Erik Wahl
Internationally Recognized Graffiti Artist & TED Speaker | #1 Bestselling Author of UNTHINK & The Spark and the Grind | 1,500+ Keynotes in 21 Countries | Creativity, AI & Innovation
Sekou Andrews
GRAMMY-Nominated Spoken Word Poet | Two-Time National Poetry Slam Champion | Creator of Poetic Voice Keynotes
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Forbes called Sekou Andrews "the de facto poet laureate of corporate America," and his Grammy-nominated artistry backs it up. Creator of the Poetic Voice keynote, he blends the rhythm and emotion of spoken word with the strategic clarity of a business talk. Organizations such as Apple, Google, Salesforce, and the Obama Foundation book him to give their people a shared sense of purpose and a message they remember.
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Sekou Andrews biography
Motivational speaker Sekou Andrews is a Grammy-nominated spoken word poet and the creator of Poetic Voice, a keynote format that blends the rhythm, surprise, and emotion of spoken word with the strategic clarity of a business talk. Forbes called him “the de facto poet laureate of corporate America,” and organizations including Apple, Google, Salesforce, Nike, and the Obama Foundation have brought him in to give their people a message they feel as well as understand.
Andrews began his career as a schoolteacher before becoming an actor, recording artist, and two-time national poetry slam champion. That path shaped his belief that information should be experienced rather than simply delivered. He has performed on HBO’s Def Poetry and BET’s Lyric Café, and his work has been featured on ABC World News, MSNBC, Good Morning America, Showtime, and MTV.
His clients span technology, healthcare, finance, and sports, including Toyota, Cisco, LinkedIn, PayPal, Capital One, L’Oréal, the NBA, Johnson & Johnson, Mayo Clinic, Roche, Genentech, and TEDMED. He has performed privately for Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, Quincy Jones, and President Barack Obama, and has shared stages with Stevie Wonder, Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, and Carlos Santana.
From Poetry Slam Champion to Grammy Nominee
Andrews made history as a spoken word poet when Sekou Andrews & The String Theory earned a nomination for Best Spoken Word Album at the Grammy Awards, in a category that included Michelle Obama. He has also turned his methods into Stage Might, a training program that teaches executives and leaders to apply the techniques of master performers to business communication.
Beyond his keynotes, Andrews writes and performs custom spoken word pieces for product launches, anniversaries, culture shifts, award ceremonies, and conference finales, capturing an organization’s story, mission, or theme in an original work delivered live.
As a speaker, Sekou Andrews delivers the emotional impact of a live performance together with the substance of a leadership keynote. He tailors every session to the client’s goals, addressing themes such as leadership, innovation, AI and the future of work, change, belonging, resilience, and human connection. Audiences leave with a shared sense of purpose, language they remember, and a fresh perspective on how to inspire and engage their own teams.
Sekou Andrews Speaking Videos
How to light fires with your voice (closing talk): Sekou Andrews at TEDxUofM
Revolution 101: Sekou Andrews at TEDxUofM
Sekou Andrews Speaking Topics
Most keynotes deliver information, and a few manage to inspire. Poetic Voice, the format Sekou Andrews created, does both by pairing the rhythm, surprise, and emotion of spoken word with the clear strategic message of a business keynote. Each session is built around the client’s goals and can focus on leadership, innovation, AI and the future of work, change, culture, belonging, resilience, or customer experience. Audiences leave aligned around a shared purpose, carrying phrases they repeat long after the event, and the standing ovation feels earned. Running 45 to 75 minutes, it works especially well as an opening or closing keynote, at annual kickoffs and vision events, at brand launches, and at moments of cultural change.
For organizations that want a moment no one will forget, Andrews writes an original spoken word piece commissioned for a specific company or event. Working from the organization’s history, a team’s mission, or the theme of the gathering, he turns it into a performance delivered live on stage. These pieces are a powerful fit for product launches, anniversaries and milestones, culture shifts, award ceremonies and galas, executive retreats, and the closing session of multi-day conferences.
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FAQs on Booking Sekou Andrews
Booking Sekou Andrews gives your event a keynote that people feel as well as understand. As the creator of Poetic Voice, he combines the artistry of a Grammy-nominated spoken word poet and two-time national poetry slam champion with a clear business message tailored to your goals. Organizations such as Apple, Google, Salesforce, Nike, Mayo Clinic, and the Obama Foundation have trusted him with openings, closings, kickoffs, and launches, where his performances leave audiences aligned and energized. Whether your theme is leadership, innovation, AI, change, or culture, he can deliver a keynote or an original spoken word piece written for your event. To book Sekou Andrews, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau and one of our founders will respond within 24 hours.
Poetic Voice is a keynote format created by Sekou Andrews that blends the rhythm, imagery, and emotion of spoken word poetry with the strategic content of a business or leadership talk. Instead of relying on slides and bullet points, it delivers the message through language audiences feel and remember, which helps ideas stay with people long after the event. Each Poetic Voice keynote is customized to the client’s goals and audience.
Yes. Sekou Andrews earned a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word Album for Sekou Andrews & The String Theory, a collaboration with the artist collective The String Theory. The nomination was a rare honor for a spoken word poet, in a category that also included Michelle Obama. Andrews is also a two-time national poetry slam champion and has performed on HBO’s Def Poetry and BET’s Lyric Café.
Sekou Andrews speaks on leadership, innovation, disruption, AI and the future of work, communication and storytelling, creativity, change management, organizational culture, employee engagement, customer experience, belonging, psychological safety, resilience, wellbeing, and human connection. He also writes custom spoken word pieces for launches, milestones, award ceremonies, and conference finales. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check his availability for your event.
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Sekou Andrews as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Sekou Andrews's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Sekou Andrews or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
Sekou Andrews speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Sekou Andrews to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Sekou Andrews.
We only work with Sekou Andrews on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Sekou Andrews and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Sekou Andrews speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Sekou Andrews for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Yes, Sekou Andrews is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Sekou Andrews for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
