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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Think Like a CFO: Financial Strategies Every Business Leader Should Know
Jennifer Witter, Founder and CEO, Witter Enterprise Solutions, LLC
Request This Free SpeechStrong financial leadership is essential for every successful organization, not just those in the finance department. In this presentation, Jennifer Witter shares practical insights from the perspective of a CFO to help leaders better understand financial performance, cash flow management, and strategic decision-making. Participants will learn how to interpret financial information, identify key indicators that impact business health, and make more informed decisions that support growth and stability. MORE >
This talk is designed for executives, entrepreneurs, and managers who want to strengthen their financial awareness and lead their organizations with greater confidence. -
When The Well Runs Dry – Turning Your Sales Up When The Market Is Down
Tom Kelly, Business Coach, Potential In Motion
Request This Free SpeechAre you a real estate agent that has been struggling with your sales since the real estate boom has ended? Are you wondering how you can turn your business around and have just as much, if not more success during a market downturn? If you answered yes to any of these questions, Master Certified Business Coach Tom Kelly will teach you the 5 key shifts that you need to make to turn your sales up when the market is down! MORE >
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Get a Grip on Your Business
John McMahon, President, TractionLeadership, LLC
Request This Free SpeechEven the most successful entrepreneurs occasionally find running a business a challenge. They grapple with lack of control, profit, growth and people who don’t follow through. Hear John’s solutions.
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Civility in the Workplace During Turbulent Times
Bette Lawrence-Water, Founder and Principal Consultant, Spectrum Strategic Solutions
Request This Free SpeechWhile a discussion on workplace manners and courtesy may seem like overkill, the reality is: rudeness is an epidemic costing industry millions a year. Indeed, what society seems to be gaining in terms of both knowledge and technological advancement, it’s losing out on basic social values that directly impact the bottom line. MORE >
This discussion introduces the concept of civility, its importance to an organization, as well as its typical causes and effects. Audience leaves with skills needed to effectively practice civil behavior, as well knowledge of different ways organizations can systematize civility in the workplace. -
Master Networking for your business
Dan Gelfond, Former Steven Spielberg Project Interviewers, Personal History Interviews
Request This Free SpeechJoin Dan Gelfond, a master networker with 28+ years of experience building his business almost entirely through networking. As moderator of the Northbrook Chamber’s “First Friday” networking meeting for the past 25 years (averaging 110 attendees monthly), Dan brings proven, practical strategies you can use immediately.
What you’ll learn:
Clear, actionable do’s — and even more important don’ts — for effective networking
How to craft and perfect a compelling elevator pitch MORE >Practical tips to maximize your ROI from every networking opportunity
Format:
Fun, interactive seminar tailored for companies or organizations with sales staffs.
Hands-on exercises, real-world examples, and time for Q&A.For companies with sales staff in multiple locations, seminar can be conducted via Zoom.
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LinkedIn For Business
Brian Basilico, Author, Speaker, Coach, B2B Interactive Marketing
Request This Free SpeechBrian Basilico was one of the first 1000 people on LinkedIn back in 2004. He specializes in teaching entrepreneurs and corporate sales teams how to navigate and optimize LinkedIn for their business. MORE >
In this presentation... You will learn some of the basics of using LinkedIn to promote and grow your business. More importantly, you will learn some “Whyʼs” and “How Toʼs” that will help you better understand the biz behind the buzz!Sometimes itʼs easier to know what questions to ask, than to try to find answers to questions you donʼt have... but at least you will know what questions to ask?
'Who is on LinkedIn and how can I capitalize on it?ʼ
ʻAre people really making money?ʼ
ʻNone of my customers are using this! Are you sure who is and who is not?ʼ
ʻI canʼt afford to spend more time or money on marketing?'In this fast-moving digital economy - now is the time to market harder and smarter than your competition.
You will learn some actionable techniques (Brian likes to call $100 ideas) that are sustainable, repeatable, and profitable for your business. This presentation will help you get noticed, become memorable and top of mind, and grow your brand and business through tested and proven face-to-face and social networking techniques.
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Insecure, unsafe & slow: 10 ways to improve your WordPress website
Lisa Ghisolf, President & Founder, Gizmo Creative Factory, Inc.
Request This Free SpeechThere are thousands of plugins and tips out there – many free, but how do you narrow them down? I’ve been designing and developing WordPress sites since 2008, and I also work with corporations, nonprofits and bloggers. No matter how popular they are, I still spend a lot of time fixing hacked sites and maintaining and improving them. I’ll share the same tips I use with them to improve your site. We’ll talk social, security, speed, design and more. You’ll leave with an action plan and stronger understanding of your WordPress site.
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The Mindset That Changes Everything: Leading With Clarity, Compassion, and Human Strength
Clara Lucia Jaramillo-Carrier, M.A., PCC, Purpose, Life, Executive Coach and Author, Breaking Through Consulting & Coaching
Request This Free SpeechLeadership today is not failing because of a lack of talent or intelligence—it’s being strained by chronic pressure, fear-driven thinking, and disconnection from what makes us human. In environments that reward speed, certainty, and constant performance, leaders often lose access to their most powerful resource: a grounded, positive mindset that creates clarity, perspective, and empathy. MORE >
This session reframes positive mindset as a leadership discipline—not cheerfulness, denial, or motivational talk, but the ability to choose thoughts, perspectives, and responses that expand capacity rather than contract it. Participants explore how mindset directly shapes leadership presence, relationships, and decision-making—and how reconnecting with purpose and humanity restores effectiveness, trust, and resilience in today’s complex world. -
Own the Interview: Preparation That Reduces Anxiety
Rosie Zilinskas, Keynote Speaker | Certified High-Performance Coach, No Woman Left Behind
Request This Free SpeechInterviews do not have to feel overwhelming. This hands-on session gives you a practical system to prepare for any interview and show up feeling calmer, clearer, and more in control. The session also introduces free AI tools like ChatGPT for ongoing interview practice. No tech experience needed. Whether you are changing careers, preparing for a promotion, or navigating an unexpected job search, you will leave with a clear plan and renewed self-assurance. MORE >
What attendees will walk away with:
~ How to build a Story Vault of accomplishments so you have clear, structured examples ready for any question
~ Confidence-building opening phrases to start strong and command attention
~ Three strategies for responding when you are unsure how to answer a question, so you never freeze or go blank
~ How to create a 90-Day Plan that signals readiness and forward thinking to a hiring manager
~ A simple pre-interview routine to manage nerves and stay grounded on interview day
~ Access to a custom AI interview practice coach for continued preparation after the sessionIdeal for:
~ Job seekers at any career stage
~ Career changers and professionals reentering the workforce
~ Mid-career professionals preparing for internal interviews or promotions
~ Anyone who feels anxious or underprepared walking into interviews
~ Libraries, workforce development programs, community organizations, and corporate learning eventsPresented by Rosie Zilinskas, a Certified High Performance Coach and former Executive Vice President who has sat on both sides of the interview table during 30+ years of corporate leadership at AIG Private Client Group.
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Where’s the Cash?
John Y. Lafferty, Founder, CFO-Pro
Request This Free SpeechHelps business owners understand why profits and cash flow differ and how to manage the business more efficiently using this knowledge.