Hanoi Morillo
Star of Shark Tank Colombia | CEO of Fivvy & Wayne Biotech | Venture Capitalist | Bestselling Author & Keynote Speaker
Margie Warrell
Bestselling Author of The Courage Gap | Former Korn Ferry Senior Partner | Global Leadership Advisor to Fortune 500 Executives | Courage Expert
Courage is the ultimate competitive advantage, and Dr. Margie Warrell has spent decades helping leaders claim it. A former Senior Partner in C-Suite Advisory at Korn Ferry who has advised Fortune 500 executives, NASA, and US Special Operations, she blends behavioral science with strategic execution to help leaders close the gap between knowing what to do and having the conviction to act. Her work targets the barriers that quietly undermine performance.
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Margie Warrell biography
Dr. Margie Warrell is a globally recognized authority on courageous leadership whose work helps people close the gap between knowing what must be done and finding the conviction to act. Leadership speaker Margie Warrell spent years as a Senior Partner in C-Suite Advisory at Korn Ferry, guiding executive teams through transformation, succession planning, and high-stakes cultural change, after earlier leadership roles at BP and KPMG. That blend of frontline corporate experience and behavioral science gives her rare insight into the pressures facing senior leaders.
Her signature work centers on what she calls “the courage gap”: the space between intention and execution where fear, risk aversion, and self-doubt quietly erode performance. Warrell gives leaders practical frameworks to dismantle these invisible obstacles and build organizations where bold thinking, candid dialogue, and adaptive action become the norm rather than the exception.
Her sixth book, The Courage Gap: 5 Steps to Braver Action, earned the 2025 Literary Titan Gold Book Award and the International Impact Book Award and was named by The Globe and Mail among the best management books of its year. She sits on the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, contributes regularly to Forbes, Fast Company, and NBC, and served as Australia’s first Ambassador for Women in Global Business.
From Rural Australia to Global Stages
Raised on a dairy farm as the eldest of eight, Warrell has delivered keynotes in more than 30 countries for organizations including NASA, US Special Operations Command, and Fortune 100 companies. She has interviewed global figures such as Richard Branson, Bill Marriott, and General Stanley McChrystal, and has served on advisory boards including the Women’s Economic Forum and the International Advisory Council for the Women’s Democracy Network.
Her influence increasingly extends beyond the stage. After delivering a keynote at Google, she was invited back as a strategic thought partner to design a bespoke Courage Lab for the company’s executive teams, translating her research into sustained behavioral change inside one of the world’s most demanding cultures.
As a speaker, Margie Warrell combines behavioral science with strategic clarity, helping senior audiences move from insight to impact. Her authentic style, grounded in real advisory work and personal resilience, resonates with executive teams, high-potential programs, and organizations navigating disruption or transformation. As a leadership speaker, she leaves audiences with practical tools to lead with greater conviction when it matters most.
Margie Warrell Speaking Videos
Dr. Margie Warrell | Keynote Speaker Reel on Courage, Leadership & Growth
How to be brave | Margie Warrell | TEDxButler
Margie Warrell Keynote Topics
When disruption is constant and complexity keeps rising, knowing the right strategy is not enough; leaders need the conviction to execute it. This keynote challenges the assumption that hesitation is prudence, showing how fear-driven caution levies a hidden timidity tax that erodes trust, stalls innovation, and weakens competitive position. Dr. Margie Warrell unpacks the psychological barriers that block bold execution, from impostor beliefs to risk aversion and fear of judgment, and offers a proven framework to dismantle them. Drawing on her work advising Fortune 500 C-suites, she equips leaders to build psychological safety, foster candid dialogue, and scale courageous action across the organization. Audiences leave with practical tools to lead from values rather than insecurity, turning insight into impact and hesitation into momentum.
Most professionals name fear of failure as their greatest barrier to action, yet the cost of inaction is far higher than they realize. This keynote shows leaders and teams how to treat fear as useful information rather than a stop signal, converting discomfort into clarity and connection. Dr. Margie Warrell shares evidence-based strategies for navigating uncertainty, having difficult conversations, and making high-stakes decisions without a clear roadmap. She introduces simple language tools that reframe setbacks as plot twists, building agency and momentum, along with micro-habits that sustain resilience and guard against burnout. Whether teams face organizational change, personal transition, or high-pressure environments, audiences learn to move forward with confidence, deepen trust, and unlock collective courage rooted in genuine psychological safety.
The moments that define leadership are rarely scripted. They are the awkward conversations, uncertain calls, and uncomfortable truths that ask leaders to step forward when retreat feels safer. In this keynote, Dr. Margie Warrell reveals how the instinct to avoid discomfort quietly undermines trust, connection, and growth. She offers a decision lens that helps leaders separate smart caution from unproductive hesitation, enabling wiser risk-taking and faster adaptation. Drawing on decades of global advisory work, she shows how braving the awkward becomes the birthplace of meaningful change, deepening relationships, building belonging, and creating cultures where bold thinking thrives. Audiences gain actionable frameworks to lead with conviction, communicate with candor, and drive transformation even when the path is unclear.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Margie Warrell
Why Dr. Margie Warrell?
Dr. Margie Warrell delivers immediate strategic value for organizations facing transformation, disruption, or high-stakes growth. As a former Senior Partner in C-Suite Advisory at Korn Ferry, she has advised Fortune 500 boards and executive teams through succession planning, cultural change, and critical leadership challenges, not just spoken about them. Her work on closing the courage gap targets the psychological barriers, including fear of failure, risk aversion, and impostor beliefs, that undermine execution and weaken trust. Audiences gain practical tools to lead with conviction, build psychological safety, and drive bold decisions at scale. Her keynotes have earned standing ovations at NASA and US Special Operations, and her research now powers a bespoke Courage Lab she designed for executive teams at Google. Book Dr. Margie Warrell through Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring courageous leadership to your next event.
What is the courage gap?
The courage gap is the space between knowing what needs to be done and having the conviction to actually do it. Dr. Margie Warrell's research shows how fear-based decisions, driven by risk aversion, fear of judgment, or insecurity, create a timidity tax that quietly undermines performance. Leaders may see the right strategic move yet delay action, avoid hard conversations, or default to safe choices that protect the status quo. Her frameworks help leaders and teams close that gap by addressing the inner obstacles that limit outer results, enabling bolder execution, stronger trust, and lasting competitive advantage.
Has Dr. Margie Warrell worked with military or government audiences?
Yes. She has delivered keynotes and workshops for US Special Operations Command, NASA, and Congressional chiefs of staff on Capitol Hill. Her work with these audiences focuses on decision-making under uncertainty, resilience in high-pressure environments, and leading through complexity. Her frameworks on courage and risk resonate in mission-critical settings where hesitation carries real consequences, and she has applied the same evidence-based approach to performance psychology with executive teams in the defense and aerospace sectors.
What topics does leadership speaker Dr. Margie Warrell cover?
Leadership speaker Dr. Margie Warrell specializes in courageous leadership, decision-making under uncertainty, psychological safety, resilience, and cultural transformation. Her keynotes address the behavioral barriers that block bold action, from fear of failure to impostor syndrome and risk aversion, and provide practical tools to dismantle them. She works with Fortune 500 executives, senior leadership teams, high-potential programs, and organizations navigating growth, disruption, or change, blending behavioral science, strategic frameworks, and authentic storytelling. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to book Dr. Margie Warrell for your event.
How to book Margie Warrell as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Margie Warrell as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Margie Warrell's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Margie Warrell or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Margie Warrell speaking fee?
Margie Warrell speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Margie Warrell to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Margie Warrell.
How can I contact Margie Warrell?
We only work with Margie Warrell on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Margie Warrell and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Margie Warrell speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Margie Warrell for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Margie Warrell for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Margie Warrell is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Margie Warrell for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
