Autism & Inclusion Activist & Organizational Leadership Speaker
Murphy Monroe Biography
Murphy Monroe is an autistic activist, successful executive leader, and gifted inclusion speaker who brings lived experience and eye-opening professional insight to every room he enters.
Diagnosed with Autism, ADHD, and Tourette Syndrome, Monroe spent much of his early life masking and resisting these identities, while also managing a daily, lifelong battle with photophobia, a painful hypersensitivity to light that shaped every aspect of how he moved through the world. Over time, he has not only come to embrace these facets of himself but transformed them into powerful sources of strength, clarity, and connection.
Monroe speaks from a place of deep personal understanding, offering audiences a vivid glimpse into what it means to live in a world not built for your brain—or your body—and how organizations, educators, and leaders can change that.
He is the Executive Director of The Actors Gymnasium, a nationally treasured circus school and theater company, where he has led a transformative turnaround—automating operations, increasing access, and steering the organization through the pandemic into financial strength. Monroe also owns the True REST Float Spa in Skokie, Illinois. Having spent more time in sensory deprivation than nearly anyone on record, he brings a rare depth of insight into nervous system regulation, mindfulness, and sensory accessibility. He has curated a popular community healing space that supports not only neurodivergent individuals but anyone seeking relief, restoration, and calm.
In addition to his organizational leadership, Monroe serves as a City Commissioner in Evanston, Illinois, where he advocates for inclusive public policy, disability access, and full ADA compliance. His civic work deepens his mission to build environments—public and private—where all people can thrive. From boardrooms to classrooms, Monroe delivers powerful keynotes, workshops, and audits that shift mindsets and build skills. His offerings blend storytelling, strategy, and systems thinking—helping audiences move from awareness to action on inclusion, access, and disability justice.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Murphy Monroe and other top speakers and celebrities.
Murphy Monroe Speaking Topics
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Keynote Speaking (20-75 minutes)
High-impact talks that inspire, educate, and energize.
Autism 101: The Basics and Beyond
• A clear, compassionate introduction to autism from the inside out. Ideal for audiences looking to deepen their understanding of neurodiversity, sensory processing, masking, and practical support.
Unmasking Autism
• Murphy’s personal story of late diagnosis, resilience, and leadership in spaces not built for neurodivergent minds. Insightful and deeply human.
Float to Focus
• What 2,000+ hours in sensory deprivation taught Murphy about overstimulation, regulation, and the nervous system. A one-of-a-kind talk on stillness as power.
Autism at Work
• A strategic keynote on empowering neurodivergent employees, building inclusive systems, and creating workplaces that allow everyone to thrive.
The ROI of Neurodivergence – Understand how hiring and supporting neurodivergent employees can drive innovation, reduce turnover, and strengthen your organizational culture and bottom line.
The Neurodivergent Hustle: Sales, Strategy & Success
• A fast-paced, story-rich keynote on Murphy’s experience leading enrollment, sales, and operations teams, and closing deals while unmasking. Perfect for sales conferences and leadership summits that want humor, insight, and real business takeaways from a neurodivergent lens.
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Corporate Training & Workshops (60–120 minutes)
Interactive sessions with real tools for building inclusive, accessible, and effective teams.
- Building a Neuroinclusive Workplace
- Supporting Sensory Needs in Workspaces & Teams
- Leading with Empathy: Managing Neurodivergent Employees
- Disability Inclusion for DEI Professionals
- Workplace Communication that Works for All Brains
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How do I book Murphy Monroe to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Murphy Monroe 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 Murphy Monroe, 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 Murphy Monroe or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Murphy Monroe
Speaking fees for Murphy Monroe, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Murphy Monroe are under $10,000 for live events and under $10,000 for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Murphy Monroe, 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 Murphy Monroe speak about?
Murphy Monroe is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Belonging, DEI, Diversity & Inclusion, Government, Leadership, Neurodiversity, Social Activism, Workshop -
Where does Murphy Monroe travel from?
Murphy Monroe generally travels from Chicago, IL, 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 Murphy Monroe’s agent?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Murphy Monroe 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 Murphy Monroe 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 Murphy Monroe 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.
Murphy Monroe is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Keynote Speaking (20-75 minutes) , Corporate Training & Workshops (60–120 minutes) , School & Family Seminars (45–90 minutes) , Sensory-Friendly Workplace Consulting (Half-day or Full-day) and Panels & Media Appearances (30–60 minutes, flexible format) . The estimated speaking fee range to book Murphy Monroe for your event is available upon request. Murphy Monroe generally travels from Chicago, IL, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ryan Patrick Casey, David E. Hull-Watters, Joanna Peña-Bickley, Jennifer Cook and Melinda Briana Epler. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Murphy Monroe for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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