In his speeches, David McQueen challenges audiences on honest, thought-provoking and evidence-informed approaches to value-based leadership. He uses his client work and research to help organisations shape culture, manage change and drive performance. David demonstrates how leaders can impact positive change through effective communication strategies, including strategic storytelling, facilitation and inspirational presenting.
In 2024 David’s seminal leadership book, The BRAVE Leader, shot to the top of Amazon’s charts
David McQueen | Keynote Leadership Speaker
For over 25 years, David’s speaking has empowered leaders and teams to thrive in a fast-paced world. Using a combination of subject expertise, storytelling, and humour, David has had impacts on audiences across five continents.
Whether addressing global corporations, executive teams, non-profits, staff town halls or industry conferences, he delivers talks that inspire, challenge, and equip audiences with the mindset and tools needed to make brave and bold decisions.
His keynote talks tend to focus on three core areas:
- Inclusive Leadership
- Organisational Storytelling
- Workplace Resilience
David McQueen | Keynote Talks
David McQueen on:Â The Brave Leader
David’s keynotes on inclusive leadership are a deep dive into what it truly means to lead with courage and clarity. Grounded in his signature BRAVE Leader framework, this session unpacks the tools required for leaders to:
– Foster inclusive, high-performing cultures
– Adapt to rapid changes and turn challenges into opportunities
– Lead with purpose, inspiring teams to align around shared goals
– Make ethical decisions that build trust and long-term success
This keynote is not just a talk; it is a leadership blueprint designed to empower individuals to rise to the occasion and transform their teams and organisations. The keynote focuses on:
– Leadership as a system
– Courageous decision-making
– Strategic thinking as a practice
– Leading by example
Key Takeaways
– Proven strategies and frameworks to implement immediately
– A renewed understanding of leadership in today’s context
– Confidence to make bold decisions and drive meaningful impact
– Tips on fostering resilience, inclusivity, and vision in teams
– The motivation to lead authentically and effectively
David presented a brilliant high-energy session to our executive team within our business. He focussed on the importance of mindset, high performance and facing difficult conversations. Our leaders were challenged on how they think about leadership as a concept as David used stories from his own experiences to inspire us to think differently. Director, Lloyds Bank
David McQueen on:Â A Well Told Story
In today’s dynamic workplace, the stories we tell define our purpose, shape our culture, and connect us to our stakeholders. This talk explores how organisational storytelling can empower and educate teams, build stronger connections, and drive transformative change. This engaging talk takes audiences on a journey into the power of storytelling within organisations. Drawing on global storytelling traditions and actionable strategies, David demonstrates how leaders can:
– Embed storytelling into their organisational DNA
– Discover how a compelling narrative can inspire employees, align stakeholders, and amplify impact
– Harness the art of storytelling to bring your organisation’s values and vision to life.
David particularly focuses on:
– Why stories matter in change management, communication, and leadership
– Learning from diverse storytelling traditions across cultures
– Practical strategies to incorporate storytelling into leadership, team building, sales, and brand development
– Crafting stories that align with your organisation’s mission and resonate with employees and stakeholders
Key Takeaways
– A clear understanding of storytelling’s impact
– Tools to craft compelling narratives
– Inspiration to embed storytelling in your cultural DNA
– Confidence in navigating change
– A roadmap for organisational storytelling
David delivered an excellent keynote focussed on storytelling as part of a recent Festival of Learning at IAG Loyalty. What he does is truly unique, leading his points on how to tell great stories by literally telling great stories. He brings wit, authenticity, and charisma to the stage – well rehearsed but also paying attention to his specific audience and layering in the context that makes it all the more relatable. Director, Avios
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David McQueen on: Bend But Don’t Break
In today’s fast-paced and unpredictable business environment, resilience is not just a buzzword; it’s a necessity. This speech on workplace resilience empowers leaders to create resilient workplaces that not only adapt to change but thrive in the face of adversity. Through engaging storytelling, actionable insights, and real-world examples, David uncovers the key strategies for embedding resilience into the cultural DNA of your organisation, making it a shared strength rather than an individual act. David particularly focuses on:
– How to foster a collaborative culture where resilience is embedded into everyday operations
– Moving beyond surviving challenges to leveraging them for growth and innovation
– Practical frameworks to create systems and processes that promote workplace resilience
– Insights from diverse workplaces on how resilience is cultivated across cultures
Key Takeaways
– Learn how to shift from reactive to proactive resilience within teams and organisations
– Actionable steps to strengthen workplace resilience and build a culture of adaptability
– Fresh perspectives on turning challenges into opportunities for growth and innovation
– Learn to design antifragile systems that not only withstand pressure, but grow stronger because of it
We hired David to deliver keynotes to our staff on the principles of workplace leadership. He focussed on the principles of resilience and make it very practical to implement. Many commented that their biggest takeaway was that resilience is not just about one person but a collective effort. A priceless takeaway in an industry that tends to focus on individual acts of strength. Managing Director, JP Morgan
David McQueen | Clients
Arriva, Avios, Barclaycard, Barnardos, BMW, BP, Cisco, Discovery, Fidelity, Getty Images, Google, HSBC, Investec, JP Morgan, Lloyds Bank, Mercedes Benz, Meta, Morgan Stanley, Northern Trust, Octopus Energy DE, Pure Storage, Shell, Shopify, Societe Generale, Soho House, Virgin Startups, and Vodafone.
