Patricia Wilson
Keynote Speaker: Former CEO of Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area, Digital Media Visionary, Philanthropy Consultant
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Patricia Wilson Biography
Patricia Wilson is the former CEO of Make-A-Wish, Greater Bay Area, an organization renowned for granting over 400 wishes annually for children with life-threatening medical conditions in northern California. Beginning her leadership role in 1998 with a small team of four employees and a budget of $1.6 million, she expanded the chapter significantly. By 2016, she was overseeing 28 staff members, more than 600 volunteers, and a budget exceeding $10 million. Wilson gained widespread recognition for orchestrating the transformation of San Francisco into Gotham City to fulfill a young cancer patient's wish to be "Batkid" for a day—a story captured in the documentary "Batkid Begins" and an upcoming feature film by Julia Roberts. Her approach to leadership, focusing on integrity, communication, and empowering others, has earned her accolades such as the Producers Guild of America's Digital V.I.P. Visionary Award and a place among the San Francisco Times' "Most Influential Business Women."
The "Batkid" event, under Wilson's guidance, became a global phenomenon, turning San Francisco into Gotham City to celebrate five-year-old leukemia survivor Miles. The day included heroic acts fit for a superhero, rallying the community and attracting worldwide attention. For her innovative use of social media and public relations during this event, Wilson's chapter received the Shorty Industry Awards for "Best Social Good Campaign" and "Best Twitter Campaign." The remarkable social media impact included a 96% positivity rate in tweets and discussions in 117 countries, highlighting Wilson's adept use of digital platforms to amplify social good initiatives.
Beyond her notable achievements at Make-A-Wish, Wilson is a respected TED speaker, sharing her insights on philanthropy, leadership, and crisis communication. She continues to influence through her consultancy roles for startups in the Bay Area and Vancouver and serves on the boards of Illuminate and Friends of the Urban Forest. Her career, marked by a philosophy of giving credit and fostering community engagement, positions her as an inspiring figure in both the non-profit and for-profit sectors. Her talks emphasize the importance of motivating teams and securing sponsorships, vital for sustaining impactful community-oriented projects.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Patricia Wilson and other top speakers and celebrities.
Patricia Wilson Speaking Topics
Through Miles (as Batkid), Patricia Wilson and her team created a social media sensation that was so compelling even President Obama had to create his first Vine video as a response. She walks audiences through how she developed Make-A-Wish’s approach to social media and shares the importance of leveraging personal, professional, and community relationships. Believing that the biggest mistake organizations make with their social media platforms is using them as a broadcast tool (not once during the entire campaign did Make-A-Wish ask for donations – however the media attention and goodwill that the straightforward approach generated more than made up for it), she shows audiences how social media’s true power is engagement and offers tips for creating an authentic, engaging, and credible social media presence.
A mission-based CEO committed to making the world a better place, Patricia Wilson shares the many lessons she has learned during her tenure in for-profit and non-profit leadership roles. She believes that the most valuable asset an organization has is its talent and says that her most significant accomplishment wasn’t pulling off the famous Batkid wish but rather assembling the team that made it possible. Told through heart-warming stories from Make-A-Wish, she shares what to look for in the hiring process, the importance of building and retaining great teams, how to set the tone for your group, creating an atmosphere of excellence, and why it’s good to sometimes be affectionately known as the “B.I.C.” With the mantra of “Give credit, don’t take it,” her leadership lessons resonate across business sectors.
Patricia Wilson tells the uplifting story of how she turned five-year-old cancer survivor Miles into Batkid for a day and transformed a city and inspired a nation in the process. From what went on behind the scenes to how Batkid became one of the biggest news stories of the year, she showcases heart-warming video, photos, and other media as she inspires audiences to give back and make a difference in their communities.
Patricia Wilson Videos
How do I book Patricia Wilson to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Patricia Wilson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Patricia Wilson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Patricia Wilson or any other speaker of your choice.
How much does it cost to book Patricia Wilson for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Patricia Wilson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Patricia Wilson, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
What topics does Patricia Wilson speak about?
Patricia Wilson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Executive Leadership, Change Management, Social Activism, Fitness, Inspirational, Motivational, Personal Growth, Female Leadership, Educational Motivational and Business.
Where does Patricia Wilson travel from?
Patricia Wilson generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
Who is the agent for Patricia Wilson?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Patricia Wilson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Patricia Wilson for your next private or corporate function.
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Patricia Wilson or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
Patricia Wilson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Executive Leadership, Change Management and Social Activism. The estimated speaking fee range to book Patricia Wilson for live events is $10,000 - $20,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Patricia Wilson generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Cynthia Germanotta, Nataly Kogan and Kristie Kennedy. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Patricia Wilson for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Patricia Wilson Speaking Topics
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Harnessing Social Media for Social Good.
Through Miles (as Batkid), Patricia Wilson and her team created a social media sensation that was so compelling even President Obama had to create his first Vine video as a response. She walks audiences through how she developed Make-A-Wish’s approach to social media and shares the importance of leveraging personal, professional, and community relationships. Believing that the biggest mistake organizations make with their social media platforms is using them as a broadcast tool (not once during the entire campaign did Make-A-Wish ask for donations – however the media attention and goodwill that the straightforward approach generated more than made up for it), she shows audiences how social media’s true power is engagement and offers tips for creating an authentic, engaging, and credible social media presence.
-
Leadership Lessons from an Accidental CEO.
A mission-based CEO committed to making the world a better place, Patricia Wilson shares the many lessons she has learned during her tenure in for-profit and non-profit leadership roles. She believes that the most valuable asset an organization has is its talent and says that her most significant accomplishment wasn’t pulling off the famous Batkid wish but rather assembling the team that made it possible. Told through heart-warming stories from Make-A-Wish, she shares what to look for in the hiring process, the importance of building and retaining great teams, how to set the tone for your group, creating an atmosphere of excellence, and why it’s good to sometimes be affectionately known as the “B.I.C.” With the mantra of “Give credit, don’t take it,” her leadership lessons resonate across business sectors.
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Batkid Saves San Francisco and Inspires Millions.
Patricia Wilson tells the uplifting story of how she turned five-year-old cancer survivor Miles into Batkid for a day and transformed a city and inspired a nation in the process. From what went on behind the scenes to how Batkid became one of the biggest news stories of the year, she showcases heart-warming video, photos, and other media as she inspires audiences to give back and make a difference in their communities.
VIDEO
Patricia Wilson Videos
FAQS
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How do I book Patricia Wilson to speak at my event?
Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Patricia Wilson for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Patricia Wilson, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Patricia Wilson or any other speaker of your choice. -
How much does it cost to book Patricia Wilson for a speaking engagement?
Speaking fees for Patricia Wilson, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Patricia Wilson, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent. -
What topics does Patricia Wilson speak about?
Patricia Wilson is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Executive Leadership, Change Management, Social Activism, Fitness, Inspirational, Motivational, Personal Growth, Female Leadership, Educational Motivational and Business. -
Where does Patricia Wilson travel from?
Patricia Wilson generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. -
Who is the agent for Patricia Wilson?
AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Patricia Wilson for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Patricia Wilson for your next private or corporate function. -
What is a full-service speaker booking agency?
AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Patricia Wilson or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us. -
Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?
If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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