Jim Knight

Renowned keynote speaker, author, and training and development expert Jim Knight teaches organizations of all sizes how to attain their own “rock star” status.

Although his illustrious career started at Gatorland Zoo in Florida (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 has consistently developed cutting-­edge training concepts. During his time with the Hard Rock brand, his team won coveted 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 Knight was also recognized by Training Magazine as representing one of the Top 125 training companies in the world out of all industries & businesses. He has since been featured in Forbes Magazine, Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, Entrepreneur Magazine and Fox Small Business News.

Jim has a music degree in Vocal Performance & Education and taught in the Florida public school system for six years. 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 started a local training forum & networking group (The Training Summit: CHART’s 1st Regional Training Forum) with over 100 active members in Central Florida, to share best practices and discuss common issues with other industry professionals.

Jim is the Owner & CEO of Knight Speaker, delivering numerous programs worldwide on leadership, organizational culture, customer service, and employee experience and was listed in the Top 10 Most Booked & Rated Speakers in the U.S. by The Speaker Experts. He is also the best-selling author of Culture That Rocks: How to Revolutionize Your Company’s Culture, now in its 2nd edition, a how-to business book designed to amp up a brand in any industry. Entrepreneur Magazine listed the book as one of the “Top 5 Books That Will Transform Your Business”.

Jim’s new book, Leadership That Rocks: Take Your Brand’s Culture to Eleven and Amp Up Results, which helps new and up-and-coming leaders develop proven and effective skills, launched in May 2021and became an Amazon #1 Best Seller.

Along with his business partner, Brant Menswar, Jim hosts a weekly leadership podcast called “Thoughts That Rock,” which includes a rock star guest and presents two life-changing pieces of advice in 30 minutes. Jim and Brant also offer a leadership training program called Certified Rock Star, as an edu-taining experience for leaders looking to amp up their business in a variety of areas. Finally, Jim and Brant are the founders of bookstarPR, a digital book marketing company that helps authors extend their book’s reach.

A portion of Jim’s book sales, podcast revenue, speaking fees and training program 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 options for those told they have run out of options.