Human Connection
& Leadership Keynote Speaker
ABOUT RIAZ MEGHJI
When I was 22, a friend asked me to think twice about pursuing a lucrative lifestyle as an investment banker.
All of the plans were in place for a secure career path, yet he firmly believed in my ability to succeed in the presentation business. I was challenged to take one year to pursue something special. It was a conversation that changed my life.
What’s the conversation that could change yours?
-Riaz
“Practical. Meaningful.
Moving.
Riaz’s thought-provoking keynote at our Power of Connection conference was one of our highest rated sessions.
CARISSA SCHMITZ
VP, People Strategy and Consulting
Thomson Reuters
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.
FEATURED IN
Life In Television
Drawing from 20 years of experience as a television host, author, and human connection keynote speaker, Riaz delivers his engaging and playful approach that brings out the best in his interview subjects, including recognizable names such as Tom Cruise, Jennifer Lopez, Salman Rushdie and Gary Vaynerchuk.
FEATURED ARTICLES
WorkshopS
As your event keynote speaker, Riaz also delivers highly-interactive workshops for your group to go deeper with building connections and becoming impactful storytellers.
GET THE
Discover the 5 habits of human connection that help combat loneliness and isolation, spark real conversations, and create extraordinary relationships.
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“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 & 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.”
– CARISSA SCHMITZ,
VP, People Strategy and Consulting,
Thomson Reuters -
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“Riaz was a superb choice as keynote speaker for our hotel leadership conference!
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!”
– JENNIFER CONNELL
VP and Global Brand Leader,
Premium Distinctive and Collections Brands, Marriott International -
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“Riaz Meghji was one of the most captivating keynote speakers at the ASAE Executive Leadership Conference in Vancouver.
Associations are in the people and relationship businesses. Riaz’s thought-provoking insights on human connectivity, engagement, and the importance of being a trusted source, reinforced the value of associations and why the industry is critical now more than ever before. The collective impact of bringing people together to accomplish great things can have widespread global influence.”
– MICHELLE MASON,
President & CEO,
American Society for Association Executives
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