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Laura Schwartz

Professional Speaker | Author of Eat, Drink & Succeed | Television Commentator

Professional Speaker | Author of Eat, Drink & Succeed | Television Commentator

Named one of the 100 Most Influential People in the Global Event Industry by Eventex 2019-2023 and one of the top 7 speakers in the United States, Laura Schwartz has been a Professional Emcee and Keynote Speaker since 2001. Laura began her professional career in 1993 as the youngest female presidential appointee in history, serving as the White House Director of Events for the Clinton Administration. After which, in addition to speaking, published her first book “Eat, Drink and Succeed” and currently appears on television as the American contributor on Australia’s #1 Today Show. Laura has been featured by and is a published writer in Fast Company, Elle Magazine, Marie Claire and other periodicals. In 2021, along with her cast from ITV News, she was awarded the International Drum Award for Podcast of the Year.

Laura and her wife reside in Chicago where they are involved in civic and philanthropic endeavors. Laura is a member of the Economic Club of Chicago, the City Club of Chicago and the American Heart Association Advocacy Committee. Globally, Laura serves as an active board member on the Keystone Board of the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab and the WASH Foundation, an endeavor of Clean the World Global.

  • EMCEE, MODERATOR AND INTERVIEWER

    Laura embraces emceeing conferences and events of all sizes, conducts interviews on stage with CEOs, industry leaders and celebrities, and moderates expert panel discussions. Through her effortless energy, she tailors her role as an emcee to the tone and purpose of each conference and becomes a true Brand Ambassador of your company or association, its culture and industry. Laura prepares for each event by conducting extensive research into the organization or association’s brand and audience, whether it’s a short afternoon event or a four-day conference.

    Laura has had great success as an Emcee for a variety of events, including annual conferences, international forums, charity galas, sporting events and fashion shows. She keeps audiences engaged and their energy in-sync with the event’s overarching purpose.

     

  • KEYNOTE: EAT, DRINK & SUCCEED!

    Laura’s keynote grabs its audience’s attention. It’s motivational, humorous and engaging, but that’s not what makes it powerful. What makes it powerful is that it’s immediately actionable. For the audience, the new networking knowledge can be applied instantly to the conference or event at hand as well as carried back to their offices, shared with their colleagues, team members, clients, partners and put to work in their professional and personal communities.

    What’s unique about Eat, Drink & Succeed is that it is more than a series of anecdotes; it’s a compelling story that’s packed with networking tools and command of partnerships. Laura’s behind the scenes stories of the White House, DreamWorks, Oprah and beyond illustrate just how useful these skills are for the savvy professional, regardless of background, industry or career path.

    One key technique Laura employs is flipping the definition of networking around, empowering your audience to continue growing their networks and opportunities by adopting the mantra, “What can I do for you?” instead of the sometimes more negative
    mentality that asks, “What can you do for me?” She explains how positive, powerful networking involves mentoring and leading both inside and outside of the office, resulting in beneficial outcomes for all parties involved. She shares her techniques – including insider tips about the effective powers of preparation, introductions and engaging conversations with a message and follow-up among others. She provides attendees with the means to turn a brief meeting, break room conversation, power lunch or “optional” social occasion into a valuable opportunity for themselves, their company or industry association.

    Eat, Drink & Succeed motivates, engages, and most importantly, it drives action.

    USE EAT, DRINK & SUCCEED TO KICK OFF YOUR CONFERENCE!

    Whether a first time attendee or a seasoned veteran, attendees will feel empowered to take every facet of the conference and make it work to their full advantage and yours. Laura provides the tools and techniques that motivate attendees to capitalize on all social and business interactions at the conference so that they, too, can turn relationships into partnerships and ideas into realities. This keynote sets the tone and energy for a successful conference.

    In this version, Laura incorporates the conference agenda, teaching the attendees how to maximize every moment from registration to the sessions, breaks, expo, early morning wellness activities and even the “seemingly” social events. And she doesn’t stop there, Laura incorporates your company or association’s year-round engagements as well, so the attendee continues to maximize and identify that there is no such thing as “optional,” but only opportunity—both at your conference and throughout the year back home!

    This presentation outlines purposeful skills that inspire leadership and drive performance, as it becomes the centerpiece for a truly powerful, positive and productive conference.

    THIS PRESENTATION CAN BE A 30, 45 OR 60 MINUTE KICK OFF TO FIT THE NEEDS AND  TEMPO OF THE CONFERENCE AT HAND AND WORKS ESPECIALLY WELL WHEN COMBINED WITH LAURA’S POSITION AS AN EMCEE.

  • LEAD FIRST

    A UNIQUE & DYNAMIC PRESENTATION ON LEADERSHIP IN TIMES OF SUCCESS,TURBULENCE AND CHANGE

    Laura’s Lead First Presentation addresses leadership in successful, turbulent and changing times for companies and associations. This presentation is unique and empowering as it incorporates more than 200 years of U.S. Presidents, First Ladies and their stories which have rarely, if ever, been shared before from deep behind the scenes of The White House. All anecdotes are non-partisan, interesting, relevant and relatable to your company or association and are accompanied by tips that attendees can immediately put into action in their personal or professional lives.

    As a witness on the front lines of climatic celebrations as well as moments of great gravity, determination and leadership, Laura achieved a rare perspective on the private and public moments of first families and global leaders.

    Laura shares valuable takeaways in this unforgettable program using inspiring stories and visuals from the earliest White House inhabitants, along with first-hand accounts of defining moments during the Clinton administration. She illustrates real solutions from the successes and failures in leadership that we all can use in our daily lives as we work with our customers and colleagues and share within our communities and families.

  • EMPOWERMENT THROUGH SERVICE

    A MOTIVATING ADDRESS THAT SHOWS HOW GIVING BACK PLAYS A KEY ROLE IN THE FOUNDATION FOR THE SUCCESS OF AN INDUSTRY, ORGANIZATION OR INDIVIDUAL.

    The 19th century French social scientist Alexis de Tocqueville once stated that the defining characteristic of America is its commitment to service. In this moving keynote address, Laura puts a modern-day twist on de Tocqueville’s statement, showing how giving back today can make a difference in our world and in your organization.

    Regardless of their role in your company or association, Laura will empower attendees to strengthen their commitment to your objective whether that means working harder, becoming more involved or giving greater.

    Your audience members will leave knowing that their service not only affects the lives of those they help directly, products they launch and colleagues they sit next to; but also their own personal and professional communities. Laura communicates the power of service using colorful examples and entertaining anecdotes from her work in the White House and beyond while traveling around the world with the Clinton Global Initiative and as a professional speaker since 2001.

    Laura tailors this keynote address based on the client’s objectives and the audience in order to create a completely unique presentation that is appealing, engaging and, most importantly, effective.

  • SETTING THE BAR: EXPLORING THE LIVES OF COURAGEOUS WOMEN TO INSPIRE THE WOMEN OF TODAY AND TOMORROW

    This keynote covers the “bars” set by female leaders who have changed history and forged the professional community landscape that women excel in today. Laura takes the audience on a journey that explores the lives of notable women and those who “set their bars” around the world and across a variety of fields – such as Eleanor Roosevelt, Margaret Thatcher, Rosa Parks, Hillary Clinton, Oprah Winfrey and others – to better understand how women today are shaped by the skills, strength and struggles of those who came before them.

    Laura allows the audience to recognize how they, too – as women who are leaders, mothers, spouses, sisters and friends – set the bar for themselves, their families and other women every day, whether or not they realize it.

    The message resonates with women of all ages in every stage of their careers and lives. Whether it is a corporation, industry association or non-profit, Laura will ensure her message relates to your audience. She can develop an even stronger connection with the audience by incorporating your organization’s own founders, leaders or other strong women your audience identifies with to demonstrate how they “set the bar.”

  • THE POWER OF THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION

    A RARE LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES AT AN EVENT SO POWERFUL IT ONLY HAPPENS ONCE EVERY FOUR YEARS!

    Laura captures all the ceremony, significance and power behind presidential inaugurations as she offers a look inside what it takes to make it all happen. From the first nail hammered into the U. S. Capitol platform, months before the election is even decided, to the last formal
    ball in the wee hours of the President’s first night in office, Laura takes you there. This keynote gives a behind-the-scenes look at how 15 entities collaborate over 7 months to seamlessly make it all happen. It explores the excitement, drama and even the occasional gaffes going on in the background that hopefully no one notices! This presentation
    is intriguing and delivers inside tips and techniques to make your next conference, event or meeting reach a presidential level.

  • THE BOOK: EAT, DRINK AND SUCCEED

    With no political connections, communications wunderkind Laura Schwartz networked her way from answering phones for President Clinton’s press office to producing more than 1,000 events as the White House Director of Events.

    In her first book, “Eat, Drink & Succeed,” Schwartz, now a professional speaker and national television commentator, shows how the secrets that propelled her to success can do the same for you.

    Taking a cue from showbiz, she presents her strategy in fun and easy-to-follow steps:
    Setting the Scene, Casting Call, Dress Rehearsal, Showtime and Encore!

    The book is an entertaining, enlightening and motivational read that delivers proven techniques to help you network, build partnerships and excel at every turn of your personal and professional life as you Eat, Drink & Succeed!

    Laura donates 100% of proceeds from her book, “Eat Drink & Succeed,” sold at engagements around the world to the scholarship fund or charity of the client’s choice.

  • President Bill Clinton

    Behind the scenes at the White House, Laura saw firsthand that we can best ‘achieve ourselves’ by helping others, but that doing so requires us to go beyond our good intentions with a determination not to be distracted and a commitment to building partnerships with those who share our goals.

  • Sir David Frost

    Laura is an outstanding communicator as I know from her sparkling appearances on Frost Over The World. I’m sure that her book will be an equal success. As she says ‘Your career isn’t 9-5, it’s 24-7’ and she’s living proof of just how well that works.

  • Successful Meetings Magazine

    Laura Schwartz is one of seven keynoters who surpasses expectations…having worked with the President of the United States, she understands the value of creating better business partnership opportunities.

  • John Samford - Media West Production President

    My team all had nothing but praise for your work and all that you did to make their job easier. Personally, they spoke so highly of your professionalism, communication skills, high energy and very powerful presentation skills. They said you were one of the best we have ever worked with…and since we have about 120 programs each year, that says a lot to me!”

  • Toni Reed - Wisconsin Bankers Association

    You were the highlight of our annual conference. There has never been a speaker that has made such an impact on all our attendees. You and your message are relevant, positive, interesting and motivating! Thank you for “Knocking the Lights out at the Conference!” We will be talking about it for years I’m sure!

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