Derek Sweeney

Commander
DISC Type : D

Director Of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Overview

Derek Sweeney is the Director and founder of The Sweeney Agency, a Toronto-based speakers bureau he established in 2003. With over 20 years of experience, he specializes in a research-first approach to connect corporate clients with the ideal keynote speakers. Colleagues and clients describe him as a bright, intuitive strategist and a true partner.

Drawing from his past experience as a Director of Communications for the Daily Bread Food Bank, Derek shows an interest in community-focused initiatives. His professional interests extend to global leadership and economic discussions, evidenced by his engagement with organizations like the World Economic Forum and YPO.

His agency maintains a database with information on over 20,000 speakers to perfectly match them to client needs.

Personality Overview

Candid & Clear

Strong-Willed

Risk-Taker

They respond better to strong and respectful interactions.  They like to stay in control of the negotiation or defining of the terms. They put a lot of effort into ensuring personal success.

Topics They Care About

Finding Keynote Speakers
His core business for over 20 years involves a client-centric model, listening carefully to needs and using data to find the perfect speaker for corporate and association events.
Leadership Communication
He actively researches speakers and authors on improving communication skills to help clients foster clarity, active listening, and thoughtful delivery within their leadership teams.
Employee Engagement
He shares content about solving challenges like employee burnout, communication gaps, and lack of recognition, highlighting the link between engagement and productivity.

Media Appearances

Derek has no verified media appearances

Work History

2-2003
Director Of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency
1-2003
Director of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency Speakers Bureau at The Sweeney Agency
10-1997 - 1-1998
Communications Specialist at CIBC
3-1995 - 9-1998
Vice President Of Business Development at Byron International Canada
1-1989 - 5-1993
Director Of Communications at Daily Bread Food Bank

Education

1975 - 1980
Education details unavailable from Marion College

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 30 Location : Toronto, Ontario, Canada Job Level : Mid-senior Designation : Director Of Speaker Ideas at The Sweeney Agency
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Insights For Selling To Derek

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Refer to testimonials from well-known industry leaders
  • Use phrases like ‘it’s your decision’, ‘strategic impact’ etc.
  • Be respectful but crisp

DONT's

  • Avoid being too verbose
  • Don’t be in a rush to invite them for a social meet and greet
  • Do not back off when challenged, respond with a confident, objective answer instead

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Derek is

  • Conviction around the impact matters the most to them, followed by a sense of achievement and ROI.
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Derek

  • If they decide not to use your product, they will say no clearly.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Derek move?

  • If convinced, they can reach decisions quite fast.
  • Can Derek take some risk or not?

  • They do not shy away from taking risks, but can be quite binary about them.

You And Derek

Personality Compatibility


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