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Explorer & Psychiatrist | First Round-the-World Balloon & Solar Flight | Chairman, Solar Impulse Foundation | UN Champion of the Earth
Patty McCord
Former Chief Talent Officer, Netflix | Creator, Netflix Culture Deck | Bestselling Author | Co-Host, TruthWorks Podcast
Patty McCord redefined how companies think about talent and culture. As Netflix's Chief Talent Officer for fourteen years, she co-created the Netflix Culture Deck — called 'the most important document ever to come out of Silicon Valley.' Today she advises top organizations and co-hosts the TruthWorks podcast. Audiences gain a bold, no-nonsense framework for building high-performing teams and transforming workplace culture.
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Patty McCord biography
Few people have reshaped modern workplace culture as decisively as HR speaker Patty McCord. During fourteen years as Netflix’s Chief Talent Officer, she co-authored the Netflix Culture Deck with CEO Reed Hastings — a document Sheryl Sandberg called “the most important document ever to come out of Silicon Valley” and that has been viewed over 20 million times. As a keynote speaker, Patty McCord challenges audiences to rethink everything they assume about managing people.
McCord’s philosophy centers on radical honesty, adult-level accountability, and the conviction that bureaucratic HR processes stifle the very performance they claim to promote. At Netflix, she dismantled traditional policies — replacing formal vacation tracking with unlimited leave, eliminating expense reports in favor of a simple directive to act in the company’s best interest, and redefining how teams hire, develop, and part ways with talent. The results helped propel Netflix from a fledgling DVD-by-mail service into one of the most influential entertainment companies in the world.
From Netflix to Global Thought Leadership
Before Netflix, McCord held senior HR roles at Pure Atria Software, Sun Microsystems, Seagate Technologies, and Borland. Her book Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility, translated into twelve languages, distills her unconventional approach into an actionable playbook for leaders. Her TED Talk on building great teams has been viewed millions of times and remains a go-to resource for HR professionals worldwide.
Today McCord runs Patty McCord Consulting, advising companies of all sizes on culture and leadership, and co-hosts the TruthWorks podcast with former Netflix CHRO Jessica Neal. Together they explore the issues reshaping the modern workplace — from AI’s impact on talent to combating toxic organizational cultures.
As a speaker, Patty McCord delivers candid, high-energy keynotes that leave audiences rethinking their assumptions about talent, leadership, and organizational design. Her talks blend real-world stories from the frontlines of Silicon Valley with immediately actionable strategies for building cultures where people do their best work.
Patty McCord Speaking Videos
Patty McCord, former Chief Talent Officer, Netflix
Patty McCord - 8 lessons on building a company people enjoy working for
Patty McCord Keynote Topics
The Netflix Culture Deck rewrote the rules on how high-performing organizations operate. In this keynote, Patty McCord takes audiences inside the philosophy that transformed Netflix — radical transparency, freedom paired with responsibility, and the belief that great cultures are built on trust rather than policy. She shares the principles any company can adopt to attract top talent, retain high performers, and create an environment where innovation thrives. This presentation is ideal for executives, HR leaders, and anyone ready to challenge the status quo of workplace management.
Traditional HR policies were designed for compliance, not performance. McCord argues that most of what companies do in the name of talent management — annual reviews, rigid hierarchies, complex approval chains — actively undermines the results they seek. Drawing on her experience at Netflix, Sun Microsystems, and her current advisory work, she reveals what it takes to build teams that operate with speed, accountability, and purpose. Audiences learn how to strip away organizational friction and create the conditions for people to do the best work of their careers.
The workplace is being reshaped by artificial intelligence, shifting demographics, and new expectations from both employers and employees. McCord offers an optimistic, pragmatic perspective on navigating this transformation. Rather than fearing disruption, she shows organizations how to harness AI as a tool for enhancing human creativity and productivity. Drawing on her podcast conversations and advisory work with companies at every stage of growth, McCord delivers a forward-looking roadmap for leaders who want their organizations to thrive amid rapid change.
As the former head of diversity programs at Sun Microsystems and a veteran of Silicon Valley's biggest cultural shifts, McCord brings a distinctive, no-excuses perspective to diversity and equity. She challenges audiences to move beyond performative initiatives and instead embed real accountability into how companies hire, promote, and compensate. Her approach is data-driven and solutions-oriented, focused on delivering measurable progress rather than symbolic gestures. This keynote is a wake-up call for organizations serious about building genuinely inclusive cultures.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Patty McCord
Why Patty McCord?
Patty McCord is one of the most influential voices in modern HR and organizational culture. She co-created the Netflix Culture Deck, which has shaped how thousands of companies think about talent and performance. Her fourteen years at Netflix gave her unparalleled insight into what makes high-performing teams work — and what holds most organizations back. On stage, McCord is candid, funny, and deeply practical, leaving audiences with strategies they can implement immediately. Book Patty McCord through Aurum Speakers Bureau for your next leadership summit or corporate event.
What is the Netflix Culture Deck and why is it so influential?
The Netflix Culture Deck is a 127-slide presentation co-authored by Patty McCord and Reed Hastings that outlines the principles behind Netflix's organizational culture: freedom and responsibility, context over control, and a commitment to hiring and retaining only top performers. Published online in 2009, it has been viewed over 20 million times and was described by Sheryl Sandberg as the most important document to come out of Silicon Valley. Its influence extends across industries, from startups to Fortune 500 companies rethinking how they manage talent.
What topics does Patty McCord speak about?
Patty McCord's keynotes cover workplace culture transformation, building high-performance teams, the future of work in an AI-driven era, and practical approaches to diversity and equity. She draws on her experience at Netflix, her bestselling book Powerful, and her ongoing advisory work with companies of all sizes. Each presentation is tailored to the audience and packed with actionable takeaways. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring Patty McCord to your next event and find the keynote format that fits your agenda.
What is Patty McCord's book Powerful about?
Powerful: Building a Culture of Freedom and Responsibility distills McCord's unconventional HR philosophy into an accessible playbook for business leaders. The book challenges traditional practices like annual performance reviews, rigid vacation policies, and elaborate retention programs, arguing that these approaches often do more harm than good. Instead, McCord advocates hiring adults, trusting them to perform, and having honest conversations about expectations and fit. Translated into twelve languages, Powerful has become essential reading for executives and HR professionals seeking to build agile, high-performing organizations.
How to book Patty McCord as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Patty McCord as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Patty McCord'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 Patty McCord or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Patty McCord speaking fee?
Patty McCord 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 Patty McCord 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 Patty McCord.
How can I contact Patty McCord?
We only work with Patty McCord on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Patty McCord and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Patty McCord 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 Patty McCord for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Patty McCord for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Patty McCord is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Patty McCord for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
