• The Keynote Curators - Top Speaker Agency in North America
The Keynote Curators

More results...

  Mobile Navigation

Book Kostya Kimlat through The Keynote Curators

Biography

Kostya Kimlat, The Business Magician, is a sleight-of-hand magician and keynote speaker. His keynotes, including Think Like A Magician™ and Personality Magic™, teach sales, service and leadership teams to read people and to shape how customers and colleagues see their work, using live magic to demonstrate his ideas.

Kostya was born in Kyiv and was 9 when his family arrived in Orlando as Soviet refugees. His father spent $160, a real sum for new Americans, on an eight-volume set of magic books, and by 15 Kostya was performing at tables in Orlando restaurants. Years of performing for strangers made him an expert in what magic depends on: how people read a situation, what they pay attention to, and how they form an impression of the person in front of them.

In 2015 he fooled Penn & Teller on Fool Us with a card trick he invented, which earned him the closing spot in their Las Vegas show at the Rio, and the TV series later invited him back. Penn Jillette has called him “one of the best magicians we have in the world today.” In 2006 he became the youngest magician to be the cover story of MAGIC, the trade magazine for professional magicians. His TEDx talk, How To Read Anyone In 6 Seconds, is the short version of how he reads people.

He also founded See Magic Live, which books magicians and mentalists for corporate and private events across the United States. Since 2010 he has led the team of magicians who work with the NBA’s Orlando Magic.

Contact us for Kostya Kimlat fees and availability

Read More

Videos

Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

Think Like A Magician

Every role has methods, results and effects. Most professionals lead with methods and results. Magicians hide the method and lead with the effect. Kostya teaches your team to do the same, and proves it live with magic they can’t explain.

Takeaways:

• Explain your value without explaining your process
• Win deals against competitors with better spec sheets
• Give your team language for why their work matters

Best for: sales kickoffs, leadership meetings and annual conferences.

Personality Magic

Kostya teaches your team to read the person in front of them by watching two things, speed and temperature, and then to adjust how they talk to that person. The four styles are named for the four card suits: Diamonds, Clubs, Hearts and Spades. He built the system from years of performing for strangers, and he proves it live with magic.

Takeaways:

• Strengthen workplace relationships
• Read a customer before they finish their first sentence
• Build buy-in with people who think nothing like you do


Best for: sales teams, managers and cross-functional groups. It can also run as a longer workshop, with time for your team to practice.

Astonish Them

Satisfied customers rarely tell anyone about you. Kostya teaches your team how magicians set, meet and exceed expectations, so customers leave with a story they want to tell. He demonstrates each step live, with magic built around your business.

Takeaways:

• Build moments customers describe to other people
• Turn good service into referrals
• Give frontline teams specific things to do differently

Best for: customer experience teams, service culture initiatives and retention programs.

Testimonials

In the past ten years in Higher Education I have seen my share of speakers. I have never seen an audience react as positively to a keynote speaker.
– Deanne A., Director, Employee Development
Capturing attention through magic allowed his leadership principles to find their way into people’s minds and actions.
– Andy S., Leadership Event Organizer
One of the best keynote presentations I’ve experienced. Really enjoyed the content and have so many takeaways.
– Nick V., Sales Director
Kostya is the real deal when it comes to magic and capturing an audience! I've had the pleasure of seeing Kostya two times and every time he blows me away and hoping for a next time. His magic is flawless but his keynote presentation is as good (if not better) than his magic. He always knows who his audience is and speaks to them about relevant information to their industry. After having the pleasure of hearing his presentation last week, I am still using what he taught daily in my work and personal life. I highly recommend him to speak to any organization as they will be engaged and well as entertained. The best in the business!"
– Katherine F., Regional Sales Director
"I engaged Kostya to do a keynote for our conference which had over 200 attendees. His presentation was so engaging and inspiring that I engaged a corporate sponsor to have him speak as a keynote at our state technology conference. Years later, people still remember his presentation. Kostya does not disappoint. He is a consummate professional, and works diligently to tailor his presentations to connect with the audience. Whether the goal is inspire, message, entertain, or market, he gets the job done."
– George P., Chief Academic Officer
Kostya will have you entertained from the moment he begins! His ability to engage the audience and relate his information to your form of industry is refreshing and so exciting to see. HIGHLY recommend Kostya! He will instantly become one of your favorite keynote speakers!"
– Stefanie S., National Sales Manager
As a conference planner, the most important thing to me is to find someone that understands the audience and can also deliver a message that is replicable and can be taken back to their work. Kostya was the perfect match for that. He has the experience to understand the work that we do, as well as to really read the audience and understand how they need to get that information. I think everybody absolutely loved his message. He’s high energy. He really played well with the different people in the audience. He knew the industry—and they really, really enjoyed it. If you’re thinking about hiring Kostya for your event, I would absolutely recommend him. He was very easy to work with, his team was very professional, and he provided such a wonderful experience for our audience."
– Joy B., Vice President of Professional Development
Request Availability

For Meeting Planners

Get in TouchContact US

Fill out the form so we can best understand your needs.

A representative from The Keynote Curators will reach out to you.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

  • Fill out the form so we can best understand your needs.
    A representative from The Keynote Curators will reach out to you.

Blog Posts

AI Needs a Performance Review Before You Let It Do More in 2027

AI Needs a Performance Review Before You Let It Do More in 2027

Your AI needs a performance review. Here is how to set guardrails, protect your judgment, and decide what to do with the time AI gives back.

Read More
Gratitude Is the Leadership Skill That Drives Results with Chester Elton

Gratitude Is the Leadership Skill That Drives Results with Chester Elton

Gratitude at work is more than saying great job. In our 200th podcast episode, Chester Elton shares how recognition builds trust, culture, and real results.

Read More
Gratitude Works Best When You Say It While Life Still Feels Ordinary

Gratitude Works Best When You Say It While Life Still Feels Ordinary

Gratitude is easy to save for milestones. Here is why saying it while life still feels ordinary matters more, and how to make it specific.

Read More
Becoming the Type of Leader People Want to Follow with Simon T. Bailey

Becoming the Type of Leader People Want to Follow with Simon T. Bailey

Learn how to become a leader people want to follow. Simon T. Bailey shares practical ideas on hope, recognition, and empowerment.

Read More
Change & Future of Work Lessons From Cheryl Cran on Leading People First

Change & Future of Work Lessons From Cheryl Cran on Leading People First

Future of work keynote speaker Cheryl Cran shares why people-first leadership matters most when technology changes how we work.

Read More
Health Habits That Actually Work for Event Pros

Health Habits That Actually Work for Event Pros

Protect your health during event season with simple habits for sleep, stress, and decisions, drawn from conversations with top speakers.

Read More
What Your Audience Really Want From Your Events

What Your Audience Really Want From Your Events

Jason Feifer explains how to best spot what your audience really wants, and how to design events, media, and talks around they need.

Read More
Self-Talk Only Works Under Pressure If It’s Rooted in Reality

Self-Talk Only Works Under Pressure If It’s Rooted in Reality

Self-talk only works if you have lived it. Dr. Jannell MacAulay explains why credible self-talk beats generic positivity under pressure.

Read More