It’s an impersonal world, where so many products and services are seen as easily-replaced, indistinct commodities. Whether you stand out or get lost in the crowd is a choice. A mindset.
As the former director of communications for Harley-Davidson Motor Company, he played an active role in one of the most celebrated turnarounds in corporate history – and got paid to ride motorcycles. He is widely known and respected as one of the business world’s most outspoken, provocative, and entertaining thought leaders on competition, brand management, positioning, reputation management, human behavior, and loyalty, and has delivered more than one thousand keynote speeches to business and education groups around the globe.
The longtime motorcycle enthusiast’s formal association with Harley-Davidson began in 1985. As a specialist in corporate positioning and media relations, he was asked to work with the then-struggling Harley-Davidson to help restore the company’s image, improve its competitiveness and create demand for its motorcycles. Within a few short years, as sales of its motorcycles rocketed upward, Harley-Davidson became one of the most respected, competitively dominant, profitable, and frequently reported-on companies in the world.
In 1990, Schmidt became director of Harley-Davidson’s corporate and financial communications, and served as its primary spokesperson to the media and the financial communities. He appeared numerous times on network news programs and was frequently called upon by business media to share his insights on nontraditional communications, customer attraction and brand-building. Speaking engagements around the world soon followed.
Ken is one of the most in-demand keynote speakers (1,000+ engagements) and communications consultants in America.
- Thrive Among Thorns: Untapped Growth Opportunities for Financial Services
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- Rev It Up – Fast Track Your Career
“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
“Your message was both right on and well delivered. Lots of great comments from our field leaders. Thanks for being so easy
to work with, for all the advance effort you put in to understanding our business and for hanging around to speak with our
people. Let’s do it again!”
– Head of Coaching, Leadership and Development, UBS
“Really nice job. Attendees thought your message was a perfect kick-off for our conference.”
– Barron’s
Outstanding! An excellent speaker. Great energy on stage and very dynamic with superb message. He received the highest
rating possible from all of our attendees and ended our conference perfectly!”
– Protective Life Insurance Company
“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
“Really well done and appreciate you making your talk relevant to our company. I had people sending me chats and emails
afterward, commenting how much they enjoyed your session. And I could have climbed through the screen and hugged you
when you told our employees they did God’s work and that you wanted to invest in us in your closing.”
– SVP, Global Employee Communications, Pearson Education
A Partial List of Financial Services Clients
- Alfa Mutual Insurance Company
- Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America
- Ameriprise Financial, Inc.
- AXA Investment Managers Schweiz AG
- Bangor Savings Bank
- Bar Harbor Bank & Trust
- Barron’s
- Chubb Insurance Group
- CIBC Bank
- CIGNA
- Citibank
- Protective Life Insurance
- Questar Capital Corporation
- Securian Financial Group
- UBS Financial Services
Travels From: Washington DC
City:
$20,001 to $30,000