Ken Schmidt

Ken Schmidt Speaking Topics

• 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.

  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?

  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
  • Tap into underutilized opportunities to share stories
  • Discover simple tools that encourage employees to become storytellers

Full Throttle - Shift Gears, Stand Out & Cruise to the Top

“No matter what we sell, make, or do, we’re a commodity to people who don’t know us,” says Ken Schmidt. Companies who understand that and change their mindset to engage customers differently will win big. Authenticity stands out in today’s impersonal world, and Ken unpacks a roadmap for creating an unshakable emotional connection with customers. This talk is rooted in the ideas that drove Harley-Davidson’s incredible transformation and return to dominance as Ken and his team shifted the company from focusing on product features and instead leaned into the key drivers of human behavior. As it did, H-D’s sales, profitability, and loyalty skyrocketed. Ken’s high energy and humor punctuate this talk as he shows businesses of every size and scope how to align everyone in the organization around a set of values that ignite customer passion, maximize sales growth, and stand out in their marketplace.

AUDIENCE TAKEAWAYS:

• Discover the three questions that should drive every decision to protect and enhance your reputation
• Transform the company mindset towards being known for who you are vs. what you do
• Harness the three drivers of human behavior to create unshakable loyalty
• Gain ways to be memorable so customers tell your story to others – in person and on social media
• Elevate your business by humanizing it and delivering delight

Gear Up: Fast Track Your Career

“How do you want to be talked about and what are you doing to make that happen?” Ken Schmidt reminds people that we are a story-telling species, and getting noticed by customers or even in your own organization is about being memorable. Saying or doing what people expect doesn’t make you – or your business – stand out. In this talk, Ken shows how to make a lasting impact. It starts with answering three key questions about how you want to be remembered. Ken reminds audiences that what people remember about you is dependent on how you make them feel about themselves. It’s more important to be interested – not interesting. Ken shares lessons learned from a celebrated career at Harley-Davidson and beyond to show how to build a personal brand that will fast-track your career in today’s dynamic landscape.

AUDIENCE TAKEAWAYS:

• Identify your unique qualities and how you want to be remembered
• Hear ways to make others feel good about themselves
• Learn how to take an active role in meetings and actively participate
• Understand that by encouraging others to share their stories, you can then share yours
• Ways to continuously improve your personal brand by focusing on R&R (Remember & Repeat)