Keynote Presentations
While I enjoy facilitating training sessions, coaching individuals, and consulting on organizational issues, the former actor in me LOVES reaching larger audiences through my keynote presentations. So if you’re looking for an entertaining and educational presentation for your company or nonprofit organization, I hope you’ll consider me. Please take a look at the following keynote topics and let me know if you have any questions – or if you’re interested in booking me for an upcoming event.
Chasing Windmills
To celebrate turning 50 years old in 2014, I ran 52* full marathon races (1,362.40 miles) during the calendar year as a fundraiser for the Colorado Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “Chasing Windmills” chronicles that incredible experience for audience members. Based on the imagery of Cervantes’ classic novel Don Quixote and Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey, this presentation will both inspire and entertain audience members – while encouraging them to undergo their own heroic journeys to wisdom and service. During that journey, they will discover their own windmills to chase…even if everyone else calls them crazy for doing so.
* I originally planned to run 50 full marathons but ran two extra marathons to honor Alzheimer’s caregivers, who “have to go the extra mile each and every day.”
Marathon Leadership®
Designed for corporate, non-profit, or community leaders, this presentation focuses on the 26.2 Lessons Every Leader Must Learn and Live, beginning with the most important: “The ‘point to’ being a leader is serving others.” By incorporating humor, real-life examples, and the most recent research on leadership, “Marathon Leadership®” will motivate and educate audience members who want to improve their leadership skills – whether they’re a marathoner, recreational runner, or self-avowed “couch potato” who doesn’t like to drive 26.2 miles, let alone run that distance.
The Emotionally Intelligent Leader
Since Daniel Goleman’s Emotional Intelligence: Why It Can Matter More than IQ burst on the leadership-development scene in 1995, the importance of EQ in determining the success (or failure) of a leader has been empirically proven by numerous studies. And as a certified EQ coach and facilitator, I wholeheartedly agree with the research, having personally witnessed this time and time again. “The Emotionally Intelligent Leader” introduces audience members to the five realms and 15 components of this fascinating and critical leadership concept in a fun, yet provocative, narrative.
From Managing a Machine to Leading in a Living System
Although we’re now in the second decade of the 21st-century, far too many leaders still run their organizations from a 19th-century perspective. This outdated approach prevents those leaders from effectively dealing with a host of complex challenges, including: a volatile global economy, significant changes in workplace demographics, increased shareholder expectations, and an accelerated rate of technological change that is unparalleled in world history. Deeply profound, but also highly practical, “From Managing a Machine to Leading in a Living System” encourages audience members to re-examine – and ultimately reframe – their entire mindset and approach to leading their organizations.
Talking ‘Bout My Generation
This presentation is designed to help audience members better understand and manage the unique characteristics that members of different generations bring to the workplace. Specifically, I introduce the three generations that constitute the American workforce (Baby Boomer, Generation X, and Millennial) including each generation’s strengths and weaknesses as employees. Then I discuss how to recruit, develop, motivate, retain, and communicate with workers from each of the generations. My most popular keynote, “Talking ‘bout my Generation” will have audience members laughing and scrambling to take notes on how to bridge the workplace generational gap.
Testimonials
“My work with David has been exhilarating…and painful. It is never easy to admit one’s shortcomings to others – let alone begin the difficult challenge of working on them. But with David’s guidance and compassion, I’ve made tremendous progress (at least that’s what my friends and family tell me).”
– J.S., Vice President of Finance at a Fortune 500 company
“David’s leadership, change-management, and organizational-development work at Gogo has been instrumental in helping us improve both our employee engagement and execution. I know we’re a better organization thanks to his work with us. He has a vast repertoire of interesting, engaging and relevant material to organizations looking to grow and mature. He’s also an excellent executive coach who has helped me personally, and my leadership team, develop leadership skills.”
– John Wade, COO of Gogo
“Dr. Knapp’s extensive knowledge and experience with this subject area was evident. Also, he was very dynamic and kept the group engaged. I would welcome the opportunity to take additional seminars with him to help me better understand myself and others.”
– Participant in “He Said, She Said” workshop
“Dr. Knapp is a fantastic facilitator – he uses great examples that make the topic real. He related well to our group and encouraged us to ponder the tough issues we face, teaching us new ways to approach the problem and the people involved. His information was very helpful on many levels.”
– M.L., Branch Manager, Bank of America
“I loved the relevant examples and group interactions, and Dr. David is both knowledgeable and entertaining. This definitely was the best “soft-skills” training I’ve ever attended.”
– Participant in “Marathon Leadership®” session at Nisum Technologies
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