“Over twenty five years I built and led an organization. I learned the value of story telling in building leaders, teams and organizations. You too can do it, if you just pay attention to a few simple rules.”
“It’s far more important to move people than to impress them with facts.”
“Become the you that you can’t yet imagine.”
“Don’t try and impress people with your achievements. Show them that you care.”
30 Years of Experience
Norm has been delivering keynote speeches to a variety of audiences, including professional service firm retreats, university professional schools, the Canadian Bar Association and provincial law societies. Norm was also a lecturer at his alma mater, McGill University.
MOTIVATIONAL SPEECHES
This speech was given as a keynote at Ryerson University’s 2022 conference. The audience was virtual. Feel free to laugh at the jokes.
TEDx TESTIMONIALS
Nic Berry
“One of the most incredible moments of storytelling I’ve ever listened to.”
Doug and Candace Bishop
“One of the best TED talks I’ve ever heard! Thank you (and Uncle Harry) for sharing your life story and being such an inspiration.”
John Coley
“This is so inspiring”
Ravana Shikhali
“Thanks profusely for sharing great ideas with the people of the world!”
Niomi White
…tears are coming down my eyes..an awe-inspiring speech.
Paul Alter
“If Rabbis could deliver sermons as elegantly and as inspiring as your TED talk, it would be standing room only in the main sanctuary.”
KEYNOTE TESTIMONIALS
Kati Varga | Marketing Manager
Grant Thornton LLP
“Our audience was engaged throughout Norm’s presentation, and all appreciated his sense of humour, candor, and pragmatism. Feedback from the session was overwhelmingly positive with many guests remarking that the content was thought provoking and entertaining.”
Ian Brenner, CPA, CA | Partner
Interim Management & Executive Search, FARBER
“Norm’s engaging, passionate and insightful presentation to our partner group provided rich reference material for our strategic retreat. With Norm’s ability to tell a story, delivered with humour and at times a raw openness, we were able to take the learnings on the growth and decline of an iconic professional services firm and challenge ourselves to find the right path through the typical challenges of building a successful business.”
Christian Sarailis | Host
Avrio Retreat September 2019, Quebec City
“Inspiring presentation.” Norm’s generosity and availability allowed the participants… to ask their questions, interact with Norm and …improve their leadership and management approach in their own firms.”
Sean Bernstein
Minute Box
“Norm joined us a keynote speaker at the Legal Innovation Summit at Fireside. From his years of experience leading a national law firm, he has a deep understanding of how lawyers’ minds operate and what it takes to build a law firm in the 21st century.”
David Christian | Partner
Thorsteinssons LLP
“Your talk was well-received and provoked a discussion (even among the sceptics) that will continue among us for some time.”
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS -SAMPLE
Stratford Festival Lobbytalk
TEDx address at Ryerson University: Becoming the Person You Can’t Imagine
Keynote address at private law firm retreat, San Francisco
Taking the Steps to Become Great
Can-Tech Law Roundtable, keynote
Keynote lecture at U of T Law school on building your career from the ground up
Private book club event: Ophelia
Speaker, 3rd annual Marvin Caplan Book Festival, Hamilton, On
Thompson River University Lecture
Professional development – law firm- How to lead
Professional development- law firm- improving communication skills as a professional; how to get and keep clients
Managing Partner Keynote- Vancouver, B.C.
Private law firm event- “The Importance of Culture and Values in Organizations”
Cavanagh LLP Professionalism Series University of Ottawa- Keynote
Osgoode Law School “Career Development”
University of Ottawa “Career Development- Issues for Students to Consider”
Ontario Bar Association- Managing Partner Round Table, Apr 19, 2018
Burnie Consulting Round Table- Keynote
Legal Innovation Summit, Walden Ontario
Avrio Adocati,Keynote Address, Quebec City
Private law firm retreat – keynote
Grant Thornton, Vancouver, Client Event
Farber corporate retreat, Keynote
Speaking Topics
LEADERSHIP
How to build a professional service organization from the ground up
The three tricks to a solid foundation
The Three Cs at the core of building
The Rule of Thirds
Charting towards the Horizon
Why everyone in the organization needs to see themselves as a leader
SKILLS
Delegation
Running an Effective Meeting
Selling
Perception versus Reality
MOTIVATION
Starting Over
Bouncing Back from Failure
Overcoming Fear
The Mystery of Uncle Harry’s River
Storytelling as a foundation to motivating
Chasing the Horizon
Imagining the Future
Understanding What You’re Selling
Contact us to schedule a keynote speech at your organization:
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