Corrie Block
Tier-1 Executive Coach | TEDx Speaker | Professor, Monarch Business School Switzerland | 2x Amazon #1 Bestselling Author
Robert Cialdini
"The Godfather of Influence" | Regents' Professor Emeritus, Arizona State University | Member, National Academy of Sciences | Bestselling Author of Influence & Pre-Suasion
Few thinkers have shaped business practice more profoundly than Dr. Robert Cialdini — the scientist who cracked the code of human persuasion. His seven principles of influence, backed by five decades of peer-reviewed research, are now standard curriculum at top business schools and inside the world's most sophisticated organizations. On stage, he transforms behavioral science into vivid, actionable insights that senior audiences apply immediately.
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Robert Cialdini biography
Dr. Robert Cialdini is the world’s foremost authority on the science of persuasion and ethical influence — a distinction earned not through opinion, but through over five decades of rigorous, peer-reviewed scientific research. Widely known as “The Godfather of Influence,” he is Regents’ Professor Emeritus of Psychology and Marketing at Arizona State University, where he spent his career transforming behavioral science into actionable business strategy. He holds a PhD from the University of North Carolina and postdoctoral training from Columbia University, and has held Visiting Scholar appointments at Ohio State University, the University of California, the Annenberg School of Communications, and the Stanford Graduate School of Business.
Psychology speaker Robert Cialdini is best known for identifying and codifying the universal principles that cause people to say “yes” — frameworks drawn from three years of fieldwork inside sales organizations, fund-raising firms, and negotiation environments, then validated through decades of controlled academic study. His landmark book, Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, introduced these principles to the world and became one of the most consequential business books ever written. Today, it has sold over seven million copies across 44 languages and appears on prestigious lists including Fortune’s “75 Smartest Business Books” and USA Today’s “12 Best Business Books of All Time.” Warren Buffett has personally recommended it as one of the best business books ever written.
Beyond Influence, Cialdini authored Pre-Suasion: A Revolutionary Way to Influence and Persuade, a Wall Street Journal and New York Times bestseller that reveals how the moment before a message is delivered often matters more than the message itself. His co-authored works, including Yes! 50 Scientifically Proven Ways to Be Persuasive and The Small BIG, have also reached bestseller lists across multiple publications. In total, his books have appeared on the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today bestseller lists — a rare trifecta for any author in the business space.
Recognition at the Highest Levels of Science
In recognition of his scholarly contributions, Cialdini has been elected to both the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences — two of the most prestigious scientific bodies in the world. He is also president emeritus of the Society of Personality and Social Psychology, and has received the Distinguished Scientist Award of the Society of Experimental Social Psychology, the Donald T. Campbell Award for Distinguished Contributions to Social Psychology, and the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Western Psychological Association. Three universities have awarded him honorary doctoral degrees, including Georgetown University. Through his firm INFLUENCE AT WORK, he has advised and trained organizations including Google, Microsoft, Pfizer, Coca-Cola, KPMG, NATO, and the U.S. Department of Justice, helping them apply persuasion principles ethically and systematically.
As a speaker, Robert Cialdini delivers an experience that is genuinely rare in the keynote circuit: a scientist who captivates. His on-stage stories are described by audiences as dramatic and indelible, and his ability to translate complex behavioral research into immediately applicable, practical tools consistently earns him top scores at the world’s most demanding executive forums. Senior leaders and boards walk away with a concrete command of the principles that drive human decision-making — and the ethical tools to apply them across sales, negotiation, leadership, and change management. For organizations that want to move people to action and build lasting trust, Cialdini delivers both the science and the strategy to make it happen.
Robert Cialdini Speaking Videos
Robert Cialdini - The Consistency Principle
Robert Cialdini - Pre-suasion: Solving Difficult Problems
Robert Cialdini Keynote Topics
What does rigorous scientific research tell us about why people comply with requests — and how can leaders apply these findings ethically? In this signature keynote, Dr. Cialdini draws on five decades of behavioral science to introduce his Seven Universal Principles of Persuasion. Through dramatic, real-world stories and evidence-backed applications, audiences learn precisely how to deploy each principle to improve sales outcomes, strengthen leadership, accelerate negotiations, and build lasting relationships. This is not theory — it is a practical operating system for anyone whose success depends on moving others to action.
The most persuasive leaders understand that the moment before the message matters as much as the message itself. In this keynote based on his Wall Street Journal bestseller, Dr. Cialdini reveals the science of pre-suasion — how strategically directing attention in advance primes any audience to be receptive, open, and engaged before a word of your core message is delivered. Executives, marketers, and negotiators leave with a set of immediately deployable techniques that shift the odds in their favor before the conversation even starts.
In periods of disruption, volatility, and organizational change, the principles that move people are not abandoned — they become more powerful. This keynote identifies which of Cialdini's research-backed principles are most effective precisely when uncertainty is highest, giving leaders a clear roadmap for maintaining trust, driving alignment, and guiding teams through ambiguity without relying on authority alone. It is a session designed for the moment when leaders need their people to move — and need to know exactly how to make that happen ethically.
Based on the research behind the bestseller co-authored with Steve Martin and Noah Goldstein, this keynote reveals that the most powerful influence shifts are often the smallest. Minor, cost-free adjustments to the framing, sequencing, or timing of a request can dramatically change how people respond. Dr. Cialdini shares a curated set of evidence-based techniques — drawn from studies across healthcare, finance, marketing, and public policy — that any professional can implement immediately to increase cooperation, compliance, and commitment.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Robert Cialdini
Why Robert Cialdini?
Booking Dr. Robert Cialdini for your event is a decision that virtually guarantees an unforgettable, high-impact experience. He is the most cited social psychologist in the fields of influence, persuasion, and negotiation — not a practitioner theorizing about behavior, but a scientist who has spent over five decades proving what actually moves people to say "yes." His Six Principles of Persuasion have been adopted by organizations from Google and Microsoft to NATO and the U.S. Department of Justice. What sets Cialdini apart on stage is his rare ability to make behavioral science visceral: audiences lean forward, take notes furiously, and describe his stories as dramatic and indelible long after the event concludes. Senior executives who have hosted him across industries — from finance and healthcare to tech and consumer goods — consistently rank him among the top speakers they have ever seen. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check availability and secure the world's foremost authority on ethical influence for your next event.
What are Robert Cialdini's Seven Principles of Persuasion?
Dr. Cialdini originally identified six universal principles of influence — Reciprocity, Commitment and Consistency, Social Proof, Authority, Liking, and Scarcity — through decades of peer-reviewed research. In his updated edition of Influence, he added a seventh principle: Unity, which describes the power of shared identity between a communicator and their audience. These principles are not tactics or tricks; they are scientifically validated drivers of human decision-making that Cialdini has studied across cultures and industries. They form the backbone of his keynote presentations and training programs at INFLUENCE AT WORK.
What is the difference between Influence and Pre-Suasion?
Influence focuses on the principles that cause people to say "yes" — the content and structure of a persuasive message. Pre-Suasion, Cialdini's follow-up bestseller, explores what happens before the message is delivered: how directing someone's attention to the right things at the right moment prepares them to be receptive before they even hear the request. In short, Influence is about the message; Pre-Suasion is about the moment before. Together, they offer a complete, science-backed system for ethical persuasion in business and leadership.
What topics does persuasion speaker Robert Cialdini cover?
Dr. Cialdini's keynotes and workshops address the science of influence and its applications across business contexts. Core topics include the Seven Universal Principles of Persuasion, influence during times of uncertainty and change, pre-suasion and the psychology of first impressions, building trust and authority with new audiences, ethical persuasion in sales and negotiation, and leadership through influence rather than authority. His programs are adaptable for C-suite audiences, sales conferences, marketing summits, and large-scale organizational transformations. To book Dr. Cialdini for your event, reach out to Aurum Speakers Bureau for availability and program details.
How to book Robert Cialdini as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Robert Cialdini as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Robert Cialdini'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 Robert Cialdini or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Robert Cialdini speaking fee?
Robert Cialdini 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 Robert Cialdini 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 Robert Cialdini.
How can I contact Robert Cialdini?
We only work with Robert Cialdini on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Robert Cialdini and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Robert Cialdini 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 Robert Cialdini for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Robert Cialdini for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Robert Cialdini is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Robert Cialdini for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
