Free Speakers Chicago is a pro bono speakers bureau. Every presentation on this page is free to book, with no fees, no honorarium and no mileage. Browse the topics below and request a guest speaker for your next meeting, workshop or community event.
The democratic party has seen a rise in candidates who declare themselves to be "democratic socialists". What does that label reallty mean? And what can we expect from those candidates? This presentation explains what labels such as "democratic socialist" and "social democracy" really mean, why these candidates are rising withing the democratic party, and what their rise means for the
A culture by chance is the welcome mat which invites variation into a business, hurting performance and results. On the other hand, a culture guided by choice helps prevent variation that hurt results. Get insights on how to make sure your organization’s culture enhances your value proposition and the customer experience instead of eroding them. Including a close look at
Personal Branding is identifying your assets, characteristics, strengths, and skills as an individual. Understanding Personal Branding will provide advantages in your participant’s personal and professional lives. Branding is a mix of how you present yourself and how others see you. It is important to be aware of how you are viewed. During this lively and enlightening personal branding discussion, participants
Why Settle For Less, When You Can Be The Best? Many people settle for far less than they can have or achieve. Complacency becomes their biggest enemy, as disappointment becomes the norm. Knowledge is not power, APPLIED knowledge is power, and learning this application, can change the life out come. Financial advisor, author and inspirational speaker, Robb Hill has for
“Technical skills get you in the room. Emotional intelligence determines what happens once you're there.” Most leadership talks tell executives to manage emotion. Yours can make a much more provocative argument: Emotion isn't interference with leadership. Emotion is information—and energy. The question is whether you suppress it, get run by it, or learn to use it. Your Emotional Leadership framework
What if the greatest danger isn't failing at the life you want—but becoming successful at a life you never truly wanted? This talk begins at the end: imagining ourselves looking backward and asking what we regret not saying, risking, loving, becoming, or pursuing. From there, we explore the hidden bargain so many of us make—trading authenticity for approval, possibility for
Right-wing populism is rising in many western nations, but here in the US it is beginning to actually threaten our democracy. This presentation points out why this is happening uniquely here in the US: Because the country is becoming a true multi-racial democracy, a transformation that no other country is undergoing. And the US constitution actually empowers the minority that
In today's fast-paced world, stress and anxiety have become all too common, affecting entrepreneurs, leaders, and individuals from all walks of life. As a seasoned speaker and expert in stress management and anxiety reduction, I provide practical strategies and actionable insights to help individuals reclaim control over their mental well-being and unlock their full potential. My approach is rooted in
Having the technical skills and knowledge to successfully execute your job duties is only one part of being the best you can be in the workplace. In addition to these “hard” skills, we also need “soft” skills. Soft skills are those skills which allow us to effectively work with others. No matter what your position, organization, or industry, you work
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
In this powerful keynote, Jason explores the reality of mental illness including, anxiety, depression and suicide while offering practical strategies for managing mental health. Deeply personal, honest and insightful, Jason shares his story of overcoming years of childhood trauma that led to decades of struggles with depression, anxiety and eventually teetering on the edge of suicide. Equal parts personal and
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. The role
In his book, Questions That Matter, Roger Breisch writes, “Putting aside deceitful questions—whose cadence and tone imply an answer—all questions matter. Sentences that end with the ubiquitous squiggle atop a period open the future to new possibilities. Sentences ending with just a period condemn the future to limitation and constraint. Answers have a way of ending discovery and learning; captivating
What if the conditions for success revolve around the tree of employee engagement, but engagement that 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
Selling your home now or in the future. When you’re ready to put you house on the market will you know where to start? Do you think the Realtor will do everything for you? Does the thought of getting your home ready for the buyer’s critical eye scare you? Are you willing to take a price reduction rather than investing
Dr. Funmi Apantaku Onayemi inspires women to overcome the fear of breast cancer based on her three decades of leadership in the field as a researcher, community networks’ operative and survivor. She demystifies the beliefs and misconceptions that have fueled paralyzing fear about the disease – paralyzing fear that has caused alarming rates of avoidable deaths. She shares encouraging news
Break free of the old leadership model and become a visionary servant leader. Inspire your team to perform at a level they never dreamed possible with the ultimate KPI (key performance indicator).
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. Through personal narrative, pop culture references, humor, and hard
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. The trade war between the two largest economies shows no sign of easing. What's
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. With
Drawing on thirty year's experience shipping internationally, Lauren will discuss current supply chain challenges and provide strategies to navigate today's uncertain and competitive marketplace. Plan for success by increasing your company's flexibility while driving down transportation costs and risk. In this session, Lauren will cover specific strategies to capitalize on today's market opportunities by: - Reducing supply chain risk -
This presentation is for individuals, teams and/or organizations that want to explore careers with a social impact. The presentation is a combination of Matt’s social impact journey and an interactive workshop for participants. Participants will engage in the following: • 1-2 things you hope to get out of today’s presentation • Matt’s social impact career journey • What are you
We live in a world now where the responsibility for a lifetime of financial well-being rests solely in our own hands. The increasing complexity of the financial choices and decisions we face have exposed a dismal reality: most folks do not have an adequate understanding of the financial principals, behaviors and attitudes that will foster financial well-being. In this interactive
Over the past 35 years, the 401(k)/403(b) have replaced the traditional pension plans as the main source of retirement income for the populace. Unfortunately, due to the greed of Wall Street, Insurance Companies, Mutual Fund Purveyors and Investment Advisors; the paycheck by paycheck contributions made by the workers have been "Eaten Up" by excessive fees. For example, you have your
Many who suffer work related injuries have no idea what their rights are. Even worse, because of their vulnerability, they rely on the assistance of insurance adjusters - the very people whose job it is to deny or limit their benefits. There are many risks with this approach that could be detrimental to the injured party's claim. The lecture will
In this busy complicated world with so much going on it’s easy to feel pulled by guilt and obligation and find there’s no time to take care of you. When you're the go to person it's easy to secretly resent others not being there for you. Even though you've pride in being able to do it all, it starts to
Cherise Nicole speaks from a chapter in her book, "You Can Soar" on Vision! Vision is the faculty or state of being able to see. Cherise encourages participants to get a vision for their future. Without vision you can't see where you're going. When you receive a vision and idea, or a dream, it's BIGGER than you! It's for the
Are you not getting the financial insights you feel you need to run your business efficiently? It could be because you are working with a bookkeeper, controller, or accountant, and not a CFO. A CFO looks at the business implications of financial decisions and makes recommendations on how to become more profitable. Bookkeepers, controllers, and accountants help keep the accounting
I am a recovering runner—not in the athletic sense, but in the race of life. For years, I ran toward success, love, and new opportunities while also running from my past, my fears, and even myself. I chased achievements in real estate, trucking, Insurance, and supply chain distribution, but true fulfillment only came when I stopped running and embraced my
Most leadership teams treat culture as something to articulate rather than something to build. This session breaks down why that distinction matters and what changes when an organization starts treating culture as infrastructure for decision-making instead of a poster on the wall. Attendees leave with a practical framework for locating where their teams actually stall, whether that is unclear priorities,
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