Ron Johnson
Keynote Speaker: Retail Visionary Behind Apple Stores and Design at Target
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Ron Johnson Biography
Founder of the Apple Stores and Merchandising Leader who brought Design to Target, Ron Johnson is a leading authority on game changing innovation, delivering jaw-dropping customer service, building winning cultures and inspiring teams through meaningful work. He is best known for creating the Apple Stores, the first retail strategy in history to reach $1 billion in annual sales in only three years, and for bringing design to Target by creating the first-ever retail collaboration with architect Michael Graves. A Harvard Business School Graduate and Stanford alumnus, Johnson is an engaging speaker and master storyteller who inspires audiences with his warm, authentic and approachable style.
Widely regarded as one of the boldest retail innovators of the last 30 years, Johnson delivers keynotes with timeless lessons for building cultures that both inspire employees and fuel continuous innovation. Drawing on his unparalleled success leading Apple Stores—and his hard-fought attempt to transform JCPenney into “America’s Favorite Store”—Johnson shares insights that leave audiences emboldened and transformed.
Johnson’s book, "Shop Different," will be published in 2026 on the 25th anniversary of the first Apple Store. He has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times, Fortune, and USA Today, among many other publications. A frequent guest on CNBC and Fox Business Network, Johnson has delivered keynotes on the world’s biggest stages and inspired countless companies as a sought-after motivational speaker.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Ron Johnson and other top speakers and celebrities.
Ron Johnson Speaking Topics
Audience: Innovators, entrepreneurs, retail companies, leaders, managers, marketers, and business strategy groups.
Core Message: The greatest innovations are born from one’s imagination and the courage to trust one’s intuition. But the secret to success is how one defines meaning and motivates teams to do the best work of their lives. This inspiring talk provides a blueprint for how to create big ideas and reinvent industries.
Description: When Apple announced it was opening stores, people gave them two years before they turned the lights out on a painful experiment. A decade later, Apple had reinvented retail and built a $20 billion dollar global retail business. In this masterclass on innovation, Ron Johnson shares his “playbook for big ideas.” He takes the audience behind the scenes of how the Apple Store was conceived in a warehouse with no blueprint, and how a relentless focus on loving customers through kindness changed the retail industry forever. Sharing untold stories of his relationship with Steve Jobs and his team, this keynote combines the entrepreneurial spirit of a startup with the strategic vision of a Fortune 500 leader. Ron unpacks the timeless principles of using your imagination, the power of intuition, and the courage required to reinvent a category. Whether you’re an entrepreneur building from the ground up or a leader looking to innovate within an established company, this talk provides a roadmap for how to use your imagination to create a legacy of innovation.
Audience: Leaders, executives, and anyone focused on organizational culture and people management.
Core Message: In an age of rapid technological change, the most valuable asset a company has is its people and their ability to work together. This talk redefines leadership as the art of motivating everyone to do the best work of their lives by building a culture based on love, joy, and kindness in service of enriching lives for everyone.
Description: While technology continues to transform the workplace, Ron Johnson argues that the future of work will not be defined by AI, but by culture and how people work together. Drawing on his groundbreaking work as he did creating the Apple Stores and bringing design to Target, he reveals the secret ingredient behind his greatest successes: making the concept of love visible to employees and customers. This heartfelt and motivating talk shows how leading with trust, kindness, and a clear sense of purpose can build a culture where employees feel a sense of belonging and are empowered to do their best work. He shares actionable insights on how to create environments that not only drive record-breaking performance but also foster deep loyalty from both teams and customers. This is a must-hear for leaders who believe that a “people-first” culture is the ultimate competitive advantage.
Ron Johnson Videos
How do I book Ron Johnson to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Ron Johnson 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 Ron Johnson, 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 Ron Johnson or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Ron Johnson for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Ron Johnson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Ron Johnson are $50,000 - $100,000 for live events and $20,000 - $30,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Ron Johnson, 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 Ron Johnson speak about?
Ron Johnson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Retail, Customer Experience, Human Resources, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Innovation, Thought Leadership, Disruptive Thinking, Corporate Culture, Leadership, Business, Business Growth and Business Leadership.
Where does Ron Johnson travel from?
Ron Johnson generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Ron Johnson?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Ron Johnson 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 Ron Johnson 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 Ron Johnson 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.
Ron Johnson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Retail, Customer Experience and Human Resources. The estimated speaking fee range to book Ron Johnson for live events is $50,000 - $100,000, and for virtual events $20,000 - $30,000. Ron Johnson generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Robert Spector, Doug Lipp and Adrian Gostick. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Ron Johnson for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Ron Johnson Speaking Topics
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SHOP DIFFERENT —The Untold Story and Timeless Lessons Behind Apple’s Most Unlikely Success
Audience: Innovators, entrepreneurs, retail companies, leaders, managers, marketers, and business strategy groups.
Core Message: The greatest innovations are born from one’s imagination and the courage to trust one’s intuition. But the secret to success is how one defines meaning and motivates teams to do the best work of their lives. This inspiring talk provides a blueprint for how to create big ideas and reinvent industries.
Description: When Apple announced it was opening stores, people gave them two years before they turned the lights out on a painful experiment. A decade later, Apple had reinvented retail and built a $20 billion dollar global retail business. In this masterclass on innovation, Ron Johnson shares his “playbook for big ideas.” He takes the audience behind the scenes of how the Apple Store was conceived in a warehouse with no blueprint, and how a relentless focus on loving customers through kindness changed the retail industry forever. Sharing untold stories of his relationship with Steve Jobs and his team, this keynote combines the entrepreneurial spirit of a startup with the strategic vision of a Fortune 500 leader. Ron unpacks the timeless principles of using your imagination, the power of intuition, and the courage required to reinvent a category. Whether you’re an entrepreneur building from the ground up or a leader looking to innovate within an established company, this talk provides a roadmap for how to use your imagination to create a legacy of innovation.
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LEADING WITH LOVE: How a Culture Built on Kindness Creates Unbeatable Performance
Audience: Leaders, executives, and anyone focused on organizational culture and people management.
Core Message: In an age of rapid technological change, the most valuable asset a company has is its people and their ability to work together. This talk redefines leadership as the art of motivating everyone to do the best work of their lives by building a culture based on love, joy, and kindness in service of enriching lives for everyone.
Description: While technology continues to transform the workplace, Ron Johnson argues that the future of work will not be defined by AI, but by culture and how people work together. Drawing on his groundbreaking work as he did creating the Apple Stores and bringing design to Target, he reveals the secret ingredient behind his greatest successes: making the concept of love visible to employees and customers. This heartfelt and motivating talk shows how leading with trust, kindness, and a clear sense of purpose can build a culture where employees feel a sense of belonging and are empowered to do their best work. He shares actionable insights on how to create environments that not only drive record-breaking performance but also foster deep loyalty from both teams and customers. This is a must-hear for leaders who believe that a “people-first” culture is the ultimate competitive advantage.
VIDEO
Ron Johnson Videos
NEWS
Ron Johnson News
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Ron Johnson Speaks, Calls Reports On His J.C. Penney Tenure ...
Ousted J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson: Analysis of his tenure is "surprisingly uninformed." (Photo credit: Fortune Live Media) He's retail's persona non grata ...
FAQS
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How do I book Ron Johnson to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Ron Johnson 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 Ron Johnson, 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 Ron Johnson or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Ron Johnson for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Ron Johnson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Ron Johnson are $50,000 - $100,000 for live events and $20,000 - $30,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Ron Johnson, 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 Ron Johnson speak about?
Ron Johnson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Retail, Customer Experience, Human Resources, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Innovation, Thought Leadership, Disruptive Thinking, Corporate Culture, Leadership, Business, Business Growth and Business Leadership. -
Where does Ron Johnson travel from?
Ron Johnson generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Ron Johnson?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Ron Johnson 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 Ron Johnson 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 Ron Johnson 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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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.
