Speaking

Authentic Self

Christopher’s favorite story to tell, this speaking engagement is ideal as a commencement address or a conference keynote. It focuses the attendees’ attention on their self-worth, knowing who they are, discovering who they want to be, and inspires them to always strive to become the best version of their true selves. This speech is equally suitable for management and company retreats where you are looking for a motivational speech that empowers team members to express their selves amid efforts to improve the company’s culture.

Regardless of the setting, this speech is a personal and professional development topic that touches on many facets of an individual’s personal and professional identity. Christopher presents a relatable experience drawn from his own life and career that exemplifies the power of perseverance and the truth that challenges are opportunities.

Available as a 45-60 minute plenary speech or as an 18-minute breakout speech, this speech is fully customizable to the audience and event. Q & A is offered and encouraged following either format.

People are primary, Business binds us together, Technology is just a tool

People are at the front, center, and back of our businesses. People are tasked with the jobs that make us money, process our money, and make our money go further. Even in heavily automated warehouses, there is some component of people powering that success. Why are our people resources not always the first thing on our minds when we make business decisions?

Technology is just a tool that should be doing precisely as it is instructed. It is supposed to enable our people to do their jobs better and faster to make room for them to focus on the things technology cannot (or should not) do. Why are businesses often forced to bend to the will of the tool?

What if every business decision we make takes into consideration the impact it will have on our people resources? What if technology is truly an implement and utility that simply powers efficiency, optimization, and growth?

The future of your business starts now! Are you ready to hear why people first, business second, and technology third is right for your business?

This presentation is available as a full keynote or plenary address customizable to the objectives and business of your organization or event. Christopher can also deliver this message in a 20-30 minute focus session or as a 12 minutes power speech that is suitable for any industry or business.

Laying the Foundation for a Culture of Belonging

No company can adopt real and lasting change if it doesn’t start at, come from, and get reinforced by the top. In this business development speech, Christopher seamlessly integrates your company’s story with his own experiences to create a one-of-a-kind power session where each business leader feels personally engaged to make a change. It’s not enough to be included. Your employees, customers, partners, and affiliates deserve to feel they belong and are wanted. Only when every player feels welcomed to the game can they contribute their best.

A part of the “The 5 A’s of Inclusion” program, this is one of two speeches that picks up where the seminar series ends. This speech is targeted at business owners, executive management, department heads, and human resources. It focuses on the inclusion-first initiatives small, medium, and mid-market businesses can adopt to foster meaningful and healthy change in the organization. It is also available to enterprises, including publicly traded companies.

This speech can be presented as part of a “The 5 A’s of Inclusion” engagement with Christopher or can be offered as a standalone speech among other topics from fellow thought leaders presenting at conferences and events. This is typically a 45-60 minute plenary speech that is suitable as an event keynote or can be trimmed to 30 minutes to be used as a conference session.

As the axiom goes: Lead by example! This speech will engender a sense of purpose and set the tone for owners and executive management to understand the example they need to set for their entire company. As such, to preparing for this topic to be presented directly to your company, Christopher requires the owner of private companies or the CEO and Board Chair of public companies to consult directly with him when planning the event. Event organizers considering this topic should consider the audience. Christopher will deliver this message with an expectation the audience will have the power to return to their companies and effect change in policies that will lead to improved business cultures.

Nurturing a Culture of Inclusion Accountability

The second of two speeches from the “The 5 A’s of Inclusion” program, this speech is targeted at an entire company from the Owner or CEO all the way to the front line workers and janitorial staff. Outsourced and temporary resources are also likely good attendees for an event or meeting where this topic will be presented. Once a company’s ownership and leadership have committed to change a company’s culture, there are certain policy and procedure changes that will follow to ensure the company can effect the desired change.

This speech is intended to bring in an outside voice that will energize the workforce and support the company in its commitment to change. Christopher will incorporate real examples of inclusion and non-inclusion from the hosting company or can include anonymous real-world examples to drive home the objective of the company’s initiatives. It is ideal for companies that are:

• larger and diverse but the team doesn’t always feel included or feels that their presence is not valued,
• smaller businesses that may not have enough people to show broad diversity but wants to maximize their ability to be inclusive, and
• any business or organization that wants to have inclusion be “in the DNA.”

This speech is a natural extension of a company’s “The 5 A’s of Inclusion” engagement. It is also a great primary or add-on topic to events hosted by Chambers of Commerce, business alliances, and professional groups. The speech is completely customized to the audience and event where Christopher will be presenting. It can be an intense 15-20 minute breakout session or an impactful and empowering 45-60 minute plenary style speech. For the right group, trying to address specific issues in their organization, this topic is also well suited to a 30-minute presentation at a company or event dinner where Christopher is happy to be rotated through three to four tables of department heads and middle-management to moderate open, safe discussions.

The Potential Slippery Slope of DEI

We’re all different in some way. These differences can be subtle or drastic. It is the drastic differences that tend to divide us. Where there’s division there is often discrimination, exclusion, inequity, and sometimes even oppression and persecution. This is reality not theory.

Human history shows that we are an active experiment in learning to divide and unify. Sometimes it takes generations for positive change while other times it is seemingly overnight that negative changes occur.