Free Business Topics in Chicago

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  • Off High Alert: Practical Nervous System Tools for High-Pressure Work Environments

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

    Many capable, high-performing professionals experience stress in their body even when things are going well at work.

    - A tight chest before meetings.
    - A jolt when emails come in.
    - A constant background sense of being “on edge.” MORE >

    This free talk introduces Off High Alert, a practical, body-first approach to understanding and reducing work-related stress that doesn’t rely on mindset shifts, positive thinking, or therapy.

    Participants will learn why the nervous system often stays on high alert in modern work environments and why “just relaxing” rarely works, even for highly competent, prepared professionals.

    This session is especially relevant for people who:

    - Feel physically reactive to emails, meetings, or work interactions before their brain has time to catch up
    - Stay functional and productive while feeling tense or exhausted underneath
    - Don’t want therapy, oversharing, or long emotional processing
    - Want practical tools that can be used during the workday, discreetly and effectively

    During this talk, attendees will:

    - Understand how and why stress shows up physically at work
    - Learn simple, in-the-moment nervous system regulation tools
    - Reframe stress responses without self-blame or pathologizing
    - Leave with a clear, repeatable way to help their body stand down in high-pressure situations

    This is a grounded, practical, work-safe talk designed to meet professionals where they are, without asking them to lower their standards, change who they are, or step away from their careers.

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  • Fail, Pivot, Rise: The Real Story Behind a 7-Figure Comeback

    Amanda Wittenborn, Owner, Amanda Creation Inc.

    What if losing everything was the best thing that ever happened to you?
    After being banned from Etsy and watching her thriving business collapse during COVID, Amanda Wittenborn could’ve quit. Instead, she rebuilt—twice—each time stronger and more aligned than before. MORE >

    In this raw, inspiring keynote, Amanda shares the real behind-the-scenes of losing, pivoting, and rising again to build a multi-million-dollar brand.
    You’ll learn how to:

    Turn failure into fuel for growth

    Recognize the signs it’s time to pivot

    Rebuild your confidence (and your business) when everything crumbles

    Audiences leave fired up, hopeful, and ready to turn any challenge into a comeback story of their own.

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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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  • 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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  • Stories that Connect: Building Empathy Through Personal Narrative

    Leilani Garrett, Principal Storyteller / Founder, Be More Human

    In this 90-minute interactive experience, Leilani guides participants through the process of writing and sharing their personal stories. The result? Deeper trust, increased empathy, and real connection between colleagues who usually only talk in metrics. Ideal for leadership retreats, ERG activations, or culture-building experiences, this workshop makes space for brave reflection and meaningful dialogue—and leaves teams more human than they were before. MORE >

    This is more than a workshop—it’s a reset.
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  • Building Collective Success: Empathy. Storytelling. & Change.

    Leilani Garrett, Principal Storyteller / Founder, Be More Human

    In a time when workplace connection is at an all-time low and culture-building feels more buzzword than blueprint, Leilani offers something different: a keynote that makes people feel—and think. Her signature talk, Building Collective Success: Empathy. Storytelling. & Change, challenges audiences to rethink the way we define leadership, performance, and culture. MORE >

    Through personal narrative, pop culture references, humor, and hard data, Leilani shows how story-driven empathy isn't just a “nice-to-have”—it’s a business imperative. Expect aha moments, audience participation, and a masterclass in communication that sticks long after the standing ovation.
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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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  • Generation Z (Zoomers) in the Workplace

    Mary Erlain, President, Peak Development Strategies

    The workplace has undergone a profound transformation in recent years, driven by two seismic shifts: the pandemic and the generational turnover in the workforce. MORE >

    Time has seemed to fly by, bringing with it a wave of change that many of us barely registered. A new generation has quietly entered the workplace, but have we truly acknowledged their arrival?

    For many, the answer is no—and for a good reason. Gen Z stepped into their professional roles during a time of unprecedented disruption. Remote work and virtual meetings on platforms like Zoom replaced traditional onboarding experiences, making their entry less noticeable but no less impactful.

    Their influence on organizations has been significant, though often misunderstood. This book, The Zoomers: Our Next Generational Wave in the Workplace, aims to change that. It offers an insightful and constructive perspective on Gen Z, challenging stereotypes and providing a deeper understanding of their values, behaviors, and expectations.

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  • Empowering the Multi-Generational Workforce

    Mary Erlain, President, Peak Development Strategies

    Much has changed since 2020, and our workforce has undergone a dramatic shift. One entire generation has retired, while another has entered in greater numbers, reshaping the dynamics of our workplaces. MORE >

    We work in a diverse environment where embracing differences can drive business growth—if organizations empower their workforce to leverage their unique gifts and values. The real challenge lies in finding effective ways to do just that: fostering inclusion and enabling employees to thrive.

    Explore strategies to bridge generational gaps among staff and recognize how, often unintentionally, we might be contributing to the problem rather than being part of the solution.

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  • Navigating Disruptive Change: Communicating you Care in the Moments that Matter

    Linda Carlisle, Founder, Fractional Comms & Culture Advisor, COMM-ext, LLC

    Navigating change is a high risk in the best of times. In a world where 2/3 of the American Workforce is Disengaged, disruptive organizational change can be catastrophic. But what if there were a way to navigate change while simultaneously re-engaging and re-energizing your people and building a high-performing culture? The secret to navigating disruptive change while building the high-performance culture of tomorrow is effectively communicating that you care in the moments that matter. MORE >

    In this talk, we will explore the many people-related risks that organizations face when navigating the inevitable change they will face in today's fast-paced business environment and a handful of earnest, high-integrity communication techniques that will help your people navigate change while maintaining high psychological safety and rebuilding their engagement, alignment, and excitement about your company and their work.
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