Jim Knight
- Culture Expert: Celebrated speaker and author with expertise in company culture, shaped by leading global training at Hard Rock International.
- Author: Wrote Culture That Rocks and Leadership That Rocks, both highly regarded in business circles.
- Philanthropy: Donates book and event proceeds to charities like No Kid Hungry.
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Jim Knight's 2024 biography
Jim Knight: Rock Star Culture and Leadership Expert
Renowned keynote speaker, podcaster, author, and training and development executive Jim Knight teaches organizations of all sizes how to attain their own “rock star” status.
Although his illustrious career started at Gatorland, a working alligator farm in Florida (and he has scars to prove it) – Jim cut his teeth in the hospitality training industry and eventually led Global Training for Hard Rock International for two decades. Jim’s customized programs show how to amp up organizational culture, deliver world-class differentiated service, and build rock star teams and leaders.
Jim’s role at Hard Rock involved many facets of organizational training including creating and managing all staff and management training materials and programs; facilitating Hard Rock’s Corporate University; overseeing management training locations; producing training videos; directing company e-Learning initiatives; facilitating leadership transitions; and traveling to properties to deliver onsite classes and measure company standards.
Jim put his experience and creativity to work, which consistently developed cutting-edge training concepts. During his time with the Hard Rock brand, his team won coveted video Telly Awards (Guest Service in 2000, Menu Rollout in 2007, Harassment & Discrimination Prevention in 2008); garnered Training Directors Forum’s 1998 prize for Reengineering Training; and won Brandon Hall’s Gold Best in Class Award for their Service Recovery e-Learning course.
Jim was also recognized by Training Magazine as representing one of the top 125 training companies in the world out of all industries and businesses. He has since been featured in Forbes Magazine, Inc. Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, Nation’s Restaurant News, Business News Daily and Fox Business News.
He is a lifetime member of CHART (an Association of Hospitality Trainers); previously sat on the Certification Governing Board of the National Restaurant Association; and founded the networking group, The Training Summit (CHART’s 1st Regional Training Forum), which includes over 100 active members in Central Florida to share best practices and discuss common issues with other industry professionals. Jim was also a part of the GOOD Network’s inception.
Jim is the Owner & CEO of Knight Speaker, delivering numerous programs worldwide on leadership, organizational culture, customer service, and employee experience. He is also the best-selling author of Culture That Rocks: How to Revolutionize Your Company’s Culture, now in its 3rd edition, which was featured in Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the “5 Books That Will Help You Transform How You Do Business”. Jim’s latest books, Leadership That Rocks: Take Your Brand’s Culture to Eleven and Amp Up Results and Service That Rocks: Create Unforgettable Experiences and Turn Customers into Fans were all Amazon #1 Best Sellers.
A portion of Jim Knight’s book sales and speaking proceeds goes to No Kid Hungry to eliminate childhood hunger in the U.S. and Cannonball Kids’ Cancer, which funds innovative, accessible research for children fighting cancer with better treatments, quality of life, and new options for those told they have run out of options.
Jim Knight's 2024 talks & topics
LEADERSHIP THAT ROCKS: How to Deliver Stellar Results with Practical Initiatives and Take Your Brand to Eleven
This high-energy and impactful keynote presentation is effectively designed to provide leaders [at any level] the practical and tactical initiatives needed to create an iconic business. The program will deliver rapid-fire best practices that any leader can immediately put into practice, starting them down the road to rock star success.
Using the visceral backdrop of Rock and Roll and examples from several well-known brands, keynote speaker and best-selling author Jim Knight sparks new ideas and shares key strategies for implementing initiatives and leading others to produce desired results.
Leadership That Rocks teaches how to become a culture-driven, versatile leader, and a catalyst for change within your organization. Audience members will learn how to develop their own leadership skills and powerfully grow their brand’s culture from within.
Key, unique concepts include:
- Producing a Virtuous Environment
- Hiring and Retaining Rock Stars
- Enhancing Employee Engagement
- Amping Up Communication
- Creating an Army of Promotable Giants
- Guaranteeing Customer Obsession
- Becoming Heart-Centered
- Effectively Dealing with Change
- Staying Resilient in Trying Times
- Fostering Mentorship
- Taking Personal Accountability
The time allotted is packed full of visual images, out-of-the-box thinking, videos, personal stories, industry statistics, case studies, and an interactive handout for some real “take aways”… all told through the spirit of Rock and Roll!
CULTURE THAT ROCKS: How to Amp Up Your Company’s Culture and Deliver Sustainable Results
This high-energy, interactive, and visual keynote presentation focuses on individuals, departments, and entire companies who are charged with creating, maintaining, or revolutionizing an organization’s culture, ensuring it stays relevant in the 21st century. The program delves into every area of a company’s environment and reveals realistic solutions for systemic change.
Using the visceral backdrop of Rock and Roll and examples from several well-known brands, keynote speaker and best-selling author Jim Knight sparks new ideas and shares key strategies to transform any organization’s culture, regardless of the company’s cultural history or status.
Key, unique concepts include:
- A clear-cut definition of Company Culture (finally!)
- Understanding Heritage vs. Culture
- Identifying 3C Rock Stars
- Amping Up Communication
- Delivering Service Differentiation
- Enhancing Employee Engagement
- Handling Organizational Change
- Developing Resiliency
- Cultivating a Remote Workforce
The time allotted is packed full of visual images, out-of-the-box thinking, videos, personal stories, industry statistics, case studies, and an interactive handout for some real “take aways”… all told through the spirit of Rock and Roll!
SERVICE THAT ROCKS: How to Create Unforgettable Experiences and Turn Customers into Fans
Every business has competitors. And how you set yourself apart will determine whether your customer will fall madly in love with you… or not.
This high-energy, interactive, and visual keynote presentation focuses on how to differentiate your organization from the rest of the competition to become the business of choice. This program will deliver thought-provoking best practices to create mind-searing customer obsession and loyalty.
Armed with examples from his 21-year run as the head of Global Training & Development for Hard Rock International, keynote speaker and best-selling author Jim Knight sparks new ideas and shares key strategies on creating unforgettable experiences for your customers.
Key, unique concepts include:
- Becoming Customer-Obsessed
- Embracing a Differentiated Service Mentality
- Avoiding Acceptable Mediocrity
- Eliminating 4-Letter Words
- Building Mental Shelf Space
- Empowering Employees
- Writing Yourself into the Story
- Increasing Value Proposition
The time allotted is packed full of visual images, out-of-the-box thinking, videos, personal stories, industry statistics, case studies, and an interactive handout for some real “take aways”… all told through the spirit of Rock and Roll!
ENGAGEMENT THAT ROCKS: How to Enhance Employee Experiences and Retain Chart-Topping Talent
Knowing that employees are so critical to any business, how leaders treat them is the one true strategy to empower and retain team members, manage a remote workforce, and ultimately create a world-class organization. This high-energy keynote program is effectively designed to highlight proven ways to create and maintain a strong internal culture through robust engagement.
Using the visceral backdrop of Rock and Roll and examples from several well-known brands, keynote speaker and best-selling author Jim Knight sparks new ideas and shares key strategies to secure commitment (versus compliance) from employees, ensuring they stick around longer, deliver unforgettable customer experiences, and produce sustainable results.
Key, unique concepts include:
- Understanding Virtuous vs. Vicious Environments
- Harnessing the Power of Storytelling
- Amping Up Communication
- Empowering Team Members
- Embracing Technology
- Employing the Emotional Bank Account
- Considering Customized Benefits
- Utilizing Philanthropy as a Differentiator
- Positively Leading Change Initiatives
- Managing a Remote Workforce
- Retaining Top Talent
The time allotted is packed full of visual images, out-of-the-box thinking, videos, personal stories, industry statistics, case studies, and an interactive handout for some real “take aways”… all told through the spirit of Rock and Roll!
BUILDING A ROCK STAR TEAM: How to Find, Develop, and Keep Brand Ambassadors to Deliver Iconic Results
All business results (good and bad) occur because of human behaviors. This high-energy keynote program explores specific strategies and best practices in every area of The Employee Life Cycle.
Armed with examples from his 21-year run as the head of Global Training & Development for Hard Rock International, and using the visceral backdrop of Rock and Roll, keynote speaker and best-selling author Jim Knight sparks new ideas and shares key strategies to tap into the needs of today’s talent pool and explore innovative ways to create, maintain, or even revive a team of rock stars.
Key, unique concepts include:
- Understanding the Drivers of Today’s Workforce
- Recruiting Hidden Rock Stars
- Overhauling Onboarding
- Revolutionizing Training Concepts
- Utilizing Performance Management Tools
- Designing World-Class Collateral
- Implementing Effective Communication Platforms
- Customizing Recognition
- Implementing Coaching & Counseling Techniques
- Fostering Mentorship
- Creating an Army of Promotable Giants
This program is effectively designed to highlight best practices in every area of the Employee Life Cycle. The time allotted is packed full of visual images, out-of-the-box thinking, videos, personal stories, industry statistics, case studies, and an interactive handout for some real “take aways”… all told through the spirit of Rock and Roll!