Exploring Life & Business with Ben Whiting of Ben Whiting Productions

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Whiting.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Sure! My journey has been anything but a straight line, but looking back, every path I took was leading to the keynote stage. I just didn’t know it then.

I started in theater, studying acting and directing because I was drawn to the power of great stories and the impact they could have. After college, I was lucky enough to get into a professional acting school in Chicago. When I wasn’t in class, I supported myself as a street performer doing sleight of hand magic for strangers on sidewalks. It was sink or swim. If I couldn’t convey my value in the first few seconds, people would just walk away and I wouldn’t eat. I had to learn how to stop people in their tracks, earn their attention, build trust fast, and give them an experience worth sticking around for. That taught me a lot more than magic. It taught me how to read people, communicate clearly, and adapt on the fly.

In 2012, I was hired by a professional theatre company in Traverse City, Michigan, and I ended up falling head over heels for their executive director. So I moved here. (She’s my wife now, Erin Whiting.)

Magic was going well, but I got to a point where I wanted to feel like I was making more of an impact. I applied to give a TEDx talk in Traverse City in 2016 and was lucky enough to be selected. After giving my talk, Connect Like a Mind Reader, I was hired by an international leadership development firm and spent several years as a corporate trainer. I worked with teams on communication, trust, and leadership, and I started weaving magic into those trainings to keep people engaged. One day, someone asked if I could deliver a keynote. I said yes, went home, and immediately Googled what a keynote actually was.

That moment changed everything.

It was the first time I realized all the different parts of my background could come together: storytelling, entertainment, leadership, and personal growth.

Today, I’m a keynote speaker who helps companies create what I call a Limitless Culture. It’s a workplace where people feel empowered, connected, and capable of extraordinary things. I’ve had the privilege of speaking for Fortune 500s, national and international conferences, healthcare systems, and franchise groups all over the globe. And honestly, I can’t imagine doing anything else.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road. I don’t think any path worth taking is.

Street performing was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. There were days when no one would stop, or I’d go home with less money than I needed to cover rent. Later, when I moved into the corporate world, I had to fight past imposter syndrome. I didn’t come from an MBA background or climb the traditional business ladder. I came from theater and sidewalks. So I had to prove, over and over again, that what I brought to the table was just as valuable. Sometimes more.

There were also moments when the gigs dried up (don’t even get me started on 2020, and the week I lost 99% of the years bookings in 3 days), or I doubted whether I was really making a difference. That’s part of the deal when you work for yourself and your job is to stand on a stage and try to change people’s lives. It’s rewarding, but it’s not always easy.

But looking back, those struggles shaped how I connect with people. They made me sharper, more empathetic, and more committed to helping others push through their own doubts and limitations.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Ben Whiting Productions ?
I run a speaking and training business that helps organizations build stronger, more connected cultures. My keynote is often the starting point, but the heart of the work is helping people lead and communicate in ways that build trust, engagement, and alignment.

The approach combines leadership principles, storytelling, and a little bit of magic to create something that’s engaging and practical. My background is in theater, street performing, and corporate training, so I’ve learned how to hold attention and deliver ideas in a way people actually remember and use.

I work with all kinds of organizations such as franchises, HR groups, financial services, national associations, and international corporations. The goal is always the same: help people reconnect with their purpose, each other, and what they’re capable of.

I’m proud that clients often say the experience feels personal, even in a room of hundreds. And that it sparks real conversations after I’m gone.

If there’s one thing I hope people take away, it’s that culture isn’t something abstract. It’s shaped by small, everyday moments. And when people are intentional about those moments, big things start to change.

How do you think about luck?
Luck has definitely played a role in my life and business. I’ve had moments where opportunities showed up out of nowhere, and others where things completely fell apart without warning. Over time, I’ve learned to focus on the part I can control. How I show up, how prepared I am, and how I treat people along the way.

There’s a quote I come back to often: “The harder I work, the luckier I get.” That has held true for me. A lot of the luck I’ve experienced came after months or years of quiet effort that no one else saw.

At the same time, I feel incredibly lucky and deeply grateful. I’ve crossed paths with people and opportunities that I could never have planned for. I get to do work I love, with people I admire, and that’s not something I take lightly. I’m also lucky to be married to someone who simply makes me better. Erin has been one of the most important parts of my growth, both personally and professionally.

So yes, I’ve been lucky. And I’m thankful for every bit of it. But I’ve also worked hard to be ready when luck decided to show up.

Pricing:

• I’m signed with the Platinum Speakers Agency and my manager is the amazing Donna Buttice. She can be emailed at donna@platinumspeakersagency.com for all booking inquiries

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.benwhiting.com
• Instagram: BenWhitingSpeaker
• LinkedIn: BenWhitingSpeaker
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqfDsAJSKbw
• Other: https://platinumspeakersagency.com/