Biography

There are many motivational speakers, and then there is the one, the only, the incomparable Dr. Willie Jolley. He has been described simultaneously as a world-class, award-winning speaker and singer, bestselling author and media personality.

Dr. Willie Jolley has achieved remarkable heights in the speaking industry, having come from humble beginnings as a fired singer, who was replaced by a karaoke machine! He has gone on to be named “One of the Outstanding Five Speakers in the World” by the 175,000 members of Toastmasters International, inducted into the Speaker Hall of Fame and achieved the distinction of Certified Speaker Professional by the National Speakers Association. He’s the recipient of the Ron Brown Distinguished Leadership Award, named “One of the Top 5 Leadership Speakers” by Speaking.com and Business Leader of The Year by The African American Chamber of Commerce.

Dr. Jolley uses his public platform to pursue his mission of empowering and encouraging people to rise above their circumstances and maximize their God-given potential! Many know him as the speaker Ford Motor Company called on when they were on the brink of bankruptcy. His work helped Ford reject a government bailout and go on to Billion Dollar profits!

Dr. Jolley has built a reputation of being captivating, compelling and life changing! No matter the venue, from his Dr. Willie Jolley’s Wealthy Ways podcast on iHeartRadio to his SiriusXM Radio show, to his audiences like Walmart, Comcast, Verizon, Marriott or The Million Dollar Round Table, Dr. Jolley keeps it moving with high energy, high content and great enthusiasm. He delivers memorable nuggets and usable strategies on how every person can live a better life, one day at a time!

Dr. Willie Jolley is the author of several international bestselling books including It Only Takes A Minute To Change Your Life, A Setback Is A Setup For A Comeback, Turn Setbacks Into Greenbacks and An Attitude of Excellence, which was endorsed by Dr. Stephen Covey and Alan Mulally (former CEO of Ford Motors). He is also featured on the front of the top-selling book, Chicken Soup For The Christian Soul II.

He has also written a popular new marriage book, co-authored with his wife of over 33 years, Dee Taylor-Jolley. The book is entitled, Make Love, Make Money, Make It Last!

Dr. Jolley holds a Doctor of Ministry degree in Faith-Driven Achievement from the California Graduate School of Theology, a master’s degree in Theology from Wesley Theological Seminary and a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from The American University.  Dr. Jolley resides with his family in Washington, DC.

Read More

Videos

Request Availability

Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

Achieve More with an Attitude of Excellence

Dr. Willie Jolley answers the age-old question: What are the secrets that sustain successful organizations through difficult times? His answers are born out of his work helping Ford Motor Company go from the brink of bankruptcy in 2006 to being positioned to reject the government bailout in 2009 – and on to billion-dollar profits every quarter since 2009. Success Magazine called him “Ford’s Secret Weapon!”

In this program Dr. Jolley shares strategies and ideas your attendees can employ to transform their businesses – as well as the five areas of development that can be used immediately to change their thinking and their business.

Upon completing this program, participants will:
• Pursue a workplace culture of excellence
• Seek leadership development – no matter their position in the organization
• Embrace change as a positive factor
• Build teams as the lifeblood of the organization
• Serve the internal and external “customers”

Change Is Good…When Your Attitude is GREAT!

In this program, the audience is sold on the positive perspective of change! Change is essential to any growth process. Everybody wants progress, but nobody wants to change!

Dr. Willie Jolley shares his patented “VDAD” (vision, decision, action, desire) Formula for successfully embracing change. You will leave this program viewing change as an ally - not an enemy. You will leave ready to implement the formula to drive change. You will leave believing that change “truly” is good when your attitude is great!

Participants will learn:
• The attitude necessary to positively adapt and embrace the inevitability of change
• The four-step process for “winning with change!”
• How a change in perspective can positively change results
• The success strategies that outstanding leaders have used to turn problems into possibilities, and setbacks into comebacks
• How to successfully navigate the winds of change by working as a team
• How to create an all-star team where everybody is an MVP!

How to Be Unstoppable: Leadership & Achievement

Dr. Willie Jolley believes leadership is an action not a position! He reminds us that great leaders always focus on the possibilities rather than the challenges! Great leaders are willing to do whatever is necessary rather than doing what is comfortable! And leaders look to develop more leaders rather than more followers!

Dr. Jolley takes you on a memorable roller coaster ride of why you must develop the leader within you and then gives you the steps for getting it done! It requires sweat equity, but so does anything that produces great achievement! Whether you are an association executive, sales professional, entrepreneur, business owner, or manager…you will experience growth and renewed enthusiasm for reaching and exceeding your goals!

*This program will develop more leaders and set them on a course for becoming unstoppable!

Participants will learn:
• The "Attitude of Excellence" mindset for creating unstoppable leaders
• How ordinary people can become “extraordinary” leaders
• The critical “Vision-Decision-Action-Desire (VDAD Formula)” for excellence in leadership
• Strategies for implementing the V-D-A-D formula
• The power of “Better” for creating leaders at every level of the organization!

Turn Your Setbacks into Comebacks!

Taken from his popular television special, Turning Setbacks into Comebacks, Dr. Willie Jolley explains how in these times of uncertainty, high anxiety and fear for financial security, we can survive, and dare we think, thrive!

Dr. Willie Jolley is right on time with this message of how to turn your setbacks into comebacks! He has interviewed people of all walks of life on how they came back from great adversity. He shares their techniques, ideas, principles and strategies that proved successful! And furthermore, he explains how to apply those principles to your life’s trials and tribulations to achieve success!
While others may speak of turning setbacks into comebacks, Dr. Jolley wrote the international best-selling book…A Setback Is A Setup For A Comeback!

Participants will learn how to:
• Develop the mindset that winners use to overcome tough times
• Implement step-by-step strategies to immediately use to turn setbacks into comebacks
• Prepare an action plan to bulletproof their future!

Motivate Your Youth: Dare 2 Dream Dare 2 Win

Many complain of the challenges with today's youth and the negative influences
(alcohol, glorification of violence, striving for low achievement), which often cut their lives short. Willie Jolley is doing something to change that statistic. He is doing something positive to reach the hearts and minds of students and help them have greater success in school, home and community! And most importantly, he gets RESULTS!

Dr. Willie Jolley helps students to:
• Make the decision to stay away from drugs and alcohol
• Make the decision to stay away from negative people
• Make the commitment to pursue academic excellence
• Make wise choices and accept the fact that if they believe, they can achieve

Parents and educators alike have called Dr. Willie Jolley "a life-changing force of
today's youth!"

Upon completing this program, participants will learn how to:
• Make a first good impression
• Stay away from negative people
• Stay away from drugs
• Focus on academics
• Build self-esteem!

Testimonials

Your message of the importance of taking a positive approach to a less than desirable situation was refreshing and inspirational, and exactly what the employees needed to hear.The professional style in which you delivered your message gave you instant credibility and allowed the audience to value the information that you were providing.
– Ford Motor Company
Willie Jolley captured what was on our minds as far as strengths in our company. He helped us realize that there’s greatness inside of all of us.
– Cox Media Group
This conference was the highest rated conference to date and that is over 6 years. You hit the ball out of the park!

– Norton Healthcare
We are truly amazed each year at the amount of work and effort it takes to plan and execute the Sagicor Motivational Seminar. My eyes have only now been opened to the fact that we truly are on a NEW MISSION each time we set out to raise the bar year after year with our seminar. A significant part of the mission is to find world class speakers who will inspire, uplift and resonate. We accomplished our mission when we found you!
– Sagicor Life Jamaica Ltd.
Thank you for the work with the Planning team to make this event a success. Also, the two books we provided from your authored library, was well received by the audience as I have heard from many of the group. Several participants said you made them cry or tears in their eyes as they reflected on their lives and what they want to do with their lives in a positive way going forward. One person sent me an email saying the 3-day event was like the best cake she ever had and that hearing from Dr. Willie Jolley was like the “icing on the cake. I knew what the souls of the Verizon team needed at this time and as I orchestrated the 3-day event, I knew what I wanted and needed for the closing and you delivered in a strong way in creating a memorable moment for the organization and from that they will challenge themselves to “SOAR” and believe they can fly against any setbacks, as we showed them the things we put in place to set them back up for another comeback year by leveraging ‘an attitude of excellence.
– Verizon Partner Solutions

Booksby Willie Jolley

An Attitude Of Excellence

Make Love, Make Money, Make It Last!

Turn Setbacks Into Greenbacks

A Setback Is A Setup For A Comeback

It Only Takes a Minute to Change Your Life

Blog Posts

Secure Your Financial Future With Expert Insights for 2025

Control of your financial future with these keynote speaker insights, practical tips, and inspiring strategies for personal and professional success in 2025.

Read More

Gain More Confidence and Creativity with Improv Exercises

Struggling with spontaneity? Learn how improv exercises can boost confidence, creativity, and mindfulness with insights from Tony Award-winning group Freestyle+

Read More

Boost Your Confidence and Transform Your Life with Simple Daily Practices

Learn small daily habits to boost your confidence, overcome doubt, and transform your life with insights from keynote speaker Michelle Anne Johnson.

Read More

Become a Transformational Leader (It’s Easier than You Think!) with Amy Eliza Wong

Discover how to become a transformational leader with keynote speaker Amy Eliza Wong’s insights on communication, trust-building, and authentic leadership.

Read More

Women Keynote Speakers to Inspire Your Events in 2025

March is Women’s Month—a powerful celebration of the achievements, resilience, and innovation of women shaping the world today. For event planners, this month offers a unique opportunity to craft memorable events that honor the power...

Read More

Stop Feeling Overwhelmed: How To Finally Balance Work & Life

Learn how to balance work and life with practical tips on self-care, leadership, parenting, and personal growth from motivational keynote speaker Rashmi Airan.

Read More

Related Speakers

Reviews & Ratings

Here's how toHit the mark with the perfect speaker!

1. Schedule a call

We’ll connect so we understand your needs to curate a selection of great speakers.

2. Book your speaker

We’ll manage all the details so you will be confident with your choice.

3. Wow your audience

Inform & educate your participants to ideas that transform their work & personal life.

Schedule a Call

Blog Posts

 

Secure Your Financial Future With Expert Insights for 2025

Let’s face it: financial security is more than just numbers on a spreadsheet. It’s about...

Read More

Gain More Confidence and Creativity with Improv Exercises

Do you struggle with overthinking or find yourself getting stuck in rigid thought patterns? You’re...

Read More

Boost Your Confidence and Transform Your Life with Simple Daily Practices

Does it ever feel like no matter how much you accomplish, it’s never enough to...

Read More

Become a Transformational Leader (It’s Easier than You Think!) with Amy Eliza Wong

What makes a leader truly transformational? In today’s fast-paced business environment, the demands on leaders...

Read More

Women Keynote Speakers to Inspire Your Events in 2025

March is Women’s Month—a powerful celebration of the achievements, resilience, and innovation of women shaping...

Read More

Stop Feeling Overwhelmed: How To Finally Balance Work & Life

Balancing work and life often feels like an impossible juggling act, doesn’t it? With endless...

Read More