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Brian Burkhart

"Just because you do something frequently, doesn’t mean you’re an expert.” — Brian Burkhart

A sought-after consultant and keynote speaker, Brian works with some of the world’s leading brands, including Google, Red Bull, Amazon, Northern Trust, McDonald’s, Discover, Jim Beam, Coca-Cola, Stryker, OpenText, United Airlines, Citibank, John Deere and many more.

He’s prepped 10 firms that have appeared on TV’s Shark Tank and worked with dozens of TED presenters, CEO’s, authors, renowned personalities, and entrepreneurs around the globe.

 In addition to his extensive corporate experience, Brian enjoyed six years as an adjunct lecturer at Northwestern University’s prestigious Farley Center for Entrepreneurship, in cooperation with the Kellogg School of Management. Today, Brian regularly collaborates with students and faculty at the Illinois Institute of Technology, the MIT of the Midwest.

 Brian’s first book, Stand for Something: The Power of Building A Brand People Authentically Love, was an Amazon #1 bestseller and you can regularly catch him as the host or guest on many preeminent podcasts.

 A former Disney cast member, as well as the host of The Hot Hamburger, a corporate game show produced by McDonald’s famous training entity ‘Hamburger University’, Brian has traveled to 51 countries and counting, regularly attributes Aristotle, Socrates and Plato[CC1] , and deeply believes in the power of love over hate. 

 Morocco.  (the answer to the question you’re most certainly thinking)

 His highly engaging, charismatic on-stage presence can be traced to his work as a producer and creative director. Knowing what the audience craves and providing an experience that’s both smart and interesting are Brian’s true hallmarks.

 He and his wife Shawna are ceramic artists who can often be found covered in clay at their studio in Scottsdale, AZ, or hiking one of the many local trails. A die-hard fan of the beloved Chicago Bears, Brian is a collector of classic Japanese woodblock prints and a self-described obnoxious foodie.

  • Corporate Communications • Presentation skills • Brand building

  • Keynote   Workshop   Interview   Breakout   Panel

  • • Effortless Communications

    • Powerful Presentations

TESTIMONIALS

"Brian is one of those rare people who fundamentally changes the way you do things.  He elevated the stature of my institute with one class, inspired our students not with fluffy talk but practical know-how, and simply changed the way they think. And for me personally (a public speaker & professor for many years), he has altered the way I communicate and present myself. He's worth every penny and a hell of a lot more.”

— Raman Chadha, Founder & CEO,  The Junto Institute


”I’ve never seen anyone or anything like Brian. He has created the gold standard of how to communicate properly.  This isn’t hyperbole; when it comes to getting your message and all the materials right, there is nobody else better than Brian Burkhart. I kind of hate him for that.”

— Scott Kitun, Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, Songfinch


"Hands down the best thing we’ve done as a sales team to significantly up our game. That was a really powerful morning! Brian’s presentation isn’t just full of mission-critical information, it’s also highly engaging. I was locked in from moment one.”

— Jason Crane, Head of Core Retirement, Ascensus