Storytelling Keynote Speakers
Browse Storytelling Speakers
Storytelling keynote speakers are experts at telling stories around a narrative, delivering stories to generate connections, intrigue, emotion, interest, empathy, humor and curiosity. GDA is aware of the best and thought-provoking, relational storytelling keynote speakers in the industry. When we tell stories to one another, we can get a sense of what they hope for and what they believe in. No rules, only relationships.
Keynotes: 11 Books: 0 Videos: 9
Sekou Andrews Featured
GRAMMY-Nominated Spoken Word Poet; Award-Winning Entrepreneur; Innovation & Disruption Expert
Sekou delivers powerful poetic presentations that give voice to the missions of organizations and help them tell their most powerful stories. He is the creator of this new, refreshing, speaking category that seamlessly fuses inspirational speaking with spoken word poetry to make messages more moving and memorable.
Keynotes: 4 Books: 3 Videos: 7
Ty Bennett Featured
Entrepreneur, Partnership is the New Leadership
As a young entrepreneur, Ty continues to engage his team's focus to grow sales. In his talks, Ty uses the power of influence and storytelling to provide audiences with tangible techniques that will increase their influence and their impact as leaders and as salespeople.
Keynotes: 6 Books: 1 Videos: 5
Molly Bloom Featured
Inspirational Keynote Speaker, Entrepreneur, and Bestselling Author of Molly's Game (adapted for Oscar nominated film)
Inspirational keynote speaker, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of Molly’s Game (later adapted into an award-winning film of the same name by Aaron Sorkin). Bloom’s memoir chronicles her journey from college student to LA waitress to building and operating the largest and most notorious private poker game in the world.
Keynotes: 2 Books: 3 Videos: 6
Kindra Hall Featured
Wall Street Journal best selling author, Award-Winning Storyteller
Kindra is a fresh voice in the industry and teaches her audiences to capture attention, close more sales and blow up their brands with strategic storytelling. Through research, case studies, and of course unforgettable stories, your group will be talking about Kindra for years.
Keynotes: 1 Books: 0 Videos: 3
Tom Hardin Featured
Corporate Trainer on Behavioral Ethics, Human Risk, Compliance, and Financial Crime
Riveting. Sobering. Entertaining. Through unforgettable storytelling, Tom shares his journey down the slippery slope into criminal activity as a young professional in a highly competitive industry and later key informant in the largest insider trading investigation of a generation. Attendees describe Tom's talk as "an edge of your seat experience."
Keynotes: 4 Books: 0 Videos: 9
Elliot Kotek Featured
CEO & Founder - The Nation of Artists
Elliot is an innovator and content creator who blends technology and empathy to change the world. His 4Ps approach is used to re-center companies in their purpose, and the 50+ honors he's received while working with the planet's biggest names proves that Ideas + Empathy = Impact.
Keynotes: 4 Books: 2 Videos: 11
John Livesay Featured
Helping Sales Leaders Tell Stories to Win Sales; Author of The Sale Is in the Tale
Keynote sales speaker John Livesay, aka “The Pitch Whisperer,” helps sales forces connect with today’s crazy-busy, ultra-savvy buyers by becoming master storytellers with magnetic pitches. Whoever tells the best story gets the sale, and after John speaks, your people will know exactly how to craft irresistible stories.
Keynotes: 4 Books: 1 Videos: 8
Liz Murray Featured
Inspirational Speaker and Bestselling Author, Breaking Night
Formerly homeless, Liz Murray transformed her life of despair into an inspiring journey of determination, hope and hard-won success.
Keynotes: 4 Books: 3 Videos: 5
Ben Nemtin Featured
#1 New York Times Bestselling Author, Organizational Culture Expert, Co-Founder of MTV's The Buried Life
Ben struggled with depression growing up and was forced to drop out of college. Searching for purpose, he created the world’s greatest bucket list with his three childhood friends.
Keynotes: 1 Books: 1 Videos: 7
Marlon Peterson Featured
Transformative & Inspirational
From facing life-in-prison at 19 to preeminent voice in social and criminal justice, Marlon Peterson is captivating. He is one of the few people to recieve a standing ovation from Chris Anderson, owner of TED TALKS.
Keynotes: 4 Books: 0 Videos: 3
Rakia Reynolds Featured
Founder and EO at Skai Blue Media
Raki is one of the most sought-after minds in strategic communications, a thought leader, tastemaker, and branding expert. Her guiding principles as an intriguing storyteller focus on the future of creaticity which gives her the ability to navigate the ever-increasing complex cultural and social media landscapes.
Keynotes: 6 Books: 0 Videos: 4
Shiza Shahid Featured
Co-founder of Our Place, founder of NowVentures, co-founder & founding CEO of Malala Fund, and TIME magazine's 30 people changing the world
Shiza co-founded the Malala Fund with Nobel Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, and led the organization as founding CEO. She focused on creating access to high quality education for all children around the world. Shiza launched NOW Ventures in Silicon Valley, the largest Venture Capital Platform in the world.
Keynotes: 9 Books: 1 Videos: 1
Dr. Rick Stevenson Featured
Filmmaker. Philosopher. Listener.
Rick’s own story is one of diverging experiences and constant change. Yes, he is first a filmmaker, philosopher, author, and listener but he is also a proud imperfectionist and a committed “authentician.” He believes that we own nothing more valuable than our own stories.
Keynotes: 2 Books: 34 Videos: 2
Ross Bernstein, CSP, CPAE, Global Speaker Fellow
Inspirational Business Keynote Speaker & Best-Selling Sports Author
The best-selling author of nearly 50 sports books, Ross Bernstein is a peak-performance business speaker who’s keynoted conferences on ALL SEVEN continents. AND...Ross is just one of three speakers in the world to hold the CPAE (Speaker Hall of Fame), CSP, and the Global Speaking Fellow Designation.
Keynotes: 2 Books: 0 Videos: 2
Gail Davis
Founder & President of GDA Speakers
Gail Davis’ decades of experience in corporate marketing and event management served as the launch pad for her women-owned speakers bureau, GDA Speakers. As Nando Parrado's long-time friend and agent, she shares her unique perspective on not only his survival story but her own entrepreneurship journey as well.
Keynotes: 4 Books: 3 Videos: 5
Ophira Eisenberg
Canadian Comedian, Writer, and Actress
Ophira Eisenberg is a Canadian-born standup comedian and writer. She hosts NPR’s nationally syndicated comedy trivia show Ask Me Another where she interviews, jokes, and plays silly games with celebrities.
Keynotes: 5 Books: 0 Videos: 4
Chris Grimes
Facilitator, Motivational Comedian, Speaker & Coach
Keynotes: 3 Books: 1 Videos: 2
Peter Guber
Chairman and CEO of Mandalay Entertainment
Founder and CEO of Mandalay Entertainment, the visionary multimedia venture spanning movies, TV, sports, and new media, Peter Guber is among the most successful executives and entrepreneurs in the entertainment and communications industries.
Keynotes: 10 Books: 0 Videos: 21
Michaela Guzy
Award Winning Filmmaker, Travel and Human Connection Expert, Recovering Corp Exec, NYU Adjunct Professor, TV Personality
Michaela Guzy, award-winning filmmaker, entrepreneur, sustainable travel expert, left Corporate America in 2012 to reshape narratives via new media. She champions human connections, pivoting through crises, and currently hosts "Sleeping Around Safely," her third viral series, showcasing life as a jet-setting gypsy living in hotels post-pandemic.
Keynotes: 1 Books: 2 Videos: 5
Sandra Joseph
Broadway Legend (longest-running Christine in Phantom of the Opera), Author, Speaker, Entertainer
Sandra Joseph is a history-making Broadway star, a bestselling author, and a TEDx and keynote speaker-singer. Her legendary run as Christine Daaé in The Phantom of the Opera spanned more than 1,500 performances. It earned her the record as the longest-running leading lady in the longest-running Broadway show of all time.
Keynotes: 3 Books: 1 Videos: 11
Victoria Labalme
Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author, Hall of Fame Speaker & Performance Strategist
These days we're faced with an ever-evolving landscape. To succeed it’s essential to learn how to adapt to change, develop resilience, express oneself authentically, and collaborate, innovate and take action. Performance Strategist, Victoria Labalme, will show your teams how to come alive and win over the people they serve.
Keynotes: 5 Books: 13 Videos: 8
Patrick Lencioni
Leading Expert on Organizational Health and Executive Team Development
Pre-eminent expert on teamwork and organizational health His book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, has appeared weekly on the Wall Street Journal bestseller list for well over a decade Has consulted to executives teams at leading Fortune 100 companies
Keynotes: 3 Books: 0 Videos: 6
Bob Losure
Former Anchor - CNN Headline News, Emcee and Host, Cancer Survivor
Bob Losure is a CNN Headline News anchor and author of Five Seconds to Air: Broadcast Journalism Behind The Scenes. Losure shares his life story with great fun and panache as he chronicles his Oklahoma roots.
Keynotes: 7 Books: 2 Videos: 3
Matthew Luhn
Creativity Expert; Director; Former Lead Storyteller and Animator at Pixar Studios
Matthew is an accomplished storyteller, instructor, and story consultant, with over 20 years’ experience creating stories and characters at Pixar Animation Studios. Matthew teaches Fortune 500 companies, entrepreneurs, and other professionals how to tell stories that bridge the gap between business and heart to build stronger brands and business communication.
Keynotes: 1 Books: 1 Videos: 3
Randy Mayeux
Co-founder, First Friday Book Synopsis and Accomplished Keynote Speaker
Randy Mayeux is an accomplished speaker who specializes in conducting Executive Book Briefings and training on presentation skills. He is an Instructor in the Business Leadership Center in the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University, where he has received the Teaching Excellence Award multiple times.
Keynotes: 3 Books: 1 Videos: 4
Riaz Meghji
Human Connection Expert | Author of 'Every Conversation Counts'
“Quiet Quitting” and “Rage Applying” are common terms for a familiar problem: a lack of meaningful human connection.
Drawing from years of experience interviewing countless leaders, human connection expert and author Riaz Meghji helps audiences build meaningful connections and trust, so they can collaborate effectively and out-care their competition.
Keynotes: 6 Books: 1 Videos: 1
Kendal Netmaker
Award-Winning Indigenous Entrepreneur, Author & Keynote Speaker
Kendal Netmaker is an Indigenous award-winning entrepreneur, author, and gifted keynote speaker who is on a mission to empower and motivate people worldwide by sharing his story that regardless of where you come from and what challenges you face, you have the power to enact change.
Keynotes: 6 Books: 0 Videos: 7
David Polinchock
Accomplished Innovator in Media, Technology and Experience
David has been involved in a wide range of experiential advertising programs, the introduction of virtual reality as a marketing tool and city festivals. He was even a Disney performer. He brings all of those experiences to his speaking engagements, which allow him bring his presentations to life.
Keynotes: 1 Books: 2 Videos: 5
Sandra Joseph & Ron Bohmer
Broadway Royalty Husband-Wife Broadway Stars Duo; The Phantom & Christine
Sandra Joseph and Ron Bohmer have been called “Broadway royalty” and “a real-life fairytale romance.” Through keynotes, concerts, and fireside chats, these two “showstoppers” invite you to peek behind the curtain as they share moving, inspiring, and often hilarious stories AND SONGS from their celebrated careers and lives.
Keynotes: 4 Books: 1 Videos: 2
Janine Shepherd
A Broken Body isn't A Broken Person
Deepak Chopra calls Janine a Change Agent. Maria Shriver calls her an "Architect of Change." Her spellbinding, inspirational keynote blends the talent of a consummate storyteller with a message of resilience, defiance, acceptance and human potential.
Keynotes: 1 Books: 2 Videos: 3
Jade Simmons
Classical Music's "No. 1 Maverick"
How do you get to be named Classical Music's "No.1 Maverick" ? By repeatedly defying
expectations, delivering riveting performances and combining passion and innovation at
every turn. Called a "musical force of nature", Jade Simmons is easily one of the most
exciting and versatile artists on the scene today.
Keynotes: 4 Books: 2 Videos: 3
Libby Spears
Educate Liberate Entertain
Libby Spears is the founder of Bravo cc. As a keynote speaker on communication and leadership topics her goal is to educate for future success, liberate you from dead end practices and entertain you because having fun is a great way to learn!
Keynotes: 4 Books: 1 Videos: 2
Deirdre Van Nest
Expert for ‘Mission-Driven” Professionals and Entrepreneurs on How to Make An Impact When You Express Yourself
Deirdre Van Nest is the go-to expert for financial advisors, leaders, and anyone in a client-facing role, on improving communication skills (one-one-one or with a group). She's a Certified World Class Speaking™ Coach, Certified Fearless Living Coach, and bestselling author of “Fire Your Fear™.”
Keynotes: 5 Books: 2 Videos: 3
Kelly Vero
Futurist; Game Developer; an Architect of the Metaverse
Kelly Vero is a futurist, a game developer, and an architect of the metaverse. She is also a bestselling novelist and science fiction writer even publishing children’s books to expand her audience beyond video games.
Topic Index
Browse topics in this category
- 38 Artificial Intelligence
- 19 Big Data
- 58 Branding / Marketing
- 93 Business
- 125 Business Growth / Strategy / Trends
- 41 CEO
- 110 Change Management / Organizational Change
- 77 Communication
- 11 Conflict Resolution
- 69 Corporate Culture & Governance
- 20 Corporate Social Responsibility
- 45 Customer Relations
- 27 Disruption
- 2 Distribution / Supply Chain Management
- 72 Diversity and Inclusion
- 27 Emotional Intelligence
- 90 Employee Engagement
- 93 Entrepreneur
- 18 Ethics / Values
- 62 Futurists / Trends
- 3 Hospitality
- 43 Human Resources / Workforce Issues
- 29 Influence
- 116 Innovation / Creativity
- 18 IT
- 230 Leadership
- 27 Management
- 25 Moderator / Facilitator
- 15 Negotiation
- 15 Networking
- 18 Productivity
- 4 Real Estate
- 4 Risk Management
- 7 Safety
- 71 Sales
- 26 Social Media
- 34 Storytelling
- 21 Stress Management
- 12 Sustainability
- 96 Teamwork / Teambuilding
- 51 Thought Leader
- 6 Trust / Honesty
- 38 Work-life Balance