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Motivational Speakers

 

Lavin’s motivational speakers offer perspectives from all walks of life. Dispensing lessons on teamwork, tips on performance, and relatable narratives about overcoming the odds, these motivational keynote speakers never settle for easy sentiment.

 
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Sukhinder Singh Cassidy

Founder of theBoardlist | Former President of StubHub | Author of Choose Possibility (Forthcoming)

Sukhinder Singh Cassidy is one of the most well-respected female tech executives in Silicon Valley. She’s served as president of StubHub, helped scale companies like Google and Amazon, and founded theBoardlist: a premium talent marketplace for diverse leaders. But despite her success, her path hasn’t always been linear. In her new book Choose Possibility, Singh Cassidy reveals the poor choices, misfires, and unexpected headwinds she’s encountered along her path—providing a thoughtful new perspective on risk-taking: what it is, what it isn’t, and how to master it to achieve lasting success.
Ellen Bennett

Founder and CEO of Hedley & Bennett | Author of Dream First, Details Later

At 25 years old Ellen Bennett was a cook at a 2-Michelin-Star restaurant in Los Angeles; yet she was still tying on the same $5 apron found in every diner and pub along Hollywood Boulevard. So she took her modest $300 savings and turned it into the largest gourmet apron manufacturer in the world. Now the founder and CEO at Hedley & Bennett—a brand beloved by the likes of Martha Stewart and Momofuku’s David Chang—this culinary entrepreneur explains how you, too, can jumpstart your own idea with charisma and heart.
John Kaag

Chair of Philosophy, University of Massachusetts, Lowell | Award-winning author of Sick Souls, Healthy Minds

John Kaag believes philosophy is the “stuff of everyday life.” The Chair of Philosophy at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell, and an award-winning author of several books, he explores topics important to all of us: our mental and physical health, our happiness and emotional wellbeing, and how we can find our deeper purpose. In the aftermath of a pandemic that brought the world great suffering and collective trauma, Kaag’s work is especially timely, revealing how we can consciously respond to grief and move forward with hope and pragmatism. His talks—intimate, soulful, and wise—teach us how to develop a personal philosophy that will ultimately help us lead better, more fulfilling lives.

 

Lori Gottlieb

Psychotherapist | Bestselling Author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone

Stories are the way we make sense of our lives—but we’re not always telling the right ones. Thankfully, Lori Gottlieb—therapist, New York Times bestselling author, and Atlantic columnist—is a masterful guide to editing and rewriting the narratives that keep us stuck. Through her massively popular book Maybe You Should Talk to Someone—now being adapted for television by Eva Longoria—and her viral new TED talk, Gottlieb shows us that vulnerability isn’t a weakness, but a compelling leadership tool; that our external circumstances don’t have to dictate our lives; and that we can consciously create meaning anywhere—at work, at home, and in relationships.
David Fajgenbaum

Author of the national bestseller Chasing My Cure | Co-founder and Executive Director of the Castleman Disease Collaborative Network

How do you deal with a pressing challenge when the clock is running out? For Dr. David Fajgenbaum, that challenge was his own incredibly rare condition—top experts had no answers and he was read his last rites—but then, he tried to cure it himself. In his fascinating, memoir Chasing My Cure, Fajgenbaum shares the urgency of his unparalleled perseverance in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds. His remarkable story proves the power of hope, and shows what can happen when chance, love and resilience collide.
Marcus Bullock

Founder and CEO of Flikshop | Justice Reform Advocate | TED Speaker

Sentenced at fifteen years old to eight years—for stealing a car—Bullock faced many challenges once released. But he found a creative solution that sparked social change: founding his own software company, Flikshop, Inc. It’s mission is to connect incarcerated people with their families, build community, and empower inmates in constructive ways to ease their return to society—and help reduce recidivism.  
Nathan Pyle

The #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Strange Planet

How often do we get to see the world as though it were brand new? Rarely, if ever. That’s what makes Nathan Pyle’s Strange Planet—an Internet sensation and #1 New York Times bestselling book—so special. Deeply funny and slightly surreal, the comic follows adorable inhabitants of a strangely familiar planet as they act out their favorite traditions, and in the process, holds a mirror to the absurdity of our own behavior. Pyle’s work has struck a meaningful chord around the world, and his talks are equally as delightful. With humor and heart, he shows us how to find inspiration and creativity in the fabric of our daily surroundings. 
Luke Burgis

Entrepreneur | Author of Wanting: The Power of Mimetic Desire in Everyday Life

How can we create things that benefit us as people? That is the question that author, entrepreneur, and investor Luke Burgis asks. His people-first perspective stems from a lifetime of unique experiences: working on Wall Street, founding companies in Silicon Valley, even studying theology. Today, Burgis applies mimetic theory—the idea that desire is a social mechanism—to business. In talks, he shows us the hidden forces behind why we want things, how to break free from destructive desires, and how to cultivate the intentional desires that build a better world.
David Cote

Leadership Keynote Speaker | Former Chairman & CEO of Honeywell | Author of Winning Now, Winning Later

When it comes to manufacturing, David Cote stands in a league of his own. The most successful leader of a Fortune 100 industrial conglomerate of his era, Cote joined Honeywell after a 25-year-career at GE. Under his leadership, Honeywell’s market capitalization climbed about an astonishing 100 billion dollars. Rather than fixating on either long-term strategies or quarterly results, Cote empowered his organization to pursue both simultaneously. In talks, he motivates leaders on how to sustain a their long-term vision—without compromising day-to-day performance.
Jordin Tootoo

The first Inuk Player in the NHL | Founder of the Team Tootoo Foundation

The first Inuk player in history to be drafted by the NHL, Jordin Tootoo announced his retirement after 13 years in the league to give back to the Indigenous community with a message of inspired inclusivity.
 
Jayson Greene

Author of Once More We Saw Stars, a Memoir

How do you overcome unimaginable grief to find meaning again? In his astonishing memoir, Once More We Saw Stars, JAYSON GREENE reckons with tragedy—the accidental death of his two-year-old daughter, Greta—and offers a testament of his family’s unwavering optimism in the face of loss. In profound talks based on this “intensely moving, life-affirming story” (Rolling Stone), Greene, speaks about grief, resilience, love, and above all, hope.
Daniel Lerner

Positive Psychologist | Instructor of NYU’S “The Science of Happiness”

Can success and happiness coexist? According to positive psychologist Daniel Lerner, we can all accomplish our career goals and live well. Lerner’s talks teach us to achieve greatness through rediscovering our core strengths and finding meaning in our work.
 
Jonathan Fader

Performance Psychologist | Former Director of Mental Conditioning for the New York Giants | Author of Life as Sport

When C-Suite executives, celebrity athletes, and emergency first responders want to improve their performance in high-stakes situations, they turn to Dr. Jonathan Fader. A performance psychologist to the nation’s top business leaders, and the former Director of Mental Conditioning for the New York Football Giants and the New York Mets, Fader applies proven psychological techniques from high-pressure, high-reward scenarios to everyday work and life situations.
Michael Pinball Clemons

CFL Legend | General Manager of the Toronto Argonauts

CFL legend Michael “Pinball” Clemons is an icon of sporting excellence, community leadership, and personal integrity. With boundless energy and moments of quiet introspection, he talks about teamwork and the potential each of us has to achieve anything we set our minds to. 
Major MJ Hegar

Author of Shoot Like a Girl | Leadership Speaker | Foreign Policy 100 Leading Global Thinker

Major MJ Hegar is a force to be reckoned with. While piloting her third tour of Afghanistan, she took a bullet to her helicopter’s windshield. Badly injured, she flew her team to safety, conducting a near-impossible landing. An incredible story—soon to be a major motion picture—Hegar’s bravery inspires audiences to persevere through change, hardship, and any obstacles in their way. 
Yvonne Camus

A Motivational Speaker on Grit and Performance

How can an average businesswoman and mom outperform US Navy Seals? Through grit, determination, and resilience. Yvonne Camus is one of the world’s most trusted speakers on teamwork and perseverance. Deeply relatable, Camus interweaves her personal experiences into revelatory talks.
 
Bill Strickland

An Extraordinary Business and Community Leader

Bill Strickland created an empire by stoking genius in those who believed they had nothing. The Founder and Chairman of Manchester Bidwell—an arts and training center with a $10 million annual budget—Strickland fuels hope, generates jobs, and empowers underprivileged citizens to become experts in any field. With his company tied with Apple for most Harvard Business Review case studies (four), Strickland confidently shows us how to pursue social restoration and profit with a conscience.
Rainn Wilson

Three Time Emmy-Nominated Actor | Founder of SoulPancake

For nearly a decade, Rainn Wilson endeared himself to millions on the hit American edition of The Office, earning three Emmy nominations with his portrayal of Dwight Schrute. As a speaker, Wilson draws on the offbeat genius behind his on-screen characterizations, showing audiences how creativity isn’t simply for artists. It’s for everyone. 
Karl Subban

Leadership Speaker, Educator, and Father of NHL Star P.K. Subban | Author of How We Did It

Karl Subban is a former school principal in one of Toronto’s toughest neighbourhoods, and the father of five children, including three NHL players. In his gregarious, powerful talks, he explores teamwork and leadership and offers a fresh take on what it means to succeed. 
 
George Kourounis

Former Host of Angry Planet | Royal Canadian Geographical Society Explorer-in-Residence

Royal Canadian Geographical Society Explorer-in-Residence George Kourounis travels to the most remote and inhospitable places on Earth to document extremes of nature and climate. Best known for his international TV smash, Angry Planet, Kourounis is a fantastic speaker and a vivid storyteller. 
Jon Montgomery

Host of The Amazing Race Canada and Olympic Gold Medalist

Jon Montgomery delighted Canadians by winning Gold in Men’s Skeleton at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics. Now, as host of The Amazing Race Canada, he is a charming ambassador for our country’s most beautiful sights. In his talks, Montgomery shares his Olympic journey and important lessons on teamwork, leadership, and dreaming big. 
Jeff MacInnis

Leadership Speaker, Adventurer, and Bestselling Author

Jeff MacInnis is an adventurer, explorer, author, and business consultant. His diverse skills—and noteworthy athletic achievements—have informed his decade-plus career helping organizations embrace the teamwork and perseverance that's needed to reach peak performance. An exceptional motivator, he’s inspired audiences at thousands of events all over the world.