A thunderbolt for the soul
Juno Award, Canadian Screen Award and 2-time Canadian Folk Music Award nominated singer-songwriter Peter Katz has been described by many of his fans and speaking clients as "a thunderbolt for the soul".
A thunderbolt for the soul
Juno Award, Canadian Screen Award and 2-time Canadian Folk Music Award nominated singer-songwriter Peter Katz has been described by many of his fans and speaking clients as "a thunderbolt for the soul".
About Peter Katz
Juno Award, Canadian Screen Award and 2-time Canadian Folk Music Award nominated singer-songwriter Peter Katz has been described by many of his fans and speaking clients as "a thunderbolt for the soul”.
Alongside his career as an international recording artist, Peter Katz serves clients across the globe by delivering highly customized ‘Keynote Concerts’. Going beyond the standard keynote presentation format, Peter utilizes customized-to-your-audience performance enhancers with meaningful musical anchors. The end result is an audience transformed by the power of his message and the authenticity of his delivery, helping them see their purpose through new eyes.
“Peter's presentation changed peoples' lives. His ability to connect to people’s souls is unlike anyone I’ve ever seen. To be the highest standard of being a storyteller is to be like Peter Katz". Jeff Pulver - Vonage Founder and VOIP Pioneer
Topics (click each topic to expand)
Splintered work forces, remote working environments and marketplace disruptions are making it harder than ever for workplaces to follow through on their mission, values and goals. Fortunately, one of the most impactful solutions is also the most joy-filled: if we want to be aligned with our highest values, we need to celebrate them.
In his newest keynote concert, Peter Katz shows audiences how to harness the remarkable power of celebration. Far from superficial pleasure, Katz’s version of celebration is a co-created experience that can revolutionize individuals and teams before, during, and after their most pivotal moments.
As a Juno Award-nominated and internationally recognized singer-songwriter, keynote speaker, and facilitator, Katz understands how to create the right container to identify and amplify our brightest milestones to propel ourselves towards our biggest wins yet.
Audiences will learn:
“In our business, like any other competitive business, we’re constantly challenged, have tough decisions to make, things are changing all the time. Being comfortable in that sort of space was actually at the core of Peter’s message. We had 1100 managers at these sessions, all varied in their backgrounds, none of them connected to the music industry, but Peter’s down to earth approach was incredibly relatable, which was so important in allowing the team to self-reflect. We had a lot of fun, the mix of songs and stories was a great format; we got very consistent feedback from all 5 of sessions that Peter did for us across the country. I would hire him again in an instant”.
– Declan Brady – Senior Vice President, Field Operations, Bell Canada
“His speaking was so inspirational and unlike any other speaker that I’ve seen before. The way he mixed the songs and stories, the way he relates to you and brings out the emotion in you, all combine so that at the end of it you are inspired to do greater things.”
– Steven Nerayoff – Founder and CEO of Cloudparc & Alchemist
How do you find the strength and courage to show up wholeheartedly when life is constantly presenting you with new challenges? How do you stay connected to the bigger picture so you can create the positive impacts you wish to make?
Part concert, part keynote — Juno-nominated singer-songwriter Peter Katz draws on his experience of surviving and thriving in the music industry to motivate attendees to stay on their path wholeheartedly, while also being open to change and embracing the unexpected along the way. Through his powerful songs and stories, Peter pulls attendees in and leaves them inspired to show up with purpose every day.
Audiences will learn:
Katz offers follow-up sessions and/or workshops to facilitate deeper training on the topics covered in his presentation.
“Peter created a customized message for our leaders based on our retreat theme. The reaction that we got was that he really spoke to their hearts. He pulled them in emotionally. It wasn’t just about knowing how to be a leader and the things that you do and the knowledge that you have; it really was about speaking to our leaders from the heart, and pulling on their heartstrings to remind them of why they do what they do every day and the people and clients that we serve. It was a beautiful moment”.
– Amber Smith – Learning and Development Specialist – Ontario Shores CMHS
“I felt like he understood me and I understood him. There were 400 people in the room but it felt like we were connected”
– Michael Landsberg – Legendary TSN anchor and Host of ‘Off The Record’
Peter is regarded as one of the pioneers of highly-engaging virtual experiences. Over the past several years, he has performed to over 150,000 people virtually from his state-of-the art broadcast studio, including The House of Commons of Canada. Using multiple cameras, studio-quality microphones, real-time editing and cutting-edge interactive elements, Peter unites remote teams around the globe by presenting his acclaimed keynote concerts as both virtual and hybrid experiences.
“I’ve been in the events industry for 35+ years and with SITE Canada since 2012. I can’t remember a time, either in a live or a virtual environment, where the outpouring of positive comments was this high. What Peter achieved today for our members virtually totally surprised me; I think it’s even unprecedented.” Gabrielle Spanton, President, SITE Canada | Smart Meetings Hall of Fame
“As an event planner for my organization, I’m cautious at booking online speaker because often, the speaker just doesn’t connect in the same way as if they were live with the audience. Peter Katz did that. Peter Katz took the time to get to know who my members were in advance of the session and connected with them throughout. It was an impactful, moving, inspirational hour-and-a-half that really motivated our members and gave them a sense of wellness during these uncertain times.” Jeff Pelich, Vice President, ETFO Waterloo Region
Outcomes (Click each outcome to expand)
When your employees enjoy their workplace and feel a deeper sense of connection with each other, it creates space for unexpected collaboration and innovation, and an emotional infrastructure to see it through over the long run. Similarly, within a conference setting, Peter is a catalyst for meaningful connection between attendees, turning a typical conference into an experience they’ll never forget.
“In our 5 year history of operating this conference we have not had the type of meaningful feedback and positive response to a keynote speaker like we got for Peter Katz. He made a huge impact on the group and caused so many important conversations to happen”.
– Sara Bentham – Xcelerate Summit
“I go to a lot of conferences. I’ve never seen people get as emotionally involved at a conference as what I saw happen during and after Peter spoke”
– Jeff Lehman – Mayor of the City of Barrie”
An employee who feels seen and appreciated is an employee who will remain loyal to the brand and build their future within the organization. Through Peter’s customization, he tells YOUR story with custom-crafted stories and relevant songs that help your organization celebrate milestones, feel refreshed and appreciated on a professional development or staff appreciation day, a year-end wrap up or a kick-off to a new year/quarter. Clients frequently say that it’s a breath of fresh air for their employees to have a keynote that is inspiring while also being entertaining, fun and highly engaging.
“We expected a lot from Peter after doing our research, but he absolutely exceeded all of our expectations. He was incredible from start to finish. I laughed, I cried, I cried from laughing so hard. A lot of what he brought into his talk was really reflective of us, and what we do here. I think his messaging hit home with everyone in the room. It was an hour that we will never forget and we are so grateful for this incredible day”.
– Kathleen Gratton, Director of Support Services at SBCI
With so many parallels between a life in the arts and the life of the entrepreneur, Peter provides a powerful and inspiring analogy that allows entrepreneurs to stay the course through the hard times and navigate the unpredictable waters of entrepreneurship. In fact, many of Peter’s most impactful talks have been at entrepreneurial conferences, business networking events and any gathering of individuals where self-motivation is key to their success.
“The amount of people that walked up to us afterwards, with tears in their eyes, who said that he had absolutely changed their lives… I can’t even count on 2 hands, it was unbelievable”
– Daniel Levine – Fireside Conference Founder
"In our business, like any other competitive business, we're constantly challenged, have tough decisions to make, things are changing all the time. Being comfortable in that sort of space was actually at the core of Peter's message.
I would hire him again in an instant"
“We hired Peter to be our opening keynote for our Canadian Innovation Conference held in Quebec City in November 2019. To say he started our conference off right and wowed our delegates is an extreme understatement. A group of meeting and event professionals are well versed with keynotes but the emotion and thought-provoking presentation Peter gave really got them. He is an authentic soul with a genuine nature that appeals to the masses and his stories are heart-warming. In my leadership roles in the meetings industry I’m blessed to work with a lot of keynotes and I can’t remember one that I enjoyed working with more. Leading up to our conference Peter was extremely professional, engaged and truly cared about customizing his content to deliver the greatest benefit to our audience.
Two thumbs up…way up!”
"Peter's presentation changed peoples' lives. His ability to connect to people's souls is unlike anyone I've ever seen, and through that connection they're able to re-experience life and understand that there is not only hope but tremendous opportunity.
To be the highest standard of being a storyteller is to be like Peter Katz"
“I would hire Peter Katz again in a nanosecond. He transformed the lives of 130 employees that will show up to work and do better, with more meaning in their personal and professional lives. It was amazing. I’ve hired a ton of people that do speaking engagements, but Peter didn’t phone it in, he took the time and care to understand a lot about us as a company, what our objectives were, what we’re trying to engender in our employees, and created a unique, and very specific set of content and experience for our employees that really resonated.
He’s been amazing in his ability to adapt his message and inspire people in a way that quite frankly is almost impossible for us to do as a company ourselves, so we’ve been so pleased with his ability to do that on our behalf in a way that was entertaining and really brought a personal connection and an emotional connection to our company”
“In our 5 year history of operating this conference we have not had the type of meaningful feedback and positive response to a keynote speaker like we got for Peter Katz.
He made a huge impact on the group and caused so many important conversations to happen”.
“Not often does a keynote speaker meet all expectations, but Peter Katz not only met our expectations, he knocked them out of the ballpark. Our staff praised Peter calling him an “amazing speaker”, “a breath of fresh air” and “organically inspirational and funny.” From our first meeting, Peter was the consummate professional - he requested and reviewed our strategic plan and the job descriptions of the attendees to tailor his speech to his audience. He entertains and engages with his music and weaves his four key learnings throughout his talk --messages that are applicable to anyone in the organization, regardless of influence or position.
I would not hesitate to recommend Peter as a keynote speaker for an event.”
“I felt like he understood me and I understood him.
There were 400 people in the room but it felt like we were connected”
“Peter Katz was a pleasure to work with. From the beginning to the end of our event he was with us all the way. He did everything from meeting individually with employees, to attending other sessions throughout the agenda, and ensuring that he was well versed in other areas of our business before he addressed the audience. I am incredibly fortunate to have worked with him and greatly appreciative of the efforts he put into our closing keynote session. The energy he brings to a virtual event is electric, and you can feel it on the other side of the screen. Employees were eagerly engaging in the chat, and following shared how much they enjoyed the experience and how connected Peter made everyone feel.
I can’t say enough glowing reviews about Peter”
"Peter Katz was the closing keynote for Xerox's TWA national conference and what an amazing inspirational speaker he was!! As the individual accountable for the keynotes I would 100% recommend Peter to any other organization looking for a keynote that will impress and connect with your audience. I can't even count how many people came up to me after and commented on how moved and motivated they were. Peter takes the time to understand the individuals he will be connecting with and uses his music to make it
a truly unforgettable experience".
“Peter created a customized message for our leaders based on our retreat theme. The reaction that we got was that he really spoke to their hearts. He pulled them in emotionally. It wasn’t just about knowing how to be a leader and the things that you do and the knowledge that you have; it really was about speaking to our leaders from the heart, and pulling on their heartstrings to remind them of why they do what they do every day and the people and clients that we serve.
It was a beautiful moment”.
“The amount of people that walked up to us afterwards, with tears in their eyes, who said that he had absolutely changed their lives… I can’t even count on 2 hands,
it was unbelievable”
“Peter Katz is a Hall Of Fame speaker in the making. By the time Peter is done working with your group,
he will have everyone running for the mountaintop to do what needs to be done to move your organization forward”
"Peter Katz is one of the best storytellers that I have ever seen.
You can tell that he has lived every part of his story, and it's just captivating”
Peter was our top-rated keynote speaker from the event. I had countless people approach me during the weekend to comment on how much they enjoyed his presentation and how it resonated with them and their experiences. They loved the customized little comments and jokes that Peter managed to thread throughout his presentation. Peter’s pre-event leg-work, attention to detail, and frankly his humility to not assume he knew his audience was clear to all. One attendee commented that they had
“never had a speaker take so much time/effort to know their audience.”
“I go to a lot of conferences,
I’ve never seen people get as emotionally involved at a conference as what I saw happen during and after Peter spoke”
We expected a lot from Peter after doing our research, but he absolutely exceeded all of our expectations. He was incredible from start to finish. I laughed, I cried, I cried from laughing so hard. A lot of what he brought into his talk was really reflective of us, and what we do here. I think his messaging hit home with everyone in the room.
It was an hour that we will never forget and we are so grateful for this incredible day”
"His message resonated with everyone in the room, from investors, to startup founders, to writers, and corporate executives. Peter's emotional connection with the audience could not have been stronger; I could have heard a pin drop in an audience of over 400 people. Peter's dedication to his craft is so evident in his work, and
his unique gifts make him an outstanding musician, and an equally outstanding speaker."
“At a time when so much is uncertain in our industry, Peter Katz delivered a much needed and powerful message of resilience and strength to our members. His ability to engage and connect with the audience through a virtual platform was incredible (and the audio/production was the best I have seen in any online show, hands down!).
We were flooded with heartfelt thanks from participants. Peter is a natural storyteller and gifted artist.”
"The reason why I recommend Peter so highly is that he was authentic, he was impactful, and he was empathetic. We so appreciated how Peter was able to move us with his music and his stories,
and we had truly never felt so connected – 320 people in a virtual event."
"Peter Katz delivered what was by far the best one hour Keynote that our audience has ever seen.
I am so grateful he has chosen to share his talent and gift with others. I can’t wait for the next opportunity to work with Peter!"
"Peter was engaging, authentic, entertaining, and inspiring. He really did his homework to make this event special for our staff, and it paid off.
Attendee reviews were stellar; they really appreciated his message and unique mix of story-telling and music."
"As an event planner, I’m cautious of booking virtual speakers. Often, the speaker just doesn’t connect in the same way as if they were live with the audience. Peter Katz did that. Peter took the time to get to know who my members were in advance of the session and connected with them throughout.
It was an impactful, moving, inspirational hour-and-a-half that really motivated our members and gave them a sense of wellness during these uncertain times."
"Peter’s Zoom meeting/event was amazing! His music is beautiful, his words and message are inspirational, he made the group feel united. It was so enjoyable!
If anyone is considering booking Peter for this experience they should not hesitate- they and their participants will be so happy afterward."
"Peter Katz is truly a triple threat. He worked closely with me and my team to develop an inspiring presentation that was interesting, motivating and a lot of fun.
I’m already applying what I learned from Peter’s session to manage my team at American Express."
"We greatly appreciated both Peter’s singing and the sharing of his story. He was so engaging and inspiring, and we were very lucky to have had him as the final keynote speaker of our two-day conference. I am sure that the teens really connected to his story and that it gave them the confidence to be champions of their own lives.
I really hope to work with him again!"
Peter Katz is represented by Speakers Spotlight. To be connected to the appropriate point of contact, please email Trevor Campbell (Director of Operations & Communications, Peter Katz Speaks) at info@peterkatzspeaks.com.