Ken Schmidt
Authentic leadership and customer loyalty expert Ken Schmidt had a pivotal role in Harley-Davidson’s turnaround and now delivers keynote speeches on the principles that made that transformation possible.
Ken Schmidt Booking & Availability
Speaking fees, availability and booking details for corporate events, keynotes and private appearances.
How do I book Ken Schmidt for a corporate event?
Use the Check Availability form above to send your proposed event date, location, audience size, event format and program goals. The Mollie Plotkin Group will follow up with availability and next steps.
What is Ken Schmidt’s speaking fee?
Ken Schmidt’s current speaking fee starts at $25,000. Final pricing can vary by date, location, event format and scope of the appearance.
Is Ken Schmidt available for my event date?
Submit your proposed date and event details and the Mollie Plotkin Group will confirm current availability.
Who is Ken Schmidt’s booking agent?
Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group to inquire about booking Ken Schmidt.
What types of events can Ken Schmidt be booked for?
Corporate events, conferences, leadership meetings, keynote speeches, workshops, fireside chats, private events and virtual programs may be available depending on the engagement.
Ken Schmidt Keynote Topics & Programs
Ken Schmidt speaks on business, growth and leadership through keynote presentations and related programs.
Make Some Noise: Change Directions, Open The Throttle and Dominate Your Marketplace
“Being known for what you do – no matter how well you do it – makes you a replaceable commodity,” says Ken Schmidt. “Competitive dominance comes when your market knows you for who you are, associates you with positive human attributes and rewards you with their loyalty.” This talk is rooted in the highly unconventional ideas that drove Harley-Davidson’s transformation and unlikely return to dominance, as Ken and his team shifted the company away from its commoditized “product-first” mindset to a fiercely committed “people-first” mindset that takes advantage of key drivers of human behavior. Ken’s high energy, humor, amazing visuals and actionable take-aways abound as he shows businesses of every size and scope how to tap into the behavioral drivers that ignite employee and customer passion, build marketplace preference and fuel tattoo-worthy levels of customer loyalty.
Key Audience Takeaways
- Discover the three questions that most directly impact your reputation and competitiveness
- Transform your company mindset toward being known for who you are vs. what you do
- Master how to harness drivers of human behavior to create preference and loyalty
- Uncover the secret to being memorable so customers refer you to others
- Learn the true meaning of misunderstood terms like “customer experience” and “loyalty”
Rev Up Your Reputation: Be Memorable, Preferred and Talked About
What does it take to get your customers to share compelling stories about your business and recommend it to others? Specifically, what would you want them to say? Engaging stories, paired with distinct and unexpected language, are highly memorable and help shape perceptions, boost advocacy, and drive demand. Ken Schmidt knows that powerful stories are essential for distancing your business from competitors and building a rock-solid reputation. In this presentation, Schmidt outlines simple, actionable strategies for companies to develop their own distinctive voice and create stories that resonate, leading to lasting differentiation and loyal, vocal customers. What are your customers saying about you right now?
Key Audience Takeaways
- Elevate the likeability of your business by crafting stories that delight customers
- Uncover the three core elements behind every memorable story that’s ever been told
- Learn how to craft vocabulary that breathes new life into the seemingly familiar or mundane
- Find your three most memorable and distinguishing storylines
- Discover simple tools that encourage employees to become storytellers
Thrive Among Thorns: Untapped Growth Opportunities for Financial Services
A startling presentation designed specifically for insurance, wealth advisory, banking and credit union professionals that is now Ken Schmidt’s second-most requested topic. Little differentiation among competitors and product offerings in a marketplace increasingly inclined to compare brands and self-manage via faceless digital platforms, means attracting, engaging and keeping clients has become a top priority.
Where others see futility and commoditization, Schmidt sees unprecedented opportunities for growth. He’ll show you simple techniques to make your business — and the people who work with you — stand out and be memorable, preferred and referred. And he’ll share how easy it is to delight clients and foster loyalty. The same techniques Ken pioneered to make Harley-Davidson the premiere brand in a commoditized industry and attract investors during its most challenging era are powerful, instantly applicable take-aways.
Ken Schmidt Biography & Credentials
It’s an impersonal world, where so many products and services are seen as easily-replaced, indistinct commodities. Whether you stand out or get lost in the crowd is a choice. A mindset. Ken Schmidt faced those same challenges himself and gained acclaim for his role in the extraordinary turnaround of the legendary Harley-Davidson Motor Company. He is also well-known for his keynote and motivational speaking. Ken Schmidt is available to be booked for corporate and private events. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group today to inquire about Ken Schmidt’s fees.
Want to book Ken Schmidt for an event?
Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group at (215) 995-0905 to book Ken Schmidt for corporate or private events, keynote speeches, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances. Our agency will work directly with your organization and our keynote speakers to create an unforgettable event.
The Mollie Plotkin Group is the leading keynote speakers agency and entertainment bureau bringing excitement to audiences, clients, and employees. We represent subject-matter experts in every possible field, so whether we’re your partner in creating a memorable meeting, or your meeting planner’s secret weapon in securing the perfect keynote speaker, we’re in this with you.
Ken Schmidt’s career in the motorcycle industry began in 1985 as a specialist in corporate positioning and media relations for the then-struggling Harley-Davidson. He needed to help the company restore its image, improve its competitiveness, and create demand for its motorcycles. Within a few short years, sales of Harley-Davidson motorcycles skyrocketed, and the company returned to prominence as one of the most respected, profitable, and frequently reported-on companies in the world.
Then in 1990, Ken became director of Harley-Davidson’s corporate and financial communications, serving as its primary spokesperson to the media and the financial communities. He frequently appeared in mainstream and business media to offer insights on nontraditional communications, customer attraction, and brand-building. His expertise and success at Harley-Davidson eventually led to consulting assignments and speaking invitations from all over the world.
Post Harley-Davidson Ventures
In 1997, Ken left Harley-Davidson to take an ownership position with a highly successful Chicago-based marketing firm, VSA Partners. In addition to Harley-Davidson, VSA served a virtual who’s who of the world’s best-known brands. Then in 1999, he sold his portion of VSA to start his own business, Ken Schmidt Company, to combine two of his greatest passions, motorcycling and speaking.
In addition to speaking and consulting, Ken is co-founder of Torque Sessions Leadership Training. Through a combination of hands-on training and interactive workshops, these sessions help individuals and organizations re-position themselves to become dominant competitors, maximize leadership effectiveness, build a people-first culture of innovation, and foster loyalty among customers and employees. In all of his endeavors, Ken brings an unconventional perspective that helps organizations and individuals reframe how they engage with their marketplace.
Ken is also the author of Make Some Noise: The Unconventional Road to Dominance and host of the Tailgating with Geniuses podcast.
Ken Schmidt’s Keynote Speaking
So how did Ken turn Harley-Davidson around? It started with a simple perspective. While times have changed, what humans want and need from the businesses they buy from and work for hasn’t.
In his high-energy speeches, Ken inspires companies and individuals to shift their thinking and ride a path to success by becoming memorable – not for what they do or what they make, but for how they connect with people. After all he has accomplished, Ken remains committed to his philosophy of standing out, taking risks, and having fun in both his personal and professional life. He says, “Never do what’s expected, make yourself as noticeably different as possible, and have a lot more fun than you’re supposed to.” Above all, organizations that hire Ken Schmidt receive an authentic, impactful keynote.
