Helaine Knapp

Helaine Knapp

Keynote Speaker: Business Transformation & Resilient Leadership Expert; Bestselling Author; Founder & CEO of CITYROW

Helaine Knapp Biography

Helaine Knapp is the electrifying founder and CEO of CITYROW, bestselling author of "Making Waves," and one of today's most sought-after business transformation speakers. With a decade of experience navigating the extreme highs and lows of entrepreneurship -- from raising over $15 million in venture capital to pivoting through pandemic devastation and an acquisition with an unexpected ending -- Knapp delivers battle-tested frameworks for resilient leadership that have captivated audiences and teams nationwide.

Drawing from her journey pioneering omnichannel fitness by integrating brick-and-mortar, digital platforms, and connected hardware, Knapp's magnetic energy and tactical advice transform how organizations approach strategic pivots, fundraising, leadership through crises, and redefining success when traditional metrics fail. Her raw, unfiltered perspective has been featured on "TODAY," "Good Morning America," CNBC, Bloomberg, and in publications including Forbes, Vogue, Shape, Women's Health, and much more. A former tech executive at Buddy Media (acquired by Salesforce), Knapp now advises high-growth companies while delivering transformational speaking experiences that combine tactical business strategy with the psychological tools leaders need to navigate uncertainty with confidence and clarity.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Helaine Knapp and other top speakers and celebrities.

Helaine Knapp Speaking Topics

THE CONNECTION ADVANTAGE: Building High-Performance Teams Through Authentic Communication

In today's fragmented work environment, the ability to foster genuine connection has become the ultimate competitive advantage. Whether leading remote teams, managing through transitions, or driving sales performance, authentic communication creates the psychological safety required for breakthrough performance. Through Helaine Knapp's electrifying storytelling and proven frameworks, audiences discover how communication transcends mere information exchange to become the cornerstone of organizational resilience. Drawing from her experience leading teams through impossible challenges at CITYROW, Helaine reveals how connection transforms anxious teams into cohesive units capable of navigating any business challenge.

Attendee Results:

  • Implement the 3-tier communication framework that builds psychological safety in any team
  • Master the art of transparency without triggering anxiety during organizational transition
  • Develop communication strategies that maintain culture during hybrid/remote work
  • Learn how authentic vulnerability creates trust between leadership and teams
  • Understand how connection transforms sales relationships from transactional to transformational

MAKING WAVES: Resilient Leadership Through Business Tsunamis

In a world where business upheaval has become the norm, resilient leadership separates those who merely survive from those who genuinely thrive through crisis. Drawing from her decade-long journey building CITYROW through fundraising failures, pandemic devastation, and market collapses, Helaine delivers counterintuitive leadership strategies that transform how organizations approach high-stakes transitions. Unlike typical leadership talks, Helaine Knapp's raw, unfiltered approach reveals both the tactical frameworks and psychological tools required to lead teams through existential threats. Audiences learn how to maintain strategic clarity while navigating crushing uncertainty, build authentic team cohesion during crisis, and redefine success when traditional metrics fail.

Attendee Results:

  • Master the counterintuitive leadership tactics that create stability during chaotic market shifts
  • Develop psychological resilience tools that prevent burnout during extended crisis periods
  • Learn frameworks for maintaining team engagement when facing existential business threats
  • Understand how to convert vulnerability into strategic strength
  • Discover how to recalibrate success metrics when traditional paths become impossible

BEYOND SURVIVAL: The Art of Strategic Pivoting When Everything Changes

The ability to pivot strategically has moved from occasional necessity to essential business skill. Yet most organizations approach pivots reactively, missing critical opportunities and damaging brand equity in the process. In this high-impact keynote, Helaine reveals her battle-tested methodology for detecting pivot points early, evaluating options with clarity, and executing transitions that preserve team trust.

Drawing from her experience pivoting CITYROW multiple times—including the overnight transition during COVID—Helaine delivers actionable strategies that transform how organizations approach change management. Audience members learn to distinguish between moments that require perseverance versus pivoting, how to maintain brand consistency through radical change, and how to execute pivots without depleting team morale.

Attendee Results:

  • Master the pivot-planning framework that identifies transition points before crisis strikes
  • Learn how to evaluate pivot options with strategic clarity rather than panic
  • Discover techniques for maintaining team cohesion during radical transitions
  • Understand how to preserve brand equity while changing business models
  • Develop metrics for evaluating pivot success beyond traditional KPIs

THE RESILIENCE REVOLUTION: Building Unshakeable Teams That Thrive Through Adversity

In today's business environment, resilience has evolved from personal trait to essential organizational capability. Drawing from her decade of navigating CITYROW through crushing setbacks—from fundraising failures to pandemic devastation—Helaine reveals the counterintuitive frameworks that transform fragile teams into resilient powerhouses.

Unlike conventional resilience talks, Helaine Knapp's approach combines tactical team structures with psychological tools that prevent burnout during extended crises. Through electrifying storytelling about her own journey, audiences discover how resilience transcends mere perseverance to become a proactive strategy for navigating uncertainty. Leaders learn how to foster collective resilience that withstands market volatility, maintains innovation during resource constraints, and emerges stronger from setbacks that would destroy less prepared organizations.

Attendee Results:

  • Implement the 5-pillar resilience architecture that strengthens teams through adversity
  • Master techniques for maintaining innovative thinking during resource constraints
  • Learn frameworks for preventing team burnout during extended crisis periods
  • Develop leadership practices that transform setbacks into strategic advantages
  • Understand how collective resilience becomes your ultimate competitive advantage in volatile markets

TRANSFORMATION SELLING: Building Unbreakable Client Relationships Through Authentic Connection

In today's hyper-competitive marketplace, traditional sales tactics have become increasingly ineffective. The most successful sales teams now recognize that authentic connection—not just persuasion—drives sustainable revenue growth. Drawing from her experience building CITYROW's national franchise system and securing partnerships with major brands, Helaine Knapp reveals how transformation selling creates unbreakable client relationships that withstand market volatility.

Through compelling case studies and interactive frameworks, audiences discover how sales excellence transcends traditional metrics to become a practice of genuine problem-solving and relationship-building. Sales professionals learn how authentic communication creates the foundation for trust, how vulnerability becomes a strategic strength, and how client relationships transform from transactional to genuinely collaborative. This approach drives not just initial sales, but creates the ambassadors and referrals that fuel exponential growth.

Attendee Results:

  • Master the transformation selling framework that converts prospects into long-term partners
  • Develop communication techniques that build genuine trust in initial client interactions
  • Learn how strategic vulnerability creates deeper client connections than traditional authority positioning
  • Understand how to maintain authentic relationships during challenging delivery periods
  • Implement the ambassador cultivation system that transforms clients into active growth partners

Helaine Knapp Videos

Helaine Knapp - 2022 Leading Entrepreneurs of the World Conference
Helaine Knapp - Bustle

How do I book Helaine Knapp to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Helaine Knapp 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 Helaine Knapp, 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 Helaine Knapp or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Helaine Knapp for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Helaine Knapp, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Helaine Knapp are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Helaine Knapp, 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 Helaine Knapp speak about?

Helaine Knapp is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Author, Business, Business Leadership, Resilience, Entrepreneurship, Human Resources, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Psychology, Social Sciences, Change Management, Sales, Business Consulting, Business Growth, Strategic Leadership, Corporate Strategy, Executive Leadership, Female Leadership, Fitness, Communication, Women and Leadership.

Where does Helaine Knapp travel from?

Helaine Knapp generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Helaine Knapp?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Helaine Knapp 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 Helaine Knapp 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 Helaine Knapp 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.


Helaine Knapp is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Author, Business and Business Leadership. The estimated speaking fee range to book Helaine Knapp for live events is $20,000 - $30,000, and for virtual events Below $10,000. Helaine Knapp generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Cheryl Cran, Dr. Jackie Freiberg and Libby Gill. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Helaine Knapp for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 14/07/2025.

Helaine Knapp Speaking Topics

  • THE CONNECTION ADVANTAGE: Building High-Performance Teams Through Authentic Communication

    In today's fragmented work environment, the ability to foster genuine connection has become the ultimate competitive advantage. Whether leading remote teams, managing through transitions, or driving sales performance, authentic communication creates the psychological safety required for breakthrough performance. Through Helaine Knapp's electrifying storytelling and proven frameworks, audiences discover how communication transcends mere information exchange to become the cornerstone of organizational resilience. Drawing from her experience leading teams through impossible challenges at CITYROW, Helaine reveals how connection transforms anxious teams into cohesive units capable of navigating any business challenge.

    Attendee Results:

    • Implement the 3-tier communication framework that builds psychological safety in any team
    • Master the art of transparency without triggering anxiety during organizational transition
    • Develop communication strategies that maintain culture during hybrid/remote work
    • Learn how authentic vulnerability creates trust between leadership and teams
    • Understand how connection transforms sales relationships from transactional to transformational

  • MAKING WAVES: Resilient Leadership Through Business Tsunamis

    In a world where business upheaval has become the norm, resilient leadership separates those who merely survive from those who genuinely thrive through crisis. Drawing from her decade-long journey building CITYROW through fundraising failures, pandemic devastation, and market collapses, Helaine delivers counterintuitive leadership strategies that transform how organizations approach high-stakes transitions. Unlike typical leadership talks, Helaine Knapp's raw, unfiltered approach reveals both the tactical frameworks and psychological tools required to lead teams through existential threats. Audiences learn how to maintain strategic clarity while navigating crushing uncertainty, build authentic team cohesion during crisis, and redefine success when traditional metrics fail.

    Attendee Results:

    • Master the counterintuitive leadership tactics that create stability during chaotic market shifts
    • Develop psychological resilience tools that prevent burnout during extended crisis periods
    • Learn frameworks for maintaining team engagement when facing existential business threats
    • Understand how to convert vulnerability into strategic strength
    • Discover how to recalibrate success metrics when traditional paths become impossible

  • BEYOND SURVIVAL: The Art of Strategic Pivoting When Everything Changes

    The ability to pivot strategically has moved from occasional necessity to essential business skill. Yet most organizations approach pivots reactively, missing critical opportunities and damaging brand equity in the process. In this high-impact keynote, Helaine reveals her battle-tested methodology for detecting pivot points early, evaluating options with clarity, and executing transitions that preserve team trust.

    Drawing from her experience pivoting CITYROW multiple times—including the overnight transition during COVID—Helaine delivers actionable strategies that transform how organizations approach change management. Audience members learn to distinguish between moments that require perseverance versus pivoting, how to maintain brand consistency through radical change, and how to execute pivots without depleting team morale.

    Attendee Results:

    • Master the pivot-planning framework that identifies transition points before crisis strikes
    • Learn how to evaluate pivot options with strategic clarity rather than panic
    • Discover techniques for maintaining team cohesion during radical transitions
    • Understand how to preserve brand equity while changing business models
    • Develop metrics for evaluating pivot success beyond traditional KPIs

  • THE RESILIENCE REVOLUTION: Building Unshakeable Teams That Thrive Through Adversity

    In today's business environment, resilience has evolved from personal trait to essential organizational capability. Drawing from her decade of navigating CITYROW through crushing setbacks—from fundraising failures to pandemic devastation—Helaine reveals the counterintuitive frameworks that transform fragile teams into resilient powerhouses.

    Unlike conventional resilience talks, Helaine Knapp's approach combines tactical team structures with psychological tools that prevent burnout during extended crises. Through electrifying storytelling about her own journey, audiences discover how resilience transcends mere perseverance to become a proactive strategy for navigating uncertainty. Leaders learn how to foster collective resilience that withstands market volatility, maintains innovation during resource constraints, and emerges stronger from setbacks that would destroy less prepared organizations.

    Attendee Results:

    • Implement the 5-pillar resilience architecture that strengthens teams through adversity
    • Master techniques for maintaining innovative thinking during resource constraints
    • Learn frameworks for preventing team burnout during extended crisis periods
    • Develop leadership practices that transform setbacks into strategic advantages
    • Understand how collective resilience becomes your ultimate competitive advantage in volatile markets

  • TRANSFORMATION SELLING: Building Unbreakable Client Relationships Through Authentic Connection

    In today's hyper-competitive marketplace, traditional sales tactics have become increasingly ineffective. The most successful sales teams now recognize that authentic connection—not just persuasion—drives sustainable revenue growth. Drawing from her experience building CITYROW's national franchise system and securing partnerships with major brands, Helaine Knapp reveals how transformation selling creates unbreakable client relationships that withstand market volatility.

    Through compelling case studies and interactive frameworks, audiences discover how sales excellence transcends traditional metrics to become a practice of genuine problem-solving and relationship-building. Sales professionals learn how authentic communication creates the foundation for trust, how vulnerability becomes a strategic strength, and how client relationships transform from transactional to genuinely collaborative. This approach drives not just initial sales, but creates the ambassadors and referrals that fuel exponential growth.

    Attendee Results:

    • Master the transformation selling framework that converts prospects into long-term partners
    • Develop communication techniques that build genuine trust in initial client interactions
    • Learn how strategic vulnerability creates deeper client connections than traditional authority positioning
    • Understand how to maintain authentic relationships during challenging delivery periods
    • Implement the ambassador cultivation system that transforms clients into active growth partners

Helaine Knapp Videos

Helaine Knapp - 2022 Leading Entrepreneurs of the World Conference
Helaine Knapp - Bustle
  • How do I book Helaine Knapp to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Helaine Knapp 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 Helaine Knapp, 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 Helaine Knapp or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Helaine Knapp for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Helaine Knapp, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Helaine Knapp are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and Below $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Helaine Knapp, 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 Helaine Knapp speak about?

  • Where does Helaine Knapp travel from?

    Helaine Knapp generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Helaine Knapp?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Helaine Knapp 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 Helaine Knapp 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 Helaine Knapp 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.
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HELAINE KNAPP

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