Let’s be honest - 2025 didn’t show up with a welcome mat. It came in swinging. Between explosive inflation, trade war whiplash, market meltdowns, and nonstop disruption, today’s leaders aren’t just juggling priorities - they’re dodging wrecking balls while trying to inspire teams that are tired, stretched, and skeptical. The really scary part? The current pace of change is the slowest you’ll experience for the rest of your life. NO kidding.
And here’s some straight-talk: recycled advice won’t cut it. Pep talks don’t move markets. And buzzwords won’t fix burnout.
What teams need now are leaders who get it. Leaders who’ve been in the pressure cooker, figured out how to lead through chaos, and know how to turn setbacks into serious momentum. That’s where the right keynote speaker makes all the difference.
These aren’t armchair experts or PowerPoint jockeys. They’re real-world leaders with real battle scars—and the playbooks to prove it. They’ve built billion-dollar businesses, led culture transformations, survived collapses, and climbed back stronger. When they speak, they don’t just drop quotes—they deliver clarity, courage, and game-changing insight.
Whether you’re gearing up for massive change, chasing growth, or trying to rebuild a team that’s been through the wringer, these speakers bring the goods.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A LEADERSHIP KEYNOTE SPEAKER
- They’ve actually led something — Not just researched it.
- They’re storytellers, not lecturers — Slides don’t shift behavior. Stories do.
- They provoke thought, not just applause — Your team shouldn’t just feel good. They should lead better.
- They give tools, not just vibes — Frameworks. Action steps. Clear next moves.
- They make people uncomfortable (in a good way) — That’s where growth happens.
So if you’re looking for someone who can spark a shift—not just a standing ovation—you’re in the right place.
These are the voices leaders trust when everything’s on the line.
Let’s meet the ones who walk the walk—and know how to light a fire under yours.
ALISON LEVINE — LEADING FROM THE EDGE OF THE WORLD
JOURNEY & BACKGROUND
Alison Levine isn’t just a leadership expert—she’s a walking, climbing, freezing, surviving masterclass in it. As the team captain of the first American Women’s Everest Expedition, she’s stared down the deadliest terrain on the planet—and kept moving forward. She’s climbed the Seven Summits, skied to both poles, and lived to talk about it with the kind of clarity and courage most leaders only dream about. And while her feats sound like scenes from a documentary, her real superpower is translating life-or-death moments on the mountain into leadership lessons that land in the boardroom.
With a career that spans both the extremes of nature and the demands of business, Levine brings a rare dual lens: one shaped by ice axes and avalanches, the other by boardrooms and bottom lines. Her insight? Pressure reveals character—and in high-stakes moments, the team with grit, trust, and adaptability wins.
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
Levine’s message doesn’t come from theory—it comes from altitude sickness, 60-mph winds, and decisions made in sub-zero chaos. When she talks about teamwork and decision-making, she’s speaking from places where a wrong move doesn’t mean a bad quarter—it means someone doesn’t come home. That edge makes her one of the most compelling voices in leadership today. She shows that the same traits that keep teams alive at 29,000 feet—humility, communication, adaptability—are what help leaders thrive when the pressure’s on and the path isn’t clear.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Besides planting flags on the highest peaks and poles on Earth, she’s a New York Times bestselling author of On the Edge, and she served as an adjunct professor at West Point. Her leadership is so respected, the military taps her to train the people who train everyone else. If your organization values grit, clarity, and calm under fire—Alison’s been that, lived that, and built talks around it.
VALUE AS A SPEAKER
Alison Levine doesn’t show up with generic motivation—she shows up with stories that grip audiences and tools that stick. Her presentations blend jaw-dropping visuals with real, often hilarious insights about what it takes to lead when the stakes are high and the route is unclear. She teaches audiences how to keep climbing when the weather turns, how to pivot when plans fall apart, and how to rally a team when comfort zones are miles behind them. It’s not fluff—it’s field-tested advice from someone who’s lived it.
SPEAKER FEE RANGE
Live Event: $30,000 – $50,000
Virtual Event: $20,000 – $30,000
FRAMEWORK
Alison builds her leadership framework around the idea of “Climbing High and Thinking Clear.” It’s not about summiting at all costs—it’s about smart decision-making in unpredictable conditions:
- Backwards Isn’t Failure – Sometimes the best move is down, not up.
- Complacency Will Kill You – Just because you’re ahead doesn’t mean you’re safe.
- Rely on the Team, Not the Terrain – Conditions change. People matter. Her frameworks help teams navigate chaos with confidence, grit, and sharp judgment.
VISUALS & VIDEOS
Expect high-altitude visuals, edge-of-your-seat moments, and raw footage that makes people forget they’re in a ballroom. Her keynotes feel like mini action films with leadership lessons baked in.
CHAD E. FOSTER — LEADING WITH BLIND AMBITION™
JOURNEY & BACKGROUND
Chad E. Foster isn’t your typical leadership speaker—and his story doesn’t start with comfort, it starts with collapse. After losing his eyesight in his early twenties to a rare genetic disease, most people would’ve seen that as the end of the road. Chad saw it as the start of a new one. He didn’t just bounce back—he rebuilt a world he could no longer see. Fast forward, and he’s now a Harvard Business School–trained executive, a software innovator, and a financial strategist who’s helped generate over $45 billion in contracts. His journey from adversity to achievement is a masterclass in resilience, vision, and what’s possible when you stop waiting for ideal conditions.
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
What sets Chad apart isn’t just that he leads without sight—it’s how he helps others see differently. He doesn’t preach theory—he lives transformation. His message flips the script on adversity, showing how our perceived limitations can become launchpads for greatness. He’s redefined what it means to “see the big picture,” and his take on leadership, diversity, and growth cuts through the noise. For teams navigating change, complexity, or self-doubt, Chad’s insights hit where it matters—right at the mindset.
Chad doesn’t deliver platitudes. He delivers perspective. And it’s one you’ve probably never heard before—because it comes from a place most people don’t dare go. His talks demolish the victim mindset and replace it with a visionary one.
He’s got a way of taking “blind” and turning it into a competitive edge. That’s his superpower. Whether you’re leading a company, a team, or just trying to lead yourself out of a rut, Chad makes it clear: excuses are for losers™. And ownership? That’s where real success lives.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- First blind executive to complete Harvard’s leadership program.
- Created CRM tech so innovative, Oracle thought it couldn’t be done.
- Bestselling author of Blind Ambition: How to Go from Victim to Visionary.
- Inspired the Atlanta Opera to commission a production based on his story.
- Directed financial strategies that generated over $45 billion in contracts, industry-leading growth, and best-in-class margins.
- Ranked on Global Gurus top 30 speakers list, because when you ignite transformation, people take notice.
- Black diamond skier. Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner. Blind guy. Deal closer.
Let that sink in.
VALUE AS A SPEAKER
Chad doesn’t just inspire—he ignites. He connects with audiences because he’s lived the adversity they’re trying to overcome, and he speaks with the kind of clarity and punch that cuts through corporate noise.
His delivery is cinematic, his insights are tactical, and the energy he brings? Unmistakable. Teams don’t just leave motivated—they leave changed.
SPEAKER STYLE
Chad’s delivery is as real as it gets—direct, high-energy, and refreshingly authentic. A black diamond skier and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner, he doesn’t just talk about grit—he lives it. That go-for-it mindset makes him a hit with leadership teams at Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, Blue Cross Blue Shield, IBM, and more. If you’re looking to shake off excuses, embrace resilience, and create a culture that owns outcomes—this is your guy.
SPEAKER FEE RANGE
FRAMEWORK
Chad’s Blind Ambition Framework™ lays out a battle-tested blueprint for flipping failure into fuel:
- Choose Your Response – No matter the circumstances, the choice is yours.
- Tell Yourself the Right Stories – Your narrative drives your reality.
- Visualize Your Greatness – If you can’t see it, you won’t create it.
- Get Comfortable with Discomfort – Growth lives on the edge of ease.
- Take Advantage of Disadvantages – turn setbacks into superpowers.
This framework isn’t motivational fluff—it’s a roadmap for resilient, unstoppable teams. Beyond mindset work, Foster’s system empowers organizations to outperform expectations regardless of circumstances.
VISUALS & VIDEOS
From totally blind black diamond skiing to boardroom storytelling, Chad blends high-energy visuals with a voice that commands attention. His signature keynote video shows what happens when grit meets humor and heart.
TONY DUNGY — LEADING WITH QUIET STRENGTH
JOURNEY & BACKGROUND
Tony Dungy is a legend who led with calm while the rest of the world shouted. A Super Bowl–winning coach, former NFL player, and widely respected leader, Dungy made history as the first African-American head coach to win a Super Bowl with the Indianapolis Colts in 2007. But stats and trophies only tell part of the story. What really sets Dungy apart is how he led—with poise, humility, and an unshakable commitment to doing things the right way. Whether it was turning around a franchise or building trust in the locker room, Dungy’s legacy is rooted in character-driven leadership.
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
Dungy’s leadership philosophy doesn’t rely on hype or heat. It’s built on integrity, discipline, and deep respect for people. In a world that often rewards the loudest voice, Dungy reminds us that decency is not weakness—it’s a superpower. His perspective, shaped by decades on the field and in front offices, proves that compassion and accountability can coexist—and when they do, the results are undeniable.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Beyond the gridiron, Dungy is a New York Times bestselling author of Quiet Strength, Uncommon, and The Mentor Leader. He’s been a powerful voice in the media as an NBC Sports analyst and a consistent advocate for youth, families, and character development through his work with numerous nonprofits. He’s also known for sharing his faith openly and integrating values-driven leadership into everything he does.
VALUE AS A SPEAKER
Tony Dungy delivers more than a keynote—he delivers presence. His talks are grounded, heartfelt, and filled with wisdom earned through decades of leadership under pressure. He speaks to audiences across industries, not as a coach barking orders, but as a mentor offering clear, steady guidance. His message lands hard with leaders looking to build trust, model calm confidence, and lead with purpose over ego.
And in case you’re wondering—yes, Dungy knows a thing or two about resilience. On Chad E. Foster’s book Blind Ambition, he said:
“His story is amazing. If you’ve had trouble dealing with disappointments in life, you need to read Blind Ambition.”
SPEAKER FEE RANGE
Live Event: $70,000+
Virtual Event: $50,000 – $100,000
ADAM GRANT — REWRITING THE RULES OF WORK AND LEADERSHIP
JOURNEY & BACKGROUND
Adam Grant is the kind of speaker who doesn’t just light up a room—he flips the entire conversation. A top-rated professor at Wharton and one of the world’s leading organizational psychologists, Grant has dedicated his career to unpacking how people work, why they burn out, and what it really takes to unlock greatness in modern teams. With a Ph.D. in organizational psychology and a client list that reads like the Fortune 100, he brings academic rigor and real-world relevance into perfect alignment.
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
Grant challenges everything you think you know about leadership. He believes generosity beats greed, that curiosity crushes complacency, and that great organizations are built not by heroes—but by cultures. He redefines motivation, flips the script on productivity, and teaches leaders how to create environments where creativity, learning, and psychological safety fuel sustainable success.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
He’s the author of several New York Times bestsellers including Give and Take, Originals, and Option B (with Sheryl Sandberg). His TED Talks have racked up tens of millions of views, and his podcast, WorkLife, is a go-to for leaders who want to rethink everything from burnout to brilliance. His ideas have shaped leadership at companies like Google, the NBA, and NASA—and have helped entire industries level up how they hire, collaborate, and perform.
VALUE AS A SPEAKER
Adam Grant brings substance, speed, and a ton of style to every keynote. He doesn’t just talk research—he makes it feel like common sense you can’t believe you weren’t already using. His sessions are rich with “aha” moments, backed by data, and delivered with sharp humor and clear takeaways. Whether you’re a C-suite exec or a frontline manager, Grant gives you the tools—and the permission—to lead differently.
SPEAKER FEE RANGE
Live Event: $75,000 – $150,000
Virtual Event: $50,000 – $100,000
KEITH FERRAZZI — BUILDING LEADERSHIP THROUGH CO-ELEVATION
JOURNEY & BACKGROUND
Keith Ferrazzi didn’t just climb the corporate ladder—he redefined how people connect on the way up. From a working-class upbringing in Pennsylvania to becoming the youngest Chief Marketing Officer of a Fortune 500 company at Deloitte, Ferrazzi built his career on one simple but powerful idea: relationships drive results. Now the CEO of Ferrazzi Greenlight, he’s a global authority on collaboration, connection, and the kind of leadership that scales with trust, not titles.
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
Keith doesn’t believe in leadership by hierarchy—he believes in Co-Elevation. In a world where silos kill speed and titles don’t guarantee trust, his philosophy flips the script. In his book Leading Without Authority, he introduced a powerful approach to building partnerships that outperform traditional teams. He teaches leaders how to co-create accountability, spark innovation, and build cultures where people feel safe to speak up—and fired up to perform.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Ferrazzi is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Never Eat Alone, Who’s Got Your Back, and Leading Without Authority. His work has shaped Fortune 100 boardrooms, tech giants, and fast-scaling startups. He’s been featured in Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes, and he’s known for taking high-level strategy and translating it into bold, practical actions that shift behavior fast.
VALUE AS A SPEAKER
Keith Ferrazzi is the spark plug every leadership event needs. He brings a rare mix of warmth, challenge, and credibility that gets audiences leaning in—and acting on what they hear. Whether he’s helping a sales team break through silos or coaching execs to build trust in remote environments, Ferrazzi’s message always lands. His sessions don’t just change how people work together—they change what they believe is possible together.
SPEAKER FEE RANGE
Live Event: $50,000 – $100,000
Virtual Event: $30,000 – $50,000
PATRICK LENCIONI — THE ARCHITECT OF ORGANIZATIONAL HEALTH
JOURNEY & BACKGROUND
Patrick Lencioni doesn’t sugarcoat leadership—and that’s exactly why he’s one of the most respected voices in business today. As the founder of The Table Group, Lencioni has spent the last two decades helping leaders tackle the real stuff that holds teams back: dysfunction, confusion, low trust, and cultural drag. With a career grounded in both research and in-the-trenches consulting, Lencioni built a reputation not just on big ideas—but on solving big problems.
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
While most leadership models focus on strategy and smarts, Lencioni zeroes in on something deeper: organizational health. He argues that clarity, alignment, and trust aren’t soft skills—they’re the hard edge of high performance. His approach strips away corporate noise and brings leaders back to the basics: build a cohesive team, foster honest conversations, and stop letting politics and silos eat your productivity alive.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
He’s the bestselling author behind The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, The Advantage, and nearly a dozen other leadership staples that have sold millions of copies worldwide. His books are must-reads in boardrooms, classrooms, locker rooms, and even military bases. Lencioni’s ideas have shaped Fortune 500 companies, sports franchises, nonprofits, and churches alike—because culture doesn’t care what industry you’re in. His message is universal, and his impact is measurable.
VALUE AS A SPEAKER
Patrick Lencioni doesn’t speak from theory—he speaks from experience. He has a gift for making complex issues feel simple, actionable, and urgent. His style is high-energy, no-fluff, and full of real talk about what leaders need to fix now to move faster and perform better. Whether you’re a CEO or a frontline manager, his keynotes deliver a gut-check and a game plan—equal parts motivation and execution.
SPEAKER FEE RANGE
Live Event: $100,000 – $200,000
Virtual Event: $50,000 – $100,000
JOCKO WILLINK — EXTREME OWNERSHIP IN ACTION
JOURNEY & BACKGROUND
Jocko Willink didn’t learn leadership from a book—he learned it under fire. As the commander of SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser during the Battle of Ramadi, Willink led one of the most highly decorated special operations units of the Iraq War. His job wasn’t just to win battles—it was to bring clarity, discipline, and courage into chaos. And he did exactly that. Today, he’s the co-founder of Echelon Front, a leadership consultancy that applies the hard-won principles of combat to the toughest challenges in business and life.
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
Jocko’s leadership philosophy is simple, but it’s not easy: take ownership of everything. No excuses. No finger-pointing. Just full accountability. His core frameworks—Extreme Ownership and The Laws of Combat—aren’t academic theories. They’re battle-tested systems that teach leaders how to build trust, manage egos, lead up and down the chain, and win when it counts. His approach doesn’t just reshape teams—it rewires how people think about responsibility and resilience.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Jocko is a Silver Star and Bronze Star recipient, a bestselling author of Extreme Ownership, Discipline Equals Freedom, and Leadership Strategy and Tactics, and the host of a wildly popular podcast that pulls no punches on what it takes to lead. He holds a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, trains professional fighters, and brings that same mental toughness and intensity to every audience he meets. When Jocko talks, people listen—and then they act.
VALUE AS A SPEAKER
There’s no sugarcoating here—Jocko Willink speaks with the kind of clarity and conviction that sticks. His keynotes are a mix of raw stories from the battlefield and practical strategies for leading through chaos. Whether he’s speaking to execs, front-line teams, or future leaders, his message lands the same: own everything, lead with discipline, and stop making excuses. He’s not here to motivate you—he’s here to change how you operate.
SPEAKER FEE RANGE
Live Event: $150,000 – $300,000
Virtual Event: Inquire
DANIEL H. PINK — THE BEHAVIORAL EDGE OF LEADERSHIP
JOURNEY & BACKGROUND
Daniel Pink doesn’t just talk about business—he decodes human behavior. With a career that spans politics, psychology, and performance science, Pink has become one of the most influential thinkers on how people work, sell, and lead in today’s complex world. From his days as chief speechwriter for Vice President Al Gore to bestselling author and host of National Geographic’s Crowd Control, Pink has made a career out of translating behavioral science into game-changing insight.
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
Pink’s edge lies in the questions most leaders aren’t asking—When should we act? Why are our people really motivated? What does it take to move others without authority? His books explore the hidden levers that drive decision-making, timing, influence, and trust. Whether it’s how your team sells, learns, or collaborates, Pink’s work shines a light on the behavioral blind spots that can either unlock peak performance—or quietly kill it.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Pink’s books—including Drive, To Sell Is Human, When, and A Whole New Mind—have sold more than 3 million copies and been translated into 41 languages. His TED Talk on motivation is one of the most viewed of all time. Named one of the world’s top business thinkers by Thinkers50, Pink’s insights are regularly featured in The New York Times, Harvard Business Review, and The Wall Street Journal. When the topic is motivation, behavior, or the science of work—he’s the voice that top leaders trust.
VALUE AS A SPEAKER
Daniel Pink brings fresh energy to the stage with a mix of storytelling, sharp wit, and research that actually lands. His presentations are engaging, packed with lightbulb moments, and grounded in actionable insights. He helps teams rethink what really drives performance—and gives leaders the tools to build cultures that are smarter, more agile, and way more human. You won’t just walk away inspired—you’ll walk away equipped.
SPEAKER FEE RANGE
Live Event: $100,000+
Virtual Event: Inquire
JOSH LINKNER — WHERE CREATIVITY MEETS EXECUTION
JOURNEY & BACKGROUND
Josh Linkner didn’t just build businesses—he composed them. A jazz guitarist turned five-time tech entrepreneur, he’s spent his career improvising bold solutions and scaling them fast. His startups created over 10,000 jobs and sold for a combined $200 million. Then he flipped the script again—this time as a venture capital investor, helping drive over $1 billion in returns. Linkner lives at the crossroads of creativity and capitalism, and his ability to blend art and analytics has made him a force in innovation.
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
Linkner’s leadership playbook draws as much from the stage as it does the boardroom. His core belief? Innovation doesn’t require a lightning bolt moment. It’s about consistent, small acts of creativity—what he calls Big Little Breakthroughs—that stack up to serious results. He makes creativity feel doable, practical, and yes, profitable. And he proves that innovation isn’t just for the few—it’s for everyone willing to think a little differently.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
A New York Times bestselling author and a two-time EY Entrepreneur of the Year, Linkner’s ideas have reached millions through his books, keynotes, and media appearances. He’s been recognized by the U.S. government as a Champion of Change and has worked with everyone from small startups to major brands looking to shake things up and move fast.
VALUE AS A SPEAKER
Josh Linkner’s keynotes are an experience. He mixes high-energy storytelling with concrete tools teams can use the moment they leave the room. His message helps teams break free from stagnant thinking and turn everyday creativity into tangible business wins. Whether you’re stuck in a strategy rut or chasing your next leap, Josh brings the spark—and the system—to get you there.
SPEAKER FEE RANGE
Live Event: $25,000 – $50,000
Virtual Event: $20,000 – $30,000
SETH MATTISON — FUTURE OF WORK, DELIVERED
JOURNEY & BACKGROUND
Seth Mattison doesn’t just talk about the future of work—he helps organizations build it. As Founder and Chief Movement Officer of Luminate Labs, Seth has spent the last decade in the trenches with leaders navigating major shifts in workforce culture, technology, and generational expectations. His insights come from real conversations, real boardrooms, and real challenges—not a crystal ball.
UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
Mattison’s genius is his ability to make sense of change—fast. He decodes the tension between generations, between tradition and transformation, between what worked yesterday and what’s required tomorrow. His message is grounded in human behavior, backed by research, and designed to help leaders evolve without losing their edge. He shows organizations how to stop reacting to change and start leading it.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
A recognized expert in workforce dynamics, Mattison has worked with Fortune 500s, spoken on some of the world’s biggest stages, and been featured in major media for his no-fluff insight into what’s really shifting in leadership, culture, and performance. His work challenges assumptions—and gives leaders the tools to navigate complexity with confidence.
VALUE AS A SPEAKER
Seth Mattison brings energy, edge, and empathy. His keynotes spark lightbulb moments and deliver frameworks that teams can apply right away. He doesn’t just inform—he activates. Whether your organization is struggling with generational misalignment, cultural change, or future-proofing your leadership pipeline, Mattison delivers clarity and next steps. His sessions aren’t just good—they’re transformative.
SPEAKER FEE RANGE
Live Event: $25,000 – $50,000
Virtual Event: $20,000 – $30,000
DON’T HIRE A SPEAKER—BRING IN A CATALYST
You don’t bring in a leadership keynote speaker just to “inspire the team.” You bring one in to crack something open.
Because let’s be honest: most keynotes? Polished, predictable, and forgotten by lunch. A few buzzwords. A story with a clean ending. A standing ovation that fades by Monday.
But the great ones? They don’t just talk—they shift something. They walk into the room and make people feel a little uncomfortable in the best possible way. They challenge your team to think harder, lead better, and stop playing it safe.
The right speaker doesn’t just deliver a message. They rewire mindsets. They connect dots your team didn’t even know were on the map. They help you see what’s holding you back—and what’s possible on the other side of discomfort.
So as you plan your next event—don’t just ask who has the best bio. Ask:
- Have they actually led through something hard?
- Will they speak to my team like grown adults, not seminar attendees?
- Do they have real tools—not just metaphors and motivational quotes?
- Will they leave my people thinking about this talk three weeks later?
- Are they here to look good on stage—or to make us better off it?
This isn’t about putting on a good show. This is about changing the trajectory of how your leaders lead.
Because when you get it right—when you bring in someone who truly gets it—it doesn’t just lift the room. It lifts the whole organization.
So find the one who makes people lean in, sit up, and say, “That’s exactly what we needed to hear.”
Then bring them in. And watch what happens next.
