Welcome Meeting Planners!

I Empower you see through the illusions of leadership and communication to help you become the authentic leader others actually want to follow! 

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A two-Minute Message to
Meeting Planners from Ken

Ken Hartley is an inspirational speaker, an accomplished singer, a talented illusionist, a skilled actor, a bestselling author, and a gifted teacher. He has been a singer and actor on stage and screen since he was five years old. He has also performed as a professional illusionist all over the world, has authored ten books and has released two solo CDs. He has been in top level leadership positions for over 30 years in organizations ranging in size from 90 to 13,000 people. He is CSP® (Certified Speaking Professional) with the National Speaker's Association, a Certified Speaker and Leader with The John Maxwell Team as well as an Certified and recognized expert in the DISC Model of Human Behavior. He is also a recipient of the Merlin Award (think of the "Oscars" for magicians) from the International Magicians Society for "Corporate Inspirational Magician of the Year" for 2024.

Ken exists to empower you to look past what you currently see into what you cannot yet see until that becomes your new reality. His presentations combine powerful principles in the areas of leadership, personal growth, and communication with a lot of fun which he likes to call "edutainment"!!

Available Keynotes

Ken customizes each keynote to each client’s needs, but Below are his keynotes along with the learning objectives your attendees can expect:

The Leadership Connector

Connect with yourself and with others like never before and watch your productivity go through the roof!

Bottom line: if you cannot connect with people, you cannot lead them. According to a 2024 Gallup poll, the number one thing that holds organizations back is a lack of communication. Everyone is talking, but very few people actually connect. Drawing from his Amazon best-selling book, DISCover Your Team’s Potential, using the DISC model of human behavior, as well as some jaw- dropping illusions, Ken will show everyone how to understand themselves in a way they never have before. But more importantly, he will show everyone how to understand the people who are around them every day and how to connect with them in a meaningful way.

Attendees will learn:

  • How and why they are wired the way they are.
  • The four temperaments and how they think and operate.
  • What their unique temperamental language is.
  • How others they encounter on a daily basis are wired.
  • How to speak the temperamental languages of others.
  • How to truly connect in a meaningful way.
  • How to overcome communication roadblocks.

True connection in the workplace is the key to making your productivity soar.  Let Ken show you how.

Leadership Illusions

Embrace true leadership principles and overcome the obstacles that hold us back.

We live in a world that says if you can’t see it then it isn’t real. Ken blows that philosophy out of the water visually with some mind-blowing illusions and educationally with some extremely powerful leadership lessons. Drawing from his book, Leadership Illusion, 21 Things People Believe About Leadership That Are Not True, this presentation combines the truths of leadership with some entertaining illusions from Ken’s illusion show that he’s been doing for the last 30 years. Believe the lies and you’ll live them; embrace the truth and you’ll thrive in your leadership journey.

Attendees will learn:

  • The ability to distinguish between illusions and reality in the area of leadership.
  • The importance of personal leadership.
  • Common leadership myths and how to recognize and avoid them.
  • The power of a vision.
  • How to overcome mistakes and thrive.
  • How leadership skills can be developed by anyone, anytime.
  • How to overcome limiting beliefs to lead themselves and others.

This experience is high entertainment, high inspiration, and high impact!

Leading Yourself

How to Overcome when you’re overwhelmed

The toughest person you’ll ever lead is yourself. In this poignant and engaging workshop, Ken will give you specific and actionable steps to overcome obstacles that have held you back and move into the life you’ve always wanted.

Attendees will learn:

  • The definition of burnout and how to recognize the signs.
  • How to overcome burnout and begin thriving again.
  • Specific steps to lead yourself.
  • How to discover their passion and life purpose.
  • The importance of self-care.
  • The importance of proper mindset and how to get it.
  • How to overcome life’s thieves (Procrastination, Excuses, Comparison, and Criticism).
  • How to run your own race and win.

The hardest person Ken ever had to lead was himself. He’ll tell you the steps he took to let go of the life he didn’t want and embrace the life he always wanted.

the legacy tree: building a life that matters

Grow yourself in a way that will live on long after you’re gone.

In this personal growth manifesto, Ken will talk about the legacy tree of your life and help you understand your identity in a way that will transform your life. If you want a deeper understanding of how you can make meaningful changes that will leave a legacy for you, your family, and your workplace, don’t miss this.

Attendees will learn:

  • The five essential roots of your life and how to grow them.
  • How to be before we can actually do anything.
  • The 5 D’s of making a difference and arriving where you want to go.
  • How to overcome excuses and change to a growth mindset.
  • The importance of discovering your true identity.
  • How to overcome limiting beliefs.
  • The power of a seed.
  • The real definition of legacy.
  • Specific steps to grow the life and legacy you’ve always dreamed of having.

True legacy is found in what we give to others, but until we’re ok in our personal growth journey, we’ll never have anything to give to those about whom we care. You will leave this session with a renewed sense of direction and clear plan for your personal growth.
 
Attendees comment that this is one of the most transformative talks they’ve ever heard.

When I book Ken, what am I getting?

Here is what the experience is for your attendees:

  • An experiential keynote. This is not a boring, PowerPoint driven keynote with disengaged audiences. This is an experience where Ken pulls volunteers into the presentation with mind-blowing magic tricks and other exercises that reinforce the content and make it all entertaining and engaging. On top of that, he’s funny. Your audience will be laughing and even possibly crying during this presentation.
  • An Eye popping and mind blowing presentation. The illusions Ken performs are guaranteed to delight their eyes and fry their minds.
  • Applicable, actionable steps to better leadership and connections. This isn’t fluff, dry commentary. Drawing from the books he’s written, Ken gives actionable steps that your group can take and apply to their lives immediately to improve their leadership, personal growth, and connection skills. It will make them think differently about how they lead and connect.
  • 99% combined approval rating from his audiences. Ken’s Talkadot approval rating is at 99%. This is combined anonymous feedback from thousands of people across all of his audiences. Ken can provide this feedback for you upon request.
  • I’ve heard a rumor that Ken sings. Is that correct? Yes. Ken has been singing and acting since he was 5 years old, and his skills have been featured on stage and screen. He has also recorded two solo projects. What does he sound like? Think “Josh Groban” singing inspirational favorites and that’s what you can expect. He doesn’t sing at every presentation, but he will at yours if you specifically request it. He can also provide video links to him singing if you’d like to hear him first.

Here is what the Experience is for the meeting planners (you!):

  • One page contract. Simple and clear. Everything is up front and easy.
  • No drama guarantee. There isn’t a diva bone in Ken’s body. He is guaranteed to be one of the easiest speakers you will ever work with. He is there to serve your event and your needs. Meeting planners often comment on how friendly, prepared, and easy he is to work with before, during, and after their events. Part of Ken’s previous leadership responsibilities was planning large events with special guests, so he totally gets where you’re coming from and does everything he can to make sure he is the least of your concerns. Ken is known for connections and communications and exercises those during the entire process. You’ll be informed all the way from the beginning to the end in a way that is consistent but not annoying.
  • Cost. Just ask. Ken will give you his price. No “tennis match” back and forth junk.
  • A true professional. Ken has been speaking professionally for over 25 years for audiences of 13 to 13,000. As we said, he has also been a large event planner and hired outside speakers and entertainers. He understands the process and how to make it an easy win for you and your people. His goal is to add massive value to them and ahuge win for you so they can’t wait to sign up for next year’s event.
  • Award winning and accredited. Ken is a Certified Speaking Professional™ (CSP®) with the National Speakers Association. This designation is only given to professional speakers who have demonstrated years of professional conduct and integrity, consistent financial earnings at a certain level, and a strong competence and engagement on stages. Less than 17% of speakers worldwide have earned this designation. He is also a Certified Leader through the John Maxwell Team and a certified expert in the DISC Model of Human Behavior. He is also the recent recipient of the Merlin Award from the International Magicians Society for Corporate Inspirational Magician of the Year.

When you book Ken, you can relax and know you’re getting a professional who will instruct, inspire, and entertain your attendees while making you look like a hero. They will leave there with specific steps to transform their lives in the areas of leadership and communication along with a large dose of inspiration.

Recommendations

“Ken Hartley is one of the most gifted and versatile people I’ve worked with. I’ve heard him sing and he moved people to tears. I’ve watched him dazzle crowds with his professional magic skills that I’m still trying to figure out. I’ve seen him lead praise and worship services in front of dozens and in front of thousands. I’ve marveled at his ability to have a crowd laughing out loud and then have them quiet as a wake as he taught leadership principles at conferences.

Churches, corporate gatherings, and special occasions are just a few of the venues where he excels. Above all, he is a humble servant and there isn’t a diva bone in his body. He is a delight to be with and I love what he does, but I even more than that… I love who he IS.”

Mike Huckabee 

Former Governor of Arkansas 

In the last several decades I have shared the stage with Presidents, actors, actresses, billionaires, and countless other famous people. I have spoken to millions of people in hundreds of conferences. I know speaking ability when I see it. Ken is not only a master illusionist, he is also a master speaker and can customize any topic or theme to any specification.

He has done numerous shows for our corporate retreats where people pay thousands to attend and he consistently is ranked at the top of our speakers. He mesmerizes, astonishes, exceeds expectations, and blows the audience away! He is a must have talent when excellence is a requirement. He is a guaranteed standing ovation. I highly recommend Ken Hartley to any organization. We will continue to use his many abilities every chance we get.

James Smith

Inspirational Speaker

Ken uses a unique and talented mix of entertainment and education to provide an enthusiastically excellent message that enhances the educational experience for his audiences. He tailors his work for maximum impact. Our Executive Leadership Team at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation have rated his training as the best they have received.


David B. Rausch

Director, TBI

Ken was truly a pleasure to work with. Always communicative and on-top of everything-- a true professional. His presentation was entertaining and incredibly personalized to our audience members. Ken came prepared and clearly put a lot of thought into presenting in a memorable fashion, as well as providing the attendees actionable takeaways on leadership best-practices. Ken also made sure to communicate his AV needs and work with our onsite team to ensure that everything came together flawlessly.

Fiona Vetter

Senior Education Specialist
American Hospital Association

Your expertise, insights, and engaging delivery truly captivated the audience and added immense value to the event. Your contribution did not go unnoticed, and we have received numerous compliments on the impact of your session.


Thank you for sharing your knowledge and making our conference a resounding success. We are fortunate to have had you as a speaker, and we look forward to the possibility of collaborating again in the future.

Keisha Harper

COO, Encore Health Care

Ken is a powerhouse speaker! He added tremendous value to our employees and they were raving about his appearance (and still trying to figure out how he did those illusions!). Days later they are still talking about his presentation and his leadership principles have opened the doors to great discussions with our team. I can't thank him enough for his contribution to our company.

Carl Munn

Owner, Munn Heating and Air
Leesburg, Florida

As Chief of Police of Jackson, Tennessee, I recently had Ken speak and train at our Executive Leadership team. From the first moment Ken addressed our Command Staff it was evident that he was well versed in the principles and the processes for creating effective leaders. He was energetic and actively engaged the members of our team throughout the session. Everyone in attendance gained needed insight into leadership strategies, not just because of what Ken talked about, but because of HOW he communicated it. It is my strong belief that Ken can also add huge value to your team

-- he definitely did so for ours!

Thom Corley

Chief of Police
Jackson, Tennessee

If you need a professional, engaging, and motivational speaker, then you need to call Ken Hartley. I’ve hosted many events, and Ken has by far been one the best I've worked with!

The last two events I hosted were for two large groups—one at an arena and the other for 13,000 high school students that was live-streamed to over 450 schools across the USA. Having a speaker that can engage, entertain, and captivate large crowds is essential. He had the audience on the edge of their seats—from professionals at the arena to high school students— he was engaging until the end.

Ken Hartley is a true professional who was easy to work with and produced great results for my events. I will definitely book him again and you should too!

Marie Cosgrove

Entrepreneur, International Speaker, Radio Host on 44 AM/FM stations throughout the USA and Internationally

He absolutely lit the place up with mind blowing illusions and powerful content. He left us spellbound.

Dr. Delatorro McNeal, II

Founder of the Full Throttle Experience, CSP, CSAE Award Winner, Peak Performance Expert.

Hear Ken's leadership story at the John Maxwell event

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