901-754-9404
My List0

We've now made it easier for you to research and save your favorite keynotes speakers. Click on the + sign to add a speaker to your Speaker List and email your favorites to colleagues and friends.

using System.Text.RegularExpressions;
Peter McGraw, keynote speaker
5
1 Review(s)

Peter McGraw

    • Humor Researcher
    • Behavioral Economist
    • Rule Breaking Innovation
    • Marketing Insights
Full Bio
In Person-Fee 🛈

$15,000 - $20,000

Virtual Fee:

Please Inquire

Travels From

Colorado

Peter McGraw's Speaking Reel - Rule Breaking Innovation

Peter McGraw's Speaking Reel - Rule Breaking Innovation

Peter McGraw Speaker Biography


Dr. Peter McGraw is a bachelor, behavioral economist, and business school professor at the University of Colorado Boulder. He hosts the podcast Solo-The Single Person’s Guide to a Remarkable Life, he writes for Single Insights – The Science of Solos, and hosts The Solo Salon.

As a global expert on the scientific study of humor, he founded the Humor Research Lab (aka HuRL). He has spent fifteen years examining the antecedents and consequences of humor. In 2014, he co-authored The Humor Code: A Global Search for What Makes Things Funny. In 2020, he authored: Shtick to Business: What the Masters of Comedy can Teach You about Breaking Rules, Being Fearless, and Building a Serious Career.

A marketing and psychology professor at the University of Colorado Boulder, McGraw’s research has been covered by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, BBC, TIME, CNN, Wired, and Harvard Business Review. McGraw has written for Slate, Wired, Fortune, Huffington Post, Psychology Today, and the Wall Street Journal.

McGraw teaches graduate courses in behavioral economics for the University of Colorado Boulder and MBA courses in marketing management for London Business School, University of California San Diego’s Rady School, and University of Colorado Boulder. He speaks at Fortune 500 companies, public events, and universities around the world.

Leveraging the Rise of Singles in the Workplace
How do organizations recruit and retain the best workers in a competitive marketplace? One way is to look at a huge overlooked group of employees who are becoming impossible to ignore.
Singles.

In 1960, American business was booming—and so was matrimony. Seventy-two percent of adults were married, 90% would marry, and 65% of married couples had children under 18 in their household.

Fast forward to today, the landscape has shifted dramatically: half of all adults and half of the workforce in the U.S. are unmarried. A look around your workplace will reveal recent college grads, never-married elder Millennials, divorced empty nesters, and semi-retired widows.

According to Pew Research one in four Millennials will never marry.

HR policies and management practices in 1960 were designed with the premise that employees would eventually marry and have a family. With that outcome no longer inevitable, legacy practices and policies may cause single employees to feel singled out—especially those who won’t partner up, settle down, and have children.

To address this shift, Peter McGraw suggests updating three key areas—benefits, scheduling, and culture—in order to improve workplace morale and the ability to attract and serve single employees while not making non-single employees worse off.

By updating HR policies and management practices to be more inclusive of single employees, companies can not only enhance workplace morale but also position themselves as forward-thinking and adaptable in a competitive market. Ignoring this growing segment risks alienating a significant portion of the talent pool, whereas embracing it can pave the way for a more diverse, inclusive, and productive work environment.

Selling and Marketing to Singles
In a marketplace where a 3% demographic shift is seen as a significant opportunity, businesses are overlooking a massive opportunity happening on a global scale.

As the conventional nuclear family structure of the 1960s wanes, a new dominant demographic force emerges: the single household. Half of the adult U.S. population, approximately 128 million individuals, are single—and a deliberate choice by many. Half of singles aren't interested in dating or a relationship at the moment, and many are staying single forever. Businesses should take note of the surge in one-person households, which have increased from 13% in 1960 to 28% in 2020.

Peter McGraw contends singles are an overlooked and undervalued market segment that smart businesses can engage to escape competition. He presents factors driving the striking rise of singlehood globally, delves into the unique needs and lifestyles of singles, and proposes strategies businesses can adopt to better serve this enormous customer base.

While singles are a varied demographic, their objectives, lifestyles, and resources frequently diverge from those of their partnered peers. McGraw introduces four categories of singles—Somedays, Just Mays, No Ways, and New Ways—and highlights how their distinct needs present lucrative opportunities for astute businesses. Throughout his talk, McGraw incorporates success stories and case studies, showcasing enterprises that have flourished by addressing the solo consumer's needs.

In an ever-evolving marketplace, recognizing and adapting to demographic shifts is crucial. The rise of the single consumer presents a golden opportunity for businesses willing to understand and cater to their unique needs.

Living Single in a World Built for Two
The single adult demographic is not just growing—it's thriving. With half of single adults in the United States choosing singlehood and similar trends occurring globally, it's time to dispel myths and understand the true essence of this societal shift.

Join Peter McGraw as he explores:
• The Single Surge: Dive into statistics that highlight the rapid rise of single living. From the U.S. to Sweden and South Korea, understand the extent and implications of this global trend.
• Busting Stereotypes: Debunk prevalent misconceptions surrounding singles, based on hundreds of interviews and thousands of survey responses:
• Are singles truly lonely and constantly seeking partnerships?
• Is the choice of singlehood a reflection of an inability to commit or create a family?
• Does the rise in single living signify a societal decline?
• The Positive Impact of Singles: Celebrate the diverse contributions of singles to society. From community involvement to economic contributions to making great art, single adults play a pivotal role in shaping the modern world.
• Lessons from the Single Life: Discover three profound lessons that even married individuals can learn from singles to enrich their lives.

With policymakers, religious leaders, and even your Aunt Sally urging people to marry, it's crucial to recognize that for many adults, this choice is neither a temporary phase nor a 'lesser' lifestyle.

Shtick to Business: From Punchline to Bottom Line
Let the world’s funniest people show your organization how to drive growth and sustainable success. Comedians don't just make us laugh; they epitomize resilience, creativity, and innovation. Their tools of the trade can provide businesses with unparalleled strategies to thrive.

As a global expert in the scientific study of humor who has shared the with comics and spent time with them in dingy green rooms, Peter McGraw presents entertaining insights gleaned from the masters of comedy—and most creative rule breakers:
• How a simple “101” comedy trick used by Chris Rock, Ali Wong, and Anthony Jeslenik can overcome biases and reveal new business opportunities.
• Why Tina Fey and Amy Poehler’s approach to comedy is the model for the radical collaboration needed to implement creative solutions
• What tactics Mae West, Jim Gaffigan, and the writers of The Onion use to enhance inventive thinking.
• Why smart businesses are building brands like Dave Chappelle, Joan Rivers, and Sarah Silverman in order to get ahead of the competition.
• How to develop Jerry Seinfeld’s comic-as-outside perspective in order to identify new growth opportunities and fearlessly smash the status quo.

The world of comedy, surprisingly, offers a treasure trove of insights. McGraw—with the help of the world’s funniest people—will help you uniquely solve problems, craft messages that cut through the clutter, and create ground-breaking products and captivating brands.

Related Speakers

Gary McCord Speaker

Gary McCord

CBS Golf Analyst & Champions Tour Player

Aimee Mullins Speaker

Aimee Mullins

Groundbreaking Athlete

Joe Mull keynote speaker

Joe Mull, CSP

Captivating expert on workforce

Olivia Fox Cabane, Branding Speaker

Olivia Fox Cabane

Fortune 500 Executive Coach

Carla Harris, Speaker

Carla Harris

Vice Chairman of Wealth Management

Brent Adamson keynote speaker

Brent Adamson

World-Renowned Researcher

Risha Grant, speaker

Risha Grant

Diversity Done Differently

Erinn Valencich, Social Speaker

Erinn Valencich

TV Personality & Interior Designer

Todd Dewett, Speaker

Todd Dewett

Two time #1 Worldwide Best Selling Author

Srinivas Rao, speaker

Srini Rao

Host and founder of The Unmistakable Creative Podcast and author of Unmistakable: Why Only Is Better Than Best

Terre Short, Keynote Speaker

Terre Short

CEO and Founder of Short Group

Paul Stoltz, Hiring Speaker

Paul Stoltz

World's Leading Expert on Resilience and Creator of the Adversity Quotient®

Reviews

Customer Rating 5

5
1
4
0
3
0
2
0
1
0
Click testimonials tab below for detailed feedback.

September 20, 2021

Peter was kind, easy to work with and knowledgeable.

NBMBAA

Testimonials

A wonderful bureau to work with! Big ups to everyone who helped make our event a success. Fingers crossed we get the chance to collaborate fo..

MDRT | Testimonial

"As always, you are the best most responsive speaker bureau I've ever worked with!"

Image Media

Angela Schelp was a great partner in finding the right kick-off speaker for our conference. This was my first conference identifying the keyn..

CubeSmart

I just wanted to thank Matt Meyer and Sheryl Moon for their meticulous assistance with identifying, securing and preparing our chosen guest s..

Testimonials | TraceLink | Executive Speakers

This was my first experience using ESB to locate and secure a keynote speaker for my Corporate event. They were extremely easy to work with a..

AngMar Medical Holdings

"Matt Meyer was really wonderful in assisting me to find the correct keynote speaker for our conference. Jenny Foreman was completely on top ..

The Anchor Group

"As always, Executive Speakers Bureau helped us execute another flawless event. It is always so reassuring to know that you have a team behin..

Texas Hospital Association

"What stands out about the times I have worked with Executive Speakers Bureau is their lightning-fast response time. ESB’s account exec..

Keynote Speaker

"I've worked with Richard and ESB for many years and he's always able to deliver for us. He works hard to meet your speaker goals within the ..

Chem Dry

"Angela is the best!!! I can always count on her honest feedback about speakers. She helps me look like a hero to my company!"

Testimonials | Medtronic | Executive Speakers
Need Suggestions? Have Questions?

Need Suggestions? Have Questions?

Call to discuss how we can you help find the right speaker(s) for your organization.

© 2023 Executive Speakers Bureau. All Rights Reserved.

Design and Developed by eBiz Solutions

Get Ideas in 1 hour or less

Executive Speakers Bureau consistently receives praises about our speed and efficiency. From the beginning of your event planning, our extensive online speaker database and resourceful staff allow us to quickly equip you with the best speaker for your event.

Need a last minute speaker? No worries. Our speed and efficiency help us give you ideas for speakers in one hour or less.

Please fill in information below