Free Business Topics in Chicago

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

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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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  The Attraction Principle: How to Shift from Working to Get Clients to Attracting Them Effortlessly

  Tom Kelly, Business Coach, Potential In Motion

  If you are looking to dramatically increase your sales, make more money with less effort, and build a sales system that produces predictable results, then this presentation is for you! In this presentation, Master Certified Business Coach Tom Kelly covers the 5 shifts that you need to make in how you approach your business so that you can attract what you want, as opposed to chasing it. MORE >

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  Emotional Intelligence for Leadership Success

  Ron Martin, Principal, Founder, Executive Coach, Ocean Park Strategic Advisors

  In today's dynamic and fast-paced business environment, effective leadership is not just about making strategic decisions or achieving bottom-line results—it's also about understanding and effectively managing the emotions of oneself and others. As a seasoned speaker and expert in emotional intelligence for leadership success, I provide invaluable insights and practical strategies to help leaders excel in their roles. MORE >

  The role of organizational culture cannot be understated when it comes to shaping leaders' emotional intelligence skills. By fostering a culture that prioritizes empathy, self-awareness, and psychological safety, organizations can empower leaders to develop stronger emotional intelligence competencies. This includes the ability to understand and regulate their own emotions, as well as effectively navigate the emotions of others.

  By leveraging my expertise in emotional intelligence, interpersonal communications, and culture change, I work with organizations to cultivate environments that support the growth and development of emotionally intelligent leaders. Through tailored interventions and practical guidance, I help leaders enhance their ability to lead with authenticity, empathy, and resilience.

  Ultimately, fostering a culture of emotional intelligence not only benefits individual leaders but also has far-reaching implications for organizational success. Leaders who possess strong emotional intelligence skills are better equipped to inspire trust and collaboration, navigate change and adversity, and foster a positive and inclusive work environment.

  In essence, my approach to emotional intelligence for leadership success is rooted in empowering leaders to harness the power of emotions to drive positive outcomes and foster a culture of excellence. By equipping leaders with the skills and knowledge they need to lead with authenticity and empathy, I help organizations build stronger, more effective leadership teams and achieve sustainable success.

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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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  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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  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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  Building & Motivating High Performing Teams

  Nicole Caley, MBA, APM, ARM, APSC, President & Founder, Payables Solutions Partners, LLC

  In today’s world, the most sought out organizational leaders are part manager and part HR professional. Join veteran leader Nicole Caley in this session to learn skills necessary to elevate you into a true leader, instead of simply a manager. We will discuss how to identify your leadership style and how to develop the interpersonal skills needed to take charge. By learning to examine functional conflict and create strategies, you will not only staff your function effectively, but lead it to its fullest potential as well — building a high-performing team. MORE >

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  Cyber Threat Survival Guide Protecting Your Business from Harm

  Christopher Higgins, Cyber Security Analyst, CCS Technology Group

  In this dynamic and engaging presentation, we will take a deep dive into the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity. Join us as we review the current threat landscape, educate you on common cyber attacks, explore the motivations behind these hacking endeavors, and, most importantly, equip you with practical strategies to protect yourself and your business from the lurking bad actors. MORE >

  With cyber threats becoming more sophisticated by the day, it is crucial to understand the risks you face. Our presentation will shed light on the tactics employed by hackers, helping you decode their methods and motives. We will explore the inner workings of various cyber attacks, from phishing scams to ransomware, all presented in a conversational and approachable manner that even non-technical audiences can grasp.

  Armed with this knowledge, you will learn how to fortify your defenses and mitigate vulnerabilities. We will share key cybersecurity best practices and actionable steps, empowering you to safeguard your digital assets. From implementing strong passwords and multi-factor authentication to educating your employees about social engineering techniques, we will cover it all.

  Join us for this eye-opening presentation and take the first step towards building a resilient cybersecurity posture. Don't wait for the bad actors to strike - together, we can overcome the cyber threats that loom in the digital realm.

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  US – China Trade War

  Bill Liu, President, NaviAsia Advisors

  US President Donald Trump has complained about China's trading practices since before he took office in 2016. The US launched an investigation into Chinese trade policies in 2017. It imposed tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Chinese products last year, and Beijing retaliated in kind. MORE >

  The trade war between the two largest economies shows no sign of easing. What's next? Who will blink first? This presentation will guide you through the trade war and lead you to rethink the future of US-China relationship.

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  Connecting People and Purpose: Rethinking Employee Engagement

  Anthony Bolden and Charles Cammack, Co-founders, BridgeWork LLC

  What if employee engagement isn’t about perks or productivity but about authentic investment? In this interactive session, we walk through the BridgeWork Framework to explore how people-centered workplaces are built when employees feel seen, supported, and connected to purpose. Participants will reflect on what they carry into the workplace, both personally and professionally, and how that shapes their contributions. Together, we’ll examine what it means to invest in work at a shallow or deep level and offer practical tools for building cultures where people thrive. Whether you’re leading a team or just finding your footing, this talk offers a fresh path forward that connects who we are with how we work. MORE >

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