Dave Kerpen

Meet Dave Kerpen

Dave Kerpen is a serial entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author and global keynote speaker whose work sits at the intersection of business, leadership and human connection. Throughout his career, he has explored a deceptively simple question: What makes people want to listen, connect, follow and remember?

His answer is rooted in being human. In a business world filled with competition for attention, Dave Kerpen focuses on the value of warmth, authenticity and genuine relationships. His ideas come from direct entrepreneurial experience as well as years of writing, speaking and building an audience around the world.

That combination makes Dave a speaker who brings business experience and a distinctly personal perspective to the stage. His message is practical and memorable: how you make people feel, how you communicate and how willing you are to be yourself can become meaningful advantages in business.

Entrepreneur with real-world experience

Dave Kerpen has built businesses as well as written about them. He cofounded Likeable Media, a company that was acquired by 10Pearls in 2021. He later founded Apprentice, which was sold to Catapult in 2025.

These experiences give Dave a firsthand perspective on entrepreneurship, growth and the people behind successful businesses. His insights are grounded in what he has experienced as a founder: creating companies, developing ideas, connecting with people and ultimately navigating successful acquisitions.

For organizations and audiences interested in entrepreneurship, leadership and the human side of business, Dave brings lessons shaped by years of putting his own ideas into practice.

A global keynote speaker

Dave Kerpen has brought his ideas on business, leadership and human connection to audiences around the world. His international speaking experience includes major conferences and corporate events across Europe, Asia, the Middle East and the Americas.

He has spoken on the main stage at The Next Web in Amsterdam in front of 17,000 people, at a LinkedIn conference in Singapore and at events in Bangkok, Cologne, Athens, Dubai, Monterrey and Toronto. In Mexico City, he shared the stage with actor and entrepreneur Ashton Kutcher.

This international track record makes Dave an experienced choice for organizations looking for a keynote speaker who can connect with audiences across cultures, industries and markets.

Bestselling author & influential voice

Dave Kerpen has built an international audience through his books, columns and social media presence:

• New York Times bestselling author of five books, including Get Over Yourself, The Art of People, Likeable Social Media and Likeable Business.
• Published in 14 languages, bringing his ideas about people, relationships, communication and business to readers around the world.
• Author of the upcoming The Human Edge, publishing at the end of January 2027, continuing his exploration of the qualities that help people build stronger connections and stand out in business.
• Longtime Inc.com columnist, sharing his perspectives on entrepreneurship, leadership and business.
• Featured by major international media, including The New York Times, the TODAY show, CBS, BBC and the Financial Times.
• One of the top LinkedIn Influencers of all time by page views, alongside Bill Gates, Mark Cuban and Barack Obama, with more than 640,000 followers today.

The human edge in business

At the heart of Dave Kerpen's work is a belief that qualities such as warmth, authenticity and human connection deserve far more attention in business.

His approach challenges the idea that standing out requires becoming louder, more polished or less personal. Instead, Dave explores how people can become more memorable by understanding others, communicating with genuine personality and being comfortable enough to show who they are.

That philosophy connects the different parts of his career. It can be seen in his entrepreneurship, his writing and the audience he has built online. It is also reflected in the way he presents himself.

Anyone who has met Dave may remember his orange shoes. He owns 105 pairs. For Dave, they are more than a recognizable personal trademark. They serve as a daily reminder that being memorable, being warm and being yourself can be an underrated advantage in business.

Book Dave Kerpen for your event

Book Dave Kerpen for a keynote that combines entrepreneurial experience, bestselling ideas and a human perspective on succeeding in business. His background spans building and selling companies, writing books read internationally and creating a professional following of more than 640,000 people.

Audiences get insights shaped by a career spent studying and practicing the art of connecting with people. Dave's perspective is relevant to leaders, entrepreneurs, teams and organizations looking to understand how stronger relationships, authentic communication and memorable personal interactions can influence business.

Whether he is drawing on lessons from Likeable Media and Apprentice, ideas developed through his books, or his experience building a major LinkedIn audience, Dave brings the conversation back to people.

And then there are those orange shoes. With 105 pairs, Dave has made being memorable part of his everyday life. Behind them is the idea that runs through his work: in a crowded world, your human qualities can be your edge.