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  • Established 2020

Boost Member Engagement: Top Speakers for Chicago Associations | M.I.I.

Your Members Demand More: The Voices Redefining Chicago Associations

When member engagement flatlines and conference attendance stagnates, the cost is more than just empty seats—it’s the erosion of your organization’s relevance. In Chicago’s competitive landscape, generic keynotes are a liability. M.I.I. cuts through the noise, connecting you with proven thought leaders who specialize in the association world. They don’t just deliver a speech; they provide actionable strategies to boost retention, ignite advocacy, and create undeniable member value. Stop gambling on speakers who don’t understand your mission. Secure a partner who will make your next event the catalyst for a year of unprecedented growth and engagement.

Our differentiator

Most speaker bureaus operate in a purely transactional way.

They reuse the same contact lists, push available inventory, hide the fine print in contracts, and move on without fully understanding the real purpose of the event.

M.I.I. is different.

We act as a strategic speaker booking partner rather than just another vendor. We take the time to understand your goals, your audience, your culture, and the results you want to achieve before recommending a single speaker.

Instead of overwhelming you with endless options, we present three to five carefully selected speakers who are chosen specifically to match your event’s purpose and desired impact.

The M.I.I. Approach

  • Personalized, boutique partnership
  • Proactive, needs-based curation (never inventory pushing)
  • Speed with precision
  • Open feedback loop and true collaboration
  • Expert guidance that strengthensyour overall speaker strategy rather than simply filling a slot.

Our Origin Story

M.I.I. Professional Speaking was born during late nights and lunch breaks, fueled by a simple idea that started inside a local Barnes and Noble to streamline and simplify the speaker booking process. We set out to remove the friction and guesswork for those hiring speakers by building a system driven, white glove experience that turns events into truly memorable moments. Today, we are proud to be the partner teams trust to make speaker sourcing seamless and speaker impact undeniable.

Organizations Served
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Lives Positively Impacted
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Streamlining & Simplifying the Speaker Booking Process Since 2020

Our Mission Vision & Values

Mission

To Simplify & Streamline the Speaker Booking Process to Create Transformational Speaker Experiences

Vision

To be the world’s most trusted curator of speaking talent, known for consistently delivering experiences that transform audiences in the most streamlined and stress-free manner for those who book our speakers

Tell the Truth.

Details Matter.

Speed Kills

Communicate, communicate, communicate

Our Mission, Vision, Core Belief & Values

Our Job

To be a trusted, strategic speaker booking partner connecting our partners (Courtneys) with transformational professional speakers.

Our Mission

To streamline & simplify the speaker booking experience to save you time, energy, and sleepless nights.

Our Beliefs

You likely will not have heard our speakers name before booking them…but your audience will remember them forever once they step off stage. We believe that we can create transformation by connecting organizations with the right speaker delivering the right message at the right time.

  • Tell the Truth
  • Details Matter
  • Speed Kills
  • Communicate, Communicate, Communicate
  • World class service
  • We are in the Relationship Business
  • Systems scale
  • Forward Always
  • Continuous, constant improvement

Leadership Team

The passionate professionals guiding our mission and vision

Alexandra Chen

Founder & CEO

Former TED speaker with 20+ years in events management

Marcus Thompson

Head of Speaker Relations

Former talent agent with an eye for transformative speakers

Sarah Williams

Global Events Director

Managed over 500 successful speaking engagements worldwide

Community Impact

Through our nonprofit arm, we provide communication training to underrepresented communities, empowering new voices to share their stories and access professional opportunities.

Years Experience
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Invested
0
Invested
$ 0 M
Learn More About Our Initiatives

Our Growth Journey

From local beginnings to global impact

2010

Foundation

Started with a vision to transform public speaking and three founding speakers

2010

Foundation

Started with a vision to transform public speaking and three founding speakers

2010

Foundation

Started with a vision to transform public speaking and three founding speakers

2010

Foundation

Started with a vision to transform public speaking and three founding speakers

Credentials & Recognition

Industry Affiliations

Global Speaking Federation

International Events Council

Professional Speakers Association

Event Industry Alliance

Awards

Best Speaker Bureau 2024

Global Events Awards

Innovation Excellence 2023

Tech & Events Summit

Customer Service Excellence 2022

Service Industry Awards

Why Choose Us

The Strategic Difference

What sets us apart from traditional speaker bureaus and agencies

Strategic Alignment

We start with why. Your goals, message, and audience drive every recommendation—no recycled rosters, no guesswork.

Precision + Time Saved

One strategic conversation. Three to five ideal-fit speakers. No back-and-forth. No sorting through noise. No wasted hours.

Transparency & Trust

Clear contracts. Clear fees. No surprises. You always know exactly what you’re getting and why.

Peace of Mind

Every speaker is vetted for relevance, credibility, and real-world impact. If the unexpected happens, we handle last-minute replacements seamlessly.

Full-Service Execution

Briefings, contracts, tech checks, and day-of logistics—handled end-to-end with precision.

Deep Subject-Matter Expertise

Leadership • Diversity & Inclusion • Innovation • Team Building • Motivation • AI • Change Management • Mental Health • Wellness

HOW IT WORKS

Our Process

Finding the perfect speaker shouldn’t be complicated. We handle the details so you can deliver an event that inspires, connects, and leaves a lasting impact.

Step 1

Discovery Call

We connect to understand your goals, audience, and vision for the event and speaker.

Step 2

Curated Speaker Recommendations

You receive a vetted, tailored shortlist of qualified speakers that align with your needs, budget, and event objectives.

Step 3

Pre-Booking Speaker Calls (Optional)

Need a deeper connection? We’ll arrange a quick call with your top speaker choice to align on goals and chemistry before booking.

Step 4

Confirm & Contract

We finalize the speaker, agree to clear, win-win terms, and lock in the engagement.

Step 5

Pre-Event Execution

From paperwork to pre-event calls, marketing support to logistics—we handle the details to ensure a smooth lead-up to event day.

Step 6

Event & Post-Event Debrief

After your speaker delivers, we’ll regroup to gather feedback, assess impact, and discuss how we can continue to support your team moving forward.

Discovery Call

We connect to understand your goals, audience, and vision for the event and speaker.

Curated Speaker Recommendations

You receive a vetted, tailored shortlist of qualified speakers that align with your needs, budget, and event objectives.

Pre-Booking Speaker Intros (Optional)

Need a deeper connection? We’ll arrange a quick call with your top speaker choice to align on goals and chemistry before booking.

Confirm & Contract

We finalize the speaker, agree to clear, win-win terms, and lock in the engagement.

Pre-Event Execution

From paperwork to pre-event calls, marketing support to logistics—we handle the details to ensure a smooth lead-up to event day.

Event & Post-Event Debrief

After your speaker delivers, we’ll regroup to gather feedback, assess impact, and discuss how we can continue to support your team moving forward.

Book a Consultation

Request a Curated Speaker List

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

Client Testimonials

Hear from organizations that have experienced the impact of our speakers

Need a Custom Solution?

We offer tailored speaking solutions to meet your organization’s specific challenges and objectives. Let’s discuss how we can create a custom program for your team.

Schedule a Consultation

WHAT PEOPLE SAY

Client Testimonials

Hear from organizations that have experienced the impact of our speakers
“The speaker M.I.I. provided exceeded all our expectations. Their presentation was engaging, insightful, and perfectly aligned with our event objectives.”

Client Name

Position, Company

“The speaker M.I.I. provided exceeded all our expectations. Their presentation was engaging, insightful, and perfectly aligned with our event objectives.”

Client Name

Position, Company

“The speaker M.I.I. provided exceeded all our expectations. Their presentation was engaging, insightful, and perfectly aligned with our event objectives.”

Client Name

Position, Company

“The speaker M.I.I. provided exceeded all our expectations. Their presentation was engaging, insightful, and perfectly aligned with our event objectives.”

Client Name

Position, Company

Need a Custom Solution?

We offer tailored speaking solutions to meet your organization’s specific challenges and objectives. Let’s discuss how we can create a custom program for your team.

Schedule a Consultation

Looking to the Future

By 2030, we aim to expand our presence to every continent, develop an AI-powered speaker matching platform, and launch the world’s largest online library of speaking resources for emerging communicators.
  • Global expansion to all continents
  • AI-powered speaker matching technology
  • World's largest speaking resources library
Join Our Journey