Peter Diamond
2010 Nobel Laureate in Economic Sciences | Institute Professor Emeritus, MIT | Expert on Taxation, Labor Markets & Social Security Reform
Ryan Leak
NYT, WSJ & USA Today Bestselling Author | CEO, Ryan Leak Group | Executive Coach to Fortune 100 Companies & NBA Teams | 1M+ People Reached Annually
Ryan Leak has earned the rarest credential in leadership development: three consecutive bestsellers across USA Today, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times. As CEO of the Ryan Leak Group, he trains over 100,000 leaders annually — from NBA locker rooms to Fortune 100 boardrooms. His keynotes combine disarming humor with hard-won insight, leaving leaders with the self-awareness and practical tools to level up themselves and their teams.
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Ryan Leak biography
Ryan Leak is a three-time bestselling author, executive coach, and one of the most in-demand leadership speakers in America — reaching over one million people annually through keynotes, coaching engagements, and his growing digital platform. As CEO of the Ryan Leak Group, a Dallas-based leadership development firm, he and his team train more than 100,000 leaders each year, working with clients ranging from Fortune 100 corporations and NBA franchises to insurance companies, pharmaceutical firms, and global manufacturers. His signature blend of humor, vulnerability, and research-backed frameworks makes his sessions equally compelling in C-suite boardrooms and company-wide town halls.
Leadership speaker Ryan Leak first gained national attention when his viral “Surprise Wedding” story — in which he secretly planned an entire wedding and then proposed to his girlfriend on the same day — was featured on Good Morning America and The Today Show, showcasing the courage and conviction that now define his speaking philosophy. That same willingness to take bold, uncomfortable risks became the foundation of his breakthrough book, Chasing Failure: How Falling Short Sets You Up for Success, a USA Today bestseller endorsed by leadership icons including John C. Maxwell and Jon Gordon.
His second book, Leveling Up: 12 Questions to Elevate Your Personal and Professional Development, became a Wall Street Journal bestseller, cementing his reputation as a practical voice on growth and self-awareness for leaders at every level. His most recent work, How to Work with Complicated People: Strategies for Effective Collaboration with (Nearly) Anyone, published in 2025, debuted as a New York Times bestseller — confirming Leak’s place among the most relevant voices in leadership development today. Drawing on global consulting work across sports, entertainment, finance, and manufacturing, the book delivers research-grounded strategies for transforming the most challenging workplace relationships into genuine collaboration.
From the Locker Room to the Boardroom
What distinguishes Leak from the crowded field of leadership speakers is his proven ability to operate across vastly different organizational contexts with equal impact. He works with NBA All-Stars and Fortune 100 executives within the same month, applying the same core framework — that self-awareness, resilience, and the willingness to fail are the non-negotiable foundations of exceptional leadership — in radically different cultural settings. His work has been featured in Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes, and his podcast and social content inspire millions of followers monthly.
As a speaker, Ryan Leak delivers sessions that move audiences from laughter to genuine reflection within minutes. His keynotes are not exercises in passive inspiration — they are structured, actionable experiences that leave leaders with clarity on who they are, how they show up for their teams, and exactly what they need to do differently to level up. Organizations hire him not just for the energy he brings, but for the measurable shift in mindset and team culture that follows.
Ryan Leak Speaking Videos
Ryan Leak Speaker Reel 2025 (Shorter Version)
Working With Complicated People
Ryan Leak Keynote Topics
Most organizations reward success and punish failure — which means most teams are playing it safe, leaving transformative potential on the table. In this signature keynote, Leak dismantles the fear of failure and replaces it with a practical framework for pursuing bold goals with conviction and resilience. Drawing from his USA Today bestselling book and years of working with Fortune 100 companies and professional athletes, he gives leaders a concrete roadmap for building cultures where calculated risk-taking becomes a competitive advantage rather than a liability.
Growth doesn't happen by accident — it happens when leaders ask better questions about themselves and their teams. In this session, drawn from his Wall Street Journal bestselling book, Leak guides audiences through the twelve most powerful questions he has tested across thousands of leadership engagements worldwide. Each question cuts through the noise of daily performance pressure to reveal the self-awareness gaps that keep good leaders from becoming great ones. Audiences leave with a personal development framework they can apply immediately and revisit throughout their careers.
Every organization has complicated people — the question is whether leaders have the tools to unlock their potential or remain frustrated by their behavior. In this keynote based on his New York Times bestselling book, Leak delivers research-backed strategies for transforming the most challenging workplace relationships into genuine collaboration. Combining humor with honest insight, he helps leaders shift from managing conflict reactively to building the kind of psychological safety and communication culture where even the most complex personalities contribute at their best.
The most expensive leadership gap in any organization is not skill — it is self-awareness. In this session, Leak draws on his experience coaching C-suite executives, NBA All-Stars, and front-line managers to explore what genuine self-awareness looks like in practice — how it changes the way leaders communicate, make decisions, build trust, and show up under pressure. Teams leave with a shared language for honest conversation and a renewed sense of collective purpose that outlasts the event itself.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Ryan Leak
Why Ryan Leak?
Booking Ryan Leak means bringing one of the most versatile and immediately impactful leadership voices available today to your event. As a three-time bestselling author — including a New York Times bestseller — and the CEO of a leadership development firm that trains over 100,000 leaders annually, Leak arrives with credentials that command instant credibility. But what makes him exceptional on stage is what happens in the room: his ability to shift from genuine laugh-out-loud humor to disarming vulnerability to clear-eyed, practical insight within the same breath keeps audiences of every demographic fully engaged. Fortune 100 executives and NBA teams choose him for the same reason: he meets people where they are, and moves them meaningfully forward. For organizations seeking a speaker who delivers both entertainment and real transformation, Leak is among the highest-value investments available. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check his availability.
What is the book Chasing Failure about?
Chasing Failure: How Falling Short Sets You Up for Success is Ryan Leak's USA Today bestselling debut book, in which he reframes failure not as something to avoid but as the fastest path to meaningful success. Leak blends personal stories, behavioral psychology, and practical step-by-step guidance to help individuals and teams move past fear, embrace discomfort, and take the kinds of bold risks that produce extraordinary outcomes. Endorsed by leadership legend John C. Maxwell and bestselling author Jon Gordon, the book has become a staple in leadership development programs across Fortune 500 companies and professional sports organizations.
What is How to Work with Complicated People about?
How to Work with Complicated People: Strategies for Effective Collaboration with (Nearly) Anyone is Ryan Leak's New York Times bestselling book, published in 2025. It addresses one of the most universal challenges in organizational life — navigating relationships with difficult colleagues, managers, or direct reports — with research-backed strategies drawn from Leak's global consulting work across sports, entertainment, finance, insurance, pharma, and manufacturing. The book teaches leaders to reframe challenging individuals as people to understand rather than problems to solve, communicate more effectively under pressure, and build the kind of collaborative cultures where diverse personalities become assets rather than friction.
What topics does leadership speaker Ryan Leak cover in his keynotes?
Ryan Leak speaks on chasing failure and building a culture of bold risk-taking, leveling up personal and professional performance, navigating complicated people and difficult workplace dynamics, self-awareness as a leadership superpower, and building resilient, high-performing teams. His sessions are suited for corporate leadership conferences, sales kickoffs, HR and culture summits, professional sports organizations, and any event where organizations need to inspire behavioral change — not just momentary motivation. Reach out to Aurum Speakers Bureau to explore how Ryan's programs can be tailored to your audience.
How to book Ryan Leak as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Ryan Leak as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Ryan Leak'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 Ryan Leak or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Ryan Leak speaking fee?
Ryan Leak 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 Ryan Leak 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 Ryan Leak.
How can I contact Ryan Leak?
We only work with Ryan Leak on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Ryan Leak and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Ryan Leak 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 Ryan Leak for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Ryan Leak for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Ryan Leak is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Ryan Leak for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
