Local Keynote and Motivational Speakers In Chicago

Looking for a motivational keynote speakers in Chicago? Chicago is a popular destination for conferences and events, and local speakers from the area are likely to have greater flexibility in their schedule and be available at an affordable, local rate. You don't have to go far to find a high-caliber business or motivational speakers in Chicago. From professors and CEOs to military leaders and media personalities, Chicago is home to some of the world’s most innovative minds and inspirational figures. 
 

Leading Authorities speakers bureau represents many great speakers from the Chicago, Illinois area, on topics ranging from inspiration and motivation to business and leadership. Take a look at our top local speakers in Chicago below.

Let us know if you are interested in one of our speakers for your event.

Former Director, Executive Recruiting at Google and Holistic Leadership Strategist

Fees
  • Local: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US East: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US West: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Europe: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Asia: $55,001 - $75,000*
Dedicated to creating the conscious workplace for tomorrow, Virginia “Ginny” Clarke is a seasoned executive recruiter who has advised at the highest levels of corporate America for decades. A proven expert in driving diverse leadership, she is the former director of executive recruiting at Google, where she led the company’s diversity, non-tech recruiting, and leadership internal mobility teams – finding and hiring senior leaders across the company. She also built a scaled internal mobility program for Google’s senior leaders and designed much of the infrastructure that supports their executive recruiting function today. In speeches, Clarke draws on her unparalleled experience assessing thousands of executives inside corporate C-Suites and boardrooms to bring a unique, holistic five-dimensional approach to true leadership that is essential now more than ever. She delivers “no-holds-barred” discussions on the root causes that lead to a lack of diversity in organizations, and provides the integrated solutions that anyone can use to affect change.

Former White House Press Secretary, United Airlines CCO, & Well Known Political Commentator

Fees
    Please Inquire
From town hall meetings on the campaign trail in Iowa to private meetings in the Oval Office, Josh Earnest spent a decade advising and advocating for President Obama. Today, he takes audiences behind the scenes and offers his engaging and honest analysis of the current (and future) political landscape.

Chief Economist, KPMG; Founder and CEO of DS Economics

Fees
  • Local: $20,001 - $35,000*
  • US East: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • US West: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Europe: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • Asia: $55,001 - $75,000*
As one of the most sought-after and most-quoted economists in the world, Diane Swonk has more than 30 years of experience in financial services. She is the Founder and CEO of DS Economics and, for 11 years, the senior managing director and chief economist for Mesirow Financial. She has sat on advisory committees to high-level governmental banking authorities, and has also earned many awards over her career, including being listed as one of the “Top Forecasters in the Country” by The Wall Street Journal. She addresses trade issues, regulation, taxes, policy and the markets, and many other issues affecting business and the economy.

TV Host, Restaurateur, and Wine Expert

Fees
  • Local: Under $10,000*
  • US East: Under $10,000*
  • US West: Under $10,000*
  • Europe: Please Inquire
  • Asia: Please Inquire
Born and raised in Monterey, California, it was only natural that Alpana Singh would develop a deep-rooted interest in wine. At 26, she passed the final level of the Master Sommelier exam—a feat achieved by only 269 people in the world. She's the first Indian woman and the youngest female ever to do so. She went on to serve as a Sommelier for highly-acclaimed restaurants in Chicago before opening three of her own. In lively, fun, and informative talks, Alpana shares her inspiring story of rising from the daughter of Fijian immigrants to becoming a successful entrepreneur and TV personality all while navigating a male-dominated profession. She give audiences a glimpse into the life as a Sommelier as she teaches them how to taste wines “blind,” purchase bottles like a professional, and pair with meals for any occasion.

Inspiration for the Film, The Pursuit of Happyness

Fees
  • Local: $75,001 and up*
  • US East: $75,001 and up*
  • US West: $75,001 and up*
  • Europe: $75,001 and up*
  • Asia: $75,001 and up*
Conquering grave challenges to become a successful entrepreneur, Chris Gardner is an avid motivational and inspirational speaker, addressing the keys to overcoming obstacles and breaking cycles. He is great for groups looking for a speaker who has “walked the walk” and accomplished things that no one else thought they would be able to do. He is also a passionate philanthropist whose work has been recognized by many esteemed organizations and discusses commitment and fatherhood.

Chief Growth Officer, Publicis Groupe & Chairman of the Tobaccowala Foundation

Fees
  • Local: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • US East: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • US West: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • Europe: Please Inquire
  • Asia: Please Inquire
Over his 37-year career, Rishad Tobaccowala has worked across almost every area of marketing including brand advertising, media, database, as well as direct and interactive marketing. As a pioneer in digital marketing, Tobaccowala helped create one of the first interactive groups and digital agencies 20 years ago and has helped launch a series of initiatives over the years from groups focused on gaming, social, mobile, and search engine marketing. Starcom IP, Play, Giant Step, SMG Search, and Denuo are some of the brands Tobaccowala helped incubate.

Former CEO of McDonald’s and Executive Chairman Walgreen Boots Alliance

Fees
  • Local: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • US East: $55,001 - $75,000*
  • US West: $75,001 and up*
  • Europe: $75,001 and up*
  • Asia: $75,001 and up*
As McDonald’s Corporation’s legendary vice chairman and CEO, Jim Skinner led a turnaround at the world’s largest food service company, leaving the chain with the best financial performance in its history. One of the architects of McDonald’s worldwide “Plan to Win” revitalization plan launched in 2003, he managed a successful shift in strategy that led to increased sales, reinvented menus, modernized restaurants, and innovative new offerings. Repeatedly hailed by media as the “CEO of the Year, Skinner addresses business strategy, turnaround stories, leadership, and managing change.

Former President and CEO of Walgreens

Fees
  • Local: $35,001 - $55,000*
  • US East: $55,001 - $75,000*
  • US West: $55,001 - $75,000*
  • Europe: $75,001 and up*
  • Asia: $75,001 and up*
Greg Wasson is the former CEO of Walgreens, the largest drugstore chain in the U.S. He transformed an iconic company and helped change an entire industry. Known for his willingness to take risks, he spearheaded a string of deals that moved the company into new markets, including the acquisition of Duane Reade and Alliance Boots – creating the world’s first global health and wellness company. He also delivered returns exceeding the S&P 500 and generated more free cash flow than the previous 98 combined. Wasson discusses leading a global business and healthcare.

Co-Founder and Executive Editor of RealClearPolitics

Fees
  • Local: Under $10,000*
  • US East: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • US West: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • Europe: $10,001 - $20,000*
  • Asia: $10,001 - $20,000*
Tom Bevan is the co-founder and executive editor of RealClearPolitics. A political junkie, he writes regular features for the site and other top-tier publications and is frequently featured as a political analyst on Fox News, CNN, CNBC, the BBC, and is the co-author of The RealClearPolitics Political Download: Election 2012. In his presentations, he addresses politics and elections and offers the historical context of today’s political events.
Bring the Best Motivational & Leadership Speakers to Your Chicago Stage

Whether you want McDonald’s former CEO to share business insights or would like to have your audience energized by the man who inspired the highly-acclaimed filmThe Pursuit of Happyness—our team of experts will work with you from start to finish to help you find the ideal keynote speaker and make sure all your needs are fully met throughout the process. We'll do research for you, talk with you about trending topics, make tailored speaker recommendations to fit your event and company, hunt down hard-to-find talent, quote fees, and handle travel and logistics so you can focus on the big picture.

Read through our extensive roster of keynote speakers in the Chicago, Illinois area above and click into the individual speaker profile pages for more details on each speaker.

Whether you're searching for motivational speakers in Chicago, best celebrity speakers in Chicago, or business speakers in Chicago, we would love to answer any questions provide more information about our keynote speakers. Contact our team today!

To get in touch with someone on our team right away regarding local speakers in Chicago, you can also fill out the form at the bottom of the page, email us at Contact@Leadingauthorities.comlive chat with a member of our team online, or call us at 1-800-SPEAKER.

If you are looking for a specific speaker not listed above, please contact our team as we specialize in placing hard-to-find and in-demand keynote speakers from Chicago, Illinois, and across the globe, which may not be listed on our website.