Julie Holmes

Get exponentially more awesome with Innovation for the Rest of Us.
Julie Holmes is an inventor, founder, entrepreneur and corporate survivor. Her favorite question is “What if?”
Fee Range: $ $10,000 - $15,000
Tags: Customer Experience, Customer Relationships, Humor, Innovation, Sales, Technology, Vision, Vision/Purpose
FEATURED VIDEOS
SPEAKER BIOGRAPHY
You know that THING that frustrates you?
The process that takes too long and costs your business money. A sales team that is doing the same old thing and, unfortunately, getting the same mediocre results. A market full of competition that’s moving so fast you’re struggling to keep up let alone get ahead.
From that frustration stems the most amazing opportunities. That’s where I come in.
My name is Julie Holmes, and I’m an INNOVENTREPRENEUR. A creator. An opportunity finder. A problem solver.
My favorite question is “What if?” What if you could transform that frustration into time savings and money making? It might sound crazy, but that’s exactly what I’ve been doing for organizations over the last 25 years.
From million-dollar software solutions to higher levels of customer engagement; if there is a frustration you are dealing with – there is an innovative solution to be found. For example:
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While some companies spent millions on Sarbanes Oxley software development, we solved the problem for 1000s of clients without a single new line of code
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When I was frustrated that something I needed didn’t exist, I invented it. A new product that went from prototype to delivered product in 90 days and is now used in over 25 countries worldwide
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In the wake of a quality candidate crisis, some organizations scramble to find resumes. One global powerhouse brought me in to identify and implement leadership innovations that developed their existing talent – thereby retaining valuable people in the business and attracting top quality candidates
It’s no wonder that innovation is the #1 concern for CEOs but how do you make it happen without the trauma, the expense, and the delays?
The answer is INNOVATION FOR THE REST OF US. Every organization, including yours, has an army of innovators that are just waiting to be unleashed. There is a horde of people waiting to become profitable problem solvers and opportunity spotters. All they need now are the skills and vision to deliver.
And the innovations they identify don’t have to be big. Let’s face it, radical innovation is … well, radical. It takes lots of time, lots of money, and sometimes a loss of customers but, it’s necessary to compete. But, what if you could keep your waiting customers happy with micro innovations? What if you could drive higher levels of engagement with incremental change? What if you could eradicate your frustrations while delivering a new little idea that boosts the bottom line? Those are innovations that can deliver dynamite results without all the collateral damage.
You can capture the dynamite of innovation when I deliver keynotes and programs from the stage like INNOVATION EXPOSED, LITTLE BIG BANGS and NOW THAT’S A BRIGHT IDEA at conferences around the world. Or maybe you would prefer me to work with your team empowering them to innovate or facilitating Little Big Bang-a-thon innovation days.
So, what if you hired me for your event or to work with your teams? What if your next great idea or improvement is just waiting to be discovered? There’s only one way to find out!
Julie Holmes's Programs
Think Like an Inventor
Mindset and Motivation to Spot Opportunities, Take Initiative, & Embrace Change
“It’s not my problem.” “It’s not my job.” “I wouldn’t know where to start.” “I can’t.” “I won’t.” “I quit.” Imagine inventors saying these kinds of phrases. What if those inventors STOPPED thinking, creating and solving? Terrifying, right?!
But this is exactly what’s happening in YOUR teams, organization and maybe even in your own mind every single day. Whether it’s problem-solving around product development, improving customer service, a time-saving process that leads to better productivity or trying a different way to attract and retain employees –thinking like an inventor changes the game for all of these and so much more!
Finding opportunities to “invent” starts with just one little word and it ends with collaboration, teamwork and an attitude of ownership. Learn how you and your organization can turn the tables on your performance by simply knowing how to think like an inventor.
This highly motivational and inspiring keynote engages and enlightens while empowering your people with the kind of thinking that creates solutions (and an attitude) that is truly inspiring. We’re all inventors at heart; some of us just don’t know it yet!
Learning Outcomes:
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Personal initiative will soar when you learn the secret to spotting any problem or opportunity waiting to be solved
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Increase that sense of ownership by understanding how invention is fun, easy and (almost always) free
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Inspire an unlimited supply of ideas and opportunitieswhen you see the world through inventors’ eyes
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An audience that is eager to learn for the rest of theday and the rest of their lives
Ideal for:
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Opening & Closing Keynotes
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Department/Company Events
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Conferences of all Sizes
NOTE: This program is always customized to your audience and theme!
Available as:
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Keynote (45 min, 60 min, 90 min)
“Knowledgeable, engaging and entertaining – what more could you want in a speaker? Julie spoke in Dublin recently and gave an absolutely brilliant talk. She was totally focused on what benefit she can bring to her audience vs just dishing out some ‘standard presentation’. And she was generous with her time AFTER she had spoken! She is down to earth, practical and she is also great fun!”
Barbara Moynihan, On Your Feet
Little Big Bangs for Leaders
How Great Leaders Can Innovate with (Almost) No Effort
Have you lost an employee that was really valuable to your business (and to you)? What if you could have prevented that by thinking outside the box? What if you could become the leader that everyone wants to work for because you think differently, connect better and inspire them?
It’s time to light the fuse on your creativity and generate the little big bangs that will make your teams reach for the stars and celebrate together.
In this interactive keynote, you’ll master a key innovation strategy, be challenged to share real-world leadership challenges and then we’ll crowdsource innovative, realistic Little Big Bangs to address them. Everyone will leave with relevant and practical ideas that can be leveraged right away.
The best part, however, is that the strategies you experience during this program can be repeated back at your office to continually up your leadership or to share with your teams to encourage creative thinking and problem-solving.
Learning Outcomes:
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Cultivate the 10 attributes of an innovative leader in yourself and your team
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Solve real-world leadership challenges with strategies for generating new, innovation ideas
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Be a more effective and inspiring leader when you capture the inexpensive, fast ideas that impact engagement, skill development, influence, and productivity
Options:
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Little Big Bangs for Leaders
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Little Big Bangs for Sales Leaders
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Little Big Bangs for Women Leaders
Note: Each option features targeted, relevant examples, stories, and activities
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Leadership Conferences/Retreats
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Professional Development Programs
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Company Events
Available as:
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Keynote (45 min, 60 min, 90 min)
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Breakout Session (60 min)
“Julie is an inspiring and entertaining speaker. Saw her speak at an event recently and am really impressed with her knowledge, her delivery, and her passion. She is also very amusing and engaging! “
Leigh Ashton, Ernst and Young
Little Big Bangs for Sales
How Great Sales Pros Can Use Innovation to Sell More and Sell Smarter with (Almost) No Effort
From prospecting to qualifying, contracting to closing – all eyes are on you to deliver the revenue. But how much money are you leaving on the table by doing the same things you’ve always done? It’s time to get creative and apply the principles of innovation to sales.
Little Big Bang innovations are all about speed and impact. For example, how could you get prospects to call YOU instead of the other way around? Maybe you need a clever strategy to restart that stalled sales cycle. Or you’ve relied on the same handful of customers as references and now you need to grow that pool.
Julie shows you how to spot the easy places where you can improve your sales process. As a result, you’ll close more deals, get more money and create happy customers that stay longer every single day.
In this interactive keynote, you’ll leverage the hidden highs and lows of your prospect’s journey, find the gaps in your sales process and apply proven innovation techniques to keep your prospects and customers loving you (and buying from you) every single day.
Learning Outcomes:
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Understand your prospects’ and customers’ journey, how that impacts your sale and where you should be innovating for the most impact
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Learn the precise moments to connect with clients and what you could be adding for more sales
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Connect with prospects, increase conversions and sell more when you break down the innovation opportunities
Ideal for:
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Sales and Revenue Focused Conferences
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Company Sales Kick-off Events
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Little Big Bangs for Sales Pros
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Little Big Bangs for Sales Management Teams
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Keynote (45 min, 60 min, 90 min)
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Breakout Session (60 min)
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Masterclass (1/2 day, full day)
“Highly engaging, incredibly useful. Thought-provoking, engaging. Brilliant! Your talk was the most valuable thing I attended.”
Vanessa Kent, Canterbrew
Little Big Bangs for Service
Increase Customer Retention, Lower Support Costs, Innovate Your Service with (Almost) No Effort
How many of your customers are considering switching to your competition right now?
You know it’s expensive to replace a lost customer and that it damages your team’s moral every time it happens. But there’s an easy (and fun) way that you can keep more customers, make them happier and also empower your people to become creative service superstars.
By embracing innovation for the rest of us, you unleash an army of problem solvers and opportunity spotters. With Little Big Bangs for Service, you’ll be giving them the tools and skills to find powerful and profitable innovation opportunities in every interaction.
Using the Customer Emotion Map™, you’ll get to know your customers’ experience in a whole new way and find the touchpoint gaps and opportunities that are just waiting to be addressed with your innovative solutions.
Your customers – and your bottom line – will love you for you it!
The Results:
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Find painful gaps and powerful opportunities in your service when you Master the Customer Emotion Map™
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Add revenue when you spot upsell and up-serve opportunities
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Leverage the 10 Innovation Sparks to develop your innovation capabilities
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Evaluate and implement your next great customer service ideas when you use the bootstrap approach to innovation
Ideal for:
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Customer and Professional Services Conferences
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Customer-centric Organization Events
Options:
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Little Big Bangs for Service
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Little Big Bangs for Professional Services (Who Grudgingly Sell)
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Little Big Bangs for Meeting and Event Planners
Available As:
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Keynote (20 min, 60 min, 90 min)
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Breakout Session (60 min)
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Masterclass (1/2 day, full day)
“Julie spoke at an event I was attending and I have to say it was fantastic! She grabs the audience’s attention from the word go and brings innovation, information, entertainment, and enthusiasm all together brilliantly!”
Mike Castle, ITRM Ltd