What happens when we stop waiting for the perfect plan and get curious enough to try?
I'm Mari Milenkovic, entrepreneur, founder of With Mari and someone who's spent more than a decade working alongside business owners, turning ideas into action and discovering that some of the best opportunities are the ones we never saw coming.
I bring real stories, humor and a fresh perspective to the stage, challenging audiences to question assumptions, embrace experimentation and see what happens when they actually give something a shot.
A little less business as usual. Especially on stage.
We've all heard the advice. Think bigger. Take risks. Get outside your comfort zone. Sounds great. Now what?
My talks explore what those ideas actually look like in real life, including the awkward beginnings, unexpected detours, lessons learned and moments that make you think, "Well, that was interesting."
Through storytelling, humor and practical insights, I help audiences get curious, challenge their own thinking and leave with something they're excited to try.
Signature Keynotes
Professionally Curious
A surprisingly practical philosophy for making things happen.
What if curiosity was a perfectly good reason to get started? FAFO is about experimentation, taking action and discovering what's possible through experience.
From trying things that might work to learning from the ones that spectacularly don't, this keynote explores how we can make progress, discover unexpected opportunities and have a little more fun along the way.
What your audience will take away:
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A practical approach to testing ideas and learning through action.
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A healthier relationship with uncertainty and the unexpected.
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One idea they're ready to stop overthinking and start exploring.
Look at Those Idiots
Sometimes the best ideas make absolutely no sense to anyone else.
Every unconventional idea has its skeptics.
This keynote explores what happens when we give ourselves permission to pursue ideas that challenge expectations, even when the people around us don't quite understand what we're doing.
Through funny, honest stories and unexpected lessons, we'll explore the fear of judgment, the pressure to have everything figured out and the opportunities that come from thinking independently.
What your audience will take away:
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A new perspective on the fear of judgment and how it shapes our decisions.
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The confidence to question conventional thinking.
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A willingness to explore ideas before everyone else sees their potential.
Meet Mari
I'm a serial entrepreneur, excited founder, experience curator and founder of With Mari.
For more than a decade, I've worked alongside founders and business owners, helping bring ambitious ideas to life.
Today, I create Founder Field Trips, immersive experiences and unexpected opportunities for people to step outside their routines, discover something new and connect in meaningful ways.
It's the same curiosity that fuels my work, my adventures and the stories I bring to the stage.
Good company. Good conversations. Great stories.
