One of the questions I get most often from meeting planners is, “How do you make your keynote presentation fit our audience?”
The short answer is: I never give the same keynote twice. Every audience, every company, and every conference is different. And the ProAg conference in Lake Geneva is a perfect example of how I customize a keynote for maximum impact.
Step 1: Start With Insight, Not Assumptions
Before I ever step on stage, I send a pre-program questionnaire to my clients. It’s the foundation of my process as a customized keynote speaker. It tells me who’s in the room, what matters most, and what should be avoided.
ProAg’s team filled theirs out in detail. My contacts, Brian Nelson and Scott Schaefers, gave me insights about the audience: top crop insurance agents and their spouses, plus ProAg’s leadership team. The theme, Chart Our Course: Power Through Partnership, made one thing clear. This conference wasn’t just about information. It was about relationships, which is what sets them apart in a competitive industry.
Step 2: Collaborate Before the Curtain Rises
Meeting planners often ask how keynote speakers customize for audiences. My answer: collaboration. I always schedule a pre-conference call to fine-tune the content and logistics.
With ProAg, I asked, “What do you want attendees to feel six months after the event?” Their answer: We want them to say this was the best AIP event they’ve ever attended. That clarity guided the entire design of the keynote. We agreed on a mix of 70 percent educational material and 30 percent entertainment, which is essential for an engaging keynote speaker who is closing an after-dinner session.
Step 3: Design the Experience, Not Just the Speech
As a tailored keynote speaker, I don’t just prepare slides. I design an experience. For ProAg, I combined lessons on body language in leadership with humor, stories, and my interactive mentalism routines. These interactive keynote elements keep energy high and ensure the lessons stick.
I also created a takeaway resource so participants would leave with something practical to use long after the applause. Everything—from staging choices to local Wisconsin references—was intentional. Those details make a customized keynote presentation feel personal, which is exactly what meeting planners want for their events.
The Result of a Customized Keynote: A Standing Ovation
By the time CEO Kendall Jones introduced me, the room was buzzing. Within minutes, people were laughing, leaning in, and fully participating. When I closed with the reminder that leadership isn’t only heard, it’s always being read, the message connected.
The applause rose, the audience stood, and the closing keynote ended with a standing ovation.
Why Meeting Planners Value a Customized Keynote
If you’re a meeting planner, you already know how much energy and detail go into creating a memorable event. The right conference keynote speaker matches that effort.
My process ensures your audience feels seen, understood, and engaged. Whether it’s an insurance conference, an agricultural event, or a corporate leadership summit, my goal is to bring a customized keynote presentation that blends education, entertainment, and connection.
Great events don’t just happen. They’re built with collaboration, trust, and a little bit of magic.
