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Something Different

Looking for an incredible out-of-the-box keynote speaker but not exactly sure what you're interested in? These amazing speakers offer a presentation that goes beyond traditional business topics. From artists to adventurers these speakers can offer audiences a little "something different."

Let us know if you are interested in one of our speakers for your event.
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Sekou Andrews

Sekou Andrews

Grammy-Nominated Creator of "Poetic Voice" & Inspirational Speaker

Fees
  • Local: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • US East: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • US West: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Europe: $75,001 and up*
  • Asia: $75,001 and up*
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Sekou Andrews

A school teacher turned actor, musician, two-time national poetry slam champion, entrepreneur, and award-winning poetic voice, any given day may now find Sekou keynoting at a leadership conference, helping a Fortune 500 company with brand messaging, or even performing pieces for Barack Obama in Oprah’s backyard. Sekou is the creator of Poetic Voice, a new, cutting-edge speaking category that seamlessly fuses inspirational speaking with spoken word poetry to make messages more moving and memorable. For over 15 years, Sekou Andrews has been helping the world’s largest organizations deliver relevant information with riveting inspiration through an innovative, unconventional category of speaking called “Poetic Voice.”
Topics & Types
Innovation Inspiration & Motivation Corporate Culture Customer Experience Disruption African American Speakers Diverse Voices Entertainment Acts Something Different
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Mark Bowden

Mark Bowden

Expert in Body Language, Human Behavior & Communication

Fees
  • Local: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US East: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US West: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Europe: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Asia: $55,001 - $75,000*
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Mark Bowden

Mark Bowden is the keynote speaker for organizations worldwide whose work depends upon winning the hearts and minds of others. Mark entertainingly trains any audience in the most cutting edge techniques to stand out, win trust and profit every time they speak. His keynote presentation takes everyone on an exciting and humorous journey to understand how, with the right body language “It’s often not what you say—but how you say it, that gets results!” Expert in human behaviour and body language, keynote speaker Mark Bowden is the creator of TRUTHPLANE®, a communication training company and unique methodology for anyone who has to communicate with impact to an audience. Mark’s highly entertaining keynote speeches and training seminars teach audiences around the world how to use the most influential verbal and nonverbal language to stand out, win trust and gain credibility every time they speak.
Topics & Types
Negotiation Relationship Building Sales Consumer Behavior Authors Something Different
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Maurice Ashley

Maurice Ashley

First African-American Chess Grandmaster, Analyst, Commentator and Emcee

Fees
  • Local: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US East: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US West: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Europe: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Asia: $35,001 - $55,000*
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Maurice Ashley

Maurice Ashley made history in 1999 when he became the first African-American chess grandmaster. He is a three-time national championship coach, author of Chess for Success: Using an Old Game to Build New Strengths in Children and Teens, ESPN commentator, iPhone app designer, puzzle inventor, and motivational speaker. Maurice is well known for providing dynamic live tournament coverage of world-class chess competitions and matches.

Topics & Types
Decision Making Business Strategy Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion African American Speakers College & University Speakers Diverse Voices Emcee & Master of Ceremonies Entertainment Acts Something Different
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Speaker Dandapani

Dandapani

Expert on Focus; Hindu Priest, Entrepreneur, and Former Monk

Fees
  • Local: Please Inquire
  • US East: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US West: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Europe: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Asia: $35,001 - $55,000*
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Dandapani

Dandapani is a Hindu priest, entrepreneur and a former monk of 10 years. After graduating university with a degree in Electrical Engineering he left it all behind to become a Hindu monk under the guidance of one of Hinduism’s foremost spiritual leaders of our time, Sivaya Subramuniyaswami. For 10 years he lived a life of serious personal discipline and training at his guru’s cloistered monastery in Hawaii. When his vows expired, he chose to venture out into the world making New York City his home. He works with entrepreneurs and some of the top athletes in the world in helping them understand and leverage their mind so that they can be the best at what they do. He does this by empowering them with tools and teachings that have been used by Hindu monks of his tradition for thousands of years. Among his clients are companies such as Fortress Investment Group, ICONIQ, McKinsey, Nike, Comm Bank of Australia, Bloomberg LP, Ribbit Capital, Red Ventures, Sprinklr, AMEX and more.
Topics & Types
Peak Performance Inspiration & Motivation Decision Making Entrepreneurship Growth Health, Happiness, & Wellness Diverse Voices Something Different TED Speakers
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Speaker Martin Mongiello

Martin Mongiello

CEO at The US Presidential Service Center Foundation Trusts and US Presidential Culinary Museum

Fees
  • Local: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • US East: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • US West: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • Europe: Please Inquire
  • Asia: Please Inquire
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Martin Mongiello

Marti Mongiello is a former White House Chef, Private Investigator, Security Expert, Executive Chef, and a GM of the Camp David Resort and Conference Center working with the past five Presidents for 25 years, from H.W. Bush through Trump. He is a disabled and injured military veteran with a 30-year US Navy retired certificate serving in wars across three continents. Marti served as a butler, housekeeper, military aide, and bartender carrying the proverbial, "chalice for his/her majesty to drink from," having been trained by the CIA, USMC, Navy, and Army in specialized courses for nuclear, chemical, and biological attack manning the underground bunker of Orange One as well as bribery and poisoning. When he first received his Top Secret, Yankee White, SCI clearance, he was in the nuclear submarine fleet and had been identified as a polyhistor and polymath. He has an MBA degree and a second Master's from Lenoir-Rhyne University as a Master Certified Food Executive (MCFE). He attained his Bachelor's from the Art Institute, Summa Cum Laude.
Topics & Types
Leadership CEOs Entertainment Acts Media Something Different
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Kevin Kallaugher

Kevin Kallaugher

Editorial Cartoonist for The Economist & The Baltimore Sun

Fees
  • Local: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • US East: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • US West: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • Europe: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Asia: $35,001 - $55,000*
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Kevin Kallaugher

Kevin Kallaugher (Kal) is the international award-winning editorial cartoonist for the Economist and The Baltimore Sun. His diverse portfolio includes more than 8,000 cartoons, 140 covers, and six books. In lively, illustrated presentations, Kal draws on stage while touching on themes like the uniqueness of our political system and the role of cartoons in free speech. He shares insights on current events, politics, and the economy and offers audiences a unique surprise to take home after his talks. He has lectured at TED, Harvard, Pixar, and Google among others. Offering an exciting twist for meetings and events, his presentations are always funny, interactive, and memorable.
Topics & Types
Political Satire Comedians Entertainment Acts Something Different
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Jon Dorenbos

Jon Dorenbos

Magician and Former NFL Player

Fees
  • Local: $75,001 and up*
  • US East: $75,001 and up*
  • US West: $75,001 and up*
  • Europe: Please Inquire
  • Asia: Please Inquire
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Jon Dorenbos

As an entertainer for over twenty years, Jon is known as the NFL's “Magic Man" and is respectfully referred to as the "Entertainer's Entertainer." He also has performed personally for Jason Stathum, Nicholas Cage, Garth Brooks, Magic Johnson, the entire New England Patriots football team, Joe Montana and Dan Marino.
Topics & Types
Peak Performance Inspiration & Motivation Leadership Overcoming Adversity Teamwork Athletes & Commentators Entertainment Acts Something Different
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Bill Weir

Bill Weir

CNN Anchor, Chief Climate Correspondent & Host of "The Wonder List with Bill Weir"

Fees
    Please Inquire
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Bill Weir

Bill Weir is a veteran anchor, writer, producer, and host who came to CNN in 2013 after a decade of award-winning journalism at ABC News. In 2019, he was named the network's first Chief Climate Correspondent, drawing on his experience creating and hosting the primetime CNN Original Series "The Wonder List with Bill Weir." With his distinctive storytelling style, lush photography and a focus on our connected planet, Weir shot three seasons of his show across 26 countries, highlighting wondrous people, places, cultures, and creatures on the brink of seismic change.
Topics & Types
Adventure Inspiration & Motivation Health, Happiness, & Wellness Media Something Different
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Steve Boyes

Steve Boyes

Conservationist and National Geographic Fellow

Fees
  • Local: Please Inquire
  • US East: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US West: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Europe: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Asia: $20,001 - $35,000*
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Steve Boyes

Conservation biologist and National Geographic explorer Steve Boyes gives audiences an eye-opening look at the world around us and shares insights on the power of exploration. Through the use of stunning high-quality images and stories, he challenges audiences to view the world with a fresh perspective. He believes that rich biodiversity is the key to maintaining our quality of life and connection to the planet, and he shares the human experience of the wilderness with audiences so that they come to understand why they need to protect areas that they will likely never see firsthand.

Topics & Types
Adventure Inspiration & Motivation Risk-Takers Sustainability & Environment Something Different TED Speakers
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Vinh Giang

Vinh Giang

Award-Winning Entrepreneur & Magician

Fees
  • Local: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • US East: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • US West: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Europe: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Asia: $35,001 - $55,000*
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Vinh Giang

With only 6 months to graduate, Vinh Giang left his degree in commerce and law to become an online magic teacher ultimately building a hugely successful online business, 52kards, which now serves over 800,000 students all around the world. This earned him the award of Top Young Entrepreneur in Australia. Vinh Giang’s real magic journey began when he finally understood what Robert Houdin (an amazing magician) meant when he said: “A magician is an actor playing the part of the magician.” Once Vinh understood the meaning behind this quote, he focused all his energy on studying the art of performance and not the art of presentation. He has spent the last 15 years mastering the art of performance-enhanced communication, helping thousands of professionals worldwide to learn these skills. Vinh is also the CEO of Luminary Productions which produces exceptional video for individuals and companies all around the globe. Vinh’s presentation will bring out the magic in you!
Topics & Types
Business Strategy Entrepreneurship CEOs Diverse Voices Entertainment Acts Something Different
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Erik Wahl

Erik Wahl

Synthesizer of Art and Business

Fees
  • Local: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US East: $75,001 and up*
  • US West: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • Europe: $75,001 and up*
  • Asia: $75,001 and up*
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Erik Wahl

As an internationally recognized graffiti artist, author and entrepreneur, Erik redefines the term “keynote speaker.” Pulling from his history as both a businessman and an artist, he has grown to become one of the most sought-after corporate speakers available today. Erik’s on-stage painting seamlessly becomes a visual metaphor to the core of his message, encouraging organizations toward profitability through innovations and superior levels of performance. His list of clients includes AT&T, Disney, London School of Business, Microsoft, FedEx, Exxon Mobil, Ernst & Young, and XPrize; Erik has even been featured as a TED presenter. The responses received have been nothing short of incredible, with standing ovations to prove it.
Topics & Types
Inspiration & Motivation Creativity Authors Entertainment Acts Something Different
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Alpana Singh

Alpana Singh

TV Host, Restaurateur, and Wine Expert

Fees
  • Local: Under $10,000*
  • US East: Under $10,000*
  • US West: Under $10,000*
  • Europe: Please Inquire
  • Asia: Please Inquire
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Alpana Singh

Born and raised in Monterey, California, it was only natural that Alpana Singh would develop a deep-rooted interest in wine. At 26, she passed the final level of the Master Sommelier exam—a feat achieved by only 269 people in the world. She's the first Indian woman and the youngest female ever to do so. She went on to serve as a Sommelier for highly-acclaimed restaurants in Chicago before opening three of her own. In lively, fun, and informative talks, Alpana shares her inspiring story of rising from the daughter of Fijian immigrants to becoming a successful entrepreneur and TV personality all while navigating a male-dominated profession. She give audiences a glimpse into the life as a Sommelier as she teaches them how to taste wines “blind,” purchase bottles like a professional, and pair with meals for any occasion.
Topics & Types
Inspiration & Motivation Overcoming Adversity Entrepreneurship Authors Diverse Voices Female Speakers Something Different
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Cook Up Something Different With Celebrity Chef Speakers & More

From songwriters and cartoonists to orchestra conductors and magicians, our out-of-the-box speakers deliver a memorable and unique experience your audience won’t forget anytime soon. Perennial favorites in our "Something Different” talent pool include our celebrity chef speakers, who count among their numbers the youngest Master Sommelier.

With their unmatched experience in the kitchen and vineyard, our leading culinary speakers can give restaurateurs, hobby chefs, and other food lovers a unique perspective when it comes to preparing meals, pairing wines, and creating a thoughtful presentation for each plate.

At Leading Authorities speakers bureau, we understand you need a presentation that “wows.” That’s why we tailor our recommendations to your event and think about more than your budget when browsing our list of celebrity chef speakers and out-of-the-box talent. It’s also why we take care of logistics for you, plus add in all those awesome extras, like book signings, into your event package.

Discover what our celebrity chef speakers and other unique talent can cook up for your next event by clicking on the speaker's names featured in the list above to check out their speaker profile pages and browse through their experience and expertise, speaking topics, and see them in action by watching their speaker videos.

Contact our team today if you want to learn more about the speakers who bring something different to event stages or if you have any questions we can help you address about the speaker booking process.

To get in touch with us, you can also email us, call 1-800-SPEAKER, or live chat with a member of our team right now.

If you are looking for a specific speaker not listed above, please contact our team as we specialize in placing hard-to-find and in-demand keynote speakers from all around the world, which may not be listed on our website.