Biography

Scott McKain is an internationally known distinction expert, bestselling author, keynote speaker and virtual presenter.

Scott’s unique style has earned him induction into the Professional Speakers Hall of Fame — and his remarkable content earned him membership (along with Dale Carnegie, Zig Ziglar, and Og Mandino) as one of only 24 selected for inclusion in the Sales and Marketing Hall of Fame. He is currently “Corporate Educator in Residence” at High Point University, named by U.S. News & World Report as the nation’s “most innovative” university.

Scott has over three decades of research and experience and has spoken and consulted for the world’s most influential corporations, presenting his business strategies on platforms in all fifty states and twenty-two countries.

Scott McKain’s latest book, ICONIC, named as a Forbes “Top 10 Pick of the Year,” is the instruction guide for professionals and organizations to become so distinctive they not only stand out in their industry, but set the benchmark for innovation, customer experience and employee culture.

Reasons to book Scott at your next event:

  1. Scott has proven he can assist your organization to move up in your marketplace. His clients include Cisco, BMW, SAP, McAfee, John Deere, Bank of America, Prudential and many more. Scott researches and gets to know every client’s business to distinctively customize all presentations and corporate seminars. Attendees leave every event with a specific plan for applying their new ideas once they get back to work.
  2. Scott McKain has designed and delivered high impact keynotes for the world’s most dynamic brands. He has helped companies enhance profitability and loyalty by teaching how to sell uniquely and serve remarkably.
  3. You’re getting the primary expert in the hottest, most important topic in business today. If you can’t separate your organization from the competition…and you can’t attract and retain top customers and team members…how will your business grow? Scott McKain has been called by a Fortune 500 CEO the “world’s premiere expert on creating business distinction.”
  4. Scott has been cited as the “best speaker we’ve ever had” by companies in a myriad of industries and by audiences of all sizes. He’ll be the same for your event.
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CREATE DISTINCTION

What to Do When “Great” Isn’t Good Enough to Grow Your Business

KEY AUDIENCE TAKEAWAYS:

- The ability to avoid the mistakes of commoditization
- Improved results from learning the specific steps to create distinction
- Improved appreciation of the importance of personal responsibility in organizational growth
- Expanded skills and thinking on the important issue of innovation
- Enhanced clarity about goals and organizational direction
- Knowledge of communication approaches that transcend generational differences
- Discovery of the specific steps required to deliver superior experiences for customers

THE ULTIMATE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE

Delivering What Customers REALLY Want

KEY AUDIENCE TAKEAWAYS:

The five steps of an Ultimate Customer Experience®
Why the experience – and not service – generates loyalty; and what you need to do to create it
The information you need to personalize the experience, in order to intensify the customer’s commitment to your organization
The Six Disconnections Between Organizations and Customers — and how to bridge the gaps so you can engage distinctively

ICONIC

How Organizations and Leaders Attain, Sustain, and Regain the Ultimate Level of Distinction

KEY AUDIENCE TAKEAWAYS:

The Five Factors of Iconic Performance
The ONLY two factors upon which customers will judge you
Why much of what you’ve heard – like “under promise/over deliver,” “defense wins championships,” “sell harder” – does not work in today’s marketplace of multiple generations and cultures.
Improved results from learning the required steps for Iconic performance
Expanded appreciation of the importance of personal responsibility in team success
Advanced skills and thinking on the important issue of improving processes
Enhanced precision about goals and organizational direction

DEVELOPING A DISTINCTIVE CULTURE

Creating Ultimate Employee Experiences in a Multigenerational Workforce

KEY AUDIENCE TAKEAWAYS:

Why “different” from how we do it doesn’t mean “incorrect” in how it’s done
How generational differences can create distinction when we develop an open, accepting organizational culture
How to thrive in a workplace with multiple generations, and how to work with people who think differently than you
The role of mentors – including “reverse mentorship”…in other words, learning from those younger than you

THE ICONIC SALES PROFESSIONAL

How to Stand Out and Win in a Hyper-competitive Marketplace

KEY AUDIENCE TAKEAWAYS:

Sell the differences that make you a preferred choice
Four strategies to sell uniquely from your competition
How to transcend transaction and develop loyal relationships for more sales
The six key disconnections between sales professionals and their customers
Learn that we are chosen for our uniqueness – not our similarities

Testimonials

Oh my gosh! He was amazing! What an inspiring guy! Our attendees and our staff LOVED him. I can’t say enough good things! He was the best way to end our conference.
– Phonak
I’d just like to thank you again for delivering such an amazing presentation at CCC’s company event last week. Your message resonated with so many of our team members and your presentation style was so engaging. You helped make our event memorable for everyone who attended.
– Copyright Clearance Center
The only speaker in the history of our company to have received a perfect score from EVERY attendee at our most important global partners event. We’ve booked the leading speakers in the world. Scott McKain received the highest ratings of all.
– Cisco
Scott McKain was the most engaging speaker we have hired over the last several years. The ability he has to connect with the audience is outstanding and extremely personal. He applied real life, personal and business scenarios with his material which kept our audience wanting more. I would highly recommend Scott McKain for your next speaking event.
– UniPro Foodservice, Inc.
I have but a brief moment to say what profound effect your presentation has had in my business and personal life. Thank you, I will endeavor to make myself stand out.
– Sysco
Scott was fantastic. I have received nothing but positive feedback from attendees. Partway through the talk our CEO texted me “Homerun!”
– ottobock.

Booksby Scott McKain

Iconic

Create Distinction

7 Tenets of Taxi Terry

Digging Wells and Building Fences

All Business Is Still Show Business!

What Customers Really Want

Blog Posts

Unlocking a Magic Mindset and Your Audience’s Awe of Christophe Fox

Think magic is just smoke and mirrors? Think again. Christophe Fox transforms events into unforgettable experiences through magic and interactive engagement.

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Designing Events That Captivate and Convert Beyond Venue and Swag

Learn how intentional design—innovation, inclusion, and neuroscience—powers unforgettable event engagement and lasting impact.

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Crafting Personalized Health & Self‑Care Practices with Johnny Crowder

Everywhere you turn, someone is talking about health and self‑care rituals. Keynote speaker Johnny Crowder shares why true self‑care is not one‑size‑fits‑all.

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Elevate Your Event With These Skills: Insights from Gabriella Robuccio

Think event planning is all about checklists and timetables? Think again. Emmy‑winning strategist Gabriella Robuccio shares more on The Keynote Curators Podcast.

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Celebrating Juneteenth with These Transformative Keynotes

Learn how intentional Juneteenth programming paired with transformative keynote speakers can turn commemoration into sustained equity and inclusion.

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AI, GEO, & SEO Marketing for Speakers: The 2025 Authority-Building Playbook

How Professional Speakers and Speaker Bureaus Can Leverage AI to Build Unshakeable Authority and Increase Visibility in the New Search Landscape

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