Who is this guy — and why should you care?

Over the past twenty-five years, Steve has impacted over a thousand businesses of all sizes and industries enabling them to get big customers, restructure themselves, improve efficiency, boost morale, expand into new markets, and evaluate exit strategies among other things. He regularly appears on a variety of media (including MSNBC, NBC, CBS and Fox Television) to discuss his experiences and insights. He has also written articles for business magazines. Steve is a also two-time New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Business Week and USA Today bestselling author.

He currently owns businesses including: Steve Kaplan Live, The Difference Maker Inc., and Kaplan Enterprises LLC. Steve has served on the Executive Committee for EuroRSCG, which set strategy for its 176-company advertising agency conglomerate. He has also taught courses in various business disciplines and based on his experiences. Steve’s savvy for no-nonsense business strategy has elevated many companies to become market leaders. He has shepherded to success over one hundred businesses of all sizes and in all stages of development.

Both in and outside of business, Steve believes that life should be an adventure, pursued with passion and vigor. Some of the adventures Steve has been fortunate enough to experience include: scuba diving with hammerhead sharks off the Galapagos Islands and Coco Island; running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain; gorilla trekking in the Congo; body sledging in New Zealand, white-water rafting, hot-air ballooning over the Masai Mara and rappelling down water falls in Costa Rica. Recently, Steve completed a climb to the peak of Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest free standing mountain in the world.

Why you should listen –– and what you'll hear

Steve Kaplan is a business leader by example and a trusted advisor who knows what your business is going through. He's someone who has walked the walk as well as talked the talk. Nobody knows the haunts and dreams of a typical business owner like someone who "been there" and "done that":

“I know all too well what it's like to struggle with a business. I used to rub my company logo on cheap proposal folders because I couldn't afford nice brochures. I’ve borrowed cars from friends so I could take clients out in something better than my old beater. Since I owned only one suit, I scheduled meetings so I'd never see the same people two days in a row. I’ve parked at airport hotels and snuck through the side door to catch the free shuttle bus because I couldn't afford airport parking. I also know all-to-well what it means to work twelve hours a day, seven days a week, sacrificing time that could be spent with family or friends and even sitting in the office at 3 a.m. beating myself up over a mistake." – Steve Kaplan

Achievements

• Steve has owned 30 businesses across many industries and sold 26 of them.

• Steve grew SCA, a marketing company, from start up to $250 million in sales with offices in 14 countries… all in 7 years.

• 300 of the fortune 500 companies have been Steve’s customers.

• Steve has impacted over a thousand businesses of all sizes and industries enabling them to get big customers, restructure themselves, improve efficiency, boost morale, expand into new markets and evaluate exit strategies among other things.

• Steve has appeared as a business expert on a variety of media including MSNBC, NBC, ABC, FOX and CBS.

• Steve’s first book “Bag the Elephant” made the New York Times’, Wall Street Journal’s, USA Today’s, and Business Week’s bestseller lists. It received the Benjamin Franklin Award as the Business Book of the Year, and it has been translated into many languages in over 20 countries.

• Steve’s second book “Be the Elephant: Build a Bigger Better Business” focuses on growth strategies and hit the New York Times bestseller list.

• Steve currently owns 4 businesses.