<p>The former Director of Communications for Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Ken Schmidt has advised executive leaders of many of the world’s best-known brands, delivered more than one thousand keynote presentations, written two best-selling books and created a popular business podcast.</p><p>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.</p><p>Ken Schmidt faced those same challenges himself and gained acclaim for his role in the extraordinary turnaround of the legendary Harley-Davidson Motor Company. That transformation was based on a change in mindset and a focus on answering three key strategic questions. While times have changed, what humans want and need from the businesses they buy from and work for hasn’t.</p><p>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.</p><p>Ken is author of <em>Make Some Noise: The Unconventional Road to Dominance</em>. He’s also host of the “Tailgating with Geniuses” podcast and co-founder of Torque Sessions Leadership Training. In all of his endeavors, Ken brings an unconventional perspective that helps organizations and individuals reframe how they engage with their marketplace.</p>
Authentic Leadership and Customer Loyalty Expert; Senior Role in Harley-Davidson Turnaround; and Author, <em>Make Some Noise: The Unconventional Road to Dominance</em>
<ul><li><strong>Make Some Noise: Change Directions, Open The Throttle and Dominate Your Marketplace</strong></li><li>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. </li><li>Audience Takeaways:<ul><li>Discover the three questions that most directly impact your reputation and competitiveness</li><li>Transform your company mindset toward being known for who you are vs. what you do</li><li>Master how to harness drivers of human behavior to create preference and loyalty</li><li>Uncover the secret to being memorable so customers refer you to others</li><li>Learn the true meaning of misunderstood terms like “customer experience” and “loyalty”</li></ul></li><li><strong>Rev Up Your Reputation: Be Memorable, Preferred and Talked About</strong></li><li>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</li><li>Audience Takeaways:<ul><li>Elevate the like-ability of your business by crafting stories that delight customers</li><li>Uncover the three core elements behind every memorable story that’s ever been told</li><li>Learn how to craft vocabulary that breathes new life into the seemingly familiar or mundane</li><li>Find your three most memorable and distinguishing storylines</li><li>Discover simple tools that encourage employees to become storytellers</li></ul></li><li><strong>Thrive Among Thorns: Untapped Growth Opportunities for Financial Services</strong></li><li>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. </li></ul>