WHO ARE YOU, JD GERSHBEIN?

I am a speaker, raconteur, thought provocateur, facilitator, style aficionado, improviser, writer, explorer, social psychologist, neuroscience geek, philosopher, consultant, coach, mentor, marketer, actor, educator, video storyteller, broadcaster, photographer, new media producer, humorist, cartoonist, playwright, composer, blues pianist, cinephile, baseball sage, husband, father, golden retriever lover, fitness enthusiast, and pizza connoisseur. I am known for my upbeat nature, rapid-fire wit, and signature round spectacles (an homage to former Beatle John Lennon and the silent film star Harold Lloyd). Much as I try, I cannot juggle.

WHAT DO YOU DO?

I am a professional speaker, founder, and principal of Owlish Communications, a consultancy providing bespoke LinkedIn® branding and advisory services. Executives, leaders, entrepreneurs, physicians, advisors, boutique service providers, creators, sellers, and B2B companies retain me to redesign and optimize their LinkedIn® profiles, increase their social engagement through high-quality content, and assist them in harnessing LinkedIn’s immense transformational potential as I have. Soon after discovering the site in 2006, I transitioned from a traditional marketing communications practice to becoming one of the world’s first independent LinkedIn® consultants, and I haven’t looked back.

WHAT DOES YOUR WORK ENTAIL?

The IN® Logo is the Registered Trademark of the LinkedIn Corporation.

My research encompasses LinkedIn’s cognitive aspects (decision-making, identity formation) and social components (relationship science, sales behavior). I study how these two interrelated spheres of knowledge and their various subsets drive professional growth and leadership development. I share my findings with Fortune 500 companies, SMBs, associations, organizations, LinkedIn® Nation, and various media channels. I design and produce unique, interactive LinkedIn® learning experiences (IRL and virtual) that help attendees build insights and self-confidence. I speak publicly at conferences, facilitate LinkedIn® workshops for companies, and deliver seminars on college campuses for students (undergrad and graduate), school alums, and corporate partners.

WHAT'S YOUR BACKGROUND?

I received my B.A. in English from the McMicken College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Cincinnati. I earned two postgraduate degrees at Illinois Tech (formerly the Illinois Institute of Technology), an M.S. in Industrial/Organizational psychology, and an M.B.A. in Marketing Communications from the Stuart School of Business. In spring 2011, Stuart offered me an adjunct professor position and invited me to design and teach the school’s first-ever graduate school course on social media marketing. To the best of my knowledge, my acceptance marked the first time the subject became part of an MBA curriculum at a major academic institution.

WHERE CAN I FIND YOU?

I do not keep myself a secret. You’ll see me in all the familiar places, wherever you get your social media.

HOW CAN I BOOK YOU TO SPEAK?

Are you a meeting and event professional responsible for speaker selection at your IRL, virtual, or hybrid conference, trade show, organizational meeting, or corporate retreat?
Are you a meeting and event professional responsible for speaker selection at your IRL, virtual, or hybrid conference, trade show, organizational meeting, or corporate retreat?
Are you a sales leader seeking to increase the knowledge and effectiveness of your field force in a highly competitive marketplace?
Are you a chief learning officer, corporate team leader, or HR professional striving to keep your team engaged while navigating today’s complex work environment?

Complete and submit the form below to begin a conversation with me.

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SPEAKER ♦ CREATOR ♦ LINKEDIN SPECIALIST