Keynotes That Make Family Business Leaders Think, Laugh & Act
Stephen Shortt brings authenticity, humour, and hard-won wisdom to one of the most emotional topics in business. Having bought both family businesses from his parents and still working with them today, he doesn't teach theory - he shares what he's lived.
What Event Organisers Can Expect
More Than Just A Talk
Stephen tailors every engagement to your audience. Whether it's a 30-minute keynote or a half-day workshop, your attendees leave with practical frameworks they can use immediately.
Customised Content
Every talk is tailored to your audience, industry, and event objectives. Stephen works with organisers beforehand to make sure the message resonates with the people in the room.
Energy & Engagement
Blending storytelling, humour, and audience interaction, Stephen keeps rooms engaged from start to finish. No slides full of bullet points. No death-by-PowerPoint.
Practical Takeaways
Every session includes actionable frameworks and tools attendees can apply immediately - real strategies they can put to work on Monday morning.
Flagship Keynote
Build a Killer Family Business, Without Killing Your Family
This session goes beyond the technicalities of tax, governance, and ownership. It dives into the human side of succession - the conversations, trust, and alignment that make or break a family business across generations.
How to plan succession while protecting family relationships
Communication strategies to bridge generational divides
Frameworks to prepare and empower next-generation leaders
Built around The 5 Ps of Successful Succession
The 5 Ps of Successful Succession
Perfect For
Who Books Stephen?
Family Business Conferences & Associations
National and regional family business events, chambers of commerce, and industry associations.
Entrepreneurship Organisations
EO chapters, YPO forums, Vistage groups and similar peer networks running family businesses.
Corporate & Leadership Events
Conferences focused on leadership, team dynamics, and organisational growth.
Business Operating System Events
EOS, Bloom Growth, Scaling Up and similar frameworks where the family layer adds complexity.
Where I've spoken
Dots on the map.
82 places in 58 countries.
Keynote, MC, panel and workshop roles. Hover or tap a dot for details.
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What People Say
From the People Who've Heard Stephen Speak
"I think he's a lovely boy…"
Marie Shortt
Stephen's Mum
Also Available
Other Speaking Topics
Build a Killer Family Business, Without Killing Your Family
The lessons from a lifetime in family enterprises - the successes, the struggles, and the fireworks around the dinner table.
NextGENtrepreneurs
Designed for next-generation family business members - finding identity, earning credibility, leading with the family name.
[In]Side Hustle
Developing in-house projects and innovation to engage the next generation - before they go looking for excitement elsewhere.
What Organisations Can Learn From the Best Run Family Businesses
The principles that make family businesses quietly, stubbornly successful across generations.
Let's Talk
Every event is different. Let's talk about yours.
Whether it's a 30-minute keynote, a 90-minute workshop, or a full-day programme - every engagement is tailored to your audience.