Jonathan Kaufman

Jonathan Kaufman

Keynote Speaker: Professor, Motivator & Consultant

  • Travels From:
  • Speaking Fee:
    Live Event Fee: $10,000 - $20,000
    Virtual Event Fee: $10,000 - $20,000
    More Fee Info

Jonathan Kaufman Biography

Born with Cerebral Palsy, Professor Jonathan Kaufman’s disability has been a profound part of his personal, academic, and professional lives. Today, Professor Kaufman is seen as one of the most innovative thinkers in the diversity and disability arena. As the former Policy Advisor to the White House on Diversity and Disability, an engaging professional speaker, anthropologist, clinician, entrepreneur, and policy architect, Professor Kaufman has a unique background that has allowed him the ability to work in a variety of capacities with corporations, governments, and nonprofits around the globe.

Professor Kaufman is a storyteller who shares his own personal journey of making his “wound into his bow” and passing this simple but powerful message along to others. From hiking in the Ecuadorian highlands with his family to being the first person with Cerebral Palsy to ski down a mountain to simply tying his own shoes with one hand, he has pushed the idea that anything is possible if given the will. Professor Kaufman has studied human behaviors globally from tribesman in South America to C-level executives in large Fortune 500 companies in order to master the image paradigm related to differences. Professor Kaufman challenges conventional wisdom while stimulating leaders to take full advantage of the business benefits that people with disabilities or diversities bring to their workplace, markets, and world. His company, J Kaufman Companies, provides innovative approaches to analyze and find solutions in areas ranging from leadership, change management, strategic thinking, and beyond.

Providing invaluable intellectual capital for Fortune 500 and 1000 companies, he has experience being a technical advisor for Hollywood productions in films such as Adam and HBO’s Temple Grandin to his role as Lead Disability Strategist for Wal-Mart Stores, Inc and his current role as Senior Strategist for The National Business and Disability Council. His mission is to take businesses to the next level by developing innovative solutions through the crossroads of human behavior and inclusive design to develop products and services that will enhance people’s quality of life.

Known as a dynamic speaker, Professor Kaufman has keynoted at diverse events, such as the United Nations Social and Economic Development Forum and AARP’s Diversity & Aging in the 21st Century Conference. He continues to lecture at a variety of academic institutions as well, including The City University of New York and The Darden School of Business. He is a sought after guest on television and radio, discussing a variety of diversity, disability, and aging issues that impact business, government, and personal lifestyle.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Jonathan Kaufman and other top speakers and celebrities.

Jonathan Kaufman Speaking Topics

Making Your Wound into Your Bow

In this talk, Professor Jonathan Kaufman poses the important question: What is robbing you of your vision and power to succeed? He shares his own story that has defined his mantra of “Making Your Wound into Your Bow”. By teaching his listeners how to conquer their own emotional paralysis that may be preventing them from achieving their greatest potential, he inspires others to do more.

Generations—A New Understanding of Disability for the Millennium: Why Business Needs To Pay Attention!

Professor Kaufman explores the importance of the cross-generational workforce of the new millennium and why persons with disabilities are critical to understanding the growth of this new paradigm. Companies need to embrace the changing nature of the workforce, but also how we work to gain a greater competitive edge that will spark new ideas, create debate, and most of all, generate new knowledge for those individuals who attend and deliver truly powerful economic benefits for their companies.

People Power: Leading Organizations to Cultivate and Develop Talent that will Enhance Long Term Success

A key aspect of Professor Kaufman’s mission is to provide leadership to organizations by increasing their overall value. He also believes that the significance of the individual is as of equal or greater importance. Developing interpersonal skills, knowledge, and behavior are vital to your ongoing success and essential for creating effective leaders and performance. By exploring leadership and mentoring strategies, Kaufman discusses the key building blocks to strengthening the knowledge worker within your organization, leading to continued future success.

Discovering the Minds of the Future: How Corporations Create Opportunity to Stay Competitive in the 21st Century Marketplace

Professor Kaufman will prepare senior and C-Suite level executives to think strategically and create value for their organizations, using the lens of disability as a tool for competitive growth. Through the introduction of his Adaptation Construct, in this forum, participants will realize that Kaufman serves as a critical resource for businesses around the world, conveying the relevant strategies and specific business skills needed to formulate decisions, set action plans, and apply sustainable options.

Building a Smarter Workforce for the 21st Century

In this speech, Kaufman will explain why The Office for Federal Contract Compliance (OFCCP) is more than just a regulation for affirmative action, but a key to business growth. With the OFFCP regulations going into effect at the end of March of 2014, federal contractors and sub contractors are faced with a new reality, embracing an inclusive workforce for the 21st Century. Kaufman will take a deeper dive into the nuances of the OFCCP regulations and deliver critical business intelligence for HR executives, recruiters, hiring managers as well as senior executives to see how to best leverage the OFCCP regulations as a tool for businesses to increase performance and profitability. The talk will offer.

How do I book Jonathan Kaufman to speak at my event?

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

How much does it cost to book Jonathan Kaufman for a speaking engagement?

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

Where does Jonathan Kaufman travel from?

Jonathan Kaufman 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 Jonathan Kaufman?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Jonathan Kaufman 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 Jonathan Kaufman 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 Jonathan Kaufman 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.


Jonathan Kaufman is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Jonathan Kaufman for live events is $10,000 - $20,000, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. Jonathan Kaufman 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 James Miles, Bob Chapman and Gary Vider. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Jonathan Kaufman for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 19/03/2025.

Jonathan Kaufman Speaking Topics

  • Making Your Wound into Your Bow

    In this talk, Professor Jonathan Kaufman poses the important question: What is robbing you of your vision and power to succeed? He shares his own story that has defined his mantra of “Making Your Wound into Your Bow”. By teaching his listeners how to conquer their own emotional paralysis that may be preventing them from achieving their greatest potential, he inspires others to do more.

  • Generations—A New Understanding of Disability for the Millennium: Why Business Needs To Pay Attention!

    Professor Kaufman explores the importance of the cross-generational workforce of the new millennium and why persons with disabilities are critical to understanding the growth of this new paradigm. Companies need to embrace the changing nature of the workforce, but also how we work to gain a greater competitive edge that will spark new ideas, create debate, and most of all, generate new knowledge for those individuals who attend and deliver truly powerful economic benefits for their companies.

  • People Power: Leading Organizations to Cultivate and Develop Talent that will Enhance Long Term Success

    A key aspect of Professor Kaufman’s mission is to provide leadership to organizations by increasing their overall value. He also believes that the significance of the individual is as of equal or greater importance. Developing interpersonal skills, knowledge, and behavior are vital to your ongoing success and essential for creating effective leaders and performance. By exploring leadership and mentoring strategies, Kaufman discusses the key building blocks to strengthening the knowledge worker within your organization, leading to continued future success.

  • Discovering the Minds of the Future: How Corporations Create Opportunity to Stay Competitive in the 21st Century Marketplace

    Professor Kaufman will prepare senior and C-Suite level executives to think strategically and create value for their organizations, using the lens of disability as a tool for competitive growth. Through the introduction of his Adaptation Construct, in this forum, participants will realize that Kaufman serves as a critical resource for businesses around the world, conveying the relevant strategies and specific business skills needed to formulate decisions, set action plans, and apply sustainable options.

  • Building a Smarter Workforce for the 21st Century

    In this speech, Kaufman will explain why The Office for Federal Contract Compliance (OFCCP) is more than just a regulation for affirmative action, but a key to business growth. With the OFFCP regulations going into effect at the end of March of 2014, federal contractors and sub contractors are faced with a new reality, embracing an inclusive workforce for the 21st Century. Kaufman will take a deeper dive into the nuances of the OFCCP regulations and deliver critical business intelligence for HR executives, recruiters, hiring managers as well as senior executives to see how to best leverage the OFCCP regulations as a tool for businesses to increase performance and profitability. The talk will offer.

  • How do I book Jonathan Kaufman to speak at my event?

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

    Speaking fees for Jonathan Kaufman, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Jonathan Kaufman are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Jonathan Kaufman, 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.
  • Where does Jonathan Kaufman travel from?

    Jonathan Kaufman 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 Jonathan Kaufman?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Jonathan Kaufman 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 Jonathan Kaufman 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 Jonathan Kaufman 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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JONATHAN KAUFMAN

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