SALT LAKE CITY KEYNOTE SPEAKER
A WORLD-CLASS KEYNOTE SPEAKER—RIGHT HERE IN SALT LAKE CITY
John Bates helps technically accomplished leaders understand the neurobiology of human communication so they can earn trust, communicate complex ideas, and inspire people to take meaningful action.
Based near the University of Utah. Available for events throughout Utah and around the world.
WHEN COMMUNICATION MATTERS, EXPERIENCE MATTERS
GLOBAL EXPERIENCE. GENUINE SALT LAKE ROOTS.
John trained all the active NASA astronauts—people who understand that, when the stakes are high, failure is not an option.
GE Aerospace brings John back because precision isn’t limited to engineering. Words matter.
His work is grounded in decades of experience as an entrepreneur, executive, speaker, and coach to some of the world’s most consequential leaders. Now, organizations holding conferences and leadership events in Salt Lake City can bring that experience to their audiences without flying it in.
SIGNATURE KEYNOTE
THE NEUROBIOLOGY OF INFLUENCE
Technical expertise can earn a leader a place in the room. But logic alone rarely earns trust, loyalty, commitment, or action.
Human beings make sense of communication biologically. Before people fully evaluate your reasoning, their nervous systems are already responding to whether you feel credible, authentic, safe, and worth following.
In this surprising, entertaining, and immediately useful keynote, John reveals how our biology shapes influence—and what effective leaders can do about it.
Your audience will learn how to:
- Earn trust and credibility more quickly
- Make complex ideas easier to understand and remember
- Create authentic human connection without manufactured charisma
And leave better able to:
- Generate commitment rather than passive agreement
- Move people from “That makes sense” to meaningful action
- Become stronger speakers, communicators, and leaders
This is not inspiration that disappears on the way home. It is an experience your audience will still be using long after the applause.
WHO IT’S FOR
BUILT FOR ACCOMPLISHED, TECHNICALLY SOPHISTICATED LEADERS
This keynote is particularly valuable for audiences of executives, scientists, physicians, engineers, technology leaders, founders, aerospace professionals, professional associations, and client-facing leadership teams.
John respects what accomplished people already know. He gives them a new understanding of why some communication creates trust and action while other communication—however accurate—fails to land.
THE LOCAL ADVANTAGE
WHY BOOK A SALT LAKE CITY-BASED KEYNOTE SPEAKER?
John grew up in Salt Lake City, attended the University of Utah before graduating summa cum laude from UCLA, and built his entrepreneurial and speaking career in Los Angeles and San Francisco.
In 2017, John and his wife, Sharon, returned to Salt Lake City to raise their son, Johnny, close to family, mountains, skiing, hiking, fly-fishing, and the cultural life that has always made the city feel like home.
Simpler logistics
Being based near the University of Utah means fewer travel variables, greater flexibility for preparation, and no concern about whether John’s incoming flight will be delayed.
More possibilities
Depending on the event, John can combine a keynote with a workshop, executive session, leadership conversation, or facilitated question-and-answer session.
John also hosts the podcast LiveLikeaLeader.show and can bring out the brilliance and personality of your top leaders in a fireside-chat session.
CUSTOMIZED FOR YOUR ROOM
EVERY KEYNOTE BEGINS WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE
John does not arrive with a generic speech and simply replace the client’s name on the opening slide. He begins by understanding who will be in the room, what they are responsible for, what communication challenges they face, and what your organization needs them to believe, feel, or do.
The result is a keynote built around your people, your objectives, and the conversations that matter inside your organization.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
PLANNING YOUR EVENT
Is John Bates based in Salt Lake City?
Yes. John lives near the University of Utah and is available for conferences, corporate events, association meetings, leadership retreats, and other events throughout Salt Lake City, Park City, Utah, and beyond.
Does John speak outside Utah?
Yes. John speaks and works with leaders throughout the United States and internationally. Salt Lake City is his home base and he’s available globally.
Can John customize his keynote for our organization?
Yes. John begins by learning about your audience, objectives, language, industry, and desired outcome. His foundational ideas remain consistent, but the experience is shaped around the people in your room.
Can we combine the keynote with another session?
Depending on the event, John may combine a keynote with a workshop, executive session, leadership conversation, or facilitated question-and-answer session. John also hosts the podcast LiveLikeaLeader.show and can bring out the brilliance and personality of your top leaders in a fireside-chat session.
What kinds of Salt Lake City events are a good fit?
John is an excellent fit for leadership conferences, association meetings, corporate gatherings, annual meetings, executive retreats, sales meetings, technology and healthcare events, and conferences serving technically accomplished professionals.
Does booking John locally simplify event logistics?
Yes. Because John is based in Salt Lake City, local events involve fewer travel variables and can allow greater flexibility around scheduling, preparation, and additional sessions.
How far in advance should we contact John?
As soon as you know your prospective date. Even if every event detail has not been finalized, an initial conversation can establish availability, audience fit, and the most useful next step.
GIVE YOUR AUDIENCE SOMETHING THEY’LL STILL BE USING LONG AFTER THE APPLAUSE
If your event is bringing accomplished people together in Salt Lake City, let’s create an experience worthy of their time, intelligence, and responsibilities.