Meridith Elliott Powell, CPAE, CSP, CVP

Global Award Winning Business Expert • Hall of Fame Keynote Speaker • Executive Coach • Podcast Host • Bestselling Author • Blogger
Fee Range:
$18,000 - $25,000
Travels From Asheville, North Carolina
Meridith Elliott Powell featured image

Top Keynote Speaker Who Delivers It All!
Motivation • Entertainment • Powerful Content

Voted one of the Top 15 Business Growth Experts, Top 100 Sales Influencers by LinkedIn, and Top 41 Motivational Speakers, Meridith Elliott Powell is an award-winning author, keynote speaker, and business strategist who transforms uncertainty into competitive advantage. With extensive corporate leadership experience spanning banking, healthcare, and finance, she brings real-world expertise and cutting-edge strategies to every engagement.

In an era where speed, adaptability, and innovation determine success, Meridith offers a smarter, more sustainable path forward—rooted in shared ownership, entrepreneurial thinking, and everyday action. Her passion centers on helping clients master the art of turning uncertainty into opportunity. Meridith shares: “I thrive in times of disruption. And you can too!”

Her highly engaging keynote presentations reveal how leaders can think, feel, and—most importantly—react to uncertainty, showing audiences how to control change rather than letting change control them. She empowers organizations to attract more business, retain top talent, and position themselves to win in today’s ever-evolving marketplace.

As a nine-time published author, Meridith’s expertise is both deep and proven. Her acclaimed books include THRIVE: Turning Uncertainty to Competitive Advantage, named a Top Sales Book, which provides the essential roadmap for growing business and driving sales during economic shifts. Her collaboration with Dr. Mary Kelly, Who Comes Next? Leadership Succession Planning Made Easy, tackles one of business’s most critical challenges—building strong leadership pipelines. Both titles have earned the prestigious Benjamin Franklin Independent Book Sellers Award, one of the highest honors in business publishing.

Meridith’s insights are regularly featured in leading publications including Forbes, Fast Company, Inc., Investment News, and American Banker. Her dynamic, interactive approach helps leaders master the new rules of success and develop strategies to thrive amid uncertainty.

Her inspiring message extends through two popular podcasts: Sales Logic, which delivers the “logical” approach to selling successfully in challenging times, and THRIVE, where she interviews leaders, sales professionals, and business owners who have successfully transformed their organizations to turn uncertainty into opportunity.

When not on stage or working with clients, Meridith can be found at her home in Asheville, North Carolina, where she actively supports Hurricane Helene relief efforts for her community. Her genuine curiosity about people and markets, combined with her infectious enthusiasm for helping others succeed, makes every interaction both meaningful and memorable.

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Meridith Elliott Powell blue outfit
Meridith Elliott Powell NSA hall of fame award
Meridith Elliott Powell onstage
Meridith Elliott Powell green outfit

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Achievements and Accomplishments of Meridith Elliott Powell Include:

  • Top 100 Sales Influencers by LinkedIn
  • Top 41 Motivational Speakers by Resourceful Sales
  • Top 50 Keynote Speakers by Top Sales World
  • Inducted into the National Speaker Hall of Fame (Council of Peers Award for Excellence) - CPAE® This is a lifetime award for speaking excellence and professionalism of which there are only 189 recipients!
  • Holds the designation of: CSP-Certified Speaker Professional, which is the speaking profession's international measure of professional platform skill. Established by the U.S.-based National Speakers Association, this designation is only bestowed upon speakers who have earned it by meeting strict criteria.
  • Certified by eSpeakers Inc. as a CVP-Certified Virtual Presenter, which shows a speaker's proficiency in Virtual presentations.
  • Current President of the National Speakers Association (NSA)
  • Benjamin Franklin Independent Sellers Platinum Award for Best-seller- Who Comes Next? Leadership Succession Planning Made Easy written with Mary Kelly
  • Gold Award from Nonfiction Authors Association for her Best-seller- Thrive: Strategies To Turn Uncertainty To Competitive Advantage
  • Serves as High Point University’s Business Growth and Leadership Expert in Residence and shares her decades of experience in business leadership with students.
  • CEO of MotionFirst, an innovative company designed to help organizations, professionals, and entrepreneurs turn uncertainty to competitive advantage.
  • B.A. Science, Business, Marketing, Economics - University of South Carolina
  • Top 15 Business Growth Experts by Currency Fair
  • Top 100 Sales Influencers by LinkedIn
  • Top 41 Motivational Speakers by Resourceful Sales
  • Top 50 Keynote Speakers by Top Sales World
  • Inducted into the National Speaker Hall of Fame (Council of Peers Award for Excellence) - CPAE® This is a lifetime award for speaking excellence and professionalism of which there are only 189 recipients!
  • Holds the designation of: CSP-Certified Speaker Professional, which is the speaking profession's international measure of professional platform skill. Established by the U.S.-based National Speakers Association, this designation is only bestowed upon speakers who have earned it by meeting strict criteria.
  • Certified by eSpeakers Inc. as a CVP-Certified Virtual Presenter, which shows a speaker's proficiency in Virtual presentations.
  • Current President of the National Speakers Association (NSA)
  • Benjamin Franklin Independent Sellers Platinum Award for Best-seller- Who Comes Next? Leadership Succession Planning Made Easy written with Mary Kelly
  • Gold Award from Nonfiction Authors Association for her Best-seller- Thrive: Strategies To Turn Uncertainty To Competitive Advantage
  • Serves as High Point University’s Business Growth and Leadership Expert in Residence and shares her decades of experience in business leadership with students.
  • CEO of MotionFirst, an innovative company designed to help organizations, professionals, and entrepreneurs turn uncertainty to competitive advantage.
  • B.A. Science, Business, Marketing, Economics - University of South Carolina

Meridith brought so much energy as the final keynote speaker for our annual Council of Manufacturing Associations Winter Leadership Conference. Her stage presence and knowledge made her immediately appealing to our audience. Our manufacturing association members loved THRIVE and how relevant it was to the uncertain economic and political times happening now.

~ Mallie Reynolds, Association Partnership at the National Association of Manufacturers

Most Requested Keynote Experiences From Meridith Elliott Powell Include:

Business Growth Redefined! THRIVE – Turn Uncertainty To Competitive Advantage:

These are unprecedented times! A marketplace where disruption is happening on steroids. One where there is more change building outside of your organization then in it. And a relentless pace of uncertainty that can radically impact your ability to grow your organization and keep your team motivated.

The only guarantee you have – is that more change is coming. And if you’re not prepared – if you don’t have a plan – then research proves this level of uncertainty will negatively impact your ability to drive innovation, attract top talent, and achieve bottom-line results.

While uncertainty can seem daunting, the truth is uncertainty has an upside – it always has an upside. In fact, it can be your greatest asset to thrive, grow, and turn disruption into opportunity. But you need a plan, you need a strategy, and you need the research that shows the path you exactly how to turn disruption into opportunity.

This keynote has it all – energy, engagement, and a personal plan of action for every attendee.

Key Takeaways:

  • Quantitative Research – Learn what more than 800 of your fellow CEOS think, feel, and are confidently doing in the face of uncertainty. This keynote starts with the powerful benchmark study that gives you insights into how today’s leaders are dealing with and solving today’s toughest challenges.
  • Qualitative Research – We follow-up with the commanding stories of 9 companies that have stood the test of time by thriving in business for more than 250 years. You’ll hear their overwhelming obstacles, their ingenious strategies for success, and the proven methodology they used to thrive through every crisis.
  • The PROVEN Methodology – Then we share the code, secret, plan, so that you know the exact path you need to follow to put you in the driver’s seat — and in control in the face of uncertainty (so you can THRIVE!).
  • You’ll Gain The Secrets to staying highly flexible and focused to strike the delicate balance of maintaining progress and seizing opportunity.
  • Your Personal Plan of action for thriving in uncertainty.

EVERY attendee receives a FREE copy of Meridith’s groundbreaking research study revealing the concerns, ideas, and innovative solutions of more than 800 CEOs.

BUILT TO WIN: Mentally Fit, Powerfully Resilient, Competitively Strong

Let’s face it—burnout is the new pandemic.

One in four employees is struggling with mental strength. The pace of change is relentless. Disruption is the norm. And all these challenges are squeezing your margins and driving down results.

Resilience is no longer a nice-to-have—it’s your competitive advantage.

This high-energy, research-backed keynote delivers real-world strategies to build mental fitness, boost resilience, and fuel performance. It’s designed for leaders who want to do more than just cope—they want to win.

In this powerhouse experience, you will learn exactly how to become the kind of leader and team that rises in chaos, adapts under pressure, and turns stress into strength.

This isn’t just inspiration. It’s transformation—with ROI.

Whether you’re leading a team, driving sales, or managing frontline operations, this keynote will give you the tools to shift mindsets, energize performance, and future-proof your organization.

Key Takeaways:

  • Uncover the Real Cost of Mental Weakness: Learn what’s really draining productivity—and how to turn it around fast.
  • Lead with Strength, Empathy, and ROI: Discover the leadership traits that drive resilience, retention, and results.
  • Train for Mental Toughness: Walk away with a framework to build mental fitness into your team’s DNA.
  • Boost Performance Through Connection: Create a culture where people feel seen, supported, and motivated to deliver.
  • Outperform in Uncertainty: Build teams that thrive in volatility—and keep your organization moving forward.

Dominate, Differentiate, Deliver

Uncertainty changes everything — customers, competition, and decision-makers. It’s time to update your approach to sales — from how you get through the door — to how you get the deal to close.

It’s challenging out there: A challenge to get above the white noise. A challenge to get to the decision-makers. A challenge to stand out from the competition. And a challenge to stay motivated.

Why?

Because sales have gone through a major disruption. If you’re still using traditional techniques, then you’re making sales so much harder than it has to be. To succeed, you need to evolve.

You need to transform how you attract clients – build your reputation – engage with the marketplace – and get results. Join us for this high-energy, highly interactive, and high-powered keynote where business growth strategist and keynote speaker Meridith Elliott Powell shares the innovative techniques you need to dominate, differentiate, and deliver!

Key Takeaways:

  • Deep understanding of how your marketplace has changed — and how those shifts are impacting decision making, pricing and sales strategy.
  • Innovative techniques that get the doors to open and put you in front of the right decision-makers.
  • Powerful ideas you need to master so you know how to ask the right questions that will shorten the sales cycle and increase your close ratio.
  • Cutting-edge strategies that help you quickly build credibility and trust — and help you maximize client-facing time.
  • Proven strategies to prominently position you in the marketplace, making it easier for clients to choose you over the competition.
  • Your personal strategy to Dominate, Differentiate, and Deliver.

Clients Include:

  • National Association of Manufacturers
  • Outward Bound Sales Conference
  • Doosan Bobcat
  • Maine Credit Union League
  • True Value
  • State Farm
  • Phoenix Tower International
  • OneAmerica
  • Associated General Contractors of America
  • LinkedIn
  • IBM
  • CITRIX
  • Microsoft
  • Coldwell Banker
  • Tennesse Credit Union
  • BAE
  • University of South Florida
  • Million Dollar Roundtable
  • Western Carolina University
  • Edward Jones
  • City of High Point, NC
  • Nationwide
  • Asia HR Summit
  • Bangkok Business Leaders
  • IMEX America Trade Show
  • Centura Credit Union
  • Integrative
  • Spectrum
  • 3M
  • Credit Union Executives
  • City of Greensboro, NC
  • Four Seasons
  • Grand Hyatt Singapore
  • La Quinta Hotels
  • CVS Health
  • And many more!

A more detailed list by industry: Meridith Elliott Powell’s Clients by Industry

Why Hire Meridith Elliott Powell?

“I thrive in times of disruption. And you can too!” This is why Meridith Elliott Powell is the world’s most sought-after business strategist. Experience the proven frameworks that turn market uncertainty into your competitive advantage.

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