Larry Smith
My inspiration keynotes and workshops help people tell stories to unlock creativity, sharpen focus, and bring their whole, authentic selves to the workplace. My approach is fresh, fun, deceptively simple, and immediately effective. Says Dell CMO Allison Dew, “Larry‘s approach to storytelling had my team buzzing, laughing, & bonded.”
Larry Smith is the founder of the Six-Word Memoir project, a bestselling series of ten books, board game, live event program, and a global phenomenon found in classrooms, conferences, and corporate settings alike. Oprah Magazine called Larry “on a quest to spark self-expression in everyone.” More than 2 million Six-Word Memoirs have been shared on sixwordmemoirs.com and countless more in educational and corporate settings, conferences, festivals, and almost anywhere people gather.
Larry has worked with teams at Levi’s, JPMorgan Chase, SNAP, Dell, Shutterfly, ESPN, Netflix, and Nationwide; nonprofits including Zen Hospice Project, Ohio Food Bank, and Dress For Success, as well as foundations, philanthropies, and schools.
About Larry’s keynote talks and corporate workshops:
In a high-energy and interactive talk, Larry takes the group on a journey from the small-town pharmacy where his grandfather “Smitty” inspired his love of storytelling to his creation of the Six-Word Memoir format, a tool for storytelling and focused self-expression for individuals and organizations.
Larry details how the Six-Word Memoir format is a unique way to:
• Tell the story of your job, team, and company
• Increase focus individually and among teams
• Spark creativity and get “unstuck”
• Encourage a culture in which all can bring their whole, authentic self to the workplace.
Depending on the size of the group and the setting, Larry can lead the audience in one or more interactive prompts such as:
• In six words, why do I do what I do?
• What’s my Six-Word Memoir?
• In six words, how would I sum up the mission of my job, my team, our company?
Everyone will leave with a tool that can immediately and effectively implement into their life at work, at home, and at play. Company after company report how Larry’s approach has permeated their culture long after the workshops have ended, leading to a lift in engagement and personal commitment.
Larry Smith is the founder of the Six-Word Memoir project, a bestselling series of ten books, board game, live event program, and a global phenomenon found in classrooms, conferences, and corporate settings alike. Oprah Magazine called Larry “on a quest to spark self-expression in everyone.” More than 2 million Six-Word Memoirs have been shared on sixwordmemoirs.com and countless more in educational and corporate settings, conferences, festivals, and almost anywhere people gather.
Larry has worked with teams at Levi’s, JPMorgan Chase, SNAP, Dell, Shutterfly, ESPN, Netflix, and Nationwide; nonprofits including Zen Hospice Project, Ohio Food Bank, and Dress For Success, as well as foundations, philanthropies, and schools.
About Larry’s keynote talks and corporate workshops:
In a high-energy and interactive talk, Larry takes the group on a journey from the small-town pharmacy where his grandfather “Smitty” inspired his love of storytelling to his creation of the Six-Word Memoir format, a tool for storytelling and focused self-expression for individuals and organizations.
Larry details how the Six-Word Memoir format is a unique way to:
• Tell the story of your job, team, and company
• Increase focus individually and among teams
• Spark creativity and get “unstuck”
• Encourage a culture in which all can bring their whole, authentic self to the workplace.
Depending on the size of the group and the setting, Larry can lead the audience in one or more interactive prompts such as:
• In six words, why do I do what I do?
• What’s my Six-Word Memoir?
• In six words, how would I sum up the mission of my job, my team, our company?
Everyone will leave with a tool that can immediately and effectively implement into their life at work, at home, and at play. Company after company report how Larry’s approach has permeated their culture long after the workshops have ended, leading to a lift in engagement and personal commitment.
We Are All In This Together: Fostering Inclusion and Belonging in the Workplace
Format: 30-90 minute keynote, workshop, breakout session, or learn & learn
This program is perfect for:
- An activity to get people loosened, engaged, and better connected at the start of a company offsite or retreat
- A way to connect teams
- Re-connecting teams in hybrid workplaces
The audience will leave with:
- A playful, gamified...
Creating Team Culture Through Personal Storytelling
Format: 30-90 minute keynote or workshop
This program is perfect for:
- Companies and organizations keeping teams connected and engaged during pivotal periods in a company’s journey: significant growth, mergers and acquisitions.
- Keeping teams connected in the hybrid workforce world
The audience will leave with:
- A practical way to foster team...
Why I Do What I Do
Format: 45-90 minute keynote, workshop, breakout, or lunch & learn
This program is perfect for:
- An activity to get people loosened, engaged, and better connected about each team members role at the start of a company off-site or retreat
- A playful, gamified way to introduce team members to a new CEO or other major organizational hire
- Connecting and re-connecting teams in hybrid...
Sell It In Six! Perfecting Your Pitch for Sales & New Business
Format: 30-90 minute workshop, breakout session, or lunch & learn.
Note: the longer timeframes (60-90 minutes) allow for more people to work on and present their pitches during the session
This program is perfect for:
- Sales team members
- Comms teams honing their message both internally and externally
The audience will leave...
How Well Do You Know Your Co-workers?
Format: 30-45 minute workshop, breakout, or lunch & learn; or embedded into a company's on-boarding process.
This program is perfect for:
- An activity to get people loosened, engaged, and better connected at the start of a company offsite or retreat
- A playful, gamified way to introduce team members to a new CEO or other major organizational hire
The audience will leave...
Finding Focus: Company’s Mission, Visions & Story
Format: 30-90 minute keynote or workshop
This program is perfect for:
- Company off-site or staff retreat
- A kickoff to an industry conference to help attendees quickly connect with each other an "lean in" to the event
- A more intimate Lunch & Learn
The audience will leave with:
- Sharpened mission focus — both for their own role and the overall company...
