Terry Szuplat Profile Picture

Keynote SpeakerTerry Szuplat

Obama White House speechwriter, Speaker & Trainer, Bestselling author of SAY IT WELL, Adjunct Professor at American University

Terry Szuplat is a sought-after speaker and trainer and the author of the national bestseller Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience in which he shares the public speaking lessons he learned as one of President Barack Obama’s longest-serving White House speechwriters. From 2009 to... Read more

Biography

Terry Szuplat is a sought-after speaker and trainer and the author of the national bestseller Say It Well: Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind, Inspire Any Audience in which he shares the public speaking lessons he learned as one of President Barack Obama’s longest-serving White House speechwriters. From 2009 to 2017, Terry served as a special assistant to the president and as a member of the National Security Council staff, and from 2013 to 2017 he was the deputy director of the White House Speechwriting Office.

Today, Terry helps leaders in business, advocacy, philanthropy, and politics inspire audiences around the world, and he teaches speechwriting at his alma mater, American University’s School of Public Affairs. He lives outside Washington, D.C. with his wife and two children.

”For eight years, Terry Szuplat collaborated with President Barack Obama on some of the most impactful speeches of our time... this gifted speechwriter shows you how your words can change your community, your nation, even the world.” David Axelrod, Former senior strategist for President Obama
“If you’re called upon to give a speech, it’s helpful to have a master teacher. Terry Szuplat is one of those masters, and at the Pentagon he helped me make every word count." William S. Cohen, Former Republican U.S. Senator from Maine Former U.S. Secretary of Defense
"I’ve learned more about speechwriting from Terry Szuplat than from almost anyone." Sarada Peri, Senior presidential speechwriter for Barack Obama

Popular Talks by Terry Szuplat

  • How to Break Through in a World of Noise

    The attention spans of our audiences are dwindling. We’re all buried in a blizzard of emails and texts. Most people delete marketing emails in just seconds without reading them. In a world of noise, how do we break through with messages that are compelling and memorable? In this session, Terry...

  • How to be a Better Speaker: Lessons from an Obama Speechwriter

    Terry Szuplat shares the secrets of great speeches that we should all seek to replicate as well as common mistakes that we should seek to avoid. In this special keynote tailored to business audiences, Terry discusses how executives and employees can improve their external and internal communications, enhance their company’s...

  • Communicating in a Crisis

    At one time or another, every company and organization will face a crisis. In high-stakes moments when every word counts, what should a leader say? What shouldn’t they say? How leaders and organizations react in times of crisis can shape a person’s or institution’s reputation for years to come. Terry...

  • Find Your Voice, Change the World

    Public speaking is one of the most common phobias in the world. Many of us have something we want to say–in our families, communities, companies, and countries–but we don’t have the confidence or skills to say it. Terry Szuplat helps you find and unleash your own unique voice by sharing...

  • The Art & Science of Public Speaking

    Is public speaking an art? Or a science? Or both? And if both, how—as speakers—do we harness both our creative muse and evidence-based approaches to craft memorable presentations that elevate our message and inspire audiences? In this workshop, Terry Szuplat shares his proven strategies for mastering both the art and...

  • From the Page to the Podium

    In these full-day and half-day workshops, Terry Szuplat guides participants through every step of crafting an inspiring presentation—from the page to the podium—from appreciating the “Barriers to Persuasion” to understanding what we need to “Know Before We Write.” Participants apply the lessons they’ve learned by drafting and editing an actual...