KEN SCHMIDT

Authentic Leadership and Customer Loyalty Expert; Senior Role in Harley-Davidson Turnaround; and Author, Make Some Noise: The Unconventional Road to Dominance

SPEAKS ABOUT

Authentic Engagement • Strategic Storytelling • Tattoo-Worthy Customer Loyalty • Why People Buy • Creating Delight • Standing Out From The Competition • Leading a Cultural Revolution • Employee Retention & Engagement • Growth Mindset • Building a Personal Brand • Igniting Customer Passion

“Be known for who you are – not for what you do.”
- Ken Schmidt

Summary

It’s an impersonal world, where so many products and services are seen as easily-replaced, indistinct commodities. Standing out is a choice fueled by the right mindset and a compelling story. Ken Schmidt knows these challenges firsthand and gained acclaim for his role in the extraordinary turnaround of the legendary Harley-Davidson Motor Company. Ken transformed the company’s market position by answering three key strategic questions and shifting the narrative to distinguish their brand. While times have changed, what humans want and need from the businesses they buy from and work for hasn’t. 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 the powerful stories they tell and the authentic connections they forge. Ken is author of Make Some Noise: The Unconventional Road to Dominance. 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.

SPEECH DESCRIPTIONS

FULL THROTTLE – SHIFT GEARS, STAND OUT, AND 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 led the company’s shift away 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.

SAMPLE 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

REVVING UP REPUTATION: STORYTELLING THAT DRIVES SUCCESS

A compelling and memorable story does more than engage – it moves people, reshaping perceptions and driving change. Ken Schmidt, the mastermind of Harley-Davidson’s resurgence, understands that potent narratives do more than catch attention; they change minds and distinguish your business from look-alike competitors. Leadership’s role is the engine that drives this process forward, fostering a culture where storytelling becomes the rocket fuel for this change. In this presentation, Ken delivers a strategic framework for organizations to redefine their narratives, guiding leaders and teams to uncover the core of their organizational identity and craft stories from within and beyond their walls. Through vivid real-world examples, Ken illustrates how authentic storytelling can elevate brands to a place of prominence and trust. This keynote doesn’t just inspire; it redefines how organizations live out and communicate their uniqueness, forging indelible connections that turn casual customers into loyal champions.

Sample 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

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.

SAMPLE 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)

TESTIMONIALS

“Thank you for your energy, message and participation in our National Business meeting. You set the tone for our meeting and delivered an outstanding call to action that resonated with the audience. A lot of what you provided became part of our language ”

– Director, Strategic Marketing, WestRock

“I want to tell you how much people enjoyed your keynote. The LeadsCon/Access Intelligence staff and the other speakers I connected with specifically mentioned your talk as the highlight of the program. People loved it, and it was clear to see why. Your delivery was energetic and inspiring – the content was top-notch and thought-provoking.”

– President, Access Intelligence

“We very much appreciated the opportunity to include Ken as a key part in our rebrand. We were highly satisfied with how he was able to make everything tie together!”

– MassMutual

“Ken Schmidt was wonderful. We have heard so many positive comments from our attendees. I thoroughly enjoyed his insight and common sense approach to business. It really resonated when he mentioned that consumers are loyal to the people behind the business. His humanistic, common sense approach to business relates to all types of businesses.”

– Managing Director, CIBC Bank

“Absolutely phenomenal! Your session really got our members pumped up. You’re a true professional to work with.”

– Events Specialist, REALTORS® Association of Edmonton (RAE)

“Ken was amazing and our participants were extremely inspired and motivated by his keynote.”

– Director, Intel

“Your message content and delivery was fantastic! Spot on for our positioning today in the marketplace!”

– Chief Operating Officer, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield