Desi Williamson

Desi Williamson

Keynote Speaker: Corporate Executive, Entrepreneur, Addiction Counselor

Desi Williamson Biography

Desi Williamson is an entrepreneur and motivational speaker with a rich background in diverse fields. He has led a successful career as a corporate sales and marketing executive with top companies such as Johnson & Johnson, PepsiCo, and Dr. Pepper/Snapple. In addition to his corporate achievements, he has also thrived as a real estate and restaurant entrepreneur. Williamson's expertise extends to his role as a motivational coach for the NFL Minnesota Vikings and an addiction counselor, which showcases his versatility and dedication to impacting various aspects of community and professional spheres.

In 2019, he became a certified facilitator of "Dare to Lead™," a courage-building program based on the research of Dr. Brené Brown. His clinical pursuits further include holding a specialized role at the University of Minnesota Medical Center where he focuses on group therapy and lectures in the field of neuroscience, electrophysiology, and chemical dependency. Here, his primary objective is to enhance his patients' quality of life by addressing core personal issues.

As a renowned speaker, Williamson is committed to delivering powerful messages that stimulate personal and organizational transformation. He tailors his presentations to meet the specific needs of his audience, ensuring that his programs not only inspire but also deliver practical strategies for leadership, change management, and personal accountability. His approach is centered on helping individuals and organizations harness their unique strengths through adversity, leveraging change as a competitive advantage.

Williamson has authored influential books including "Get Off Your Assets! How to Deal with the Challenges of Life and Win" and "Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way! Succeeding in the Face of Turbulent Times," which underline his philosophy of overcoming obstacles and achieving success. His induction into the CPAE Speakers Hall of Fame in 2004 placed him among distinguished personalities such as President Ronald Reagan and General Colin Powell, underscoring his significant contributions to the speaking industry. He also holds the prestigious CSP and CPAE designations from the National Speakers Association, affirming his excellence and impact in motivational speaking. Williamson’s diverse client list includes prominent organizations like United Healthcare, Medtronic, Pfizer, Microsoft, and the Chicago Bears, highlighting his wide-reaching influence across various sectors.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Desi Williamson and other top speakers and celebrities.

Desi Williamson Speaking Topics

Dare to lead: Transform Your Business & Your Life

How to develop more daring leaders and courageous cultures.

No doubt we’re living in some turbulent times and that is why we must continuously reorganize, retool and rebuild our lives and businesses from the inside out. We must understand that where there are problems there is also opportunity. This requires daring, wholehearted leaders creating courageous cultures that allow people to thrive.

Desi Williamson brings more than forty years of business experience working with Fortune 500 companies, associations and civic organizations. He now combines that experience with Brené Brown’s twenty years of research and her work in Dare to Lead, helping organizations grow from where they are, to where they aspire to be.

Dare to Lead teaches us that courage is a skill set that is 100% observable, teachable and measurable. This skill set impacts how you show up as a leader and how well your team performs.

In this high impact keynote, Hall of Fame Speaker, Desi Williamson uses research, stories and examples to share the following concepts:

  • The skills needed for having tough conversations that can create a culture of change and transformation.
  • The difference between armored and daring leadership traits that either choke innovation or spark creativity.
  • The skills for creating values-driven culture that allows people to flourish.
  • The essential importance of trust and why is important to creating a courageous culture.
  • The ability to rise up after disappointment and failure and use those experiences to create a stronger culture of accountability and resiliency.

Desi Williamson Videos

Desi Williamson - Keynote - Choice Hotels Annual Convention

How do I book Desi Williamson to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Desi Williamson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Desi Williamson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Desi Williamson or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Desi Williamson for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Desi Williamson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Desi Williamson are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Desi Williamson, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Desi Williamson speak about?

Desi Williamson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Business, Inspirational, Sales, Black Heritage, Change Management, Futurism, Diversity & Inclusion, Customer Experience, Personal Growth, Business Authors, Business Leadership, Marketing, Human Resources, Motivational, Peak Performance, College, Education, Leadership and Culture.

Where does Desi Williamson travel from?

Desi Williamson generally travels from Minneapolis, MN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Desi Williamson?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Desi Williamson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Desi Williamson for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Desi Williamson or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Desi Williamson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Business, Inspirational and Sales. The estimated speaking fee range to book Desi Williamson for live events is $20,000 - $30,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. Desi Williamson generally travels from Minneapolis, MN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Tim Sanders, Stedman Graham and Amanda Gore. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Desi Williamson for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 11/08/2025.

Desi Williamson Speaking Topics

  • Dare to lead: Transform Your Business & Your Life

    How to develop more daring leaders and courageous cultures.

    No doubt we’re living in some turbulent times and that is why we must continuously reorganize, retool and rebuild our lives and businesses from the inside out. We must understand that where there are problems there is also opportunity. This requires daring, wholehearted leaders creating courageous cultures that allow people to thrive.

    Desi Williamson brings more than forty years of business experience working with Fortune 500 companies, associations and civic organizations. He now combines that experience with Brené Brown’s twenty years of research and her work in Dare to Lead, helping organizations grow from where they are, to where they aspire to be.

    Dare to Lead teaches us that courage is a skill set that is 100% observable, teachable and measurable. This skill set impacts how you show up as a leader and how well your team performs.

    In this high impact keynote, Hall of Fame Speaker, Desi Williamson uses research, stories and examples to share the following concepts:

    • The skills needed for having tough conversations that can create a culture of change and transformation.
    • The difference between armored and daring leadership traits that either choke innovation or spark creativity.
    • The skills for creating values-driven culture that allows people to flourish.
    • The essential importance of trust and why is important to creating a courageous culture.
    • The ability to rise up after disappointment and failure and use those experiences to create a stronger culture of accountability and resiliency.

Desi Williamson Videos

Desi Williamson - Keynote - Choice Hotels Annual Convention
  • How do I book Desi Williamson to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Desi Williamson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Desi Williamson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Desi Williamson or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Desi Williamson for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Desi Williamson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Desi Williamson are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Desi Williamson, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Desi Williamson speak about?

  • Where does Desi Williamson travel from?

    Desi Williamson generally travels from Minneapolis, MN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Desi Williamson?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Desi Williamson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Desi Williamson for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Desi Williamson or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
BOOKING INFORMATION REQUEST
DESI WILLIAMSON

We are happy to assist you with your interest in booking a speaker or celebrity for your event, your organization, and the type of talent you would like to secure, and an agent will be in touch shortly.

Fill out the form below to or call us at 1-800-698-2536 if need immediate assistance.

Tell us about your event!

We respond to most inquiries within 4 hours. Under special circumstances, it may take up to 24 hours.


This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.