Steve Lerch

Award-winning International Public Speaker, Consultant, and Former Google Executive

Topics: Technology, Innovation, Branding & Marketing, Corporate Culture, Leadership, Communication, Business Growth, Attitude, Business, Strategy

Contact us for Steve Lerch speaking fees and availability

Biography

Steve Lerch is an award-winning international public speaker, consultant, and former Google Executive, and has become a highly respected voice in the world of digital strategy, marketing, consumer behavior, and innovation.

While at Google, Steve served as a digital strategy advisor to prominent brands like GoPro and Roku, respected non-profits like the YMCA and Save the Children, and even major branches of the Federal Government, like the Census and FEMA. He spent years helping hundreds of organizations better understand their customers, tell more compelling stories, and leverage data more strategically.

In addition to building digital marketing strategies, Steve also served as a Culture and Innovation Evangelist during his time at Google. In this role, Steve was one of the first voices heard by hundreds of new employees, teaching them about the important cultural building blocks that drive innovation and that have led to Google’s success.

Steve leverages his nine years at Google serving as a digital strategy consultant to dozens of the world’s most well-known brands to bring independent consulting services to companies of all sizes and across all industries. He offers an outside perspective on a company’s vision and strategy, challenges organizations to evolve past strategies, and helps brands embrace a digital-first world. His many areas of focus include marketing, digital/web/social strategy, customer insights, attribution, strategic planning, and team dynamics.

When on a stage, Steve’s high-energy style perfectly blends humor, inspirational stories, and actionable advice, which makes him a perfect choice for larger, more aspirational keynote addresses as well as more specific breakout and education sessions. Steve is obsessed with data, patterns, and trends, but believes data isn’t useful when it’s boring.

Contact us for Steve Lerch fees and availability

Videos

Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

Innovation Leadership: Inspiring People to Think Differently

In this high-energy, insightful, and fun exploration of innovation, Steve Lerch, a former Google Executive and Innovation Evangelist, reveals the strategies driving the most innovative organizations, and how those strategies can be applied to any business, regardless of size, industry, or budget.

Lerch emphasizes that innovation is not about technology; it's about empowering every individual to contribute. To voice their unique perspectives and ideas. It’s about moving fast, learning as you go, and always iterating. Through captivating stories and real-world examples, he’ll challenge your audience's assumptions about what’s possible, for themselves, their teams, and the world.

This isn't just a lecture; it's an interactive experience filled with humor, inspirational stories, pop culture, and thought-provoking questions that will leave you feeling energized and ready to transform your organization's approach to innovation.

If you're looking for a speech that will motivate your group, spark creativity, and provide practical strategies for fostering a culture of innovation, then look no further. Steve Lerch's Innovation Leadership is the key to unlocking your organization's true potential.

Speech can be customized for your audience/event, including a more deliberate focus on topics like change management, feedback, collaboration, creativity, etc.

Influencing Modern Consumers: Building Connections and Sales in the Age of Memes, GIFs, and Selfies

Ever feel like you're speaking a different language than your customers? In this engaging and insightful presentation, Steve Lerch, former Google executive, decodes the modern consumer – their behaviors, motivations, and how to connect with them authentically. Not to mention why they’re so obsessed with some viral trend or TikTok dance that you’ve never heard of, and how learning about these obsessions can open the door to connecting with any potential customer.

Lerch blends humor, pop culture, and insightful data to challenge your assumptions about today's consumers. He reveals the power of free digital tools to tap into real-time consumer interests and provides actionable strategies to cut through the digital clutter.

Learn how to:
● Understand the evolving consumer landscape: Why "different" doesn't mean "worse" when it comes to cultural shifts.
● Craft compelling messages: See how brands like Chipotle and United Airlines leverage viral trends for maximum impact.
● Utilize free tools for market research: Uncover the secrets hidden in Google search data and advertising trends.

This presentation is a must-attend for anyone looking to better understand, connect with, and ultimately influence today's ever-evolving consumer.

This speech can be customized for your audience/event, providing specific examples related to the products, customers, issues, and priorities of your event attendees.

AI for All: Simple Stories and Practical Strategies to Embrace Artificial Intelligence

Feeling overwhelmed by the AI revolution? Don't worry, you don't need to be a tech genius (not even close) to harness the power of artificial intelligence! Join Steve Lerch, former Google executive, on a captivating journey into the practical side of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Copilot.

In this eye-opening and accessible presentation, Lerch cuts through the jargon and demystifies AI for everyone, regardless of your technical background. Through real-world use cases, fun examples, and a simple playbook, he'll show you how AI can revolutionize your work or even your personal life.

Discover how to:
● Boost your productivity: Learn how AI can simplify complex tasks, generate creative content, and even provide personalized coaching.
● Unlock new possibilities: Explore the fascinating world of AI-powered tools, from chatbots to image generators, and see how they can spark your imagination.
● Supercharge your career: Gain a competitive edge by leveraging AI to streamline your work, improve your decision-making, and deliver exceptional results.

No one knows what the future of technology will look like, but one thing we do know is that AI will continue to get better, spread further, and increasingly become a required tool for anyone in the working world. If you’re ready to take the first steps and increase your comfort with artificial intelligence, this talk is for you.

This speech can be customized for your audience/event, with specific AI use case examples based on the industries and job functions of your attendees.

Testimonials

Steve delivered a thought-provoking and wildly entertaining keynote on Modern Consumers. His insights into how storytelling, humor, and understanding modern trends can transform customer engagement were nothing short of inspiring. Steve’s ability to blend humor with actionable strategies—complete with memes, trends, and a bit of good-natured teasing of Millennials and Gen Z—had the room energized and engaged. He reminded us of the importance of truly understanding what resonates with our customers. Steve’s presentation reinforced the power of empathy, creativity, and attention to detail when it comes to creating customer experiences. If you’re looking for a keynote speaker who can inspire your team while keeping them entertained, I can’t recommend Steve enough. He brings energy, expertise, and an unparalleled ability to make complex topics feel approachable and impactful.

– Sales Director, Amcor

We appreciate Steve's time prior to the event to understand our audience - and to connect while he was there. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive - he was a big hit!

– Lightning Protection Institute

Steve was great!!! This information is so beneficial and ever-changing!! I look forward to implementing it in my business.

– ARA

Steve Rocks! He took a technology that scared the majority of our members and taught them how valuable a tool AI can be to improving their business and being more productive. By taking a foreign concept and breaking it into language we could all understand he showed that not only is it nothing to be afraid of, it should be embraced.

– Bowling Proprietors' Association of America