Free Business Topics in Chicago
It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3: Browse for a topic, Click the orange request button, Fill out the contact form.
Now the speaker will contact you in the next few days to coordinate details.
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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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Unlocking Your Superpower: The Secrets of a 7-Figure Entrepreneur
Amanda Wittenborn, Owner, Amanda Creation Inc.
Step into a transformative workshop led by 7-figure entrepreneur Amanda Wittenborn, designed to help you uncover the hidden strengths that make you and your business truly exceptional. Through a series of interactive exercises, you’ll gain deep insights into why your customers choose you over the competition and discover the unique superpowers you bring to the table. MORE >
This immersive experience isn’t just about learning—it’s about shifting your mindset and recognizing the thousands of little things you do every day that add up to greatness. By the end of the day, you’ll leave feeling uplifted, successful, and ready to take your business to new heights, armed with the confidence and clarity that comes from understanding just how amazing you truly are. -
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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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 -
Is Your Business A “Digital Disaster”
Jody Jankovsky, Founder and Managing Member, Black|Line Consulting
Black|Line's "Digital Disaster" presentation explains how many businesses are failing to create and maintain some of their most valuable assets, their digital ones. Mr. Jankovsky explores what "Digital Assets" are, why they are important to a business/organization and how to avoid becoming a "Digital Disaster". The presentation can be made to fit a 30-60 minute format and can be tailored for your organization or business. MORE >
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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. -
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 -
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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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 TacticsActionable 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 -
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.