Keynotes – Breakouts – Workshops – Virtual
When you book Ken Okel, you experience a customized presentation. You get someone who will provide actionable takeaways, raise the energy of an event, make the sponsors feel good, and celebrate audience members.
Below are some of his most popular Keynote topics, which can also be delivered virtually.
Accept The Dare: Embracing Today’s Challenges
Remember, as kids, when you could turn down a dare? Today, new workplace challenges may offer you no choice. You have to respond and you need to be at the top of your game.
Busy leaders often find themselves defined by how they perform under pressure. In this keynote session, you’ll change the way you approach challenges, inspire your team, and create a path out of uncertainty.
You Will Learn:
- How top performers maximize their performance on the job.
- The question smart news reporters ask and how it can build your employee culture.
- The role communication plays with your team and your customers.
- What you should be celebrating during challenging times.
- What a ballerina knows about trust that can transform you and your organization.
This session also includes Ken’s signature piece, The Police Dog Attack Story.
Get Better! Smart Business Advice From Unexpected Mentors
This talk is based on Ken’s new book, which provides you with engaging and actionable business lessons. They come from everyday people who, on their own, have discovered smart solutions to common workplace challenges.
This customized session can also include 50 free copies of the Get Better! book and be coordinated with a book signing at your event.
You Will Learn:
- How Katie the Custodian goes beyond her job description.
- What Gina the Ballerina knows about playing big, even when you’re in a supporting role.
- How the tough love shown by 20 Pushups Pat helps people embrace higher standards.
- The hard truth that Watch Yourself Willie teaches seasoned TV News Anchors.
- The sacrifices Amanda the Author made to publish her first novel.
This presentation includes the Airport Fashion Emergency story.
Keep the Band Together! Stop Singing the Employee Retention Blues
Has your team’s sweet music at work hit a sour note? You’ve got your top performers leaving and hardly know those who come onboard. Understand that retention and onboarding play a huge role in your success.
In this engaging session, you will learn actionable strategies designed to end your struggle with these growing challenges.
You Will Learn:
- How more spending more money may not solve your problems.
- Why your open door policy can’t feature perceived barriers, like a moat, filled with sharks.
- How people may be evaluating your business, based on factors you never considered.
- Why your organization may be guilty of hiding its superpowers.
- High cost, low cost, and even no-cost ways to incentivize higher performance.
This session also includes Ken’s signature piece, The Police Dog Attack Story.
NOTE: All of Ken’s keynote speeches (approximately 45-90 minutes) are also available as workshops (approximately half a day duration). Please specify which one you require when you book Ken for your event.
All talks can be delivered virtually (from his home studio or a nearby professional studio) and involve a lot of collaboration to find the right mix for your audience and the online medium.
Ken Okel Testimonials
“Ken is incredibly engaging, animated, and a great storyteller. His presentation really connected from beginning to end and left everyone feeling motivated and ready to take on a new challenge. I would highly recommend him to speak at any organization.” Alyssa Young, Global Business Travel Association, South Florida Chapter
“…Absolutely blown away by Ken’s message and experienced delivery.”
Holly Bilotti, New Jersey Chapter of Club Management
“This was one of the most, if not the most, impressive and engaging virtual presentations!”
Nancy Smith, Michigan Great Lakes HFMA
The Paper Hat Exercise
Ken’s sessions can also feature his Paper Hat Exercise. It’s a hands-on audience energizer where your group has to face the unexpected challenge of having to make a paper hat. It’s done in a safe and fun environment.
The benefits include seeing how you react to a challenge, how a challenge opens the door to creative solutions and collaboration, and how you can be better prepared for the next challenge you face.
The Paper Hat Exercise can be branded to sponsors or your organization.
Master of Ceremonies
A good Master of Ceremonies is like Sandra Bullock’s best friend in a romantic comedy. The job is to tell some funny jokes, help move the plot along, and never take the attention away from the star. From the stage, it’s also smart for the Emcee to honestly and energetically thank the audience for doing the kind of work they do and give specifics about how they matter.
- Unify your event behind a theme
- Keep the proceedings on time and deal with unexpected challenges or announcements
- Promote your event and empower your attendees
Additional Breakout Sessions
Ken also offers sessions designed to compliment his longer talks that showcase his more than 20 years of experience working with audiences. Some use these in special sessions with executive teams and board members.
- Presentation Skills for Leaders
- Media Training/Presenting Your Message on Camera
- Five Communication Mistakes that Cost You Cash
Live Interviews & Recorded Interviews
As a former broadcaster, Ken is very comfortable in front of the microphone and has spent more than 20 years working in front of audiences. He can lead panel discussions and quickly understands new topics, much as he did as a reporter.
Ken can also use video to add value to your meeting. Some clients have him produce videos to promote their events, interview leaders, or profile sponsors. Here are some examples: