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Best Keynote Speakers in Atlanta
Atlanta Keynote Speaker Services
Atlanta, often called the cultural and economic heartbeat of the Southeast, is a city built on innovation, growth, and connection. From Midtown’s skyscrapers to Buckhead’s startup scene, its business community continues to thrive. In today’s HR landscape, challenges like talent shortages, hybrid work, and inclusion make the role of keynote speakers more important than ever. These speakers inspire, teach, and guide organizations across Georgia to unlock the full potential of their people.
That’s why we at Digital Reference have spent countless hours researching, reviewing, and curating a list of the very best keynote speakers in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area.
Our Methodology is Simple but Rigorous:
- We evaluated public speaking track records, including keynote addresses at leading conferences and corporate gatherings.
- We considered industry specialization, particularly in HR, leadership development, and organizational culture.
- We reviewed digital presence, publications, and community contributions.
- We prioritized thought leaders who are shaping modern workplace dynamics, not just reacting to them.
This curated list represents a mix of freelancers, solo operators, and firm-based consultants, all united by their ability to spark change and drive performance.
🌟 Meet Atlanta's Best Keynote Speakers
♦️ Paul Bramson
Global Keynote Speaker, Author, and Elite Trainer at The Paul Bramson Companies
Radical candor is Paul Bramson’s calling card, helping leaders and high-performing teams cut through noise and win in sales, leadership, and communication. A globally recognized keynote speaker, elite trainer, and author, Paul delivers a true 360-degree experience that drives stronger conversations, better decisions, and real results.
With more than two decades of experience, Paul works with organizations of all sizes, from Fortune 500 and Fortune 1000 companies to fast-growing and emerging teams worldwide, delivering experiences that go far beyond a single keynote.
✨ Highlights:
🟣 One of the few professionals operating across three pillars: speaker, trainer, and author, creating continuity before, during, and long after the event.
🟣 High-energy, candid, and grounded delivery that helps leaders and high-performing teams translate complex human dynamics into clear, actionable moves.
🟣 Trusted expert in communication and influence, known for fully customized experiences that drive alignment, execution, and measurable impact.
Atlanta audiences in particular respond to Paul’s candid style, credibility, and ability to connect instantly with senior leaders and high-performing teams.
♦️ Elaine Powell
CEO and Founder at MindSpeak Academy
🔗 LinkedIn | 🌐 Website | 🌐 MindSpeak Academy
Elaine Powell is internationally known as the “TEDx Queen”—and with good reason. She has trained over 40,000 individuals in public speaking and delivered more than 200 workshops across industries. Based in Atlanta but with a global reach, Elaine empowers leaders and professionals to find their voice and use it effectively.
✨ Highlights:
🟣 Founder of MindSpeak Academy, where she helps people prepare and secure TEDx talks that have the power to transform careers.
🟣 Featured in Authority Magazine, where she shared actionable insights into preparing, delivering, and amplifying TEDx speeches.
🟣 Specializes in working with HR leaders and executives to build confidence, clarity, and credibility in communication.
Her methodology isn’t just about speech mechanics—it’s about helping professionals embody authenticity. HR leaders in Atlanta often call on Elaine when they need to inspire employee engagement or prepare leaders for high-stakes presentations.
♦️ Chinwe Williams, Ph.D., LPC
Keynote Speaker, Best-selling Author and Psychotherapist
Dr. Chinwe Williams is a licensed and board-certified counselor whose expertise spans mental health, trauma, and workplace wellbeing. With the workforce under more stress than ever, Dr. Williams’ perspective is uniquely relevant to Atlanta organizations.
✨ Highlights:
🟣 Clinical contributor for Lyra Health, a leader in mental health solutions for employers.
🟣 Regularly consults with HR leaders on topics such as burnout prevention, resilience, and psychological safety.
🟣 Provides thought leadership on inclusive mental health practices, ensuring employees feel seen and supported.
Her Atlanta-based work often bridges the gap between corporate policy and employee wellbeing, making her a standout keynote speaker in HR and leadership events.
♦️ Michelle Enjoli
Career Strategist and Keynote Speaker
Michelle Enjoli is a career development coach and global keynote speaker specializing in authentic networking and personal brand building. She’s worked with Fortune 500 companies and has become a trusted partner to HR leaders seeking to cultivate talent pipelines.
✨ Highlights:
🟣 Known for her “Connect” framework, which guides professionals in building meaningful, long-term relationships.
🟣 Dynamic speaker who focuses on millennial and Gen Z career development.
🟣 Featured in multiple media outlets for her unique insights into career navigation.
Her passion is helping employees own their career story—a message that resonates deeply in Atlanta’s fast-growing and competitive job market.
♦️ Dan Thurmon
Change Leadership Speaker and Coach
Dan Thurmon is a Hall of Fame keynote speaker and performance coach known for his philosophy of “off balance on purpose.” His approach teaches leaders and employees alike how to embrace change rather than resist it.
✨ Highlights:
🟣 Delivered keynotes for companies such as Nike, Delta Airlines, and The U.S. Army.
🟣 Known for incorporating juggling, acrobatics, and movement into his keynotes—making him unforgettable.
🟣 Helps HR leaders drive culture change by teaching employees to thrive amid uncertainty.
Atlanta’s corporate audiences love his combination of entertainment and deep insight. His message is clear: resilience is not found in balance but in purposeful adaptation.
♦️ Ryan Jenkins
Keynote Speaker, Trainer and Consultant at RyanJenkins.com
Ryan Jenkins is one of Atlanta’s most recognizable thought leaders on generational dynamics. He’s authored books, contributed to Inc. and Entrepreneur, and co-founded SyncLX, a consultancy helping organizations prepare for the future of work.
✨ Highlights:
🟣 Specializes in Millennial and Gen Z workforce engagement.
🟣 Co-creator of SyncLX’s cutting-edge tools that help HR teams retain top young talent.
🟣 His articles have reached millions worldwide, making him a true global influencer with Atlanta roots.
In today’s multi-generational workplaces, HR leaders turn to Jenkins for practical strategies on inclusion, leadership development, and digital fluency.
♦️ Rennie Curran
Motivational Keynote Speaker, Author and High Performance Leadership Coach
Former NFL linebacker turned leadership coach, Rennie Curran brings the discipline of sports into the corporate world. His keynotes blend stories of resilience, grit, and team-building.
✨ Highlights:
🟣 Author of Game Changer and The Compass.
🟣 Works closely with HR leaders to instill a winning mindset across teams.
🟣 Founder of the Game Changer Coaching Program.
His Atlanta-based talks are highly motivational, encouraging employees to see themselves as leaders regardless of title.
♦️ Britt Hunter
Leadership Development Coach and Keynote Speaker
Britt Hunter brings a rare leadership lens shaped by elite athletics and corporate leadership from competing at Duke and UConn to serving as Chief of Staff at Microsoft. Now a certified leadership coach with FocalPoint and a sought-after keynote speaker in Atlanta, she helps early- to mid-career professionals develop the communication, confidence, and ownership required to lead from any seat at the table.
✨ Highlights:
🟣 Equips emerging professionals with stronger communication skills using DISC—so they’re not just seen, but truly heard in meetings, teams, and decision-making spaces.
🟣 Teaches ownership and accountability grounded in authenticity, helping employees lead in a way that aligns with who they are, not who they think they should be.
🟣 Delivers her signature keynote, Leading from the Bench, empowering early- and mid-career employees to influence outcomes, build credibility, and lead without formal authority.
🟣 Partners with organizations to strengthen managerial pipelines by developing confident, self-led contributors before they step into people-management roles.
Britt’s work resonates with HR and people leaders who want practical leadership development that blends real behavior change, business outcomes, and human connection—especially for talent early in their careers.
♦️ Jovan Paige
Keynote/Motivational Speaker at Stay Jotivated, LLC
Jovan Paige is a motivational powerhouse. His “Stay Jotivated” brand delivers high-energy talks that leave audiences ready to act.
✨ Highlights:
🟣 Inspires teams through personal stories of resilience and ambition.
🟣 Known for connecting with young professionals and emerging leaders.
🟣 Offers tools HR teams can use to reignite employee morale.
Atlanta organizations often invite Jovan when they want to inject fresh energy into their workplace culture.
♦️ Valerie Alexander
Keynote Speaker, Culture Strategist and CEO at Speak Happiness
Valerie Alexander is a happiness expert and one of the most-booked female speakers in America. Her Atlanta engagements focus on neuroscience-based strategies for increasing workplace happiness and productivity, and eliminating “Accidental Managers."
✨ Highlights:
🟣 Author of Happiness as a Second Language.
🟣 Has specialized workplace happiness programs for law, healthcare, real estate and hospitality.
🟣 Able to merge HR goals with the latest research in cognitive behavioral science while still making her talks entertaining and accessible to any audience.
Her work reminds Atlanta employers that happy employees aren’t just more loyal—they’re more productive!
Watch Valerie in action here:https://youtu.be/xVvCVkQKyrg?si=r3OMpXJ8IlpmY85D
♦️ Mark Howell
Owner, Keynote Speaker and Coach at HOWL Creative Concepts Corporate
Mark Howell is a leadership trainer and keynote speaker who emphasizes practical, actionable strategies. His Atlanta-based work includes corporate leadership training and HR workshops.
✨ Highlights:
🟣 Brings decades of experience in corporate management and consulting.
🟣 Known for relatable, story-driven presentations.
🟣 Helps HR leaders equip managers to lead with empathy.
With his blend of experience, storytelling, and practical insight, he empowers organizations to build stronger leaders and more engaged workplaces.
♦️ Jeffery Tobias Halter
President at YWomen - Corporate Gender Strategy
Jeffery Halter is America’s leading male expert on advancing women in the workplace. His company, YWomen, partners with HR leaders to drive gender equity strategies.
✨ Highlights:
🟣 Former Coca-Cola executive turned consultant.
🟣 Works with Fortune 500 HR teams to implement diversity strategies.
🟣 Frequently cited for his allyship frameworks.
In Atlanta, Jeffery is known as a trusted advisor on DEI and leadership.
♦️ Sergio Rojas
Founder and A.L.I.V.E. Consulting & Coaching
Sergio Rojas specializes in health, vitality, and peak performance. His talks show HR leaders how to integrate wellness into organizational culture.
✨ Highlights:
🟣 Certified wellness coach with more than 20 years of experience.
🟣 Consults with companies on corporate health programs.
🟣 Brings a holistic, actionable approach to workplace wellness.
His Atlanta-area keynotes empower employees to achieve sustainable lifestyle changes that drive performance.
♦️ Kent Julian
Keynote Speaker, President and CEO
Kent Julian is known for his mantra: “Live It Forward.” As a motivational keynote speaker, he helps leaders and employees move from dreaming to doing.
✨ Highlights:
🟣 Former youth leader turned national keynote speaker.
🟣 Specializes in employee engagement and purpose-driven leadership.
🟣 Offers HR-centric training on culture-building.
Through his engaging style and purpose-driven message, he equips organizations to create cultures where both leaders and employees can thrive.
♦️J eremiah Baker
Cybersecurity Author & Keynote Speaker
Jeremiah Baker is an Atlanta consultant specializing in business growth, HR technology, and digital transformation.
✨ Highlights:
🟣 Experienced in recruitment platforms and workforce solutions.
🟣 Consults with HR teams on using tech to improve hiring processes.
🟣 Brings a data-driven approach to organizational development.
His perspective is especially valuable to Atlanta organizations navigating HR tech adoption.
Closing Thoughts: Atlanta’s Talent, Digital Reference’s Mission
Atlanta isn’t just home to iconic landmarks like the BeltLine or Mercedes-Benz Stadium—it’s a city that thrives on human connection and bold ideas. The professionals above represent the very best of that spirit: people who motivate, challenge, and empower.
At Digital Reference, we are proud to spotlight these incredible speakers. By amplifying their work, we support HR leaders, event organizers, and businesses in finding the voices that will help them grow.
Explore more stories and strategies:
- Executive Coach for Founders: Adam W. Barney
- What Is An Energy Coach?
- Best Keynote Speaker Services in the USA
Ultimately, Atlanta’s best keynote speakers aren’t just delivering speeches—they’re shaping the future of work and Digital Reference is here to make sure you’re always connected to the right voice at the right time.
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