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.

SORT: MOST RECENT | A - Z

  • The 60-minute Strategic Plan

    Matt Kinnich, CEO, Roland, Ruth & Mitchell

    Technically, there is no such thing as a 60-minute strategic plan, but this session will provide the foundation, framework and next steps of building out your personal, team or organization’s strategies and plan. Participants will engage in the following: MORE >

    • Overview of Strategic Framework
    • What are your goals?
    • What is your purpose?
    • What does your environment look like?
    • What are my options?
    • What options are best?
    • Individual/Group questions
    • What actions am I willing to do next?
    Request This Free Speech

  • “Establishing Your Professional Persona: 5 Steps to Crafting a Compelling Brand Identity”

    Tammy Cook, Productivity Coach, Tammy Cook Coaching

    Are you a small business owner trying to build your following and your list?
    Are you ready to create a clear, compelling voice for your business, that magnetically draws ideal prospects to you? MORE >

    If you are struggling to find followers and build your presence, no matter the amount of marketing and outreach you do, it could simply be because this key foundational piece is missing.

    This foundational piece is most often skipped over when beginning a business - crafting a compelling brand identity that connects with your target audience. Once you get this step right, you will be positioned as the go-to expert in your niche, and you will attract ideal clients with much less effort.

    Request This Free Speech

  • Millennials Are Uniquely Designed for Innovation. Now If I Could Just Understand Them!

    Pamela Bozeman-Evans, Founder & Senior Consultant, ProPlanProject

    Our 21st century problems are very complex and require our best and brightest to solve them. Millennials are uniquely prepared for the challenge. Their parents have positioned them for success and they will boldly transform our world. MORE >

    While this should be exciting news for the corporate and nonprofit community, today's multi-generational workplace struggles to find the sweet spot between Gen X experience and Gen Y exploration. Pamela Bozeman-Evans describes the myths and realities of multi-generational workplaces, and offers best management practices for the "new norm".
    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

  • Connecting People and Purpose: Rethinking Employee Engagement in Mission-Driven Organizations

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

    In this interactive talk, we’ll explore the often-overlooked aspect of nonprofit leadership: the importance of putting people first to achieve mission success. You’ll learn why aligning organizational goals with the personal and professional growth of your employees is not only beneficial but essential for long-term sustainability. We’ll challenge the traditional narrative that places the burden of engagement solely on employees, shifting the focus to leadership's role in fostering a culture where both the organization and its people can thrive. MORE >

    Key Takeaways:
    - Understanding "Developmental Reciprocity": Discover how investing in your people creates a legacy of growth that extends beyond your organization.
    - Illustrating the BridgeWork Framework: Explore a proven approach to optimizing employee experience and driving organizational success through the phases of joining, learning, growing, and leaving.
    - Practical Insights: Engage with seven critical questions designed to help you evaluate and enhance your current workforce development strategies.
    - Actionable Steps: Learn how to balance your mission-driven goals with the needs of your employees, creating a more engaged, productive, and loyal workforce.

    Whether you’re a nonprofit leader, HR professional, or team manager, this talk will provide you with the tools and insights needed to build a thriving, purpose-driven workplace. Join us to rethink how we can better connect people and purpose in the nonprofit sector.

    Request This Free Speech

  • Five Marketing Principles Every Business Must Get Right to Maximize Results

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

    Have you ever heard someone say this about their marketing: “We tried that and it didn’t work?” or, "We are not seeing the marketing results we expected." They are probably missing one or more of these principals. And it is costing time and money. Attend this presentation to see how these five key principals will help you: MORE >

    - Avoid the marketing “shiny key” syndrome
    - Prevent the "winging it" trap
    - Visualize marketing as a journey
    - Make better informed marketing decisions
    - Validate results
    - Understand what customers really care about
    Request This Free Speech

  • Millenial Onboarding

    Bette Lawrence-Water, Founder and Principal Consultant, Spectrum Strategic Solutions

    Onboarding new employees is a secure investment that will assist newly hired employees in developing their skills, knowledge, and value within the company. It will help match the technically skilled Millennial workforce with new and emerging needs of your company, which gives your company an advantage within the market. MORE >

    Millennial Onboarding is a specialized type of employee onboarding. With Millennials we are seeing a need to tweak the onboarding process to better suit the needs of the company and new hires. It will increase productivity and produce a happier and more skilled workforce. The new hire phase is a critical time for the employee and company and having a structured set of procedures will make this time run smoother and produce a greater chance of success.

    Presentation Objectives:
    • Define onboarding
    • Discuss the characteristics of Millennials
    • Create an onboarding process for Millennials
    • Start action plans for working with Millennials
    • Learn from introspection

    Request This Free Speech

  • Preliminary Blocking and Tackling to Start a Debt or Equity Capital Raise

    Barrett Willich, CFO, Bear & Kenmore LLC

    In this presentation, we will do a quick introduction to things to think about and how to start preparing when you are ready to raise debt or equity capital. After this presentation, you will have a better idea of advisors to connect with as well as tasks your internal team can start preparing. We will also walk you through the key milestones of a process. MORE >

    Request This Free Speech

  • Empowering the Multi-Generational Workforce

    Mary Erlain, President, Peak Development Strategies

    Much has changed since 2020. Our generations have changed dramatically. One entire generation has retired, and another one has joined in more significant numbers. MORE >

    We work in a diverse workplace. Diversity can drive business growth if you empower your workforce to use their own unique gifts and values. The challenges organizations struggle with are finding ways to do just that, empowering their staff. Learn ways to help bridge the differences between staff members of different generations. Understand how we can be (without intention) enabling the problem instead of being part of the solution.
    Request This Free Speech

  • Leading with Emotional Intelligence

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

    If you have made the critical decision to take on the role of a leader, and you want to be great at it – it requires an in-depth look at yourself and a practice of self-awareness on all levels, personally and professionally. This is the starting point of emotional intelligence. While the definition might seem simple, Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is understanding and managing yourself and also understanding and managing others, the application of emotional intelligence continues to be a challenge. MORE >

    Join me as we learn why EQ is critical to your success and take away the tools that will teach you that leading from the heart might just be the best thing you can do!
    Request This Free Speech