Case Study

From High Stakes to High Confidence: How Denise McGinn Booked the Right Crisis Leadership Speaker with Talkadot

Denise McGinn
Meet Denise McGinn

Denise McGinn is a Certified Association Executive (CAE) and owner of Association Guidance. She designs programs for multiple non-profits with a focus on risk management and workplace safety across Michigan. Her events serve decision-makers who operate in real-world, high-stakes environments, where clarity and trust matter.

The Challenge: Leadership When the Stakes Are Real

We always want to provide value for our leaders - the right speaker is so important.

For a client event in Lansing, MI, Denise needed a speaker who could deliver a credible, practical message on leadership in crisis to an audience of municipal leaders.

Became the Solution
How Talkadot Became the Solution

Using Talkadot, Denise booked Pat Doering, a speaker whose background immediately stood out.

Pat draws from his experience as a crisis and hostage negotiator, speaking on:

  • Barricades and bias in crisis communication
  • Life-and-death leadership decisions
  • How to listen like a negotiator when tensions are high

Just as important, Pat’s Talkadot profile provided hard proof, not just a compelling story:

  • 100% of 909 attendees across 57 events found his talk valuable
  • 99% of 909 attendees would hear him speak again

That level of verified audience data gave Denise confidence she was making the right choice for a discerning, high-responsibility audience.

The Results: Confidence Before the Event Ever Began

With Pat booked, Denise secured a speaker whose credibility matched the gravity of the topic and the expectations of municipal leaders.

The decision was backed by real audience data, not guesswork, reducing risk and increasing confidence long before anyone stepped on stage.

Knowing a speaker has already performed well with similar audiences is such a confidence boost.

Key Takeaways: Why This Works

Audience-First Fit: Pat’s real-world crisis experience aligned perfectly with municipal leadership realities

Data-Backed Confidence: 900+ verified audience responses removed uncertainty from the decision

Risk Reduction: Denise booked knowing the message had already proven effective with similar audiences

Right Message, Right Messenger: Leadership in crisis requires more than inspiration, it requires credibility and experience

Book with Confidence, Not Guesswork

Denise used Talkadot to find a speaker backed by data, credibility, and real-world experience. When the stakes are high, book with confidence.