Speaker Mikki Williams Is Awarded for Going ‘Above and Beyond’
(June 6) Mikki Williams' Vistage presentations are as unique as her longtime mantra for life: “Be outrageous. It’s the only place that isn’t crowded.”
For 13 years she’s engaged Vistage audiences and estimates she’s spoken to over a million people in the course of her unconventional life with seven companies and her many audiences worldwide. She also holds the distinction of being the only full-time professional speaker who is also a Vistage speaker and Chair.
Now she can add another achievement to her extensive resume: the first to be awarded Vistage’s Above and Beyond Award for speakers.
“It’s an honor to be the first for an award,” she said in a telephone interview. “It’s nice to be recognized for what you do.”
As the name suggests, this new award is given to a speaker who has gone above and beyond the call of duty, including being available for last-minute presentations and for delivering speaking engagements that are above and beyond expectations.
Mikki began speaking for Vistage in 1995 and has been consistently among the top-ranked speakers ever since. Throughout the years she has not only become a favorite retreat speaker whose dynamic storytelling has touched the hearts of hundreds of members and their spouses, but she continues to prove time after time that she is a great choice to present during Member Guest Days by providing invaluable content to all involved.
Just from the titles of some of her presentations, members and Chairs get a feel for Mikki’s creativity and unique perspectives that are used to bring about career and life transformations. Consider her three-part “The Whole Life Trilogy” that discusses work-life balance and a purposeful life. Or “You’ve Got Personnel-Ity (Personality)!” using the DISC profile.
“I’ve always been left of center but it’s who I am, kind of like being Grey Poupon in a yellow mustard world ” she explained. “I’m comfortable dealing with change and taking risks.”
As her bio states, Mikki’s various careers have given her a wealth of information and experience in sales and marketing, teamwork, communication skills, customer service, creativity, change management, humor in the workplace, wellness, and motivation. She considers herself an Enthusiologist™ who has successfully parlayed the strategies of a dance choreographer to that of a “word choreographer,” in which she mixes entertainment and humor with business savvy and knowledge to share insight and inspiration for life changing impact.
Said Chair Operations Manager Heather Cohan, speaking on behalf of all the COAs involved in the speaker program: “She makes you laugh and cry while inspiring you to be a better person. Not only has Mikki spoken to hundreds of Vistage groups, but she is also a Chair of her own two Vistage groups.
“Mikki is deserving of this award because she is an avid supporter of us as a sponsor for her National Speakers Association. She is also a great referral source for speakers, Chairs and members alike,” Heather continued. “Mikki has proven that she is a great believer and promoter in Vistage and the value that we provide to all of our members, both as a speaker as well as a Chair.”
Mikki said being a speaker has helped her become a better Chair by allowing her to see how different groups operate when she’s invited to speak to them. She then can return to her Chicago groups with new elements that help make her own group meetings as dynamic and well-rounded as possible.
Her advice to Vistage speakers, particularly those new to the circuit: Engage your audience. Many Vistage speakers, she said, score well on content but fall short on delivery, which means all of that great information is not being absorbed.
“If given a choice, people would rather be entertained than educated, so you should strive to combine the two and in doing so, you’ll have an absolutely winning scenario. Don’t rely on the fact you know your content well; polish and perfect your delivery.” As she often states, “ Carpe Diem” Seize the day!!