Franci Neely is a speaker and author described as “one of the few female entrepreneurs who can accurately be said to have achieved rock star status.”
Neely spent her early career building a lucrative and sophisticated trade show business which she sold in 1999.
She founded International Brands Expo, Inc., one of the nation’s leading trade show exhibit companies.
In 2003, Neely founded The Franci Neely Group and signed on as chief executive officer, overseeing all aspects of the company.
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A rainmaker for the company and her clients, her presentations are filled with outrageous stories and business advice.
Neely’s in-depth knowledge of the exhibit industry is complemented by her unique ability to engage audiences from the moment she walks on stage.
Neely is a fixture on the speaking circuit when speaking at venues such as The Smithsonian Institution, Fortune Magazine’s Most Powerful Women Summit, Washington Women in Public Policy, and Forbes’ 2011 Women’s Summit.
Neely, who calls herself “a success story without a single celebrity client,” defines a CEO as someone who holds the job and all its rewards: the glory, the money, the power.
Even though CEOs are rare in the modern age of independent contractors, Neely points out the incredible benefits of being in charge. “Being CEO is a total package,” she says. “There are a lot of perks, but there are also big responsibilities.”
Neely has delivered over 100 lectures to executives and business leaders on topics ranging from employee empowerment to social media and international growth.
She has been a keynote speaker at the U.S. State Department, the Smithsonian Institution, Washington Women in Public Policy (WHIPP) Conference, and Forbes Women’s Summit, among others.
Neely is the author of “You Say I’m a Bum: How to Fire the Unemployable, Redefine ‘Successful’, and Enjoy Life”, a business book that explores the topic of firing. Her writing has been published in Forbes, Entrepreneur, and The Huffington Post.
In July 2009, Neely founded an online platform called BizChix, which aims to connect women entrepreneurs with other women who can help them to succeed in their businesses.
BizChix is also an active member of Women 2.0, an international group that connects women leaders in business.
Neely was named to the 2010 Forbes list of America’s 16 top female CEOs.
She was also named “Upping Your Tech Game” by Women 2.0 and “Top Entrepreneurs To Watch” by the National Association of Female Executives (NAFE), which cited her as one of the leading female entrepreneurs in America.
Neely is a regular contributor to Inc., Forbes, and Entrepreneur.
Connect to Neely on Linkedin.com
Learn more about Franci: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/760626224