Let's make your next conference or keynote amazing!

David is one of the top conference keynote speakers on leadership and will crush it virtually or in-person.

Leadership

Diversity & Inclusion

Motivation

Team Dynamics

If you’re looking for a motivational leadership speaker who can win the hearts of your audience and inspire them to reach their full potential, then your search is over!

Recommended to Executive Teams

I connected with David to explore the possibility of having him speak to a group of senior leaders in our organization. David was a pleasure to work with and impressed me with his sincere desire to understand the needs of our team so he could deliver the most helpful and appropriate message during his time with us. As a result, David’s content, delivery, insights, and perspectives were on point and very well received. I found David to be a thoughtful and articulate speaker with the ability to understand and connect with those around him in meaningful and valuable ways. I would highly recommend David as a resource for executive teams who value thought provoking and insightful perspectives.

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David Read Director of Sales Operations
top Corporate leadership keynotes speaker Dr David Arrington

Corporate Keynote Speaker

top virtual conference motivational leadership keynote speaker

Virtual Conference Speaker

top conference breakout keynotes speaker

Conference Breakout Speaker

What You Can Expect For Your Event

Empowering Leadership Speaker

CAPTIVATING.

Selecting a keynote speaker is a huge responsibility. This speaker can make or break the success of an event that you have been planning for months. 

Whether we are discussing leadership, personal development, diversity, equity, and inclusion, or team dynamics; David's stated goal is to make you look like a ROCKSTAR! 

THOUGHT-PROVOKING.

Dr. Arrington is a sought-after motivational and leadership development speaker. David often speaks on leadership, team dynamics, accountability, and culture.

Your audience will find him captivating and engaging. An experience with David goes beyond motivation and feel-good content to ideas with practical application that provide a strategic advantage, with a few laughs along the way.

keynote speaking
Leading retreats, team coaching, workshops, and training we bring our A-game!

DYNAMIC.

Dr. Arrington is a frequent motivational leadership speaker for conferences and corporate events. His dynamic style and customized topics are designed to encourage healthy team dynamics, individual accountability, and transformational leadership. David provides solutions, not just talks.

ENGAGING.

We partner with you to ensure that your corporate event hits the mark. Our efforts to create a phenomenal experience begin weeks in advance. We work diligently to understand your goals and your expectations so that we can provide the right boost for your organization.

Empowering Leadership Speaker

Top 3 Reasons to Book David For Your Next Event

"Rock Star" Status

David's empowering presentation, practical approach, and audience engagement will make you look like a "rock star"!

Thrilled Audience

David is one of those rare leadership speakers who can connect with an audience equally online or in-person. 

Practical Takeaways

David is an in demand leadership speaker because he provides solutions based on real-world experience and hard won lessons.

Popular Keynotes

Leading Under Pressure

Who would most benefit from this workshop?

Teams

Managers

Senior Leaders

Executives

Format: Hybrid, Virtual, Online, In-Person

Time Required: 60-90 minutes

Overview

Leaders are under more pressure than ever and the stakes are higher than ever. The challenges to leading today continue to mount: coronavirus, remote working, remote leading, unexpected homeschooling are just a few of the stresses leaders face daily. 

Managers, supervisors, and leaders are faced with an entirely new set of expectations and situations that stretch their leadership and management skills. We are well beyond business as usual. 

Many leaders are hoping things get back to normal Naturally, because leaders are human beings, this can lead to overwhelm, frustration, and reduced effectiveness.  

It's not just leaders that are stressed and overwhelmed.

In this keynote we will connect with your audience and share 5 key insights that will help leaders successfully navigate their personal and professional lives during this incredibly stressful time.

Key Takeaways

  • Reimage what can be vs. trying to reclaim what was
  • Learn to lead more fearlessly through uncertainty
  • Realize what they need to do to thrive in the "new normal"
  • Mentally prepare for the changes that are yet to come
  • Share 5 key ways to successfully navigate the new work environment 
Creating an Inclusive Workplace

Who would most benefit from this workshop?

Teams

Managers

Senior Leaders

Executives

Format: Hybrid, Virtual, Online

Time Required: 60-90 minutes

Overview

Diversity, equity and inclusion aren't a passing fad. Creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive workplace is daunting, and the difficulty is often in the execution.

Why do conversations about diversity often go so wrong? There's no one answer, but failing to understand trauma, risk and creating safety are critical to having positive conversations.

 Steeped in history and grounded in today's reality, this talk takes the mystery out of creating a more diverse workplace, one conversation at time. 

In this talk David shares proven ways to break down barriers and build bridges in the workplace.

Key Takeaways

  • Understand how we got to this point
  • Learn how to have positive conversations on race
  • Consider diversity as a force multiplier
  • Discover why D&I is everyone’s responsibility
  • Learn easy ways everyone can create a more diverse and inclusive workplace
  • 5 ways to create a more diverse and inclusive workplace

Popular Workshop Topics

Creating Change Resilient Teams

Who would most benefit from this workshop?

Teams

Managers

Senior Leaders

Executives

Format: Hybrid, Virtual, Online

Time Required: 60-90 minutes

Overview

Why is change difficult to implement and sustain? Ours is a world in constant flux. Change is the only constant. Yet implementing change that lasts is very difficult.

So much has changed in recent years, the way we work, the way we engage with others, job expectations, the expectations of a new workforce, 4-5 generations at work together... I could go on. 

Change has become the norm, but experiencing this amount of change comes at a cost. Change resistance is real, but change resiliency can be as well. 

In this talk, using various methods of engagement, we will help your leaders and teams understand why change can be difficult and show them how to embrace change.

We will also provide 5 proven ways leaders and teams can anticipate, accept, and adapt to change.

Key Takeaways

  • Reframe the nature of change
  • Clarify the primary types of change
  • Discuss the normal responses to change
  • Discuss the reasons change efforts stall and how to get them back on track
  • Share the concept of change fatigue
  • Provide concrete ways for team members to successfully navigate a constantly changing workplace  
Communicating On Purpose

Who would most benefit from this workshop?

Teams

Managers

Senior Leaders

Executives

Format: Hybrid, Virtual, Online

Time Required: 60-90 minutes

Overview

We communicate, therefore we are.

We are constantly communicating via email, text messages, instant messaging, body language, phone calls, voicemails, nonstop meetings, status updates... you get the point. 

Within this endless stream of communicating, how often have we stopped to ask if we are communicating effectively?

If we were to ask, we might not like the answer. Far too many leaders undercommunicate or flat out miscommunicate when it matters most. 

These poor communication skills can lead to lowered productivity, morale, engagement, trust, and damaged relationships. Good thing we can help you and your team communicate on purpose. 

From bruised egos to missed deadlines to team conflict, communication is both the problem and the solution. In this session we will share 5 proven methods to help you and your team communicate on purpose.

Key Takeaways

  • Why it’s more difficult to communicate today
  • Understand why communication goes wrong
  • Communication killers to absolutely avoid
  • How to watch what you aren’t saying
  • The role of communication in conflict
  • 5 Ways to communicate on purpose
The Power of Focus

Who would most benefit from this workshop?

Teams

Managers

Senior Leaders

Format: Hybrid, Virtual, Online

Time Required: 60-90 minutes

Overview

In an ever more distracting and distracted world, focus becomes a superpower, one we all need to cultivate.

We all get distracted all the time and small distractions over our day don’t just cost us minutes, they can cost us hours. Multiply that over a week, month, or year and the cost of being distracted adds up quickly.

Then there are times we are in the zone. We feel super productive, unstoppable even. But unfortunately for most of us those times are rare and nearly impossible to consistently repeat. 

Wouldn't it be amazing if you could put yourself in that "productivity zone" whenever you wanted?  

In this talk we identify common distractions, how to mitigate them, how to get in and stay in the zone, and provide 4 simple, proven ways to remain focused even under hectic circumstances.

Key Takeaways

  • Clarify why you feel chronically distracted
  • How to regain focus in a distracted world
  • Stay focused when the stakes are high
  • The real cost of distraction
  • Understand how to get in and stay in your most productive zone
  • 4 simple techniques that will help you stay focused
Meaningful Conversations: A Diversity Primer

Who would most benefit from this workshop?

Teams

Managers

Senior Leaders

Executives

Format: Hybrid, Virtual, Online

Time Required: 60-90 minutes

Overview

Every workplace is teeming with diversity. We all have diverse backgrounds, different experiences,  races and ethnicities.

Our individual and combined diversity is something we should embrace and celebrate, but it can be uncomfortable to downright frightening to discuss.

We've been taught to be "colorblind" or not to speak about diversity. But not talking about the value, role, and importance of diversity only limits our ability to harness that diversity for good.

Discussing diversity has inherent pitfalls and understanding how to have conversations that acknowledge risk, trauma, and bring about healing is difficult.

In this talk Dr. Arrington will help your team navigate the landmine laden path to discussing and leveraging our diversity to make higher performing teams.

Key Takeaways

  • Clarifying what brought us here
  • Repositioning diversity as a strategic asset
  • Acknowledging the perspectives of others 
  • Creating safe spaces
  • Clarifying who's responsible for creating a diverse and equitable workplace
  • 5 ways to create safety, communicate clearly, and create more inclusion
Staying Positive (and sane) Leading In the Upside Down

Who would most benefit from this workshop?

Managers

Senior Leaders

Executives

Format: Hybrid, Virtual, Online

Time Required: 60-90 minutes

Overview

Stressed out. These two words could summarize our collective overwhelm. From frontline leaders to senior executives we are leading through interesting times.

Leaders, managers, and supervisors are asked to do more with fewer resources on shorter deadlines. 

We are overwhelmed, overworked, and stressed out, but no one can say it. Individually and collectively we aren't our most productive under those circumstances, but there's hope. 

In this talk, you will learn how to move beyond muscling through, understand why it's so difficult to stay focused, and learn 5 practical ways you can lead under pressure.

Key Takeaways

  • Clarify why it’s more difficult to stay focused right now
  • Shift the focus to what you can control
  • Realize the role you play in being overwhelmed
  • Shift from overwhelm to empowered 
  • How to increase personal and team productivity
  • 5 practical ways to lead effectively when you are overwhelmed
Relational Leadership In a Hybrid Environment

Who would most benefit from this workshop?

Teams

Managers

Senior Leaders

Executives

Format: Hybrid, Virtual, Online

Time Required: 60-90 minutes

Overview

The workplace has changed and we aren't going back. Remote, virtual, and hybrid teams are the new norm, but how do you create inclusion and engagement in this new normal.

Many leaders struggle creating relationships, inclusion, and engagement in this new environment when they can't "manage by wandering around."

This workshop will help your leaders understand the new workplace and intentionally create positive team cultures. 

Key Takeaways

  • Demystify leading hybrid teams
  • Unpack the components of relational
    leadership
  • Share approaches to create and
    maintain culture on hybrid teams
  • Discuss how leaders create
    welcoming, inclusive, and empowering
    team settings
  • Provide 5 intentional ways to create
    inclusion and increase engagement
Keeping Conflict Healthy

Who would most benefit from this workshop?

Teams

Managers

Senior Leaders

Executives

Format: Hybrid, Virtual, Online

Time Required: 60-90 minutes

Overview

Conflict is inevitable but it doesn't have to derail teams and destroy relationships. 

Most leaders hope conflict won't happen on their team and when it does, they don't have a plan to manage it. When you don't have a plan to deal with conflict, conflict can turn toxic and derail your team.

Here's a hot take: not all conflict is bad. Handled properly, healthy conflict can lead to massive growth and positive change in an organization. 

In this talk your team will learn how to leverage conflict for growth.

Key Takeaways

  • Clarify and de-scarify conflict
  • Understand why conflict isn’t all bad
  • Clarify why handling conflict is difficult
  • Toxic conflict vs. healthy conflict
  • The role of communication in conflict
  • 5 Ways to communicate on purpose
Can You Hear Me Now: Powerful Feedback that Moves the Needle

Who would most benefit from this workshop?

Managers

Senior Leaders

Executives

Format: Hybrid, Virtual, Online

Time Required: 60-90 minutes

Overview

Feedback is one of the primary responsibility of managers and leaders, but often leaders fail to give helpful, timely, motivational feedback.

Unfortunately, it's an art (yes, an art) that most leaders fail to focus on, giving inconsistent, unclear, or woefully late feedback without understanding how that impacts their team members. 

This type of feedback leaves employees guessing about their performance and how to improve.  

This talk will help your leaders, managers, and supervisors understand how to give positive, motivational feedback that creates engagement not resentment.

Key Takeaways

  • Clarify the real point of feedback
  • Clarify what feedback is (and isn’t)
  • Provide a process to give motivational feedback
  • Underscore the value of relationships in feedback
  • Distinguish between public and private feedback
  • Share the 4 primary elements of motivational feedback
The Accountability Factor

Who would most benefit from this workshop?

Teams

Managers

Senior Leaders

Executives

Format: Hybrid, Virtual, Online

Time Required: 60-90 minutes

Overview

Accountability is a leadership silver bullet. But because it's misunderstood, confused with other things and maligned, many leaders shy away from accountability altogether.

When understood and implemented consistently, accountability can help you turn any team into an A-Team. Without accountability you will struggle to get more than mediocre results from any team.

Creating a culture of accountability is one of the most effective ways to increase productivity, engagement, and morale.

In this interactive talk we will reframe accountability, provide easy ways for your leaders to build accountability into their current team environment, and show them where to start to get everyone on board.

Key Takeaways

  • Discuss the barriers to creating accountability
  • Clarify what accountability is (and isn't)
  • Provide a structured accountability process
  • Differentiate between accountability and micromanagement
  • Share the types of accountability
  • 4 ways to engage everyone in the accountability process
Leading & Engaging Remote Teams

Who would most benefit from this workshop?

Teams

Managers

Senior Leaders

Format: Hybrid, Virtual, Online

Time Required: 60-90 minutes

Overview

Leadership can be difficult under normal circumstances, but normal has changed.

Remote teams aren't new, but they are new to many leaders. What are the do's and don'ts of leading remote teams? 

Creating camaraderie, culture, and a team environment is more difficult in a remote, virtual or hybrid environment, but it is not as hard as you think. 

In this workshop, your leaders will learn how to lead fearlessly, increase accountability, and build team camaraderie all in a virtual context.

Key Takeaways

  • 7 deadly sins of leading remote teams
  • Remote working & organizational culture
  • 6 strategies to create an accountability culture on your remote team

Book David For Your Event

Let's Make Your Next Event Your Best Event.

Speaker Credibility... Inbound

Great points

David had great points on developing a vision for an organization

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Rodney Jordan

The take away is fabulous!

I thought you connected well with our group. I appreciate the humor and also the seriousness you brought to the presentation The take away is fabulous! Thank you David!

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Chandy Jones
Board Member at The King's Daughters

Great Exercises

Great LEGO demo, Great forced introspective exercises.

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Beeson R. Travis

Lots of good information

Received a lot good information. David encouraged take aways to work on a implement after the class.

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Beverly Walker
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