LEON HITCHENS · SPEAKER
I talk about startups, marketing, running an agency, and using AI at work and at home.
LEON HITCHENS · SPEAKER
I talk about startups, marketing, running an agency, and using AI at work and at home.
SPOKEN AT AND FEATURED ON
TALK TOPICS
What I Speak On
Every talk comes out of real work with clients, founders, and my own team. I can adjust the length and format to fit your event.
AI AT WORK
01
Putting AI Agents to Work
in Your Business
Keynote or workshop · 20 to 45 min
How I hand real business work to AI agents like Grok Bot: which jobs to start with, how to set them up, and where they still need a person watching.
YOUR AUDIENCE LEAVES WITH
- A short list of jobs to hand off first
- A setup they can copy the next day
AI IN LIFE
02
How I Use AI Outside
of Work
Talk or fireside chat · 20 to 30 min
The everyday ways I use AI away from the office, like planning, research, and learning new things, plus the parts of life I keep it out of.
YOUR AUDIENCE LEAVES WITH
- Simple uses anyone can try this week
- A clear line on what AI shouldn’t touch
STARTUPS
03
Marketing a Startup Before You Have a Marketing Team
Talk or workshop · 30 to 60 min
What I tell the founders I mentor: where the first marketing dollars should go, what to skip, and how Google Ads, SEO, and AI search fit when money is tight.
YOUR AUDIENCE LEAVES WITH
- Which channel to start with, and why
- The checks to run before spending more on ads
RUNNING AN AGENCY
04
Running a Marketing
Agency That Actually Cash
Flows
Keynote or panel · 20 to 45 min
Lessons from building Ruskin Consulting:
pricing, productized and white-label services, hiring a remote team, and using AI without burning people out.
YOUR AUDIENCE LEAVES WITH
- Pricing and packaging that hold up
- Where AI fits in day-to-day agency work
PERSONAL
05
My Founder Story:
Agency, Two Podcasts, and
a Few Startups
Fireside chat or keynote · 20 to 45 min
The personal side of building Ruskin, investing through Hitchens Ventures, cofounding MintLocke, and hosting shows, plus what I’d tell myself if I started over.
YOUR AUDIENCE LEAVES WITH
- Honest lessons on juggling several businesses
CUSTOM
06
Have a different topic
in mind?
I’m happy to build a session around your audience, whether that’s founders, marketers, creatives, or developers.
FEATURED INTERVIEW
WordPress and Building
Scalable Agencies
WP Legends Podcast by Seahawk Media
October 2025
Video interview
RECENT AND PAST TALKS
Where I’ve Spoken
September 2026
Putting Grok Bot and Agents to Work in a Real Business
San Antonio Startup + Tech Week 2026 · The Rand
Talk
October 2025
Launch & Learn: Mentorship on the Move
San Antonio Startup Week 2025 · Small-group mentor session on a Riverwalk boat
Mentor Session
October 2024
The Boost Live: Investing in Community
San Antonio Startup Week 2024
Talk
March 2024
Google Ads Workshop
Geekdom San Antonio Startup Day · Co-led with Pablo Calvo
Workshop
2024 to Present
Geekdom Mentor Network
Regular sessions with founders on roadblocks, marketing, and pitch feedback
Mentoring
October 2019
How to Start a Podcast in 30 Days
San Antonio Startup Week 2019 at Geekdom
Panel
KIND WORDS
What Organizers and Attendees Say
“From shipping WordPress plugins that gained real adoption to running agencies and ventures across industries, Leon knows how to turn vision into growth.”
Gautam
Co-founder, Seahawk Media
“Leon Hitchens, co-founder of Ruskin Consulting, shares his journey from tech blogging to starting a marketing agency… shares his experience as a business mentor.”
Steve Peron
Co-Founder, Collective42
“Leon and I go way back… we’ve both met online over 10 years ago… Love what Leon puts out, I hope he does it more.”
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Sunny Singh
Host, Sunny Commutes Podcast
ON THE MIC
Podcasts
GUEST • WP LEGENDS (SEAHAWK) • 2026
Ep 42: WordPress and Building Scalable Agencies
GUEST • COLLECTIVE42 • 2024
S2 Ep 30: Build a Cash Flowing Agency & Invest in Other Businesses
GUEST • SUNNY COMMUTES • 2019
Ep 67: Beyond the Basics of SEO
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I HOST
The Marketing Boost
Conversations with founders and marketers about AI, agency growth, and South Texas business. About 32 episodes since 2023.
I CO-HOST WITH JR BURGOA
The Social Ledger Report
Crypto, Web3, DeFi, and regulation. More than 40 episodes.
.
OFF THE STAGE
A Little About Me Outside of Work
I live in San Antonio and spend a lot of my free time around the local startup scene, at Geekdom and 1 Million Cups.
When I’m not working, you’ll probably find me on iRacing, firing up the BBQ, or obsessing over the lawn. I’m also a 3rd degree black belt, and I’ll admit to a soft spot for trashy reality TV like The Circle, Love Island, and Too Hot to Handle.
FOR EVENT ORGANIZERS
Speaker Kit
Everything you need for your program, website, and intro, in one place.
SHORT BIO
Leon Hitchens is co-founder of Ruskin Consulting, a remote-first marketing agency focused on paid search, SEO, and web. He runs and works on AdLlama, hosts The Marketing Boost podcast, co-hosts The Social Ledger Report, and mentors founders at Geekdom.
LONG BIO
Leon Hitchens is co-founder of Ruskin Consulting, a remote-first marketing agency focused on paid search, SEO, and web. He still works on live client accounts, and his talks come straight from that work. He speaks on startups, marketing, running an agency, and using AI in business and everyday life. Leon hosts The Marketing Boost, a Boost Network podcast where he talks with founders and marketers about AI, agency growth, and South Texas business. He also co-hosts The Social Ledger, a show about crypto, Web3, and DeFi, with JR Burgoa. Outside the agency, he invests in businesses through Hitchens Ventures, is co-founder and CMO of MintLocke, and runs AdLlama. He has mentored founders through the Geekdom Mentor Network since 2024 and has spoken at San Antonio Startup Week and Geekdom. Leon lives in San Antonio, Texas.
Invite Leon to Speak
HOW IT WORKS
- Send the form with a few details about your event. I’ll reply within a couple of business days.
- We hop on a short call about your audience and what you want them to walk away with.
- I shape the talk around your event and send everything you need for promotion.
QUICK ANSWERS
Do you travel?
Yes. I speak across Texas and travel for national conferences.
Do you speak virtually?
Yes, 100%. I’m happy to speak virtually.
What are your fees?
Fees depend on travel and a few other factors. I’m looking to do more speaking, so reach out and we’ll find something that works for your event.