Ken Okel
Ignite MOTIVATION and UNLOCK UNTAPPED POTENTIAL in your audience with Ken Okel's engaging and inspiring keynotes. Raise your game with CREATIVE AND FUN solutions. Barbie LOVES KEN and so will you!
For meeting professionals, Ken Okel is a trusted partner, as he delivers actionable, engaging, and memorable programs. He understands the need to perform at a high level on the job, when the pressure is on, having worked in broadcast news, hurricane relief, and professional ballet (not a typo).
These highly competitive and pressure-packed professions taught Ken priceless insider knowledge, which he shares with audiences, as an in-demand motivational keynote speaker. Do you think you could learn a thing or two from someone who has:
- Worked as a News Anchor, Reporter, Weather Anchor, and Talk Show Host, in an industry where every day was different and often unexpected.
- Set up storm relief supply stations, organizing up to 100 volunteers a day, and serving thousands of families, after Hurricanes Frances, Jeanne, and Wilma.
- Ran the business operations for a $4 million professional ballet company that was struggling to survive during the Great Recession.
Other professional adventures have also seen him write the books, Get Better! and Stuck on Yellow, host a weekly podcast, The 2 Minute Takeaway, and promote everything from global brands to a three-legged kitten.
As a child, Ken loved playing with Lego and letting his imagination run wild. Today, he flexes those creative muscles with meeting planners, as they collaborate on his presentations.
- On stage, you might see Ken making a point, with ballet, about trust at work. Yes, Ken breaks out some dance moves!
- Or he’ll change clothes, as part of a story about dealing with unexpected change, during an airport fashion emergency.
- And he might inspire you to approach challenges differently, with takeaways from a police dog attack, when I was wearing a padded suit.
This award-winning journalist continues to use his broadcasting skills, leading panels and on-stage interviews, serving as an Emcee, and appearing (slightly taller) in virtual talks. He also creates special preview videos to help you market and promote your events.
When he’s not speaking, Ken may be looking at his Fitbit, as he chases his daily goal of 20,000 steps. After he sits down, he may be online with members of his family, who live in France, South Korea, and across the United States.
Ken is a Past President of the Florida Speakers Association and a 20 year member of the National Speakers Association. He's a proud lifelong learner.
EXTRAS THAT CLIENTS LOVE: Ken has several breakout sessions designed to add value to an event. Some choose to have him continue his discussion of productivity under pressure in a more intimate setting, where it's possible to do things like hot seats and open discussion.
Others want Ken to draw upon his broadcasting background and talk about public speaking, performing on camera, or media relations.
For meeting professionals, Ken Okel is a trusted partner, as he delivers actionable, engaging, and memorable programs. He understands the need to perform at a high level on the job, when the pressure is on, having worked in broadcast news, hurricane relief, and professional ballet (not a typo).
These highly competitive and pressure-packed professions taught Ken priceless insider knowledge, which he shares with audiences, as an in-demand motivational keynote speaker. Do you think you could learn a thing or two from someone who has:
- Worked as a News Anchor, Reporter, Weather Anchor, and Talk Show Host, in an industry where every day was different and often unexpected.
- Set up storm relief supply stations, organizing up to 100 volunteers a day, and serving thousands of families, after Hurricanes Frances, Jeanne, and Wilma.
- Ran the business operations for a $4 million professional ballet company that was struggling to survive during the Great Recession.
Other professional adventures have also seen him write the books, Get Better! and Stuck on Yellow, host a weekly podcast, The 2 Minute Takeaway, and promote everything from global brands to a three-legged kitten.
As a child, Ken loved playing with Lego and letting his imagination run wild. Today, he flexes those creative muscles with meeting planners, as they collaborate on his presentations.
- On stage, you might see Ken making a point, with ballet, about trust at work. Yes, Ken breaks out some dance moves!
- Or he’ll change clothes, as part of a story about dealing with unexpected change, during an airport fashion emergency.
- And he might inspire you to approach challenges differently, with takeaways from a police dog attack, when I was wearing a padded suit.
This award-winning journalist continues to use his broadcasting skills, leading panels and on-stage interviews, serving as an Emcee, and appearing (slightly taller) in virtual talks. He also creates special preview videos to help you market and promote your events.
When he’s not speaking, Ken may be looking at his Fitbit, as he chases his daily goal of 20,000 steps. After he sits down, he may be online with members of his family, who live in France, South Korea, and across the United States.
Ken is a Past President of the Florida Speakers Association and a 20 year member of the National Speakers Association. He's a proud lifelong learner.
EXTRAS THAT CLIENTS LOVE: Ken has several breakout sessions designed to add value to an event. Some choose to have him continue his discussion of productivity under pressure in a more intimate setting, where it's possible to do things like hot seats and open discussion.
Others want Ken to draw upon his broadcasting background and talk about public speaking, performing on camera, or media relations.
Accept The Dare: Embracing Today’s Challenges
Remember, as kids, when you could turn down a dare? Today, workplace challenges like productivity, leadership, and retention may offer you no choice. You have to respond, do it fast, and you need to be at the top of your game.
Busy leaders often find themselves defined by how they perform under pressure, in these moments. In this keynote session, you’ll change the way you approach challenges, inspire your team, and create a path out of uncertainty. You will learn:
- How...
Mic Drop! Performing BIG When It Really, Really Matters
When constant change becomes the norm, you’ve got to adjust your leadership style and business culture to meet the day’s new challenges. Doing nothing is not an option and what worked in the past, isn’t getting the results you want.
This session provides you with a powerful tuneup and will open your mind to new opportunities. Ken will also put on some funny clothes for the Airport Fashion Emergency story.
You Will...
Keep the Band Together! Stop Singing the Employee Retention Blues
Has your team’s sweet music at work hit a sour note? You’ve got your top performers leaving and hardly know those who come onboard. Understand that retention and onboarding play a huge role in your success.
In this engaging session, you will learn actionable strategies designed to end your struggle with these growing challenges.
You Will Learn:
- How more spending more money may not solve your...
Emcee
Ken believes a good Emcee is like Sandra Bullock's best friend, in a romantic comedy. The role is to tell some funny jokes, help move the plot along, and never take the attention away from the star. Here are some ways he can engage your audience:
- Create promotional videos that include some of your important tips for the meeting.
- Honor and incorporate your event theme.
- Lead panels and interview your superstar guests.
- Keep the...
Virtual Presenatations
As someone with at TV News background, I'm comfortable talking to an audience through a camera. I also understand how you have to adapt information to a virtual audience. Most aspects of my keynote programs are easily modified for the virtual world.
Let's talk about what you need and how we can deliver you a memorable and actionable virtual experience. We can use your platform or our own. I'm able to broadcast from my home studio or a higher-end nearby...
No Comment or Off the Record?
Are you tired of stumbling through media interviews or feeling anxious about facing the press? Imagine the confidence and control that come from mastering the art of effective communication with the news media. Now, it's within your reach!
This dynamic session will empower you with the essential skills and strategies to navigate media interactions with ease and finesse. Ken is a seasoned TV professional who has also been interviewed many times. He knows both sides of the...
Member Of
Certifications & Awards
