Speaking Inquiries

About Shawn

In 2006, Shawn Askinosie left a successful career as a criminal defense lawyer to start a bean to bar chocolate factory and never looked back.

Askinosie Chocolate is a small batch, award winning chocolate factory located in Springfield, Missouri, sourcing 100% of their beans directly from farmers. Shawn travels to regions of Ecuador, the Amazon, the Philippines and Tanzania to source cocoa beans for his chocolate. They open their books to farmers, translating financials into their language and profit share with them.

Recently named by Forbes “One of the 25 Best Small Companies in America”, the Askinosie Chocolate mission is to serve their farmers, their neighborhood, their customers and each other, sharing the Askinosie Chocolate experience by leaving the world a better place than they found it. So far the company has provided over a million school lunches to malnourished children in Tanzania and the Philippines, without any donations. Founded at the forefront of the American craft chocolate revolution and regarded by many as a vanguard in the industry.

Shawn was named by O, The Oprah Magazine “One of 15 Guys Who Are Saving the World.” Shawn has been awarded honorary doctorates from University of Missouri-Columbia and Missouri State University. Seth Godin, entrepreneur and author, recently praised the company’s model: “[Shawn] has built a practice of creating a worthwhile luxury good that directly benefits people. Not sort of. Not a little. But directly.”

Shawn’s book, recently released, co-written with his daughter Lawren, published by Penguin titled “Meaningful Work: The Quest To Do Great Business, Find Your Calling, and Feed Your Soul” is an Amazon #1 New Release. Read Seth Godin’s review of the book here. He is a Family Brother at Assumption Abbey, a Trappist monastery near Ava, Missouri and the co-founder of Lost & Found, a grief center serving children and families in Southwest Missouri.

Speaking Topics

Shawn loves to talk about: how people and companies find their calling and meaningful work, small business and social impact, how much is enough, reverse scale, and direct trade(it’s not just for chocolate). Most of his presentations—even to large groups—include some (or a lot of) chocolate. Presentations have ranged from 3 minutes to one hour (or longer).

What Others Have Said

“We like this guy!”
Oprah Magazine, February 2011

“Shawn did more than tell his story when he visited the Empathy Lab at Google, he moved us to both tears and laughter. What’s incredible about meaningful work is that its vision work applies as much to the ambition of children in the remote villages of Tanzania as it does to our most advanced innovation practices. Shawn inspired bright ideas and big questions…and aligned our hearts and souls with our work in the process. Enlightenment, empowerment and the sweetness of shared chocolate — now that’s a good day at Google.”
Danielle Krettek, Founder, Google Empathy Lab

“Shawn conveys life-changing ideas with courage, hope and a dash of whimsy. You won’t be the same again after you hear Shawn talk.”
David Skidmore, TEDx Oklahoma City Organizer

“Shawn recently spoke on the topic of meaningful work at Marriott’s global headquarters during an innovation summit. In short, the audience was blown away by Shawn’s presentation, his thinking and the material impact it has made on our world. For any company looking to unify the hearts and minds of its top talent toward worthy outcomes, Shawn is an excellent speaker, catalyst and guide for that path”
Chris Baer, Talent Innovation + Experience Design Lead at Marriott International

“True inspiration to hear Shawn Askinosie and see how 15 people from Askinosie Chocolate change the lives of hundreds of thousands with chocolate.”
Todd Waterbury, Chief Creative Officer, TARGET

“When Shawn began his talk to about 40 or so members of the H&R Block leadership team, I could see in people’s eyes they were wondering why I had asked him to join us – what does chocolate have to do with taxes? By the end they realized Shawn had given us a far greater gift – lessons in life and leadership. In the days that followed Shawn’s talk, I received many notes from people thanking me for opening their hearts and minds. Mission accomplished!”
Jeff Jones, President & CEO, H&R Block

“I have attended almost every commencement ceremony for at least 15 years. I have heard many good (and not so good) speeches. But I just wanted to let you know that your speech was the by far the best and most inspiring that I have heard!”
Dr. Paula Patterson–Professor, Missouri State University

“I think it was a consensus you were the best speaker we’ve ever had.”
Brian Fogle, President and CEO of Community Foundation of the Ozarks

“Such an inspirational speech by Shawn Askinosie. I don’t think anything has related to me more. I also don’t remember the last time I held back happy tears for an hour straight.”
2017 Northwest Chocolate Festival attendee Instagram post

Notable Speaking Engagements

TEDx Oklahoma City, “Why Not Joy?” (2019)
Leaders On Purpose [collaboration of the World Bank, London School of Economics and Harvard], leadoff speaker, (2019)
Google, Mountain View, CA headquarters, keynote “Meaningful Work” hosted by the Empathy Lab (2017)
Mariott International, Bethesda, MD, headquarters, Innovation Days keynote speaker (2018).
H&R Block, Kansas City, MO headquarters, leadership team training keynote “Meaningful Work” (2018)
Maryland Oncology & Hematology, “Meaningful Work” presentation (2018)
Northwest Chocolate Festival, Seattle, “Meaningful Work” keynote (2017)
NAFSA– Association of International Educators Keynote, “Local Roots Global Reach” (2016)
University of Missouri–Columbia, Spring Commencement Speaker (2016)
Heath Ceramics, Chef Tasting and Story co-hosted by Tartine Bakery and Paper Magazine, San Francisco (2016, 2019)
Missouri State University, Public Affairs Conference–Building Healthy Communities: Body, Mind and Spirit, presenter (2016)
Target Corp., Creative Department Quarterly Huddle, keynote speaker, Minneapolis, MN (2014)
University of Missouri School of Law (2014)
Missouri State University’s Spring 2012 Commencement Speaker

Cost / Availability

If you are interested in learning more, please email hello@shawnaskinosie.com to check availability. In your message please tell us details about your event: purpose, dates, times, budget etc.