Top Workplace Culture Keynote Speaker.
↓ SPEAKING CLIENTS ↓
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“Smiley was an outstanding opening keynote speaker for us.”
- Meredith Rollins,
Executive Director, PCMA Foundation and Chief Community Officer, PCMA -
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“Smiley shared excellent stories and practical tips for our team on how to build human connections, support compassion and empathy in the hybrid world.”
- Veronica Rodriguez,
Sr. Manager Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Xilinx -
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“We loved Smiley’s authenticity, evidenced-based data, vulnerability and energy.”
- Cathy Hill,
Vice President Marketing & Product Management, Circa -
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“Smiley helped our team come up with new and exciting ideas for how to recruit and retain top talent."
- Scott Leatherman,
Vice President, SAP Silicon Valley -
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“Smiley is an entertaining, high energy, engaging, motivational, thought-provoking, behavior changing expert on workplace issues. He received stellar reviews.”
- Gina Ayllon, CAE,
SHRM Executive Director Northern California -
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“Smiley’s presentation on belonging in the workforce was phenomenal.”
- MetLife -
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“The message aligned perfectly with our strategy and values.”
- MassMutual
↑ TESTIMONIALS ↑
Smiley is one of the top workplace culture keynote speakers in the world. Smiley helps companies and teams build a culture of belonging, human connection, and team collaboration in the Age of AI.
The Future of Work is Human Connection.
In the Age of Artificial Intelligence, marked by rapid transformation, uncertainty, market volatility, and disconnection; only 20 percent of employees globally are engaged at work, costing the world economy $438 billion in lost productivity. 40 percent don’t feel connected to their teams and 40 percent don’t trust their coworkers. 50 percent of Americans are lonely. Half of workers are burned out. Employees spend less time with their teams, less time with their friends, and more time alone, than ever before.
In a lonely, nonstop, disengaged, overwhelmed workplace; with wall-to-wall Zoom meetings, 24/7 Teams messages, AI agents, and the rapid adoption of GenAI & ChatGPT; the value of meaningful human connection increases exponentially and the heart of business is about building a culture of belonging for your leaders, your teams, and your clients and customers. High-levels of employee belonging create a 56% increase in job performance, a 50% drop in turnover risk, and save a company $52 million a year.
Smiley’s practical keynotes provide an actionable toolkit for leaders to attract + retain top talent across generations, lead culture transformation, increase employee engagement + retention, build high-performing super-connected teams, build a culture of trust, psychological safety, and belonging, and drive growth in the future of work.
In under an hour, Smiley’s keynotes will give your team an easy-to-use, practical toolkit to create a positive culture of connection, collaboration, teamwork, and belonging at work.
Speaking Reels
Belonging in the Future of Work: Event Recap
Human Connection in the Age of AI: Event Recap
Culture of Human Connection: Event Recap
2025 Keynote Preview
2025 Speaker Reel
Keynote Topics.
How Leaders Can Increase Engagement + Retention, Motivate High-Performing Teams, Build High-Value Relationships, and Create Human Connection at Work
Driving Team Engagement and Culture Growth, Connection and Community in the Age of AI, Uncertainty, and Overwhelm
How to Be a Future-Ready Organization and Attract, Retain, and Engage Top Talent and Communicate Across Generations
Building High-Performing Teams to Embrace Change, Transform Culture and Drive Human-Centered Growth in the Future of Work
Building a Care Mindset to Ignite High-Performing Teams, Build Trusting Relationships, Empower Well-Being, and Thrive in the Future of Work
Speaking Clips
The Power of Making the Ask
Leading Teams in the Age of AI
Human Connection in the Age of AI
Team Psychological Safety
A Culture of Making the Ask
Create a Sense of Belonging
Communicate Across Generations
Flexibility at Work
Belonging is Everyone’s Job
Start Caring for Others
Culture of Care
Employee Engagement
The Business Value of Belonging
Culture Transformation
From Hustle to Human Connection
The Myth About Workplace Belonging
Audience Customization Example
Hybrid is How We Connect
8 Reasons to Book Smiley to Speak
Smiley’s motivational keynote talks are impact-driven and designed to increase workplace belonging.
All smiles, humble, kind, and drama-free.
Smiley delivers a memorable performance.
Seasoned Future of Work thought leader.
Resonates across generations with youthful expertise, positive energy, and practical tips.
Globally recognized expert on workplace culture, belonging, human connection & friendship.
Champion for human connection and building high-value relationships in the Age of AI.
Smiley goes above and beyond.
“One of the Top Human Resources Keynote Speakers.”
“One of the Top 12 Speakers who will inspire you.”
Empowering World-Class Leaders, Teams, and Organizations to Thrive
Next Steps to Book Smiley as your Workplace Culture Keynote Speaker
Reach Out
Complete the Speaker Request Form to share your event details and confirm Smiley’s availability.
Prep
We’ll schedule a pre-event call so you can share your event’s goals and how Smiley can best customize his presentation to meet your audience’s unique needs and priorities. If needed, we’ll also schedule a prep call two weeks before the event to go over logistics and A/V, and make sure everyone is ready to go.
Customize
Smiley will schedule several additional calls with leaders, clients, key stakeholders, or employees, so he can build their personal stories and wisdom into his presentation, to make it resonate perfectly with your audience.
In addition to delivering an outstanding and highly actionable motivational keynote presentation, Smiley will show up for your people. Whenever possible, he’ll stay for client dinners, attend post-event cocktail receptions, moderate Q&As or discussion groups, sign books, do video interviews or podcasts, and make cross-promotional social media posts.
Show Up
After his presentation, Smiley will share his slides and create a custom 1-pager with key takeaways, article links, recommended books, and follow-on resources for audiences to engage with after his talk. Smiley will review audience feedback, and is happy to discuss planning a 6-month follow-up discussion group or interactive workshop, so your team can keep fostering belonging at work, long after Smiley’s keynote.
