Mike Southon Biography
Mike Southon is an inspirational keynote speaker at conferences around the world, as well as a hugely successful serial entrepreneur and best-selling author.
Background and Career
In the ‘80s, Mike co-founded The Instruction Set and turned it into Europe’s leading open systems consultancy and training business, prior to selling the company to Cap Gemini Ernst & Young in 1989. In the ‘90s, he worked with 17 start-ups, two of which, RiverSoft and Micromuse, later went public.
In 2002 he co-authored numerous best-selling books on entrepreneurship and growing businesses -‘The Beermat Entrepreneur’, ‘The Boardroom Entrepreneur’ (about entrepreneurship), ‘Sales on a Beermat’, and ‘Finance on a Beermat’.
A Fellow of the Professional Speaking Association, Mike speaks at over 100 events every year all over the world, to a wide variety of multi-national audiences, everyone from students to board-level executives.
Mike is also a very experienced conference moderator and facilitator, having interviewed over 100 people on stage -including Sir Richard Branson for his new book Screw Business As Usual.
He is also an experienced entrepreneur mentor, having provided face-to-face mentoring for over 1,000 people in the last ten years.
Mike is proud to be Ambassador for the Federation of Small Businesses and Entrepreneur in Residence for the City of Liverpool.
He is also a Freeman of the City of London.
Speaking Topics
Mike Southon is a top entrepreneurial business speaker and conference facilitator.
- Helping people to be more creative and entrepreneurial in both small and large organisations
- Helping people to be more effective at sales, especially non-salespeople
For further information or to book Mike Southon for a corporate event, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Mike Southon Video
Mike Southon Speaker Showreel - Click play to watch a short sample video clip of Mike Southon. For more information on Mike Southon please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Mike Southon News
A selection of relevant news related to Mike Southon, After Dinner Speakers and Keynote Speakers, Business Speakers, Entrepreneurs, Innovation Speakers, Sales/Customer Service and Technology Speakers stories. For more information on Mike Southon or details as to how to book Mike Southon for your corporate event, please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Mike Southon Presents Richard Branson at the Global Entrepreneurship Congress
14th March 2012
Richard Branson greeted hundreds of entrepreneurs and delegates at the 2012 Global Entrepreneurship Congress in Liverpool. The event’s facilitator was Mike Southon, serial entrepreneur and best-selling author.
Simon Calver Becomes an Author
28th February 2013
After dinner speaker and current CEO of Mothercare, Simon Calver, has decided to write a book about his time working as the head of Lovefilm, the movie rental service.
Tony Fernandes and Arianna Huffington Amongst 100 Most Creative People In Business
2nd June 2011
Entrepreneur Tony Fernandes; media mogul Arianna Huffington; facebook genius Chris Cox and happiness expert Tony Hsieh, are some of the top names on a list of the 100 Most Creative People In Business, compiled by industry magazine Fast Company.
Innovative Speakers Gather at TED 2012
28th June 2012
California is once again the sunny location for TED, the most innovative and exciting conference on the planet, where speakers with ‘ideas worth spreading’ gather to share their thoughts on technology, design, science, media, politics, the arts, and other insights on how to shape a better word.
California Hosts TED 2012 – The Full Spectrum
1st March 2012
Speakers Corner boasts a vast selection of TED speakers, including Dr. Rachel Armstrong, Chris Anderson, Rory Bremner, Tim Harford, Magnus Lindkvist, Charles Hazlewood and Nic Marks.
Facebook’s Stockmarket Bid
2nd February 2012
Social networking site Facebook has announced plans to float on the stock market, in what is expected to be the biggest ever sale of shares by a US internet company.
Top 10 Speakers for 2012
27th December 2011
As the year draws to a close, Speakers Corner looks forward to the promise of the intriguing and opportune months ahead. 2012 is set to be a year of economic optimism, business innovation and a host of rising stars on the corporate circuit – all primed to motivate, educate, stimulate and entertain.
Richard Reed Tells of Innocent Success
19th December 2011
Innocent co-founder Richard Reed tells Director Magazine how his company kept control after breaking corporate tradition by selling a £30m stake to Coca-Cola in 2009. Innocent has maintained its position as arguably the most successful UK brand of the new millennium, and Speakers Corner proudly presents a host of Innocent speakers, all ideally placed to motivate and entertain on the corporate circuit. Joe McEwan, Dan Germain and Jessica Sansom, as well as Reed himself are all in high demand for corporate events.
Steve Jobs Biography Tops Amazon’s Bestsellers
15th December 2011
Walter Isaacson's authorised biography of Steve Jobs has topped Amazon's bestseller chart for 2011.
Mary Perkins Wins Director of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award
2nd November 2011
Director Magazine has awarded Dame Mary Perkins, Specsavers queen, entrepreneur, and retail keynote speaker, the Director of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award.
Mike Southon Reviews
Mike Southon has spoken and appeared at a number of recent corporate events. Please find some client speaker testimonials and reviews for Mike Southon for a number of these events and conferences. If you would like some additional information as to how to book Mike Southon for your corporate event, then please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Mik epitched his presentation very well for the audience. Feedback from attendees was very positive.
Mike's presentation did exactly what it claims – it helped us double our sales in three months
Wisdom without jargon: practical, practicable advice for the would-be entrepreneur
97% of delegates said they were inspired by Mike’ Southon’s presentation.
Q & A with Mike Southon
Mike Southon answered some probing questions for Speakers Corner. For speaking secrets revealed - read on! To book Mike Southon for your event, please contact one of the Speakers Corner booking agents on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Speakers Corner: How did the corporate speaking start?
Mike Southon: The Beermat Entrepreneur was published in 2002, became an instant best seller and I then became a full-time professional speaker
Speakers Corner: Can you remember your first speaking engagement?
Mike Southon: Yes, it was at the launch of The Beermat Entrepreneur, a charity event for The Prince’s Trust (who also get a royalty from our book) at the Palace Theatre in London for around 1,750 people.
Speakers Corner: And your last event?
Mike Southon: An after-dinner talk on ‘intrapreneurship’ (entrepreneurship in large organisations) for the Chief Executives of Local Authorities
Speakers Corner: Which event has been your favourite and why?
Mike Southon: The Entrepreneur Business School in Bali – amazing location, great audience and the first time I delivered what became Something About The Beatles.
Speakers Corner: If you could speak at any event, past or future, what would it be?
Mike Southon: The main TED event (www.ted.com) or The world Economic forum in Davos (www.weforum.org)
Speakers Corner: Who would you most like to share a platform with?
Mike Southon: Bill Clinton and Tony Blair
Speakers Corner: On average, how many times a year do you speak at corporate events?
Mike Southon: Over 100 - I did 129 in 2009
Speakers Corner: Do you use PowerPoint?
Mike Southon: Yes, because Something About The Beatles contains videos and music
Speakers Corner: Are you as happy speaking to 50 as to 1,000 people?
Mike Southon: Absolutely!
Speakers Corner: How do you like to be introduced?
Mike Southon: “Financial Times columnist and best-selling business author Mike Southon”
Speakers Corner: Do you always like to do a briefing call before the event?
Mike Southon: Yes, this is essential
Speakers Corner: What are the most asked for topics?
Mike Southon: Entrepreneurship, enterprise creativity and innovation, in small and large organisations
Speakers Corner: Is your speech at all interactive with audience participation?
Mike Southon: Yes
Speakers Corner: Do you have any funny/embarrassing speaking anecdotes you care to share?
Mike Southon: Best stage stories are as my alter-ego Mike Fab-Gere - broke my leg on stage, but finished the show before going to hospital
Speakers Corner: Your favourite film?
Mike Southon: The Usual Suspects
Speakers Corner: Favourite book?
Mike Southon: One Hundred Years of Solitude
Speakers Corner: Favourite holiday destination?
Mike Southon: Bali
Speakers Corner: What’s your tipple – wine, beer, champagne?
Mike Southon: Wine
Speakers Corner: Country or townie?
Mike Southon: Definitely as city boy - London
For further information or to book Mike Southon, call us on +44 (0)20 7607 7070 or email info@speakerscorner.co.uk
Other speakers you might like
Simon Singh
Simon Singh is an author, journalist and TV producer who specialises in science and mathematics and opens up a fascinating world to anyone who hears him speak.
Gerald Ratner
Gerald Ratner talks about his life in a humourous and motivational way and explains how he picked himself up after 'that' gaffe to run a successful business.
Paul McGee
Internationally known speaker, facilitator & author, Paul McGee is best known as the SUMO Man, teaching all to Shut Up, Move On
Justin Basini
Biochemist, one-time Zulu Warrior, shampoo-seller, erstwhile banker, insight driven author and surviving entrepreneur Justin Basini the keynote speaker both illuminates and entertains.
