Ken Schmidt is an internationally sought-after expert on customer loyalty, brand building and corporate reputation.
He became widely known through his leading role in the remarkable turnaround of Harley-Davidson. With unconventional ideas, a consistent focus on people and a deep understanding of human behaviour, he helped transform a struggling motorcycle manufacturer into one of the world’s most emotional brands with an exceptionally loyal following.
His central message is clear: Companies are not valued solely for their products or services, but above all for how they make people feel, what they stand for and the stories people tell about them.
In many industries today, products and services have become almost interchangeable. Offerings look alike, competitors imitate one another and price becomes the main selling point. For Ken Schmidt, this represents an enormous opportunity. Companies that develop a distinctive personality, create positive surprises and build genuine human connections can set themselves clearly apart from the competition.
Ken Schmidt Keynote Topics
- Make Some Noise: Change Direction, Open the Throttle and Dominate Your Marketplace
“Being known only for what you do – no matter how well you do it – makes you replaceable,” says Ken Schmidt. Sustainable competitive strength emerges when customers choose a company not only because of its performance, but because they associate it with positive human qualities.
This keynote is based on the unconventional ideas that made Harley-Davidson’s turnaround possible. Ken Schmidt and his team fundamentally changed the company’s mindset: away from a product-first approach and towards a consistent people-first strategy.
Ken Schmidt shows how companies can use the key drivers of human behaviour to ignite enthusiasm among employees and customers. With high energy, humour, powerful visuals and practical recommendations, he explains how organisations can develop a clear identity, become the preferred choice and build an exceptionally loyal community.
- Rev Up Your Reputation: Be Memorable, Preferred and Recommended
What are your customers saying about your company? And more importantly, what would you like them to say?
Compelling stories and distinctive language shape how a business is perceived. They are memorable, create trust and encourage customers to share their experiences with others.
In this keynote, Ken Schmidt shows companies how to develop their own voice and create stories that stand out clearly from the conventional marketing used within their industry. Through simple, directly applicable strategies, he helps organisations actively shape their reputation, encourage referrals and build long-term customer relationships.
The keynote makes one point especially clear: A strong brand is not created by what a company claims about itself, but by the stories other people tell about it.
- Thrive Among Thorns: Untapped Growth Opportunities for Financial Services
This keynote is designed specifically for companies and professionals in insurance, wealth management, banking and credit unions.
In a market where products and providers increasingly resemble one another, customers are comparing offers online more frequently and managing their finances through impersonal digital platforms. As a result, financial service providers are finding it increasingly difficult to attract new clients, build meaningful relationships and retain existing customers over the long term.
While many companies see only commoditisation and growing price pressure, Ken Schmidt identifies exceptional opportunities for growth. He shows financial service providers and their employees how to stand out visibly from the crowd, remain positively memorable and generate more referrals. Using simple techniques, he explains how businesses can delight clients, strengthen personal relationships and develop a clear, unmistakable market position.
The methods presented are based on the principles Ken Schmidt used to turn Harley-Davidson into one of the world’s most desirable brands within a highly standardised industry and to win over investors even during the company’s most difficult periods.
International Keynote Speaker, Podcast Host & Author
In his high-energy, humorous and visually powerful keynotes, Ken Schmidt shows organisations how to become not merely well known, but unmistakable. His focus is not primarily on what a company produces or offers, but on who it is and the positive human qualities customers associate with it.
Ken Schmidt has delivered more than 1,000 keynotes around the world. His presentations combine entertaining real-world stories with practical strategies that can be implemented directly within an organisation. He demonstrates how simple principles of human behaviour can be used to improve customer experiences, build a strong reputation, encourage referrals and create extraordinary customer loyalty.
He is the author of “Make Some Noise: The Unconventional Road to Dominance”, host of the “Tailgating with Geniuses” podcast and co-founder of Torque Sessions Leadership Training.
Why Book Ken Schmidt as a Speaker?
Ken Schmidt does not merely talk about brands and customer loyalty. He has experienced first-hand how a strong corporate culture and a distinctive identity can fundamentally transform a business.
His keynotes are inspiring, provocative and exceptionally entertaining. He combines insights from Harley-Davidson’s turnaround with surprising lessons about human behaviour and practical ideas for everyday business.
Ken Schmidt encourages audiences to challenge conventions, act more boldly and create companies that customers genuinely want to talk about. His message is relevant for leaders, sales and marketing teams, and all organisations that no longer want to define themselves through products and prices alone, but instead aim to build a strong, human and unmistakable brand.
His personal credo perfectly reflects his attitude:
“Never do what is expected. Make yourself as noticeably different as possible – and have a lot more fun than you are supposed to.”