Speaking Topics

The Branch of the Future is in This Room Today

As financial institutions jockey for position on who will deliver the “Branch of the Future” to consumers, Employees are left wondering… Where do I fit in? Does my company still need me? Is AI going to take my job? This presentation will inspire audiences, regardless of where they work in the Bank or Credit Union, to see themselves as part of the Branch/Bank/Credit Union of the Future and not a potential relic of the past. EJ will dive into aspects of employee empowerment, personal branding, and show the audience how people fit into the wave of technology flooding the industry.

Digital + Human: Delivery Strategies for Next-Gen Experiences 

In the rapidly evolving landscape of banking, the experience of the future can and should put human-centric service first with a strategic balance of cutting-edge digital innovation. This presentation explores the vision for a next-generation bank experience that prioritizes the human experience while seamlessly integrating advanced digital technologies. We will examine how to market future experiences along with how to enhance customer interactions by leveraging data-driven insights and personalized services, all while maintaining a strong human touch. Through real-world examples and forward-thinking strategies, we'll highlight how to personalize experiences that foster meaningful connections, streamline customer journeys, and build trust in an increasingly digital world. Attendees will gain actionable insights into creating a harmonious blend of technology and personal engagement that meets the evolving needs of today's and tomorrow's banking customers, including the evolution of the recruiting and hiring experience.

On the Record with Gen-Zs

Rarely, if ever, does a brand have the opportunity to proactively prepare for the next wave of generational consumers. In the modern era of data-driven decisions, companies are more empowered than ever to welcome Gen-Z while remaining careful not to alienate their core base of consumers. Within this talk, EJ will leverage up-to-the-minute insights from Gen-Z to unveil five things every brand must do successfully to appeal to the Gen-Z consumer… and the Gen-Z employee!

Your Employees are F’ing Up Your Strategy

In this “no holds barred” presentation, attendees will learn the real reasons most strategic plans fail: Your People. This talk is an in-your-face wake-up call to reconnect with the true why behind strategy. Using personal stories and up to the minute examples from a variety of industries, EJ challenges the audience to lead with purpose, authenticity, and courage. The session will explore burnout, disconnection from the mission, and how poor hiring practices and rigid structure can derail even the strongest built plans. Attendees will gain an appreciation for how a shift towards empathy, vulnerability, and service-first leadership can reignite not just employee engagement, but organizational relevance. Ultimately, we’ll boil it down to the main things your Employees are desperate for in exchange for not f’ing up your strategic plan.

Earn a Seat at the Table: How to Have an Executive Voice without the Executive Title

The modern employee demands a voice as a key driver of Employee Engagement. Leveraging his own career journey full of twists and turns through television, marketing, banking, and even driving an ice cream truck, EJ will share his own personal lessons of how to develop a personal brand within an organization. Ultimately, the audience will be left with a clear understanding of how they can lead from any chair while carrying impact and influence regardless of their job title.

From Oncology to Opportunity: Personalization Lessons for Financial Brands

What does cancer have to do with banking? On the surface, not much. But when I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Metastatic Melanoma in 2019, I quickly discovered just how closely the two experiences mirror each other in ways that are deeply human, profoundly emotional, and surprisingly relevant to the future of customer experience in financial services.

According to the American Cancer Society, 40% of people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lives. Even more staggering is the fact that at least 85% of people will be directly or indirectly touched by cancer—through a family member, friend, colleague, or personal diagnosis. I, unfortunately, checked both of those boxes. But in that journey—through doctor visits, treatment plans, and moments of uncertainty—I found myself gaining an unexpected education in what it truly means to feel seen, supported, and guided.

In other words: it was a masterclass in service and personalization.

This session isn’t just about cancer. It’s about the universal human needs that emerge in moments of vulnerability—and how those same needs show up in financial services every single day. As I navigated my cancer treatment, I began to see that the emotional path of a patient is not all that different from that of a banking customer making high-stakes decisions: uncertainty about the future, fear of making the wrong choice, and the overwhelming need for someone—anyone—to make it feel just a little more manageable.

From intake nurses to oncologists, my journey introduced me to a system that often knew what I needed before I did. They anticipated questions, personalized communication, and offered next steps with confidence and compassion. And then I asked myself: Why doesn’t banking feel like this?

In this powerful and personal session, I’ll take you through key moments of my cancer journey and explore the emotional parallels with financial decision-making. Together, we’ll unpack the connections between three of the most important pillars in life: health, wealth, and family—and how these forces shape not only our choices, but also the service experiences we never forget.

You’ll walk away with:

• A human-centered perspective on what customers really need when facing financial stress or uncertainty.
• A deeper appreciation for the role empathy plays—not just in service recovery, but in everyday interactions.
• Actionable ideas to deliver clearer “next steps” that reduce anxiety and increase trust.
• A renewed sense of purpose in the work we do—not just as bankers, but as supporters of people navigating life’s most difficult and important chapters.

Whether you're leading marketing, CX, operations, or strategy, this session will challenge you to rethink how your institution shows up—not just when it’s easy, but when it matters most. Because when we focus on human need first, everything else follows.

This is not a story about cancer. It's a story about connection. And in a world full of disruption, the most powerful tool we have is our ability to meet people where they are—and walk with them to where they need to go.