Free Business Topics in Chicago

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  • 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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  • 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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  • 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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  • The Hidden Value Driver: How Business Credit Builds Company Worth

    Mark Knaack, Business Development Director, Guardian Chamber

    Most business owners think of credit only as a way to borrow money, but the truth is, strong business credit is a hidden driver of company value. When banks, investors, and even potential buyers look at your business, they’re not just reviewing your financial statements — they’re evaluating your ability to access and manage capital without leaning on personal guarantees. MORE >

    A business with established credit is seen as more fundable, less risky, and ultimately more valuable. At Guardian Chamber, we show owners how building credit isn’t just about getting loans — it’s about creating leverage, increasing valuation, and giving you more control over your company’s growth and future.
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  • You Never Said Anything: Why High Performers Get Passed Over

    Rosie Zilinskas, Keynote Speaker | Certified High-Performance Coach, No Woman Left Behind

    High-performing women in corporate roles deliver real results every day. And yet, many of them are still not being recognized and rewarded at the level they have earned. MORE >

    It is not because they lack talent. It is not because they lack confidence. It is because of the Articulation Gap: the distance between the impact they create and the impact leadership recognizes and rewards.

    In this keynote, Rosie Zilinskas reveals why strong work alone does not lead to advancement, and what high-performing women can do about it. Drawing from over 30 years of corporate leadership experience, including Executive Vice President at AIG Private Client Group, Rosie delivers a practical, story-driven talk that resonates with women across industries and leadership levels.

    Her structured approach is built on three pillars:
    ~ Clarity: knowing your impact in measurable terms
    ~ Composure: delivering your impact when the pressure is on
    ~ Conviction: directing your impact to the people who make decisions about your career

    What attendees will walk away with:
    ~ A name for the invisible problem that has been stalling their careers
    ~ The ability to translate task language into impact language that leadership responds to
    ~ A clear, repeatable structure for articulating their value in performance reviews, leadership conversations, and interviews
    ~ The knowledge that they were never behind. They simply had not been taught how to say what they do in the language that gets recognized and rewarded

    Ideal for:
    ~ Mid-level to senior women in corporate roles (Director, VP, Senior Manager)
    ~ High-performing women in finance, insurance, and structured performance-driven organizations
    ~ Women's leadership summits and ERG events
    ~ Corporate learning series and leadership development programs
    ~ Association meetings and industry conferences

    Rosie Zilinskas is a keynote speaker, Certified High Performance Coach, and StoryBrand Certified Guide. She is the Incoming President of the NSA Illinois Chapter (July 2026) and host of the No Woman Left Behind podcast.

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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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  • 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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  • Cash Flow is King: Why Profit Doesn’t Always Mean You’re in Control

    Mark Knaack, Business Development Director, Guardian Chamber

    Every business owner has heard the phrase “cash is king,” but too many discover the truth the hard way — when they run out of cash even though their business looks profitable on paper. Profit is an accounting result, but cash flow is what keeps the doors open, employees paid, and opportunities funded. MORE >

    At Guardian Chamber, we teach owners how to take control of their financial story by understanding where their money really goes, building systems to smooth out cash flow, and using credit as a safety net—not a crutch. Because when you have clarity on your cash, you gain both control and the confidence to scale.
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  • Innovating Earned PR in an Evolving Media Environment

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

    Jennifer Fortney, Founder, 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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