Erik Qualman

Erik Qualman has forged a distinguished career as a keynote speaker and 5× bestselling author, becoming a renowned motivational figure across 55 countries and to over 50 million people. Voted the 2nd Most Likeable Author in the World, Erik has developed deep expertise in social media, digital trends, and digital leadership. One of the core themes in his keynotes is ‘focus and how to focus in an unfocused world’, a topic inspired by his latest book, The Focus Project.

After graduating from the University of Michigan with a BA in Marketing, Erik began his professional journey working on digital and direct mail campaigns for Pontiac and Cadillac. His growing knowledge in the marketing sector led to senior roles at major companies including BellSouth, Yahoo!, Earthlink, and Travelzoo, where he served as Senior Marketing Manager at Yahoo! and Head of Marketing at Travelzoo. He went on to become the Global Vice President of Digital Marketing at EF Education, a role that helped inspire his #1 bestselling book, 'Socialnomics: How Social Media Transforms the Way We Live and Do Business', which became a bestseller in both the UK and USA within just three weeks. Following the book's success, Erik founded Socialnomics.com, a Top 10 Social Media Blog according to PC Magazine.

As the #1 digital leadership speaker, Erik has worked with some of the world’s most influential brands, including Disney, IBM, Sony, Starbucks, Cartier, and FedEx. He has shared stages with high-profile figures such as Al Gore, Tony Hawk, and Jay Leno, and was recognised in Forbes’ Top 50 Social Media Power Influencers. His thought leadership and early insights into the digital world have made him a trusted advisor and educator in this fast-evolving space.

Erik’s academic contributions are equally impressive. He received an Honorary Doctorate in International Business from Lake Superior State University in 2017 for his work with students. He has served as a Professor in Digital Marketing at Hult International Business School, Teaching Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin, Sitting Professor at MIT and Harvard’s edX Labs, and Professor of Digital Leadership at Northwestern University. In 2021, he became the first male speaker to address the Indy Women in Tech Summit. Frequently featured in The New York Times, Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal, Erik is considered one of the most qualified and sought-after motivational and digital leadership speakers in the world.

In September 2023 we sat down virtually with Erik Qualman and discussed the importance of social media and focus in business. Watch our Exclusive Interview with Erik Qualman.