Riaz Meghji

International Human Connection Keynote Speaker & Author

Riaz Meghji

International Human Connection Keynote Speaker & Author

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Biography

Riaz Meghji is an international human connection keynote speaker and author of the book Every Conversation Counts: The 5 Habits of Human Connection That Build Extraordinary Relationships.

His insights have been featured in Fast Company, Harvard Business Review, and Financial Post. In addition to being a respected leadership keynote speaker and author on the topic of human connection, Riaz is also an accomplished broadcaster with 17 years of television hosting experience; he has interviewed experts on current affairs, sports, entertainment, politics, and business.

Riaz has hosted for CityTV’s Breakfast Television, MTV Canada, TEDxVancouver, CTV News, and the Toronto International Film Festival. He is a natural storyteller with a proven ability to conduct engaging, in-depth conversations across various disciplines and has been the conference keynote speaker at events around the world.

Off-camera, Riaz dedicates himself to philanthropy and causes he cares about including Canuck Place Children’s Hospice. He holds a business degree from Simon Fraser University and studied leadership communication at Harvard Extension School and the Canadian Management Centre.

Speech Topics

Human Connection & Leadership: Building Extraordinary Relationships in a Changed World

Long before the era of ‘quiet quitting,’ loneliness was a social epidemic in our society. In an age of polarization, disconnection, and shallow substitutes for real relationships, every leader needs to know how to build and maintain meaningful relationships with clients and teams alike in our hybrid reality.

Drawing from Riaz's years of experience interviewing established leaders in business, entertainment, and innovation, audiences will gain the following insights:

Spark real, authentic conversations to make meaningful connections, personally and professionally
Earn trust and build inclusive cultures, as you listen without distraction and make your small talk bigger
De-escalate conflict and collaborate effectively by leading with assertive empathy
Craft and tell compelling stories that will motivate your audience to take action
Explore the questions that create breakthrough moments in any conversation

This engaging experience is a candid and far-ranging look at how authentic conversations help you reinvent yourself, re-energize your teams, and move your business forward.

Relationships First: How to Use Authentic Connection to Grow Sales

It’s no wonder that sales often get a bad rap. In a world of dwindling authentic connections, it’s easy to see sales as the least authentic interaction of all. But this doesn’t have to be the case.

By transforming the way they and their teams interact with customers, sales leaders can forge more human connections that lead to dramatically improved sales and outcomes.

Spark real, authentic conversations to make meaningful connections, personally and professionally
Earn trust and build inclusive cultures, as you listen without distraction and make your small talk bigger
De-escalate conflict and collaborate effectively by leading with assertive empathy
Craft and tell compelling stories that will motivate your audience to take action
Explore the questions that create breakthrough moments in any conversation

This captivating talk goes beyond sales tactics to explore Riaz’s lifetime of work creating authentic connections, sharing key principles to turn sales into an art and discipline of crafting real relationships and experiences — not just transactions.

Customer Service: Your Competitive Advantage in Customer Service

Customer service isn’t just about fixing problems. It’s about forging relationships with your customers that go beyond an initial transaction. Great products help launch companies. Great customer service sustains them for long-term success.

Discover Riaz's secrets to customer service that forge lasting passion, and engagement with your brand.

Discover how every customer interaction is an opportunity for connection
Teach customer service leaders how to listen without distraction, banish directionless small talk, and more
De-escalate customer conflict and drive effective collaborations
Lead with assertive empathy in every customer service exchange

This authentic experience will inspire your teams to lead with empathetic curiosity and ultimately out-care the competition.

The Connected Leader Workshop

This workshop is an immersive 75-minute experience giving leaders and teams permission to get connected in a safe space.

Drawing from the communication tools delivered in the keynote, attendees are given prompts to practice empathetic curiosity, active listening and are inspired to get vulnerable, as they discover who their teammates really are outside of work.

The reflections shared by audiences are inspiring, moving and ignite stronger collaborations that break through silos, allowing organizations to win as one unified team.

Learning outcomes:

Deepen workplace relationships with openness and vulnerability
Learn key questions to ask to lead with empathetic curiosity
Observe the non-verbals that convey the meaning behind personal messages
Share personal discoveries, victories and breakthroughs by holding space for your peers
Create an unforgettable team building experience that will inspire a more collaborative culture

Testimonials

“Riaz was a superb choice as keynote speaker for our hotel leadership conference! His message about authentic connection was timely and meaningful, and our attendees raved about his session. The hospitality business, and really every business, is about people! Riaz’s tips for transcending small talk to get to extraordinary relationships were inspiring and practical for our attendees, both at work and in their personal lives. Riaz customized the message for our audience, even using specific hotel examples to make his points. He was invested in the mindset of the attendees, and he took time before and during the conference to connect with the producers and attendees alike. Highly recommend!”

- VP and Global Brand Leader, Premium Distinctive and Collections Brands, Marriott International

“Your session was fantastic. At the end of the conference, we each go through and share our high and low of the entire experience. Your session was repeatedly shared as the most impactful moment of our 3 days together. One of our executives specifically said “I have never experienced a more prepared and moving speaker.” And I personally was brought to tears through your beautiful and vulnerable storytelling. THANK YOU again. So grateful for all of the insights we are still reflecting on.”

- Senior Vice President of Brand + Culture, EDENS

“Practical. Meaningful. Moving. Riaz’s thought-provoking keynote at our Power of Connection conference was one of our highest rated sessions. He brought to life the realities of loneliness and the power we each have to create authentic human connection, especially in the exhausting and distracted world we live in. His vulnerability motivated our leaders to explore how we can cultivate collaborative relationships and build a more connected culture. I really appreciated Riaz’s care in crafting the session based around the needs of our people and his skill in embedding insights about our specific team / business. He made our team feel heard and seen and it was exactly what our people needed as we close out a busy year and look forward to forging deeper connections in the new year.”

- VP, People Strategy and Consulting, Thomson Reuters

“Riaz's presentation at our national conference was not only powerful and engaging but also deeply emotional. Riaz spoke from the heart, effortlessly connecting with every individual in the room, leaving an unforgettable impact on all of us. What set Riaz's presentation apart was his dedication to making it personal to our company. He had evidently conducted thorough research beforehand, incorporating specific details about the challenges our industry faces. This personalized touch not only showcased his commitment but also highlighted his exceptional ability to relate his message to our unique journey. Riaz Meghji's insights and genuine care for fostering human connections have left an indelible mark on our network. We cannot thank him enough for the emotional, powerful, and truly engaging experience that he brought to our conference.”

- CENTURY 21 Canada’s Executive Vice President

“Riaz Meghiji's talk, every conversation counts, was perhaps the most inspiring and impactful session at our recent virtual leadership conference—practical, meaningful, and motivating. Riaz has packaged a powerful message for leaders to put to work in everyday conversations. Thank you Riaz!”

- Regional Managing Partner, KPMG

“Riaz kicked off 3 days of keynote speakers in the most perfect way. From his presentation to his continuous engagement with our Brooks Team, Riaz is a force for positivity in this world, and there is no doubt in my mind that he has made a lasting impact on all of us that got the opportunity to hear him speak.”

- Senior Project Manager, Brooks Running

“The conference was amazing and Riaz was such a hit (which I knew he would be)! But working with him this time around was just such a special experience. He brought so many great ideas and creative elements into his emcee duties as well as his keynote talk and we worked with our incredible AV team to make it all happen. My colleague Kara who manages the main stage ballroom onsite at our conferences said that Riaz was the best and easiest conference emcee that she has ever worked with in her 10+ years with the organization.”

- Conference and Events Manager, CPHR BC & Yukon

“Riaz did an incredible job working with the entire team to develop a concept and theme for the event. He also did a great job bringing together our underlying message. The audience’s reaction to Riaz’s interaction with various staff led to an amazing atmosphere. We look forward to having him join us again next year!”

- RBC Royal Bank

"Riaz is a phenomenal speaker! His presentation was relevant, enlightening, and impactful. Many of our guests said he was the highlight of the day and appreciated his ability to relate his knowledge to our particular focus that day. His energy is contagious and exactly what we were looking for in a keynote! Book him if you can!"

- President & VP Sales, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota

"He was so beyond amazing and he had us from the moment he started talking. He brought some of us to tears and just the thought of his message gives me goosebumps. His message and the feelings that it gave us has also stayed with us and everyone is still talking about him.”

- Calgary Real Estate Board

“Riaz is a very engaging and inspiring speaker. He has a remarkable ability to captivate an audience, entertain them, and humour them while at the same time ensuring important messages and information are effectively communicated. He does all of this while demonstrating humility and an ability to relate to a diverse range of audiences.”

- President, Sandpiper Group