Dominic Bartola
Leadership, communication, marketing and AI, and inclusion. A marketing executive, professor, and entrepreneur with lived experience that makes the message memorable.
Speaker categories
Travels from: Phoenix, Arizona. Available nationwide and virtually.
Fee range
Available on request
Short biography
50 wordsDominic Bartola is a marketing executive at qBotica, an award-winning enterprise AI company, who transformed his hearing with a cochlear implant in 2023. Born with severe to profound hearing loss. Inc. 5000 four years running. Outstanding Faculty of the Year. Canine Companions recipient. Diversity Leadership Alliance board. Leadership, communication, inclusion.
Long biography
183 wordsDominic Bartola is a marketing executive at qBotica, an award-winning enterprise AI company, and Professor of Business and Marketing. He leads its marketing; qBotica made the Inc. 5000 four years in a row. He co-founds and advises growing companies and leads and manages companies in technology, legal, and marketing.
Born with severe to profound hearing loss and told he would never speak, he beat a stutter and lisp through more than 20 years of speech therapy. In 2023 he had cochlear implant surgery, and after two years of brain training and hearing therapy he reached 92% speech recognition, hearing music, audiobooks, and the world around him clearly for the first time. He has taught at Paradise Valley Community College for over a decade and earned Outstanding Faculty of the Year, with a B.S. in Marketing and Management and an MBA in Management.
He has also spoken to hundreds of audiences nationally and internationally; his story has been featured on radio, podcasts, and online publications. Canine Companions matched him with his hearing dog, Plato. He currently chairs the Diversity Leadership Alliance Youth Leadership Academy.
Emcee introduction
Read aloudOur speaker was born with severe to profound hearing loss in both ears. Doctors told his family he would never speak. In 2023, a cochlear implant and two years of relentless brain training let him hear music and birdsong clearly for the first time. Today, he leads marketing at qBotica, an award-winning enterprise AI company, is a Professor of Business & Marketing at Paradise Valley Community College, and a keynote speaker. He brings a perspective shaped by lived experience, entrepreneurship, and the daily work of leading and teaching. His message isn’t about becoming someone else. It’s about recognizing the advantage in what makes you different. Please welcome Dominic Bartola.
Speaking topics
Confidence and Resilience
- Uncommon to Exceptional: Turning What Makes You Different Into Your Edge
Turn what makes you different into what makes you a better leader. - Unshakable: Building Confidence When the Odds Say No
Confidence isn’t a feeling you wait for. I had to build mine one word at a time. - The Long Way Around: Turning Setbacks Into Your Advantage
More than 20 years of speech therapy, then a cochlear implant decades later. The long way around is still a way through.
Leadership
- The Four Foundations of Higher Performance: Unleashing Your True Potential to Reach the Exceptional Level
A keynote on unlocking your potential and performing at an exceptional level in your role. - Your Exceptional Leadership Brand
Decide how you want to be known as a leader, then lead that way on purpose. - Human + AI: Leading Teams Through the AI Shift
Rolling out AI is easy. Keeping your team’s trust while you do it is the real work.
Teams and Communication
- Heard: Building Teams Where Everyone Communicates
I spent my life working to be understood. Most teams don’t fail on talent. They fail on communication. - Read the Room: What a Deaf Guy Learned About Listening
Hearing the words and actually listening are two very different things.
Entrepreneurship
- Start Before You’re Ready: Lessons From a Lifetime of Building
I started my first business as a teenager and never stopped. Here’s what actually matters. - Marketing and AI for Builders
Less AI hype. More building something people actually want.
AI and the Future of Work
- Human-Proof: How to Stay Irreplaceable in the Age of AI
I lead marketing at an AI company. Here’s what AI still can’t do, and how to get great at it. - Human + AI: Leading Teams Through the AI Shift
Rolling out AI is easy. Keeping your team’s trust while you do it is the real work. - Marketing and AI for Builders
Less AI hype. More building something people actually want.
Inclusion
- Hidden Disability, Visible Impact
Inclusion gets real when we stop assuming we can see the whole story.
Watch Dominic
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“His Four Foundations of Higher Performance talk gave our members practical strategies they could take straight back to their teams. I'd recommend him to any association looking for a keynote that inspires and still delivers real takeaways.”
“He connects his own story to how people actually lead and perform day to day, so the message stuck well past the session.”
“From the moment he walks on stage, his smile captivates you. I've seen Dominic deliver speeches to audiences of just a few, to over 1000, to students and to adults. His impact is always impressive.”
“Dominic's story of triumph over tragedy motivates his audience to dig deeper. Audiences are captivated and in disbelief. From that point forward, it is pure inspiration.”
“His style uses facts, humor and personal emotional stories that immediately engage the audience. He focuses on his strengths and this empowers others to do the same.”
“Dominic has a relaxed and engaging speaking style that instantly connects with the audience. I have seen him speak on personal development, leadership, marketing and business ownership.”
“Dominic has a truly authentic and engaging speaking style. He captures his audience through his passion and commitment to a fulfilled life despite any obstacles.”
“He is not just preaching a message, he lives his message with every breath, which is rare for many speakers I've seen. I highly recommend Dominic!”