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James Whittaker

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5 out of 5

Distinguished Technical Evangelist, Bestselling Author & Sought-After Speaker

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James Whittaker Biography

James Whittaker’s career spans academia, start-ups and top tech companies and starts in 1986 as the first computer science graduate hired by the FBI. After that, he freelanced his way through graduate school at the University of Tennessee working for IBM, Ericsson, SAP, and Cisco. Whittaker then joined the faculty at Florida Tech where he was promoted to full professor and built a research startup that was acquired by Raytheon.

Whittaker’s first stint at Microsoft was as an individual contributor on Windows and Visual Studio. He then joined Google to lead teams on Chrome, Maps, and Google+. In 2012 Whittaker rejoined Microsoft to lead ML efforts on Bing and Cortana; Whittaker’s storytelling gift landed him Microsoft’s first Distinguished Technical Evangelist title. In 2019, he retired to focus on in-person experiences through his brewery and taproom empire on the eastside of Seattle. He uses his remaining tech game collaborating with young founders and serving on boards of interesting companies.

Whittaker is known for being a creative and passionate leader and sought-after speaker and author. Of his eight books, two have been Jolt Award finalists and two are best-sellers. His beer taste tends toward complex and malty.

Speaking Topics
  • Thinking Strategically About The Future of Technology

    AI, ML, Blockchain, Crypto, IoT, Web 3, the Metaverse ... Technology changes are coming fast and companies need to understand what is ahead so they aren't hampered by bad adoption decisions. This masterclass in understanding the future is based on James' experience at Google and Microsoft and teaching this material at top-rated MBA programs on two continents. Let James entertain and educate you in this funny, story-rich jaunt through how tech ate the world and continues to do so. You'll gain a new understanding of these technologies even if you aren't technical. You'll see how business and society is likely to change in the near and long-term. You'll understand what technologies are likely fads and which ones you need to plan for. The world is changing and this class will help you get ahead of those changes.

  • Supercharging Individual and Team Creativity

    Creativity is the one universal ingredient of success. Creatives report higher job satisfaction and lead more fulfilling lives than any other class of people. And yet our school curriculum focuses on rote learning and test taking at the expense of creativity, problem-solving and higher-order thinking. Former Microsoft Distinguished Engineer James Whittaker shows you how to develop your creative mind and use it as the fulcrum of a lifestyle where creativity doesn’t just happen, it becomes the default case for everything you do in work and life. Come to this session and learn to supercharge your creativity to make your work more interesting and your life more exciting. Learn:

    • How to learn faster and retain knowledge better.
    • How to merge your passions with your day job.
    • How to discover and nurture your creative biorhythms.
    • How to become an expert in your field.
    • How to turn your creativity on at will.

  • Public Speaking and the Art of Storytelling

    Boredom. Nowhere does it manifest more aggressively than in corporate conference rooms where speakers struggle to get an idea across in an engaging way. That boredom is killing those ideas, sapping audience energy and slowing down progress. Former Microsoft Distinguished Engineer James Whittaker has decoded the solution to engaging stage presence and cast it as a set of spells to be woven into the fabric of a presentation. Like actual spells, these techniques are activated by 1) what you say, 2) how you say it and 3) what you do while you are saying it. James presents these concepts, not by lecturing them, but by demonstrating them. Expect to be thoroughly entertained with authentic stories while you learn how to command a stage and turn an audience into a room full of believers. Whether you want to improve the story of your company, product or yourself, this course will turn you into a storytelling wizard.

    Learn:

    • How to conceive and structure a presentation for proper flow and maximum impact.
    • How to prepare for your presentation to conquer stage fright and ensure recall.
    • How to make important points stick in the minds of your audience.
    • How to weave story, voice modulation and movement to spellbind your audience.
    • How to tell your own story to improve your career.

Videos
Books
Think and Grow Rich The Legacy: How the World's Leading Entrepreneurs, Thought Leaders, & Cultural Icons Achieve Success

Think and Grow Rich The Legacy: How the World's Leading Entrepreneurs, Thought Leaders, & Cultural Icons Achieve Success

The Storyteller's Spellbook: How to make your ideas more compelling and your career more magical

The Storyteller's Spellbook: How to make your ideas more compelling and your career more magical

Career Superpowers: Succeeding on Purpose

Career Superpowers: Succeeding on Purpose

Exploratory Software Testing: Tips, Tricks, Tours, and Techniques to Guide Test Design

Exploratory Software Testing: Tips, Tricks, Tours, and Techniques to Guide Test Design

How to Break Software Security

How to Break Software Security

FAQs
  • How do I book James Whittaker to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like James Whittaker for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for James Whittaker, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for James Whittaker or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for James Whittaker

    Speaking fees for James Whittaker, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book James Whittaker are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire James Whittaker, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does James Whittaker speak about?

    James Whittaker is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Entrepreneurism, Innovation, Leadership Speakers, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology, STEM, Technology Speakers, Virtual Speakers.
  • Where does James Whittaker travel from?

    James Whittaker generally travels from Seattle, WA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is James Whittaker’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like James Whittaker for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book James Whittaker for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host James Whittaker or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

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This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

Distinguished Technical Evangelist, Bestselling Author & Sought-After Speaker

Travels From:
Seattle, WA, USA
Speaking Fee:

James Whittaker Biography

James Whittaker’s career spans academia, start-ups and top tech companies and starts in 1986 as the first computer science graduate hired by the FBI. After that, he freelanced his way through graduate school at the University of Tennessee working for IBM, Ericsson, SAP, and Cisco. Whittaker then joined the faculty at Florida Tech where he was promoted to full professor and built a research startup that was acquired by Raytheon.

Whittaker’s first stint at Microsoft was as an individual contributor on Windows and Visual Studio. He then joined Google to lead teams on Chrome, Maps, and Google+. In 2012 Whittaker rejoined Microsoft to lead ML efforts on Bing and Cortana; Whittaker’s storytelling gift landed him Microsoft’s first Distinguished Technical Evangelist title. In 2019, he retired to focus on in-person experiences through his brewery and taproom empire on the eastside of Seattle. He uses his remaining tech game collaborating with young founders and serving on boards of interesting companies.

Whittaker is known for being a creative and passionate leader and sought-after speaker and author. Of his eight books, two have been Jolt Award finalists and two are best-sellers. His beer taste tends toward complex and malty.

James Whittaker Speaking Topics

  • Thinking Strategically About The Future of Technology

    AI, ML, Blockchain, Crypto, IoT, Web 3, the Metaverse ... Technology changes are coming fast and companies need to understand what is ahead so they aren't hampered by bad adoption decisions. This masterclass in understanding the future is based on James' experience at Google and Microsoft and teaching this material at top-rated MBA programs on two continents. Let James entertain and educate you in this funny, story-rich jaunt through how tech ate the world and continues to do so. You'll gain a new understanding of these technologies even if you aren't technical. You'll see how business and society is likely to change in the near and long-term. You'll understand what technologies are likely fads and which ones you need to plan for. The world is changing and this class will help you get ahead of those changes.

  • Supercharging Individual and Team Creativity

    Creativity is the one universal ingredient of success. Creatives report higher job satisfaction and lead more fulfilling lives than any other class of people. And yet our school curriculum focuses on rote learning and test taking at the expense of creativity, problem-solving and higher-order thinking. Former Microsoft Distinguished Engineer James Whittaker shows you how to develop your creative mind and use it as the fulcrum of a lifestyle where creativity doesn’t just happen, it becomes the default case for everything you do in work and life. Come to this session and learn to supercharge your creativity to make your work more interesting and your life more exciting. Learn:

    • How to learn faster and retain knowledge better.
    • How to merge your passions with your day job.
    • How to discover and nurture your creative biorhythms.
    • How to become an expert in your field.
    • How to turn your creativity on at will.

  • Public Speaking and the Art of Storytelling

    Boredom. Nowhere does it manifest more aggressively than in corporate conference rooms where speakers struggle to get an idea across in an engaging way. That boredom is killing those ideas, sapping audience energy and slowing down progress. Former Microsoft Distinguished Engineer James Whittaker has decoded the solution to engaging stage presence and cast it as a set of spells to be woven into the fabric of a presentation. Like actual spells, these techniques are activated by 1) what you say, 2) how you say it and 3) what you do while you are saying it. James presents these concepts, not by lecturing them, but by demonstrating them. Expect to be thoroughly entertained with authentic stories while you learn how to command a stage and turn an audience into a room full of believers. Whether you want to improve the story of your company, product or yourself, this course will turn you into a storytelling wizard.

    Learn:

    • How to conceive and structure a presentation for proper flow and maximum impact.
    • How to prepare for your presentation to conquer stage fright and ensure recall.
    • How to make important points stick in the minds of your audience.
    • How to weave story, voice modulation and movement to spellbind your audience.
    • How to tell your own story to improve your career.

James Whittaker Videos

  • James Whittaker on the Future of Technology | #ETS2019 - YouTube
  • James Whittaker - The Art of Storytelling
    James Whittaker, keynote speaker at the 2016 International Business Model Competition, delivers an engaging presentation about the Art of...
  • Yesterday, Today and the Next Decade
    From IEEE Software magazine's Software Experts Summit, sponsored by Shell Global Solutions, on July 17 at the Microsoft Campus in Redmond, Wash.

James Whittaker Books

FAQs on booking James Whittaker

  • How do I book James Whittaker to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like James Whittaker for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for James Whittaker, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for James Whittaker or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for James Whittaker

    Speaking fees for James Whittaker, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book James Whittaker are $20,000 - $30,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire James Whittaker, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does James Whittaker speak about?

    James Whittaker is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Entrepreneurism, Innovation, Leadership Speakers, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology, STEM, Technology Speakers, Virtual Speakers.
  • Where does James Whittaker travel from?

    James Whittaker generally travels from Seattle, WA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is James Whittaker’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like James Whittaker for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book James Whittaker for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host James Whittaker or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

James Whittaker is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Thinking Strategically About The Future of Technology, Supercharging Individual and Team Creativity and Public Speaking and the Art of Storytelling. The estimated speaking fee range to book James Whittaker for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. James Whittaker generally travels from Seattle, WA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Erik Qualman, R "Ray" Wang, Joanna Peña-Bickley, Jason J. Sosa and Josh Linkner. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling James Whittaker for an upcoming live or virtual event.

James Whittaker Speaking Topics

  • Thinking Strategically About The Future of Technology

    AI, ML, Blockchain, Crypto, IoT, Web 3, the Metaverse ... Technology changes are coming fast and companies need to understand what is ahead so they aren't hampered by bad adoption decisions. This masterclass in understanding the future is based on James' experience at Google and Microsoft and teaching this material at top-rated MBA programs on two continents. Let James entertain and educate you in this funny, story-rich jaunt through how tech ate the world and continues to do so. You'll gain a new understanding of these technologies even if you aren't technical. You'll see how business and society is likely to change in the near and long-term. You'll understand what technologies are likely fads and which ones you need to plan for. The world is changing and this class will help you get ahead of those changes.

  • Supercharging Individual and Team Creativity

    Creativity is the one universal ingredient of success. Creatives report higher job satisfaction and lead more fulfilling lives than any other class of people. And yet our school curriculum focuses on rote learning and test taking at the expense of creativity, problem-solving and higher-order thinking. Former Microsoft Distinguished Engineer James Whittaker shows you how to develop your creative mind and use it as the fulcrum of a lifestyle where creativity doesn’t just happen, it becomes the default case for everything you do in work and life. Come to this session and learn to supercharge your creativity to make your work more interesting and your life more exciting. Learn:

    • How to learn faster and retain knowledge better.
    • How to merge your passions with your day job.
    • How to discover and nurture your creative biorhythms.
    • How to become an expert in your field.
    • How to turn your creativity on at will.

  • Public Speaking and the Art of Storytelling

    Boredom. Nowhere does it manifest more aggressively than in corporate conference rooms where speakers struggle to get an idea across in an engaging way. That boredom is killing those ideas, sapping audience energy and slowing down progress. Former Microsoft Distinguished Engineer James Whittaker has decoded the solution to engaging stage presence and cast it as a set of spells to be woven into the fabric of a presentation. Like actual spells, these techniques are activated by 1) what you say, 2) how you say it and 3) what you do while you are saying it. James presents these concepts, not by lecturing them, but by demonstrating them. Expect to be thoroughly entertained with authentic stories while you learn how to command a stage and turn an audience into a room full of believers. Whether you want to improve the story of your company, product or yourself, this course will turn you into a storytelling wizard.

    Learn:

    • How to conceive and structure a presentation for proper flow and maximum impact.
    • How to prepare for your presentation to conquer stage fright and ensure recall.
    • How to make important points stick in the minds of your audience.
    • How to weave story, voice modulation and movement to spellbind your audience.
    • How to tell your own story to improve your career.

James Whittaker Speaker Videos

  • James Whittaker on the Future of Technology | #ETS2019 - YouTube
    James Whittaker - The Art of Storytelling
    James Whittaker, keynote speaker at the 2016 International Business Model Competition, delivers an engaging presentation about the Art of Storytelling.
  • Yesterday, Today and the Next Decade
    From IEEE Software magazine's Software Experts Summit, sponsored by Shell Global Solutions, on July 17 at the Microsoft Campus in Redmond, Wash.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

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Speakers Similar to James Whittaker

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

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