Promotivate and Steve Wozniak demonstrated commitment to creating a brighter future for all. As we continue to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of leadership, innovation, and global connectivity, we eagerly anticipate more events like the Three Seas Generation Freedom Future Leaders Conference 2023 that will shape the world for generations to come.

Posted on

10 Tips to Amaze Your Audience and Be an Inspirational Keynote Speaker

Promotivate Speakers Agency global reach map

A Great Conference Keynote Speaker Will Use All Ten Points Below To Optimise Their Performance

DALL·E 2023 04 19 11.16.28 person standing on stage looking at their audience - 10 Tips to Amaze Your Audience and Be an Inspirational Keynote Speaker
  1. Know your audience: Research your audience’s demographics, interests, and expectations. This will help you tailor your content to resonate with them and make your speech more engaging.
  2. Be authentic: Share personal stories, experiences, and emotions to create an emotional connection with your audience. Being genuine and relatable will make your message more powerful.
  3. Master your content: Be well-prepared with the subject matter of your speech. Know your material inside and out to deliver it confidently and answer any questions that may arise.
  4. Start strong: Open your speech with an attention-grabbing hook, such as a powerful quote, a surprising statistic, or a thought-provoking question. This will set the tone and keep your audience engaged from the beginning.
  5. Use effective body language: Stand tall with your shoulders back, maintain eye contact, and use purposeful gestures to emphasize key points. This will make you appear confident and authoritative, and help you connect with your audience.
  6. Vary your vocal dynamics: Use changes in pitch, tone, volume, and pacing to maintain interest and convey emotion. Monotonous speech can be dull, while vocal variety adds excitement and keeps the audience engaged.
  7. Incorporate visuals: Use slides, images, or videos to support your message and make it more memorable. Make sure your visuals are clear, relevant, and not overly cluttered.
  8. Engage your audience: Encourage participation and interaction by asking questions, seeking feedback, or conducting polls. This will keep your audience involved and help them feel more connected to your message.
  9. Practice, practice, practice: Rehearse your speech multiple times to iron out any kinks and become comfortable with the content. This will help you deliver your speech smoothly and confidently.
  10. End with impact: Close your speech with a memorable conclusion, summarizing your key points and leaving your audience with a call to action or an inspiring message. This will ensure your speech has a lasting impact on your listeners.

Following the 10 tips above will ensure the delivery of a very strong performance and is likely to delight any audience.

And finally, it is important to ask for feedback from the organizers and their audience. This feedback is super valuable to any keynote speaker and will provide ideas for further improvement and a useful testimonial to show new clients. Here is an example of strong feedback from one of our recent speakers, Joáo Garcia

Qontigo EMEA Leadership Offsite (for Joáo Garcia, Portuguese Climber), Cascais, Portugal

 “We had a great experience with Joao and his story really resonated with our audience. I believe they found it both interesting and could also see a connection between his drive to achieve and theirs. Lastly, he was lovely to work with. Thanks again.”

The Highest Solitude by Joao Garcia e1624874466842 - 10 Tips to Amaze Your Audience and Be an Inspirational Keynote Speaker
The Highest Solitude by Joao Garcia

Review all of our keynote speakers based in Portugal (Lisbon, Porto and Cascais) who can be booked for conferences at home or for events overseas.

Posted on

VIRTUAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER COST

Virtual Keynote Speaker Costs Banner

How Much Does A Motivational Virtual Keynote Speaker Cost?

This is a question that we have been advising on since the onset of the Coronavirus pandemic.

It is not only companies and clients asking this question. Speakers are also asking the question as we have all entered into a new world of virtual service delivery. What we have is inexperience and no established cost model in place for virtual speaking. This part of the speaking circuit remains ambiguous in terms of pricing.

After six months of the pandemic and speaker requests both from globally recognized companies and virtual conference organisers, we do observe that unacceptably low offers are being put across for experienced speakers. ‘Don’t pay for a Mini and expect a Rolls Royce!’

In this article, we provide helpful advice on guest speakers and their fees for virtual keynote delivery.

Virtual Keynote Speaker Cost Graphic copy - VIRTUAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER COST
(An example of some of the great speakers we book for real and virtual speaker events)

Virtual Keynote Speaker Cost Banner WP - VIRTUAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER COST
(Living with Coronavirus: Good examples of leading speakers and their topics of discussion)

Don’t Assume A Virtual Keynote Speaker Cost Is Less Expensive

Speakers have traditionally factored in travel time to and from conferences.

Consider if a conference location is remote or without nearby airports and regular flights. Unless the speaker is local to the venue their commitment or time away can be two or even three days of travel. This means lost time and for highly in-demand speakers, other bookings can’t be accepted due to travel time.

Just because the talk is online, which means no travel time is needed by the speaker doesn’t always mean the speaker will charge less for their keynote delivery.

Another point of view is that travel time is irrelevant to the speaker’s fee. The speaker is paid to deliver a keynote on a topic in a location. How they get to the venue and however long it takes is unrelated to the guest speaking fee.

Some of our speakers have queried reducing fees for virtual or even pre-recorded inspirational speaking. The valid point that they made is that: ‘ film stars and musicians don’t discount their fees when recording movies or music videos, so why should a speaker.’ Speakers are also performers after all!

The speaker still has to invest the same time and energy in preparing their keynote content and presentation. A briefing call and now added is a check on the speaker’s home audiovisual set-up are mandatory requirements in the virtual setup.

Some speakers report that they are still collecting 100% of their normal speaking fees for virtual talks. This is likely to occur when the speaker has been previously booked by the company with success.  Speakers are reminded that agents work in a more competitive landscape than speakers themselves. Agents make recommendations and work to the available budgets. Agents have a wide array of speakers to choose from which is to the client’s advantage.

Our Position on Virtual Keynote Speaker Cost

We advocate finding a balance for virtual speaking costs that sits well with everyone. In this case, it is the clients booking them and the speakers themselves.

A good agent provides strong advice and the ability to generate the best value in selection of the speaker to meet the clients requirement.

Reaching Agreement Virtual Keynote Speaker Cost post 1024x536 - VIRTUAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER COST (Reaching agreement on keynote speakers costs)

Balance Scales Keynote Speaker Costs 1024x536 - VIRTUAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER COST
(Finding the balance for paying for booking virtual keynote speakers in a new world)

Virtual Speaking – Key Factors

  • Virtual talks require no travel time
  • Not all speakers are good or experienced delivering talks to a camera with no audience for feedback
  • Preparation time for a virtual keynote delivery is significant which includes testing the speaker’s AV and video conferencing set up
  • Speakers should not be expected to suddenly give talks for free or for a fraction of their standard speaking fee
  • Virtual talks are normally shorter to keep the user’s attention (20 – 45 minutes we advise)
  • Virtual talks can be turned into a mini-series focusing one or multiple speakers on bite-sized topics from leadership, sales, coping with Coronavirus etc.
  • Innovation eg. we can have copies of the speaker’s books signed and sent to coincide with the virtual session
  • The more well known the speaker, the less likely a discount will be made for a virtual live or recorded session. This also applies to the traditional speaking model
  • Access to a far greater range of speakers for virtual keynote delivery over the traditional model with travel

Virtual Keynote Speaker Cost: Conclusion

Virtual speaking services should be less expensive. But by how much is based upon an individual basis and the speaker’s status.

We don’t think any speaker should be devaluing their professional speaking fee by more than 25 to 50 percent of their in-person on stage fee. But we do feel that in most cases clients agree that a 25 to 50 percent reduction in standard speaking fees is acceptable. This won’t apply to all speakers as there will be those at the top who clients will need to pay their full speaking fees to secure their services.

We have a responsibility to professional speakers to help not have speakers income reduced further. We have already seen great loss with the temporary shut down of conferences worldwide.

“Our belief is that speakers can and will play a very important role in bringing positivity and learning to companies during and post Coronavirus.”

Virtual Keynote Speaker Costs Final 1024x536 - VIRTUAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER COST
(Speakers are great for communicating positivity in the times we are living in)

There should be a higher volume market for virtual keynote delivery as companies familiarise themselves with video conferencing solutions. This is positive for those speakers who’ve made the leap successfully to speaking online.

We are here to help advise, recommend, and negotiate with leading conference speakers to bring their talks online.

If there is anything we can do for your group or organization to set up an event online please let us know.

Jonathan Curran

Managing Director

Posted on

Top 20 Available Virtual Keynote Speakers

Promotivate Speakers Agency Virtual Keynote Speakers Blog Post

Virtual Keynote Speakers: An Improved Service For A New World During And Post Coronavirus

Since the onset of Coronavirus in March (2020) we’ve been working with speakers to take their work online as virtual keynote speakers in the most professional way.

We’ve used this time to develop a template for virtual keynote speaking delivery that is as flawless as technology allows. To add to this we previously published a guide to help speakers set up a professional home-based recording studios at relatively low cost.

Importantly, virtual keynote speaker delivery is easy to set up, test and when prepared well is surprisingly good. It is also far less expensive than running a traditional conference gathering which involves expense for venue hire, set production, event management, branding, travel, and downtime by employees who attend. We believe as people become familiar with the video conferencing platforms that these will evolve faster and be far more widely used.

We have collated the information we have, which includes client feedback and our own assessment of how well the internet-delivered video conference worked. We’ve also kept a close eye on how the session was prepared and the speaker’s participation to help this process.

We’ve considered speakers from not just in Europe but other regions who we work with and listed our top 20 virtual keynote speakers who we recommend and are doing this well.

Our Top 20 virtual keynote speakers list is just the beginning, as the landscape continually evolves and new talents emerge. As the demand for virtual events grows, we anticipate more strong speakers to adapt to the required set-up and join our roster. While our current list is impressive, we recognize the need for flexibility and innovation in sourcing virtual keynote speakers. The majority of speakers in our selection are equipped to deliver high-quality, professional virtual keynote presentations from remote locations to engage and inspire hundreds of attendees online. Leveraging technology and their expertise, these virtual keynote speakers bring impactful messages and interactive experiences to virtual audiences worldwide. As facilitators of this transition, our role is to facilitate and support this process, connecting event organizers with the most suitable virtual keynote speakers to meet their specific needs and exceed audience expectations. We remain committed to curating a dynamic and diverse lineup of virtual keynote speakers who can deliver memorable and impactful presentations in the virtual realm.

Organizations have the capability to deliver many more virtual amazing keynote speaker sessions to their audiences than they would have done before pre-Coronavirus. In the longer term, we look forward to traditional conferences returning but also combining into an evolved new world with multiple web-based virtual keynote speaker events.

Example: Sir Clive Woodward – Live Q&A, June 2020 (in the midst of lockdown)

The virtual keynote speaker solution we recommend involves short sharp keynote delivery or targeted Q&A delivered by a known and proven expert in a field. With relevance to the business unit.

For example, whilst writing this post, we had Sir Clive Woodward the former coach of the winning 2003 England Rugby World Cup tested and prepared earlier in the day for a live session on leadership that went live to a technology client later that day.

Special Guest Graphic Invite 1024x576 - Top 20 Available Virtual Keynote Speakers

Clive is a renowned expert in leadership, change management, and high performance. He started his business @hivelearning in 2012 to harness the power of mobile phone technology to deliver continuous high-performance leadership programs.

As Clive does a lot of television rugby commentary speaking to a camera, as opposed to an audience comes naturally to him.

There are well known international speaking circuit speakers who are not comfortable speaking for a prolonged period of time talking into a camera without feedback or audience interaction.

‘There are many well-known speakers who don’t like and are unwilling to do virtual keynote speaker delivery. So it’s worth asking this question early in the discussion’

For most established speakers speaking without an audience, interaction is a new skill. This provides speakers with a fresh challenge but one they can adapt to with a little effort.

There are also many innovative ways in which video conferencing can be used. Yesterday we watched this fascinating virtual collaboration via Zoom between leading sales speaker Frank Furness and Grammy-nominated Freddie Ravel of Earth, Wind & Fire, Santana, and more. How does music influence people’s lives? Frank was in his studio in London and Freddie on his keyboard in his in L.A. It was a very good live production with strong audience engagement.

FREDDIR TM4 1024x576 - Top 20 Available Virtual Keynote Speakers

Tips On How To Upskill As A Virtual Keynote Speaker

For speakers who lack the skills and confidence to deliver virtual keynote speaking sessions here are some helpful points that will lead to a better output:

  • Work with a strong moderator in advance to build a good rapport
  • Upgrade the home office to have a studio look with strong AV
  • Have a briefing call and test run on the video con platform in advance
  • Take questions via the moderator at the end of the virtual talk
  • Do as many virtual keynote deliveries as possible for practice
  • With the client’s permission aim to have a few sessions recorded to demonstrate capability and content to share with potential clients

Our Top 20 Available Virtual Keynote Speakers – International & Evolving Quickly

1. Duncan Wardle (U.S): ‘Innovating in Crisis’

Duncan Wardle spent his 25 years career at Disney developing some of their most innovative ideas and strategies. Ideas that would forever change the way the company expands its impact, trains its employees and solves problems creatively.

“Duncan’s workshop sparked our creative minds and gave us tools that will pay dividends for years to come. My team was thoroughly captivated, fully engaged, energized and inspired. Look no further than Duncan for one of the best investments you will ever make in your business.” Orlando Magic

View Full Profile

2. Robert Muggah (Brazil):
Latin American specialist in smart cities, security, migration, and new technologies

Robert is at the leading edge of debates on the future of cities, disruptive technologies, digital and real threats, and the future of liberal democracy. His experience covers over 20 years’ working on the frontlines of many world conflict zones and criminal hotspots. Using exciting data and visual tools, he addresses corporate, public sector, non-profit, and academic audiences worldwide on global challenges and solutions.

View Full Profile

https://youtu.be/Sv5QitqbxJw

3. Alex Zanardi (Italy): ‘Unleash Your Potential’

Former Formula One driver turned gold para-Olympian, turned 2018 Ironman World Record Holder. Alex’s life-changing story from near-death and losing both legs leading an Indy Car race to what he decided to do next is incredible and extremely inspirational.

“As you approach the finish line, you go through a tunnel of people, all of them cheering and encouraging you. Then I heard the speaker say, ‘Alessandro Zanardi, you are an Ironman!’ It was something phenomenal, something amazing. … I got very emotional at that point. Normally I don’t let things like that get to me, but yesterday I was in tears. It was truly amazing.” Alex Zanardi

View Full Profile

4. Nando Parrado (Uruguay): ‘Alive – Miracle in the Andes’

Nando Parrado tells one of the greatest ever stories of hardship and heroism. When the plane with his school rugby team and mother and sister crashed in the High Andes in temperatures of -30°. Resorting to the only option of cannibalism for food, only 16 of the original 45 survived the 72 days it lasted.

“Nando Parrado is the best speaker that I have seen in all my corporate life…and what a charming, candid and respectable person. Through all my years in the business world, I have seen and listened to many speakers. There have been average speakers, good speakers, excellent speakers, but EXCEPTIONAL speakers only one. Nando Parrado ranks above them all.'”Yahoo!

View Full Profile

5. Ricardo Diniz (Portugal): ‘It’s All About The People”

Ricardo in a widely sought after inspirational speaker in Portugal. Comfortable in front of the camera he talks about his humble beginnings in a fishing village before becoming a renowned sailor and author, co-founding and becoming the President of the Portugal Ocean Race.

“Ricardo really captured the audience and told a very engaging story to the event participants. He was vocal, interesting, spoke to the point and managed to convey the message that we wanted. At the end of his speech people stood up and were applauding him which is an excellent testimony to his brilliant presentation. We were very glad to have him as a speaker at our event.” Louis Vuitton

View Full Profile

6. Rasmus Ankersen (Denmark): ‘Hunger in Paradise’

Rasmus Ankersen from Denmark is a bestselling author, a speaker on performance development and a trusted advisor to businesses and athletes around the world. Back in Denmark at the MCH Arena, the home FC Midtjylland, his childhood football club where Rasmus is the Chairman, they have created the world’s first drive-in for football. The players play in an empty stadium, the fans are parked in their cars outside the stadium watching the game live on a huge screen. Innovation for helping to live with Coronavirus!

“CCI hosted Rasmus Ankersen in One Team leadership event held in Turkey. Ankersen in his speech ‘Hunger in Paradise’ abolished the correlation between strong performance and great results through ‘Outcome Bias’ concept. Rasmus made audience to think about the ideal condition for success and asked them to leave the comfort zone to reach real improvement. His real life examples on the issue of saving the success from failure made important contribution to the meeting as well as provided valuable insights to CCI’s leadership team.” Coca-Cola

View Full Profile

7. Jim Lawless (U.K) – ‘Bold Change Management’

Jim is a wonderfully energetic motivational speaker who practices what he preaches. Hugely in demand for businesses seeking a conference speaker on improving Performance, Change, Communication & Leadership. Jim has entertained and inspired over half a million people on five continents, plus many more through his bestselling book ‘Taming Tigers.’ In 2020 Jim was voted #1 speaker outside of America and #6 in the world’s Top 30 Speaking Gurus. and he has successfully taken his performance online. Highly recommended for injecting the ‘bold decision making’ needed to find and adapt to our new world.

“Hi Jonathan, thanks so much for your support and that of your team in arranging for Jim to work with us. He was fantastic—I have had nothing but extremely positive feedback from my teams. Jim was easy to work with and flawlessly integrated key meeting themes into his message. I am thrilled he was able to join our meeting.” Crocs EMEA – Split, Croatia

View Full Profile

8. Frank Furness (U.K) – ‘Managing Disruptive Change’

Frank is an internationally sought-after motivational speaker. His lively, enthusiastic and humorous style has inspired audiences all around the world.
He is a specialist in sales, technology, social media and goal setting and how they work in tandem to produce great results for organizations. In the past 3 months, he has done over 30 virtual presentations to audiences as small as 20 to groups of over 600 and has mastered the art of virtual keynote speaking.

“Frank came to our recent sales conference in Athens and gave an energetic and informative presentation on ‘Hunting with Tigers’, this was excellent as it fitted perfectly with the theme ‘Hunting to Grow’. A very insightful view on how top salespeople work and many key lessons were presented. Thoroughly enjoyable and I would recommend to any sales organisation” GE Healthcare

View Full Profile

9. Mark Gallagher (U.K) – ‘Adapting To Change’

Mark has managed teams in Formula One. His insights into how F1 teams need to adapt and innovate to change or fail is highly applicable to the Coronavirus situation. As a result of Coronavirus, most organisations will need to implement change quickly across leadership, marketing, technology and beyond. Mark has this experience and is a leading international speaker in this area.

“Having heard him speak at an EADS Engagement Forum in Paris I asked Mark to speak at our Leadership Conference for Airbus in the UK. He was able to combine his experiences of F1, leadership and engagement in a humorous and enlightening way that really connected with the audience” Airbus

View Full Profile

10. Sir Clive Woodward (UK): ‘How To Win’ (In these difficult times)

Sir Clive Woodward is a high-performance Coach of the England Rugby and the British Olympic Team for London 2012. He led England to win the 2003 Rugby World Cup and worked for six years as Director of Elite Performance for the British Olympic Association. He’s also a designer of executive leadership programs on the science of winning having been a successful businessman for prior to his involvement in sport.

Here is a link to the live Q&A session with Clive Woodward we refer to above for reference.

“Clive was excellent. He was focused and hard-edged throughout his talk and he enthralled and inspired the audience.” Lloyds of London

View Full Profile

11. Ann Daniels (UK) – ‘How Anyone Can Change Their Outlook In An Instance’

Ann Daniels is a record-breaking polar explorer and a renowned international speaker. Daniels is the first woman in history, along with expedition teammate Caroline Hamilton, to reach the North and South Poles. Aged 30 Ann was a mother of triplets, working in a bank and had never had a rucksack on her back. She has turned ordinary into extraordinary.

“Your talk and contribution to the day was a great inspiration to us all. We were fascinated by your achievements and you brought a new dimension to the event.” IBM Europe

View Full Profile

12. Marc Lammers (Netherlands):’Adapting to Change, Teamwork & Focus’

Marc Lammers is the former Dutch Olympic Hockey Coach who introduced technology and innovation to improve performance and develop winning teams. He has coached Spain, Netherlands and the Belgian national sides leading the Dutch to Olympic Gold in Beijing in 2008.

The relevant strength to Covid-19 is that he is an expert at guiding people to adapt, to be better team players, handle stress and learn from failure and difficulty.

“Marc gave an energetic presentation at the launch of our company 2ndSense. Where a crisis is an opportunity. Just the nail on the head when it comes to our attitude and our philosophy. Our guests were full of praise for Marc, even those who have seen him before.” 2ndSense

View Full Profile

13. Araceli Segarra (Spain): ‘What Lessons Can We Learn From The Mountains’

Araceli was the first Spanish woman to conquer Everest. She is a
model, television and radio personality, author, and children’s illustrator
A multilingual speaker who is fluent in Spanish, Catalan, French, and English.
Expert in leadership, teamwork, goal setting, organization, and risk management.

In her virtual keynote, Araceli discusses characteristics that the virus pandemic has placed upon people which include; frustration, isolation, uncertainty and lack of motivation. All mountains are different and require a different focus and each requires a new skill to overcome them.

“Araceli helped us communicate to our team that to get through rough times the keyword is teamwork. She made a superb presentation that made everybody leave the room with a completely different view of work and life.” Bulltick Capital Markets

View Full Profile

14. Bruce Dickinson (France): ‘Don’t Be Afraid of Failure’

Although the lead singer of Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson, is probably best known for being a global rock star, he is also a polymath who has enjoyed great success in diverse areas. He is a commercial airline pilot, the driving force behind Cardiff Aviation, Vice-Chairman of Pouncer, Chairman of GoldiLox, commercial entrepreneur, and an excellent fencer.

“Bruce Dickinson is a superstar… When you dig deeper, you find that his tremendous sense of humour facilitates the telling of an epic story. This man has an enormous heart and fighting spirit.”

View Full Profile

15. Stefan Hyttfors (Sweden): Managing Disruption, ‘We are ALL SUFFERING, but this is also an OPPORTUNITY.’

Stefan Hyttfors is a brilliant international conference speaker and author of the highly-acclaimed business book: Yoga For Leaders: ‘How to Manage Self-Disruption in a World of Self-Destruction’

His skill set is very well-tuned to provide expert advice and guidance on how to manage the disruptive change that the CORONA-19 virus has placed on all us world-wide.

“Stefan is a combination of a stand up comedian and thoughtful key note speaker. He delivers energy and laughs while at the same time making you reflect upon todays challenges and how to tackle the unknown future. We really appreciated his key note and I highly recommend him if you want an inspiring talk about change. He was also very easy to work with.” Spotify

View Full Profile

16. Erin Meyer (France) – ‘Driving Cultural Change’

An expert on cross-cultural management, Erin is the author of ‘The Culture Map’, a Professor of Organisational Behaviour at INSEAD, winner of the Thinkers 50 ‘On The Radar Award’ and Top 30 HR Influencers. A perfect candidate to speak to companies now needing to redefine cross-cultural leadership due to remote working. Erin teaches speaks on ‘Leading Across Cultures’ and ‘Managing Multi-Cultural Teams’.

“Whether you are sitting at a desk in Boston or eating at a restaurant in Beijing, communicating across cultures is the great challenge of the global economy. Getting it right will be the the difference between success and failure. Erin Meyer shows you how to get it right.’ Founders of the Thinkers50

View Full Profile

17. Dr Steven MacGregor (Spain): ‘Wellbeing In A New World’

Barcelona based Chief Wellbeing Officer and a top expert in leadership, health, and wellbeing, Dr. Steven MacGregor founded The Leadership Academy of Barcelona (LAB) to help deliver global programs for his impressive list of clients. His build’s positive cultural change into organizations, much sought after in managing to deal with Coronavirus.

“I have worked together with Steven in different projects. His performance and attitude have always been excellent. He is very proactive and he knows very well how to manage things. You feel that you can leave things on his hands, and they will be done on time and with high quality. He is creative and imaginative, but at the same time very pragmatic and result-oriented. He is a person to work with, without any doubt.” IESE Business School

View Full Profile

18. Benedikt Böhm (Germany) – ‘Accepting The Situation’

Extreme mountaineer Benedikt Böhm is the international managing director of Dynafit, a leading global ski touring brand. He is also a speaker whose talks, managed with great finesse, sees him develop ties between the world of extreme mountaineering and the business world.

“You have really inspired us with your presentation, and have clearly hit right to the heart of the big overlap between the mountain world and the business world. Based on your presentation, topics such as communication, decision-making and speed can be discussed anew with a totally fresh perspective. Many thanks for that!” Linde AG

View Full Profile

19. Ian Bremmer (U.S) ‘Calculating The Political and Economic Risk of Cororonvirus’

Ian Bremmer created Wall Street’s first-ever global political risk index. As the president of Eurasia Group, Ian Bremmer is a sought after adviser on international risk management on the geopolitical and economic landscape.

Ian provides an informed view as to where we are likely to be headed and the consequences we will face or avoid.

View Full Profile

20.Steve Wozniak (U.S) – ‘Networking & Technology Post Coronavirus’

Co-Founder of Apple and builder of the world’s first home computer. A pioneer of the modern technology era who had a desire to build a home computer that was easy for everybody to use and that he could about teach to the younger generation which he remains very passionate about. Woz provides virtual speaking keynote delivery from his home recording studio.

“I’ve had the pleasure of featuring Steve Wozniak across several conferences and enjoyed working with him immensely. His enthusiastic personality translates to a fantastic keynote, and his generosity off stage connecting with attendees had the entire event buzzing. Woz is akin to the Santa Claus of technology – all those that cross paths with him can’t help but be charmed and delighted.” TechMedia

View Full Profile

As we mentioned earlier in the post. This Top 20 list is not conclusive, it will change as more speakers adapt to provide strong virtual keynote delivery capability. The speakers named above are those that have been working on their complete package and we are aware of.

We are all in the process of learning to adapt to new ways both during and post-Coronavirus. These are challenging times, but it also creates an opportunity for success. In these times, great speakers help by inspiring and motivating when it’s most in need.

Now the ability exists to reach far greater audiences using rapidly developing, but already great video conferencing packages. Without the large costs of running traditional conferences, clients can save small fortunes but still by using a virtual speaker to connect with their employees and run virtual client events.

A few speakers will be uncomfortable, but many like we do will see an exciting new way. Speakers could, with this positive outlook achieve many more virtual bookings, especially as travel and the associated time it takes are temporarily on hold.

If you have questions about any of our speakers listed here, or you would like guidance or recommendations on selecting a great speaker for a forthcoming conference, please contact me T: +34938004890 or email us here.

Jonathan Curran

Managing Director

Posted on

The future of AI Robotics and Business Automation

David Hanson American roboticist

Humanizing the machine: David Hanson believes the future of AI Robotics and Business Automation is biological

The world is rapidly changing. Technology and businesses are advancing at an unprecedented rate, with fields such as artificial intelligence and robotics leading the forefront.

Dr. David Hanson, robotics genius and creator of ‘Sophia’ the robot, is one of the inspirational people leading the charge, which is why ProMotivate was proud to represent him at a recent conference in Dubai: Supercharging Maximo with AI and Analytics. The conference brought together almost 250 delegates from 72 companies in 12 different industries, all to discuss the ways the AI and Robotics Industry can further future technology.

Dubai is a country with a personal stake in robotics, with a $21 billion foreign investment in AI and robotics projects. AI adoption will account for 45% of the world’s economy gains by 2030, and Dubai is ranked first globally in attracting FDI for AI (mostly from Europe and the United States). It’s also why they need to hear from experts in AI and Robotics. With that sort of investment, only the biggest and brightest people in the industry can be called upon to offer their insight and expertise. (See our range of AI and Robotics Conference Speakers).

One of the key messages David Hanson talked about was how to gain insight from biology when architecting the next generation of technology solutions. He believes the future of AI robotics and business automation is biological. It’s about humanizing the machines and making them more human-centric and useful to our daily lives. He believes that value can be gained from this type of interface, which will start a revolution of bio-inspired ‘living’ machines.

It’s an opinion that should come as no surprise from the man who invented the world’s most human-like, empathetic and intelligent character robot. But David’s career actually started as a Walt Disney Imagineer, where he worked as both a sculptor and technical consultant in robotics. He is also a well-published scientist and has won several awards for his dedication to the robotics field. And with such impressive credentials, it’s little wonder his appearance at the Maximo conference was widely acclaimed, with social media platforms such as Twitter widely reporting his appearance and inspirational messages.

Would you like to invite David Hanson or another leading speaker to your conference?

Pro-Motivate represents hundreds of the best and most professional conference and corporate motivational speakers in the world. We’re multi-lingual and have multi-language speaker bureau offices in Spain and Europe, the UK and Ireland, and South America. We have a variety of industries to choose from, and our demonstrated commitment to our speakers and clients is what underpins our success. The passion to deliver inspiration and motivation to audiences is what drives us to be world class, which is why our 4.9-star average rating is just one example of why we should be your number one choice when deciding which speaker agency to trust. So, if you’re looking for expert representation, please get in touch.

How to get in touch

No matter your audience’s needs or aspirations, kick-start your search with us. Our roster of clients boasts both impressive and extensive credentials, reflecting our ability to deliver exceptional speakers who inspire and motivate. Dive into our client list to explore the breadth of our capabilities and discover how we can elevate your event. For inquiries concerning Artificial Intelligence Speakers, specifically, we invite you to explore our curated selection tailored to this cutting-edge field. From keynote presentations to panel discussions, our AI speakers bring expertise and insight to drive innovation and spark conversation. For all other queries, whether related to event planning, speaker availability, or custom requests, please don’t hesitate to reach out via our dedicated contact page. We’re here to help you create an unforgettable event experience that leaves a lasting impact on your audience.

Posted on

The World’s Greatest Ever Story of Survival 

Nando Parrado speaker

With Nando Parrado, Keynote Speaker @Staples Conference, Dallas USA

 

  • One of 16 survivors of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 which crashed in the Andes Mountains in 1972
  • Of the 45 people on board, the 28 who survived the initial crash faced starvation and death and reluctantly resorted to cannibalism
  • Rescuers believed they would not survive more than 36 hours ill-equipped and in temperatures dropping to -30℃
  • Ethan Hawke portrayed him in the 1993 Feature Film ‘Alive: Miracle In The Andes’
  • With no food, heat or mountain equipment succeeded in trekking 61km which resulted in 16 people being rescued

Very often in the life of a Speaker Agent you work with and meet speakers who are exceptional, with a genuine and a great story to tell. I travelled to Dallas, Texas to bring Uraguay’s Nando Parrado to 1,400 of Staples Store Managers.  Here is an insight into the conference, why Nando Parrado was the perfect speaker for this event followed by a short Q&A  with Nando where I asked him ‘the’ questions people want to ask but don’t!

Staples Conference

This was a big conference on a huge scale by European standards, but normal for a US company with 30,000 employees and 1,400 Store Managers.

I have attended a lot of conferences and it’s rare to see such complete audience participation let alone genuine enthusiasm from a group this large. Mike Motz the new CEO of Staples Connect (45 days into the new job at this time) has been brought in to re-energize the Staples business. I am not able to divulge the details, they are private to Staples but they do point to the need for change;  reflected in shifts in Staples corporate values, its interaction with the community and refreshingly through investment in its people.

Most people know that the high street is struggling to keep up with changes in consumer behaviour led by the giants of eCommerce versus the expense of maintaining a bricks and mortar based business.  The leadership of Staples has made a bold decision to confront the challenge head-on, without delay by changing how they operate and rebranding as Staples Connect.

From what Nando and I heard from the Store Managers who we met, they hadn’t experienced or even seen anything so positive as this conference from their employers for at least the past 10 years. This was new, refreshing and surprised all.

Conferences like this Staples in Dallas event cost $ millions of dollars to organize. The return on the significant investment has to be well thought out. Between CEO Mike Motz and the CMO Marshall Warkentin who Nando and I enjoyed listening to, this conference was a bold decision of intent. The event was meticulously put together by Jane Shanab and her team at Spark Inc, based in Toronto.

The change followed this conference, effective immediately, Staples 30,000 employees discovered that they can now wear jeans and choose their own style of shoes. The new CEO has recognized the need to revitalize the brand but importantly has looked at those that can, and if empowered with greater responsibility, deliver more. By increasing the value placed on the employees and its customers, Staples believe this change will be reflected in success for all.

A Keynote on Change by Nando Parrado

 

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Jjm3n9wEZWE

 

Nando Parrado was flown from Montevideo in Uruguay to deliver the message of change to Staples employees: ‘You may have a challenge ahead, but none is insurmountable and I am going to tell you why.’

For those who don’t know of Nando or his story, he tells one of the world’s greatest ever stories of survival, courage, teamwork, decision making, risk and leadership’.

In 1972 Nando then 21 years old was flying from Montevideo with his rugby team to play against a team in Santiago, Chile. Onboard the plane with Nando was his mother, sister, the pilots and 40 of his best friends. The pilots made a fateful error in bad weather conditions turning the plane in the wrong direction and smashed it into the High Andes at 18,000ft.  What happened next is remarkable, impossible.

The aeroplane broke in the middle upon impact and the front of the plane slid 4,000ft before it came to an immediate stop.  Those in the rear of the plane from row 10 onwards died immediately upon the first impact. Nando was sat in row 9 and survived. (The first miracle) The plane landed on a 25-metre wide gap of snow between rocks at 18,000ft. Crashing left or right of this strip would have meant certain death. (The second miracle)

Temperatures outside were -30℃ below freezing. The 27 survivors had arrived wearing summer clothes, ill-equipped for what lay ahead.  Rescue experts looking for the plane gave them no more than 36 hours to survive.  At 14,000 ft search helicopters couldn’t reach them, and couldn’t find the plane as it was white in colour and blended in naturally with the snow-covered mountains.

Day after day, the situation became direr. On the tenth day, they were listening to a small radio playing at a local station. They heard the broadcaster announce that the search for them had been called off. It was now believed impossible that anyone would be found alive. Following the announcement, the newsreader then reverted to playing music.

What happens next defines Nando Parrado. He will tell the audience that he is ‘not a hero’ and that ‘anyone else faced with the same situation would have done the same thing’.

I am sorry Nando, I would love to think that I or anyone else would have taken the same courageous decision you took, but I can’t!

Having endured weeks of being in hell – described by Nando as ‘worse than being in Dante’s Inferno’. Nando lost his mother, his sister (only 17 years old) who died in his arms and half of his rugby team. This story that Nando tells is one of decision making, leadership, bravery, risk, teamwork at a level I don’t think anyone else has experienced.

Having survived for two months, when the whole world thought they were dead Nando Perrado together with his teammate Roberto Canessa completed a gruelling trek across the world’s most inhospitable mountain range and found help. They crossed glaciers and climbed without any equipment with only a sleeping bag made from the lining of the aeroplane. They trekked for over 60 kilometres for 10 days before finding civilization and the rescue.

Canessa who was almost dead went straight to the hospital. Nando went straight into the rescue helicopter wasting no time to point out where the plane was and collect the survivors. Fourteen others had survived due to the decision making and courage of Nando and Roberto.

Towards the end of Nando’s keynote, he plays a video containing beautiful images of his family that includes Nando as a young boy with his own parents, with backing music of ‘The Living Years’ by Mike and the Mechanics.  It’s a reminder of how much he has appreciated his entire life, cherishes his family and enjoys living in the present day.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=B8xev8K7W3I

“I am happy to be alive.” – Nando Parrado

….. and finally by way of a little humour. Nobody knew this, Nando was due to arrive a day earlier for the Dallas conference. Upon take off from Montevideo, whilst taxing along with the runway flying headed to Santiago (the same route as in 1972), with Nando overlooking the wing, the engine sputtered and then exploded.

The plane was forced to abandon the flight and return to the terminal. I asked Nando had this concerned him? The answer, “No, I also have my own private plane license and regularly fly single prop planes”

Speaker Star Quality

Nando Perrado exudes happiness. He lives for every day, for his family and his dogs. He is a highly successful businessman in Uruguay.

What further separates Nando from other speakers is his willingness to do more than just speak at conferences. From the initial briefing call, Nando makes the offer that the client can use him for additional meetings, media interviews and sponsors events.

Once Nando is on the ground at a conference he is at the client’s full disposal for the entire duration of his stay there. In our experience, we see many others will take the speaking fee and run to their next event. Nando Parrado is refreshingly accommodating.

Q&A With Nando?

  • Are you afraid of flying? ‘No not at all, I have a single engine private pilots license and fly regularly’

 

  • What motivates you in life? ‘Every day I am thankful for just being alive. I never look back to the past, how can I, the only way for me if to look to the future and the opportunity life gives. I am a successful owner of three businesses, I travel the world with my passion which is motorsport and I have a beautiful family, I am happy.’

 

  • What was it like to eat human flesh? ‘Firstly let me explain that on the aeroplane that crashed we found only two chocolate bars and there were 28 survivors at that point. We had no food and no heat and we knew that we were starving to death. At the time we made a pact by shaking hands that we would eat the bodies of our dead friends. People want to know what human flesh tastes like, I have one answer, ‘hope’. We did not want to do this, but we had to, there was no other way to survive, so that is why the taste is best described as ‘hope’ because it gave us hope.’

 

  • Do you like speaking at conferences? ‘When I get a really good audience, in a great location I am really happy to speak. I ask my wife Veronique, and if she likes the location then it’s even better and we will normally book to stay for three to seven nights as a mini-vacation’.

 

  • If you have one message that you would give to inspire people what would it be? ‘That I am not special, a hero or any different to the people that I meet. I simply did what everyone else would do when faced with the same situation. But what I have learned from surviving death not once but three times in 1972 is that every day is a new opportunity, where there are no limits to what people can achieve. Be happy and enjoy your family and friends who are the most important people in your lives.’

Nando Parrado was the keynote speaker at the Staples US Store Managers Conference held at the Hotel Anatole in Dallas, Texas. Represented by Promotivate Speakers Agency. Enquire about booking Nando Parrado and check his availability here.

Of Interest – Other Recent Headline Talks and Speakers by Promotivate Speakers

Steve Wozniak, Co-Founder of Apple Speaks in Warsaw at the Polish National Foundation 100 x 100 series

Sir Ranulph Fiennes, described by the Guinness Book of World Records as the World’s Greatest Living Explorer, keynote at the .NEXT conference, Anaheim, California, May 2019.

Dr David Hanson, the world’s leading inventor of humanoid robots, including ‘Sophia’ address the <……> in the Dubai, UAE, April 2019

Alex Zanardi, former Formula One driver and multiple Olympic Champion and Ironman WR holders to address Malta’s business community, June 2019

Nicola Adams, MBE the double Olympic Gold Medal winning boxing champion speaks at Blue Prism, Reading conference with great success, May 2019

 

 

Posted on

Ten Powerful Women in Leadership, Business & Technology that are Changing the World

female conference speakers

It’s undeniable that the trajectory towards equality and technological advancement owes much to the leadership of strong women. Ten outstanding women stand out as trailblazers, spearheading transformative change in the realms of business and technology. These influential figures inspire awe and admiration with their remarkable contributions to shaping the world we live in today.

At the forefront of this movement is a diverse array of women, each bringing their unique talents and perspectives to the table. From pioneering entrepreneurs to visionary tech innovators, these women embody resilience, determination, and ingenuity.

Their achievements reverberate across industries, breaking barriers and shattering stereotypes along the way. Through their pioneering work, they challenge the status quo, championing inclusivity and diversity in traditionally male-dominated fields.

In the realm of business, these women are redefining success, carving out their own paths to leadership and prosperity. Their entrepreneurial spirit and strategic acumen drive innovation and fuel economic growth, paving the way for future generations of aspiring leaders.

In the realm of technology, these women are driving forward the frontiers of innovation, harnessing the power of technology to solve complex problems and create positive change. Their groundbreaking discoveries and breakthrough inventions are revolutionising industries and improving lives worldwide.

As we celebrate their achievements, let us also recognise the importance of championing and supporting women in their quest for equality and empowerment. Together, we can continue to build a more inclusive and equitable world, where all individuals, regardless of gender, have the opportunity to thrive and succeed.

Kriti Sharma

  • Recently named one of Forbes’ 30 under 30 and Vice-President of AI at SAGE, Kriti Sharma is an artificial technologist who sees a future where AI can become a normal, integrated part of human life.
  • She actively promotes diversity and ethics in artificial intelligence, advocating for a shift from male-coded, woman voiced AI to a more equal voiced technology where all cultures are included in the technology that is created.
  • Since 2017, Kriti has been included in Recode 100 List of Key Influencers in Technology
  • Founded AI For Good, and has hosted countless viral TedTalks.

View Full Profile

Robin Chase

  • Most notably known for her founding of Zipcar carsharing, Robin Chase is a pioneer in spearheading the future of the transportation industry.
  • She is now the founder of Veniam, a platform that connects all devices, appliances, etc. to the internet with a plan of taking the power away from the corporate monsters.
  • Writer, leader, and recipient of many awards such as Times 100 Most Influential People.
  • Robin is a symbol of success for women entrepreneurs.

View Full Profile

Kathryn Parsons

  • She has won many awards, including The Sunday Times Top 30 Female Power List.
  • Do you think you can learn to code in a day? You can with Decoded, the successful online platform founded by Kathryn Parsons, who saw a demand for knowledge, fed the masses, and became a massive success.
  • Kathryn is an expert in the digital economy and is considered one of the most influential people in global technology start-ups.

View Full Profile

Lisa Bodell

  • No stranger to the best-seller shelf, Lisa Bodell has built a following of forward-thinking women and men, creating a new way of leading in change management.
  • Having worked with many large corporations, Lisa has helped shift the mindset of seasoned management, driving them towards innovation and strategic planning using forward thinking.
  • She has found more than one company, most recently of which is futurethink.

View Full Profile

Jo Malone

  • Her successful cosmetics line bearing her name has made her one of the country’s leading entrepreneurs.
  • There are very few women in the UK who haven’t heard of Jo Malone.
  • Her story of humble beginnings making fragrances in her mother’s kitchen has helped set goals or other women to chase what they love.
  • She actively promotes methods for other small businesses to reach global markets.

View Full Profile

Araceli Segarra

  • Would you climb the mountains to achieve your dreams? The first Spanish woman to climb Everest, Araceli Segarra has conquered her obstacles.
  • Author, illustrator, model, and television personality, there are few people who can’t be drawn into her success.
  • Through her public speaking, she motivates her crowds with stories of her climbing adventures, using metaphors to build her teaching.
  • Araceli has become a leader in business and in her careers.

View Full Profile

Ann Daniels

  • One of the many things Ann Daniels has learned is if you can raise triplet and survive, you can make it to the top (and bottom) of the world no problem and set a Guinness World Record in the process.
  • Ann supports many charities and has been at the forefront of scientific research of the rapidly disappearing Arctic Ocean.
  • She focuses her speaking on leadership and teamwork, along with other traits needed to run a successful business, and their importance in reaching your victories.

View Full Profile

Alicia Tillman

  • Chief Marketing Officer at SAP, Alicia Tillman is regardest as one of the top females in marketing across the globe.
  • She doesn’t fear leadership and has become a strong advocate for creating a strong brand, having been responsible for that very success in the businesses she has worked with.
  • She has motivated female leaders across the globe, inspiring them to take initiative and get creative in the field of marketing.

View Full Profile

At ProMotivate we have access to hundreds of world-class conference speakers from wider areas of technology and innovation. Find out more about these inspiring women and how you can request one for your next event here.

Posted on

How Steve Wozniak, Apple Co-Founder Motivates Himself And Thinks About Facebook, Live from Warsaw

steve wozniak apple co founder

On November 27th as speaker agents for Steve Wozniak, Co-Founder of Apple we recommended and travelled with Woz to Poland where he gave an inspirational talk to 250 of Poland’s future tech stars. This was followed by media interviews and an intimate VIP dinner which was attended Poland’s Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki.

It’s widely reported in the press that Poland is fast becoming the Silicon Valley of Europe and who better than Steve Wozniak to help inspire the next generation of innovators in this rapidly developing country.

Whilst working for Hewlett Packard Steve Wozniak built and designed and built the Apple computer. Amazingly five times HP turned down the opportunity to build his easy to use home computer. Then Woz found Steve Jobs and the rest is history!

Woz’s session in Poland’s capital, Warsaw was captivating and widely reported in the press and on television.

Here is a link to the longer synopsis of Woz’s fascinating one-hour session on the conference stage with host Pawel Karson. We have an edited video of this session if you’d like to watch the Woz and hear him speak about how he founded Apple; what is coming next in technology; his personal ‘3 F’s’ mantra for success and happiness in life and his very interesting current thoughts on Facebook!

So good is the video that it had reached 1.33m views on YouTube within 5 days of release following Woz’s visit to Poland.

Finally, we have to comment that Poland is a wonderful country, the people, skill levels, revamped cities, history, food (perogies!), it has so much to offer the world. The name Wozniak is the 10th most common surname in Poland, and Steve is very proud of his connections to this fast-rising country.

Read the article in full and discover what the ‘Three F’s’  are that Steve Wozniak has adhered to since his days as an engineering student at Stanford and Berkely.

Are you interested in bringing Steve Wozniak or another leading speaker to your conference?

Are you considering inviting Steve Wozniak or another top conference speaker to your event? Since 2005, we’ve excelled in representing the most renowned names and sought-after speakers for conferences and off-site gatherings across Europe, from Lisbon to Athens. Whether you seek sales kickoff inspiration, leadership insights, innovation strategies, or expertise in healthcare, retail, or organizational change, our extensive roster of 500+ conference speakers ensures you’ll find the perfect fit for your event. With our unparalleled experience and dedication to excellence, we guarantee to elevate your conference to new heights. Let us help you curate an unforgettable experience for your audience, featuring world-class speakers who will inspire, educate, and entertain. Contact us today to explore the vast array of conference speakers available and discover how we can make your event a resounding success.

ask@pro-motivate.com

Posted on

Mika Hakkinen and Mark Gallagher in Warsaw Speaking on ‘Decision Making Under Pressure’

mika hakkinen and mark gallagher

Last week two of our speakers were in Poland thanks to the foundation Polska Fundacja Narodowa. Mika Häkkinen and Mark Gallagher spoke about their experiences in motor racing and building high performances team to win. Below we show you the intervention of them in the event and a small video about Mika Häkkinen.

Pro Motivate agency - Mika Hakkinen and Mark Gallagher in Warsaw Speaking on 'Decision Making Under Pressure'

 

A short video overview of Mika’s career by Promotivate:

#RiskSpeakers
#HighPerformance		 #TeamworkSpeakers
#TechnologyinBusiness

 

The Leading Names in Speaking across Europe

Since 2005 we’ve been successfully representing the biggest names and most in-demand speakers for conferences and off-sites from Lisbon to Athens. From sales kickoff inspiration, leadership, innovation, healthcare, retail, change by 500+ speakers.

 

Posted on

Top 10 Speakers on Artificial Intelligence in Europe by ProMotivate Speakers Agency

top 10 speakers on artificial intelligence in europe

Looking for Artificial Intelligence Speaker? ProMotivate represents and provides a high proportion of Europe’s leading speakers on Artificial Intelligence (AI) for conferences across Europe.

Here are our Top 10 experts on Artificial Intelligence who are sought after conference keynote speakers on AI.

Nick Bostrom– Oxford, U.K

  • Philosopher and world’s leading artificial intelligence expert
  • Author of the New York Times Bestseller ‘Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies’
  • Multi-disciplined (physics, computational neuroscience, mathematical logic, and philosophy)
  • Regarded as one of the top 100 global thinkers

View Full Profile

Mustafa Suleyman – London, U.K

  • Co-Founder of DeepMind Technologies
  • Head of applied AI at DeepMind
  • Founder of DeepMind Health
  • Entrepreneur and acknowledged AI expert

View Full Profile

Hans-Christiaan Boos – Travels from Germany

  • Global AI trailblazer and leader
  • Founder and CEO of Argo, an IT company specialising in AI
  • Recipient of the John F. Kennedy National Leadership Award as ‘one of Germany’s outstanding leaders in IT’
  • An accomplished author in the field of IT and AI

View Full Profile

Falon Fatemi – Travels from North America

  • Young high-tech and startup specialist, innovator, and entrepreneur
  • CEO of Node – advocates of using people-based Artificial Intelligence to create opportunities
  • Youngest full-time Google employee (19 years of age)
  • Advocate for gender-gap bridging in the world of high-tech

View Full Profile

Professor Shafi Ahmed – Travels from London

  • The virtual surgeon – ‘most-watched surgeon in human history’
  • Performed the world’s first virtual reality operation that went viral
  • Co-founder of Virtual Medics, and Medical Realities
  • Chief Medical Officer of Doc Health, an app giving 24-hours access to clinical care

View Full Profile

Inma Martinez – Travels from London

  • Amongst the World’s Leading Digital Media Strategists.
  • Female mobile and technology data, A.I and product maverick.
  • Driving force in innovation advances on the web and in the mobile industry.
  • Consultant to governments and businesses on all things data related within the mobile and internet industries.
  • Keynote speaker on different aspects of digitalisation within industry and government.

View Full Profile

Sophie Hackford – Travels from London

  • Futurist, business builder, and speaker
  • Previously responsible for WIRED magazine’s consulting business
  • Expert in emerging technologies, AI, Robotics, Virtual Reality, Data Analytics and their uses for the future of business

View Full Profile

Kriti Sharma – Travels from UK

  • Artificial Intelligence technologist
  • Named in Forbes magazine’s 30 Under 30
  • Global civic leader at the Obama Foundation
  • Improving diversity in tech
  • Fintech, design and millennial entrepreneurship expert

View Full Profile

Nell Watson – Travels from Belgium

  • Expert in artificial intelligence, engineer, entrepreneur, and futurist thinker
  • Founder of Poikos (QuantaCorp), a machine learning-driven AI
  • Co-founder of OpenEth, a non-profit machine ethics research company

View Full Profile

David Rowan – Travels from London

  • Founder & Editor-at-Large of Technology Magazine WIRED UK.
  • Keynotes on Future Trends across multi-sector and multi-product areas from AI, VR, Blockchain, Payments.
  • Google Zeitgeist, Chair of the G8 Innovation Summit, TED Global in addition to hundreds of corporate keynotes.
  • Disruptive Technology and how companies can protect themselves from it, from healthcare, media, travel, financial services and more.

View Full Profile

At ProMotivate we have access to hundreds of world-class conference speakers from wider areas of technology and innovation. If you would like guidance or recommendations for speakers please contact us directly and we’ll be pleased to use our expertise to help you find the right speaker for your audience.

Looking for an AI speaker? We provide conference speakers across Europe (from offices in Spain and the UK) and in South America (Peru). The best artificial intelligence keynote speaker.

Posted on

Why Event Companies Use ProMotivate Speakers Agency

why event companies use promotivate speakers agency

Or put differently: ‘Why do Event Companies and Event Organisers try to incorrectly bypass Speakers Agencies’?

Most event companies believe they’ll get a better deal and can make more money going directly to the speaker. This is not true with here at ProMotivate. It is, however, true with many of our competitors.

Let’s ask again; ‘Why do Event & Conference Organisers work with ProMotivate?’

Answer – ProMotivate has an agreement with all its speakers that the rate that we quote is the same direct rate the speaker quotes themselves. We often have licence to negotiate lower fees for our speakers which they themselves are uncomfortable doing.

Rewarding Event Companies

At Pro Motivate, we offer incentives for event organisers who bring us opportunities to collaborate. When an event organiser introduces us to a potential speaking engagement, we adjust the speaker’s fee to reflect the assistance provided. This reduction is absorbed by us, not the speaker, acknowledging the value of the initial sales opportunity. However, it’s important to note the competitive landscape we operate in, with numerous event companies vying for conference management contracts. We prioritize responsiveness when presented with realistic opportunities, as opposed to speculative pitches. While speaker provision constitutes a fraction of the overall event proposal, the quality of event speakers recommended can significantly enhance the proposal’s appeal. By leveraging our network of leading event speakers, we aim to elevate the proposal’s competitiveness, increasing the likelihood of securing the project.

I Am An Event Company, How Do I Get This Speakers Deal?

Any event companies can take us up on this offer. Call your regional office on the telephone number below or send us some details of the request to ask@pro-motivate.com or use our contact form here.

Posted on

Yusra Mardini: #EmpowerYourself

yusra mardini

Reflecting on your achievements is often something that gets put to one side in busy lifestyles but is incredibly important in maintaining a high level of motivation. Yusra Mardini, UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and 2016 Olympian, shares the three motivational tips on why its important to reflect on how far you’ve come:

1. Determination

It’s inevitable that you’re going to come up against a few hurdles, despite your best attempts to avoid them! Don’t let them deter you, and think of the solution (not the problem) to overcome them. Determination plays a big part in providing focus to accomplishing your goals so don’t give up if you don’t achieve them first time round.

2. Positivity

When you’re faced with challenges, it’s often more difficult to remain positive and stay focussed on achieving your goals when the negative is crying out for your attention! Go back to the original concept, and remind yourself what the final outcome will be to help re-focus.

3. Celebration

Make a point of celebrating the victories, no matter how small. This is incredibly important to ensure you keep progressing. Once you’ve conquered one milestone, focus on the next one and reflect on what you’ve achieved to help stay motivated.

Want to find out more about Yusra? Visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for regular news updates!

Pro Motivate operates as a distinguished international bureau, specialising in motivational speakers and serving a diverse array of organisations worldwide. With our extensive network of motivational speakers, we facilitate transformative experiences within workplaces, fostering environments conducive to heightened employee engagement, leadership enhancement, entrepreneurial prowess, and continuous corporate learning initiatives, among other critical facets. Our commitment to excellence is paramount, ensuring that each organisation receives precisely tailored motivational speakers, thereby maximising the impact of their message.

Recognising the pivotal role that motivational speakers play in instigating profound change within organisations, we deliver impactful experiences tailored to specific needs. Whether reigniting team morale, imparting invaluable leadership insights, igniting entrepreneurial zeal, or nurturing cultures of lifelong learning, our motivational speakers possess the expertise to inspire and empower audiences across diverse sectors and industries. We firmly believe that cultivating a culture of positivity, resilience, and a growth mindset is integral for navigating today’s dynamic business landscape successfully.

Our dedication extends beyond mere speaker provision; we aim to cultivate enduring partnerships with our clients, serving as trusted advisors in their pursuit of organisational advancement and prosperity. Leveraging our profound expertise and extensive industry knowledge, we guide organisations in selecting the most fitting motivational speakers to address their unique challenges and aspirations, thus ensuring a bespoke and impactful experience for all involved.

As the demand for motivational speakers continues to evolve, Pro Motivate remains at the forefront of innovation, perpetually scouting for emerging talent and trends to meet our clients’ ever-evolving needs. With our unwavering commitment to quality, professionalism, and client satisfaction, we proudly stand as the premier destination for organisations seeking to harness the power of motivational speakers to drive positive change and achieve their strategic objectives.

Posted on

Jack Parsons: ‘How to reach your goals’

bobsled

In the depths winter, it is easy to lose sight of the goals you have set for yourself, either in your personal or professional life. Succeeding in the plan you’ve set out for yourself can often feel like an uphill battle. Jack Parsons, an inspiring young entrepreneur and media influencer, is no stranger to this. Growing up in a tough area and struggling with dyslexia at school, the odds were stacked against him. Despite everything, Jack was determined to be successful, and has shared a few top tips on how reaching your goals:

Be specific when you’re goal setting

If you want to succeed, you have to set yourself a specific goal that’s easy to keep in mind and will motivate you working towards it. It can be as simple or as complicated as you like, as long as it makes sense to you and is achievable for you.

Set a timeline

This is vital when you’re trying to set your goals, and more importantly – achieve them! It allows you to keep track of what should be achieved and by when. It’s not only a source of motivation, but also a practical way to ensure everything is getting done.

Be realistic

As much as dreaming big is sometimes beneficial for motivational purposes, it is still essential to stay realistic in your ambitions. Think about what you want to do, and how to execute it in a way that is realistically possible. After you’ve laid the groundwork, you can start increasing your targets and forming more ambitious aspirations.

Stay focused

A key factor in succeeding is to simply not lose focus. Keep on track as much as possible, and don’t let outside factors take away your concentration from the target at hand. You should channel your energy and attention into your goal. It is very easy to lose track and attempt to do too many things at once.

Stay committed

Reaching your goals can sometimes be a very long and difficult process, and giving up may begin to feel like an option. Staying as driven and committed as possible is essential to working through any difficulties you might face. Believe in your ideas and abilities, to make it become a reality.

Want to find out more about Jack? Visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for regular news updates!

Pro Motivate stands as a leading international bureau specializing in motivational speakers, catering to the diverse needs of numerous organisations across the globe. With a robust network of motivational speakers, we facilitate positive transformations within workplaces, fostering environments conducive to enhanced employee engagement, leadership development, entrepreneurial spirit, and corporate learning initiatives, among other vital aspects. Our extensive reach and meticulous speaker selection process ensure that we match each organisation’s unique requirements with the most suitable motivational speaker, thereby maximising the impact of their message.

At Pro Motivate, we understand the pivotal role that motivational speakers play in driving meaningful change within organisations. Whether it’s reigniting enthusiasm among teams, imparting valuable leadership insights, igniting entrepreneurial passion, or nurturing a culture of continuous learning, our motivational speakers are adept at inspiring and empowering audiences across various sectors and industries. We believe that fostering a culture of positivity, resilience, and growth mindset is essential for navigating today’s dynamic business landscape successfully.

Our commitment to excellence extends beyond merely providing motivational speakers; we strive to forge long-term partnerships with our clients, serving as trusted advisors in their quest for organisational improvement and success. By leveraging our expertise and extensive industry knowledge, we guide organisations in identifying the most effective motivational speakers to address their specific challenges and goals, thus ensuring a tailored and impactful experience for all involved.

As the demand for motivational speakers continues to evolve, Pro Motivate remains at the forefront of innovation, constantly scouting for new talent and emerging trends to meet the ever-changing needs of our clients. With our unwavering dedication to quality, professionalism, and client satisfaction, we are proud to be the go-to destination for organisations seeking to harness the power of motivational speakers to drive positive change and achieve their business objectives.

Twitter post:

Reaching your #goals can feel like a long and difficult process. Check out @JackParsons_CEO ‘s top tips on how to become a success even if the odds are stacked against you! [link] #MondayMotivation #ProMotivate

Facebook post:

Reaching your goals can feel like a long and difficult process. Young entrepreneur and media influencer Jack Parsons is no stranger to facing struggles and coming out the other side. Check out our #MondayMotivation blog, where he shares his top tips on how to reach your goals! #ProMotivate

Posted on

How to Succeed as an Entrepreneur

business idea
EmilyMoya JackParsons 03 1 1 150x150 - How to Succeed as an Entrepreneur
In the digital age of 2018, an increasing number of people are taking to entrepreneurship instead of seeking roles in existing companies. Entrepreneurs need leadership qualities and plenty of ambition to help them succeed and stay motivated when running their own business. Jack Parsons, an inspiring young entrepreneur, and media influencer who runs an organisation dedicated to helping fellow budding business owners shares his secrets to his success at such a young age.

Fresh perspective

Any new business needs a fresh idea; something different that hasn’t been done before. The most creative, fearless, sometimes even crazy ideas are the ones that succeed. Don’t be afraid to dream big and try to look at the world from a fresh perspective.

Be resourceful

It is common for entrepreneurs to start from nothing and work their way up; this often means both financially and in terms of experience. Therefore, resourcefulness is key. The ability to make ends meet even on a tight budget and come up with creative ways to finance your efforts is vital in the early days of your business.

Networking

In order to make your business grow and establish itself on the market, it is important to create good connections with like-minded people. A good network of people can often serve as a helping hand. Don’t feel like you have to do everything on your own; help is there when you need it so don’t be afraid to ask!

Confidence and drive

Arguably the most essential part in succeeding as an entrepreneur is having absolute confidence in yourself and your ideas, and drive to make it all happen of course. If you believe in your business, you will have much more motivation to not only get started, but to keep working through the struggles you might face along the way. pa

Want to find out more about Jack? Visit our website or follow us on Facebook and Twitter for regular news updates!

Pro Motivate, a leading international motivational speaker bureau, partners with numerous organisations globally, offering a wide array of business speakers to drive positive shifts in the workplace. Our extensive network includes influential business speakers adept at fostering employee engagement, nurturing leadership skills, promoting entrepreneurship, and facilitating corporate learning initiatives, among other objectives. With a commitment to excellence, we connect businesses with motivational speakers who inspire meaningful change and facilitate growth. Whether it’s igniting creativity or enhancing productivity, our business speakers bring expertise and insight to empower teams and elevate organisational performance.