Ron Johnson
Founder of Apple Stores and retail innovator, Ron Johnson shows organizations how to build cultures that inspire teams, drive innovation, and deliver exceptional customer experiences.
Ron Johnson Booking & Availability
Speaking fees, availability and booking details for corporate events, keynotes and private appearances.
How do I book Ron Johnson 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 Ron Johnson’s speaking fee?
Ron Johnson’s current speaking fee starts at $58,500. Final pricing can vary by date, location, event format and scope of the appearance.
Is Ron Johnson available for my event date?
Submit your proposed date and event details and the Mollie Plotkin Group will confirm current availability.
Who is Ron Johnson’s booking agent?
Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group to inquire about booking Ron Johnson.
What types of events can Ron Johnson 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.
Ron Johnson Keynote Topics & Programs
Ron Johnson speaks on business, corporate culture, innovation, leadership and retail business through keynote presentations and related programs.
Shop Different —The Untold Story and Timeless Lessons Behind Apple’s Most Unlikely Success
How imagination, intuition, and meaning drive industry redefining innovation.
When Apple announced it was opening stores, people gave them two years before they turned the lights out on a painful experiment. A decade later, Apple had reinvented retail and built a $20 billion dollar global retail business. In this masterclass on innovation, Ron Johnson shares his “playbook for big ideas.” He takes the audience behind the scenes of how the Apple Store was conceived in a warehouse with no blueprint, and how a relentless focus on loving customers through kindness changed the retail industry forever. Sharing untold stories of his relationship with Steve Jobs and his team, this keynote combines the entrepreneurial spirit of a startup with the strategic vision of a Fortune 500 leader. Ron unpacks the timeless principles of using your imagination, the power of intuition, and the courage required to reinvent a category. Whether you’re an entrepreneur building from the ground up or a leader looking to innovate within an established company, this talk provides a roadmap for how to use your imagination to create a legacy of innovation.
Key Takeaways:
- How to create big ideas by trusting imagination and intuition
- Ways to define meaning that motivates teams to do their best work
- Principles for reinventing industries through customer focused innovation
Ideal for: Innovators, entrepreneurs, retail companies, leaders, managers, marketers, and business strategy groups
Leading with Love: How a Culture Built on Kindness Creates Unbeatable Performance
How trust, kindness, and purpose create cultures where people do their best work.
While technology continues to transform the workplace, Ron Johnson argues that the future of work will not be defined by AI, but by culture and how people work together. Drawing on his groundbreaking work as he did creating the Apple Stores and bringing design to Target, he reveals the secret ingredient behind his greatest successes: making the concept of love visible to employees and customers. This heartfelt and motivating talk shows how leading with trust, kindness, and a clear sense of purpose can build a culture where employees feel a sense of belonging and are empowered to do their best work. He shares actionable insights on how to create environments that not only drive record-breaking performance but also foster deep loyalty from both teams and customers. This is a must-hear for leaders who believe that a “people-first” culture is the ultimate competitive advantage.
Key Takeaways:
- How to build a culture rooted in trust, kindness, and purpose
- Ways to create belonging that drives performance and loyalty
- Strategies for making people the central driver of business success
Ideal for: Leaders, executives, and anyone focused on organizational culture and people management
Ron Johnson Biography & Credentials
Ron Johnson is a retail visionary best known for creating the Apple Stores and bringing design-driven retail to Target through its first collaboration with architect Michael Graves. Widely regarded as one of the boldest retail innovators of the last 30 years, he shares lessons on innovation, customer experience, and building meaningful workplace cultures.
A master storyteller with a warm and approachable style, Ron draws from his leadership experience and transformative work in retail to deliver insights that resonate with organizations seeking to inspire teams and achieve lasting impact. Ron Johnson is available to be booked for corporate and private events. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group today to inquire about Ron Johnson’s fees.
Want to book Ron Johnson for an event?
Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group at (215) 995-0905 to book Ron Johnson 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.
Retail Innovation and Industry Impact
Ron Johnson is best known for creating the Apple Stores, the first retail strategy in history to reach $1 billion in annual sales in only three years. He also brought design to Target by leading the first retail collaboration with architect Michael Graves, reshaping how consumers engage with everyday products.
He later took on the challenge of transforming JCPenney into “America’s Favorite Store,” offering valuable lessons on innovation, risk, and leadership through change.
Leadership, Storytelling, and Thought Leadership
A graduate of Harvard Business School, Ron is an engaging speaker who delivers keynotes focused on building cultures that inspire employees and fuel continuous innovation. His insights are grounded in real-world leadership experience and are delivered through compelling stories that connect with audiences.
Ron’s upcoming book, Shop Different, will be published in 2026 to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the first Apple Store. He has been featured in major publications including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Financial Times, Fortune, and USA Today, and is a frequent guest on CNBC and Fox Business Network.
