Ken Schmidt
Transform customer loyalty with Ken Schmidt, speaker and brand advocacy expert. Ken works with global organizations to break competitive sameness, build emotional connections, and create vocal brand advocates, delivering proven strategies from his Harley-Davidson turnaround success.
Washington D.C., United States
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Ken served as Harley-Davidson's director of corporate communications, working directly with leadership to revolutionize their market approach. His work has been featured in major business media worldwide, and he's advised global brands through his consultancy and as a partner at VSA Partners. His book "Make Some Noise: The Unconventional Road to Dominance" distills his proven methodology.
In today's marketplace, where products are increasingly viewed as interchangeable commodities, Ken helps organizations break free from competitive sameness. He teaches companies how to leverage basic human needs for competitive advantage by becoming memorable for who they are rather than what they sell. His approach transforms customer relationships from transactional to emotional, building loyalty that withstands price competition.
Audiences leave Ken's presentations with practical frameworks for differentiating their business, actionable strategies to humanize their brand story, and techniques to convert customers into vocal advocates. His high-energy delivery combines real-world case studies with immediately applicable insights on creating meaningful customer connections.
Book Ken Schmidt when your organization needs to break free from competitive sameness and create the kind of customer loyalty that drives sustainable growth.
Topics, Sessions And Talks
Ken Schmidt explores why being known for what you do makes you replaceable, and how shifting to being known for who you are can drive market dominance. Drawing from the Harley-Davidson transformation, he reveals how to use key drivers of human behavior to spark emotional loyalty, create preference, and stand out in a sea of sameness. Fast-paced, visual, and filled with takeaway strategies that make a lasting impact.
With stories shaping perceptions and influencing choices, Ken Schmidt highlights how distinct language and compelling narratives elevate businesses from forgettable to admired. He shares tools to craft memorable storylines and boost customer advocacy. This session focuses on the power of storytelling to humanize your brand, increase likeability and strengthen your reputation in a crowded market.
Ken Schmidt explains why loyalty can’t be bought—it must be earned through emotional resonance. Using the Harley-Davidson experience as a guide, he breaks down how to evolve customer relationships from transactional to enduring. This talk is a call to action for leaders at every level to embed authenticity, warmth, and purpose into every customer interaction.
Targeted at the financial sector, this session exposes how uniformity and eroding trust create hidden growth potential. Ken Schmidt reveals how firms can reframe their approach to stand out, spark demand, and build a reputation that clients trust and talk about. His message reframes challenge as opportunity in one of the most competitive industries today.
Ken Schmidt lays out a roadmap for companies trapped in price wars and sameness. Drawing on real-life turnarounds, he shows how to become a trusted brand that commands loyalty—even when priced higher. With a focus on strategic positioning, this hands-on session offers practical tools to transform perception, strengthen customer retention and rise above the competition.
Looking for a custom keynote or workshop designed around your company’s goals and culture? The expert will create a tailored, interactive session that aligns with your objectives, values, and strategic priorities. From leadership and innovation to wellbeing and collaboration, each experience is built from the ground up to deliver measurable impact and lasting change.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about booking an expert speaker, facilitator, host or entertainment for your event.
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Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. We work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.
We do not accommodate requests for birthday messages or any other personal, non-commercial contact with the speakers, comedians or entertainers.
We work with speakers across a variety of fee ranges, giving you the flexibility to choose someone who fits your event's needs. Virtual keynote fees in the UK and Europe typically start at £2,000, while in-person top-tier speakers can reach £25,000. In the US, virtual in-person fees range from $5,000 to over $100,000, depending on the speaker and format, such as after-dinner talks, conference keynotes, Q&As, or podcasts. Comedians generally start at £1,500 or $2,000 for a 20-minute set.
Our goal is to help you find the speaker who best matches your event’s goals and budget. We take the time to understand your event, objectives, and audience to recommend the right fit. The most expensive option isn’t always the best one, and our priority is finding the ideal speaker or expert for your needs; not the highest-priced one.
Reach out for personalised recommendations and detailed information on specific speaker fees. We’re here to offer a tailored service and are always happy to discuss your unique requirements!
There’s no additional cost for our services beyond the speaker fee — simply contact us to find the right speaker for your next business or team event. We can also work with your corporate procurement team to negotiate favourable long-term rates, simply email hello@getapeptalk.com for more information.
Partnering with PepTalk means elevating your events with our curated roster of top motivational speakers, industry experts, delivering punchy keynotes that leave a lasting impact. From talent selection, to contracts and logistics, we handle it all. We have global expert network, with over 3000 speakers from over 33 countries on our line-up.
We also provide a full range of talent, from event hosts and moderators to interviewers and corporate entertainment, ensuring your event’s success from start to finish.
PepTalk workshops are interactive learning experiences for leaders at all levels, blending theory with practical insights from industry experts. These programs, led by experienced facilitators, are designed to drive real mindset changes and equip participants with actionable skills. Workshops can be customised to meet your organisation's specific needs. Explore our workshop examples and contact us today to learn how your team can benefit.
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