Speaker bio:
Brandi Larsen is a writer and speaker, building a more inclusive publishing landscape. Her work at Penguin Random House helped create NYT bestsellers and her journalism pieces earned Emmy nominations. Her talks about publishing, leadership, and purpose inspire audiences from Zoom to Harvard. She serves as President Emeritus for Literary Cleveland and writes books and essays. Brandi is the 2024 Writer in Residence at the
William N. Skirball Writers’ Center, CCPL, and the co-writer of New York Times-recommended UNCULTURED: A Memoir, from
St. Martin's Press.
BrandiLarsen.com BrandiLarsen.com

Interested in my work? Contact me at b@brandilarsen.com.

BIO | PRESS KIT | SPEAKER DECK
PUBLISHING & JOURNALISM | CV | PORTFOLIO | CONTACT

Speaking.

Creating understanding. One talk at a time.

Speakers empower, and I do that by inspiring audiences to believe the truth: that the world needs their work. With a special interest in diversity, equity, and inclusion, I'm a speaker with both the business savvy and the willingness to talk about the humanity in each of us.

As a publishing expert who helped create bestsellers, I speak to writers about the book publishing industry and how to get their work into the process.

As a business speaker, I help executives and entrepreneurs understand how publishing a book is good for business, and share with corporate audiences leadership strategies on how to create joy and purpose in the workplace, from the content and publishing executive who's done it.

My feeling-centered talks help women and collegiate audiences overcome the impossible.

Whether it's keynotes, after-dinner talks, author events, book clubs, or popular stand-alone workshops, I'm a sought-after speaker inspiring audiences in-person and via Zoom at Harvard Business School, Book Expo America, Case Western Reserve University, the Great Lakes African American Writers Conference, Jewish Book Council Writers Conference, the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, and at book stores and libraries across
the nation.

The pandemic years created a different landscape and opened possibilities for us to connect together from disparate locations. I’ve tailored my talks to create the most joyful experience for attendees across all platforms. Whether from a little box on your attendees’ screens via Zoom, Crowdcast, Facebook Live, WebEx, GoToWebinar, Google Meets, or the tech you love (or love-to-hate), I have the ability and experience with live, recorded, hybrid, and studio talks to engage your audience in the format that works best for you.

This is an essential and amazing talk.

My favorite talks include:

Books:

  • Inside a Publisher’s Mind: How the Book Publishing Process Really Works

  • Everything You Wanted to Know About Publishing (and Had The Courage to Ask)

  • You’ve Got a Book in You: How to Go From Idea to Author

  • The “I” in Publishing: Diversity and Inclusion in Today’s Book Business

  • How Books Make Money

  • Writing Group Matchmaking: How to Find Your People

  • Creating a Process that Helps You Finish

  • How I Got Here: A Career in Words

  • UNCULTURED: Book Talk and Behind-the-Scenes

  • Author talks: Q&A with Authors

Leadership:

  • The Best Job I Never Got

  • Inspiring Your Employees (and Yourself)

  • Women Belong in the Boardroom

  • Unicorns and Rainbows: Bringing Joy Back to Work

  • People-Centric Leadership: Creating a Culture of Joy and Inclusion

  • You Matter: Talks for Tween, Teen, and Young Women Leaders

Purpose:

  • Knowing When to Walk Away

  • How I Overcame the Impossible and You Can Too

  • Three Dreams, Four Colleges: How to Find Your Right-Now Purpose

  • The Way Out is Through

  • How to Do Death: A Lesson in Walking with Grief

  • Love is Love is Love: What I’ve Learned from Marrying Couples During a Pandemic

  • How to Be Wrong

  • Mama, You Don’t Need to be Everything to Everyone

Brandi is one of those rare people with whom you instantly form a connection, equal parts warmth & razor-sharp wit.

I’d love to speak to your audience.

As a motivational speaker, my talks are engaging, joyful, and fun. My slides are filled with pictures, and my style is relaxed. Want to see what I mean? Here’s an on-stage example of me in action, an example from a virtual stage, and my speaking deck, perfect for sharing with your organization’s decision makers.

With a background in writing and improvisation, and an expertise in publishing, journalism, digital, leadership, and management, I can work with you to create a talk that’s right for your needs. I’m an Ohio-based speaker who travels out of Cleveland Hopkins International Airport.

If you’re a non-profit, I can work with you to secure grant funding.

I work exclusively with people and organizations committed to hosting diverse and inclusive stages.

Let’s start a conversation.

If you’d rather call, I’m available by phone: 216.206.7466.