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.

• 

  Small Business Ownership

  Jennifer Davis, President & Co-Founder, Davisware, Inc.

  Owning your own business can be a challenge. Jennifer, a working mother, shares the fascinating story of her startup with sweat equity and personal growth along the way. Her personal account of what works and what doesn’t, and how to balance it all, is perfect for those in business or with an entrepreneurial spirit. MORE >

  Request This Free Speech
• 

  The Art of Impactful Leadership – 3 Secret Principles to Elite Performance

  Dennis Mellen, Owner, Full Throttle Leadership

  Be the visionary servant leader and inspire innovation and elite performance. Get your team feeling they "get to go to work" instead of "have to go to work"

  Request This Free Speech
• 

  When The Well Runs Dry – Turning Your Sales Up When The Market Is Down

  Tom Kelly, Business Coach, Potential In Motion

  Are 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 >

  Request This Free Speech
• 

  Get a Grip on Your Business

  John McMahon, President, TractionLeadership, LLC

  Even 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.

  Request This Free Speech
• 

  Mastering Modern Resumes with AI

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

  Hiring managers spend 6 to 10 seconds scanning your resume. That is all the time you have to make an impression. This session covers what a modern resume looks like, what has changed in the current marketplace, and how to position your accomplishments around measurable results instead of task descriptions. You will also learn how to use AI to pull strategic keywords from job descriptions and tailor your resume for each role without starting from scratch. MORE >

  What attendees will walk away with:
  ~ A clear understanding of the five essential sections of a modern resume (header, summary, experience, education, skills) and when to include additional sections
  ~ How to write a professional summary that works like an elevator pitch
  ~ How to rewrite experience bullet points using measurable, results-oriented language
  ~ Practical tips for optimizing a resume for Applicant Tracking Systems so it does not get filtered out before a human sees it
  ~ A reusable resume structure and a simple system to keep it current

  Ideal for:
  ~ Job seekers who have not updated their resume in years
  ~ Mid-career professionals preparing for a new role or promotion
  ~ Career changers who need to reposition their experience
  ~ Anyone whose resume lists tasks instead of results
  ~ Libraries, workforce development programs, professional associations, and corporate learning events

  Presented by Rosie Zilinskas, a Certified High Performance Coach and former Executive Vice President with over 30 years of corporate leadership experience, including hiring, talent development, and learning and development at AIG Private Client Group.

  Request This Free Speech
• 

  Business Improvement Einstein’s Way – How Einstein’s Three Rules of Work Can Help a Business Succeed

  Mark James, Founder & President, Performance Advisors Group, Inc.

  Albert Einstein once said, "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." Einstein believed you have to think about things differently and three rules, inspired by his work, provide us with the means do so. No one knows what will happen in the future. But, following these rules can get your business ready for whatever does. Attendees will come away with practical ways to use Einstein’s three rules of work to: MORE >

  - Fix performance barriers
  - Discover opportunities amidst difficulty
  - Make two truths of human behavior your ally

  Request This Free Speech
• 

  You Make the Difference

  Dr. Jeff Van Meter, The Human Leader

  You don't have the team you thought you did? Neither did I for many years until I finally discovered the secret to forming the team I always dreamed of. I'll tell you what you need to do for you to get your dream team too.

  Request This Free Speech
• 

  Own the Interview: Preparation That Reduces Anxiety

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

  Interviews 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 session

  Ideal 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 events

  Presented 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.

  Request This Free Speech
• 

  Six Sigma and Finance Intersections

  Diane Davidson, Finance Transformation Leader, Clever Fox, LLC

  As a practitioner with a Six Sigma Green Belt, I am seeing demand for Six Sigma principles being used in the Finance industry. Six Sigma is typically viewed as a tool only used for Supply Chain, Logistics or Operations. Finance organizations are using Six Sigma principles such as Value Stream Mapping and Kaizen Events to bring standardization and efficiencies to their business processes. MORE >

  Request This Free Speech
• 

  Enriching Your Nonprofit Through Planned Giving

  Robert J. Varak, Law Offices of Robert J. Varak

  Learn how to establish a system whereby your organization can systematically improve its funding via the estate plans of potential donors. Most nonprofits receive periodic and inconsistent donations via this revenue stream, but I will explain how to utilize planned giving programs to improve fundraising across the board, not only via bequests. MORE >

  A small investment of time and resources on behalf of your nonprofit can result in a significant return, as well as improved branding and standing in your field. It's an overlooked aspect of development, and my presentation will draw on my experience advising nonprofits to give you all the tools necessary to leverage this opportunity to the fullest.

  Request This Free Speech