Travels from San Francisco, California, USA
Aaron McDaniel's speaking fee falls within range: $25,000 to $30,000
Millennial expert Aaron McDaniel delivers timely aha moments and viable solutions on how to bridge generational gaps in the workplace and marketplace. Drawing from his own experience as a Millennial in the corporate world, McDaniel has floored audiences with his ability to connect to attendees of all ages while giving them tools and insights to understand each other better and collaborate more effectively.
McDaniel is the author of The Young Professionals series. The first book of the series, The Young Professional’s Guide to the Working World, is an international top 10 listed book that has been translated into multiple languages. He’s spoken to groups ranging from recent grads to senior executives at The Ritz Carlton Leadership Center, Deloitte Consulting, UnitedHealth Group, and the United Way. He has also been heard on CBS Radio & NPR, and seen on ABC’s Shark Tank.
McDaniel draws from his own experience learning the ropes during the early years of his career. At age 27, he became one of the youngest regional vice-presidents in AT&T history. He has since launched various entrepreneurial ventures, including the e-commerce company Pong360 which he successfully sold in 2012 and the crowdfunding platform, Tycoon Real Estate, which was acquired in 2015.
He got his start focusing on Millennials, teaching a highly rated student course “Leadership and Organizational Dynamics” at the Haas Undergraduate School of Business at UC Berkley while he was is still a student. Ten years later, UC Berkley continues to teach the course based on the curriculum that McDaniel created.
Aaron McDaniel is a globally recognized corporate manager, entrepreneur, teacher, speaker and author with a passion for helping companies innovate at global scale. Aaron is the co-author of The Wall Street Journal and National Bestseller, Global Class, a playbook for how to build a global company, developed through interviewing more than 300 executives from 50+ countries who have scaled the world’s fastest growing companies.
Aaron is currently a faculty member at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business (where he is also an alumnus), and is the co-founder of 10X Innovation Lab, an international consulting firm and accelerator helping corporations and governments across 4 continents build and leverage innovation ecosystems. He is also the managing partner of Grow Scale, a real estate private equity firm.
Aaron began his corporate career at AT&T, as part of its flagship Leadership Development Program. He rose to become one of the youngest to serve as Regional Vice President (at age 27) and was an AT&T Diamond Club honoree, being part of the Top 1% of sales managers worldwide (out of an organization of 10,000+). Aaron is also a serial entrepreneur, having founded 3 companies that were acquired (Pong360, Tycoon, Access Invest), one of which he turned down an offer for on ABC’s Shark Tank.
He is also the author of The Young Professional’s Guide to the Working World (an international top 10 listed book printed in multiple languages, with a foreword by New York Times Bestseller Marshall Goldsmith) and The Young Professional’s Guide to Managing (foreword by co-author of The Leadership Challenge, Jim Kouzes), has been featured in numerous media outlets including: Forbes, The Financial Times, The Wall Street Journal, Inc., Bloomberg BusinessWeek, CBSRadio, Entrepreneur, and US News & World Report, and is trusted by top companies including: Microsoft, the Ritz-Carlton, Deloitte Consulting, Wells Fargo, Principal Financial and UnitedHealth Group. Aaron is the Vice Chairman of Project Giving Kids, a non-profit helping kids learn empathy through age-appropriate volunteering opportunities, and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Aaron McDaniel is a world class speaker and experienced corporate leader who at age 27 became one of the youngest ever to serve as Regional Vice President at AT&T. He is a successful business builder, an acclaimed author and a millennial expert. He discusses the Who, What, Why and Hows of Millennials to understand them in order to better attract and engage Millennial customers. He believes that Millennials are changing the way we do business.
Aaron McDaniel unpacks the secrets to understanding and engaging Millennials both as talent and consumers. With 80 million Millennials in the work force today, no organization can fully thrive if they are unable to reach the hearts and minds of this key demographic.
Drawing comparisons between a youthful Steve Jobs and Mark Zuckerberg, McDaniel explains that many of the characteristics associated with Millennials - traits such as passion, impatience, and a belief that the rules don't apply to them - are actually a product of youth rather than a specific generation; however, Millennials' yo
Whether he’s addressing intrapreneurship, management techniques, or empowering your Millennial talent, Aaron McDaniel works hard to make sure each of his presentations meets the needs and interests of his audience. Primarily focused on bridging the generational gap between Millennials and their older counterparts, McDaniel delivers viable solutions for leveraging this young generation’s strengths and engaging them as customers. Additionally, he guides Millennials in taking control of their careers, teaching them how to navigate corporate waters, collaborate with their senior co-workers, and make the tricky the transition to management.
Aaron can also include a Q&A Segment in his presentation, if you prefer.
The Global Class Mindset: Building the right mindset, team, culture and structures to enable your business to thrive at global scale
The INTERpreneur - Nurturing Globally Minded Leaders: Identify and nurture the next generation of global business leaders to be a catalyst for your company's growth
Rapid Global Growth: How to effectively expand into to new global markets and penetrate your existing international footprint
Ignite your Innovation: Building an agile culture and processes to harness your organization’s entrepreneurial spirit and thrive in a rapidly changing marketplace
Many industries have experienced tectonic shifts that unseat traditional market leaders through the implementation of technology and use of new innovation frameworks, from both startups and the existing competition. From change to retail because of online sales, to transportation with the growth of Uber, to new models for financial services and beyond, almost every industry has been affected. Using strategies that he teaches at one of the top 10 business schools in the world (UC Berkeley's Haas School of Business) and that are used to build global innovation ecosystems through 10x Innovation Lab, Aaron will help your organization understand how to innovate to stay ahead of the competition and disruptive forces in your market. From developing the right mindset and culture to foster innovation, to how to implement practical frameworks to allow for stakeholder buy-in and participation in innovation initiatives - your audience will leave empowered and well equipped to help your company adapt in today's ever-changing marketplace.
Thriving in a Multi-Generational Workplace: Amplify your ROI from engaging your Gen Z/Millennial employees and learn how to inspire collaboration in a Multi-Generational workforce
There are currently 4 different generation's of employee in today's workplace, each with their own unique perspectives and skill-sets. Learn how to encourage collaboration and take advantage of your organization's age diversity. Did you know that while 47% of young professionals want to stay at the first company they work at for 5-10 years, a majority last less than 2? Companies are dedicating tens of thousands of dollars of resources into someone who takes those skills to another company before you get a return on your investment. Over 80 million strong, Millennials also represent the largest and fastest growing target customer segment in the market. I am an experienced corporate leader and generational dynamics expert, who happens to understand what it is like to be a Millennial firsthand. Instead of basing my advice on reading research reports, my insights come from being in the trenches, working for nearly a decade at a Fortune 10 company and rising to become one of the youngest ever to serve as Regional Vice President. Through speaking, consulting and coaching I work with executive leaders and managers to understand Millennials in order to better attract & engage Millennial customers and empower & retain Millennial employees, helping companies preserve their top young talent and delight their biggest future customer base.
SPEAKING.COM: What do you want people to learn/take away from your presentations?
MCDANIEL: When hearing me talk, audiences come away with the Who/Why/What/How: WHO Millennials are, WHY they got that way, WHAT they want, and HOW to maximize what I refer to as their Gen Y ROI. I share specific strategies that help them maximize the return on investment they get from focusing on retaining and empowering Millennial employees and engaging Millennial customers. People get practical advice that is customized for their industry, company and unique business objectives and they leave feeling inspired to take action.
SPEAKING.COM: What kind of special prep work do you do prior to an event? How do you prepare for your speaking engagements?
MCDANIEL: I always customize my talks for my audience. In addition to spending my own time doing my own research, I ensure that I understand my client’s objectives and confirm that they are achieved with my speaking material. I also connect with 3+ audience members to fully understand the biggest issues they are facing so that I can address them in my talk.
SPEAKING.COM: Have you had any particularly memorable speaking engagements / unusual situations arise while on the road?
MCDANIEL: Earlier this year I had the chance to speak at the Intercoiffure Atelier conference (the international salon and beauty industry owners association). Besides the fact that the audience was very different from my typical corporate clients, speaking at the conference gave me a unique opportunity to honor someone very important to me. For over 70 years, until the age of 91, my grandmother was a professional hair stylist working at a high-end salon near Stanford University. I found it only fitting to dedicate my talk to her and the amazing example she set for me in how to live a successful life. Standing in front of peers from her industry was a tremendous treat.
SPEAKING.COM: What types of audiences would most benefit from your message?
MCDANIEL: The audiences who would benefit from my message are those that currently have or plan in the future to employ anyone from the Millennial generation, as well as anyone who wants to sell their products and services to Millennial customers. (So basically every company in every industry would benefit from hearing my message!) The success of your business or organization will be directly affected by your ability to engage Millennials. Let me show you how.
SPEAKING.COM: Which of your keynote speaking topics are your favorites and why?
MCDANIEL: While I love sharing about innovation, work-life integration, effective management tactics and more, the topic of Millennials and Inter-Generational Teamwork is my favorite because I have seen the profound effects my message has had on my clients’ organizations.
SPEAKING.COM: What inspired you to start doing speaking engagements?
MCDANIEL: This will probably reveal to everyone that I am a big nerd, but I actually love conferences. When I sat in the audience at conferences back when I was working at AT&T, I was always energized, not only hearing the messages spoken on stage, but also the ideas that would come to me. I was able to take a breather from the day-to-day work I was doing to look above the clouds while learning something new.
As I sat in the audience I always imagined myself on stage. I love helping people and engaging with them, helping them solve their problems and learn how to improve their business. Then one day, I decided to go for it and share the messages I had; and I have never turned back since.
SPEAKING.COM: How do you keep your audience engaged and actively listening during your keynotes? Do you use case studies, personal stories and/or in your speeches?
MCDANIEL: As I mentioned before, part of how I keep my audiences engaged is by speaking their language. I customize the case studies and references to be applicable to their industry and I use the homework I do (talking to audience members ahead of time) to help me learn the right lingo and re-enforce my message the proper way.
I use video and other interactive content (with personal stories, pop culture references, humor and classic business references) to make sure everyone is engaged. If the time and speaking format permit, I love to have a Q&A session with the audience at the end of my talks (which I have done with audiences of hundreds of people), so I can really address what is on everyone’s mind and tie-in the message I just shared with their day-to-day challenges and objectives.
SPEAKING.COM: What are some of the successes you’ve helped clients achieve?
MCDANIEL: While I always love to hear about far reaching executive-sponsored initiatives that spark positive change and affect hundreds or thousands of people all stemming from hearing my message, I also love to hear about the little things that people take from my talks. Those little “ah-ha” moments that lead someone to change how they manage that 1 Millennial on their team, or how my message sparks the implementation of one simple successful marketing strategy or new operational strategy that someone never considered before, are what really motivate me.
The fact that my message can help entire organizations but can also help individuals make little changes in how they do their job and approach work – that is what really inspires me to continue working hard for my clients.
At WBA, we value speakers who can deliver dynamic content; that’s why we’ve booked Aaron for THREE events, speaking to three different audiences. If you’re looking for a speaker who commands the stage, engages the audience, and offers the practical and tactical tools necessary for sustainable success, Aaron is the speaker for you. — Gina Stratos, Vice President, Western Bankers Association
Our group stayed engaged with you and your meaningful content throughout the day. In these days after I have heard you quoted AT LEAST 6 times, from the CEO to HR to Engineering. Thanks for making a difference! — Beth English, VP of Marketing, Truck-Lite
As a professional speaker and workshop facilitator myself, I take a much more critical and unique view of speakers I hire for events. I have found few that can top Aaron McDaniel. His topic around hiring, coaching and nurturing millennial talent is most timely and he executes on stage with style and grace. From the initial meeting to his post-session follow up, Aaron is world class. He beats deadlines and provides outstanding and easy to understand materials that are customized to the audience. In front of the group he provides practical insights. He knows his subject inside and out. He lands relevant stories into the lives of the audience. He does it all with humor and an easy to listen style that keeps people engaged regardless of age. If you are looking for someone to discuss how to blend millennials into the workplace, hire Aaron McDaniel, hire him now. — Jack Hubbard, Chairman & Chief Sales Officer, St. Meyer & Hubbard
We value speakers who can deliver dynamic content; that’s why we’ve booked Aaron for three events, speaking to three different audiences. If you’re looking for a speaker who commands the stage, engages the audience, & offers the practical and tactical tools necessary for sustainable success, Aaron is the speaker for you. – Gina Stratos, Vice President, Western Bankers Assoc.
In these days after I have heard Aaron quoted AT LEAST 6 times, from the CEO to HR to Engineering. Thanks for making a difference! – Beth English, VP of Marketing, Truck-Lite
I saw Aaron speak at a conference I attended and immediately knew he would be perfect for an event I was hosting. Based on the 100% positive feedback we received, it turns out I was right – Aaron was perfect for our conference. I can recommend him to you without reservation. – Ron Balmer, Managing Director, Greenwich Assoc
In today’s business climate, a new message is a must, and Aaron’s delivery of the “thinking of the millennial” opened my eyes to how I need to change me! Aaron is the Stephen Covey of his generation! -Frank Gambuzza, President, Intercoiffure America/Canada
I have found few that can top Aaron McDaniel. His topic around hiring, coaching and nurturing millennial talent is most timely and he executes on stage with style and grace. From the initial meeting to his post-session follow up, Aaron is world class… He does it all with humor and an easy to listen style that keeps people engaged regardless of age. If you are looking for someone to discuss how to blend millennials into the workplace, hire Aaron McDaniel, hire him now. -Jack Hubbard, Chairman & Chief Sales Officer, St. Meyer & Hubbard
Aaron was amazing to work with from start to finish. He worked with me to customize his talk for our group and really focused on what would be interesting and relevant for the audience. His session was really dynamic and engaging with multiple people coming up immediately to me after the talk to compliment the session. We would love to bring Aaron in again to speak to our group! –Jenna Chen, Chief of Staff, Deloitte Consulting
Aaron did his homework and customized his presentation to be relevant to the industry and to my company specifically. His understanding of and discussion around the Millennial generation is critical knowledge for every company and manager in today’s workplace. Aaron’s presentation style is relaxed and confident, which allowed him to really engage with the audience individually and as a group. Aaron was a true pleasure to work with, start to finish. –Al Giobbie, Sr. Vice President, Provident Bank
In his session “Redefining Age in the Workplace: Diversity is More Than Just Ethnicity and Gender,” Aaron McDaniel provided workable solutions… Participants learned tips that would be beneficial throughout their careers. McDaniel helped them understand the importance of being patient, stepping outside their comfort zones, making careful decisions and being open to career coaching. Attendees also left with a clear understanding of the value of collaboration among different generations in the workplace. In his session, McDaniel inspired millennials to become engaged and empowered to succeed and helped prepare them to lead those who will eventually follow in their footsteps. — Sheron Rose, Vice President, Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce
We had the opportunity to feature Aaron McDaniel at one of the Young Professional Networking events. Our members left feeling inspired to enact the strategies he presented during the event. His strong communication and facilitation skills were impressive. He provided invaluable insight and we look forward to collaborating in the future. — Perrine Zen, President, Wells Fargo Young Professional’s Network- San Francisco
Outstanding! Thank you for taking part and being a part of our leadership conference. [Aaron’s] thoughtful presentation hit the minds and the hearts of all assembled. Clearly [his] message added the dimension to our gathering that was at the center of our vision for the organization. — Donn Wadley, Rotaract District Manager
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Global Class: How the World’s Fastest-Growing Companies Scale Globally by Focusing Locally
#2 WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER and NATIONAL BESTSELLER- The Playbook for Building a Global Company.
Learn how 250+ of the world’s fastest growing companies (from 50+ countries) successfully scaled globally including: Google, Zoom, Airbnb, Slack, Apple, Canva, Flexport, Zendesk, Rakuten, Salesforce and MANY more! Endorsed by 45+ top corporate executives, unicorn startup founders, investors and bestselling authors. Next Big Idea Club Nominee (Aug 2022)
WHAT is Global Class? The business world has changed and to stay ahead companies have to think, operate and scale differently. Companies need to adopt a new mindset and build distributed teams with a unique set of skills to succeed in new markets. A new strategic approach and revision to the agile methodology are necessary to better balance the need to localize with the complexity that localization creates.
To date, business leaders have had to learn how to scale globally the hard way – through trial, error and failure – since no guidebook existed to light the way… until now.
Enter Global Class.
Global Class is the playbook that teaches you how to build teams, manage a diverse international footprint, and balance cultural differences to scale globally by focusing locally. Through case studies and insights from more than 250 of the world’s fastest growing companies, Aaron McDaniel and Klaus Wehage illuminate what this new class of business (“Global Class Companies”) do to succeed, who are the catalysts of their growth (“Interpreneurs”) and how they do it.
From market entry to international growth, Global Class introduces a comprehensive tool kit of practical frameworks that provide a blueprint for how to build and manage a global business.
Global Class is the essential playbook for reaching global scale for businesses of all sizes and stages.
Global Class’ mission is to make global growth a shared experience (instead of the solitary one it traditionally has been) and save companies time and money that is often wasted in the process of approaching international growth, the wrong way.
THE YOUNG PROFESSIONAL’S GUIDE TO THE WORKING WORLD
School does not teach you how to be successful at work.
The Young Professional’s Guide to the Working World provides important insights on the topics essential to success within the first 5-10 years of any corporate career, including:
THE YOUNG PROFESSIONAL’S GUIDE TO MANAGING
One of the hardest challenges in anyone’s career is transitioning from being a employee responsible yourself to a manager responsible for others.
The Young Professional’s Guide to Managing fills this void with a mix of relevant tips and stories. It is an essential guide for all new managers and emerging leaders, providing insights, including:
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