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Bobby Umar

Leadership & Personal Branding Coach

Authentic, funny and dynamic, Bobby Umar will move you to action and inspire you to strive for greatness. He brings contagious exuberance and keen insight to your event to make it successful and memorable. Bobby reveals innovative strategies to nurture a positive company culture or brand through personal connection, and to create true impact in the digital age. A passionate advocate for values-based leadership, Bobby is one of Inc. Magazine‘s Top 100 leadership speakers, a five-time TEDx speaker and a social media influencer with over 500,000 followers.

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Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Presentations

Creating Influence in the Digital Landscape
Promote your brand online in a way that is unique and authentic, using storytelling, community building, video and more. Learn useful tips on how to cut through the clutter, share your voice and make meaningful connections, including tactical advice on social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Thought Leadership
Do you know what it takes to be a thought leader? Amplify your voice to create lasting impact by becoming a thought leader—a person of influence in your field or area of interest. Thought leadership is a key differentiator between those brands who are driving the conversation forward versus simply engaging in it. Learn top-tier networking and relationship building techniques, content creation strategies, and speaking skills that will make you extraordinary.

Personal Branding – Discover Your Value, Story, Legacy
Personal branding has never been more important to differentiate yourself in a world competing for attention. When companies support the self-discovery process of their employees, they are investing in productivity, retention and leadership development. A personal brand is your promise to deliver to every person you encounter. It is your reputation, your integrity and what your audience expects of you, whether they are your team, your network or your customers. By exploring your values alignment, refining your areas of focus and identifying how you wish to create impact, you will discover your own unique traits that will contribute to your team, organization and world.

View more of Bobby’s presentations here.

Platform Plus

Host/MC

Bobby brings an engaging presence and endless exuberance to his role as host/MC. A top five leadership influencer on social media via Kred, with over 500,000 followers, Bobby’s social media influence can help your event gain traction both online and in person. At your event, he will quickly encapsulate concise takeaways and learnings for the audience to remember. As a Second City trained improvisor, his quick wit and adaptability will ensure your event is entertaining and smooth. Bobby has over 25 years experience emceeing and hosting leveraging his charm, humour and dynamic energy to enhance every event that he hosts.

Social Influencer | Twitter

With over 500,000 followers, Bobby is a social media influencer on thought leadership, personal branding and networking. Bobby has also been named one of the top five business coaches to follow on Twitter and a top 75 LinkedIn influencer in the world.

Awards

2018
Inc. Magazine | Top 100 Leadership Speaker
2017
CEO Monthly | Training Services Business Leader of the Year – North America
2016
CV Magazine | Best Business Development Coach - East Canada
CV Magazine | Award for Excellence Leadership Speaking - Canada

2009-10
Worldwide Instructor of the Year, Veritas Prep

Performance & Productivity
Business & Workplace
Media & Entertainment
Innovation & Change Management
Technology & Trends
  • Bobby did a phenomenal job as keynote speaker. He was really engaging and the topic completely resonated with the conference delegates. The interactive exercises were very useful and a great way to get the room to connect with one another. He was a wonderful start to the whole conference day. Bobby has amazing energy and really connected with the audience which can be really challenging but he did it so effortlessly.

    - Ontario Home Economics Association
  • I was incredibly impressed with his ability to capture the fresh audience and connect with them immediately. Having known Bobby for a few years now, one of his outstanding Leadership qualities is his ability to connect with others. He is authentic and genuine in developing both meaningful relationships and leadership in everyone.

    - Founder, GameOn Leadership
  • Bobby’s insights into our business and the way we operate were bang on. Can't wait to have him back!

    - Marketing Director, PepsiCo
  • Bobby's energy and encouragement are a catalyst for student action.

    - Shad McMaster participant
  • A fantastic speaker, Bobby is very effective in his communication style, respectful, enthusiastic and a great listener.

    - Category Manager, Starbucks

Summary Profile

Bobby is a prominent leadership expert and dynamic speaker on personal branding, networking and social media. A recognized developer and teacher of programs, he motivates senior executives, business professionals and students alike with his endless exuberance and keen insight. He is dedicated to causes supporting youth, entrepreneurship and diversity.

For over 25 years, Bobby has presented keynotes, run teambuilding activities and coached thousands of people across Canada and around the world. He has spoken in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Major Canadian clients include numerous universities, Novartis, TD Canada Trust, Telus, Canadian Tire and Kraft. He has spoken at TEDx five times, including talks on “The 5 Cs of Connection”, “Learning to Fly as a Leader” and “Could You Change a Person’s Life in 20 Seconds?”. He has been named in the top 75 of LinkedIn influencers globally, the top 15 tweeters in Toronto and fourth highest social media influencer on leadership overall (via Kred).

Bobby’s varied career has included working in brand management for Tier-1 companies such as Kraft in Cheese Marketing and Unilever Dove Campaign for Real Beauty. He has taught prep courses for the GMAT, the test required for entry into graduate-level business schools, for over 20 years. In 2009, he was awarded the “Worldwide Instructor of the Year” for Veritas, out of 500+ instructors across 130 countries. He was program manager and faculty for many years at McMaster University’s Shad Valley summer program for gifted high school youth. He is also a P.Eng. who was an aerospace design engineer for Bombardier.

Bobby is currently a lecturer at York University for Strategic Management and was previously an instructor for DeGroote School of Business’ Executive Education program, teaching ‘Powerful Presentations’ and ‘Social Media Bootcamp’. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Bad Dog Theatre.

Bobby is also a professional actor and singer. He graduated from Second City’s Advanced Conservatory Program, where he honed his improvisation, creative sketch writing and performance ability. Afterwards, he joined a sketch comedy troupe called Fade to Brown, which developed a TV pilot for OMNI.

Bobby is a fiercely proud father. He loves to play ultimate frisbee, chess and strategy board games, predict the Oscars, and remember the lyrics to every 80’s TV show theme song. He has a passion for music, singing, and musical theatre. Bobby has never lost a thumb war, ever. Bobby brings an engaging presence, endless exuberance and dynamic people skills to every presentation, workshop or coaching session.

Links

Blog | 2016 NSBest Speaker Profile: Bobby Umar Ten Thousand Coffees | 10KC Leader of the Week: Bobby Umar Art of Charm | Bobby Umar: Network Anytime (Episode 464) Inc. Magazine | 100 Great Leadership Speakers for Your Next Conference

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