Heather Gold

Speaking, Hosting & Workshops

Authentic conversation leads to more connections between people and ideas.

I explain the dynamics of conversation and authentic connection. I give keynotes and also make authentic conversations happen at companies, organizations and conferences like Google, SXSWinteractive, WebVisions, YLE (Finland’s BBC), ConveyUX, O’Reilly’s Web 2.0, BlogHer, AIGA, Social Venture Network, Forum One’s Marketing Online Communities Conference and Overlap. I’m also often asked to moderate, facilitate or interview people and I run these as open conversations whenever possible.

To bring me to your gathering, contact me.

My uniquely interactive talks often involve bringing out the best in you, other speakers and the “audience.” This means:

you don’t have sit through another Powerpoint
your online content is much more valuable
speakers spend less time on preparation
the event is as engaging as the networking in the halls

Google Talk – How to Tummel: Design for Conversation

Community evolves from conversation. And an evolved community inherently evolves the conversation.

How do you create conversation for many people? How do people genuinely connect with each other and with you or your company?

Innovative comedian Heather Gold explains basic differences between presentation and conversation and the assumptions underneath each. More entertainingly (and usefully) she demonstrates these ideas by creating a great, relevant conversation in the room so that all can feel the difference.

Notes: The difference between Presentation + Conversation (PDF)

#WITH
Hannah Arendt Center at Bard: Being Human In An InHuman World Conference
Oct 23/10

Authenticity is the new Authority
Web 2.0 Keynote, San Francisco
Mar 31/09

everything I need to know about the web I learned from feminism
SXSW, Austin
Mar 14/09

Being “Public” in Private
We are all performance artists now.
140 Conference, New York
Jul 15/09

Life in Perpetual Beta interview
I am not my keywords.
SXSW, Austin
March 2011

When the things in my life that were “too big to fail,” failed. (4 min)
“We’ve outsourced our sense of self to institutions that fail.”
“What it takes to be whole person is to know that you’re seen. That’s what drives the growth of the Web.”
ContactCon opening provocation, NYC
October 2011

UnPresenting Workshop

Heather’s a black belt in engaging audiences in meaningful and authentic way. – Jerry Michalski

UnPresenting

People who work in the digital realm love interactivity in every realm, but when it comes to presenting, they forget all about it.

In this workshop on UnPresenting innovative comedian Heather Gold breaks down how public communication works and then remakes it in our collective image. Heather focusses on the main thing business has ignored: the actual source of power in the room and how to engage it.

This has a lot to do with feeling safe, comfortable and professional being conversational rather than presentational. The more people trust themselves, the easier it will be to trust others (their customers). That is, in turn, makes it more likely that a customer can trust them.

A 1/2 day or full day workshop involves hands-on feedback and participation from every person. You’ll learn: