At HWA, we understand the responsibility and pressure felt by meeting planners and organizations to program an event that will deliver. Whether you’re looking to foster engagement, build connections, or provide memorable experiences for your participants, an interactive event component can help you take your event to the next level.
Freeman, the global leader in events, has launched the Freeman Trends Report on “2024 Attendee Intent and Behavior,” and meeting planners are taking note. As the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), reports – 75% of event attendees who responded prefer demonstrations and hands-on activities.
From cooking demos with celebrity chefs, to wine tastings, to live drawing and music, and more, these interactive event ideas are sure to excite! The Harry Walker Agency boasts an incomparable roster of celebrity tastemakers, entrepreneurs, creatives, and comedians who will add a unique twist to your event that aligns with your mission, budget, and will exceed your audiences’ expectations.
VICTORIA EADY BUTLER is the celebrated and multiple award-winning master blender of Uncle Nearest Premium Whiskey – the fasted growing whiskey brand in America – carrying on her family’s legacy first-hand. She is the great-great-granddaughter of Nearest Green, the brand’s namesake and the first known African American master distiller.
Accompanied by an engaging trivia element and special giveaway, Cru Luv Wine President & CEO JERMAINE STONE, also a gifted host and consultant, will collaborate with the host to design a unique and memorable event for your group’s next event.
Join MLB legend DUSTY BAKER, founder of Baker Family Wines, for an unforgettable wine tasting of his homegrown premium wines. Over a glass of California red, Dusty introduces you to the nuanced flavors of his signature bottles and shares stories from his 50 years in the MLB.
UOP McGeorge School of Law: "I wanted to thank you, Baker Family Wines, and Mr. Baker for helping me to curate such a wonderful night here on campus! Our campus is still talking about celebrating the man and his wine company during such a wonderful and important month—Black History Month! The wine tasting was such a fabulous hit... We are forever grateful for this opportunity."
G.E. Capital:"...flexible, honest, easy to deal with... Attendees were delighted with Dusty's outstanding speaking ability in front of a crowd."
General Motors: "...you captivated the audience from start to finish."
SBC Global Services: "You were a big highlight. All our customers were buzzing about you, your wisdom and your great stories..."
Lumber Association of California and Nevada: "You were the highlight of our convention... your great stories kept everyone talking long after your presentation."
Based on his bestselling book Do You Talk Funny?, DAVID NIHILL offers this interactive workshop featuring his proven strategies for becoming a funnier public speaker – and using comedy to make a point and get past fear.
If you’re looking for an uproariously funny and engaging activity for your sales kickoff or team-building event, David’s expertise as a business speaker and award-winning comedian are a powerful combination that will make a major impact with your group.
Veteran journalist and Wall Street Journal bestselling author BROOKE BALDWIN shares indelible insights from her debut book, Huddle: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power. Brooke teaches the phenomenon of “huddling,” when women lean on one another—in politics, Hollywood, activism, the arts, sports, and everyday friendships—to provide each other support, empowerment, inspiration, and the strength to solve problems or enact meaningful change.
Wasserman: "Brooke, as always, was a total sport and pro. She handled changes on the fly, complex conversations and a nuanced room with aplomb. Would hire her every time."
Everyone wants to spend time with LORI GREINER – whether for sage advice, bouncing an idea off the prolific inventor and Shark, or fun conversation and Q&A. With every group, Lori is warm, personable, and engaging – and now she’s sharing this coveted opportunity with you.
Lori will kick off the gathering with 15 minutes of opening remarks tailored to your group. She’ll spend a course at each table, engaging your chosen guests up close with her relatable and enlightening stories. Lively and fun conversation will be had, all the way through dessert!
World-renowned celebrity chef EITAN BERNATH opens his Brooklyn apartment to guests for an intimate conversation and a home-cooked meal. Discussing his path from the first ever kid’s episode of the Food Network’s Chopped to social media star as well as his many philanthropic endeavors, Bernath hosts an interactive event that is unforgettably unique, entertaining, and delicious.
While sharing his favorite recipes in a cook-along, Bernath describes forging his own path, following his passions, and savoring every bite of success.
Chase for Business: "Lori’s ‘yes you can’ message and relatable stories engaged more than 1,800 women at our business banking events."
Tastewise: "Eitan's genuine enthusiasm and commitment to delivering an engaging, fun experience make him a standout collaborator, leaving a lasting impression on all who attended."
LIZA DONNELLY walks attendees through the process of creating their own drawings for a unique and interactive experience. Liza shares how drawing can impact us personally and beyond – from how we think of ideas to transforming how we look at the world.
Inspirefest: "A unique and thought-provoking speaker, Liza had the theatre in the palm of her hand. Liza's live drawing added a whole new layer of creativity to our event. Her thoughtful and smart interpretation of happenings and on-stage content brought a warmth and humanity to proceedings, and her ability to capture tone is unrivalled."
In this fun, memorable and interactive event, Better Than Ezra frontman KEVIN GRIFFIN performs some of his hit songs and shares lessons from three decades evolving in the music industry. From working with stars including Taylor Swift, Blondie, Barenaked Ladies, and James Blunt among others, to navigating the ups and downs of a wildly successful music career, to his new book The Greatest Song, Kevin’s uplifting and engaging style will resonate with any audience. At the end of the speech, Griffin writes a song with the audience, records the audience’s “hype” vocals, and delivers a fully produced recording to all attendees.
Emmy Award-Winning Chef, Host of Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives & Guy's Grocery Games, Philanthropist & Founder of the Guy Fieri Foundation, Guy Fieri is one of the world’s most recognizable, influential culinary stars.
'Guy Fieri Day' is an official holiday (April 5th) in Guy Fieri's hometown, Ferndale, CA, where he is honorary mayor.
He has been invited by Morgan Stanley, the Foodservice Equipment Distributor’s Association, and more to speak on his many personal and business endeavors. Fieri’s events ignite and inspire any audience with his infectious energy and passion.
Winner and Fan-Favorite, Top Chef: All Stars, FSR Magazine’s “40 Under 40: Rising Star,” Featured Chef in the Williams-Sonoma’s Chefs’ Collective Melissa King has been recognized as “one of the best female chefs in San Francisco,” and was named FSR Magazine’s “40 Under 40: Rising Star.” Known for her technical precision, King has helmed several Michelin starred kitchens, has cooked for notable figures such as Oprah Winfrey and Al Gore, and curated the menu for the 2022 Met Gala.
Advent International Corporation: Melissa was absolutely fantastic. Really warm, honest and personable. I would say that it was one of our most well received events.
Host, Food Network's Delicious Miss Brown and Cupcake Championship, Creator of the New Gullah Supper Club, Author of cookbook The Way Home
Southern Living: "Brown, who is Gullah, tells it like it is...A breath of fresh air."
Emmy & 4x James Beard Award-Winning Chef, Cultural Anthropologist, Goodwill Ambassador for the U.N. World Food Program
World Affairs Council of Philadelphia: "His anecdotes and experiences shared during the event not only entertained but also educated us on the transformative power of food as a universal language."
Iron Chef, Food Network Star, TV Personality, and author of cookbooks including Cook with Me: 150 Recipes for the Home Cook
NFM Group: "She was great! The crowd absolutely loved her, and she was very engaged with the demo."
James Beard Award-Winning Chef & Restaurateur, Founder of Food Republic, Host of VOX/Eater's No Passport, New York Times Bestselling Author of Yes, Chef
Food Bank for the Heartland: "Marcus was absolutely fabulous! He was personable with the staff, major donors, and entertaining... Excellent Excellent Excellent!"
Known for Brooklyn 99, The Unicorn, Black Lady Sketch Show, Bojack Horseman, Tuca & Bertie, and 30 Rock. Host, Netflix's Emmy Award-Nominated Nailed It! Author of #VERYFAT #VERYBRAVE
Award-winning host of multiple podcasts: Why Won’t You Date Me?, Best Friends, Newcomers, and 90 Day Bae and two-time consecutive winner of the iHeartRadio Podcast Award for “Best Female Host.”
Pioneering, two-time Peabody Award-winning creator of Netflix's comedy show, Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj. Named to TIME's "100 Most Influential People in the World."
As host of The Daily Show. Trevor Noah wrote in TIME: "Patriot Act is the manifestation of Hasan’s whip-smart commentary, charisma and sincerity. It’s also a consistent reminder that Hasan is America. And America is Hasan.”
Head Writer & Executive Producer of Saturday Night Seder, Creator of BBC Radio 4’s Peer Group. His first solo show, Millennial, won the Edinburgh Comedy Award for “Best Newcomer.”
Edelman's most recent Broadway show, Just for Us, earned a nomination for a Barry Award for “Best Show” at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and a Herald Angel Award and nomination for “Best Show” at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
From Netflix's The Standups, first-ever Latina cast member on Saturday Night Live launched to stardom as a semifinalist on America’s Got Talent. Host of podcast Laughing with Myself.
Villaseñor has appeared on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, the PBS series Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr., Comedians in Cars Drinking Coffee, Barry, and Crashing, and voiced characters for Toy Story 4 and Wreck It Ralph 2.
Host of A24's late-night variety sketch show, Ziwe, one of TIME’s "100 Next Gen Leaders,"author of a much-anticipated book of essays, Black Friend, known for her Instagram Live & YouTube talk series, Baited.
Four-time Emmy & Grammy-nominated comedian, known for his popular web series, The Randy Rainbow Show. His debut memoir Playing with Myself became an instant New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller.
First Black lesbian cast member on Saturday Night Live. Her credits include Netflix’s Space Force, HBO’s A Black Lady Sketch Show, CBS’ Ghosts, Bill Burr Presents: The Ringers, and the feature film Bottoms. Writer & consultant for Peacock’s Queer as Folk reboot.
The first Latina woman to create, write, and star in a network TV show, Cristela. Creator of Netflix's Lower Classy and a fan-favorite guest host on ABC’s The View. Podcast host of To Be Continued and author of Music to My Years: A Mixtape-Memoir of Growing Up and Standing Up.
Our HWA sales team is ready to help you book the best speaker for your event, no matter the focus. Our experts can connect you with the best guest speakers for your organization, so you can curate a calendar of unforgettable events that will connect, celebrate, and inspire your community.
Chefs | Comedians & Humorists | Artists & Entertainers | The Mind/Body Connection | Inspiration & Wellness
My Speaker List
