Local Keynote Speakers In Washington, DC

Looking for a keynote speaker for your event in or around Washington, DC? You don't have to go far to find a high-caliber keynote speaker in the DC area. From professors and CEOs to military leaders and media personalities, Washington, DC is home to some of the world’s most innovative minds and inspirational figures, far beyond the political arena. After all, the DC metropolitan region is home to over 50 of the nation’s leading colleges and universities, the third-highest number of bioscience companies in the world, numerous high-profile media outlets like Fox News, CNN, The Washington Post, POLITICO, and National Public Radio (NPR), top financial institutions, such as Capital One and Freddie Mac, as well as major corporations such as Hilton Worldwide Holdings, Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corp., Northrop Grumman, and Marriott.
 

Leading Authorities speakers bureau represents Washington, DC's top motivational keynote speakers, political keynote speakers, leadership keynote speakers, business keynote speakers, and many more. 

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

Authentic Leadership and Customer Loyalty Expert; Senior Role in Harley-Davidson Turnaround; and Author, Make Some Noise: The Unconventional Road to Dominance

Fees
  • Local: £10,001 - £20,000*
  • US East: £10,001 - £20,000*
  • US West: £10,001 - £20,000*
  • Europe: Under £10,000*
  • Asia: Under £10,000*
Ken Schmidt is the legendary former director of communications strategy for Harley-Davidson Motor Company. He played an active role in one of the most celebrated turnarounds in corporate history, and his vision helped transform Harley into one of the world’s most dominant brands. He is widely known as a provocative and engaging thought leader. Funny and energetic, he shares stories of how to compete with weapons stronger than price, build a fanatically vocal customer base, create a passionately loyal corporate culture, and develop leaders who inspire and motivate.

Former Director of National Intelligence

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Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper is one of the finest intelligence minds of the 21st century. In the midst of shifting national security policies and varying threats to American interests at home and abroad, Clapper illuminates a broad array of intelligence-related issues.

Election Handicapper

Fees
  • Local: £10,001 - £20,000*
  • US East: £10,001 - £20,000*
  • US West: £20,001 - £35,000*
  • Europe: £20,001 - £35,000*
  • Asia: £35,001 - £55,000*
Charlie Cook is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading authorities on U.S. elections and political trends. He founded the independent, non-partisan Cook Political Report in 1984, serving as Editor and Publisher for 37 years, stepping down in 2021 and transitioning ownership and management of the venerable newsletter to Amy Walter. Charlie remains with the renamed “Cook Political Report with Amy Walter” as a contributor. In addition to lecturing, Charlie continues to write his weekly column for National Journal and serving as a political analyst for both National Journal and for NBC News. He is also a co-author of the 2020 and 2022 editions of The Almanac of American Politics.

Former Commander of US and International Forces in Afghanistan, Best-Selling Author, & Co-Founder of the McChrystal Group

Fees
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General Stanley McChrystal is a four-star general, the former commander of U.S. and international forces in Afghanistan and the former leader of Joint Special Operations Command, which oversees the most sensitive counter-terrorism units. He is widely praised for revolutionizing warfare by fusing intelligence and operations and is credited with the capture of Saddam Hussein and the location and killing al-Qaeda’s leader in Iraq. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates called McChrystal “one of America’s greatest warriors.” McChrystal addresses leadership, teambuilding, and geopolitics.

NBC News White House Correspondent

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Kelly O’Donnell is the White House correspondent for NBC News. A veteran of presidential politics, her work on the 2008 presidential election earned her an Emmy and a National Headliner Award. Her other work has won myriad others, including multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards. In 2004, she was inducted into the Ohio Radio/Television Broadcasters Hall of Fame. O’Donnell has covered events ranging from the 9/11 attacks and the Iraq war to the Olympic Games and the British royal family. She addresses politics, current events, the presidency, women’s issues, and the media.

Award Winning Journalist; Anchor and Chief Washington Correspondent, CNN

Fees
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CNN anchor and chief Washington correspondent, Jake Tapper, joined the network in January 2013. His one-hour weekday program The Lead with Jake Tapper debuted in March 2013. The program seeks to examine and advance stories that demonstrate Tapper's own curiosities and interests with headlines from around the country and the globe, from politics to money, and sports to popular culture.

Former Interim Chair of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Renowned Political Strategist and Commentator, and Best-selling Author

Fees
  • Local: £10,001 - £20,000*
  • US East: £10,001 - £20,000*
  • US West: £20,001 - £35,000*
  • Europe: £35,001 - £55,000*
  • Asia: Please Inquire
Political strategist Donna Brazile is the former interim chair of the DNC, as well as the former vice chair for civic engagement and voter participation at the DNC, an adjunct professor, current Fox News contributor, best-selling author, syndicated columnist, and television commentator. She was also the first African-American woman to manage a presidential campaign. Her southern charm, big personality, and hilarious anecdotes make her an instant audience favorite. Oprah’s O magazine chose her as one of its “20 remarkable visionaries” and Washingtonian named her one of its “100 most powerful women.” Brazile is known for her ability to analyze the political climate and attract supporters, and she addresses this and the political mood of the country.

Co-Founder and CEO of Axios; Co-Founder and Former CEO of POLITICO

Fees
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Jim VandeHei is a media entrepreneur and expert on American politics. He is the co-founder, chairman, and CEO of Axios, a new media company delivering news and insights on politics, business, media and tech. The company, whose name means “worthy” in Greek, specializes in high-quality news and analysis easily shared among the country's most influential readers and across social platforms.

Co-Founder & Exec Editor of Axios, Frmr POLITICO Chief WH Correspondent

Fees
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Mike Allen is one of Washington’s most influential and well-connected journalists. He is the co-founder and executive editor of Axios, a disruptive media company delivering news and insights on politics, business, media, and tech. The company, whose name means “worthy” in Greek, specializes in high-quality news and analysis easily shared among the country’s influential readers and across social platforms. Axios has been recognized for its forward-thinking approach to the way people consume news in the 21st century. The approach is chronicled in Allen’s book Smart Brevity: Saying More with Less, which he co-authored alongside Axios co-founder, Jim VandeHei. In addition to starting Axios, Allen was a co-founder at POLITICO, the digital media company that upended and revolutionized political and policy journalism in Washington, New York, and Europe. He not only reported on but also drove the day’s conversations in and around the Beltway. His sharp journalistic experience and coveted insider status make him an ideal choice to discuss the latest political happenings. In presentations, he offers his nonpartisan, energetic and up-to-the-minute insider perspective on the political issues of the day, the current administration, Congress, and building a business in an unsteady economy.

Former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence

Fees
  • Local: £20,001 - £35,000*
  • US East: £20,001 - £35,000*
  • US West: £35,001 - £55,000*
  • Europe: £35,001 - £55,000*
  • Asia: £55,001 - £75,000*
Sue M. Gordon is the former Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence (PDDNI) – the country’s number two ranking intelligence official. As the fifth PDDNI, she co-led the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and oversaw the entire Intelligence Community, comprised of over a dozen agencies that collect information on threats against the United States. In particular, Gordon’s transformative leadership focused on integrating intelligence across the organization, expanding outreach and partnerships, driving innovation, and advancing diversity and inclusion throughout the Community. With nearly four decades of legendary and dedicated service, Gordon has led at every level of the Intelligence Community with roles spanning numerous organizations and disciplines – drawing on this experience to inspire audiences to challenge the status quo, adapt to changing environments, and apply innovation to their business.

Co-Founder of Eat the Change, PLNT Burger, & Honest Tea; Chair of the Board of Beyond Meat

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*
A mission-driven innovator and entrepreneur, Seth Goldman is the founder of Eat the Change, a planet-friendly snack company and platform to inform and empower consumers to make dietary choices aligned with their concerns around climate and health. The first business launched under the Eat the Change umbrella was PLNT Burger, which is a plant-based quick-serve restaurant that offers delicious burgers, sandwiches, fries, and soft-serve. Goldman also serves as chair of the board of Beyond Meat, a publicly traded California-based enterprise on the cutting edge of plant-based protein.

Commissioner, Commodity Futures Trading Commission (2017-2021)

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*
Brian D. Quintenz was nominated by both Presidents Obama and Trump to serve as a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. He was unanimously confirmed by the Senate in August of 2017 and served four years in his role at the agency until stepping down in August of 2021. During his time at the CFTC, Mr. Quintenz advocated for narrowly tailored, risk-focused regulation and was a champion of innovation, specifically relating to crypto and decentralized finance (DeFi). He led agency’s Technology Advisory Committee, which hosted the most comprehensive set of public crypto-related policy discussions and briefings of any federal financial regulator. During his service, the first U.S. regulated Bitcoin and Ether futures contracts listed on derivatives exchanges, and DeFi expanded rapidly. Mr. Quintenz also contributed consequential ideological perspectives to regulatory debates through dozens of domestic and international keynote speeches, conference panel discussions, and meetings with regulatory counterparts. Additionally, he successfully negotiated critical policy provisions relating to swap dealer capital regulation, the cross-border application of swap dealing rules, position limits on new commodity futures contracts, and automated trading activity. In partnership with SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, Mr. Quintenz spearheaded a CFTC-SEC harmonization effort which achieved multiple successes in data reporting and security-based swaps margining and capital requirements. Prior to his appointment to the CFTC, Mr. Quintenz founded and served as the Managing Principal and Chief Investment Officer of Saeculum Capital Management, a registered Commodity Pool Operator that specialized in technical analysis investment strategies.

Election Handicapper

Fees
  • Local: £10,001 - £20,000*
  • US East: £10,001 - £20,000*
  • US West: £20,001 - £35,000*
  • Europe: £20,001 - £35,000*
  • Asia: £35,001 - £55,000*
Charlie Cook is widely regarded as one of the nation’s leading authorities on U.S. elections and political trends. He founded the independent, non-partisan Cook Political Report in 1984, serving as Editor and Publisher for 37 years, stepping down in 2021 and transitioning ownership and management of the venerable newsletter to Amy Walter. Charlie remains with the renamed “Cook Political Report with Amy Walter” as a contributor. In addition to lecturing, Charlie continues to write his weekly column for National Journal and serving as a political analyst for both National Journal and for NBC News. He is also a co-author of the 2020 and 2022 editions of The Almanac of American Politics.

United States Secretary of Transportation (2013-2017) and Former Chief Policy Officer at Lyft

Fees
  • Local: £75,001 and up*
  • US East: £75,001 and up*
  • US West: £75,001 and up*
  • Europe: £75,001 and up*
  • Asia: £75,001 and up*
Anthony Foxx is the Chief Policy Officer at Lyft who formerly served as the 17th United States Secretary of Transportation and as mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina. As Secretary of Transportation, he led an agency with more than 55,000 employees and a budget of $70 billion. A digital cities innovator known as "the Great Connector" for his work in government, he discusses the American transportation system, digital cities, innovation, and coalition building.