What does it take to be one of the most famous motivational speakers of our time? Becoming a well known speaker does not happen overnight.
There is a set of criteria that separates a good motivational speaker from an influential motivational speaker. Some go above and beyond, inspiring every audience that they’ve spoken to. Additionally, these speakers have an extremely prolific background and are the most popular speakers in their respective industries.
Speakers of this tier are a rarity, but that is precisely why they are so well known. They are the definitive icons of their industries and are coveted by meeting planners all over the world.
These are the most famous motivational speakers, and they are the full package. People want confident stage energy with captivating keynote discussions that engage the audience. But, they also want a speaker that has the resume to back it up. These famous motivational speakers have both, making them some of the biggest names out there. When it comes to influential speakers, these ones are the cream of the crop.
That’s why these are the most popular speakers of 2022.
Barbara Corcoran
Barbara Corcoran is the founder of The Corcoran Group, a real estate firm that she started on a $1000 loan. Corcoran would eventually sell this company in 2001 for $66 million. Barbara is the executive producer and one of the “sharks” on ABC’s hit TV show Shark Tank.
Organizations across the globe hire Barbara Corcoran to speak at events because of her entrepreneurial expertise and prolific media presence. Her relatable success story, and TV stardom have made her one of the most famous motivational speakers of the decade.
One of the speeches that Barbara gives, is her success story itself. Barbara Corcoran was not exactly the ideal picture of future success as she received straight D’s throughout high school. Furthermore, Barbara had been through 20 different jobs by the time she was 23. Yet still, she has become one of the most successful entrepreneurs of the past several decades.
Relatable stories are motivating stores. Her story is bona fide proof that anyone can find success if they really put their mind to it.
Corcoran is a highly demanded speaker because of her excellent leadership workshops. In these workshops, Barbara helps salespeople, managers, and owners lead their companies to greater success!
She is no stranger to the tough times that many businesses deal with. Barbara led and grew her business through three different recessions. She knows how to adapt to unpredictable markets, and offers advice to companies going through difficult times.
Barbara is the perfect keynote speaker for a business that is determined to grow and become stronger as a whole. Her backstory is as entertaining as it is awe-inspiring. The advice that Barbara offers will last you and your employees a lifetime!
Dan Harris
Having joined ABC News in 2000, Dan Harris quickly gained notoriety for his daring in-person coverage of current events, such as the coverage he provided for the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina. However, to Dan, his career would ultimately be defined by a panic attack that he suffered while live on-air in June of 2004.
This incident became the pivotal moment of his life, prompting him to re-evaluate himself, embracing meditation and sobriety. For Harris, meditation was integral to increasing his happiness and getting his life back on track.
According to Dan, “this incident was the culmination of something that had been building for years, something I never stopped to address.”
Dan Harris is now one of the most famous motivational speakers around, delivering speeches on the benefits of meditation. He is currently in high demand because, in 2022, people see the tangible benefits of having a mindfulness and meditation expert speak to their company.
Having worked in a highly competitive field such as journalism, Dan gives speeches on how to balance life with a demanding job. In his book, 10 Percent Happier, Harris gives a full, detailed account of this incident, and also how he eventually found a balance between his career and personal life.
This book was a phenomenal success, resulting in Harris becoming a #1 New York Times Best-Selling Author.
A well-known motivational speaker and meditative expert, Dan shows audiences the clear benefits that consistent meditation can offer. This is another reason why corporations everywhere love Dan, because he offers practical advice on how to become a happier, more well-rounded individual.
He is a meditative and mindfulness expert, a bestselling author, and a former ABC news anchor. Hire him today and see the difference one good speaker can make!
Marcus Allen
“The Basketball CEO,” Marcus Allen, is a former professional basketball player and the current CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters Independence Region. Marcus is trusted by Fortune 500 companies all over the country as both a sales motivational speaker and DE&I speaker.
With his successful basketball career and leadership within the nonprofit world, Marcus Allen has made a name for himself. He is currently one of the most famous motivational speakers because of his expert background, engaging stage presence, and the content of his keynotes.
After being both a professional basketball player and CEO of several different non-profit companies, Marcus Allen has mastered what it takes to become a true leader. This is exactly what his keynote, “The Five I’s of Leadership,” is all about. Five different ways in which you can become a better leader, starting today.
Aside from his tips on becoming a better leader, Marcus gives tons of other keynotes that are all centered around growing and improving your business. Allen knows that the key to growing any business is replicating what has worked in the past. His keynote, “Three Tools to Replicate Success,” talks about how commitment, authenticity, and compassion are the three traits one must acquire to continue to grow their business.
Companies everywhere are loving the advice that Marcus gives, and it’s no wonder that he’s become one of the most influential speakers of this generation.
Contact The Mollie Plotkin Group to hire Marcus for your next event!
John Roesch
John Roesch is a Hollywood legend, through and through. He is responsible for the handcrafted sound effects of over 400 films including classics like E.T., Star Wars, and Indiana Jones. One of the progenitors of Foley Art, John’s name has been synonymous with the niche profession for the past several decades.
His keynotes on behind the scenes in Hollywood are fascinating, as John demonstrates that what we hear in films doesn’t always match up with what we see.
This is the crux of what John conveys in his keynotes. That there is always more to a situation than what you're seeing, and as a Foley Artist John has to be able to see beyond the surface of every situation in order to do his job.
For example, the classic sound of bones breaking in movies is oftentimes replicated by capturing the sound of celery sticks being snapped. When John did Foley for the movie E.T., Stephen Spielberg wanted E.T. 's body movements to sound “liquidy and alien.” Interestingly, John came up with the idea to use raw liver sliding around in its package to replicate that sound.
This is why people absolutely love John, because of his ability to seamlessly combine trivia about your favorite movies, while also still providing a relevant and encouraging message. As one of the most famous motivational speakers around, John’s career is proof that the smallest details make the greatest difference.
His speeches are equal parts informative and entertaining because he has one of the most interesting professions on the planet. Currently, he is the lead Foley Artist at Skywalker Ranch, George Lucas’ dedicated movie studio.
Hire John today and meet a real Hollywood legend.
David Kwong
“How the heck did he do that?!”
Is what you’ll be saying to yourself, right after attending one of David Kwong’s exhilarating performances.
David Kwong has made a name for himself as a cruciverbalist of The New York Times, as well as an internationally acclaimed illusionist and magician. Known as “The Enigmatist,” David is a performer who combines magic with crossword puzzles, creating an experience that feels unique every single time.
Kwong is not only a fantastic entertainer, but he’s also great for organizations that are looking to build a stronger team. Solving his puzzles is a collaborative effort that requires teamwork, strengthening the relationships between employees.
David regularly speaks at TED Talks, and discusses the science behind why our brain is fooled, to reveal the secrets behind the most famous illusions. The perfect keynote for learning how to think more creatively.
David Kwong is a well known motivational speaker and entertainer. He leaves every audience he speaks to dumbfounded.
If you play Wordle, you have seen David Kwong’s viral video, How to Win at Wordle Every Time.
In addition to his puzzle contributions to the New York Times, David also creates puzzles for the Los Angeles Times as well as the Wall Street Journal.
As a favorite of small businesses and corporations alike, David is currently one of the most booked speakers out there.
Annika Sorenstam
Annika Sorenstam is the most accomplished female golfer in the world, and overall, one of the highest ranking professional golfers. She is an inspiration to the athletic world, and her philanthropic endeavors have helped to promote healthier lifestyles for young people.
She is the only female golfer to break 60 in a tournament, earning her the nickname Mrs. 59. Moreover, in 2003 she became the first female to play in a PGA tournament since 1945. Over the course of her 15 year hall of fame career, she has amassed 89 worldwide victories
Sorenstam is a phenomenal motivational speaker, business speaker, and gender equality speaker. Annika has inspired audiences around the world to be better, stronger, and more resilient in the face of adversity. Annika was no stranger to backlash and misogyny from both the media and other athletes, as she was one of the few women to be competing in a sport traditionally dominated by men. That, combined with the fact that she was setting records and making a name for herself made her an easy target.
Despite this though, she rose to the top. In her keynotes, Annika shows audiences how she turned this negativity into energy that propelled to be the best athlete she could be. Everyone has been in a situation where the odds seem stacked against them, and that’s exactly why this sort of advice is so useful.
Annika is a well known motivational speaker in the area of gender equality. The fact that she has rewritten the history of sports as one of the best golfers, means that she is a beacon for female athletes and leaders everywhere.
Companies everywhere love Annika Sorenstam, because she is an inspirational athlete and incredible motivational speaker.
Phil Rosenthal
He is the creator of the hit TV sitcom, Everybody Loves Raymond, as well as the star of the Netflix series Somebody Feed Phil. Philip has also taken several acting roles over the years, and has made frequent appearances on the show Curb Your Enthusiasm and 30 Rock.
In addition to his prolific background in Hollywood, Philip Rosenthal has also become a well known motivational speaker. The main idea that Phil tries to capture in his keynotes, is to do what you love. An actor, producer, and eventually food critic/travel enthusiast, Philip has constantly strived to make his passions become his career. Companies love him for this reason, because he’s not only entertaining, but he delivers a beautiful message.
Rosenthal is one of the most famous motivational speakers out there, and he covers subjects not only on his life in Hollywood, but on entrepreneurship and the world of philanthropy.
Philip’s recent success within the food genre has prompted him to partner with several food related philanthropic organizations. Moreover, all of the profits from Rosenthal’s merchandise go to Food Forward. This is an non-profit organization that helps to distribute food to those in need.
Philip’s career pivot from a sitcom producer, to the star of his own travel and food show is fascinating. His career is evidence that people should not feel bound to a certain industry.
Vince Papale
If this name sounds familiar to you, that’s because Vince Papale has one of the most legendary athletic careers of all time. His one of a kind story is the subject of the Walt Disney film, Invincible, starring Mark Wahlberg.
Papale was invited to play football for the Philadelphia Eagles at the age of 30 years old. This made Vince the oldest rookie ever in the history of the NFL to have not played football in college.
As a well known keynote speaker, Vince provides keynotes about his time in the NFL. Vince tells the real story of how he became "Invincible." Audiences love hearing his incredible underdog story, and Papale masterfully ties it up into a lesson about perseverance. A philosophy that can be applied to any area of one's life.
Additionally, corporations love Vince for his ability to create stronger teams of individuals. A former special teams captain during his time in the NFL, Papale knows how to create stronger teams.
Papale’s athletic career and his excellent keynotes have made him one of the most famous motivational speakers out there.
Jay Shetty
Jay Shetty is currently one of the most influential speakers out there. He has been named to Forbes 30 under 30 in 2017 and has positioned himself as a major media influencer. Jay has partnered with several different organizations to create corporate training content on mindfulness within the workplace.
Not many people go from business school, straight to the monk monastery. Yet, this is exactly what Jay Shetty did.
After graduating from CASS Business School in London, Jay decided to live as a monk throughout India and Europe. During this time he helped build sustainable villages and food programs which distributed over 1 million meals per day.
Jay demonstrates that the lessons he has learned as a monk can be applied anywhere. His book, Think Like a Monk, came out in April 2020 and has become a New York Times bestseller.
In his keynotes, Jay teaches audiences how to practice mindfulness and how that contributes to a happier life. Jay is in incredibly high demand, particularly because people see the obvious benefits of hiring a mindfulness speaker. Companies see that speakers like this ultimately have a positive effect on their employees mental health.
Jay has spoken to some of the most notable companies to date, such as Google, Facebook, HSBC, and National Geographic. Shetty is repeatedly asked to come out to these high-level corporations, because they see him as an asset. Jay helps these companies perform better, achieve more, and the type of training that he provides is invaluable.
Additionally, his podcast, On Purpose, is the number one wellness podcast in the world! In this podcast, Jay sits down with a different expert each episode, and cover a range of topics regarding healthier habits that can lead to a more fulfilled life.
An incredibly well known motivational speaker, Jay has had one of the most unique speaking careers of the past decade.
Mel Robbins
Mel Robbins is a life and career coach, as well as the host of the incredibly popular Mel Robbins Podcast. She has an incredible social media presence with 2.4 million followers on Instagram, Mel Robbins is currently one of the most well known motivational speaker.
Throughout her career Mel has focused on helping others, whether that be within their personal lives, or within their careers.
Robbins started to become a well known motivational speaker through her TEDx speeches. Astonishingly, her keynote, How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over, has garnered over 20 million views on the TEDx website. In this keynote, Robbins offers advice on how to lead a happier, healthier life with simple strategies.
Her presentations range from discussions about women in leadership, to developing better corporate cultures. Since her TED Talks have gone viral, Mel Robbins has been in high demand as a famous speaker.
Robbins is a former attorney, successful corporate executive, leader, author, podcaster, and one of the most sought after speakers of 2022.
How Can You Hire These Famous Motivational Speakers?
There is a reason these speakers have climbed to this level of notoriety. They are some of the best out there. They inspire every group, leaving a substantial impact on employees, and how they view their role.
These are the most famous motivational speakers, and they are normally very hard to book. But you can hire them today through the Mollie Plotkin Group!
