Keynote Speaker

In this inspiring keynote, Amanda Brinkman – a seasoned marketing visionary, corporate leader, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and globally sought-after speaker – challenges audiences to rethink purpose. With her trademark authenticity and warmth, Amanda takes the stage not to tell people how to “find” their purpose, but to break down why that might be the wrong approach altogether. Purpose, she asserts, isn’t a destination we someday reach; it’s woven into the small, powerful moments that make up our lives right now.

Throughout her career, Amanda has guided major brands in showcasing purpose through unforgettable campaigns, mentored thousands of professionals in discovering fulfillment, and shared insights with leaders from all walks of life. Yet, like many, she found herself questioning purpose in the wake of unprecedented change.

Backed by years of research and with fresh insights, real-life stories, and a call to redefine purpose, Amanda leaves audiences with a new mindset on what it means to truly live – and work – with meaning. She urges leaders to embrace the smaller, often overlooked moments and values that make up the core of their organization’s identity, building stronger teams who are fully engaged, connected, and inspired.

This is the perfect inspiring and motivating keynote to help you address employee well-being and workforce development!

Do Well By Doing Good

Amanda loves speaking with companies who are no longer standing by as their corporate foundations cut checks to charities. They’re taking action. Not “volunteer for a day” action. Not “tug at the heart strings TV commercial” action. REAL action.

Amanda Brinkman believes we’re on the precipice of a systemic, fundamental reimagining of what it means to be a corporate citizen in the modern age. She’ll showcase a few bold companies that are abandoning “campaigns” in favor of creating cultural movements. Companies that are instigating real, sustainable change. Companies that are using their for-profit operations to better the world around them, while bolstering their bottom line in the process.

Amanda also has first-hand experience in bringing programs like this to life. She has transformed massive U.S. brands from the inside out by zeroing in on their true brand purpose – and putting that purpose into meaningful action. She’ll show how she took a century-old company that was known as a check maker and started a “Small Business Revolution” – ultimately creating an Emmy-nominated series featured on HULU that not only transformed the company’s brand – but had a ripple effect in entire communities across the country.

Most importantly, she’ll share what she has learned in speaking with companies across the country about how we bring this purpose to life for each individual team member. She will share key take-aways from nearly a decade of research around finding and pursuing purpose. In response to what seems to be a post-pandemic “purpose slump”, she will provide actionable steps for finding and celebrating our unique role and meaning.

Community & Civic Organizations

Amanda Brinkman is the creator, producer and host of the Emmy-nominated series “Small Business Revolution,” which was featured on HULU, Prime Video and was named among Inc. Magazine’s top shows for entrepreneurs.

Each season the Small Business Revolution revitalizes a different community’s “Main Street” through small business makeovers. Every episode they help work to help the entrepreneur with marketing, finance, operations and physical transformations of their space.

Amanda will share the lessons learned in working with small businesses and communities across the country – and notably from their 6th season featuring Minneapolis and St. Paul Black-owned businesses. She will offer the audience actionable advice on supporting small businesses and common traits in communities that are thriving.