All Topics in Phoenix

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  Streets to Submarines to the C-Suite: What Four Decades of Unlikely Turns Taught Me About Resilience

  John Wiley, CEPA, CEO, Private Equity Strategist, Navy Veteran, Author, John Franklin Wiley

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Motivational

  By 15, John Franklin Wiley was on the streets. By 20, he was aboard a nuclear submarine. He went on to become a top income earner, a pastor, a CEO, and the founder of a nonprofit that turned an abandoned hospital into housing for homeless families. MORE >

  Along the way, he lost everything more than once and rebuilt every time. This isn't a rags-to-riches motivational speech. It's an honest, sometimes funny, deeply human look at what resilience actually costs and why the most important chapter of your life might be the one you haven't written yet.

  Your audience will walk away with:
  - Why resilience isn't about grit – it's about knowing when to pivot
  - The difference between surviving and rebuilding on purpose
  - How to find clarity in the middle of chaos

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  Why 80% of Businesses Listed for Sale Never Sell – And What Smart Owners Do Differently

  John Wiley, CEPA, CEO, Private Equity Strategist, Navy Veteran, Author, John Franklin Wiley

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  Eight out of ten businesses that go to market never close a deal. Not because the businesses are bad but because the owners weren't ready. Drawing on his experience vetting over $75 million in acquisitions, John Franklin Wiley reveals the blind spots that kill deals before they start. MORE >

  In this practical, no-pitch talk, John walks your group through the five factors that actually determine whether a business sells or stalls – and the steps any owner can take today to protect their legacy and their retirement. This isn't about selling tomorrow. It's about making sure you can when the time comes.

  Your audience will walk away with:
  - The one question every buyer asks that most owners can't answer
  - Why emotional attachment is the #1 value killer
  - Three moves that can increase a company's sale price by 25–35%

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  The Academic Journey: Helping Students Build a Clear, Confident Path from Middle School to College

  Michelle Smith, Founder and CEO, Independent Education Group

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

  Today’s students face more academic choices — and more pressure — than ever before. Honors tracks, AP and dual enrollment courses, private and independent schools, extracurricular expectations, and increasingly competitive college admissions can leave families wondering: Are we making the right decisions at the right time? MORE >

  In this practical and empowering session, education consultant Michelle Smith, founder of Independent Education Group, guides Phoenix-area families through the full academic journey — from early planning in middle school to high school course strategy, leadership development, and thoughtful college preparation.

  Families will gain clarity on:
  • How to map out an intentional academic plan year by year
  • When to accelerate — and when not to
  • Choosing between public, charter, and private school
  pathways
  • Building strong transcripts without burnout
  • Balancing academics, activities, and well-being
  • Positioning students authentically for college admissions

  This talk helps parents move from uncertainty to strategy, ensuring students grow not only as strong applicants, but as confident, capable young adults. Ideal for families with students in grades 5–11.

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  Finding the Right Educational Path: A Strategic Approach for Families

  Michelle Smith, Founder and CEO, Independent Education Group

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Educational

  Choosing the right school can feel overwhelming. From private and independent schools to specialized programs and college preparatory pathways, today’s families face more options — and more pressure — than ever. In this informative and practical session, Michelle Smith, founder of Independent Education Group, shares an insider’s perspective on how schools evaluate applicants, what truly matters in admissions decisions, and how families can make thoughtful, strategic choices that align with their child’s strengths, values, and long-term goals. MORE >

  Participants will learn:
  • How to identify the right academic and cultural fit
  • What admissions teams really look for
  • How to reduce stress during the application process
  • When to start planning (and how early is too early)
  • Ways to position students authentically and confidently

  This talk is ideal for parents who want clarity, strategy, and a personalized approach to their child’s education journey.

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  The Human Side of Change: Communicating through Uncertainty

  Ryan Bouda, Leadership & Culture Strategist, LEAP Training & Coaching

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  Change disrupts more than workflows; it disrupts the brain. When people experience change, uncertainty and resistance often follow, not because they’re unwilling, but because their brains are wired to seek safety, predictability, and meaning. The Human Side of Change equips leaders with a human-centered approach to guiding others through transition with clarity and connection. MORE >

  This session explores the neuroscience of change and introduces an 8-part communication framework designed to meet people where they are...logically, emotionally, or both. Rather than delivering one-size-fits-all messages, leaders learn how to tailor communication to individual needs, values, and motivations, creating understanding instead of resistance.

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  Conscious Leadership: Mastering the Leadership Balcony

  Ryan Bouda, Leadership & Culture Strategist, LEAP Training & Coaching

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  Great leadership is about awareness, intention, and how leaders show up in moments that matter. Conscious Leadership invites leaders to step back from the noise of daily demands and view situations with clarity, perspective, and purpose. MORE >

  Drawing from the concept of The Leadership Balcony, participants learn how to rise above reactive behaviors and lead from a grounded, intentional state. Leaders will explore how their state of being, the stories they tell themselves, and the strategies they choose directly influence team engagement, trust, accountability, and culture.

  Through real-world examples, reflection, and practical tools, this session equips leaders to respond rather than react, align actions with values, and model the behaviors that inspire consistency, empowerment, and results. Leaders at any stage will leave with a clear framework to adapt to challenges while staying anchored to purpose.

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  The Chemistry of Trust: The Formula for Exceptional Teams

  Ryan Bouda, Leadership & Culture Strategist, LEAP Training & Coaching

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  Trust is the foundation of every high-performing team, but it doesn’t happen by chance. The Chemistry of Trust explores how leaders and teams intentionally build trust through daily choices, behaviors, and practices. MORE >

  Participants will dive into the five key elements of trust that create thriving, collaborative, and resilient teams. Through engaging discussion, research-backed insights, and real-world examples, attendees will learn how transparency, active listening, accountability, and a shared vision foster environments where people communicate openly, and achieve more together.

  Leaders and team members alike will leave with practical tools to strengthen trust, deepen relationships, and cultivate teams that operate with integrity, commitment, and care.

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  From Silence to Success: Building a Culture of Psychological Safety

  Ryan Bouda, Leadership & Culture Strategist, LEAP Training & Coaching

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  Strong teams and thriving organizations start with the courage to speak up and the confidence to listen. From Silence to Success explores psychological safety as the foundation for accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement. MORE >

  Participants will dive into the three core principles of a psychologically safe culture: Speak Up, Listen Up, and Follow Up. Through research-backed insights, engaging stories, and practical tools, leaders will learn how to model inclusion, encourage open dialogue, and respond constructively when concerns arise.

  This session equips leaders to create environments where team members feel valued, heard, and empowered. By fostering trust, respect, and collaboration, leaders can strengthen team morale, enhance performance, and drive innovation across their organizations.

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  Delivering a WOW Customer Experience on Purpose

  Dwight Lamb, President / CEO, Lamb Enterprises

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Business

  Because customer experience matters more today than ever, this presentation will provide a time-tested model for delivering world-class, WOW customer experiences. Those participating will learn how to serve their customers in a way that they will go away ecstatic, tell everyone how great you are, comeback again and again for more, and bring their friends with them! MORE >

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  The Power of Every Day Choices – 8 choices guaranteed to take you from where you are to where you want to be

  Dwight Lamb, President / CEO, Lamb Enterprises

  TOPIC CATEGORY: Self Improvement

  The realities of YOUR tomorrows depend on the CHOICES YOU make today! This presentation provides solid principles and time-tested advice that are simple, but not always easy. It offers ideas and strategies that you can put into action immediately and expect consistent, compounding results over time when you make the “Every Day Choices” to do so. The day you CHOOSE to take full responsibility for everything in your life, what you have or don’t have, you will gain the power to change anything in your life. MORE >

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