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Marilyn Sherman helps teams escape their comfort zones and lead with intention. She works with Fortune 500 companies globally, delivering strategies that reduce conflict and drive results. National Speakers Association’s Speaker Hall of Fame (CPAE) member and founder of UpFront Presentations.

Trusted by Starbucks, Boston Market Corporation, Rubios' Restaurants, Inc.

Marilyn Sherman
Marilyn Sherman

Marilyn Sherman

Las Vegas, United States

Typical fee range

$26k–50k

This is an estimated fee range for local in-person events. Location and format affect the final fee.

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Marilyn Sherman

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Las Vegas, United States

Starting from

$26k–50k

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loading@getapeptalk.com

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+44 203 835 2929

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Marilyn Sherman's biography

At a glance

  • Hall of Fame business keynote speaker for Fortune 500 companies
  • Author of four motivational books, including Whose Comfort Zone Are You In?
  • Inspires audiences to embrace change, elevate performance, and lead with purpose

Marilyn Sherman has spent her career inspiring people to get out of their comfort zones and take their seat in the “Front-Row” of life and leadership. As founder of UpFront Presentations and a member of the National Speakers Association's Hall of Fame (CPAE), a distinction held by fewer than 200 speakers worldwide, Marilyn has delivered keynotes for Fortune 500 companies and international universities across the globe. She is the author of four books, including Why Settle for the Balcony? and Whose Comfort Zone Are You In?


Marilyn's work draws on years of experience helping teams and individuals close the gap between where they are and where they want to be. Her workshops on confident communication give participants concrete strategies for reducing conflict at work and her Front-Row Friday video series reaches professionals looking for weekly moments of inspiration. Audiences who attend Marilyn's sessions leave with a clearer understanding of what is keeping them in their comfort zone and why, practical communication techniques that reduce friction in team settings, and a framework for pursuing goals with greater intention and follow-through.


Book Marilyn Sherman when the brief calls for genuine mindset shifts and behavior change.

Marilyn's showreel and videos

Topics, sessions and talks

Front-Row Success: How Top Performers Never Settle For Balcony Seats

Most people know they are capable of more, yet they stay in the back row. Marilyn Sherman's signature keynote dismantles the habits, fears, and distractions that keep professionals playing small. Drawing on her S.E.A.T. of Success framework, she walks audiences through how top performers manage vision, energy, mindset, and setbacks differently. Equal parts practical and motivating, this session leaves people with a clear plan for closing the gap between where they are and where they want to be.

Communicating For Results: From Conflict To Cooperation

Workplace tension is rising, yet most people will do almost anything to avoid a difficult conversation. Marilyn Sherman shows audiences exactly what to say, when to say it, and how to say it so that hard conversations lead to resolution rather than resentment. This session gives teams a repeatable approach to conflict that reduces friction, rebuilds trust, and keeps performance on track.

Managing Change For Optimal Results

Change is constant, but the way people respond to it varies enormously. Marilyn Sherman introduces audiences to three mindsets that emerge whenever organizations face disruption — victim, vacationer, and volunteer — and makes it immediately obvious which one is holding teams back. Through sharp, recognizable examples, she shows managers and employees alike how to shift their own default response and bring others along with them, building the kind of adaptable culture that makes change a competitive advantage rather than a source of stress.

Why we recommend booking Marilyn

Marilyn's National Speakers Association Hall of Fame distinction and four published books speak directly to her expertise in workplace communication and goal execution. Her workshops provide concrete conflict reduction techniques that teams can implement immediately. Marilyn's sessions are highly valued by organizations looking to create measurable behavior change around communication friction and comfort zone expansion.

Check Marilyn's availability

Trusted by Starbucks, Boston Market Corporation, Rubios' Restaurants, Inc.

Testimonials

Thank you Marilyn for your time, energy, and most importantly, sharing what you love with us! Some comments: “I really came away thinking about my work differently, I want to be as effective as I can be. The keynote speaker and the personal accountability to be a better, more highly effective leader was excellent!’ Thank you again Marilyn for inspiring others to be better than they were yesterday!

Melinda Altamirano

Regional Director, Starbucks

The entire conference was an enormous success, but many people commented specially on how outstanding, motivational, and thought-provoking your presentation was. We believe all who saw you were deeply inspired and benefited greatly from your expertise and guidance!

Phyllis A. James

President and CEO, Foundation For Women's Leadership & Empowerment

On behalf of Boston Market Corporation and our national catering sales team, I want to thank you for your outstanding motivational program "Whose Comfort Zone Are You In?" Your program was the highlight of our national sales meeting. Our team enjoyed your sense of humor and I heard many great comments: She was great…inspiring…that was awesome….and certainly motivating! I also appreciate how easy it was to work with you and your organization! Thank you for your professionalism; we were extremely pleased with your services. I would highly recommend you and your programs to anyone I know that is looking for a motivational speaker!

Jackie Swift

Director, Catering Sales Operations, Boston Market Corporation

Featured Projects

Marilyn Sherman - Why Settle for the Balcony? book cover
Marilyn Sherman - Whose Comfort Zone Are You In? book cover
Marilyn Sherman - Is There a Hole in Your Bucket List? book cover

frequently asked questions

Something we've not covered here?

How do I book Marilyn Sherman for my next event?

To book Marilyn Sherman, email marilyn.sherman@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm Marilyn's availability and speaking fee. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and about your audience.

What is Marilyn Sherman's speaking style like?

Marilyn Sherman structures her sessions around named frameworks — most notably the S.E.A.T. of Success model, which organises her guidance on vision, energy, mindset, and setbacks into a sequence audiences can apply directly. She also uses a three-mindset typology (victim, vacationer, volunteer) to help teams diagnose and shift their default response to organisational change.

What topics does Marilyn Sherman specialise in?

Marilyn Sherman's sessions address performance mindset and goal achievement, workplace conflict and communication, and change management and organisational adaptability. She is a member of the National Speakers Association's Hall of Fame (CPAE), a distinction held by fewer than 200 speakers worldwide, and has delivered keynotes for Fortune 500 companies and international universities.

Does PepTalk charge a booking fee?

No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.

What happens after I send a brief?

Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.

What does the typical fee range mean?

The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.

Have all the speakers on the website worked with PepTalk before?

Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.

How far in advance should I book a speaker?

Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.