Marilyn Sherman

Marilyn Sherman, CSP, CPA, Hall of Fame business keynote speaker, has spent her career inspiring people to get out of their comfort zones and take their seat in the “Front-Row” of life and leadership. As founder of UpFront Presentations, Marilyn has helped audiences around the world—from Fortune 500 companies to international universities—to embrace change, elevate performance, and lead with purpose.

Known for her engaging storytelling and relatable humor, Sherman delivers powerful keynotes that combine hope, heart, and actionable tools people can use immediately. Her signature message challenges audiences to stop settling for the balcony or general admission and instead claim their Front-Row Seat at work and in life.

Meeting planners and executives consistently praise Sherman for her customization and connection with every audience. Attendees often say, “She was talking directly to me,” or “She’s so much more than a motivational speaker—she’s a catalyst for change.”

Sherman is a proud member of the National Speakers Association’s Speaker Hall of Fame (CPAE)—a distinction held by fewer than 200 speakers worldwide. She’s also the author of four motivational books, including “Why Settle for the Balcony?”, “Whose Comfort Zone Are You In?”, and “Is There a Hole in Your Bucket List?”

In addition to inspiring audiences with motivational keynotes, Sherman also conducts workshops on reducing conflict in the workplace with strategies on communicating with confidence. When she’s not on stage, she’s producing her popular Front-Row Friday videos—weekly moments of hope and inspiration for people ready to live and lead from the front-row.