Travels from Newport Beach, California, USA
Scott Duffy's speaking fee falls within range: $20,000 to $25,000
Scott Duffy helps companies transform faster in a world being reshaped by AI.
As a keynote speaker and AI strategist, Scott makes AI feel accessible, practical, and actionable without the hype or fear. He brings clarity to complex topics, helping leaders move from uncertainty to execution and from experimentation to real business impact.
With over 30 years building and scaling technology-driven companies, Scott has developed proven systems that help organizations adapt, modernize, and win with AI before disruption forces change.
Scott is the founder of multiple AI ventures, including AI Mavericks™, AI Tool Setup™, and The Clone Shop™. Earlier in his career, he built a company acquired by Richard Branson’s Virgin Group, held leadership roles at FOXSports.com, NBC Internet, and CBS Sportsline, and began his career working for Tony Robbins.
He has been recognized by Entrepreneur.com as a Top 10 Speaker, featured on CNBC, spoken at the New York Stock Exchange, and co-hosted a popular podcast for Microsoft.
Scott is the author of Shoshin: The System for AI-Powered Business Transformation and The Ultimate Prompting Guide, and a member of the National Speakers Association.
Entrepreneurship keynote speaker, Scott Duffy shares how he learned his most important business lesson from none other than 80's rapper, M.C. Hammer. While at conference on the big island of Hawaii, Duffy was placed on a team with former Twitter CEO, Dick Costolo; Silicon Valley icon and technology journalist, Sarah Lacy; and famous venture capitalist, Bill Tye. The group had to spend a day traversing the island and solving different written "clues" that they found along the way. "With all of this brain power there is absolutely no way that we can't win," Duffy recalls thinking to himself - before he discovered that the last person on their team was M.C. Hammer. When Duffy and most of the team were racking their brains over the first clue, Hammer stayed mostly on the sidelines enjoying the beach and chatting on his phone. The team politely asked him for help, so Hammer casually read the paper one time and gave the group a set of instructions that turned out to be the solution. The scene repeated itself for every clue: the group members would agonize over details for 20 minutes and then Hammer would step in, solving everything after a single read through. Later that night back at the hotel, Duffy asked Hammer how he'd manage to figure out every clue so easily. Hammer laughed, noting that "all entrepreneurs are the same." "'This is where you start and your goal is over here,'" the rapper illustrated. "'Somehow you figure out a way to make everything so complicated in the middle. I live my way by one very simple philosophy. I always find a way to the simplest path first.'"
Serial entrepreneur, Scott Duffy gives you a holistic look at what it takes to thrive in business today. Working with legends like Sir Richard Branson, Tony Robbins, and others, Duffy has had the unique opportunity to learn from some of the most brilliant innovators the best practices for building vibrant businesses in the current marketplace. From a race car track to Richard Branson’s island, Duffy uses his experiences to craft an entertaining road map that makes launching new products and business ventures a simpler, more effective, and more fulfilling process.
The Future of AI and What It Means to Your Business Demystifying AI. Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity.
This flagship keynote is where every audience should start. Most organizations today are stuck between the fear of missing out and the fear of jumping in. Scott bridges that gap — showing audiences where we've been, where we are, and what's coming next — and reveals what these changes mean for your business, people, and strategy.
YOU'LL LEARN HOW TO: - Demystify AI and understand what truly matters - Spot the early signals of change and act on them - Identify where AI fits in your business - Take your first steps toward measurable transformation - Build confidence to lead in the Age of Intelligent Business
IDEAL FOR: Corporate, associations, and entrepreneurs seeking a practical, non-technical introduction to AI.
Shoshin: The System for AI-Powered Transformation How to build the mindset, culture, and rhythm that win in the AI Revolution.
In a world where technology moves faster than leadership playbooks, transformation can't be random — it must be repeatable. Scott introduces Shoshin — the Japanese concept of Beginner's Mind — and shares the system that helps leaders cultivate curiosity, drive alignment, and create cultures that thrive through continuous change.
YOU'LL LEARN HOW TO: - Unlock the mindset that fuels innovation and resilience - Replace fear of change with curiosity, creativity, and clarity - Build a rhythm that keeps teams learning, adapting, and winning - Align innovation across departments for measurable progress - Create cultures that sustain performance long after the keynote ends
The Rhythm of Transformation: Executive Workshop Turning Continuous Improvement into a Competitive Edge.
Transformation isn't an event — it's a rhythm. This interactive session guides leadership teams through Scott's 15/30/45 cadence — a proven system of check-ins, reviews, and collaboration cycles that turn strategy into steady, measurable progress.
EXECUTIVES LEARN HOW TO: - Revisit key principles from Shoshin and translate them into execution - Identify champions and build internal buy-in for transformation - Implement rhythm-based collaboration across teams - Communicate wins, lessons, and next steps to sustain progress - Develop a culture of accountability, learning, and momentum
IDEAL FOR: Leadership offsites, board meetings, and senior strategy sessions.
One Billion x One: How AI is Rewriting the Playbook for Growth Building, Scaling, and Winning in the AI Economy.
What if you could build a billion-dollar company with a team of one? Scott combines insights from his books Launch! and Breakthrough with the latest in AI innovation to show entrepreneurs and corporate innovators how to grow smarter, faster, and leaner than ever before.
YOU'LL DISCOVER HOW TO: - Use AI to multiply productivity and creativity - Streamline operations and scale with small, focused teams - Leverage automation for speed without sacrificing quality - Turn transformation into a competitive advantage - Build more with less — and win bigger than ever before
Built Different: The Entrepreneur's Journey of Reinvention Transformation. Reinvention. Resilience.
This is Scott's most personal, motivational keynote — an unfiltered look at what it takes to build, lose, and rebuild again. Drawing from his own story — from Tony Robbins to Virgin, from startup success to losing everything in 2008 and starting over — Scott shares the human side of transformation: the failures, pivots, and breakthroughs that define leadership and resilience.
YOU'LL LEARN HOW TO: - Navigate uncertainty with courage and perspective - Transform adversity into opportunity - Lead with humility and confidence - Build companies — and lives — that can evolve again and again - Apply simple tools today to achieve immediate results
SPEAKING.COM: What do you want people to learn/take away from your presentations?
DUFFY: I started speaking to companies representing best-selling author and speaker Tony Robbins over 25 years ago. Ever since that time, I’ve wanted my audience to walk away highly motivated and equipped with very clear action items that they can put into place immediately to get results. I hope my audiences are so inspired that they don’t wait until the end of my presentation to get started. I actually want them to be on their phones making things happen while I’m still speaking!
SPEAKING.COM: What kind of special prep work do you do prior to an event? How do you prepare for your speaking engagements?
DUFFY: I have always been a very hands-on speaker, since that’s how I was trained. Before any engagement I carefully study the industry, event, and/or company. I like to conduct interviews with the event organizers or people inside the company. I always like to get to a venue one day before an event so that I can walk the venue, meet people prior to the event, and gather more information for my talk. The day of the event, I try to be the first person there and meet as many people as I can in order to build rapport with the audience.
An interesting bit of trivia about me – I always bring a bag of original Lay’s potato chips to a speech. One of the challenges of being a speaker is that the constant traveling tends to dry your throat out. A mentor of mine, the legendary Harvey MacKay, recommended eating a small bag of chips before giving a talk since the oil coats your throat and the salt activates salivary glands, a combination that creates great voice quality!
Finally, I always say a prayer, asking for God to work through me and help me have a positive impact on everyone in the room.
SPEAKING.COM: Have you had any particularly memorable speaking engagements / unusual situations arise while on the road?
DUFFY: I don’t even know where to start! When I worked for Tony Robbins, we would speak up to 5 times a day and travel up to 50 weeks in a year speaking and promoting his programs. Sometimes, we ended up in the craziest places! I’ve spoken on boats, in barns, and on top of tables.
This crazy experience taught me how to adapt and be comfortable in any environment. As I got older, combining that adaptability with my real world business experience has enabled me to adjust to an audience, think on my feet, and make everyone feel comfortable.
SPEAKING.COM: What types of audiences would most benefit from your message?
DUFFY: SMBs & Entrepreneurs: I have walked in their shoes. The stories I share regarding the business and personal sides of being an entrepreneur are authentic, relatable, and highly engaging. That’s why I am able to have an impact.
Internet Companies & Technology Companies: I have experience from early stage through exit in technology companies that became big brands like CBSSports.com, NBC Internet, FOXSports.com, and my last company, which was acquired by Virgin.
Both Sides of The Digital Divide: When I was in grammar school, the class behind me was required to take typing. When I was in high school, the cohort behind me was required to take “computer class.” When I was a freshman in college, I bought a rockin’ electronic typewriter. The following year’s freshman class entered school with Macs, giving them a HUGE advantage. Due to my life experience, I’ve always felt I lived right on the “digital divide”. As a result, I am just as comfortable talking to Millennials as I am Boomapreneurs, and can relate to both.
SPEAKING.COM: Which of your keynote speaking topics are your favorites and why?
DUFFY: Personal Side of Entrepreneurship: I love this subject because nobody talks about it. I share the good and the bad and the highs and the lows. My talk is 100% authentic and based on personal experiences we all have as business leaders. These topics range from inspiration to environment, from managing our personal finances to managing our personal relationships, and from putting the right people around us to what to do when things go sideways.
Innovation/Taking Products To Market: I love talking about how to take ideas to market and then scaling what works. It doesn’t matter if the business is starting up or if it is well established and looking for growth. I enjoy sharing a step-by-step approach that is customized for the audience and ranges from topics including business planning, team building, raising capital, product/market fit, go to market strategies, leveraging partnerships to scale, marketing and sales tools, how to compete in an entrepreneur driven economy, and building raving fans.
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?
DUFFY: What makes me unique as a speaker is that I have lived in the trenches both as a struggling entrepreneur starting my own business and as an intraprenuer starting companies inside some of the world’s largest brands.
My talks are not academic. Instead, they are filled with stories based on my own experience and tied to big brands like Tony Robbins, Richard Branson, Howard Shultz, and others. I leverage the stories and brands as metaphors to connect with the audience, keep them engaged, and then tie in a message they can apply immediately. I try to create a sense of “If that person has experienced what I have, then I can get through it also”.
SPEAKING.COM: What are some of the successes you’ve helped clients achieve?
DUFFY: I have worked with several small companies at an early stage that became big brands like Quote.com (Lycos/acquired), Sportsline USA (CBSSports.com/acquired), Xoom.com (NBC Internet/acquired), FOXSports.com (NewsCorp), and Smart Charter (Virgin/acquired). For these companies, I have done a variety of things ranging from business planning, team building, raising capital, identifying target customers, product/market, go to market strategies, leveraging technology to scale, leveraging partnerships for distribution and scale, market and sales development, marketing and PR, plus exit.
Over the years I have helped clients in the same areas. Most of my clients are referred to me by investors or investor groups, who hire me to try and protect their money. They ask me to go into a business that is stuck or is having trouble scaling. I help those companies re-establish their vision, put together a step by step plan, and hold them accountable for execution.
“Scott Duffy is a talented entrepreneur who created a whole new model for private aviation.” – Richard Branson, Founder, Virgin Group
“Scott’s passion is infectious. His ability to connect is unparalleled. He’s a true leader teaching entrepreneurs how to breakthrough to their next level.” – David Meltzer, CEO, Dave Meltzer Enterprises
“Scott inspires you to Launch! And take your life to a whole new level.” – Les Brown, National Speaker Association “Hall of Fame”
“Scott Duffy’s insights, hard-hitting stories, and power-packed strategies will propel your business forward.” – Kedma Ough, Innovation Director SBDC and Author of Target Funding
“Scott’s teaches you how to build the foundation for a great company and live the life of your dreams. – Brian Smith, Founder of Ugg
“Scott is the perfect speaker for anyone who wants to achieve more in their life. He provides a perfect roadmap for you both personally and professionally.” – Randy Garn, Randy Garn, 2x Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of The Year, New York Times Best-Selling Author
“One of the most impactful speakers you will ever hear.” – Gene Landrum, President and Creative Force Behind Chuck E. Cheese
“It’s not just about starting strong; it’s about finishing even stronger. Scott Duffy shares how to Breakthrough at every stage in your business and build winning companies!” – Jennifer Rulon, MS, Owner and USA Triathlon Level I Coach at jenrulon.com
“The perfect solution for anyone who’s ever asked “How do I succeed in business?” – Greg Reid, Best-Selling Author
“Scott Duffy demonstrates that it doesn’t matter how big your dream, you can go from underdog to leader of the pack.” – Rudy Ruettiger, Notre Dame Football Player & Inspiration for the Movie RUDY
“Real life principles that actually work.” – Frank Shankwitz, Creator and Cofounder of the Make-A-Wish Foundation
“Taking your business to the next level requires a whole new set of skills. If you have plateaued and you’re ready to crush it, Scott Duffy will show you exactly what you need to reach that level, scale any new venture, and keep climbing. – Summer Felix-Mulder, Cofounder of The Draw Shop
“Scott shares how to combine the right mindset, the right team, and the right resources to create the business of your dreams. – Myles Kovacs, Co-Founder of DUB Magazine
Scott Duffy is a natural storyteller. His entertaining style of delivering a message ignites the “aha” moments needed to break through to the next level. – Alan Taylor, TV and Radio Host at Entrepreneur Media
“Scott is one of the most positive, dynamic, and creative people I have had the good fortune to know. No one is better at helping entrepreneurs achieve breakthroughs—both personally and professionally—than Scott Duffy!” – Doug Brignole, Mr. Universe & Mr. America Winner, Author, Speaker
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Speaker rating
Comments about seeing this speaker live? (This field not required to submit a star rating.)
Name *
Email *
Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser.
Shoshin: The System for AI-Powered Business Transformation AI isn’t the problem. Leading without a system is.
Some companies overinvest too early. Some wait too long and fall behind. Most try to transform without a repeatable way to do it.
Shoshin is a proven operating system for continuous transformation.
It shows leaders how to:
See change before competitors do Adopt AI without chaos or wasted spend Turn experimentation into measurable results Build organizations that adapt continuously Shoshin is written for CEOs, executive teams, and transformation leaders responsible for navigating AI, innovation, and constant change.
This book isn’t about AI tools. It’s about how leaders transform companies—again and again.
Launch!: The Critical 90 Days from Idea to Market WANT TO GET YOUR BIG IDEA TO MARKET? In 90 days, you can successfully launch a new business, product, or service by following the steps in this playbook.
Ninety-seven percent of a rocket’s fuel is used in the first three feet of its launch. The same is true when launching a new business. These first few steps are absolutely critical and help determine which ventures will take off and which will fail.
Scott Duffy has developed a practical approach for turning your big idea into a thriving venture by focusing on the crucial period of 90 days immediately before, during, and after starting your business. Based on his own experiences as a successful serial entrepreneur who has worked with Richard Branson and Tony Robbins—and true stories of other big names in business—Duffy has collected all of the lessons you need.
Duffy also emphasizes the personal side of entrepreneurship, including balancing finances, relationships, and your health. Successful business endeavors depend on preparation and execution of these two key sides—and Duffy provides real-life examples and practical guidance for both.
Call us / email us / check availability and fee for your favorite speaker.
