Top 26 Leadership Speakers to Book for Your Event in 2026
The right leadership speakers can shift how your team thinks, not just how they feel leaving the room. Booking the wrong one wastes budget and goodwill. This guide covers speakers who bring real substance—clear frameworks, hard-won experience, and ideas your audience will actually use. Whether you're planning a company retreat or a large leadership conference, you'll find the right fit here.
Top 26 Leadership Speakers
Below are the profiles of the top leadership speakers, covering who they are and the impact they've made in this space.
Amy C. Edmondson
Amy C. Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School and a leading researcher on psychological safety, teamwork, and organizational learning.
Her research showed why people need…
Amy C. Edmondson is the Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management at Harvard Business School and a leading researcher on psychological safety, teamwork, and organizational learning.
Her research showed why people need to feel safe speaking up, asking questions, and taking thoughtful risks at work. In books such as The Fearless Organization and Right Kind of Wrong, she helps managers use these ideas when leading teams through uncertainty and change.
Liz Wiseman
Liz Wiseman is CEO of The Wiseman Group, a leadership researcher and executive advisor. Her work includes the bestselling management books Multipliers and Impact Players for leaders.
Her Multipliers framework shows how…
Liz Wiseman is CEO of The Wiseman Group, a leadership researcher and executive advisor. Her work includes the bestselling management books Multipliers and Impact Players for leaders.
Her Multipliers framework shows how leaders can bring out the best in their teams. In her talks, she shares ways to develop talent, give people more ownership, and help them do their best work.
Patrick Lencioni
Patrick Lencioni founded The Table Group and leads its work on organizational health. He is the author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, The Advantage, and other leadership books.
…
Patrick Lencioni founded The Table Group and leads its work on organizational health. He is the author of The Five Dysfunctions of a Team, The Advantage, and other leadership books.
Lencioni turns organizational health into practical tools for executives and teams, covering trust, conflict, clarity, teamwork, and working genius. His speaking and consulting work gives leaders frameworks for building healthier organizations where people can work together more effectively.
Simon Sinek
Simon Sinek is the founder of The Optimism Company, an author and speaker whose work on purpose and leadership includes Start with WHY, Leaders Eat Last, and The Infinite Game…
Simon Sinek is the founder of The Optimism Company, an author and speaker whose work on purpose and leadership includes Start with WHY, Leaders Eat Last, and The Infinite Game for leaders.
Sinek’s Golden Circle helped popularize the idea of leading with purpose. His books and talks also explore trust, open conversations, team culture, and long-term thinking in ways managers can put to use.
Adam Grant
Adam Grant is the Saul P. Steinberg Professor of Management at Wharton and a University of Pennsylvania psychology professor, organizational psychologist, bestselling author, and TED speaker.
Grant studies how people find motivation…
Adam Grant is the Saul P. Steinberg Professor of Management at Wharton and a University of Pennsylvania psychology professor, organizational psychologist, bestselling author, and TED speaker.
Grant studies how people find motivation and meaning, collaborate, lead, rethink assumptions, and build more effective workplaces. His research, books, TED talks, and WorkLife podcast give managers evidence-based ways to think about generosity, originality, potential, and organizational change.
Whitney Johnson
Whitney Johnson is CEO and co-founder of Disruption Advisors, a leadership development company built around her S Curve framework, and the author of Smart Growth and Disrupt Yourself.
Johnson applies the…
Whitney Johnson is CEO and co-founder of Disruption Advisors, a leadership development company built around her S Curve framework, and the author of Smart Growth and Disrupt Yourself.
Johnson applies the S Curve of Learning to individual, team, and organizational growth. Drawing on experience as a Wall Street analyst and innovation investor, her keynotes help leaders understand disruption as a human challenge and create conditions where people can keep learning through change.
John C. Maxwell
John C. Maxwell is a bestselling leadership author, coach, and speaker. His work through Maxwell Leadership focuses on developing leaders, strengthening teams, and multiplying influence.
Maxwell teaches practical leadership skills, including how…
John C. Maxwell is a bestselling leadership author, coach, and speaker. His work through Maxwell Leadership focuses on developing leaders, strengthening teams, and multiplying influence.
Maxwell teaches practical leadership skills, including how to influence others, set priorities, grow as a person, and develop a team. He shares these lessons through books, talks, coaching, and leadership programs.
Jacob Morgan
Jacob Morgan is a futurist, author, and keynote speaker who created Future of Work Leaders, a community for senior people executives navigating leadership and the fast-changing workplace.
Morgan studies how leadership, employee…
Jacob Morgan is a futurist, author, and keynote speaker who created Future of Work Leaders, a community for senior people executives navigating leadership and the fast-changing workplace.
Morgan studies how leadership, employee experience, technology, and organizational design change as work evolves. His books, podcast, research, and CHRO community give people leaders a forward-looking view of trust, vulnerability, AI, culture, and the capabilities leaders need next.
Erica Dhawan
Erica Dhawan is a keynote speaker, author, and collaboration expert whose books Digital Body Language and Get Big Things Done examine communication, connection, teamwork, and innovation.
Dhawan’s Connectional Intelligence framework shows how…
Erica Dhawan is a keynote speaker, author, and collaboration expert whose books Digital Body Language and Get Big Things Done examine communication, connection, teamwork, and innovation.
Dhawan’s Connectional Intelligence framework shows how people can use their relationships, knowledge, and resources to work better together. Her work on digital body language helps leaders build trust and communicate clearly when working online or across locations.
Heather R. Younger
Heather R. Younger is the founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a workplace culture consultant, author, and keynote speaker. She is known for her research and work on Caring Leadership and active…
Heather R. Younger is the founder and CEO of Employee Fanatix, a workplace culture consultant, author, and keynote speaker. She is known for her research and work on Caring Leadership and active listening.
Younger helps leaders listen to employees, make them feel valued, and act on what they hear. Through her consulting, research, books, and talks, she shows how care and accountability can improve workplace culture and performance.
Dr. Romie Mushtaq
Dr. Romie Mushtaq is Chief Wellness Officer at Great Wolf Resorts, a physician, and the author of The Busy Brain Cure. Her work connects brain health, employee well-being, and leadership.
At…
Dr. Romie Mushtaq is Chief Wellness Officer at Great Wolf Resorts, a physician, and the author of The Busy Brain Cure. Her work connects brain health, employee well-being, and leadership.
At Great Wolf, she uses data to guide wellness programs for employees. Through her talks and writing, she helps leaders address stress and burnout, listen with empathy, and build healthier workplaces.
Jennifer McClure
Jennifer McClure is CEO of Unbridled Talent and Chief Excitement Officer of DisruptHR, bringing decades of HR and executive experience to her work as a keynote speaker, coach, and strategist.
A former…
Jennifer McClure is CEO of Unbridled Talent and Chief Excitement Officer of DisruptHR, bringing decades of HR and executive experience to her work as a keynote speaker, coach, and strategist.
A former HR executive and executive recruiter, McClure helps HR and business leaders navigate change, build influence, and rethink people strategy. Through DisruptHR, keynotes, workshops, and coaching, she pushes leaders beyond outdated practices toward more future-ready approaches to work.
Adrian Gostick
Adrian Gostick is an author, speaker, and workplace culture expert whose research-based work with The Culture Works explores recognition, engagement, teamwork, and organizational culture.
Gostick’s leadership work examines how recognition, belonging, transparency,…
Adrian Gostick is an author, speaker, and workplace culture expert whose research-based work with The Culture Works explores recognition, engagement, teamwork, and organizational culture.
Gostick’s leadership work examines how recognition, belonging, transparency, and culture affect performance. Through books, speaking, research, and his collaboration with Chester Elton, he gives managers practical approaches for strengthening teams and creating workplaces where people feel valued.
Michael Bungay Stanier
Michael Bungay Stanier is an author, speaker, teacher, and founder whose MBS Works platform brings together practical tools on coaching, curiosity, organizational change, and doing work that matters.
Best known for The…
Michael Bungay Stanier is an author, speaker, teacher, and founder whose MBS Works platform brings together practical tools on coaching, curiosity, organizational change, and doing work that matters.
Best known for The Coaching Habit, Bungay Stanier makes coaching deliberately simple and usable, emphasizing better questions over reflexive advice. His books, tools, and talks help managers strengthen conversations, navigate change, and create relationships that make better work possible.
Dr. Tanvi Gautam
Dr. Tanvi Gautam founded Leadershift Inc. and works as a keynote speaker, executive coach, consultant, and business-school educator focused on leadership in periods of disruption and change.
Gautam helps leaders adapt as…
Dr. Tanvi Gautam founded Leadershift Inc. and works as a keynote speaker, executive coach, consultant, and business-school educator focused on leadership in periods of disruption and change.
Gautam helps leaders adapt as technology and organizations change. She speaks about influence, resilience, storytelling, and staying connected with people as AI becomes more common.
Laura Gassner Otting
Laura Gassner Otting is an author, keynote speaker, and executive coach. Her career spans two decades in executive search and work helping leaders pursue impact, confidence, and consonance.
Drawing on her experience…
Laura Gassner Otting is an author, keynote speaker, and executive coach. Her career spans two decades in executive search and work helping leaders pursue impact, confidence, and consonance.
Drawing on her experience in executive search, Otting helps people rethink what success means to them. Through her writing and talks, she explores how to move past self-imposed limits, find meaningful work, and handle the uncertainty that can come with success.
Erica Keswin
Erica Keswin is a workplace strategist, speaker, and three-time Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose Human Workplace Trilogy explores connection, rituals, and employee retention.
Keswin’s work asks leaders to find the productive…
Erica Keswin is a workplace strategist, speaker, and three-time Wall Street Journal bestselling author whose Human Workplace Trilogy explores connection, rituals, and employee retention.
Keswin’s work asks leaders to find the productive balance between technology and human connection. Her research and keynotes cover relationships, rituals, meetings, retention, hybrid work, and the role of managers in creating cultures where people feel connected rather than merely digitally linked.
Shane Feldman
Shane Feldman is a leadership speaker and entrepreneur who founded Count Me In, a global program that helps young people build communities and turn ideas into social ventures.
Drawing on that experience…
Shane Feldman is a leadership speaker and entrepreneur who founded Count Me In, a global program that helps young people build communities and turn ideas into social ventures.
Drawing on that experience and his research into communities around the world, Feldman speaks about what brings teams together. He shares practical ways leaders can build stronger relationships, trust, and a sense of belonging at work.
Joe Mull
Joe Mull is an employee commitment expert, Hall of Fame speaker, author of Employalty, and founder of Boss Hero School. His career centered on leadership, retention, and workplace culture.
Mull uses…
Joe Mull is an employee commitment expert, Hall of Fame speaker, author of Employalty, and founder of Boss Hero School. His career centered on leadership, retention, and workplace culture.
Mull uses social science to help managers lead people well. His Employalty framework looks at why employees join a company, stay, and do their best work. His leadership programs teach managers how to coach, give feedback, guide change, and build stronger teams.
Mark C. Crowley
Mark C. Crowley is an author and global speaker who spent 25 years leading financial-services teams before developing his research-backed approach to humane, heart-led workplace leadership.
His Lead From the Heart work…
Mark C. Crowley is an author and global speaker who spent 25 years leading financial-services teams before developing his research-backed approach to humane, heart-led workplace leadership.
His Lead From the Heart work argues that emotional connection, care, and investment in people are central to commitment and performance. Crowley combines management experience with research on human motivation to challenge leaders to treat employee well-being as part of how results are achieved.
Dorie Clark
Dorie Clark is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, consultant, and executive education faculty member. Her work spans strategic thinking, communication, reinvention, and long-term growth.
Through books such as The Long Game, …
Dorie Clark is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, consultant, and executive education faculty member. Her work spans strategic thinking, communication, reinvention, and long-term growth.
Through books such as The Long Game, Reinventing You, and Stand Out, Clark helps professionals plan ahead, share their ideas clearly, and build lasting influence. In her talks, she applies these ideas to leadership, careers, and organizational strategy.
Laura Morgan Roberts
Laura Morgan Roberts is an organizational psychologist, UVA Darden professor, author, speaker, and founder of The Alignment Quest Enterprise, with research on human potential and leadership.
Roberts studies how people activate their…
Laura Morgan Roberts is an organizational psychologist, UVA Darden professor, author, speaker, and founder of The Alignment Quest Enterprise, with research on human potential and leadership.
Roberts studies how people activate their best selves and thrive in diverse organizations. Her research on authenticity, strengths, identity, inclusion, and leadership development gives managers a deeper framework for creating workplaces where people can contribute fully and grow.
Frances Frei
Frances Frei is the UPS Foundation Professor of Service Management at Harvard Business School. She is an author and advisor whose work examines trust, leadership, strategy, and organizational change.
Frei teaches leaders…
Frances Frei is the UPS Foundation Professor of Service Management at Harvard Business School. She is an author and advisor whose work examines trust, leadership, strategy, and organizational change.
Frei teaches leaders how to help others succeed. Her model shows how honesty, clear thinking, and empathy build trust. Through her research, books, teaching, and advice, she helps leaders rebuild trust, support their teams, manage change, and solve tough problems while caring for people.
Brené Brown
Brené Brown is a University of Houston research professor, UT Austin professor of practice, bestselling author, and Executive Chair of BetterUp’s Center for Daring Leadership, focused on courage.
Brown’s research connects vulnerability…
Brené Brown is a University of Houston research professor, UT Austin professor of practice, bestselling author, and Executive Chair of BetterUp’s Center for Daring Leadership, focused on courage.
Brown’s research connects vulnerability with courage, trust, empathy, and leadership. Her Dare to Lead work brings those ideas into organizations, helping leaders build cultures where difficult conversations, accountability, critical thinking, collaboration, and courageous behavior can take root.
Cy Wakeman
Cy Wakeman founded Reality-Based Leadership and led the company for more than 25 years. She is a keynote speaker and author known for her work on accountability, ego, and workplace drama.
Wakeman’s…
Cy Wakeman founded Reality-Based Leadership and led the company for more than 25 years. She is a keynote speaker and author known for her work on accountability, ego, and workplace drama.
Wakeman’s Reality-Based Leadership approach helps leaders move past drama and excuses and focus on accountability. Through her books and talks, she gives managers practical ways to handle conflict, resistance to change, and team performance.
Fred Kofman
Fred Kofman is president of Conscious Business Center International, an executive coach and author. His work integrates leadership, accountability, values, meaning, and conscious business.
Kofman teaches leaders to get results while acting…
Fred Kofman is president of Conscious Business Center International, an executive coach and author. His work integrates leadership, accountability, values, meaning, and conscious business.
Kofman teaches leaders to get results while acting with integrity and respect. Through his books, coaching, courses, and talks, he helps them handle difficult conversations, keep commitments, resolve conflict, and give people more say in their work.
Selection Methodology
I selected the leaders on this list based on their relevance, demonstrated expertise and impact, professional credibility, and ongoing contributions to the field.
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I look for evidence such as leading meaningful initiatives or delivering notable results within their organizations, developing influential ideas or practices, publishing research or educational resources, speaking or teaching, and other contributions that demonstrate impact within their work or the broader field.
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