Scott Mann is a master storyteller and former Green Beret who inspires leaders to build trust, manage change, and foster psychological safety through the power of storytelling. After confronting his own struggles of war, Scott discovered storytelling as a path to healing and human connection. Now, he talks to leaders about how they can leverage storytelling to create trust in an increasingly fast-paced world. Drawing on high-stakes leadership experiences, Mann advises organizations of all kinds — from Fortune 100 corporations (including Capital One, Walmart, Raymond James, and Fannie Mae) to local small businesses — on how to mobilize their teams, forge deeper connections with their people, and gain a more complete understanding of the opportunities that exist to create high-trust, high-performance cultures.

Jim VandeHei is one of the most celebrated media and political thinkers of his generation. He is the co-founder and CEO of Axios, a media company designed to get people smarter, faster on politics, technology, media, and business. A longtime White House reporter before creating and running both Politico and now Axios, VandeHei offers a clinical, insider’s view on politics, AI, starting and running companies, and the modern media ecosystem. He has co-moderated two presidential debates, wrote two bestselling books, and won numerous accolades, including the industry’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2024. "Grand slam. Crushed it, both sessions! We want to book him for another event next year." - Consulting Company “Everyone loved Jim today. I have had many people say that he was the best speaker we have ever had! Seriously. And guess what - I agree! Please thank him for me and pass along my quick comment.” -Nonprofit

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.

A legendary presence behind one of America’s most beloved television shows, Lindsay Shookus is an Emmy award-winning producer who, for 20 years, worked as a veteran producer for “Saturday Night Live.” During her tenure, as producer and head of the talent department, Shookus was responsible for engineering the show’s success from booking celebrity hosts and musical guests and creating comfort and connections between them and the cast, to scouting rising stars to join the show’s ranks. She played a pivotal role in launching the careers of household names, including Kristin Wiig and Kate McKinnon — cementing her reputation for having a sharp eye for talent within the entertainment industry. She points to her own experiences to lead an on-stage masterclass on personal transformation, building connections, and embracing life’s obstacles on the road to overcoming them.

Dethra Giles is a workplace and career optimizer who advises organizations and individuals on how to chart their unique paths to success. She is a four-time TEDx speaker who has been named a “Top 100 HR Influencer” by Engagedly, and was selected by HR Gazette’s “HRchat” podcast as one of the “Top 22 Most Influential Figures in HR.” With clients including Kaiser Permanente, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), The Army Corp of Engineers, Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy, the National Basketball Association (NBA), and the Salvation Army, Giles shares a unique blend of advanced education and industry experience that has been described as “university-tested and industry-approved,” and can be implemented by organizations of any size, and across industries.

Lisa Sun, founder and CEO of GRAVITAS, seamlessly blends stories from her data-driven insights from 11 years at McKinsey & Company and from her experience as an entrepreneur launching an innovative retail brand to offer talks that encourage audiences to choose self-confidence, work to harness their “superpower,” and use gravitas to advance personally and professionally. Sun explores why it’s vital to push past your potential, how to transform an idea into a movement, and why you’ve got to bet on yourself every single day. With her dynamic presence on stage, data-driven insights, and deep personal resonance, Lisa Sun leaves individuals with the confidence and tools to step boldly into their own success. "Lisa was FREAKING AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The attendees absolutely LOVED her….everyone kept stopping me throughout the day mentioning the impact she had on them. And our college and high school girls were so moved by her." - Nonprofit "Lisa Sun is inspiring and authentic. She is relatable, warm, funny and insightful. Lisa has an immediate connection with the audience as she shares her personal story of how she found her passion and purpose. Lisa Sun is the speaker your attendees will talk about for years to come." - Banking Company

For more than 12 years, Evy Poumpouras served as a Secret Service special agent in an action-packed career during which she was responsible for protecting the world’s most high-value assets. She was a member of the Presidential Protective Division for President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, and also protected Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George H.W. Bush. Today, she is a widely recognized multimedia journalist, host, and producer who uses her skills in front of the camera and behind it to conduct headline-grabbing interviews and investigate the biggest stories in the media. She appears regularly on “TODAY,” MSNBC, and “Good Morning America” to share her sought-after expertise on national security, law enforcement, and crime. Currently, Poumpouras serves as NBC’s law enforcement and national security analyst, where she applies her deep expertise to breaking news and high-stakes global issues. Having mastered the arts of communication and psychology throughout her wide-ranging career—from the front lines of presidential protection to the national media stage—she offers unconventional strategies for tackling challenges and living fearlessly. "Here’s how I would describe Evy. I’ve heard hundreds of speakers. I don’t remember much from most of them. I will always remember Evy for personal brand = warmth + competence." -Nonprofit "Excellent speaker, she provided tools to deal with situations that are applicable to our industry. Way above my expectations!" - Financial Association

Erica Dhawan is the Founder & CEO of Contential and co-author of "Get Big Things Done." She is on a mission to advise organizations and leaders to accelerate the connectedness of your workforce, become masters of connectional intelligence, “spar” in order to reach your goals more quickly, and prepare your global workforce for the future. Through Dhawan's keynote speeches and interactive presentations, she’ll do just that.

Frank Luntz is one of the most honored communication professionals in America today and Time magazine named him one of "50 of America's most promising leaders aged 40 and under". According to the Boston Globe he is the "hottest pollster in the America.

Michael Maslansky, renowned message strategist, advises industry associations, professional communicators, and Fortune 500 companies on language strategies that shift perceptions and move markets. Using research and a trademarked polling methodology, he provides clear and compelling advice for how to use the right language and the right approach to using it.

Ben Feller s a communications advisor and a partner at maslansky + partners, the world’s premier language strategy firm. An award-winning writer during his distinguished career in journalism, Ben now helps clients succeed by using the power of language to change attitudes, behaviors and outcomes. Ben has a distinctive ability to help companies and leaders by asking the right questions and understanding how to solve complex reputational challenges. Ben's experience as a strategic adviser follows a 20-year reporting career in which he was honored as a "master of deadline reporting" and served as the Chief White House Correspondent for The Associated Press, leading presidential coverage during the Obama and Bush presidencies for the largest news organization in the world. Ben is also a writing coach, event moderator, public speaker and the author of Big Problems, Little Problems, a children's book on conquering life's frustrations that reviewers have described as "simply extraordinary."