Free Business Topics in Chicago

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Now the speaker will contact you in the next few days to coordinate details.

SORT: MOST RECENT | A - Z

  • Thoughtful Data: Ensuring Equity and Avoiding Harm in Analysis and Evaluation

    Lakeshia Wright, Founder and Principal, Guided by Community

    This session explores six critical areas where data framing and evaluation practices may unintentionally marginalize or harm vulnerable populations, particularly those experiencing systemic injustices. Participants will learn actionable strategies to identify and mitigate these challenges at every stage of the data lifecycle—from design to dissemination. By adopting a thoughtful and equity-centered approach, attendees will be empowered to produce more inclusive, impactful, and measurable outcomes in their work. MORE >

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  • 10 Soft Skills Every Leader Needs

    Bette Lawrence-Water, Founder and Principal Consultant, Spectrum Strategic Solutions

    Having the technical skills and knowledge to successfully execute your job duties is only one part of being the best you can be in the workplace. In addition to these “hard” skills, we also need “soft” skills. Soft skills are those skills which allow us to effectively work with others. No matter what your position, organization, or industry, you work with people! Taking the time to build effective soft skills can contribute to a more efficient, more harmonious, and more productive workplace, as well as to your own overall job happiness and satisfaction. MORE >

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  • Is the Culture of Your Business by Choice or Chance? – Culture matters and leaving it to chance invites trouble.

    Mark James, Founder & President, Performance Advisors Group, Inc.

    A culture by chance is the welcome mat which invites variation into a business, hurting performance and results. On the other hand, a culture guided by choice helps prevent variation that hurt results. Get insights on how to make sure your organization’s culture enhances your value proposition and the customer experience instead of eroding them. Including a close look at the specific actions and behavior leaders must contribute to create the right culture. MORE >

    Attendee Takeaways
    -What defines company culture
    -Why culture matters
    -Which culture archetype describes your organization’s culture?
    -Key culture influencers
    -Actions to achieve culture by choice
    -Signs of an ideal culture
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  • Increase Your Cash Flow Fast

    Jean Kuhn, Business Strategist/Consultant, Bounce Solutions Jean Kuhn

    Business owners, retail or service-based, all say the exact same thing. ‘We need more customers so we can earn more money.’ It’s tough out there for business owners in 2021. Jean Kuhn “has the backs” of business owners and delivers the hard facts, the truth and some laughs, on what it takes to become the leader in their industry and a “celebrity” in their business. MORE >

    Jean shares her story of buying 2 bankrupt businesses and turning them around in 12 short months and adding $100,000 to their bottom lines. And she did it with NO customer list and NO marketing budget.

    Jean is the perfect speaker if attendees: Want more customers, Want to make more money, Want to more free time, Want to reduce employee turnover

    Takeaways: You don't need a list or a big budget, Low cost/no cost marketing strategies, Tools to turn employees into lead

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  • The Power of Storytelling to Your Organizations Culture, Growth and Innovation

    Jennifer Fortney, President, Cascade Communications

    The way you tell the story of your business or organization is all that matters to your customer. Today, customers want to be more engaged with the companies in which they do business and organizations' they support. The story is the reason they buy or donate. It is what they will share with friends and family when asked about where they purchased or what causes to do they support. MORE >

    The trick is that not everyone knows how to tell their story well across all platforms. This is where Jennifer comes in to walk you through finding your story and telling it appropriately and consistently for brand building.
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  • The Power of the Pivot: Reinventing Success After Setbacks

    Amanda Wittenborn, Owner, Amanda Creation Inc.

    In this compelling talk, Amanda Wittenborn reveals how she turned multiple business failures into opportunities for reinvention and growth. After losing her business twice — first from being banned on Etsy, and then from the collapse of her party supplies business during COVID - Amanda’s story is a testament to the power of persistence and adaptability. MORE >

    She shares how she turned each setback into a stepping stone, rebuilding her business with even greater success each time. Learn how to embrace change, pivot with purpose, and build a business that not only survives but thrives, no matter what challenges come your way.
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  • Games Prospects and Buyers Play

    Bryan McDonald, Partner/Owner, onPurpose Growth

    Old ways don't open new doors. We hear two things consistently these days: everybody sells or everybody is in sales. Nobody wants be sold. The question we ask ourselves is how do these two things coexist? The traditional way of selling leaves your prospects wanting something different and you, wanting more prospects! In The Games Buyers & Prospects Play session, we will have a roundtable discussion that includes the underlying psychology driving your buyer's and prospect's behavior. MORE >

    We will present how the elite sales professionals and entrepreneurs, across industries, change the rules of the game and thus change the behaviors to improve the outcomes of their sales efforts.

    If you struggle with:

    ✦Having prospects that you thought sounded positive but never respond to follow up
    ✦Prospects that meet with you regularly and never pay for your service aka free advice
    ✦If you have ever said “I wish I just have smarter clients”
    ✦Frankly, if you are just tired of doing the same old tactics that never feel right nor, get you where you want to be, The Games Buyers & Prospects Play may just open the door to new possibilities for you.

    Join us and we will discuss a way to change your results!

    You will walk away with:

    ✦Understanding the commonly accepted selling steps
    ✦Learn about what is driving your prospects/buyers reactions
    ✦Discover the inherent conflict between the 2 above, that stops/slows down your sales
    ✦Be introduced to some key concepts that break the old model

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  • Innovating Earned PR in an Evolving Media Environment

    Jennifer Fortney, President, Cascade Communications

    While the media world continues to shift and change, companies of all sizes are still hungry for the valuable earned media mentions and features that bring an unparalleled credibility. So, what are they to do? Jennifer shares that today, PR is much more than just earned media. It's more than the newspaper story on a plaque on the wall. MORE >

    It's search, reviews, how you use a story to gain even more traction and create content campaigns around it and best utilize the psychology of marketing and story telling to boost sales and donations.
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  • Don’t Jump Out of That Plane | How to Control Your Brain to Make Youself Limitless

    Mike Opyd, President, RE/MAX NEXT

    Everyone has a comfort zone that our brains try to keep us in. This comfort zone is built to help us survive. But what happens when we get outside of our comfort zone? The only way to escape it is to understand why the zone exists and what we can do to battle all of the forces that are trying to keep us in it. MORE >

    Did you know your brain has two functions, one to keep you alive and two to keep you safe? It's the latter that controls you more than anything. But what if you could control it? What would you do if you were able to be limitless? I have spent a lot of time understanding how our brains work and how we can control them. If you want to know how you can take control of your brain please reach out and let's discuss more.

    I'd love an opportunity to come and speak to any audience big or small. If you have any questions please contact me! I look forward to the opportunity to help!

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  • Avoid Business Failure By Enabling 3 Essentials In Your Marketing Strategy

    Troy Sandidge, Keynote Speaker • Emcee • Fractional CMO • Podcaster • Author, Strategy Hackers

    Synopsis: 65% of businesses fail because of three things - complexity, confusion, and chaos. To avoid failure, modern day success requires businesses to relinquish expired “best practices” and embrace modern marketing and sales frameworks while leveraging fundamentals to succeed. MORE >

    Breakdown:
    • The 3 Cs Causing Marketing Strategies to Fail & How to Avoid Them
    • Improve MarketingOps Using the D.A.R.T. Marketing Methodology™
    • 5-Point Customer Success Journey Blueprint for Better Conversions
    • Apply the E.A.S.T. Framework to Operate Marketing Campaigns Efficiently
    • How to Increase Sales Velocity Using the L.E.A.D.S. Generator Blueprint™

    Intentional Themes That Will Be Amplified:
    • Business Growth Strategies
    • Customer Success Journeys
    • MarCom + MarTech Integration
    • Marketing Optimization
    • Sales Velocity Tactics

    Actionable Takeaways:
    • Activate Blueprints to Increase Customer Success & Sales Velocity
    • Apply Strategies to Obtain & Maintain Clarity to Stay in Alignment with Goals
    • Clarity. Refocus. Realignment. Revitalization of Passion & Action

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