JIM KNIGHT

Award-Winning Keynote Speaker on Leadership & Culture | Former Global Head of Training at Hard Rock International | Best-Selling Author of Culture That Rocks Series | Featured in Forbes, Inc., Fast Company & Entrepreneur | Rolling Stone Culture Council Member | Top 10 Most Booked & Rated Speakers in the U.S.

Orlando, FL

ABOUT JIM KNIGHT

Renowned keynote speaker, author, and training and development expert Jim Knight teaches organizations of all sizes how to attain their own “rock star” status.  

Although his illustrious career started at Gatorland in Florida (he has scars to prove it), Jim cut his teeth in the hospitality training industry and eventually led Global Training for Hard Rock International for two decades. Jim’s customized programs show audiences how to amp up organizational culture, deliver world-class differentiated service, and build rock star teams and leaders.

Jim’s role at Hard Rock involved many facets of organizational training including creating and managing all staff and management training materials and programs; facilitating Hard Rock’s corporate university; overseeing management training locations; producing training videos; directing company e-Learning initiatives; facilitating leadership transitions; and traveling to properties to deliver onsite classes and measure company standards.

Jim put his experience and creativity to work, which consistently developed cutting-­edge training concepts. During his time with the Hard Rock brand, his team won coveted Telly Awards (Guest Service in 2000, Menu Rollout in 2007, Harassment & Discrimination Prevention in 2008); garnered Training Directors Forum’s 1998 prize for “Reengineering Training”; and won Brandon Hall’s Gold Best in Class Award for their “Service Recovery” e-­Learning course.  

Jim Knight was also recognized by Training Magazine as representing one of the Top 125 training companies in the world out of all industries & businesses. He has since been featured in Forbes Magazine, Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, Entrepreneur Magazine and Fox Small Business News. Jim has also been a contributing member of Rolling Stone’s Culture Council, since 2020. 

Jim has a music degree in Vocal Performance & Education and taught in the Florida public school system for 6 years. He is a life­time member of CHART (an Association of Hospitality Trainers); previously sat on the Certification Governing Board of the National Restaurant Association; and founded a local training forum & networking group (The Training Summit: CHART’s 1st Regional Training Forum) with over 100 active members in Central Florida, to share best practices and discuss common issues with other industry professionals. 

Today, Jim Knight is the Owner & CEO of Knight Speaker, delivering numerous programs worldwide on leadership, organizational culture, customer service, and employee engagement and was listed in the “Top 10 Most Booked & Rated Speakers in the U.S.” by The Speaker Experts (2016). 

Jim is also the best-selling author of Culture That Rocks: How to Revolutionize Your Company’s Culture, a how-to business book designed to amp up a brand in any industry. Entrepreneur Magazine listed the book as one of the “Top 5 Books That Will Transform Your Business”. His latest books, Leadership That Rocks: Take Your Brand’s Culture to Eleven and Amp Up Results and Service That Rocks: Create Unforgettable Experiences and Turn Customers into Fans and Engagement That Rocks: Enhance Employee Experiences and Retain Chart-Topping Talent were amazon #1 Best Sellers and are a 3-book set in Jim’s “Culture That Rocks” series. A portion of Jim’s book sales and speaking fees goes to:

Cannonball Kids’ cancer – which funds innovative, accessible research for children fighting cancer with better treatments, quality of life, and options for those told they have run out of options.

Tunnel to Towers – which supports 1) fallen emergency first responders and U.S. Gold Star families who have lost a spouse, 2) U.S. service personnel who have been wounded in combat by supplying specially-adapted smart homes, and 3) eradicating homelessness for U.S. military veterans.

Heart for the Arts – a non-profit, faith-based community choir in Central Florida.

You can connect with Jim through his website at: KnightSpeaker.com

SPEAKING TOPICS

Leadership | Organizational Culture | Customer Experience | Employee Engagement | Service Excellence | High-Performance Teams | Company Culture Transformation | Employee Retention | Brand Experience | Motivation & Inspiration

CULTURE THAT ROCKS

Set List on How to Amp Up Your Company’s Culture and Deliver Sustainable Results

This high-energy, interactive and visual keynote presentation focuses on individuals, departments and entire companies who are charged with creating, maintaining, or revolutionizing an organization’s culture, ensuring it stays relevant in the 21^st century. The program delves into every area of a company’s environment and reveals realistic solutions for systemic change. 

Keynote speaker and best-selling author, Jim Knight will act as a thought-starter for the session. He will use the visceral backdrop of Rock ‘n Roll and several well-known brands, including Hard Rock International—via his 21-year run with that brand as the head of Global Training & Development—to discuss key strategies to transform any organization’s culture, regardless of the company’s cultural history or status.

Key Unique Concepts will include:

– A clear-cut definition of Company Culture (finally!)

– Understanding Heritage vs. Culture

– Identifying 3C Rock Stars

– Amping Up Communication

– Delivering Service Differentiation

– Enhancing Employee Engagement

– Handling Organizational Change

– Developing Resiliency

The time allotted is chock-a-block full of visual PowerPoint slides, out-of-the-box thinking, book quotes, videos, personal stories, industry statistics, case studies, and an interactive handout for some real “take aways”…all told through the spirit of Rock ‘n’ Roll. 

Impactful Edu-tainment will be served!

LEADERSHIP THAT ROCKS

How to Deliver Stellar Results with Practical Initiatives and Take Your Brand to Eleven

This high-energy and impactful keynote presentation is effectively designed to provide leaders of any level, practical and tactical initiatives to create an iconic business. The program will deliver rapid-fire best practices that any leader can immediately put into practice, starting them down the road to rock star success.

Keynote speaker and best-selling author, Jim Knight will act as a thought-starter for the session. He will use the visceral backdrop of Rock ‘n Roll and several well-known brands, including Hard Rock International—via his 21-year run with that brand as the head of Global Training & Development—to discuss key strategies to implementing initiatives for leading others to produce desired results.

Key Unique Concepts will include:

– Producing a Virtuous Environment

– Hiring & Retaining Rock Stars

– Enhancing Employee Engagement

– Amping Up Communication

– Creating an Army of Promotable Giants

– Guaranteeing Customer Obsession

– Becoming Heart-Centered

– Effectively Dealing with Change

– Staying Resilient in Trying Times

– Fostering Mentorship

– Taking Personal Accountability

The time allotted is chock-a-block full of visual PowerPoint slides, out-of-the-box thinking, book quotes, videos, personal stories, industry statistics, case studies, and an interactive handout for some real “take aways”…all told through the spirit of Rock ‘n’ Roll. 

Edu-tainment will be served!

SERVICE THAT ROCKS

How to Create Unforgettable Experiences and Turn Customers into Fans

Every business has competitors. And how you set yourself apart will determine whether your customer will fall madly in love with you…or not.

This high-energy, interactive and visual keynote presentation focuses on how to differentiate your organization from the rest of the competition to become the business of choice. This program will deliver thought-provoking best practices to create mind-searing customer obsession.

Keynote speaker and best-selling author, Jim Knight will act as a thought-starter for the session. He will use the visceral backdrop of Rock ‘n Roll and several well-known brands, including Hard Rock International—via his 21-year run with that brand as the head of Global Training & Development—to discuss key strategies to set the stage for us to get into the memory-making business.

Key Unique Concepts will include:

– Becoming Customer-Obsessed

– Embracing a Differentiated Service Mentality

– Avoiding Acceptable Mediocrity

– Eliminating 4-Letter Words

– Building Mental Shelf Space

– Empowering Employees

– Writing Yourself into the Story

– Increasing Value Proposition

The time allotted is chock-a-block full of visual PowerPoint slides, out-of-the-box thinking, book quotes, videos, personal stories, industry statistics, case studies, and an interactive handout for some real “take aways”…all told through the spirit of Rock ‘n’ Roll. 

Edu-tainment will be served!

ENGAGEMENT THAT ROCKS

How to Enhance Employee Experiences and Retain Chart-Topping Talent

Knowing that employees are so critical to any business, how leaders treat them is the one true strategy to empower and retain team members and ultimately create a world class organization. This high-energy keynote program is effectively designed to highlight proven ways to create and maintain a strong internal team member culture through robust engagement.

Keynote speaker and best-selling author, Jim Knight will act as a thought-starter for the session. He will use the visceral backdrop of Rock ‘n Roll and several well-known brands, including Hard Rock International—via his 21-year run with that brand as the head of Global Training & Development—to discuss key strategies to secure commitment (versus compliance) from team members, ensuring they stick around longer, deliver unforgettable resident experiences, and produce sustainable results.

Key Unique Concepts will include:

– Understanding Virtuous vs. Vicious Environments

– Using Servant Leadership via the Service/Profit Chain

– Amping Up Communication

– Empowering Team Members

– Employing the Emotional Bank Account

– Utilizing Philanthropy as a Differentiator

– Creating an Army of Giants via Mentorship

– Retaining Top Talent

The time allotted is chock-a-block full of visual PowerPoint slides, out-of-the-box thinking, book quotes, videos, personal stories, industry statistics, case studies, and an interactive handout for some real “take aways”…all told through the spirit of Rock ‘n’ Roll. 

Impactful Edu-tainment will be served!

BUILDING A ROCK STAR TEAM

How to Find, Develop and Keep Brand Ambassadors to Deliver Iconic Results

All business results (good and bad) occur because of human behaviors. This high-energy keynote program explores specific strategies and best practices in every area of The Employee Life Cycle.  

Keynote speaker and best-selling author, Jim Knight will act as a thought-starter for the session. He will use the visceral backdrop of Rock ‘n Roll and several well-known brands, including Hard Rock International—via his 21-year run with that brand as the head of Global Training & Development—to discuss key strategies to tap into the needs of today’s talent pool and explore innovative ways to create, maintain or even revive a team of rock stars.

Key Unique Concepts will include:

– Understanding the Drivers of Today’s Workforce

– Recruiting Hidden Rock Stars

– Overhauling Onboarding

– Revolutionizing Training Concepts

– Utilizing Performance Management Tools

– Designing World-Class Collateral

– Implementing Effective Communication Platforms

– Customizing Recognition

– Implementing Coaching & Counseling Techniques

– Fostering Mentorship

– Creating an Army of Promotable Giants

The time allotted is chock-a-block full of visual PowerPoint slides, out-of-the-box thinking, book quotes, videos, personal stories, industry statistics, case studies, an online audience response tool and an interactive handout for some real “take aways”…all told through the spirit of Rock ‘n’ Roll. 

Edu-tainment will be served!

TESTIMONIALS

“In 20 years of producing events for blue-chip brands, I have never seen such an engaging speaker as Jim Knight. His content is compelling, informative, and relevant to the times, but most importantly, very emotionally engaging. The audience was absolutely engaged for 2 straight hours as Jim articulated his philosophy on brand building with incredible stories and characters from his experiences. We will be bringing him back!”

JIM CRYSTAL, Principal, The Revelry Agency

“As a meetings and events industry veteran who knows so many speakers personally, I think Jim Knight is a rare gem amongst the rest. Hearing Jim’s presentation on ‘Service That Rocks’ helped me to find and hit the ‘reset’ button in my approach with my current and potential clients. It was just the reminder I needed about the importance of my service level and how I can use my outstanding service to win customers for life.”

REBECCA JACQUES, President, Inspired  Hospitality Recruiting

“Jim Knight is one of those presenters who can deliver the message and content in a way that sticks. His openness and interest in his audience are real and result in a strong connection. Five years later, we still hear references to his presentation from some of our members.”

ROB PATERKIEWICZ, Exec Director, Select Independent Funeral Homes

“Jim’s knowledge, expertise, and passion on a variety of topics are beyond impressive. His ability to present important substantive ideas in compelling ways that inspire is truly a gift. There’s no way to leave one of Jim’s sessions without feeling energized, inspired, and ready to start a revolution in your organization.”

ALAN SCHAEFER, Founder, Banding People Together

“Jim is relevant, engaging, and extremely motivating. Whether you’re planning a large event or a small group session, your dynamic experience with him is sure to be unforgettable. You will be equipped with the tools, passion, and vision needed to follow through on the next steps towards accomplishing what you set out to achieve.”

AVERY BLOCK, Social Engagement & Brand Champion, Taco Bell

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