Thanks for visiting my page. My name is Thom Singer and I am a business speaker. I began my career in sales and marketing, but in 2009 I began speaking at association and corporate events across North America. I feel very blessed that I have had this opportunity.
Early in my sales career I remember watching speakers at conferences and thinking “they have a cool job”. It was my dream to be able to present at major events and impact how people strive for success in their careers. Having now presented to over 850 audiences, I am excited to share my messages of engagement and potential with people in a variety of industries.
Speakers Set The Tone For The Event
Business speakers are not a commodity. There are many different types of people who are presenting to audiences all over the world. No two groups are the same and the smartest meeting planners look for a unique fit for their conference. Each group hosting an event has different desired outcomes, budgets, tastes, etc…
The leadership team needs to be clear on what they are seeking in a business speaker. Picking the wrong speaker will have a negative impact on the vibe of the meeting. Speakers set the tone for the whole event.
Great presentations are not about celebrity speakers. The best business keynote speakers are more than New York Times bestselling authors. The background of the best business speakers are varied. Finding the right topic and style of speaker is the key.
Leadership speakers are brought into the organization by company leaders with the hope they will spark more employee engagement. Thought leaders who share business stories and customer service ideas can change the culture of the team.
The Top Business Speakers for 2020
While I hope you will hire me to speak at your next event, I am aware that I am not going to be the right fit for every group. I am a fit for companies and associations who want more than a human resources topic. I speak about how to get people more engaged in your community and point out ways to get across the gap from potential to performance. While the ideal messages for some, it is not what every meeting is seeking.
That said, I love to recommend other speakers. Helping organizations find great speakers is important to me. I encourage meeting planners to call me and brainstorm ideas, even if they are not going to hire me. The conversations I have with those who are really looking to find the right fit are exciting.
Here are just a few award winning business speakers I recommended. I have more extensive lists on my posts about Professional Speakers and Leadership Keynote Speakers.
How To Hire A Great Business Speaker
When looking to hire a business speaker, my recommendation is to create a short list of about three or four speakers. Interview them. Watch video. Do you want a breakout session in addition to the keynote? Ask them for what you want beyond the presentation up front (some planners want speakers to stay for the day they speak, participate in happy hour, etc…). Will they talk about your event on social media before, during, and after the event (does this matter to you?). The best speakers want to be a partner in making your event the best conference ever. There is more to a great business speaker than their 50 minutes on stage.
If you are still seeking for an idea for the right speaker ask the speaker you had last year. Speakers now other speakers, and will only refer those they know are really good on stage. If they know you audience, they will have an insight that you may not get elsewhere. The best business speakers want to help connect you to other great business speakers.
And don’t forget about speakers bureaus. The best speakers bureaus want to help you vet great speaker options. There is no cost to you, as they take a cut from the business speaker’s fee.
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Thom Singer is a keynote speaker and professional master of ceremonies / emcee. He is the host of a popular podcast and is the author of 12 books.