Before I share feedback on the leadership keynotes and workshops I run let me ask you a question.
How important is your meeting to you?
Because choosing a speaker is an awesome responsibility.
The success of your event – and your reputation – is on the line. Even if you’re the CEO.
(Sometimes we forget that.)
So let me state the obvious right up front:
1) Make sure your speaker will give you great content.
2) But don’t forget the equal importance of great delivery.
The best content in the world can’t save the influential guests in your audience from a droning speaker with mind-numbing PowerPoint slides.
I know how you feel
I understand the challenge facing you.
As a Programme Director at London Business School for more than 20 years I’ve had to identify and check out dozens of speakers.
And to work with faculty from all over the world to make sure we create and deliver fantastic programmes.
It takes a lot of effort.
But let me assure you…
Investing the time now to get an outstanding speaker is worth the effort.
In the short-term, the success of your event depends on it.
In the long-term, your firm’s reputation depends on it. And yours.
Failure is not an option is it?
My biggest tip
Big tip – if anyone ever asks why you’re investing so much time and effort in choosing a leadership speaker just ask them this question…
‘How important is this meeting to us?’
What now?
After reviewing this page for the real-world feedback I regularly get, and if you think I might be able to help at your next leadership event or seminar, then get in touch.
If I’m right for you (and if I’m available) let’s talk!
But whether I can help you or not, I want to wish you good luck designing and delivering your next leadership event!
I know how hard it is to create a high impact event that’s memorable.
For all the right reasons!
Take care
Steven Sonsino
KEYNOTES
“Top in our events feedback for the last 6 years!”
Caroline Tan, Institute of Chartered Accountants, UK
Many thanks for your keynote speech at the Institute of Chartered Accountants AGM on Wednesday. Feedback was excellent and you came top in our events feedback table for all events in the last six years!
I have attached just some of the comments made by attendees.
Inspired and have material to use in future – both personally and professionally
Inspirational speaker
Good practical ideas, relevant, well delivered
It made you think!
Held my attention, set actions, challenged thinking
Relevant and thought provoking
User friendly approach, supported the meaningful substance
Amazing, great
It got me thinking!
Just wish it could have gone on longer
Good accessible presentation from which I took away at least two key changes
V good presentation, great delivery by Steven, plenty of comments to make me think
Thought provoking
Informative
Lively and engaging presentation, with enough audience participation
Steven is an excellent speaker
Far more challenging than expected – I and my team will certainly start exploring this tomorrow
Reminder and a challenge to thinking of role of effective leaders
Provocative presentation and left me with ideas to pursue
Great presentation, thought provoking
Thought provoking ideas to improve performance
Gave me something to think about and do, interactive talk
Pragmatic and hard hitting
Entertaining and thought provoking
Concise insight into practicalities of leadership in action
Genuinely inspiring
Steven really did engage us as an ‘audience’ in a very important initiative (ie ourselves!)
“Best of the Best”
Michelle Boyd, Executive Director, Institute for International Research
To be completely honest, the reviews for your session can only be described as “glowing”! So I would like to extend my sincere thanks for your participation and contribution to the success of the Middle East Summit.
Some of the Comments from the delegates on your presentation included
‘Brilliant session!’
‘Best of the Best’
‘Full of energy – mindblowing! Loved listening to him’
‘Most excellent – have back for a longer session’
‘Great philosophies and principles – challenges yourself’
‘Food for thought’
‘Wonderful! Please bring him back’
‘Very engaging’
‘Would have liked to hear more’
‘Great presenter with some really good points to make’
‘Inspiring’
I hope you enjoyed the experience too and I look forward to working with you again in the future. Do keep in touch and as we develop other conferences and new events I will keep you in mind. I would be happy to introduce you to my colleagues in our Singapore and Australia offices.
“No finale better”
Aldo Uva, VP North America, Sara Lee Coffee and Tea
Your final session for the Sara Lee conference was great. You set the right tone and gave the opportunity to us all to think and listen.
No finale would have better pictured what is expected of us in the near future. People were following you as you follow an event so unique you’ll regret losing even a second…
“A tremendous success”
Anita Cox, Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
Your session on ‘The Seven Failings of Really Useless Leaders’ was a tremendous success. More people bought your book after than for any other event we’ve run and I’ve heard lots of feedback from delegates about your session. It was all highly positive.
Here’s a brief analysis of the written feedback:
How challenging and stimulating did you find the seminar?
Extremely Challenging: 50%
Very Challenging: 35%
How effective was the speaker in getting his message across?
Extremely Effective: 69%
Very Effective: 19%
“Without doubt the most stimulating”
John Barrell OBE, Institution of Occupational Safety and Health
May I start by saying how much I enjoyed the session you gave at the Earls Court Conference. It was without doubt the most interesting and stimulating I have heard for a very long time. A number of delegates mentioned to me afterwards how much they too had enjoyed it.
Now, another request. Next year the Institution will be organising an International Conference and the opening session is a session on the management of change. Naturally, after hearing you speak at the conference, I wondered if you would be interested?
“Outstanding! A hit!”
Robert Carr, Chief Professional and Business Development Officer, Society for Human Resource Management
Outstanding! A hit! Thanks so much! On behalf of the Society for Human Resource Management, I am writing to thank you for delivering the keynote address at our SHRM Strategy Conference in Palm Springs last month. We received numerous compliments about your remarks from our attendees, well over 650 participants. You delivered a brilliant message of inspiration and encouragement of value to our HR professionals. Also, thank you for graciously signing books for our members and guests.
We are indeed honoured and certainly appreciate the time you spent with us, and we applaud the valuable work that you are doing. Thanks again for contributing to a great experience for our conference participants.
“Uplifting, with actionable steps”
Terry Wainwright, Director, Bristol-Myers Squibb
“We only had a very brief chat with you to share some main messages we wanted you to think about. And you were able to weld that together in a short period of time, without much involvement from us. You knew exactly where we were going. You developed some key messages to share with us. We trusted you to get on with it and you got on with it.
“We’ve got to act on this now. It’s been a fantastic event, we’re all leaving energised and the key now is to bring this to some real life objectives. And no one is excluded. It’s really about adding value to Bristol-Myers Squibb and we can all play a part in that.
“You are thoughtful. You bring academic thinking to real-world situations. And you have energy and passion about what you do. I found it a really uplifting experience with some actionable steps that we can take today.”
“Gripping and very memorable!”
Bill Hennessy, Programme Director, London Business School
Thanks again, Steven. Great job as always on the Exxon Mobil programme last week. Here are just some of the comments from the participants.
The best seminar I have ever seen. Exciting, fun and very informative.
What an amazing presentation! Very dynamic, though provoking and interesting. interaction was helpful.
Excellent knowledge, relevance, insight, amusement, level of interaction, rapport with sudience, visual aids very memorable and useful.
Positively the best lecture/session I have ever been part of.
Very strong style. Gripping and very memorable.
“He’s a guru, a star”
KPMG partners programme, India
“The highlight of our conference”
David Bowen, Deputy Regional Director, NHS
A brief note to thank you for your presentation ‘Every Breath You Take – the Leadership Paradox’ which once again was the highlight of our conference. Delegates continue to listen furiously and communicate effectively and I cannot believe how all organisations present worked in partnership by holding hands and trusting one another whilst blindfolded!
Delegates indicated that they would have welcomed a longer allocation of time, and supported the concept of developing a one-day programme on leadership. Perhaps we can discuss this further when you find it convenient.
“An impact and a difference”
Chris Nash, Executive MBA student
Thank you for the positive contribution you’ve had on me and also for the confidence you instilled in us all. You showed us a level of presenting skills that we can aspire to and the passion and upbeat vitality that you brought into your lectures really made an impact and a difference.
I will always have memories of you as one of the ‘Men In Black’ and I fully expect you to keep protecting the Earth from the scum of the universe.
“A powerful set of tools”
The Alternative MBA Course Guide on Steven’s Leading Change programme
Personal power and communication skills. You’ve either got them or you haven’t. If yours need strengthening, Steven will engage and challenge you to find new ways of making an impact and making change happen. It’s a powerful set of tools for anyone aspiring to a leadership role.”
“An impact on the bottom line”
Gareth Morgan, Senior Vice President, Bristol-Myers Squibb
“When people work with you they can expect a full and frank discussion. You showed a broad understanding of our business. You modified your presentation to the topics that we’ve been talking about and that made it relevant to people. So I think other people working with you can expect to get some relevant support for whatever initiatives they have going on, too.
“I think what you did was help us to understand that we have the ability, we have the tools – we just need to use each other, because together we have more power. And also that we need to think differently and ask more questions.
“There is a significant financial benefit if we can do this and that comes not through reducing cost but by creating value for the organisation. If we can do things more efficiently AND if we can do things better, clearly it will have an impact on the bottom line.”
“Priceless”
Rami Makhzoumi, President and CEO, Future Pipe Industries
I always thought of executive programmes with great scepticism, yet your programme defied my prior beliefs and exceeded all expectations.
Your programme allowed me to re-evaluate my position in the world of business, by developing a structured perspective with which to view both my personal and my organisational goals.
You gave us all a rich experience AND the essential tools with which to go back to our organisations and really make a difference. This combination is priceless.
Tell me about your next event
I can’t promise I’m right for you. But what’s on your mind?