Willie Jolley Speaker Biography
Hall of Fame Speaker, #1 Rated XM Radio Host,
Best Selling Author
There are many motivational speakers, and then there is the one, the only, the incomparable Dr. Willie Jolley. He has been described simultaneously as one of the best speakers in the world, a world class award-winning singer, a best-selling author and #1 Rated Radio personality.
Award-Winning Speaker
Dr. Willie Jolley has achieved remarkable heights in his career, having come from the humble beginnings of being a fired nightclub singer, who was replaced by a karaoke machine! He had a setback but turned it into an amazing comeback story. He has gone on to be named “One of the Outstanding Five Speakers in the World” by the 175,000 members of Toastmasters International. (Only 50 people have ever achieved this honor, including Nelson Mandela, Margaret Thatcher, General Colin Powell and Zig Ziglar). In 1999 Toastmasters International also named him “Motivational/Inspirational Speaker of the Year!” In 2003 he was named “A Black History Maker of Today” by the McDonald’s Owners of America.
Speaker Hall of Fame
In 2005 Dr. Jolley was inducted into the prestigious Speaker Hall of Fame (CPAE – Council of Peers Award of Excellence) after having achieving the distinction of Certified Speaker Professional by the National Speakers Association. He holds the distinction of being the first African American to be elected President of the National Speakers Association DC Chapter and first African American to be elected to the National Board of NSA. In 2007 he was named “Business Leader of the Year” by the Future Business Leaders of America. In 2010 Dr. Jolley 2012 he was the recipient of the Ron Brown Distinguished Leadership Award. In 2013 he was named, “One of the Top 5 Leadership Speakers” by Speaking.com and “The Business Leader of the Year” by The Business Ad Hoc Committee. In 2015 Dr. Jolley was chosen to replace the legendary Zig Ziglar on the National Get Motivated Tour. For over twenty years Zig Ziglar and General Colin Powell were the featured speakers, and when Mr. Ziglar died Dr. Jolley was the unanimous choice to replace him! And in 2017 Dr. Jolley was named “A Legend Of The Speaking Industry” by the Veteran Speakers Association.
Sirius XM
Dr. Willie Jolley uses his public platform to pursue his mission of empowering and encouraging people to rise above their circumstances and maximize their God given potential! He now hosts the #1 Self Help Show in America on Sirius XM Radio, where he interviews the best and brightest thoughts leaders in America. He is also the host of the top rated Willie Jolley Motivational Minute Radio Show on WHUR FM where he precedes the Steve Harvey Morning Show each weekday morning.
PBS and TED
Dr. Jolley has been featured on two national PBS Specials, one has gone on to become the bestselling youth motivational program for PBS. The other is a top seller on How To Turn Setbacks Into Comebacks. His TED talk is also a popular message on transformation. Dr. Jolley has been featured in many markets with his daily TV Show, Live Better with Willie Jolley, sponsored by McDonald’s. Dr. Jolley also has been featured on a series of financial management programs sponsored by the State Department Credit Union.
Ford Motors Turnaround
Many people in the corporate world know him as the speaker Ford Motors called on in 2006 when they were on the brink of bankruptcy. He worked with them in 2006, 2007 and 2008. And in 2009, Ford was the only one of the Big Three Automakers to reject a government bailout and go on to Billion Dollar profits! After his historic work with Ford Motors he was featured in many national newspapers and success magazines, including The Washington, Success Magazine and Selling Power Magazine. He has gone on to become a favorite speaker for many Fortune 500 corporations, including GM, Walmart, Verizon, Marriott, Hyatt, Prudential and Comcast. Plus, he often speaks globally for audiences such as The World Conference of The Million Dollar Roundtable, Johnson and Johnson of Dubai, Prudential of Malaysia, Coca Cola South Africa, Sagicor Insurance in Jamaica, Amway Australia, Neways New Zealand and First Bank of Nigeria.
One Man Show
No matter the venue, from his exciting One Man Show that was recently recorded for a national television special, to his Get Motivated tour appearances, to his #1 Rated Sirius/XM radio show, Dr. Willie Jolley keeps it moving with high energy and enthusiasm, as he delivers nuggets on how every person can live a better life, one day at a time!
Books
Dr. Willie Jolley is the author of several international best-selling books including It Only Takes A Minute To Change Your Life, A Setback Is A Setup For A Comeback, Turn Setbacks Into Greenbacks, An Attitude of Excellence, which was endorsed by Dr. Stephen Covey, and his new marriage book with his wife, Dee, entitled Make Love, Make Money, Make It Last!
Education
Dr. Jolley holds a Doctorate of Ministry Degree in Faith Driven Achievement from the California Graduate School of Theology, a Master’s Degree in Theology from Wesley Theological seminary and a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from The American University. Dr. Jolley resides with his family in Washington, DC.
Willie Jolley Speaking Topics
Achieve More with an Attitude of Excellence
Dr. Willie Jolley answers the age-old question: What are the secrets that sustain successful organizations through difficult times? His answers are born out of his work helping Ford Motor Company go from the brink of bankruptcy in 2006 to being positioned to reject the government bailout in 2009 – and on to billion-dollar profits every quarter since 2009. Success Magazine called him “Ford’s Secret Weapon!” In this program Dr. Jolley shares strategies and ideas your attendees can employ to transform their businesses – as well as the five areas of development that can be used immediately to change their thinking and their business.
Turn Your Setbacks into Comebacks!
Taken from his popular television special, Turning Setbacks into Comebacks, Dr. Willie Jolley explains how in these times of uncertainty, high anxiety and fear for financial security, we can survive, and dare we think, thrive! Dr. Willie Jolley is right on time with this message of how to turn your setbacks into comebacks! He has interviewed people of all walks of life on how they came back from great adversity. He shares their techniques, ideas, principles and strategies that proved successful! And furthermore, he explains how to apply those principles to your life’s trials and tribulations to achieve success! While others may speak of turning setbacks into comebacks, Dr. Jolley wrote the international best selling book…A Setback Is A Setup For A Comeback!
How To Be Unstoppable: Leadership & Achievement
Dr. Willie Jolley believes leadership is an action not a position! He reminds us that great leaders always focus on the possibilities rather than the challenges! Great leaders are willing to do whatever is necessary rather than doing what is comfortable! And leaders look to develop more leaders rather than more followers! Dr. Jolley takes you on a memorable roller coaster ride of why you must develop the leader within you and then gives you the steps for getting it done! It requires sweat equity, but so does anything that produces great achievement! Whether you are an association executive, sales professional, entrepreneur, business owner, or manager…you will experience growth and renewed enthusiasm for reaching and exceeding your goals!
Change Is Good…When Your Attitude is GREAT!
In this program, the audience is sold on the positive perspective of change! Change is essential to any growth process. Everybody wants progress, but nobody wants to change! Dr. Willie Jolley shares his patented “VDAD” (vision, decision, action, desire) Formula for successfully embracing change. You will leave this program viewing change as an ally - not an enemy. You will leave ready to implement the formula to drive change. You will leave believing that change “truly” is good when your attitude is great!
Motivate Your Youth: Dare 2 Dream Dare 2 Win
Many complain of the challenges with today's youth and the negative influences (alcohol, glorification of violence, striving for low achievement), which often cut their lives short. Willie Jolley is doing something to change that statistic. He is doing something positive to reach the hearts and minds of students and help them have greater success in school, home and community! And most importantly, he gets RESULTS!
Turn Setbacks Into Greenbacks: 7 Steps for Going Up in Down Times
Dr. Willie Jolley is the inspirational thought leader Ford Motor Company used to go from the brink of bankruptcy to billion dollar profits. Tough times create new opportunities that either make you or break you! When you implement Dr. Willie Jolley’s 7 Steps for Turning Setbacks into Greenbacks, you will be ready to make those new opportunities work for you!
Willie Jolley Books
Make Love, Make Money, Make It Last: 10 Secrets To Shape A Great Marriage
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An Attitude of Excellence: Get The Best From Yourself, Your Team, and Your Organization
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Turn Setbacks into Greenbacks: 7 Secrets for Going Up in Down Times
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A Setback Is a Setup for a Comeback
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It Only Takes A Minute To Change Your Life
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Willie Jolley Speaker Testimonials
Without a doubt, our best sales program yet! You helped drive the Internet sales force to another level of sales success even during a downturn economy. As was expected, you took them to another plateau and forced them to be all that they could be.
- | Eric Cevis, Vice President, Verizon - ISP Division
Extraordinary! Simply Extraordinary! You spoke for our Team and helped us take our thinking to another level and had us on our feet, then spoke for a high school we adopted, and had them standing on their feet! Incredible!
- | Ron LeGrand, Brand Manager, Nabisco
Mr. Jolley changed my attitude! I never felt so good about my job or the company before, but now I am excited and know I play a BIG PART in the success of the company!
- | Andrea Lang, Georgetown Conference and Convention Center, Georgetown University
I can't remember when we had a speaker who had such a positive response from the Managers and Managers-In-Training. I have heard many of them quoting you since the meeting!
- | Frank Meeks, President, Team Dominos
